After being dumped by the diva, I was picked up by her arch-enemy.

Inside the studio, the competition was in full swing.

The excitement level gradually increased in the following matches.

There's a naive young girl singing campus folk songs while holding a wooden guitar, versus a young actor who has just crossed over from the film and television industry.

There are also struggling, fourth-tier artists who have worked their way up for years, facing off against online singers who became famous through cover songs.

The contestants' performances were commendable.

The stage lights flashed frequently, and the audience's participation was fully mobilized.

One of the fourth-tier artists with solid singing skills received over 30,000 votes from the audience with a heart-wrenching love song.

But after a few rounds, the audience figured out the trick.

Although an audience voting segment was added, the 30,000 votes held by the judges still carried overwhelming weight.

Basically, once you get the approval of both judges, you've already stepped into the advancement zone.

On the judging panel, Zhang Xiangjun and Tan Yue provided very professional commentary, pointing out the contestants' strengths and weaknesses.

Lin Qinghe was not talkative, but every word she said hit the nail on the head.

After several rounds of drawing lots, Jiang Yichen and Li Ziyan's names were never called, and the two of them automatically became the last group to be drawn.

Shao Hua took the microphone and walked to the center of the stage.

"Next up is the final match of the night!"

"The final match will determine who secures the last spot in the next round tonight!"

"On one side is an all-around idol with millions of fans, whose performance on the initial audition stage was amazing!"

"On the other side is a musical prodigy who became a viral sensation with his original song 'Red-Clad Lament,' perfectly blending traditional elements with pop music!"

"This is not only a clash of skills, but also a battle between different musical styles!"

"Let's welcome Li Ziyan to face off against Jiang Yichen!"

The crowd erupted in cheers.

The live stream chat was instantly flooded with comments, densely covering most of the screen.

"Fly bravely, Ziyan! Ziyan fans will always be with you!"

"Li Ziyan, charge! Crush them!"

Looking forward to Jiang Yichen's new song! I wonder if he'll still use opera-style vocals!

"A passerby commented, 'This is going to be a spectacle! It's a battle of the gods!'"

The two walked out from opposite sides of the passage at the same time.

Today, Li Ziyan changed into a white casual suit and had her hair styled in an exquisite way, exuding an air of nobility.

Jiang Yichen wore a simple black shirt with the cuffs slightly rolled up, revealing his muscular forearms, exuding a calm and reserved demeanor.

The two met in the center of the stage.

Li Ziyan turned to look at Jiang Yichen, a slightly provocative smile playing on his lips.

Jiang Yichen remained calm, ignored them, and walked straight to the waiting area on the right side of the stage.

According to the order drawn, Li Ziyan sang first.

The stage lights shifted, and a soft white light shone on Li Ziyan.

Instead of choosing the dance music he had sung during the preliminary rounds, he stood quietly in front of the microphone.

The accompaniment flowed out slowly.

It is a classic pop ballad.

Li Ziyan closed his eyes, gripped the microphone with both hands, and began to sing with deep emotion.

His voice is indeed excellent; he has received professional vocal training and has very stable breath control.

The verses are emotionally nuanced and told in a gentle, flowing manner.

When the chorus came, he hit the high notes one after another.

Overall, the song is quite well-made.

The fans at the scene were so excited that they waved their support signs wildly and screamed continuously.

"It's so good! Our Ziyan can not only sing and dance, but she's also amazing at singing ballads!"

"Those high notes are so stable! He's practically a walking CD player!"

"This team's strength absolutely crushes them! Victory is assured!"

Three minutes later, the music ended.

Li Ziyan, slightly out of breath, put down the microphone, bowed deeply to the audience, and basked in the thunderous applause.

He straightened up, strode towards the left side of the stage, and as he passed the center of the stage, he glanced at Jiang Yichen, who was about to take the stage, with the air of a victor.

Jiang Yichen walked to the standing microphone in the center of the stage, adjusted the height of the microphone, and nodded slightly to the audience.

The next second, all the stage lights went out, leaving only a beam of pale blue spotlight that enveloped Jiang Yichen like moonlight.

The entire room fell silent instantly.

The accompaniment slowly began.

It's not a piano, it's not a guitar.

Instead, it was the clear, crisp sound of a bell.

Ring ring—

The melody echoed in the huge studio, carrying an ethereal and penetrating power.

Immediately afterwards, the sounds of the guzheng poured out like flowing water.

The erhu music then joins in, carrying an indescribable melancholy and sorrow.

The prelude, lasting only a dozen seconds, instantly captivated everyone's attention.

It has an extremely rich ancient Chinese style, yet its arrangement is full of the layers of modern pop music.

......

In the heart of Shanghai, in a small Western-style building.

Gu Ruanxing was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, holding a freshly opened can of iced cola.

Hearing the intro from the TV, she stopped in her tracks as she was about to drink her cola.

She blinked, her gaze fixed on the screen, and muttered something under her breath.

"Hey, you've got something special? The intro sounds pretty good?"

In the studio.

Jiang Yichen held the microphone with both hands, closed his eyes slightly, and parted his thin lips slightly amidst the attention of the crowd.

His voice was clear, carrying a faint sense of languor and a weathered, storytelling quality.

"Who are you mocking for relying on America to bully others?"

"How can two people be together without a heart?"

It doesn't use operatic singing style; it's the purest form of pop singing.

But the unique pronunciation and phrasing perfectly conveyed the loneliness and helplessness in the lyrics.

Like a spectator recounting a long-forgotten story.

The audience was instantly drawn into the atmosphere he created.

Zhang Xiangjun closed his eyes, tapping his fingers lightly on the table in rhythm, a smile of appreciation on his lips.

Tan Yue raised an eyebrow, a look of amazement flashing in her eyes.

On the stage, the soft blue lights flowed slowly.

Jiang Yichen's singing continued to echo in the studio.

"The bells rang crisply—"

"The light was dim behind the curtain—"

"You and I are a match made in heaven—"

.......

On the judges' panel.

Lin Qinghe sat in the chair, her gaze fixed on the tall figure in the center of the stage.

She was lost in thought.

The melody and lyrics of this song are like a sharp carving knife, peeling away little by little the inner world she tries so hard to hide.

The puppeteer and the puppet.

Isn't what they're singing about also their past three years?

Before the breakup, Jiang Yichen was completely obedient to her.

He would get nervous for ages if she even frowned.

She casually mentioned wanting to eat pastries from the south of the city, and he braved the heavy rain to queue for two hours to buy them.

He gave her all his tenderness and principles, letting her have her way.

And what about her?

As the matchmaker, she never truly cherished this sincere affection.

She disliked his lack of talent, his tendency to only revolve around her, and his lack of understanding of poetry and distant places.

It wasn't until she was thoroughly disgusted by that hypocrite Chen Yu that she finally came to her senses.

It turns out that in this world of fame and fortune, pure love is so precious.

"You and I are a match made in heaven..."

The faint self-mockery in the song was like a needle, piercing her heart precisely, overwhelming her with bitterness and regret.