The Second Song

The audience stared at the big screen with excitement and tension. Backstage, several singers also held their breaths, watching the screen intently.

A few seconds later, the screen froze.

Qin Baobao: 200 votes!

Huang Yuteng: 260 votes!

No one abstained; the audience present cast their votes. Huang Yuteng advanced with a significant advantage.

Backstage, he wiped away non-existent sweat and joked, "I almost thought I lost."

A pure joke. He had a full 60 votes more than Qin Baobao, which, in a sense, was a crushing victory. However, Huang Yuteng knew that his popularity was playing a role. In terms of pure singing, Qin Baobao's excellent song "Invisible Wings" crushed him, so he had been secretly sweating just now.

Online, many people expressed their opinions: "Qin Baobao sang so well, how could she lose?"

"Exactly, there aren't many songs that can make me cry anymore. Are the audience all blind?"

"Deaf, not blind."

"What were the voting audience thinking? Huang Yuteng lost, but at least he can return in the advancement round. But what about Qin Baobao? She may not be able to beat two eliminated singers."

"Losing to Leader Huang isn't unjust. Qin Baobao's singing skills still lack refinement."

"This show is unfair. 'Invisible Wings' is too good, absolutely top-notch, how could she lose? Qin Baobao didn't lose in singing; she lost to popularity."

"I'm actually looking forward to it. Didn't they say her main focus is original songs? Is the next one also original?"

"How is that possible? Do you think top-quality originals are things you can find all over the street? Her company probably only prepared one song, and they didn't expect her to be so unlucky, drawing Huang Yuteng."

Next was the commercial break.

Qin Ze turned his head and comforted his sister, "Baobao, don't be discouraged. If you lose, you lose. Just win back in the Resurrection Match."

Qin Baobao glared at him, "Who are you calling Baobao? No respect for elders again. Call me 'Sister.'"

"Sister, sister, dear sister."

"You still want to 'dear sister'? Looking for a beating."

Wang Zijing covered her face, "Here you go again. Save the crosstalk for later; we're watching the show now."

"Hello, audience friends. This is the music competition program 'I Am A Singer,' brought to you by 'Sheng Ji' Cosmetics. I am the host, Yin Jia."

After the commercial break, the host Yin Jia stood smiling in the center of the stage. She was good-looking and tall, originally a highlight of the show, but now, with Qin Baobao's brilliance preceding her, she, this signature beauty, seemed ordinary.

On the barrage, the audience commented: "Stop talking nonsense; hurry up and start the Resurrection Match."

"What's with all the rambling?"

"I want to hear Qin Baobao's next original."

"So excited, who's being eliminated this episode."

According to the previous elimination order, the first to sing was Xiao De, the second was Chen Zitong, and the third was Qin Baobao.

The lights turned dim, and Li Zongde walked up from behind the stage, a beam of light illuminating his figure, his face serious.

"I'd rather go far away alone."

"I'd rather taste the bitterness of heartbreak alone."

"Than see the guilt in your eyes."

"Than see you transfer your affections to another."

"Do you even have me in your heart?"

"Was all the past tenderness real or fake?"

The lights flickered as Li Zongde sang with all his heart, conveying the entanglement and disappointment in the song, his voice low and slightly trembling, drawing the audience into the scene.

The performance ended.

Li Zongde put down the microphone and bowed slightly in thanks.

A burst of applause erupted!

Even the singers backstage were applauding him!

The audience was screaming!

Huang Yuteng: "Xiao De sang with great passion, turning someone else's song into his own. He did it."

Li Rongxing: "Absolutely an extraordinary performance! The I Am A Singer stage is so magical, you can never underestimate any singer."

Chen Xiaotong: "What to do, what to do, the pressure is so high."

Hong Jingyao: "Xiao De is a very talented singer. He has enough potential and talent to catch up with us older generation of singers. Personally, I am very optimistic about him."

At this moment, the camera turned to Qin Baobao, who said with a smile, "Teacher Xiao De is very impressive."

Li Zongde left the stage amidst the applause, and the second Resurrection Match singer, Chen Xiaotong, took the stage.

Just when everyone thought Xiao De had already performed exceptionally, they didn't expect that the former Heavenly Queen Chen Xiaotong was truly hiding her strength. She sang a Cantonese song that was once popular in the South of the River, and had topped the Music Billboard for months, winning many awards.

Like Hong Jingyao's classic old song, it evoked countless memories.

Backstage, the singers were amazed: "With this song, there are almost no rivals in love songs."

Xiao De said bitterly, "If I had known, I wouldn't have chosen a love song, I would have sung an inspirational song."

Hong Jingyao nodded: "Xiaotong's singing skills are gradually returning, getting better and better."

Li Rongxing: "Listen to the cheers of the audience in the front, she's definitely still got it."

Huang Yuteng laughed: "I'll record this and show it to Xiaotong later, haha, still got it."

Li Rongxing begged for mercy: "Hey, Brother Huang, don't do that, I was wrong, I was really wrong."

Then the camera turned to Qin Baobao, each singer had more than ten seconds of "remarks" when they came on stage.

