10. the turning point
1853 Words
"Bang!" The glass was thrown onto the ground. Along with the sound of shattering, red wine splashed onto the expensive handmade carpet.
The owner of the carpet didn't show any pity. He stood up with a gloomy expression.
"Ryan."
"I'm here, boss." Ryan also looked rather grim.
Anyone with eyes could tell how wonderful Lyra's performance was, yet she only got one judge's vote. He could imagine the huge stir outside once the show was fully broadcast.
This was a blatant fix.
They couldn't do anything about the other judges, but that Johnson...
"Johnson won't be on the judging panel for the next round of the competition," Ryan said in an uncharacteristically serious tone. After a pause, he added, "And he'll never show up at PM Company ever again - not in this industry either."
But Ryan knew this wasn't the end of the matter.
Ryan's mind was racing, desperately trying to come up with solutions.
On the other side, the audience was chattering noisily.
The host walked onto the stage and handed the microphone to the judges in the audience, asking for their professional opinions as per the routine.
The first one to speak was Blaze:
"To be honest, I don't get what's going on," he said straightforwardly, standing up for Lyra. "Ms. Lowell is amazing. I think she deserves four judge votes."
"She's a great singer, but the song choice lacks creativity," Mila said.
"'The Song of the Marionette' is a highly difficult song. She's still too inexperienced, and her technique isn't good enough," Johnson chimed in.
Vivian put on an amiable look. "The young lady has a wonderful voice, but I feel it lacks emotion."
At this moment, a camera was already pointed at the audience.
"Lacks emotion?" The silver - haired old gentleman wiped the corner of his eye with a handkerchief. "I was brought to tears. Is this judge's heart made of stone?"
He was a VIP guest, sitting right behind the judging panel, so his voice was picked up by the microphone and echoed throughout the competition venue.
"Maybe, she sings well," Vivian changed her tune. "But as the other two judges said, Ms. Lowell's song choice is too clichéd, and her technique is just average."
"Yes, as I just said, her technique is average," Johnson emphasized.
The chattering started again, and this time, many people seemed hesitant.
Although Lyra's performance seemed outstanding to everyone, perhaps she really did make a lot of mistakes in technique that only experts could notice?
Well, then it's no wonder Lyra was eliminated.
"Oh, really? I don't think so!" A female voice rang out. The judges turned their heads, and a woman stood up in the audience. She was quite old, a bit plump, and looked like an ordinary old lady.
However, upon seeing her, the expressions of the four judges changed instantly, especially Johnson's.
Johnson's expression turned extremely terrified, and his voice stuttered. Then, he said something that shocked everyone. "Professor Ema?"
Ema Horská, she was the only disciple of the late original singer of "The Song of the Marionette." She was regarded as "the only female singer who can perfectly perform 'The Song of the Marionette.'"
At the same time, she was an honorary lifelong professor at a top - tier music academy, and students were proud to have her.
Johnson had only attended one of Ema's guidance classes, and just because of that, he received an interview invitation from PM Company. This was enough to show the preeminent status of this lady in the music industry.
At this moment, everyone was in an uproar.
Ema? The legendary greatest coloratura soprano of our time?
My god, many people started to feel lucky that they had bought the expensive tickets for the competition. Leaving aside everything else, just having the chance to see Ema made the ticket price completely worth it!
"Don't call me professor," Ema said with a candid look of disgust. "You said that this young lady's technique is average. Well, then, tell me, where do you think her technique is lacking?"
"I... I..." Johnson stammered, unable to come up with a reason. Of course he knew how perfect Lyra's singing was, but he had already taken a bribe from Vivian, so he had to be picky about Lyra no matter what.
But to actually criticize Lyra's technique in front of Ema, a world-class singer?
He'd have to be crazy to do that!
"Well, Ms. Ema, what's your opinion?" The host, not minding to stir up trouble, asked.
"I think Lyra Lowell's performance does have flaws," Ema said slowly.
The scene was in an uproar, and on the stage, Lyra nervously held the microphone.
"But," Ema changed her tone. "Even if my teacher were alive, at this age, he couldn't have sung 'The Song of the Marionette' better than Ms. Lowell."
The scene fell silent.
"So..." Ms. Ema turned to Lyra and gave a kind smile like an elder.
"Don't be discouraged, young lady. If you're eliminated..." She made an inviting gesture to Lyra.
"Although I'm old, I don't mind taking you as my last apprentice."
The scene seemed to be injected with a powerful stimulant, and cheers erupted. Reporters excitedly pressed the shutter buttons one by one. Obviously, they smelled a hot news story.
