Congratulations, you did it!

Ren Feichang’s judgment, a single point, exploded like a bomb, igniting public outrage both inside and outside the venue. In the audience, people rose from their seats, glaring angrily as waves of boos and protests echoed through the hall.

“What kind of evaluation is this? Absurd!” a fan cried, waving a support sign, disbelief written all over their face.

The host struggled to maintain a professional smile in front of the camera. “Uh... We see Mentor Ren Feichang has given an unexpectedly low score…”

Below the stage, the barrage of comments was relentless:

[Ren Feichang, are you blind?]
[Ji Fanxing is being blatantly sabotaged!]
[She was clearly the best tonight, and gets one point? Is this a joke?!]

Soon, the other mentors began to give their own evaluations. Each lavished praise upon Ji Fanxing’s performance tonight, pressing the highest score without hesitation.

“Ten!” “Ten!” “Ten!” …

The unbroken stream of perfect scores announced Ji Fanxing’s indisputable talent and charm. When the final number settled, the big screen displayed 90.88—a result that firmly crowned her as King.

Yet at that moment, in live streaming rooms and before television screens, everyone following the semi-final of “The Ultimate Singer” had only one question in their hearts: Why was Ren Feichang so harsh?

Social media quickly erupted:

#RenFeichangLosesImpartiality#
#JiFanxing90.88#
#NewGenerationPekingOpera#

Hashtags spread like wildfire. Netizens posted comments supporting Ji Fanxing and harshly criticized Ren Feichang.

“I never expected such bias from a seasoned musician,” read one comment in the live chat. “From today, I’ll never listen to his music again.”

Another fan vented, “He only gave a low score out of jealousy, didn’t he? An artist should have a broad heart.”

The situation escalated, and the production team of “The Ultimate Singer” felt the mounting pressure. Though negative news increased the show’s visibility and sparked conversation, mishandling it could damage the program’s brand.

Ji Fanxing walked lightly back to her seat, her luxurious gown shimmering under the lights. Her face still held a serene smile, as if nothing on stage had affected her in the slightest.

Ye Yu, sitting not far from her, curled his lips in mockery. “Hmph, she’s really good at pretending,” he muttered. “Just wait—once the results are out, she’ll know what reality feels like.”

But what happened next surprised everyone. As the competition reached its final stages, the audience became ever more critical and demanding of the contestants. High scores became scarce, as precious as rare gems.

“Seventy!” “Seventy-five!” “Seventy-eight!”

Even outstanding, highly anticipated contestants couldn’t escape the strict scoring trend. When someone finally received the highest score of eighty, everyone was shocked.

The program director furrowed his brow, exchanging anxious glances in front of the monitor. Fans complained in the live chat, “What’s going on today? Everyone’s scores are dropping!” “Our favorite sang so well!”

But when the host announced the final result—Ji Fanxing, 90.88!

The entire venue erupted! Despite earlier expectations, the confirmation of that number unleashed a torrent of cheers.

Ye Yu’s jaw dropped in astonishment; she had thought Ji Fanxing wouldn’t take first place this time. Yet, even amid such harsh scoring, Ji Fanxing firmly held onto the King title.

The camera caught Ji Fanxing rising and bowing to the crowd. Every movement radiated composure and elegance, without any trace of arrogance or loss of poise in victory.

In the live stream, comments swept the screen like floodwaters:

[My queen!!]
[90.88, forever remembered!!]
[Ren Feichang, did you see? This is a fair evaluation!]

As the host finished speaking, the audience fell silent. Everyone assumed the King challenge would be a mere formality—after all, Ji Fanxing had just secured the throne with a remarkable 90.88, who would dare to step forward?

Yet, in this solemn quiet, a figure slowly stood. She was Ji Shengxue—Ji Fanxing’s elder sister, widely recognized in the entertainment industry as a singing prodigy.

“I want to challenge.” Her voice was cold and clear as thawing river water, exuding unwavering determination.

The crowd was in an uproar! Fans whispered excitedly, “Impossible! Ji Shengxue is here too?” “A showdown between sisters? This plot twist is explosive!” The live chat was ablaze with comments.

Only Ji Fanxing, seated below the stage, smiled slightly, her gaze deep, as if she had long foreseen this moment. She knew there was no need for words now, for the true contest was about to begin.

The host announced, “Now, please listen as our beautiful and talented challenger, Ji Shengxue, performs the first song of Master Fang Zhijing’s ‘Ancient Melody’ series.”

The lights dimmed, focusing on the center stage. As the first note leapt forth, all eyes were drawn to the poised, graceful woman. She closed her eyes, seeming to isolate herself from the entire world.

The music began—“Ancient Melody” flowed as if traversing a thousand years to the present. Every word, every phrase revealed Master Fang Zhijing’s meticulous artistry; Ji Shengxue’s interpretation was flawless—her voice echoed like it was sent from ancient mountain valleys.

The audience was utterly stunned! Even viewers online couldn’t help but type, “My god! Like a fairy descended!” “So beautiful…”

Ji Shengxue’s entrance was like a fresh breeze; the stage lights faded, leaving only a soft spotlight upon her. As the first notes sounded, the melodious pipa drifted gently, transporting the audience to the ancient capital.

The lyrics brimmed with rich traditional flavor, each word like a carefully polished gem, shining with cultural depth. Ji Shengxue wore a long dress styled like an ink painting, spinning and dancing lightly on stage. Her nuanced performance made time seem to stand still, as if the world itself paused for this moment.

Meanwhile, backstage, Ren Feichang watched the live broadcast, his face ashen. He knew this song was crafted by his respected teacher—Master Fang Zhijing. At this moment, Ji Fanxing’s high score victory was tantamount to tarnishing Master Fang’s reputation.

The camera returned to the stage, where the atmosphere of “The Ultimate Singer” reached its peak. Everyone watched, spellbound, as Ji Shengxue’s performance, nearly an artistic masterpiece, came to its end.

As the music faded, thunderous applause and cheers erupted. Clearly, the audience was captivated by the extraordinary talent and effort she displayed.

At the same time, some fans inside and outside Huayun Theatre grew anxious. “No way, our Star hasn’t prepared any special program tonight, right?” “I’m a little scared…” The comments were filled with worry and anticipation.

Netizens posted, “Though I support Ji Fanxing, tonight Ji Shengxue is truly breathtaking!”

“If there’s no better strategy, it may be hard to surpass tonight.”

While everyone held their breath, awaiting the verdict, Ji Fanxing remained calm and composed, showing no sign of anxiety or tension. She sat in the waiting area with eyes closed, silently reflecting, as if counting the beats of the new song she was about to perform—a piece she had composed and written herself.