Chapter 74

After a prolonged and enthusiastic applause, Kim Seung-soo and Lee Pu stood at the center of the stage, waiting for the mentors' comments and the outcome of the competition.

"Kim Seung-soo, you are still as excellent as ever. Professional!" Wang Yu said to Kim Seung-soo, "In terms of singing, dancing, and appearance, you have always been at the top. I've said this many times, and I have very high hopes for you!"

The other mentors gave Kim Seung-soo similar evaluations. Only Tang Mei commented, "You are very handsome, but you lack a bit of personality. You seem like a perfect product from an assembly line. You lack a certain inner strength."

Hearing Tang Mei's words, Liu Buhan pondered for a moment and added, "Little Kim, you are a singer who is excellent in every aspect, with no obvious flaws. However, if you want to take it to the next level, you need to think about what else you can bring to your music besides being handsome, cool, and flashy."

As the competition progressed, the mentors became stricter. Kim Seung-soo was very unhappy, but he still managed to force a standard bright smile, "I will continue to work hard! Thank you for your guidance, mentors!"

"As for Lee Pu," Liu Buhan turned to Lee Pu and smiled, "Your ideas are great, and your arrangement is outstanding. You sang with more enthusiasm than before. When you performed, I could clearly feel your emotions. Is there a story behind this song?"

"Um," Lee Pu smiled slightly, but he clearly didn't want to elaborate on any specific story.

"Kim's performance was very stable, but to put it another way, it was a bit boring. In comparison, I prefer Lee Pu's performance."

Zhou Jielun propped his face with both hands and smiled at the young man on stage, "This combination of arrangements is fantastic! It's a mishmash but has a strong personality. I especially liked the 'Tom and Jerry' part. I'll record this song and invite you to perform at my concert if I get the chance. Yes, my vote is definitely for you!"

"Compared to a perfect assembly line, I prefer a contestant like Lee Pu," Tang Mei continued, "Even in pop music, it's not just about being flashy and cool. Kim Seung-soo is very excellent, but that's all. I don't hear much genuine emotion in his songs—nothing that touches me. But Lee Pu's performance is like holding my hand and taking me back to my middle school days!"

She winked at Lee Pu and smiled, "If I were still a young girl, I would have been swept away by you."

Kim Seung-soo, who was mercilessly criticized again, tried to maintain a somewhat stiff smile, but he couldn't help clenching his fists tightly: "F**k! This b*tch! She's ten years older than that high school kid! Calling her 'sister' is already embarrassing—she should be called 'aunt'!"

Even Qin Xia'er in the audience was a bit flustered: "Why did the teacher say such things? She can't be interested in so many young boys, right? But the teacher has always praised Lee Pu's talent in private..."

Fortunately, Lee Pu didn't react much to the teasing from the famous singer Tang Mei. After all, his aunts and friends might be watching the show!

In the end, three out of the four mentors supported Lee Pu.

Kim Seung-soo's face was dark, but he remained relatively calm. After all, the mentors' votes didn't decide everything; the real outcome depended on the audience votes. His popularity had recently declined, dropping from second to third, and then from third to fourth after being kicked by Lazer Ling. But he couldn't possibly lose to the seventh place, right?

When the audience vote results appeared on the big screen, Kim Seung-soo finally lost his composure. He couldn't believe his eyes—878,678 votes to 880,121 votes! Just a difference of less than two thousand votes! Did he lose to this high school student? Did he become a stepping stone for the seventh place?

"No, no, it's not possible that I lost!" Kim Seung-soo instinctively wanted to accuse the competition of being rigged, but he quickly controlled himself. Shouting about a rigged competition during a live broadcast in front of the organizers would be self-destructive and wouldn't save him.

The host was already smiling and saying polite words, about to announce his exit. What could he do? Kim Seung-soo's forehead was almost sweating, and his mind raced. Surprisingly, he found a way in.

