Chapter 159: Xiaoqian's Departure

In the grand finale of "The Vocalist", Wang Yalin ultimately triumphed over all competitors with an even more flawless performance, claiming the crown of Best Singer.

The next day, Xiangzhou TV station hosted a modest celebration banquet to commemorate the massive success of the show and to express gratitude for the strenuous efforts of the singers.

Lu Zhixuan, Yuan Xiaolai, Lin Qihua, and others all extended their congratulations to Wang Yalin. In everyone's eyes, Wang Yalin's victory was entirely well-deserved, and no one felt any unfairness. They themselves had all attained what they desired; at the very least, they had weathered the test of this stage, survived the scrutiny of the nationwide audience, and seen their popularity rise significantly. For figures like Lu Zhixuan and Yuan Xiaolai, whose momentum had previously been on a downward trend, they had not only stabilized but actually climbed back up, securing prominent positions among top-tier artists and establishing themselves as elder statesmen of the music industry. This left them deeply satisfied.

As for Lin Qihua and Zhang Yuyun, needless to say, their meteoric rise in popularity had propelled them into the upper echelon of second-tier stars. Their greatest and most vital harvest was confidence. Having traversed this stage, what further hardships could possibly make them feel helpless?

Aside from the singers, the most talked-about figure was Wei Hongzhang. Taking the helm of this program, he had shouldered immense pressure and experienced countless twists and turns. Particularly before the premiere of this season, doubts had been raised regarding the live-broadcast format. Critics worried it would fail to perfectly showcase the singers' abilities, potentially leading to disastrous pitchy performances, and advocated a return to recorded shows to recreate the past glory of "The Vocalist". However, Wei Hongzhang withstood the pressure. Believing in the survival of the fittest, he reasoned that those lacking strength would not dare step onto a live stage, while those with true talent would naturally emerge. Facts proved him right. Veteran top-tier singers like Wang Yalin and Lu Zhixuan showed enduring resilience and versatility, while younger artists like Lin Qihua and Zhang Yuyun erupted with astonishing potential, creating a blooming garden of diverse talents. In particular, the explosive breakthrough delivered by Lin Qihua, coupled with the audience's engagement and approval of the live format, once again propelled "The Vocalist" into a phenomenal variety show. Its ratings soared far ahead of all competitors, crowning it the most-watched variety show of the entire year. Achieving widespread fame and reaping both profit and prestige, Wei Hongzhang naturally stood as the primary contributor.

The singers harbored deep gratitude toward him. Lu Zhixuan's speech encapsulated the collective sentiment of the cast: "Director Wei, although your demands were harsh and we argued more than once over song selection; although you are long-winded, especially during the result announcements—a format that made us want to bite or beat you up, as it was simply agonizing—you are an exceptionally brilliant director and producer. Without your comprehensive control, we could never have achieved such outstanding results. On behalf of all the singers, I thank you for inviting and choosing us, for your strict standards, and for looking out for us. Thank you!"

That night, many drank until they were intoxicated, with only a few exceptions like Lin Qihua and Zhang Yuyun remaining sober.

Wang Yalin was drunk. Pulling Lin Qihua close, she shared her inner thoughts: "Actually, the championship doesn't matter at all; I don't care about it. In my heart, you are the true champion. From the very first song, you were the most dazzling singer on this stage. I shamelessly accepted this crown largely because, as Lao Lu and Lao Wei put it, you guys are too young, and bearing this title might be a bit too heavy, potentially hindering your future development. I had to be the one to shoulder it. In truth, among the few of us, no one is inferior to anyone else."

"I know. Sister Yalin performed brilliantly, and there is no doubt about this championship. I am already deeply content to have made it this far, and I am filled with gratitude for the immense care and affection shown to me by you, Brother Lu, and the others. Truly, you don't need to comfort me; I am purely happy."

"That's good."

"Sister Yalin, how far are you all from becoming global superstars?"

"Far, yet not far; close, yet so far away," Wang Yalin said, speaking of things Lin Qihua struggled to comprehend. "Popularity is no longer the main factor. The crucial challenge is stepping beyond our borders to fight on the world stage, capturing the attention and support of the people nationwide while earning recognition from the world's mainstream music markets. The difficulty of this is immense, primarily due to the language barrier. Although Mandarin has become a very influential language, the dominant global lingua franca remains English. At best, Mandarin is recognized as a foreign language by them. This achievement is the result of the tireless efforts of countless predecessors. As long as English remains dominant, we cannot hold an advantage when competing globally against other countries."

"Is that so?" Lin Qihua had not anticipated this.

"Hurry up and ascend to the top tier. Once you reach the top tier, your battlefield will expand vastly," Wang Yalin patted his shoulder. "We cannot change this status quo, so the primary approach currently adopted by everyone is a mix of Chinese and English—establishing fame with English works in these English-pop regions, and consequently making them fall in love with our Chinese works. As musicians, this is basically what we do. Success doesn't happen overnight; we can only take it slow and gradually expand our influence. Film is different; it conveys visuals directly to the audience's eyes. Even with Chinese subtitles paired with English translation, it doesn't hinder the audience's viewing experience, making it more than twice as advantageous as the music format."

