Chapter 66: The Night of the Final Battle (Part Two)

Qin Xiyao’s true identity had yet to be fully revealed, but the venue was already in an uproar.

Many people, upon hearing that the singer was none other than Qin Xiyao, were first struck dumb, standing agape in disbelief for a long moment before leaping to their feet, faces alight with excitement, calling her name at the top of their lungs.

At this moment, all the major media outlets, upon receiving this sensational news, scrambled to break the explosive scoop, with their reports thinly veiling complaints about the television station’s secrecy—no hint of this had leaked before the finals.

For their part, the TV station also felt wronged; it wasn’t for lack of willingness to reveal the news. In fact, they themselves had only learned of it shortly before the competition began. Otherwise, given the station’s usual style, how could they have resisted publicizing Qin Xiyao as the guest performer? With her status as a pop diva, her appearance would have added even more luster to the grand finale.

At the very least, the ratings would have soared to new heights.

With Qin Xiyao’s identity unveiled, the atmosphere reached an unprecedented fever pitch, even more electrifying than when Dong Kai and Huang Quan had finished their duet.

As Qin Xiyao’s singing drew to a close and everyone expected her to step into the spotlight, a man’s voice suddenly rang out.

“A whole night of love and hate entwined, only the feeling of a heart being torn remains.

The happiness that should have been mine, you ignored; I am unwilling, unable to compromise.

Suddenly, a snow falls so pure and white, burying me within your world.

It freezes the time I can love, yet lets the pain last forever…”

Everyone recognized this voice—it was Lin Chuan. Watching the two indistinct figures on stage slowly draw together, the entire audience erupted, shouting in excitement.

At that moment, there was a series of booming sounds as the stage lights blazed on, turning night into day.

Lin Chuan wore casual pants and leather shoes, with a short-sleeved shirt on top. He looked sunny and handsome, and though his stubble was not completely shaven, it lent him a mature aura.

As for Qin Xiyao, her fair skin, sweet features, and graceful figure marked her as a true beauty. She wore a snow-white lace dress, looking for all the world like Snow White stepping out of a fairy tale.

When she and Lin Chuan stood together, there was not the slightest sense of imbalance. On the contrary, they seemed perfectly matched—a golden couple dazzling in the spotlight.

“Snow falls so pure, burying me in your world.

Caught in your ever-changing lies, my love is stranded…”

The magnetic timbre of Lin Chuan’s voice blended seamlessly with Qin Xiyao’s sweetness, rendering the song to perfection.

Swept away by excitement, the audience spontaneously created waves of cheering, countless glow-sticks rising and falling in the darkness, forming a breathtaking scene.

At this moment, both the fans in the venue and the viewers at home were convinced that Lin Chuan was destined to win this year’s “One Song to Fame” Grand Finals.

He had not only brought them an unforgettable performance, but also a tremendous surprise—a surprise so overwhelming that his fans, especially his most devoted supporters, wept with happiness.

The song was titled “Snow,” originally sung by the singer Du Wenti in a previous lifetime.

As the melody faded, the host led Huang Quan and Dong Kai to the center of the stage.

“Is everyone happy tonight?” the host asked.

“Yes!” the crowd roared.

Having learned from earlier, the fans now answered with all their might, each one screaming at the top of their lungs.

“I know!” the host teased with a laugh. “Are you excited?”

“Yes!”

“Surprised?”

“Surprised!”

“Good, you’re all very honest. I feel just as excited as you do. Qin Xiyao is everyone’s goddess, and she’s mine, too. Having her here tonight is a blessing for us all. But don’t forget, this is a competition—a ruthless one. Who will claim the championship tonight? That’s up to you.”

“Well then, both contestants have finished their performances. What are you waiting for? Grab your phones and cast your precious vote for your favorite! In addition to texting, you can vote via the Beining TV website, Weibo, or PP Entertainment. Now, let’s count down together to open the voting channel…”

“Three…”

“Two…”

“One…”

“Voting is open!”

With the host’s announcement, both the audience at the venue and viewers at home bowed their heads, picked up their phones, and began to vote.

