Chapter 127: Facing It with Indifference

The atmosphere was thick with awkwardness when meeting Lu Zhixuan and the others. Guan Shengjie and his peers struggled with how to face Lin Qihua. Constrained by pressures behind the scenes, they knew full well that Lin Qihua was incapable of the things he was accused of, yet they had been forced to watch helplessly as he was bombarded by the media, teetering on the verge of being driven off the stage of "The Singer." Seeing him now, they could not help but feel a sense of discomfort.

Only Lu Zhixuan remained indifferent to the tension, giving him a hug and a consoling pat on the shoulder. As an A-list artist, he also felt suppressed, but there was no helping it; this was the entertainment industry. He did not fear Tang Zhijie, but he could not resist the pressure exerted by Yuwen Hao.

"Why is everyone acting like this?" Lin Qihua asked with a smile upon seeing their expressions. "It’s not like we’re parting ways forever. I’m fine—actually, I’m doing great. Is this really the right state of mind for you all? Don’t trip over your own feet. I hear the substitute and challenger singers this time are quite formidable."

"You should be the one worrying," Lu Zhixuan replied on behalf of the group.

With that, the mood returned to normal. Since the person involved had spoken, they couldn’t keep their faces stiff under the cameras, could they?

Next, the usual segments—visiting each other's rooms, guessing the identities of the substitute singers, and so on—proceeded as normal. Everyone offered ideas, and it was lively. Yet, everyone knew that the real highlight of this episode was not the new singers, but what would happen when Lin Qihua took the stage.

During the draw, Lin Qihua proactively chose the first slot.

"Everyone knows my situation. Rather than waiting passively, it’s better to be proactive and straightforward. Whether it is sunshine or rain, it is all the grace of the sovereign. The audience is our bread and butter. Going first is better than waiting backstage in anxiety; it lets them vent their emotions quickly so they don’t watch the rest of the competition distracted, which would affect everyone’s performance and the overall effect."

The group fell silent. Zhang Yuxun, the youngest among them, secretly wiped away tears. In her eyes, Lin Qihua was just putting on a brave face.

"That’s a real man," Lu Zhixuan said, giving a thumbs up.

Soon, four other thumbs went up, saluting Lin Qihua’s courage.

At eight o'clock sharp, Wei Hongzhang stood before the microphone, looking at the boisterous audience with a complex expression. He called out the words he had spoken countless times: "The fifth episode of 'The Singer,' all departments ready. Three, two, one, begin."

"Let’s go," Lin Qihua said with a smile to his four partners, who were dressed in the same black suits as he was, along with his music manager, Su Jianhao.

"Oh!"

Su Jianhao felt a sense of foreboding. Watching Lin Qihua’s silhouette, it felt as though he were heading toward a scaffold, a heartbreaking sight.

Quietly wiping the corners of his eyes, Su Jianhao took a few quick steps to catch up with the five of them. Even if he were truly eliminated, he felt honored to have been a partner to Lin Qihua, to have become good friends with this talented, brilliant, yet shy singer.

Good brothers, walking together.

As soon as Guan Shengjie finished introducing the singer, the audience below the stage erupted. Having guessed that it was Lin Qihua about to appear, they grew excited. Usually, they were excited for the brilliant performance to come; this time, they were excited to vent the anger in their hearts.

When the five of them appeared on stage, the scene was in an uproar. Countless viewers began hurling insults at Lin Qihua, the sound nearly shattering the studio. They had once loved Lin Qihua and the wonderful performances he brought, but now they felt they had been blinded and deceived—how could they have liked such a scoundrel?

The fury of being deceived was terrifying. The studio was filled with shouts of "Get out of the entertainment industry," "Scum," and "Trash." Many agitated audience members even threw things at the stage. Fortunately, most were tissues or mineral water bottles; there were no dangerous items.

For a moment, the stage was a mess, and staff scrambled to soothe the audience to prevent further incidents.

The four backup singers beside Lin Qihua were terrified; they only now realized that the "terrible things" Lin Qihua had warned might happen were exactly this. Those who cared about him were also frightened, wondering if Lin Qihua could keep singing under such circumstances.

Lin Qihua remained silent for a moment. He didn't say anything, simply bowing deeply as he always did. Then, he and the other four dispersed, half-sitting on the steps that had been prepared in advance.

Gao Rui nodded in appreciation and waved a hand, signaling the soothing music to begin.

"Chicachahaha," the five of them began, singing softly like a heavenly chorus as the music swelled.

The audience, still venting their emotions, finally quieted down under the efforts of the staff. After all, they didn't want to be kicked out.

"No matter what they tell us,
No matter what they do,
No matter what they teach us,
What we believe it's true."

