"Petal Shower!"
"Petal Shower!"
"Petal Shower!"
"Petal Shower!"
The excitement in the studio was hitting a fever pitch!
Many in the audience were shouting her name!
Petal Shower did not say anything. She just bowed and exited the stage.
Zhang Xia openly commented, "That was fantastic! There's only one such female singer like her in the music scene!"
Yao Jiancai quickly asked, "You've recognized her?"
Zhang Xia smiled and said, "I'm quite certain of it."
Chen Yidong said, "But her voice doesn't sound familiar to me. Why can't I tell?"
Wang Zhuishu had also more or less guessed who she was. He was astonished. "She changed her vocal register on purpose and made her voice sound different." He looked to Zhang Xia and said, "Is it really her?"
Zhang Xia said in amusement, "Don't ask me, ask Old Chen."
Then, the judges looked over to Chen Guang.
Chen Guang scoffed and threw his hands up, saying, "I don't know anything. Why would you ask me?"
Amy said excitedly, "There's something to look forward to now! It's gonna be difficult to predict who wins and loses!"
Wang Zhuishu gave a wry smile and said, "Yeah, Petal Shower just showcased her specialty. If we considered just this performance, no one could beat her except The Clown since he's always so unpredictable. Since no one can predict what he's going to do, we shouldn't count him out." The vague meaning to this was not spelled out clearly, but Petal Shower had turned in a heaven defying performance with this song. However, with Li Yu exposing himself and with so many fans supporting him, it would be difficult to predict how the audience would vote in the end.
In the corridor to the backstage.
Petal Shower was returning.
Spinach said excitedly, "Big Sis, y-you were amazing!"
Yesterday's Daylily said, "That was so cool! Senior Sis, could it be you?"
Petal Shower looked at him. "You are?"
Yesterday's Daylily said, "I'm a newcomer to the company. Uh, if I haven't misidentified you, we even dined together at Dongzhimen last month."
Petal Shower laughed. "Oh, it's you."
Yesterday's Daylily was shocked. "So it's really you then? Aiyo!"
But Spinach still could not recognize her. She hurriedly asked, "You are?"
Sunset Glow didn't seem to have figured it out either and was looking at her deep in thought.
The Clown did not say anything and ignored them. He already knew who she was, so he was even less inclined to speak as he was afraid that he would get recognized.
Onstage.
Dong Shanshan was saying, "Let's welcome our next singer—Sunflower in the Starlight!"
At this, the audience raised another racket!
"Ah?"
"Li Yu is next?"
"He's facing off against Petal Shower?"
"Aiyo, this is so exciting!"
"Uh, this…"
"Brother Li Yu, you can do it!"
"Li Yu!"
"Li Yu!"
"Let's go! Li Yu will definitely win!"
Many of Li Yu's fans were screaming their hearts out!
Sunflower walked onto the stage slowly as the crowd cheered him on. There was a sense of heaviness in his stride. After he came to a standstill, he took two deep breaths. Petal Shower's amazing performance had pressured him too much. He really had not expected that Petal Shower could sing a rather unknown song so well. It was an incredibly heaven defying performance and whoever took the stage afterwards to face her would have it quite hard. If this as before, Sunflower knew that he would have lost to her for sure. But it was different today, since everyone knew who he was. With his popularity, as long as he could perform up to par, he would definitely become the Masked King!
Sunflower was convinced of it.
Besides, he had chosen a song that would flatter him today!
The lights dimmed.
The music started playing.
The title of the song appeared on the display overhead the stage: "Mother Said."
"It's a Mandarin song?"
"Why isn't he singing a Cantonese song?"
"Li Yu is definitely saving that for the finale! Haha!"
"It's almost Mother's Day, so this song is a good choice too!"
"But isn't it a rather niche song?"
"Anything that Li Yu sings is good. So what if it's niche? The song that Petal Shower sang was even more niche!"
The audience was getting quite enthusiastic.
However, when Spinach and Yesterday's Daylily saw the title of the song, they felt even more contempt for Li Yu. He had broken the rules, cheated by soliciting support, and even chose this sort of song to resonate with the audience on Mother's Day? He could really resort to any kind of method just to become the Masked King? How could he still have the cheek to sing a song about a mother's love!
Sunflower sang.
"Mother, oh mother.
"I've always kept your words in mind.
"I finally understand why you told me to be wary of those around me.
"Mother, oh mother.
"I've always kept your words in mind.
"You said that life is like an abyss that none of us can escape."
