Chapter 132: Not Bad at All

Wang Fei stood upright before the panel of mentors, a faint, barely perceptible smirk playing on his lips. He felt his vocal performance had been flawless and injected with profound emotion; as the title track of his new album, he was certain it would be well-received.

However, sitting on the opposite side, Luo Luo’s expression remained somber. Aside from her, the veteran artists on the panel seemed quite satisfied with Wang Fei's performance. The broadcast captured the moment, and Wang Fei’s fans were delighted. Yes! Their "Little Prince of Love Songs" was going to win the competition! As for Luo Luo? She was just one person expressing dissatisfaction. With so many mentors and judges looking on with approval, he only needed one more vote to take first place!

Lin Yu watched from below, thoroughly enjoying the performance. He had to admit, Wang Fei’s vocal timbre was indeed perfectly suited for love songs. That melodic, winding tone, combined with his soulful expression, made it hard not to like him. From the moment he opened his mouth, the audience was drawn in, their minds involuntarily conjuring images of two lovers deeply in love. If it weren't for the fact that Lin Yu possessed a global library of music and could cherry-pick hits that were destined to be popular, he truly wouldn't know how he could possibly best Wang Fei. The man was a powerhouse vocalist who lived up to his reputation.

Before long, the panel of judges and mentors reached a consensus and announced the final scores. To everyone's surprise, Wang Fei’s score tied with Xu Mengbai’s and narrowly surpassed Si Shaozhe’s by a single vote. The contestants who had already received their lower scores began to swallow nervously; in this situation, they were in danger. If the remaining contestants performed better than them, they would face elimination. Even if they were reluctant to accept it, they had no choice, as the votes dictated their fate.

Next on stage was Han Yunxi. The staff helped her move a grand piano onto the stage—a famous, high-end brand, with each instrument costing over a million. The production company had certainly been generous to provide such an impressive piano for her performance. Han Yunxi’s skills were exceptional; her slender fingers danced across the keys, producing sounds as clear and majestic as high mountains and flowing water, immediately immersing the audience. Such professional caliber clearly suggested she had been trained by masters. The entire venue was captivated, and everyone began waving their glow sticks in rhythm. The livestream chat was filled with praise.

"My god, the piano playing is just incredible, so skillful!"
"It really is an experience like high mountains and flowing water; it feels so immersive, like I’m standing right in front of a beautiful landscape I’ve always longed for!"
"I didn't realize Baby Han Yunxi was this talented! I’m a fan now!"
"I’m seeing so many geniuses on this show; definitely following!"
"Baby Yunxi has been in the industry for a year now! I hope everyone supports her!"

After Han Yunxi finished her piano piece, the venue remained silent for a long moment. Everyone was lost in her perfect performance, unable to pull themselves away. Fortunately, the years of piano practice she had undergone since childhood did not let her down. This time, she secured a score of six votes!

Then it was Lin Yu’s turn. He had stepped offstage earlier to change into his costume. He wore an outfit from the fifties and sixties, his punk jacket adorned with sparkling patches, and an afro wig on his head, giving him a strangely comedic appearance. The camera perfectly captured his charming look, and the audience in the livestream went wild!

"Holy! What is this outfit? Did he travel back to the fifties?"
"Oh my, the styling is absolutely top-tier; I’m so confused but loving it!"
"Dressed like that in the fifties, he’d definitely be a heartthrob, hahahaha!"
"This is totally a disco look. Is he going to jump from playing the piano to doing a vintage dance?"
"Laughing to death, Yu is always so unexpected. He’s got something up his sleeve!"
"Guys, who gets it? This vintage outfit is showing off his massive chest muscles—who can handle this?"
"Everyone, those eight-pack abs! Drool!"
"Who is he dressing up for? For me! It looks great! I love watching!"
"Ahhhh, so handsome! I could touch those abs for a year!"
"Dream on, or Yu will be crying and explaining himself in my bed tonight."
"?? What are you guys talking about? Why is this getting weirder?"
"I can't believe Yu looks this handsome even in fifties clothing! If I wore this retro, non-mainstream style, I wouldn't dare step outside for fear of looking like a fool!"

Lin Yu had an old, vintage-looking guitar strapped to his chest. On the screen behind him, a line of LED text slowly appeared, resembling the colorful neon lights of a fifties dance hall.

"Everyone, the song I am going to perform today is..."
" 'Wild Wolf Disco'!"
"I hope you all like it!"

Upon hearing the title, the judges and mentors connected it to Lin Yu’s attire and couldn't help but wonder: which classic song from that era was this? Why hadn't they heard of it? However, they had to admit that Lin Yu’s look perfectly matched the fifties aesthetic. It was clear a lot of thought had gone into the styling, which showed great respect for the stage. Most young people today were impatient and would just do the bare minimum, so such a well-executed costume was highly commendable. These veteran artists had lived through the fifties; if anyone knew how to critique this, it was them. Others might not know what to make of Lin Yu, but Xu Mengbai and Wang Fei, who had been watching from the sidelines, had already seen through his intentions.

*Mentors, I hope you’ll still be wearing those satisfied expressions after the performance!*

The intro began, and as the music started, the stage lights went out. In the center of the stage, a tall figure stood perfectly still. This mysterious entrance left the judges feeling a bit bewildered. What was he doing?

Lin Yu lowered his voice, sounding as if he were speaking from far away or through a telephone line:
"Hey, why are you calling me on the phone?"
"There’s no signal here."
"I can't hear a word you're saying!"
"I'm hanging up now."
"Shaking my head."

As he finished speaking, the stage lights suddenly flared to life, followed by the sound of a guitar. His fingers were as nimble as popping candy, spinning and leaping across the strings, his body leaning forward with a confident smirk. The judges, swayed by the upbeat tempo, couldn't help but raise their hands to dance and cheer along. Meanwhile, the mentors were left completely confused.

*Huh? Wasn't this supposed to be a song from the fifties? Why does it have such a trendy rhythm? Why haven't we heard it before?*

In the center of the stage, a circular ring of light illuminated the floor beneath Lin Yu, emitting a dazzling array of colors as he stood atop the platform.