Chapter 107: The Mysterious Replacement and the Challenger

"Haha," Lu Zhixuan chuckled, the deafening sound of music blaring from behind him. "How is your song coming along?"

"Almost there. Just finished writing it; now comes the refining and practicing."

"Can't you have an off day for once? You have to snatch first place again?" Lu Zhixuan said with mock exaggeration. "I haven't even had a turn at it yet."

"If you want it, earn it," Lin Qihua said with a smile, knowing Lu Zhixuan was just joking. "This stage doesn't tolerate the slightest carelessness. If you slip up, you're out. Taking first place is secondary; staying on the show is what matters most."

"True," Lu Zhixuan said in a low voice. "Take Weizhe, for example. What a great singer. I admire his talent, but one moment of carelessness cost him his spot. If we get sloppy, we might be the next to leave."

"Leaving doesn't matter as much as doing each song justice. The whole nation is watching; everyone knows who is good and who isn't. Just focus on your own performance—that’s enough."

"You really are terrifyingly mature."

"I'm just calm. Sentimentality is only for my songwriting and performance."

"Alright, alright. Do you know who the new substitute singer is? Or who the challenger is?" Lu Zhixuan asked, looking mischievous.

"No, and I'm not interested." Lin Qihua looked at his expression, offering no concessions. "Don't tell me you have inside information. If Director Wei's security were that lax, 'The Vocalist' wouldn't have reached such heights."

"Fine," Lu Zhixuan said, deflated. "I was just guessing. I asked several friends, but they all kept mum. It's infuriating! But knowing Director Wei, the first substitute singer is definitely going to pull out all the stops. You’d better be careful."

"I will." Lin Qihua felt a warmth in his heart. Lu Zhixuan was truly kind to him, showing none of the arrogance typical of an A-list star, which deeply touched Lin Qihua.

***

On Thursday, Lin Qihua and his team flew to Xiangzhou once again.

Thanks to the early announcements and organization by the "Morning Star" fan club, many fans were waiting at the airport. They wore matching outfits, waved props, and chanted slogans in unison as they welcomed Lin Qihua's party.

"Thank you." Lin Qihua waved frequently to the fans, expressing his gratitude for their support, while a cameraman behind him faithfully recorded the scene.

A young woman carrying a bouquet of flowers walked up to him. "I'm Lin Li, the head of the local fan group in Xiangzhou. Congratulations on your great performance."

"Thank you." Lin Qihua let go of his suitcase, took the bouquet, and gave Lin Li a light hug. "I am deeply moved by your support."

"Would you like to say a few words to everyone? We are all loyal members of the 'Morning Star'."

"Sure," Lin Qihua smiled. Clutching the flowers, he walked toward the fans gathered outside the barrier. Behind him, Chang Yan and the others consciously stepped aside to clear the path, trying to avoid disrupting other travelers. Lin Yu communicated with the airport security, ensuring their presence wouldn't interfere with the airport's normal operations. They obtained the guards' cooperation; naturally, this was a common occurrence in Xiangzhou, and the security staff were used to it. However, they felt respected by such a professional team that took the initiative to check in with them beforehand.

In the past, many artists had been greeted by crowds that blocked public areas, but none had ever thought to ask the security staff for their opinion. These guards carried the heavy responsibility of airport safety and were usually annoyed by such disruptions, yet they tolerated it for the sake of the artists. Now, with someone actually seeking their permission, their mood improved significantly.

And could an artist with such a team be anything less than excellent?

Over on the fan side, Lin Qihua was already chatting animatedly. Being able to interact with their idol at such close range, the fans were ecstatic, constantly reaching out to shake his hand. Lin Qihua maintained a smile throughout, shaking hands and chatting, kindly urging everyone not to get too excited and reminding them there would be plenty of opportunities in the future. He added that if they wanted autographs, they could leave a message on the official channel, and the company would arrange it.

After about half an hour, Lin Qihua posed for a group photo with the fans and said his goodbyes. By then, the fans had gradually calmed down, knowing their idol needed rest. They stopped following him, feeling satisfied—they had gotten close to him, spoken to him, and shaken his hand. What more could they ask for?

"The 'Morning Star' is growing stronger every day," Shen Manni remarked on the way to the hotel.

Lin Qihua nodded. Today's situation showed that the fan club had put in a great deal of work, and their organization was highly effective. "It's truly not easy to show such strength so quickly."

"That’s only because you’ve achieved success, so everyone recognizes you," Shen Manni said, glancing at him. "You have to keep working hard, for the sake of your lovely fans."

"For the sake of my lovely fans."

***

The third episode was about to begin, and the original six starters were gathered together.