"Wait, I have an objection!"

Kim Seung-soo raised his hand and shouted, "I am not being disrespectful to the competition organizers. But the performances generally last 5 to 6 minutes. His performance just now exceeded ten minutes, right? Is that reasonable?" He asked emotionally, "Is that fair?"

He was right; Lee Pu's "Our Childhood" medley, despite taking only the essence of each song, was significantly longer than a normal song, about twice as long on average.

The competition didn't have a strict time limit, and Lee Pu had reported his song to the program. However, if someone raised the issue, a fair explanation was needed. If Kim Seung-soo insisted on this point, it would be hard to convince everyone.

Using this tactic was a last resort. But Kim Seung-soo had no better options at the moment.

The four mentors clearly didn't expect such an incident during the live broadcast. Liu Buhan and Zhou Jielun frowned, clearly less impressed with Kim Seung-soo. Tang Mei sneered. Even Wang Yu, who supported Kim Seung-soo, looked troubled. The audience was also in an uproar, but many were excited, thinking, "This is going to be good."

Especially the media and journalists, who were fully focused on the scene, hoping it would escalate into a public feud—just singing in a competition was boring; there needed to be conflict! A big story!

"So, what do you want?" Tang Mei said coolly, tapping her fingers on the table.

"I just need a fair and reasonable explanation. I think the audience outside also needs one." Kim Seung-soo steeled himself, hinting that if he didn't get a reasonable explanation, he would mobilize his fans to criticize the competition rules.

Tang Mei's smile turned cold as she considered her words, preparing to mock him. Unexpectedly, Lee Pu stepped in to mediate.

"Four mentors, the length of this medley is indeed longer, and it's understandable to be questioned. However, I strongly insisted on using it because it has a special meaning to me."

Lee Pu smiled, "Or rather, performing this medley at this moment is the entire meaning of my participation in the competition."

"So, as a result, I am willing to give my chance to advance to a more deserving contestant. I decide to withdraw from the competition." The young man nodded to the four mentors.

Despite the mentors' reluctance and attempts to persuade him, they couldn't change Lee Pu's mind. When he returned to the backstage, Qin Xia'er was already waiting for him.

"Why are you withdrawing?" Class President Xia'er was more anxious than Lee Pu himself.

"Because my wish has been fulfilled," Lee Pu smiled, "And don't you think it's cooler to exit this way?"

"What's cool about it! I'm so angry!" Qin Xia'er stomped her foot, "Even if you withdraw, you shouldn't give the chance to that jerk. He publicly questioned you, how despicable! Aaah~"

Seeing the girl, who looked like an angry kitten, defending him, Lee Pu raised an eyebrow and smiled, "It's nothing, otherwise, I would still lose to you in the top five elimination round. This way is simpler."

From the beginning, Lee Pu had decided that if he met Qin Xia'er in the competition, he would choose to lose. After all, the one who would become "Lin Mingmei" was her, not him.

"Oh..." Class President Xia'er misunderstood the young man's kindness and felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

"Hey! I have something to say to you!" A clearly displeased voice came from behind. Lee Pu and Qin Xia'er turned around to see Kim Seung-soo approaching aggressively.

"You didn't win me, remember that, you didn't win me!" Kim Seung-soo stood in front of Lee Pu, rudely pointing at the young man's face, and emphasized, "You just used a trick. This time, you know to withdraw voluntarily. But I won't thank you; I should have advanced! You're just the seventh place! I'm fourth, and I was second before!"

Qin Xia'er, who had just been cheered up by Lee Pu, couldn't help but get angry again, "What's the point of talking about fourth and second? I think Lee Pu is much better than you!"

"Hmph, what do you know," Kim Seung-soo said coldly.

"Oh, I don't know much, I'm just an insignificant first place. Of course, I don't understand how a fourth place who almost got eliminated feels."

