After all, this was an elimination round. No one could guarantee they would still be able to perform on this stage next time, so the contestants all cherished the opportunity.
Ye Zexi's group was the finale. When it was their turn to take the stage, the cheers from the audience surged like waves, each louder than the last.
Even Xi Shu could not help but laugh. "Let me hear whose name you're shouting?"
The fans answered in perfect unison, "Ye Zexi!"
Xi Shu smiled. "Very good. Next, please welcome Ye Zexi's group as they bring you 'No Money No Talk'!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the lights went out.
After a brief two seconds, a beam of light spilled down from above, and the four contestants appeared one after another.
As the camera finally landed on Ye Zexi, the accompaniment began—
"They're here! The performance I've been looking forward to most tonight!"
"Go, Ye Zexi!"
As the rhythmic melody began, the four voices harmonized clearly from the darkness:
"Hey, greedy, don't be afraid
What you see is what you get
You name it, I have it
What you see is what you get"①
"Left, left, left, left—lean left and use your left hand. Then you won't have to overthink life."
The stage lights came fully on. Wearing a pink denim jacket, Ye Zexi's low, magnetic voice instantly drew everyone's attention.
The livestream comments fell silent for a moment before exploding in the next second:
"I can't take this anymore! This voice is seriously enough to get your ears pregnant!"
"It's live! No vocal tuning, and they're singing fully live again!"
"Ye Zexi!!! The GOAT!"
The fans at the venue were equally stunned. This was their first time hearing Ye Zexi live. He was unbelievably steady!
It was practically like listening to a concert. It was such a treat!
Qu Xiao, seated below the stage, nodded in satisfaction as well. Ye Zexi had performed even better tonight than he had during yesterday's rehearsal.
Shan Zeyu was flawless too. He lowered his voice and said to He Jinyun, "He was born for this stage. Trying to trick him into filming with you is simply a waste of his talent."
He Jinyun kept his eyes fixed ahead.
The stage glittered like Starlight, and Ye Zexi always made people lock their gaze onto him at first sight.
The current Ye Zexi no longer had the laziness he showed in the practice room. His face held nothing but enjoyment, as if he had been born for this moment—to bloom onstage with his own charm.
He Jinyun smiled faintly and shook his head, rejecting Shan Zeyu's words. "Not necessarily."
Ye Zexi was suited for a bigger screen.
He firmly believed it.
The lighting shifted, becoming even more dazzling. The accompaniment sank lower, and the lights converged on Ye Zexi as his magnetic voice flowed out slowly: "My thoughts aren't too complicated, there's only limited time to take your seat, please—"
Don't go knocking around everywhere
Trends need a little scraping
One careless move and there'll be nothing left to scrape
Knock hard everywhere
Spend every last bit
Money can't buy a special skill ②
This exhilarating performance completely immersed both the audience and the contestants.
Not until the accompaniment ended did the audience realize that this auditory feast had ended so quickly, leaving them wanting more.
The fans in the livestream comments were even more dissatisfied:
"Why do I feel like Ye Zexi had so few lines today? I only heard him sing solo for a few lines!"
"It's not just you! I feel the same way!"
"I want to hear Ye Zexi sing the whole thing alone again!"
"More, more!"
"It's fine! The PK round is coming up, so we'll get to hear him again! The voting starts after the second performance ends. Sisters, make sure to vote for Ye Zexi!"
"Yes, yes, yes! He's Number One! Please! As long as you vote for Ye Zexi too, you're my good sister!"
As the lights dimmed for the curtain call, Ye Zexi's group's performance came to an end. Right after them, Cui Yi's group brought the audience a different rendition of "No Money No Talk."
Once both groups had performed, the tense voting segment finally arrived.
Xi Shu appeared again and announced that the voting channel was officially open. The thousand audience members present had to choose their two favorite contestants and one team from the two groups to vote for.
"Thirty seconds remaining! Please cast your votes quickly!"
"Counting down five numbers—three, two, one. The voting channel is now closed!"
As Xi Shu's voice fell, the results of this group PK were revealed.
Before announcing the results, there was still a mentor commentary segment.
Qu Xiao was the first to pick up her microphone, and the moment she spoke, it was praise. "Ye Zexi, you were in amazing form today!"
Ye Zexi's eyes curved as he smiled and asked, "Then did Teacher Qu like it?"
Qu Xiao froze at first, then understood that Ye Zexi was referring to her previous critique. She laughed. "What, are you still not over that joke from before?"
Ye Zexi blinked but said nothing.
The viewers and audience, however, burst into laughter.
Even Qu Xiao's fans were amused:
"Hahahaha, I'm dying. That Ye Zexi—I clearly saw Xiao Xiao freeze for a second just now, hahahaha."
"He's so naughty! He actually teased our Xiao Xiao! But why do I suddenly find it so funny? Hahahaha."
"Hahaha, it's obvious Xiao Xiao really appreciates Ye Zexi, but this guy is seriously mischievous! Xiao Xiao, please be stricter with him!"
After the joking came to an end, the mentors gave their choices.
Whether it was the audience response or their command of the song, Ye Zexi's group had undoubtedly won. In the end, they won the group PK without any suspense.
The venue erupted into cheers and applause once more.
The members of Cui Yi's group were not surprised by the result, but they still could not hide their disappointment.
The losing group was automatically assigned to the defeated side, where they would await the upcoming elimination round.
After the members of Cui Yi's group left the stage, Xi Shu announced the top four contestants from Ye Zexi's group.