Chapter 68

The competition began.

At this stage of the competition, every match would be a classic not to be missed. The contestants all performed at an extraordinary level, each one making their own unique voice heard on stage.

Because all the contestants were well aware that this was a critical moment—a do-or-die situation.

Advance, and they would become one of the top twenty in the nation for "Next Queen of Pop," shining brightly and basking in glory.

Retreat, and they would be eliminated from "Next Queen of Pop," falling back to their original state, lost in the dust.

So today, every contestant was giving it their all, determined to fight for the precious top twenty spots.

The first contestant took the stage.

After her performance, the audience erupted into enthusiastic applause.

"Sun Qian is amazing; that rock style is almost on par with Su San..." one audience member commented.

Luo Yang, however, felt a deep sense of empathy.

Guan Jing, Su Yiyi, and the other close friends who were inseparable from Liu Qin had all been eliminated by the harsh rules of "Next Queen of Pop." Now, among the group of close friends, only Sun Qian and Liu Qin had made it to the top fifty.

Though she didn't say it openly, Luo Yang knew that Liu Qin must be feeling sad.

Coincidentally, the first contestant to perform today was Sun Qian.

Sun Qian continued to sing rock songs, and she performed exceptionally well. Not only did the audience applaud enthusiastically, but the judges also showed their approval.

The contestants who followed Sun Qian also performed admirably. In the final moments, no one faltered, each one showcasing their best.

"The quality is so high!"

"Some of the contestants have improved incredibly!"

"I suddenly feel that Tian Yin and the others should be under pressure..." the audience whispered to each other.

"Feeling my blood boil, the live performance is just amazing. And today's contestants are so strong; this trip is definitely worth it!" Zhu Changhong and his friends said with great enthusiasm.

The audience's eyes were fixed on the stage.

"Who's the next contestant? I'm so excited..."

"Yeah, tonight's performances are one better than the last. I hope the next one doesn't disappoint, otherwise, it'll feel like a letdown..."

"It shouldn't be too bad. The contestants who have made it this far are all skilled. After all, they are among the top fifty in the nation..."

A slender figure appeared on the stage.

When the brilliant light shone on her, the audience's chatter came to an abrupt halt.

Luo Yang's eyes were dreamy, his lips curving into a gentle smile. Wang Yu, despite lowering her voice, still trembled as she whispered her name: "Liu Qin..."

"Liu Qin..." fans began to cheer.

"Liu Qin... Liu Qin... Liu Qin... Liu Qin!" ...

It wasn't just Wang Yu; many fans in the audience shouted her name, trying to boost the momentum. However, it was somewhat heart-wrenching that, although the voices were not small, they were far from the overwhelming support that Tian Yin and the others received when they took the stage.

"Liu Qin used to be a super-popular contestant alongside those three..." the girl behind Luo Yang, who was clearly a Liu Qin fan, said with great disappointment.

Anyone with eyes could see that Liu Qin's support rate was clearly declining. Even from the fans' cheers, one could sense a lack of energy.

In the VIP seats, Tian Yin and the other three sat up straight, watching Liu Qin standing quietly at the center of the stage.

Her attire was as plain as ever, wearing a white shirt and black skinny pants, her face unadorned, showing no extra emotion.

Indeed, compared to the elaborately dressed three in the VIP seats, Liu Qin seemed like an outsider.

The four judges exchanged glances and then simultaneously looked at Liu Qin at the center of the stage, their eyes filled with an unreadable light...

"I wonder what song Liu Qin will sing today..."

"Hmph, do we even need to guess? It must be 'The First Dream.'"

"True, she can only rely on those few songs. Even if she passes by luck, she won't have much of a future. She doesn't have the qualifications to be Tian Yin's rival."

"Hehe, not necessarily. Doesn't she have that song called 'The Daydreaming Girl'...?"

"I wonder what she'll sing when she runs out of those old songs. Maybe she'll just play all her songs on a loop on the 'Next Queen of Pop' stage?"

A few audience members were chatting softly, and halfway through, they all laughed.

These laughs were sharp and piercing, filled with disdain, as if trying to pierce through one's heart.

A Liu Qin fan's face turned red, seemingly wanting to argue with these audience members, but in the end, she opened her mouth and then dejectedly lowered her head.

On stage, Liu Qin extended her finger and made a gesture to the backstage.

The lights turned into streams, like fleeting light, and at the same time, a gentle melody began to play.

"This is..."

"A new song...?"

Perhaps the idea that Liu Qin had run out of ideas had already taken root in many people's minds. When they heard the unfamiliar music, many audience members stared in surprise.

The few audience members who had said Liu Qin was only relying on her old songs closed their mouths, their expressions stiff.

In contrast, Liu Qin's fans' eyes suddenly sparkled with anticipation, staring at Liu Qin on stage with the microphone!

The four judges also sat up straight, their expressions becoming extremely serious. In the VIP seats, Tian Yin and the others looked solemn, their fists slightly clenched.

"Is Liu Qin really going to sing a new song in this round?"

"Has she finally decided to prove herself with an original song..."

"I just wonder how good this original song is. If it's not good, it will be a huge embarrassment..."

The chatter continued, but Luo Yang listened to the music of the prelude, a smile of relief on his face: "The second round, successfully cleared."

The stage and the audience seemed like two different worlds. The lights chased each other rapidly, and in this light, Liu Qin moved naturally and vividly to the music.

"It's about to start."

The moment the prelude hit a certain point, everyone, including the audience supporting other contestants, instinctively held their breath.

Liu Qin's signature slightly hoarse voice, mixed with a hint of ethereal quality, quietly echoed in the well-equipped stage...

"Back to the starting point

The memory of your youthful face

We have finally

Reached this day~

...

The old photo under the table mat

Countless memories connected.

Today, the boy is going to the girl's final date~

...

Back to the starting point

Standing dazed in front of the mirror

Clumsily tying the red tie

Combing my hair to look like an adult

Wearing a stylish suit

When I see you, you will be even more beautiful than I imagined..."

(Thank you, classmate Mo Jiuqi, for the tip. I'm shamelessly asking for recommendations.)

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