The First Song

"Hands off. Show some respect." Qin Baobao's first reaction was to slap his hand away.

Qin Ze's Head-Pat Kill had no effect on his sister; it even had the opposite effect. Qin Baobao felt that her dignity and status as an older sister had been challenged by her younger brother.

Yin Jia deliberately waited a moment before speaking. "Now, please welcome our final singer. It's worth mentioning that she specializes in original songs, songs that none of you have heard before. What kind of surprise will she bring us? Please welcome Qin Baobao to the stage."

Although she did not think much of Qin Baobao deep down, as a professional host, she still had to put on an expectant, excited expression.

When Yin Jia called out the name Qin Baobao, the audience could not hold back and burst into laughter. The cameras happened to catch it.

The Bullet Screen was laughing too.

"Qin Baobao..."

"I crack up every time I hear it."

"Baby, I love you... Uh, I was calling my girlfriend, not Qin Baobao."

"Her name really is kind of funny... Hahahaha."

"If I call you baby, Qin Baobao, will you be my girlfriend?"

Qin Baobao finally made her entrance. A beam of light shone down on her, leaving her tall figure nowhere to hide. Although everyone had already seen her when the door opened earlier, the camera had not lingered on her for long, focusing mainly on her face. Only now, as she stood on the stage, could the audience and those watching from their computers truly take in her figure to their hearts' content.

She was 1.72 meters tall, with long, well-proportioned legs wrapped in tight jeans. Her long hair draped over her shoulders, its ends curling slightly. Of course, Qin Baobao's looks were the most eye-catching of all. Once she put on makeup, she was absolutely capable of eclipsing every other woman. Qin Ze had realized that long ago, though his sister rarely wore makeup.

Qin Baobao was the kind of woman who gave men ideas after a single glance. Her seductive face was a type of melon seed face, but more alluring and glamorous than an ordinary melon seed face. She also had a pair of phoenix eyes, their shimmering gaze utterly captivating.

Phoenix eyes looked noble on men, but seductive on women. A seductive face paired with phoenix eyes gave people one first impression: fox spirit.

Qin Baobao's eye makeup that day displayed her phoenix eyes to perfection.

A wave of startled gasps rose from the audience. They had all been stunned by Qin Baobao's beauty.

Qin Baobao bowed to the audience on all sides. After gathering herself for a few seconds, she gestured to the band in the distance, signaling that she was ready.

One of the handsome young men in the band gave Qin Baobao a thumbs-up with a broad smile.

Music variety shows naturally went through rehearsals. Otherwise, how would the band provide accompaniment? But Qin Baobao had not attracted much attention, and few people had watched her rehearsal. It had mostly been backstage staff; even the host, Yin Jia, had not been there.

He was one of the band members, and he knew just how amazing Qin Baobao's song was.

Before the opening music ended, Qin Baobao closed her eyes.

All kinds of emotions churned in her heart.

Since the show began, she had felt the production team's disdain, the host's indifference, and the guests' perfunctory attitudes. No one thought highly of her, and no one acknowledged her. "This woman is only here to make up the numbers"—that was practically the shared thought of every guest. Even some staff members looked at her with the contemptuous gaze of someone who had gotten in through the back door.

Such a beautiful woman, a woman who was not even an artist—she must have slept with some executive, right?

Yes, everyone would think that.

She really had come in as a replacement. The female singer originally assigned by Star Arts Entertainment Company could not fit the show into her schedule, so Qin Baobao had come instead.

The production team and the entertainment company had positioned her as filler. Since Qin Baobao was the most promising among the company's newcomers, they had taken the chance to put her on camera and see the market's reaction before deciding whether to promote her and how to do so. But they had never expected her to make a name for herself in one stroke.

Anger, unwillingness, grievance—countless emotions flashed through her heart.

Qin Baobao opened her eyes and tightened her grip on the microphone. "Every time, I wandered through loneliness and found strength."

"Every time, even when badly hurt, I refused to let tears fall."

"I know I have a pair of Invisible Wings."

"They carry me flying past despair."

"I won't think about how they possess a beautiful sun."

"I see that every day's sunset can change as well."

"I know I have always had a pair of Invisible Wings."

"They carry me flying and give me hope."

Amid the ethereal, beautiful music, Qin Baobao's voice drifted through the air.

The moment she began to sing, the audience was stunned.

The contestants were stunned.

Invisible Wings?

Flying past despair?

Giving me hope?

This song...