This was a very gloomy song.
It portrayed the singer's sense of confusion.
"Loneliness.
"I've gotten used to it.
"Hurt."
"I've suffered it.
"Can you tell me those words again?
"Mother, where are you right now?"
In the studio, some people started to cry.
Zhang Ye's mother also felt a little touched and kept sniffling.
Zhang Xia, Amy, and the others nodded lightly. Disregarding everything else, Sunflower's singing was really one of the best in the music industry. The potency of his high notes was striking, and his technique was good. He could consciously control his voice to insert a slight sobbing tone, which made his singing particularly catchy!
The song ended.
Applause rang out through the studio!
"Li Yu!"
"Li Yu!"
"Li Yu!"
A lot of young ladies were so moved by the song that they screamed as they shed tears!
As today was Mother's Day, this song had clearly resonated with the audience!
Sunflower was very satisfied with himself. He smiled to the audience while waving at them and bowed to show his appreciation.
Dong Shanshan went back onstage and invited Petal Shower back on as well.
Finally, the tensest moment arrived. The voting was about to take place!
Spinach watched, not blinking.
Yesterday's Daylily got butterflies in his stomach.
Hou Ge, Xiao Lu, Dafei, and others from the program team were all looking in that direction too. They were also looking forward to the results of the voting, but could not do anything to help. None of them wanted Sunflower to win and were wishing that he would get eliminated in this episode. Otherwise, if Sunflower really became Masked King for every future episode, King of Masked Singers would end up a personal stage for him to build up his popularity. That would defeat the purpose of having their contestants appear in masks!
But then, could Petal Shower really beat him?
Could she really beat Li Yu's popularity?
And so, the judges would play their roles to their greatest effect.
Zhang Xia said, "I like Petal Shower's performance. The only word that can describe her singing today is 'perfect!'"
Yao Jiancai commented, "Although Sunflower's song was nice to listen to and the sentiment behind it is just right, it's just too pessimistic and depressing. I also prefer Petal Shower's 'That's Me,' especially that last verse with the 'last cry.' It was the best! To be honest, I've never heard someone who can sing this well!"
Amy expressed, "Comparing the two of them, Petal Shower's performance was the more outstanding one today."
The judges unanimously preferred Petal Shower.
Petal Shower nodded in thanks.
Sunflower remained silent. He did not seem to care what the judges were saying as he still did not think that he would lose, so he let them say whatever they wanted.
However, when the voting began, Sunflower's expression finally changed!
The moment it started, Petal Shower went into the lead!
It was not much, just seven votes!
Li Yu's fans in the audience were infuriated!
"What the heck!"
"Do you people even understand music?"
"Give your votes to Li Yu!"
"Give them all to Li Yu!"
"Li Yu!"
"He should be the Masked King!"
Li Yu's fans flared up as his vote count soared!
Sunflower overtook Petal Shower and went into the lead by more than 20 votes!
The program team staff looked peeved!
Spinach and Yesterday's Daylily stamped their feet in frustration!
The judges' comments were very professional. To be fair, Petal Shower's singing was really leaps and bounds better than Sunflower's. But due to Li Yu's despicable tricks, many of those present in the studio disregarded the point of voting. They no longer cared about the singing and whether the song performed was good. Some of these audience members were even explicitly supporting the person and not the performed piece. No matter what Li Yu sang, they would give their votes to him!
Sunflower looked at the tallies and smiled.
Petal Shower did not even turn around to look at the votes.
Fortunately, there were still plenty of people in the audience who were rational.
Zhang Ye's eldest younger sister said, "I'm definitely voting for Petal Shower!"
His father said, "Right."
His mother disagreed, "But Sunflower sang very well."
His third sister said, "I didn't like Li Yu's song as it was too pessimistic. Why does it paint everything in life so darkly? Why must we be cautious of the people around us? Although I like Li Yu, I still think that Petal Shower sang better today!"
The burst of votes from Li Yu's fans was only temporary. For that moment, a lot of people gave their votes to Li Yu, but it could not gather enough momentum!
Petal Shower had sung too godly!
She was so amazing that some of Li Yu's not terribly diehard fans defected and voted for Petal Shower instead!
Both their tallies kept rising!
Finally, the results were out!
Dong Shanshan said, "I hereby announce that the winner is—Petal Shower!"
Petal Shower: 252 votes!
Sunflower: 248 votes!
It was only a difference of 4 votes!
Petal Shower had won!