"Alright, I understand. I will work doubly hard."

Lu Zhixuan was also drunk. Following Wang Yalin, he threw his arm around Lin Qihua, filled with deep emotion, "I've finally fulfilled my wish. Now I can temporarily put work aside and accomplish the most important event of life."

"Ah, has the date been set?" Lin Qihua knew he was truly preparing to get married.

"Not yet. Once I head back, I'll have the family sit down and discuss it. Anyway, no matter how busy you are at that time, you better rush over and sing a song for me live—and it has to be an original."

"Fine, fine, I'll agree, alright?"

"Haha, you kid. The moment I first saw you, I felt a connection, but I never expected your strength to be so formidable. Given time, I'd probably be looking up to you. I'm so glad I got to compete on the same stage with you. I thought this time I'd just be walking through the motions, but you stirred up my competitive spirit, allowing me to break through myself, achieve things I couldn't before, and find the changes that suited me. I really have to thank you for that."

"Don't be like that. We're still a group, after all. We still need to release albums together and hold concerts together—as long as you aren't sick of me."

"Haha, exactly, we're a boy band. Please continue to guide me in the future."

"That goes without saying."

Yuan Xiaolai, Guan Shengjie, Cai Yuting, and others were all nursing a degree of intoxication. Wen Weizhe even issued a solemn invitation to Lin Qihua, "If you have time, you must visit Xiangjiang. Perhaps Xiangjiang's music is no longer as glorious as it once was, but there remains a massive pool of talented singers and songwriters who, constrained by various factors, haven't achieved the explosive fame of the past. In truth, Xiangjiang music remains the most formidable segment of the Mandopop industry."

"I will definitely visit when I have time, and I'd love to experience firsthand the charm of Xiangjiang music that once swept across all of Asia," Lin Qihua readily agreed.

"Be sure to look for me then; I'll show you around properly."

"Great, Xiangjiang's cuisine is legendary, and as a genuine foodie, my mouth has been watering for ages."

"Haha, I'll make sure of it."

"Everyone needs to come take a stroll in our Taiwan as well. Our music and local customs possess a very unique charm, too," Zhang Yuyun also extended an invitation to the group.

"When you get married, we'll all travel there as a delegation," Lu Zhixuan teased, ever fond of provoking her.

Sure enough, Zhang Yuyun's face flushed instantly, "You're impossible! Who's getting married that soon?"

"Haha, today's entertainers don't have the same taboos about dating and marriage that our generation had. Countless artists get married right after achieving fame, and flaunting their affection daily is a surefire way to hit the headlines. Once a child arrives, you're back in the center of public attention. The slightest whisper can land you on the front page. So, while you're young, date more—there's no problem with that."

"Haha."

The night ended with both hosts and guests thoroughly satisfied, marking the official conclusion of this season of "The Vocalist." From this point onward, everyone would part ways to pursue their own paths, but the three months spent together as both rivals and friends would remain etched forever in their hearts.

When Lin Qihua woke up the next day, his head still throbbed slightly. He had gone to sleep far too late the previous night. As the youngest brother of the group, everyone had pulled him aside to talk. Though much of it was drunken nonsense, he had forced himself to stay alert and converse with them. By the time it finally ended and he returned to his hotel room, it was already the dead of night. After a hurried wash-up, he had collapsed into sleep, waking only when the sun was high in the sky.

After finishing breakfast, Shen Menni knocked and entered, uttering words that instantly made Lin Qihua leap to his feet: "Xiao Qian has left."

"Huh?" Lin Qihua failed to process it for a second.

"I said, Xiao Qian has resigned and left. She is no longer your personal assistant."

"Why?" Lin Qihua's jaw dropped, utterly unable to accept the news.

"Why? You'll have to ask yourself," Shen Menni sighed. "She is the gentlest and most considerate girl I've ever seen. For your sake, she even gave up pursuing the doctorate she had already been admitted to, choosing to join our company solely to stay by your side, watching over you and guarding you. Yet, in the end, she still chose to leave. As for the exact reason, I have no idea."

Lin Qihua fell silent, a stifled, heavy feeling lodging in his chest. He had grown accustomed to the feeling of Ma Xiao Qian bustling around him, organizing this and arranging that. Suddenly deprived of it, everything felt hollow. Some people’s true value isn't appreciated in daily life; only when they are lost do you realize how unbearable their absence is.

"Why?" he murmured.

"When she left, she was very calm and very resolute," Shen Menni said. "Actually, she filed her resignation a full week ago, making me keep it a secret from you. She said she wanted to wait until your grand finale concluded so she could watch you finish this journey perfectly before quietly slipping away."

"Why didn't you tell me beforehand?" Lin Qihua clutched his head, his thoughts spinning in chaos.