Chapter 17: A Chapter Whose Title I Don't Know How to Name

On the day of the finals, the stage blazed with lights as six contestants lined up shoulder to shoulder. The host announced solemnly: "Welcome to the finals of the *New Talent Singing Competition*! Tonight, we shall witness the birth of the top three!"

Not a single seat was empty below the stage; among the audience sat reporters mingled in. On the judges' panel, four heavyweights—Anita Mui, Sam Hui, James Wong, and Leslie Cheung—were chatting in low voices.

The first to take the stage was Priscilla Chan, who stepped up elegantly in a flowing white gown.

"The song I will perform is 'Everything Is Beautiful Because of You.'"

The music began; her voice was clear and moving, her rendition deep and tender.

When the performance ended, Sam Hui nodded in praise: "Perfect pitch, brimming with emotion."

Anita Mui added: "But it lacks a touch of personal character."

Final score: 380 points.

(Davey Wang, Lui Fong, and Li Keqin took the stage one after another.)

James Wong sighed in admiration: "This is Davey Wang—something no one else can copy."

Score: 385 points.

Leslie Cheung applauded: "Amazing! I wouldn't even dare to try that key."

Score: 388 points.

Anita Mui said with a smile: "Li Keqin, you remind me of a young Sam Hui."

Score: 390 points.

When Zhou Huimin's turn came, she drew a deep breath and walked slowly onto the stage.

"Next, I will perform 'Love Like the Tide.'"

The music began; she cast aside her usual sweet style and sang this love song with heart-rending anguish.

"I won't ask you why your tears fall..."

When she reached the climax, her eyes reddened and her voice trembled slightly, which only deepened its power to move.

When the performance ended, the entire hall fell silent for several seconds, then erupted in thunderous applause.

James Wong rose excitedly: "Zhou Huimin, you've made me see you in a new light!"

Leslie Cheung smiled: "Now this is the breakthrough a singer should have."

However, just as the judges were about to reveal their scores, a jarring buzz of whispers rose from below the stage:

"It must have been Wu Xiang Qian who wrote the arrangement for her."

"Exactly—where would she get that kind of skill on her own..."

Zhou Huimin held back her tears and bowed; once backstage she finally broke down, collapsing onto the makeup table in loud sobs.

Score: 389 points.

Xiang Qian walked onto the stage with a cold face. Instead of starting to sing right away, he surveyed the entire hall.

"Before I sing my song, I'd like to say a few words."

His gaze swept sharply across the reporters' section: "There are people who can destroy another's hard work with nothing but a pen."

The crowd below immediately stirred into an uproar.

The music began, and he sang "Crossing the Ocean to See You" with deep feeling.

"For you I spent half a year's savings, crossing the ocean to see you..."

He gave the song a hundred twists and turns of emotion; many in the audience secretly wiped away tears.

Anita Mui, her eyes rimmed red: "Xiang Qian, you've sung out the soul of this song."

Sam Hui sighed: "Now this is what you call a singer-songwriter."

Score: 394 points.

Just as everyone thought the performance was over, Xiang Qian suddenly said: "I still have one more song."

He took the guitar handed to him by a staff member, sat at the edge of the stage, and sneered into the microphone:

"This song is dedicated to certain people."

A light, breezy guitar intro began, and he sang Xu Song's "Don't Bite Me":

"Gossip-hungry reporters, bored rumor-mongers..."

The lyrics pointed straight at the media's chaos, every line cutting to the heart.

The reporters below turned ashen-faced; some even stormed out of their seats in anger.

But the audience erupted in cheers and applause, with many standing up to sway along to the rhythm.

At the climax, Xiang Qian suddenly pointed at the reporters' section:

"Write whatever you want—I won't be reading it anyway!"

When the performance ended, James Wong was the first to rise and applaud: "Thrilling! Now that's the backbone of a musician!"

Anita Mui laughed until she rocked back and forth: "Qian-zi, you've got real nerve—but I like it!"

Leslie Cheung said with quiet meaning: "I hope certain people can understand this song."

Sam Hui, however, offered a worried reminder: "Young man, your courage is admirable, but the road ahead..."

The moment he stepped off the stage, a Shaw Brothers executive blocked Xiang Qian in a fury: "Do you have any idea what you're doing?"

Xiang Qian sneered: "I do. Just telling the truth."

Zhou Huimin rushed over and grabbed his arm: "Qian-zi..."

Xiang Qian gripped her hand: "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

In the post-competition interview segment, the reporters pressed aggressively:

"Xiang Qian, are you deliberately provoking the media?"

"Are you worried about being blacklisted from now on?"

Xiang Qian stared straight into the camera: "Musicians speak through their work, not by trying to please anyone."

Zhou Huimin clung tightly to his arm, her eyes full of determination.

Just as chaos erupted, Anita Yim suddenly appeared: "Excuse me, everyone."

She stepped to Xiang Qian's side and said into the microphone: "As a judge, I appreciate musicians with attitude."

Leslie Cheung also walked over: "It's a good thing for young people to have backbone."

The two big shots' public support forced the reporters to rein themselves in.

The host announced: "Tomorrow will be the final showdown. Please, the three contestants, be prepared!"

Backstage, Xiang Qian said softly to Zhou Huimin: "Tomorrow, I'll make them remember our names."

Zhou Huimin leaned on his shoulder: "Mm, together."