You know, Ms. Ema had publicly announced that she wouldn't accept any more disciples ten years ago. But now, she was extending an olive branch to Lyra. That's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
In the lounge, many contestants showed envious and jealous expressions. Evelyn was so angry that she could almost grind her teeth.
"Thank you for your comments, Ms. Ema," the host took the microphone. He could already imagine what the public opinion would be like when the show was broadcast. "But such are the rules of the competition. Ms. Lyra Lowell, your performance was truly wonderful, and it's hard for me to forget. But I'm sorry to inform you that you are..."
"She hasn't been eliminated yet," a firm voice interrupted the host.
Everyone looked at the person who appeared at the door.
The young man was dressed in a neat suit, with a handsome and unforgettable face. And when Johnson saw him, his face turned pale.
"Boss, why are you here?" Johnson was now filled with regret. What was going on today? First, Ms. Ema, and then his boss. If he had known, he would never have accepted that damned bribe from Vivian.
"May I ask who you are?"
"Ryan Breeze. I'm from PM Company. Mr. Johnson's view doesn't represent the opinion of our company," Ryan said, straightening his back.
The reporters' cameras were pointed at him, and coincidentally, the reporter next to him was Chloe.
Aha, she's looking at me. He intentionally hold his chest out.
"Mr. Breeze, you mean..." The host's expression became a bit awkward.
PM Company was the largest investor in this competition, no less. Maybe in the next round of the competition, PM Company could replace the judges - similar things had happened in the first two seasons of the competition.
One singer - judge was exposed for a criminal scandal and was arrested by the police; another judge was ill, and the organizers found a suitable new judge to take over.
But the competition wasn't a joke. The votes that had been cast and the results that had been determined couldn't be changed casually.
"No, we certainly don't want to change the judges' voting results," Ryan shook his head.
"I just want to remind you that Ms. Lowell hasn't been eliminated yet."
This sentence was like throwing a stone into the water, causing ripples. Many people in the audience started talking and whispering to each other.
"Hasn't been eliminated?" The host was confused. "But Ms. Lowell only got one judge's vote."
"But her audience votes haven't been announced yet," Ryan said firmly.
"Audience votes? I get it!" The host was first confused, then suddenly realized.
And soon, the loyal fans who had followed the show for two full seasons also understood now.
Four judge votes or one pass card meant directly advancing to the third round.
Three judge votes or two judge votes + more than 90% audience support meant advancing to the second round.
The rules of the competition were simple and clear.
However, in the first season of "Rising Music Star," there was such a forgotten rule.
If a contestant achieved 99% audience support, then that person could also directly advance to the third round of the competition!
But in reality, no one had ever managed to get 99% audience support. No one had ever advanced directly under this rule, so this rule was also forgotten. Even the host didn't mention it when introducing the rules.
"The rules page on the competition's official website clearly states that any unmentioned rule parts shall be the same as those of the first and second seasons of the program," Ryan reminded.
This woke everyone up. Although they weren't allowed to bring their phones into the venue, many people had a clear impression of this sentence.
After the host confirmed this on - site, he picked up the microphone again.
"What a surprise. I thought Ms. Lowell's fate of leaving the competition regrettably was sealed, but apparently, there's a turn of events - let's see about Ms. Lowell's audience support. Counting down thirty seconds!"
Before the result was announced, the audience could still choose to vote.
They talked among themselves. Ms. Ema pressed the button first, followed by the owner of Rhea. Then, the green lights representing "pass" lit up one by one.
"She's so charming. Is there any information about this singer online? I want to set up a fan club for her and be her first fan!" A boy said happily to the reporter's camera.
"I, like, Lyra," the young girl was picked up by her mother and waved her little hand.
"To be honest, her song choice isn't my style," a man shrugged, but firmly pressed the pass button. "But I'm pissed off."
"By whom?" The reporter asked.
"Those self-righteous big shots," the man's companion rushed to say. "It's time to show them the power of the people, we choose Lyra Lowell!" He had already pressed the pass button.
On the stage, Lyra, in a white dress, held the microphone and nervously looked at the people below who were deciding her fate.
Would she succeed or fail? 99% audience support seemed so unattainable. She had never thought of it.
She cast a grateful look at Ryan in the corner. Lyra knew that this time, it must be Damien helping her again.
Thirty seconds passed quickly.
"So, will Ms. Lowell be eliminated or advance? Look at the screen," the host said.
The audience was silent.
Since she was facing the audience, Lyra couldn't get the result immediately.
"Ms. Lowell, you can turn around now."
The host's voice was calm, showing no sign of excitement or disappointment.
Had she succeeded or failed?
Lyra was extremely nervous but still slowly turned around to face her fate.
99% of 500 votes should be 495.
And her vote count was:
- Writer
