Chapter 90: The Goddess Makes Her Entrance

"Nine!"

The number Zhang Qiyang drew for his performance slot was actually "9"!

There were only seven singers eligible to draw for their order of appearance. Adding the challenger, Zhao Ziqi, who would perform last, there were eight contestants in total this round. Yet, Zhang Qiyang somehow managed to draw a “9”!

Many viewers, prone to suspicion, immediately jumped to the conclusion that the show's producers were rigging things to an astronomical degree!

Zhang Qiyang himself was stunned for a split second. But he quickly realized he was holding the card upside down. With a laugh, he flipped the card and showed it to the camera.

It turned out to be a “6”.

His luck was still holding strong today—he’d be performing sixth.

Luo Tao and the others sighed in silence. No drama after all! If only Zhang Qiyang had drawn seventh.

Zhang Qiyang himself was quite satisfied with his draw. The other singers, seeing his consistently good fortune, couldn’t help but wonder when his luck might finally run dry.

After Zhang Qiyang returned to his seat, Zhou Delin, who placed second last week, took his turn to draw. Zhou’s luck wasn’t bad either, securing the fourth slot.

As last week’s third-place winner, Li Xuan came out third to draw. After donning the new shoes custom-made for her by Shoemaker, her luck had taken a significant turn for the better.

At last, she drew a later slot—fifth—nestled between Zhang Qiyang and Zhou Delin.

Li Xuan felt a twinge of helplessness about her position. She’d hoped to perform earlier, but now it seemed her grandmother would have to wait quite a while to see her on stage.

With Zhang Qiyang, Zhou Delin, and Li Xuan occupying three of the later spots, the other singers felt the pressure mounting. Fortunately, this week wasn’t an elimination round; everyone could perform freely, and the order mattered less.

Zhao Lei, who placed fourth last week, led the rest in drawing their slots. Among them, Yue Li had the best luck, drawing the seventh spot. Lin Haoran, however, wasn’t as fortunate—he’d open the show. Iron Lung Ji Chunying would be second, and Rocker Zhao Lei third.

The team from Chutian Entertainment paid close attention to the performance order this round, for only Zhao Ziqi’s fate was truly on the line.

Zhao Ziqi had to break into the top three if she wanted to remain on the “I Sing” stage.

With powerhouses like Zhou Delin, Li Xuan, and the enigmatic Zhang Qiyang all performing late, the situation was far from ideal for Chutian. Seeing the lineup, Zhao Ziqi felt the pressure weighing on her. Still, she had confidence in her abilities. She didn’t wish for the others to falter—she only hoped she could deliver a performance above her usual standard.

With the drawing over, this episode of “I Sing” entered its official performance phase.

Zhang Qiyang and the others returned to the waiting room to prepare. The production team, showing rare benevolence, sent a cameraman to film Zhang Qiyang backstage. Under the constant gaze of the camera, Zhang Qiyang felt rather ill at ease.

In previous episodes, while other contestants performed, Zhang Qiyang would already be taunting rivals with bold declarations on social media. This time, however, he was unusually silent—not even touching his phone. His fans and detractors alike waited in vain for his signature swagger, leaving them somewhat disappointed.

With Zhang Qiyang lying low, the show proceeded smoothly, but ratings suffered. Although the performances in the latter half nudged the numbers up, they still failed to break 2.5%, lagging far behind previous episodes.

It wasn’t until Zhou Delin’s fourth-place performance that the ratings saw a further boost, peaking at 2.7%, but still noticeably short of prior highs.

Last week, Zhou Delin had failed to clinch victory on his “home turf.” Though he accepted his loss, he was determined to reclaim the crown and prove himself.

This week, Zhou Delin set the stage ablaze with a passionate rendition of his classic Cantonese hit, “This Night,” moving the entire audience. Though it wasn’t a Cantonese special, “This Night” was widely popular in this world’s music scene—nearly every music lover knew it by heart.

For those in the live audience, hearing the maestro’s soulful performance was an uncommon treat.

The producers had already decided: until the semifinals, audience voting via text would be suspended, with rankings determined solely by the 500 on-site judges.

Winning over the live audience with well-crafted songs would be key to a good result. Personal preferences would inevitably influence their choices.

Debuting a new song in such a high-stakes setting was always a gamble.

Zhang Qiyang’s earlier risks had paid off, but whether Li Xuan’s own attempt would succeed this week remained to be seen.

When it came time for Li Xuan’s performance, Chen Ke and the rest of the East Entertainment team watched anxiously from backstage.

Li Xuan herself wasn’t overly concerned about her ranking this round, but Chen Ke and her colleagues certainly were. For a top-tier star like Li Xuan, a poor result was unacceptable—especially with a rising newcomer from Chu Entertainment eyeing her position.

If Li Xuan’s performance fell flat and she placed near the bottom, it would only embolden her rivals and weaken her own standing.

Li Xuan’s close friend, Little Frog, attended the show in person. Unlike Chen Ke and the others, Little Frog had absolute confidence in Li Xuan’s performance.

He himself had arranged “Grandma’s Penghu Bay” for her, following Zhang Qiyang’s suggestion—incorporating country elements to highlight the song’s nostalgic melody, inspired by the otherworldly Tsai Chin’s version.

The result was a fresh, lively embellishment that enhanced the song’s tribute to home and family, making it even more charming and delightful.

Little Frog was particularly proud of this arrangement. Upon learning that Zhang Qiyang had composed the song on a whim, he was utterly in awe. The advice Zhang Qiyang offered on the country arrangement left him completely convinced of the young man’s genius.

Until meeting Zhang Qiyang, Little Frog had always considered himself a cut above the rest in musical creativity. Only then did he realize there is always someone greater.

If he were a genius, then Zhang Qiyang was surely a divine talent.

With Li Xuan set to perform this masterpiece, how could the outcome be anything but stellar?

In Little Frog’s view, Li Xuan was certain to shine this week. The audience would surely be left with a deep impression of the song.

Standing center stage, her ponytail crisp and lively, Li Xuan hardly concerned herself with winning over the crowd.

Her bright eyes gazed directly into the main camera, and she smiled gently.

She knew her grandmother was watching from far away, surrounded by family, all sharing in her moment.

The thought of their warm, knowing smiles filled Li Xuan’s heart with tenderness, ready to spill over.

Even before the music began, the audience was already charmed by the heartfelt warmth in Li Xuan’s smile.

Coincidentally, many in the studio audience this episode were fans of Li Xuan. As the cheerful, lilting intro began and Li Xuan gently swayed to the rhythm, these fans felt as if they were dreaming—never imagining they’d experience her captivating presence up close.

When Li Xuan showed off her new custom shoes, adorned with delicate embroidery by Shoemaker, the audience’s hearts were utterly melted in an instant.