Behind-the-scenes manipulation? We're rubbing it in your faces!

As a disciple of the Grand Elder, the King of the Underworld, Chu Xinghe says he still possesses the Grand Elder's style when it comes to engaging in underworld activities.

What underhanded dealings...? Am I Chu Xinghe, the kind of person who engages in underhanded dealings?

This whole Ma Liang and his sister came to Vast Heaven's Good Voice, and you're telling me it might just be a joke?

I, Chu Xinghe, will absolutely not allow this!

I'll just pre-select this year's champion! I won't watch the show unless the champion is Ma Liang's Sister!

Moreover, we didn't compete one round at a time to win the championship. In the very first round, we directly announced that Ma Liang's sister was the undisputed champion of Vast Heaven's Good Voice.

What the heck? You're saying our Vast Heaven's Good Voice isn't even going to perform?

Let me tell you! Our Vast Heaven's Good Voice program stands out for its honesty and integrity. We say there's no behind-the-scenes manipulation, and we really mean it.

We went straight for the kill, pre-selecting one of our own as the annual champion in the very first round, and we even announced it! How can you accuse Vast Heaven's Good Voice of rigging the game?

We didn't even bother with an act; we just pre-selected the winner. If the news gets out, won't it cause an uproar?

I, Chu Xinghe, don't know if other teams are vying for the championship, but our championship is clearly predetermined!

With this news out, you can imagine everyone going crazy with anger!

That will likely affect all aspects of the Southern Branch's operations!

You really are the best, Ma Liang... You came with your sister and went on a killing spree!

Chu Xinghe rushed excitedly to the entrance of Haotian Tower, but as soon as he arrived, a waiter spoke up, "Haotian Tower has distinguished guests today and is not accepting guests at the moment... Xingxing... Senior Brother Xinghe?"

The young waiter was about to say that they weren't serving anyone for the time being, but before he could finish speaking, he recognized the person who had come in.

The young man felt a chill run down his spine!

What's wrong with me today?

It's one thing for Senior Brother Ma Liang to grace Haotian Tower with his presence...

Now even Senior Brother Xinghe has come?

Upon seeing Senior Brother Xinghe heading straight inside, all the young waiters darted to the sides.

What the heck? Why did you stop Senior Brother Ma Liang from letting Lu Chengqing come down to greet you, but not Senior Brother Xinghe and let Lu Chengqing come down?

That's because we're not crazy yet... It's fine to ask Senior Brother Ma Liang to wait a bit, and then have Lu Chengqing come down to greet him, but who the hell dares to stop Senior Brother Xinghe?

Are we crazy to make Senior Brother Xinghe wait outside?

So at this moment, the young men rushed to the top floor of Haotian Tower like madmen, to report to Lu Chengqing before Senior Brother Xinghe.

When Chu Xinghe reached the halfway point of the stairs, Lu Chengqing had already led everyone out.

"Lu Chengqing greets Senior Brother Xinghe..."

"Greetings, Senior Brother Xinghe..."

"Ma Liang pays his respects to Senior Brother Xinghe..."

The entire Haotian Tower was stunned...

Isn't Senior Brother Xinghe in Star City?

What brings you to our humble Haotian Tower? What's going on today?

If the managers were excited when they saw Ma Liang before, then now they were all in tears!

This is the legendary Senior Brother Xinghe... Incredible wealth!

Lu Chengqing led Senior Brother Xinghe to the most mysterious room in Haotian Tower.

After Senior Brother Xinghe sat down, Lu Chengqing prepared to report to Senior Brother Xinghe again on the recent overall situation of Haotian Tower and the Southern Branch.

But before Lu Chengqing could speak, Chu Xinghe spoke first.

"That goes without saying... I'm here because of Ma Liang... Have you already decided on Jingyan's ranking?"

Upon hearing Chu Xinghe's words, Ma Liang didn't hide anything and immediately said that he had just discussed with Lu Chengqing that they planned to pre-select a runner-up for his little cousin, since directly making her the champion would attract too much attention.

However, if Senior Brother Xinghe finds second place too appealing, then third place isn't out of the question either...

Upon hearing Ma Liang's words, Chu Xinghe immediately panicked... What? Third place?

Ma Liang, this is your own cousin... Is your cousin Ma Liang the same cousin as Senior Brother Xinghe?

My cousin got third place? What the hell are you talking about...?

Champion! It has to be the champion, and it has to be the overall champion of the year!

Ma Liang: "???"

Lu Chengqing: "???"

Stunned... Ma Liang and Lu Chengqing were both completely stunned...

The most confused of all was her younger cousin Bai Jingyan.

When Chu Xinghe appeared, Bai Jingyan was genuinely nervous... You see, although Chu Xinghe knew that her cousin had brought her here.

But Chu Xinghe had no idea that his cousin was planning to arrange a runner-up position for him...

It's worth noting that Vast Heaven's Good Voice of China is known for its fair and impartial judging process. Isn't it a bit too outrageous for them to forcefully arrange a runner-up position for themselves this time?

So when Bai Jingyan saw Chu Xinghe appear, her first reaction was, "Could it be that Chu Xinghe has come to interrogate me?"

While Bai Jingyan was still worried about whether her situation would implicate her cousin, Chu Xinghe suddenly turned her runner-up title into a champion without warning? Isn't that a bit too outrageous?

