Chapter 163: The Ranking Results Are Announced

Watching the sixth guest scurrying toward him, Chen Qi couldn't help but chuckle.

Was she frightened? Was she shocked? Was she caught off guard? Was there even a flicker of panic? Chen Qi was quite satisfied with her reaction. This was the exact effect he had hoped to achieve! Seeing the lingering look of astonishment on her face even after all this time, he couldn't help but think how much more spectacular their initial reactions must have been. He would definitely have to watch the footage frame by frame later!

"Director, what is going on here?" The sixth guest hurried up to Chen Qi, staring straight at him, her tone thick with disbelief. Heaven knows how terrified she had been just moments ago! Was this really a legitimate music program?

"Ha..." Watching the unconcealable confusion etched across her brow, Chen Qi chuckled again and said, "Would you believe me if I told you I simply couldn't find a seventh singer?"

"..." The sixth guest paused slightly, the shock and confusion on her face instantly replaced by suspicion. Couldn't find a seventh singer? Are you... am I supposed to believe that? Faced with such an unexpected answer, she found herself at a loss for words. In all honesty, finding singers for this show was indeed difficult. But if you could throw money at me to get me here, why not use the same method on others? Were you running low on the budget?

"Alright, alright, hurry up and get ready to go on stage. I’ll say it again: this program relies entirely on talent, no foul play. You can rest easy!" Chen Qi said with a smile, gesturing toward the stage. Since they were currently recording, a delay of a few minutes didn't matter much; they would be editing the footage anyway.

The sixth guest glanced at him, decided not to press the issue, and jogged back to the preparation area. After taking two deep breaths, she quickly regained her composure and stepped toward the stage. She was someone who had seen her fair share of storms; she would get used to this. Besides, Chen Qi’s ambiguous words had actually put her mind at ease. Although she had been thoroughly startled, Chen Qi seemed like a fairly reliable person so far.

...

Unlike Chen Qi’s stealthy entrance, the stage lights flared to life the moment the sixth guest took her first step toward the stage. At the same time, the audience heard the sound of footsteps emerging from backstage. Everyone in the venue instinctively craned their necks. Chen Qi’s earlier performance had already heightened everyone’s expectations.

Soon, a blurred figure appeared in everyone’s sight. The audience watched intently. When the figure finally stepped into the full glare of the lights, a silent gasp of awe erupted throughout the venue.

"Whoa!!!" They gaped in disbelief, their faces a mixture of surprise and delight.

Song Quqi?

It was actually Song Quqi, the woman who had once come so close to reaching the status of a diva? Wow, what a surprise! The production team really had some tricks up their sleeves to have invited a singer of this caliber!

...

"Oh—"
"Quqi?"
"She came too?"

Backstage, the other five singers let out soft exclamations upon seeing Song Quqi appear on stage, their expressions filled with admiration. They all knew her. She was the woman who had been just a hair’s breadth away from becoming a diva back in the day. Just a hair’s breadth.

Even the assistants and agents who had been skeptical about their artists participating in this show were stunned to see Song Quqi. Even she was here? This lineup... it was beyond their expectations! They had previously assumed their own singers were the biggest names on the show. It seemed that what Chen Qi had said about this competition wasn't just talk!

...

On stage, the sixth guest, Song Quqi, stood still in the center. She bowed to the audience in greeting.

"Whoa—" The audience responded with great enthusiasm.

Song Quqi smiled gratefully. This familiar feeling... it had been a long time. She then bowed to the band members on either side, signaling that she was ready.

*Music begins...*

The familiar opening melody filled the air. It was one of Song Quqi's classic hits. The audience quieted down, watching the stage with bated breath. In the center of the stage, Song Quqi stood silently, feeling the rhythm. Ten seconds later, she slowly brought the microphone to her lips and began to sing softly.

"Why did I come here..."

The soft, ethereal voice drifted through the top-tier sound system, leaving everyone in awe. It was a treat! An absolute treat! Even the singers in the lounge shook their heads in admiration upon hearing her voice, seemingly amazed that her vocal prowess had not diminished in the slightest.

"Camera two, push in, give me a close-up!"
"Good! Jib arm, follow her, do a half-circle, keep it slow."
"Yes, just like that, hold it!"

Backstage, Chen Qi had switched back into his role as director. Watching the real-time feed on the monitor, he wore an unconcealable smile. The live performance was exactly as he had imagined. It was perfect!

Soon, the song concluded.

"Whoa—"

The audience spontaneously stood up and erupted into thunderous applause, followed by a chorus of excited cheers. They were thrilled! The appearance of such singers and the top-tier equipment were constantly redefining their perception of this program. This show was giving them a huge surprise!

At this moment, no one looked down on the program anymore. Even those who had come just to earn a little extra money had set aside their trivial thoughts. They only wanted to do one thing now: listen to the music. Listen intently, and fully enjoy this unexpected musical extravaganza!

...

On stage, a visibly moved Song Quqi bowed once more to the audience and the band, then turned to leave. Chen Qi stepped out in a timely manner. Once the audience had quieted down, he said, "That was our second singer of the day, Song Quqi. If you enjoyed her performance, don't forget to cast your precious vote for her later."

After soliciting votes for her, Chen Qi didn't waste any time with unnecessary pleasantries. He went straight to the point: "Next, let’s welcome our third singer to the stage!"

With that, he bowed to the audience and quickly exited the stage. This concise, no-nonsense hosting style left the audience feeling both amused and intrigued. Those who hadn't known Chen Qi before couldn't help but take an extra look at him, as if trying to memorize this young man who spoke little but acted decisively.

Even the two station executives watching the scene smiled slightly. Though Chen Qi’s hosting style seemed a bit rough around the edges, it actually felt quite refreshing. Compared to the long-winded, traditional style, it certainly had its merits.