Chapter 7
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Volume 2 + Chapter 7: Complete Victory
After Ouyang Qianxue’s performance ended, the entire hall erupted in applause. Everyone was excited and wanted to say something, but because her performance was simply too outstanding, they even felt their words were insufficient—unable to find a proper term to praise her. Once the applause finally subsided, Bai Yuxuan stepped onto the stage.
“Since both contestants have performed, let’s ask the judges to give their scores.”
“Wait!” At that moment, Bai Yuting suddenly stood up.
“Before scoring, I have a question I’d like to ask Ouyang Qianxue.”
“Please speak, Judge,” Ouyang Qianxue responded politely.
“May I ask—do you know Wang Shiman? Or to put it another way, can you tell me what your relationship with her is?”
“I’ve only liked listening to her songs since childhood,” Ouyang Qianxue hastily lied in response to Bai Yuting’s sudden question. Wang Shiman was actually his guardian and also his talent instructor, but she had instructed him never to tell anyone. Yet Bai Yuting, who had been in the entertainment industry for years, immediately noticed his nervousness.
“But your performance today was far beyond that of just a fan. To sing her most difficult song so perfectly—I have a feeling there must be some other connection—perhaps a teacher-student relationship…”
At that moment, Bai Yuting’s words were like a bomb that exploded the atmosphere inside the gymnasium.
“So it turns out the school beauty is actually a student of diva Wang Shiman? No wonder she’s so outstanding!”
“This is incredible. The school beauty is so beautiful and talented—she will absolutely become the next pop diva after Wang Shiman!”
Seeing the excited students below, Ouyang Qianxue’s heart pounded in panic. If his relationship with Wang Shiman was exposed, this mission could be marked a failure by Wang Shiman herself.
He looked at Bai Yuting, who wore an expression of absolute certainty.
(No wonder she’s Bai Yuxuan’s sister—those Bai family people are really hard to contend with!)
If he didn’t come up with a plausible explanation…
“You misunderstand,” just as Ouyang Qianxue was trapped in a dilemma, Bai Yuxuan suddenly interrupted their exchange.
“Before transferring schools, Ouyang Qianxue had been staying abroad, while Wang Shiman stayed in Xijiang City. So they probably never had any real connection.”
“Oh, that’s right—Ouyang Qianxue did mention before that she’d just returned from overseas.”
“You scared me! I really thought she was Wang Shiman’s student,” the classmates then realized with comprehension.
Ouyang Qianxue gratefully glanced at Bai Yuxuan, but Bai Yuxuan didn’t acknowledge him.
“I see. Then how is it that you can sing Wang Shiman’s song so well?” Bai Yuting continued her persistent questioning—after all, that song was one even she hadn’t managed to learn.
“Probably because I started trying to sing it from childhood—my mother is a fan of Wang Shiman. So I grew up watching her records and singing along. Maybe that’s why I picked up some of her vocal technique.”
“Is that so? You’re really humble. To have that kind of singing ability at your age—your talent could definitely rival Wang Shiman’s back then. So, would you like to consider becoming a professional singer? I’d be glad to recommend you some routes.”
“I’ll pass. Right now I want to focus on academics.”
“I see… that’s truly a pity.”
With that said, Bai Yuting sat back down, looking somewhat deflated. Meanwhile, the students below became even more agitated.
“Hey, did you hear that? The school beauty was just invited by a famous singer!”
“Yeah—and she turned it down!”
“The school beauty is amazing!”
“Any other questions from our judges?” Bai Yuxuan addressed the other judges.
“No.” × 4
“Well then, please judges, present your ratings. Let us know who you think was better—Ning Caiwei’s vocal tone or Ouyang Qianxue’s exceptional singing skill. Give us the answer.” After Bai Yuxuan finished speaking, the judges raised their score cards.
At that moment, Ning Caiwei hurriedly covered her eyes. As a professional, she fully understood that based on the performance just now, Ouyang Qianxue’s strength was far above hers. She didn’t dare look.
When the judges gave their scores, the hall fell completely silent.
“Could it be…” Ning Caiwei looked at the judging panel with the last shred of hope she had left, praying for a miracle. What she saw instead was profound despair.
All the names on the cards were uniformly Ouyang Qianxue. It turned out the students’ silence came not because a miracle had happened, but because they were stunned that the school beauty had managed to shut out an active idol in two rounds.
“Since Ouyang Qianxue has already won two out of three rounds, I hereby declare the winner of this competition to be Sakura Academy’s school beauty, Ouyang Qianxue!”
“Beautiful, powerful—this is our Sakura Academy’s school beauty. To win two rounds 4-0 over an active idol!”
“She’s just too amazing! Every time something involves her, it shakes us to the core!”
It wasn’t until Bai Yuxuan announced the result that the students regained their senses.
At that point, Ning Caiwei felt like all her strength had drained away. She collapsed backward, leaning against the wall.
“I… I actually lost so miserably,” she muttered under her breath.
“Congratulations, Ouyang Qianxue! That was absolutely spectacular,” Wang Qian excitedly hugged Ouyang Qianxue and said.
“Congratulations! Truly, only someone of your caliber would be my real idol,” classmates came up one after another to congratulate her.
“Thank you, everyone. You’re overpraising me.”
Seeing Ouyang Qianxue surrounded by the celebrating crowd, Ning Caiwei felt even more desolate. At such a moment of heartbreak, everyone stood next to the winner, even her classmates were celebrating Ouyang Qianxue’s victory. The joyous atmosphere around Ouyang Qianxue contrasted starkly with the cold sadness inside Ning Caiwei.
She glanced at the students around and realized not a single person was paying attention to her anymore. Their gazes were entirely fixed on Ouyang Qianxue on stage.
“So that’s how it is…” She understood now, even if she went into the third popularity round against Ouyang Qianxue, she would still lose badly.
Previously, Ning Caiwei had confidently believed this stage was destined to be her crowning moment as Sakura Academy’s new school beauty. But now she saw that this stage was nothing more than an execution square displaying her disgrace—and that she was just a clown helping someone else shine.
“I really am a complete and utter loser.” Unable to bear the celebratory atmosphere in the gym any longer, Ning Caiwei lowered her head and slowly walked toward the exit.
“Wait—Ning Caiwei looks like she’s not doing well!” At that moment, Ouyang Qianxue noticed Ning Caiwei’s dejected mood and wanted to go check on her—but the path ahead was blocked by other classmates who kept approaching.
