They had not told Jiang Jinran about this.
They were afraid Jiang Jinran would flip the table in a rage and refuse to perform!
So they had planned to catch Jiang Jinran off guard at the finals, betting that she would have no time to react. As long as the play could end smoothly-
What Jiang Jinran thought or how she reacted afterward would no longer matter.
But what none of them had expected was-
Jiang Jinran had actually reacted so quickly in such a short time, catching them off guard instead.
If they had known, they would have taken Jiang Jinran's microphone away!
As Jiang Jinran's final note faded, the curtain fell on the play.
The audience's reactions were a mixed bag.
Some were amazed and enthralled, some buzzed with discussion, some wore strange expressions, and others obligingly applauded.
The play, which should have ended perfectly, seemed to have turned into a farce.
Jiang Jinran, Shi Hui, and the others stood in a row-
They could not leave the stage yet, because the judges still had to comment on their performance.
The elderly men and women on the judging panel wore tense, serious expressions, occasionally putting their heads together as though discussing something in low voices.
Only Jiang Chuji watched everyone onstage with the hint of a smile.
"I believe everyone in the audience shares my question," Jiang Chuji said, his lips curving lazily into a beautiful, careless smile. "That song you just sang twice-who actually sang it?"
At those words, the audience fell silent.
Everyone onstage wore a different expression.
Shi Hui pressed her lips together, her face expressionless, but her hands at her sides had already clenched.
Jiang Jinran gazed at Jiang Chuji with an adorably blank look.
Everyone else's faces were filled with apprehension and tension.
"It was..."
Suddenly, Shi Hui took the microphone and spoke openly and confidently. "I sang it, sir."
Her tone was certain, without a trace of hesitation.
Jiang Chuji neither agreed nor disagreed. His gaze shifted to Jiang Jinran, the smile at the corners of his eyes deepening. "Do you agree with that?"
"Hmm, Xiao Shu?"
The corner of Jiang Jinran's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
[What the heck is this 'Xiao Shu' business?]
[Could this guy be any more ridiculous?!]
Jiang Chuji narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze instinctively pausing.
That voice was...
[Why does he keep smiling at me?! Are we that close? Are we on such good terms?]
The same voice rang in Jiang Chuji's ears again.
[Ah, this guy looks like he's basking in boundless glory now. Who would have thought his reputation would be utterly ruined later~]
Jiang Chuji: ??!!
Jiang Chuji had, after all, seen plenty of grand occasions. Despite his surprise and questions, he still kept his expression well under control.
He remained calm and restrained.
If they had not been in such a public setting right now, Jiang Chuji would really have liked to ask this little thing-
What do you mean, my reputation will be utterly ruined? Go on, elaborate!
"Sir."
Holding the microphone, Jiang Jinran spoke in a clear, bright voice.
The girl's crisp voice pulled Jiang Chuji back from his wandering thoughts.
"I also want to say-"
"I sang it."
At those words, an uproar swept through the audience.
Two people were actually claiming to be the original singer of the same passage!
And their voices were completely different.
In other words, one of them had to be lying!
Things seemed to be gradually developing beyond everyone's expectations.
What had originally been an excellent stage performance had now become mired in controversies over "lip-syncing" and "grafting someone else's singing onto one's own performance"...
Everything happening at the Central Theater was being broadcast live on television.
No one had expected an unforeseen dispute to suddenly erupt at the Hope Cup finals.
For a moment, the buzz and drama instantly hit their peak, and the term "Hope Cup" shot straight onto the trending searches because of its soaring popularity.
Opinions abounded under the trending topic, all of them discussing the "lip-syncing" incident.
[Oh-ho, something's actually gone wrong at the Hope Cup finals.]
[I'm watching too. This counts as a performance mishap, right? Blatant lip-syncing.]
[I'm watching for Jiang Chuji. I can't focus on anything else. All I know is that Jiang Chuji looks so, so handsome today. Pant, pant.]
[I really like the actress playing Xiao Shu. She's so cute and full of spark. I hope she hasn't been lying and lip-syncing.]
[Isn't the female lead more outstanding? Xiao Shu barely has any scenes.]
[Uh, am I not allowed to like Xiao Shu? I think the female lead's looks aren't distinctive.]
[Still going on about Xiao Shu? If there's solid proof she lip-synced in a minute, will you still like her?]
[But the female lead could be the one lip-syncing too...]
[Xiao Shu fans and female lead fans, stop fighting!]
The Central Theater.
Shi Hui gripped the microphone, her expression calm.
It had to be said that, despite being only a teenager, Shi Hui seemed to have stronger nerves than most people her age.
Even at such a tense, serious moment, she had not thrown her own ranks into disarray or panicked excessively.
She looked toward the judges, toward Jiang Chuji, and earnestly explained, "I really did sing it. I can provide my rehearsal video to prove it."
"I have plenty of other evidence too," Shi Hui added afterward.
Then everyone's eyes turned to Jiang Jinran again.
"And you?" Jiang Chuji's thin lips moved slightly as he looked at Jiang Jinran with leisurely composure, as though anticipating what she would say. "What do you have to say?"
Jiang Jinran pursed her lips, then met Jiang Chuji's languid, fathomless gaze and said unhurriedly, "I don't think there's any need to make it so complicated."
She raised her eyes, a deep, dark gleam in them. "Why don't Shi Hui and I just sing a passage a cappella in front of everyone? I'm sure everyone can judge whose voice it is after listening."
At those words-
Shi Hui's face instantly stiffened.
Her clenched palms were already covered in cold sweat.
Jiang Jinran looked at Shi Hui and suddenly curved her lips into a smile, looking innocent and guileless. "Shi Hui, why don't you sing first?"
Shi Hui made no sound, her lips pressed tightly together.
Hatred surged over her heart, blotting out the sky and earth, and her fingers twisted slightly.
Shi Hui remained silent. Jiang Chuji smiled and agreed on her behalf. "All right, let's do as Xiao Shu suggested. Shi Hui, sing a passage a cappella first."
At once, all the pressure and attention fell on Shi Hui.
Shi Hui glanced at Jiang Jinran a short distance away. This instigator, this chief culprit, was tilting her head and watching her with a calm expression.
Shi Hui took a deep breath, then opened her mouth as though smashing an already cracked pot-
Yet after singing only the first line, she could not continue.