At the same time, the big screen behind the stage displayed Lin Chuan’s and Huang Quan’s names, each with a set of numbers beneath, representing their vote tallies.

The numbers climbed rapidly—this would determine which of them would have the last laugh.

In the men’s dormitory of Xihai University, Guo Yang sat at his computer, three phones in hand, busy with the task. A roommate approached, grinning. “Guo Yang, who are you voting for?”

“Is that even a question? Of course it’s Lin Chuan.” Guo Yang replied without looking up.

“Heh, great minds think alike. Not only do I love Chuan-ge’s songs, but since my goddess came to help him, I have to vote for him too,” the roommate said with a laugh.

“Phew, finally done. Where’s everyone else?” Guo Yang exhaled, glancing around the dorm to find only himself and the other guy present.

“They’ve all gone out to rally votes. Our room is all in for Chuan-ge…”

Scenes like this unfolded across the country, with everyone campaigning for their favorite contestant—some for Lin Chuan, some for Huang Quan.

Even those who’d only intended to watch the excitement, upon learning that both Qin Xiyao and Dong Kai had appeared, couldn’t help but join in, picking up their phones or logging onto their computers to cast a vote.

Ten minutes passed, and the numbers on the big screen began to slow.

Huang Quan: 1,536,712

Lin Chuan: 1,422,158

When the tallies appeared, everyone was stunned. Lin Chuan trailed Huang Quan by over a hundred thousand votes—how could that be? With Qin Xiyao supporting him, how could Lin Chuan have so few votes?

Many doubted their eyes, certain something was wrong. But after rubbing their eyes and looking again, the numbers had changed.

Huang Quan: 1,552,489

Lin Chuan: 1,423,261

Huang Quan’s votes had jumped by nearly twenty thousand, while Lin Chuan’s had barely budged.

The host and several judges were also taken aback by the numbers. They, too, found the results puzzling.

Given Lin Chuan’s performance—not perfect, perhaps, but a clear improvement over earlier rounds—and with such a beautiful song and Qin Xiyao’s participation, how could his votes be so low?

For a moment, even the host and the judges wondered if something was amiss.

“Voting is still ongoing; these are not the final results. If you haven’t voted yet, take out your phone now and vote for your favorite. You can also vote via the Beining TV website, Weibo, or PP Entertainment…” the host said, seizing the microphone to urge more votes.

Just then, Judge Chen Dong suddenly stood up, his expression grave. “I have a few words for everyone here and watching at home,” he said.

“Of course,” the host replied with a smile.

Chen Dong turned to face the audience and declared, “Since the start of the show, everyone has seen the hard work Lin Chuan has poured into his music. Each of his songs is a classic. He is an exceptionally talented singer. I sincerely hope you will cast your vote for him…”

At the end, Chen Dong bowed deeply to the entire stadium.

At that moment, everyone was astounded. Who was Chen Dong? Everyone knew—he was a giant in the music world, a figure of supreme authority. He was known as the “Impartial Judge,” notorious for his harsh and exacting standards. Even established stars had often been ruthlessly criticized by him.

Yet today, before a national audience, not only did he campaign for Lin Chuan, he bowed to the crowd.

This went far beyond mere admiration. In all of China, there was likely no other singer for whom he would do such a thing.

To Chen Dong, talent was of immeasurable value.

The venue erupted in commotion. When Chen Dong bowed, the host, Meng Yu, was frozen with shock; both Huang Quan and Lin Chuan were stunned, and even Dong Kai and Qin Xiyao could hardly believe it.

As a senior figure in the music industry, Chen Dong was held in the highest esteem by them all. That he would bow and campaign for a contestant with whom he had no personal connection was unimaginable.

Dong Kai and Qin Xiyao were dumbfounded; Lin Chuan himself, as the one involved, was equally so. The other judges were similarly bewildered.

“Ahem… Since Teacher Chen has spoken, I’d like to say a few words as well…” At this point, Judge Yang Wei cleared his throat and stood up.

But before he could finish, the host quickly interjected, “Alright, there’s half an hour left before voting closes. Please hurry and cast your precious vote for your favorite contestant! Voting instructions are at the bottom of the screen—just follow the prompts to vote…”