Chapter 128: Life Has No "What Ifs"

After finishing "Lady Shexiang," Wang Situ's voice was already pushed to its limit. Her smoky tone wasn't meant for belting high notes, but throughout that performance, she had continuously challenged herself and succeeded. However, the price was steep; her voice had grown increasingly hoarse. Chen Fang worried that with every lyric she sang, there was a risk of her voice giving out entirely. To be honest, Chen Fang was more nervous than she was.

Yet, Wang Situ performed beautifully. Her voice withstood the pressure time and time again.

"If I had known, I would have written her a simpler song," Chen Fang murmured.

Beside him, Xi Yuanyuan nodded in agreement. Given Qiao Yuezhu's current state, even if Chen Fang had written a nursery rhyme for Wang Situ, she likely still would have won. Chen Fang had played it too safe. The quality of "Father" was exceptionally high, and it suited Wang Situ perfectly. Giving her "Father" to sing was like giving her a cheat code. Had Chen Fang known Qiao Yuezhu was in such poor form, he would have just bought any random song from the system and called it a day.

As the song ended, tears welled up in Wang Situ's eyes. By the second half, she wasn't singing with her voice anymore; she was relying entirely on raw emotion. Even she had felt she might not finish, but in the final chorus, she slightly reined in her power, allowing her to complete the song flawlessly.

A second later, thunderous applause erupted throughout the venue. Wang Situ’s name began to echo across the arena, ringing in every person's ears, layer upon layer, showing no sign of stopping. The four judges couldn't help but clap along. After a long while, the applause and cheering slowly faded. With all lights and eyes focused on her, Chen Fang knew from the audience's reaction that after tonight, Wang Situ would become a massive star.

Truth be told, if Chen Fang had performed "Father" himself, the impact would not have been as great. It was simply a case of the right singer meeting the right song, resulting in a stage presence comparable to that of a superstar.

"Situ is going to be a sensation," Xi Yuanyuan said, her face beaming. Fame was inevitable. After tonight, many high-profile endorsement deals would surely come knocking, and the trendiest variety shows would extend their invitations.

"She deserves this fame. My goal is to make her a diva," Chen Fang said with a smile.

A diva? Xi Yuanyuan was momentarily stunned. That seemed like a tall order. The requirements to become a true diva were incredibly harsh. Looking at the history of the Chinese music scene, over all these years, there were only twenty-one male singers at the superstar level, and even fewer female singers—only fifteen. Xi Yuanyuan's goals were more modest; she thought reaching the status of a "young diva" would be a great achievement.

Seeing her expression, Chen Fang teased, "Don't you believe me?"

Xi Yuanyuan said nothing, but her silence spoke volumes. Chen Fang looked at the dazzling Wang Situ on stage, the intensity in his eyes burning bright. With the system at his disposal and an entire Earth's worth of music libraries, if he couldn't turn Wang Situ into a diva, he might as well go home and farm—there would be no point in hanging around the entertainment industry!

Back on stage, the judges began their critiques. The "femme fatale" diva spoke first: "Contestant Wang Situ, your performance was full of emotion. Although there were some minor technical flaws, I believe a song—a song that moves the audience—should be rooted in emotion. Therefore, I think you performed beautifully. Out of a hundred points, I give you ninety-nine."

Ninety-nine! A record-breaking high score! It was the highest score in the history of *Road to Stardom*, yet no one found it unreasonable.

"As a singer known for sentimental ballads, I've always limited my understanding of tear-jerkers to themes of romance. I never expected a song about family to be so moving. I believe you wouldn't find another song in the entire Chinese music library as profound and heart-wrenching as this 'Father,' so no score is too high. I give you ninety-nine," said the young superstar who resembled Zhou Chuanxiong, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I hope to stand on stage and perform a duet with you one day. It is my honor to see a newcomer like you in today's stagnant music scene."

"Ninety-nine," the young diva added immediately.

Finally, the hip-hop star spoke: "I've written rap songs about family, but their emotional depth is far weaker than this 'Father.' It's a bit embarrassing to admit, but I truly learned how to craft a song about family from your performance. I don't like to beat around the bush; I think an excellent song deserves the highest score. I give you one hundred."

Of course, that perfect score wasn't just for the performance. If everything went according to plan, Wang Situ would be a massive star. Giving a perfect score now to curry favor and build a connection was a very smart move.

The scores were in: 99, 99, 99, and 100. Wang Situ's final average was 99.25. The venue erupted in thunderous applause once more. Tonight's tickets were well worth the price; Wang Situ's rendition of "Father" alone was worth the admission. More importantly, the song resonated with countless listeners. Many in the audience began calling home, receiving warm greetings from fathers who were usually reticent on the phone. That was the true meaning of a great song.

"Thank you, judges," Wang Situ said, bowing deeply. Fortunately, her qipao was form-fitting, so she didn't have to worry about an accidental wardrobe malfunction.

As Wang Situ left the stage, the host walked out and, after a brief preamble, prepared to call Qiao Yuezhu to perform. In the lounge, Qiao Yuezhu was on the verge of tears. What was the point of her going out there now? With a score of 99.25, even if she brought in a top-tier performer, they might not be able to beat Wang Situ, let alone a newcomer like herself. Going on stage now was just asking to be humiliated.

"Forget it," Qiao Yuezhu sighed, ready to give up. "I’ll just wing it." She had no heart for singing anymore; she only wanted to resolve her online troubles. With Wang Situ setting a despair-inducing high score, she felt even less motivated. She would just go through the motions and get it over with.

Suddenly, Qiao Yuezhu felt a wave of regret. Back when the third round of auditions ended, she had considered teaming up with Chen Fang, but after hesitating, she had chosen to align herself with Zheng Wenyan instead. If she hadn't hesitated, if she had been more decisive... But unfortunately, life had no "what ifs."