Lin Qihua rose, his voice gentle. No matter what others say, no matter what they do, no matter what they teach us, what we believe is the truth.

I know you are full of anger and disdain for me. I know the media is speaking ill of me. But so what? I don't care. I believe in myself. I firmly believe that the truth will eventually come to light.

"I can't deny what I believe,
I can't be what I'm not,
I know our love forever,
I know no matter what."

I cannot deny my faith. I cannot be what I am not. I know love is eternal; no matter what, I know.

The five voices blended perfectly. Driven by Lin Qihua, the song was calm, composed, and elegant, spreading throughout the studio, touching the hearts of the audience, and reaching the ears of viewers across the nation.

"It seems to be a very beautiful song," many in the audience murmured.

"What a pity," Lu Zhixuan closed his eyes in regret. "If this were any other time, it would undoubtedly be another classic."

"But I think in this time and place, it gives the song even more charm," Wei Hongzhang said, watching Lin Qihua on stage without hiding his admiration. "Unfazed by wind and rain, even in such an environment, he can sing with such composure. This kid has the bearing of a great general."

"Should we find a way to keep him?" his assistant suggested.

"No," Wei Hongzhang shook his head. "The greatest charm of 'The Singer' is the utmost respect for the audience and their choices. If we interfere, it won't benefit him or us; instead, it will give malicious people ammunition to criticize us to death. That would be a loss that outweighs the gain. I don't think he would want to accept such a result either."

"But we all know he will eventually prove everything."

"Then let's wait until it is proven," Wei Hongzhang smiled. "Let me tell you, risk is opportunity. He did well, let's not gild the lily."

"Alright," the assistant said regretfully, "it’s just a pity."

"His departure now doesn't mean anything; there is still the breakout round," Wei Hongzhang smiled slightly. "After the rain comes the sunshine; people will miss his return even more. By then, he will erupt with even greater energy. So, we should just watch from the sidelines."

"Alright."

"No matter who they follow,
No matter where they leave,
No matter how they judge us,
I'll be everyone you need."

I will keep you safe and strong, shielding you from the wind and rain. No matter how barren the world, dreams will eventually sprout. No matter who others follow, no matter where they point, no matter how they judge us, I will always be with you.

This was a love song, sung to others, but even more so to himself—to his own heart. It was a reminder: no matter what, believe in yourself, believe in your path, believe in your choices. No matter how others treat you, you must face it with strength and persist in your dreams.

The voices of the five were as one, piercing through everything and echoing in the studio, lingering long after the music had faded.

"I am not as good as him," Guan Shengjie shook his head backstage. He had seen how the audience behaved—the overwhelming insults and attacks were not something an ordinary person could endure, let alone sing with such calm and such high standards. Even he, who had always been proud, had to express his admiration.

When the five of them finished and took their final bow, the audience finally snapped out of it. They wanted to continue cursing, but they found that the anger in their hearts had long since vanished, dissipated by the calm and natural "No Matter What." They opened their mouths, but no words came out, and they could only watch in silence as Lin Qihua bowed and left the stage.

"Well done," Su Jianhao was the first to hug Lin Qihua. He understood too well how difficult this had been for him. "That was not easy."

"Thank you for the compliment," Lin Qihua was satisfied with himself. At the beginning, facing the audience's anger, he had been scared—scared of losing control of his emotions and losing his composure in front of the whole country. Fortunately, he had held on.

It seems he really had grown quite a bit.

Back in the lounge, Lin Qihua quietly watched the others perform.

Wang Yalin was as steady as ever, but with added nuances—a change that had only appeared since she arrived at "The Singer."

Lu Zhixuan began trying different styles, and his powerful ability allowed him to master them completely. "The Voice of Music" was right; as long as he made more changes, he could bring even greater surprises.

Guan Shengjie had gained a bit more depth, and his vocal progress was clearly visible.

Zhang Yuxun was no longer nervous. With her full power unleashed, she always brought fresh feelings to the audience. In terms of progress, she was likely the greatest; compared to the nervous little girl at the start, she was far, far stronger.

Yuan Xiaolai did not choose a love song again, instead opting for jazz, and the effect was unexpectedly good. He knew that he couldn't rely on the same old tricks.

Everyone was constantly improving. Compared to the beginning, hadn't he improved as well?

It was precisely this that brought so much brilliance to "The Singer."

This stage had given him so much, but unfortunately, he had to say goodbye to it today. Suddenly, he felt a bit reluctant.

The corners of Lin Qihua’s eyes were suddenly damp. He, who had been strong and unyielding, was struck down by a sudden surge of sentiment.

Coming to participate in "The Singer" really was a happy thing.