Qin Baobao faced the camera, looking incredibly beautiful, with a shallow smile on her lips: "I did bring two original songs this time. From the beginning, I didn't think I could successfully advance in the first round. Although I still don't feel completely sure now, no matter what the outcome is, I still have to thank the I Am A Singer platform for giving me this opportunity."

Li Rongxing was very interested in Qin Baobao and interjected, "Teacher Qin, can I ask a question?"

After the Invisible Wings performance, the title was also changed to "Teacher Qin".

Qin Baobao nodded with a smile.

"Did you write 'Invisible Wings' yourself? It's really amazing, so talented."

Qin Baobao shook her head, "It wasn't solely my work; my younger brother wrote the lyrics and composed the music."

Li Rongxing "uh"-ed, "Then what was your part?"

Qin Baobao blinked, "I was responsible for singing it."

"Which talented person in the industry is your brother? To be able to write such a good song, I don't believe he's unknown," Huang Yuteng suddenly said.

"A composer surnamed Qin... Teacher Huang, I've faded out of the music scene in recent years and am not very familiar. Do you know of such a person?" Hong Jingyao was also very interested.

Huang Yuteng pondered for a moment, then shook his head with a wry smile, "There are a few surnamed Qin, but their ages don't match."

On the screen, the audience in front of their screens were also intrigued: "Younger brother writes the lyrics and composes the music, I'm responsible for singing. No problem, it's just a collaboration between two people (manual funny face)."

"I was wrong, Qin Baobao isn't relying on sleeping around, she's relying on her younger brother."

"Hahahaha."

"A musician surnamed Qin, is there such a person in the entertainment industry?"

"It doesn't necessarily have to be someone from the entertainment industry. After all, many lyricists and composers are unknown. Maybe their songs are very popular, but the public doesn't know who wrote the song, only who sings it."

"How old is Qin Baobao this year? Her younger brother must be even younger, how can I not believe it?"

"This time I think it's a bit of a gamble. Qin Baobao's 'Invisible Wings' sang out her inner voice, and it's the only song that isn't a love song, so the audience gave her some sympathy and shock points."

"Yeah, now that she's a newcomer, she probably won't get any sympathy points. So what will she sing? Compete with love songs? How can she compete with established singers?"

"The analysis upstairs is very correct. One masterpiece is already rare, it's unlikely there will be another one. The company can't spend so many resources on a newcomer. Did her brother really write it? But even if he did, masterpiece songs are hard to come by, they can't be written just like that."

The scene changed, and a brightly lit stage appeared. Qin Baobao walked over with her long legs.

A melodious and gentle music began to play, and the rolling subtitles behind her showed the song title: Legend.

Qin Baobao opened her mouth and sang:

"Just because I glanced at you once in the crowd."

"I could never forget your face again."

"Dreaming that one day we could meet again by chance."

"From then on, I began to miss you in solitude."

This melody, this singing...

Under the camera, it swept across the faces of countless audience members, each with wide eyes and slightly open mouths. Everyone was shocked.

Qin Baobao's voice is really too suitable for singing this song. Her voice and magnetism make people feel like she's not singing, but confiding love words.

At this moment, Qin Baobao stared at the camera, as if staring at thousands of viewers:

"When I miss you, you are at the edge of the sky

When I miss you, you are before my eyes

When I miss you, you are in my mind

"Thinking of you, you're in my heart."

Below the stage, the audience closed their eyes, focusing intently on the music. This was a different kind of love song, a different melody, a different voice, a different singer. There were no particularly high notes, no soul-stirring, screaming choruses. It was very gentle, very soft, but it inexplicably stirred a sense of loss and sorrow.

"Rather believe we had a past life agreement."

"The love story of this life will never change again."

"Rather spend this life waiting for you to discover."

"I've always been by your side."

"Never far away."

"Just because I glanced at you in the crowd."

"I could never forget your face again."

"Dreaming that one day we can meet again by chance."

"From then on, I began to miss you alone."

"Thinking of you, you're at the end of the sky."

"Thinking of you, you're before my eyes."

"Thinking of you, you're in my mind."

"Thinking of you, you're in my heart."

Backstage, the singers were once again dumbfounded. They were all professional singers, and as soon as Qin Baobao opened her mouth, they could discern the level of this song. A masterpiece, an absolute masterpiece, even surpassing the previous "Invisible Wings". A newcomer, casually taking out two masterpiece songs? Was this the rhythm of going to heaven?

Li Rongxing murmured, "God."

"This song, this song..." Hong Jingyao was shocked: "This song, this voice, is too shocking, too good to listen to. A different kind of love song."

Huang Yuteng squeezed out a wry smile at the camera: "I really want to know now, who is the great god who wrote the lyrics and composed the music."

"This song is very difficult to sing, it requires a very high level of control over the voice, Qin Baobao is very powerful, really very powerful," Chen Xiaotong sighed.

Her heart sank. This song, this love song, was too unexpected. She was not confident that she could beat Qin Baobao.