Class President Xia'er, who had been playing the role of a lady since high school, now showed her old "little sharp tongue" skills, "Even if you barely advanced, a bottom-ranker who only made it to the top five because others let you, will just lose again. It's admirable to keep fighting despite repeated losses."

"… You!" Kim Seung-soo was speechless. Running to the now first-place Qin Xia'er with his fourth-place ranking was a joke. Moreover, Kim Seung-soo had no confidence in beating Qin Xia'er in the top five round. He lacked the courage to make threats.

"Wait, are you misunderstanding something?" Lee Pu, who had been silent, interjected innocently, "I didn't give my chance to you, Kim."

"What?" Kim Seung-soo was stunned, "You withdrew, didn't you?" He angrily said, "Are you regretting it? You can't regret it!"

"I'm not regretting it," Lee Pu shook his head, "But even if I withdraw, it doesn't necessarily mean you get the chance. I said, 'I will give the chance to a more deserving contestant.'"

He paused and winked at Qin Xia'er, "The contestant you competed against, Lazer Ling, got 1,080,000 votes, right?"

Qin Xia'er finally understood Lee Pu's meaning and laughed, "Yes, that's right. If we're talking about 'more deserving,' Lazer Ling is definitely ahead of Kim."

Kim Seung-soo felt a chill from head to toe. He had been smug about Lee Pu's withdrawal, but he never expected this!

"So, you see," the younger Lee Pu said with a serious expression, "Kim, whether you accept it or not, I withdrew voluntarily, and you were eliminated. In the end, we both have to pack up. Why be so stubborn…?"

Sigh, his mocking skills were still so sharp, almost rhyming… Qin Xia'er, who had suffered from his sharp tongue since childhood, almost felt a bit sorry for the handsome Kim, who had just been overjoyed by his survival but was now thrown back into hell.

"You… I won't let you off!" Kim Seung-soo, enraged, staggered and let out a pig-like roar, pushing Lee Pu's chest with both hands.

This move clearly didn't look like he knew how to fight. But relying on his height and the strength he had built from street dancing and basketball, he thought he could easily push this annoying kid to the ground and stomp on him to vent his anger.

This made Class President Xia'er even more sympathetic. Singing in the competition was just a small hobby for Lee Pu!

Lee Pu didn't dodge. When Kim Seung-soo's hands touched his body, the taller Kim suddenly felt like he had been hit by a high-voltage electric shock, flying through the air!

Bang! Kim Seung-soo crashed into a chair and lay on the ground, his face full of shock, his lips moving like a dead fish, unable to speak.

What kind of sorcery was this? He was completely confused, feeling as if his fingers were broken, the pain piercing his heart, and his body felt like it was falling apart.

In February, Lee Pu had already reached the "Jin" stage, a young master. His mind and strength were in perfect harmony, and his body was so sensitive that even a feather couldn't be added, and a fly couldn't land. A fly landing on his skin would be instantly killed by a natural local burst of strength.

Moreover, with his physical abilities and the "Touch Crane Like Electricity" technique, he was even stronger than a normal "Jin" stage. He was as solid as an iron stake, and even a top sumo wrestler might not be able to budge him. This shock, though not fully serious, was enough to send him to the hospital for a while.

This scene was captured by a nearby camera. The staff and other contestants watched in shock as Kim Seung-soo flew through the air after lunging at Lee Pu, who didn't even move a finger.

Lee Pu, surrounded by the crowd, remained calm, "Wow, you didn't have to fake it so much. This is a singing competition, not a fake A league… You're really trying hard."

"Right, definitely faking it. I saw clearly that Lee didn't even move a finger. Kim just flew out on his own. Don't overact, tsk tsk, your acting skills are questionable," a staff member shook his head. He then patted the camera, excited, "I got it all on tape, everyone can see it!"

I… I didn't fake it! Kim Seung-soo, lying on the ground, felt a deep sense of injustice and frustration, unable to catch his breath, and fainted.

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