As for her voice, Qin Baobao's was soft and seductive with a trace of huskiness, magnetic and wonderfully pleasant to hear. It could fully rival that of a professional singer. As for her singing technique, nearly two months of grueling training had already transformed her completely. Compared with professional singers, all she lacked was fame and songs.

But now, she had brought out her own original song.

The camera captured the audience's astonished expressions.

"I won't think about how they possess a beautiful sun."

"I see that every day's sunset can change as well."

"I know I have always had a pair of Invisible Wings."

"They carry me flying and give me hope."

Qin Baobao's voice suddenly soared. "At last, I see every dream burst into bloom

How bright the young voices chasing them ring

At last, I take flight, gaze with all my heart, and feel no fear

Wherever there is wind, fly as far as you can

I won't think about how they possess a beautiful sun

I see that every day's sunset can change as well

I know I have always had a pair of Invisible Wings

They carry me flying and give me hope."

At last, I see every dream burst into bloom. Yes, she had finally seen the flowers of her dreams blossom. Standing on this stage was her dream.

Huang Yuteng abruptly stood up, staring wide-eyed in disbelief.

Li Rongxing opened his mouth. Emotions surged in his heart before finally becoming two words. "Oh my God."

Hong Jingyao was dumbfounded. "This is an original song. This is a song that speaks directly to the soul."

Chen Xiaotong and Li Zongde's expressions changed slightly. For the first time, they felt that the Resurrection Match was in doubt. If this girl lost to Huang Yuteng, she would compete against them. With a song like this, who would dare claim a sure victory? Did she have other original songs as well? And if Qin Baobao somehow won, they would have to face Huang Yuteng directly. His popularity and vocal ability were right there for all to see; victory would be even more impossible.

Guitar, piano, drums... all kinds of instruments played soft, ethereal music.

Qin Baobao closed her eyes again. Her fan-like eyelashes trembled, and tears glimmered in her eyes.

"At last, I see every dream burst into bloom."

"How bright the young voices chasing them ring."

"At last, I take flight, gaze with all my heart, and feel no fear."

"Wherever there is wind, fly as far as you can."

"Invisible Wings make dreams endure longer than the sky."

"Leave a wish for yourself to imagine."

There were no high notes, only husky sorrow in her voice: a little girl's pursuit of her dreams and her hopes for the future. It was like a sharp blade piercing people's hearts.

The audience sat frozen, each imagining such a little girl. She chased her dreams, while the road ahead was uneasy and dark. Wandering in loneliness, she was hurt again and again, yet she always held on to hope: I won't think about how they possess a beautiful sun; I see that every day's sunset is changing too.

A beautiful sun? Who did that refer to?

Huang Yuteng?

Li Rongxing?

The little girl never gave up on her dreams. She believed firmly that she had a pair of Invisible Wings that would carry her past despair, past darkness, and to the far shore of her dreams.

It was a song about dreams, but why did everyone only feel a wave of bitterness rising in their hearts?

Qin Baobao wiped away her tears and broke into a smile. "Thank you, everyone."

For an instant, the venue fell silent.

Then applause thundered through the hall.

Many people stood up and shouted themselves hoarse for this girl.

The Bullet Screen went wild.

"I cried listening to this."

"666666..."

"I won't lean on a wall while peeing, and I won't help an old grandmother cross the street—I only bow to Qin Baobao."

"Original song, premium original song. Damn it, why is it so good?"

"What a song, Invisible Wings. It sang out my feelings."

"Life is not easy. We use our own strength, perseverance, effort, and determination to earn our happiness. That is why every one of us has a pair of Invisible Wings."

"Amazing. This song sounds so good."

"This king offers an apology. I should not have said my beloved consort slept with someone. My beloved consort, how about... coming to my chambers tonight?"

"Those who said she got in through connections, come out. I guarantee I'll beat you to death."

"I'm coming out. Please beat me to death. I take back what I said."

"That slap to the face hurt so much. With these singing skills and this song, if she doesn't become popular, heaven itself has no justice."

"Turning from hater to fan. From now on, I only love Bao Bao."

Yin Jia walked onto the stage, wiped away her tears, and smiled. "Sorry, I lost my composure. I was listening below just now, and I could not help crying. I also hope to be a girl with wings. Everyone wants a pair of Invisible Wings. This is a song that strikes straight at the soul."

"Next is our voting segment." Yin Jia made a small joke. "Should we give everyone a few more minutes to calm down first?"

"Please look at the big screen!"

The voting began.

Qin Baobao and Huang Yuteng's vote counts kept climbing, chasing each other closely.