"Come on, let's go harass the newcomers." Lu Zhixuan led a group of people, laughing as they headed toward the lounge for the substitute and challenger singers. "They're being so mysterious; we have to flush them out today."

However, they were stopped at the door by the substitute singer's music manager, who blocked the entrance like a protective hen. "You can't go in."

"Come on, we wouldn't bully a young woman, would we?" Lu Zhixuan naturally wouldn't use force, choosing to play along instead. "But the singers here are, in a sense, the seniors of your singer on the 'The Vocalist' stage, right? We came to say hello; shouldn't there be a response?"

"I represent him in paying respects to all the seniors. Hello, everyone, please go easy on us," music manager Liang Sini said, bowing repeatedly. "Due to the rules, we can't meet for now. Please forgive us."

"Forgiveness is fine, but you have to at least make a sound and say something to everyone."

"Hello, everyone. I am the new substitute singer." A voice came from inside, clearly distorted by a voice changer, making it impossible to guess who it was.

"Not sincere enough. How about this: sing a few lines for everyone," Guan Shengjie said, trying to mediate. "We won't make it difficult for you. Just sing a few lines. If we guess it, we guess it; if not, so be it."

There was a moment of silence inside, followed by a couple of coughs. Then, the singer began to perform a well-known song. Although it was only a few lines, the profound skill behind the voice was already evident.

After hearing a few bars, Lu Zhixuan understood. With his experience in the industry, he knew most singers and had already made a preliminary judgment. He turned to exchange a glance with Wang Yalin, realizing she had guessed it as well.

However, due to the nature of the show, neither could say it directly. They just tossed out a few random names, shared a few jokes, and left the lounge.

The challenger was even harder to guess. If substitute singers were usually established, powerful artists, challengers were typically talented but lesser-known. Director Wei Hongzhang had a sharp eye for this. Even though the challenger cooperated by singing a long segment, no one could identify them. But the tension-filled high notes made it clear to everyone that this was a singer of immense capability.

Back in the common room, as everyone began to draw lots, the expressions on Lu Zhixuan and Wang Yalin's faces were solemn.

"The newcomers are formidable. Everyone, be careful. You must adjust your state of mind. One slip-up, and you could be gone," Lu Zhixuan said.

Lin Qihua knew Lu Zhixuan must have recognized the substitute. Even if he hadn't, everyone could tell this was a powerhouse, and as Lu had said, they needed to be cautious.

Because from tonight on, it was a one-shot, winner-takes-all deal. There was absolutely no chance for a comeback.

After the draw, everyone returned to their rooms to prepare. Lin Qihua had bad luck and drew the first spot. For a competition with such intense rivalry, this position was extremely disadvantageous. With nine singers performing—six original, two new, and one returning—if you perform first and fail to leave a deep impression, how can you expect the audience to remember you and cast their vote?

The others looked at him with concern, but Lin Qihua smiled to signal there was no need to worry.

"True, you kid—why should we worry? If anything, we should worry about ourselves," Lu Zhixuan said with self-deprecation. He was performing fourth that night; with his talent, he didn't need to be too concerned.

Back in the dressing room, the team began preparing his look.

"Are you really going to wear these?" Su Jianhao asked, eyes widening in surprise as he looked at the clothes the stylist had prepared.

"Yes," Lin Qihua replied calmly. "You know, singing is very much about state of mind. This song requires me to wear these clothes to help me feel the mood and the artistic conception of the piece."

"Alright, whatever you say, you're always right." Su Jianhao quickly surrendered. After two episodes, he understood that Lin Qihua’s talent was beyond what others could grasp, and there must be a reason for what he did. In truth, he was only asking on behalf of the audience; the director would surely edit these clips for the broadcast.

"Haha, don't worry. It's just a bit old and tattered, isn't it?" Lin Qihua chuckled.

"You call this 'a bit old'?" Su Jianhao stared gloomily as Lin Qihua put on a faded, off-white canvas shirt with a patch on one side, paired with yellowish jeans. It looked completely out of place.

"Haha, trust me, I've got this." Lin Qihua patted Su Jianhao’s shoulder and sat on the sofa, closing his eyes to compose himself. He needed to cultivate his emotions. Scenes began to flash through his mind, and his previously relaxed mood instantly turned heavy.

"What the hell," Su Jianhao sensed the change around Lin Qihua with sensitivity. "It feels like something out of a novel—his presence, his aura, it’s as if everything around him is being influenced by his shifting emotions."

Is this the aura of a top-tier singer? The thought flashed through Su Jianhao's mind, followed by a sudden, chilling realization: When did he start thinking of him as a top-tier singer?