Li Zongde kept muttering, "It's over, it's over."

Where did this Cheng Yaojin come from? Why didn't the program team say anything before? She took out two masterpieces in one breath. If he had known it was these two songs, he would have made some preparations. Now it was hanging by a thread.

"Rather believe we had a past life agreement."

"The love story of this life will never change again."

"Rather spend this life waiting for you to discover."

"I've always been by your side."

"Never far away."

"Just because I glanced at you in the crowd."

Qin Baobao let out a long breath and bowed to the audience.

The audience, previously silent and immersed in the gentle and sorrowful music, instantly erupted. Countless people screamed, waving their hands wildly, and the audience in the front rows even stood up in unison, shouting hoarsely.

"Qin Baobao!"

"Qin Baobao!"

"Qin Baobao!"

On stage, Qin Baobao, who had always been ashamed of her name, twitched her lips slightly, a subtle expression that was captured by the professional cameraman.

At this moment, the barrage of comments flew like snowflakes:

"666666666."

"Manually adding one hundred and eight 6s"

"After listening to this song, I realized that love songs can be sung like this. I won't say more, I'm decisively becoming a fan."

"Who said Qin Baobao relies on connections? This singing, this voice, these lyrics, are amazing."

"I have a hunch that this girl is going to be a hit."

"The song is called 'Legend'. Such a clean, clear, gentle, and sad voice, Qin Baobao is one of a kind. So awesome."

"This is definitely not lip-syncing, confirmed."

"My goddess has finally appeared. From now on, I'm only obsessed with Qin Baobao."

"It's a pity that 'I Am A Singer' doesn't have dance music. I'm looking forward to Qin Baobao dancing. Enjoy watching her sway."

"She sings so well, even my mom came over, really."

"Am I the only one who noticed Qin Baobao's expression? Hahahaha, forgive me for laughing so hard."

"Pfft... look at her lips."

"This girl also knows her name is funny, haha."

"So cute, I want to kiss her."

"Licking the screen."

The host, Yin Jia, went on stage, exclaiming, "She sang so well, it's simply an auditory feast! I was almost crying listening down below. So love songs can be sung like this. Thank Teacher Qin for bringing us this original new song 'Legend'. Oops, did I say too much? I'm not helping her canvass for votes, oh."

The audience roared with laughter.

"Now, let's move on to the voting session. The audience here will decide the fate of the three singers." Yin Jia said loudly, "Pick up the voting devices in your hands, voting begins! Now, please look at the big screen..."

With dynamic music playing, everyone in the audience stared intently at the big screen, watching the three people's votes rise continuously, chasing each other. But after a few seconds, Li Zongde's votes began to lag behind the other two, turning into a battle between Chen Xiaotong and Qin Baobao. As the queen of the past, Chen Xiaotong still had some popularity.

The final results:

Li Zongde: 123 votes.

Chen Xiaotong: 186 votes.

Qin Baobao: 191 votes.

The whole place erupted in cheers.

The final eliminated contestant, Li Zongde. Qin Baobao's votes surpassed Chen Xiaotong, the former queen of music, by a slight margin. This result was quite unexpected, but upon closer thought, it seemed reasonable. Chen Xiaotong was relying on her past glory and popularity from back then. Qin Baobao, on the other hand, had no fan base, but she had big boobs, long legs, and heaven-defying looks.

Of course, one can't think of the audience as being so vulgar. That was one reason, but another was that the two high-quality songs, "Invisible Wings" and "Legend," were too shocking. In all these years of music variety shows, there really hasn't been a singer like Qin Baobao who brought her own high-quality songs to the competition. Not a single one.

In front of the computer, Qin Baobao and Wang Zijing gave each other a high-five, and the two girls laughed.

"Awesome or not?"

"You're awesome, my Baobao."

"Do you admire your sister?"

"Admire, admire."

"Give me a kiss."

"Give me a kiss."

Qin Ze gave his sister an expectant look. Qin Baobao held his forehead and pushed him far away.

"Qin Baobao, are you kicking me away after I've served my purpose?" Not getting a kiss from his sister, Qin Ze was a little disappointed.

"It's clearly because I sang well myself."

"Yeah right, without my songs, you wouldn't be gloating here today, you'd be crying your eyes out."

"Cry? Qin Ze, I give you a 'hehe'. Me, cry? With my looks and singing skills, even without your songs, I can still advance. My powerful steps have already begun, and no trash can stop me."

"Can we have some shame? I spit on you."

Wang Zijing clapped her soft, white hands and said happily, "The following episodes will be a sibling crosstalk."

"Okay, you said it. Don't beg me when the next episode starts recording."

"A promise is a promise. The company has agreed to assign me a lyricist and composer."

"Qin Baobao, you're something else."

"Hmph, Zijing, let's go to sleep. I don't want to bother with this pervert."

Qin Baobao took Wang Zijing's hand and walked into the room triumphantly. She really didn't expect Qin Ze to provide her with songs in the future. A good song isn't something you can just create on demand. The show airs once a week. One high-quality song per week? How is that possible?