Just when Bai Jingyan thought this was outrageous enough, Chu Xinghe's next words completely overturned Bai Jingyan's worldview.

"Lu Chengqing... Here's the thing, not only should we decide on the annual champion internally, but we should also announce it soon. After all, Vast Heaven's Good Voice has always claimed to be free of shady dealings, so we can't do anything like secretly manipulating things behind people's backs. We'll just announce it directly, that way they can't accuse us of manipulating things, right?"

Lu Chengqing: "???"

Lu Chengqing's mind went blank at that moment, because Lu Chengqing found himself at a loss for words to refute Senior Brother Xinghe...

Because what Senior Brother Xinghe said makes sense... If we just reveal this directly, it can't be considered a shady deal or any underhanded operation, right?

We didn't even put on a show; we announced it directly. What makes you think we were manipulating things behind the scenes?

"Senior Brother Xinghe... isn't this a bit too outrageous?" Ma Liang was also dumbfounded at this moment...

After all, "Haotian Vast Heaven's Good Voice" is the hottest show right now, and the Southern Branch has made a fortune from it.

Senior Brother Xinghe, if we just pre-arrange the outcome without even putting on an act, won't people outside be furious?

Just as Ma Liang was bewildered, Chu Xinghe spoke up, "Ma Liang, don't you have confidence in your cousin?"

Ma Liang nodded on the spot...

It's not just a lack of confidence; I've never even heard my cousin's music. She said she understands music, so I just fulfilled her musical dreams. But as for confidence... what confidence do I, Ma Liang, possibly have?

Ma Liang lacked confidence, but Chu Xinghe said, "I have confidence in your cousin. With her abilities, the annual championship is practically a sure thing!"

We simply announced what was already a done deal ahead of time, so why are outsiders accusing us of shady dealings...?

You guys are just responsible for listening to Senior Brother Xinghe and announcing the news... the rest is up to your cousin!

Seeing the completely dumbfounded Ma Liang and Lu Chengqing, Chu Xinghe's face was practically frozen with laughter...

Look at those two speechless expressions! This Southern Branch is definitely going to get a huge reputation explosion!

The Southern Branch's success today is mainly due to Haotian Mirror, and Vast Heaven's Good Voice is the most terrifying program created by Haotian Mirror. Our Southern Branch has made a fortune thanks to Vast Heaven's Good Voice.

With such outrageous news coming out, you can imagine how Vast Heaven's Good Voice is going to be bombarded with criticism!

Of course, just to be on the safe side, Chu Xinghe also specifically asked Bai Jingyan if she was confident.

Upon hearing Chu Xinghe's question, Bai Jingyan burst into tears...

Bai Jingyan immediately said, "I really don't have any confidence... maybe we should just give up on this championship..."

Chu Xinghe was overjoyed at the sight of Bai Jingyan, who had absolutely no confidence in herself!

The girl is perfect!

That's exactly the kind of insecure look I want!

If you had told me you were absolutely confident, I would have abandoned this plan on the spot!

However, to be absolutely sure, Chu Xinghe immediately asked Lu Chengqing to find Bai Jingyan's best instrument, the guqin, and then had Bai Jingyan a piece in front of him to determine her skill level!

As Bai Jingyan began playing the piano, it was the most famous song from Star City, "Star Lake Enters a Dream".

It must be said that Ma Liang's little cousin wasn't talking nonsense; she really does have some skills... Even Lu Chengqing nodded in approval, saying that the piece was played quite well, with a unique and indescribable charm.

But it's only "good"... In the entire "Vast Heaven's Good Voice, they might get a chance to perform on stage, but they definitely won't place in any competition...

The fact that Bai Jingyan was directly pushed into the annual championship, and was even decided on the spot without any selection, is just outrageous!

When Bai Jingyan finished singing, Chu Xinghe clapped his hands to show that his cousin was right!

Before I heard it, I was a little worried about whether you could handle the annual championship, but now I'm absolutely certain! You're the one!

If you don't win the annual championship based on this one song, I'm not going to continue hosting Vast Heaven's Good Voice!

Lu Chengqing, spread the word right now! The annual champion of Vast Heaven's Good Voice has already been decided... It's Ma Liang's little cousin Bai Jingyan!

This time, we won't use any tricks... no shady dealings... no backroom deals... we'll put everything out in the open!

Lu Chengqing's mind is still blank...

The main problem is that Senior Brother Xinghe's decision was truly outrageous...

If you were to suggest giving Ma Liang's little cousin a runner-up title, Lu Chengqing wouldn't think there was anything wrong with it... after all, she's Senior Brother Ma Liang's cousin...

But if you were to actually make Bai Jingyan the annual champion, Lu Chengqing said that even if Senior Brother Ma Liang said so to him, he wouldn't dare to agree so easily.

After all, champion and runner-up are two different things... Everyone only remembers the final winner, even if you are the runner-up, you are still a loser!

So, the runner-up position isn't too outrageous, but now Senior Brother Xinghe is saying the annual champion is predetermined and announced in advance?

This is beyond outrageous...

The problem is... this was Senior Brother Xinghe's decision, how could there be anything wrong with it?

Lu Chengqing immediately ordered his men to announce, as Senior Brother Xinghe had requested, that the annual champion of Vast Heaven's Good Voice had been decided.

When this news broke... the whole world was in an uproar...