Chapter 21: Failed Challenge? [Please Bookmark and Recommend]

Yu Zhile left the studio in a hurry, quickly heading toward the elevator to pick up his baby. From the moment he entered the studio to the time his wife finished singing, about ten minutes had passed. If nothing unexpected happened, the baby should still be asleep.

After all, the baby had been soothed to sleep on the way over; under normal circumstances, she would nap for around three hours before waking up.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, Yu Zhile stepped inside, feeling a touch of anxiety. At this moment, he realized he had started to care about the baby—perhaps he had already, unconsciously, embraced the lifelong “profession” of being a father.

Returning to find Yang Bing, Yu Zhile's anxiety vanished the instant he saw the baby’s stroller. He handed the employee badge hanging around his neck back to Yang Bing, saying, “Old Yang, thanks for your help! I’ll take the child and head home, won’t disturb your work anymore.”

“No disturbance at all,” Yang Bing replied with a smile. “Let me see you off!”

Yu Zhile chuckled, “No need for such formality. You go on with your work! I know my way out!”

“It’s nothing, I was just heading to the restroom anyway.”

Yang Bing’s enthusiasm was impossible for Yu Zhile to refuse, so he let him accompany him. Pushing the stroller, Yu Zhile lifted the sunshade to check on the still-sleeping baby. Yang Bing remarked, “She’s sleeping so soundly! No one has disturbed her since you left.”

Yu Zhile smiled, “Thanks, Old Yang. Please keep my visit here a secret! If my wife finds out I brought our daughter here, I’ll have to kneel on the keyboard when I get home!”

Yang Bing let Yu Zhile enter the elevator first. Seeing it was empty, he laughed, “Don’t worry! When colleagues asked, I didn’t mention you’re a famous writer, much less that you’re Qin Haiyu’s husband!”

Yu Zhile nodded, “Good. Next time I have some free time, I’ll treat you to a meal!”

Yang Bing grinned, “Sure! If I get promoted or a raise, I’ll treat you as well!”

The two chatted with rare enthusiasm.

For Yu Zhile, he genuinely regarded Old Yang as a friend and classmate—after all, before crossing over, they were classmates who often played basketball together.

But for Yang Bing in this world, five years had passed since graduation, and he and Yu Zhile hadn’t kept much contact. Recently, their connection was rekindled because Yu Zhile learned Yang Bing worked at Dongfang TV, so he sought him out and offered to pay the production team of “I Am a Singer” to invite Qin Haiyu to the show.

Now, Yang Bing found the long-lost camaraderie returning—the envy, jealousy, and resentment he once felt toward Yu Zhile had faded.

The main reason was that, after Yu Zhile’s identity as a writer was revealed, Yang Bing learned Yu Zhile was not living off his wife.

After all, people tend to despise men who rely on their spouses while simultaneously feeling a mix of envy and resentment. But for truly accomplished individuals, admiration comes from the heart, alongside envy and jealousy.

At this moment, Yang Bing genuinely admired Yu Zhile.

“Old Yang, just see me to the ground floor. Get back to work! I’ll contact you when I have time—let’s stay in touch!”

Yu Zhile spoke sincerely; he truly wanted to keep in touch, not out of politeness, since who knows, he might need Yang Bing’s help again in the future.

Moreover, after crossing over, Yang Bing was the first classmate he reconnected with, which made him genuinely happy. But after five years, Yang Bing seemed a bit distant, sometimes warm, sometimes cold. Yu Zhile had experienced this feeling many times—like meeting a grade-school or middle-school classmate unexpectedly after years apart, that blend of familiarity and strangeness, much like now.

After their farewells, Yang Bing took the elevator back to work, while Yu Zhile left the TV station and hailed a cab home.

…

Meanwhile.

In the “I Am a Singer” production team, the judges had finished commenting on Qin Haiyu’s performance.

Now came the voting segment of Qin Haiyu’s round!

There were thirty musicians on the judges’ panel, each holding votes worth ten times that of a single audience member. When they pressed the voting button, it counted as ten votes for the singer!

Besides this panel—often prone to behind-the-scenes manipulation—there were five hundred audience members present, holding five hundred votes.

This meant that for Qin Haiyu to succeed in the challenge, the judges’ votes were crucial!

Comparing the last episode’s scores with today’s, Teacher Fan Di, who ranked seventh last week, received 421 votes—just 51 more than Qin Haiyu. Today, Fan Di’s votes soared to 698, meaning Qin Haiyu needed at least 750 votes to surpass the fourth-place Fan Di!

This also implied that if more than five judges didn't vote for her, the host, Ni Qiqin, could immediately declare Qin Haiyu’s challenge a failure.

The tense moment was at hand!

Onstage, Qin Haiyu remained calm, indifferent to the outcome. She knew she hadn’t botched her husband’s song and had performed “Little Luck” perfectly—that was enough. Whether she succeeded in the challenge didn’t matter!

In fact, she hoped not to win, because she wanted to go home and take care of her husband and baby.

Soon, the judges’ votes were tallied.

As luck would have it, only twenty-five out of thirty judges voted for Qin Haiyu!

With each judge’s vote counting as ten, she had already secured 250 votes.

Whether a miracle could occur depended entirely on the five hundred live audience members!

After Ni Qiqin announced the judges’ votes, she comfortingly patted Qin Haiyu’s shoulder with a wry smile and continued, “The suspense of whether Qin Haiyu can succeed in the challenge has been left to the five hundred audience members present! Audience voting begins now! If you feel Qin Haiyu’s ‘Little Luck’ moved you, press the voting button and support her!”

Despite her words, Ni Qiqin knew Qin Haiyu would fail the challenge.

Although Qin Haiyu’s song was beautifully sung, for her to advance, all five hundred audience members would have to vote for her. One less, and she would tie with Fan Di. Two less, and she would fail outright.

Yet, everyone has their own preferences! Is it possible all five hundred audience members were touched by her song? Clearly, that’s almost impossible!

Especially since there were some diehard fans in the audience who only voted for certain singers; for Qin Haiyu to receive over four hundred votes would already be impressive—getting 450 would be extraordinary! Achieving 500 or even tying with Fan Di at 499 votes was nearly impossible!

As the thirty-second audience voting countdown began, many in the crowd glanced around; some whispered, urging their neighbors to vote.

Qin Haiyu smiled gently, not feeling a trace of nervousness, for she truly didn’t care about winning or losing, nor about the success of the challenge.

Her participation was only because her husband secretly spent money to buy her a spot as a challenger on the show and wanted her to join. She agreed, half-heartedly, for his sake.

Now, with both rounds of the challenge finished, she could be content and return home to care for her child.

Thirty seconds passed…

Ni Qiqin reminded, “Voting is over! Let’s see Qin Haiyu’s final vote tally!”

On the stage screen, the numbers began to roll.

Curious, Qin Haiyu turned to watch the background screen.

The final vote stopped at 747!

Out of five hundred live audience members, only three hadn’t voted!

Qin Haiyu’s total was just two votes less than Fan Di, who ranked fourth.

This meant…

Qin Haiyu had failed to win the challenge!