Chapter 20

Chapter 20

A cat... a cat head?

How could the tycoon be a cat mascot???

When Su Xingyao, dressed in a cute cat mascot costume, appeared on stage, everyone's eyes widened in shock.

Shock, disbelief, and the thought that they might be seeing things...

No one would associate such a talented singer with a person wearing a cute mascot costume and even using a voice changer.

In everyone's imagination, the tycoon with such a heavenly voice should be a figure dressed simply, like an immortal untouched by the mundane world...

But the reality was that the person appearing on the rising platform in front of everyone was a cute cat mascot.

After realizing this, the contestants who were sure number 78 wasn’t in a mascot costume began to question everything.

They rubbed their eyes, straining to see if the production team had messed up.

But on the rising platform, the person ascending wore a mascot costume with a number tag clearly marked '78.'

Number 78... A cat mascot costume.

They realized the tycoon they admired and praised, who brought glory to all, was the same person they had harshly criticized and gossiped about.

The contestants felt like their faces were being slapped over and over.

The beautiful singing lingered, but every time they recalled it, their own harsh words echoed in their minds.

"The tycoon wouldn’t wear something so flashy," they had said.

"A cat mascot? That’s gotta sound terrible..."

Every word they’d said minutes ago now felt like a slap to the face.

The contestants were dumbfounded, unsure how to react.

Their throats tightened, leaving them speechless as they stared at the glowing mascot costume.

Backstage, number 79 was also in a daze.

From Su Xingyao’s first note, he was stunned.

At first, he hoped the performance was just a strong start, since the song’s second half was notoriously hard.

But the mascot delivered a flawless performance, even nailing the challenging second half with ease.

It was a masterclass in talent...

The emotion and technique were beyond his reach...

Number 79, pale-faced, felt his grip on the microphone falter.

Realizing he’d acted like a fool, he was filled with shame and regret.

Had he lost his mind, attacking such a talented singer for a plagiarizing influencer...

And it's not just about the argument.

The most pressing issue now is that he's set to perform right after such a formidable competitor...

He's more aware than anyone of the gap between himself and his competitor.

Clearly, once he steps on stage, he'll be completely overshadowed...

No one is privy to the inner turmoil of contestant number 79.

The audience merely watches as the lift finally stops.

And there, center stage, stands Su Xingyao in his cat costume.

Under the spotlight, his fluffy costume, complete with large, round eyes on the hood, looks irresistibly cute, instantly winning hearts.

The judges, seated at the mentor panel, keep glancing at Su Xingyao, visibly taken aback by his unconventional outfit.

After a few moments of stunned silence, one of the mentors finally snaps out of it.

"This... honestly, it's quite a surprise," remarks Wen Yun, the last to hit his button.

Once a top scorer himself, he scratches his head in bewilderment.

"The voice always painted a picture of a quiet, artsy young man in my mind."

He lets out a dry chuckle, "But the reality is... well..."

"The shock and contrast are so stark that Wen Yun struggles to articulate his feelings."

He's tempted to call the outfit a bit odd, but hesitates.

This isn't his first rodeo as a music show judge.

He's encountered many unique contestants before, but their singing styles always aligned with their personas.

Either consistently cool or perpetually aloof.

But a contestant with such a stark contrast between voice and appearance is a first for him.

After much deliberation, Wen Yun still can't find the right words. Noticing his hesitation, Sheng Yan kindly steps in.

"Didn't expect the real person to be so cute," remarks Sheng Yan, who's barely cracked a smile all day, now with a slight grin.

"Cute, yet incredibly talented."

Sheng Yan, typically cool and aloof, clearly has a soft spot for Su Xingyao, speaking more than he usually does.

"I don't know about the others, but after your performance, my first thought was, why did the show take a twenty-minute break?"

Wen Yun, anticipating lavish praise, looks puzzled at Sheng Yan, "Oh? Why's that?"

Sheng Yan raises an eyebrow slightly, stating coolly.

"Wouldn’t it be great to hear such beautiful singing twenty minutes earlier?"

As soon as Sheng Yan's words were spoken, the entire venue erupted in loud cheers.

"Teacher Sheng nailed it!!"

"Teacher Sheng’s compliments are next level."

All the contestants totally agreed with him.

After all, this wasn’t just praise—it was something deeper.

Su Xingyao bowed to Sheng Yan and said, "Thank you, teacher," after receiving such high praise.

But the moment he spoke, the cheers died down, and even the mentors were stunned.

Few in the audience knew he was using a voice changer.

When his mechanical, icy voice echoed through the studio, everyone was shocked by the unexpected twist.

Wearing a mascot costume was already unique, but who knew this tycoon would even tweak his voice with a voice changer?!

This time, Xu Beizhou was the first to speak up.

"Your voice sounds totally different from when you sang. Are you using a voice changer?"

"Yes."

His cold, mesmerizing voice echoed again, and the audience erupted in whistles.

"Wow, so mysterious, huh?"

"Brother Cat, you’re killing it! 666666!"

Talent is the ultimate glow-up.

The contestants were totally blown away by Su Xingyao’s singing.

Now, the contestants saw him through rose-colored glasses, like starstruck fans.

What they once thought was attention-seeking now seemed like the tycoon’s signature style—everything he did was just cool.

The loudest cheers came from those who had criticized him the harshest before.

People can be so hypocritical and quick to change their tune.

One second they’ll drag you down, the next they’ll put you on a pedestal.

The cheers didn’t go to Su Xingyao’s head.

He knew that without the mascot head, revealing his true identity would change everything.

But he didn’t let it bother him, instead waving his paw graciously to the crowd.

Xu Beizhou, who’d been watching Su Xingyao closely, spoke up again, intrigued by his composure.

"Honestly, your outfit is a surprise, and not using your real voice? That just makes me even more curious about you..."

Xu Beizhou hesitated for a moment.

He had initially intended to say, "I’m really curious about who you are behind that mask."

After all, with such a talented singer, who wouldn’t be curious about his identity?

Even though he knew the contestant might not reveal it, he still hoped to hear Contestant 78 share a little about himself.

Even a few words would be enough.

But before he could finish, Shen Huaixi cut him off.

Shen Huaixi, who had stayed quiet until now, suddenly unmuted his mic and chimed in on Xu Beizhou’s question to Su Xingyao.

"Yeah, like Teacher Xu, I’m really curious too..."

Shen Huaixi smiled, deliberately muting his mic to make it seem like he was seamlessly joining the conversation.

He did this because he noticed how unusually excited the other three mentors had become after Contestant 78 stepped on stage.

The three of them, who had barely said a word earlier, were now eagerly sharing their thoughts.

With the three of them hyping up the atmosphere, if he stayed silent, he’d come off as too indifferent.

Shen Huaixi knew that once the show aired, this incredible singer would undoubtedly grab the audience’s attention.

Just the mystery of uncovering his identity would skyrocket his popularity.

So, how could he not seize the moment to make himself noticed?

But while Shen Huaixi spoke up, he wasn’t about to praise the contestant like the others.

He wasn’t here to play second fiddle to anyone—not the mentors, and definitely not the contestants.

As someone who’d always been in the spotlight, he wasn’t about to let anyone outshine him.

So, masking his ulterior motives, he smiled at Su Xingyao and asked innocently,

"I’m curious—if you sing so beautifully, why use a voice changer when you talk?"

He gave Su Xingyao a playful wink, his eyes brimming with curiosity.

Su Xingyao, having dealt with Shen Huaixi for years, knew his tricks all too well.

Shen Huaixi might seem sweet and harmless, but every word was a potential trap.

He didn’t take the bait, just raised the mic and said calmly,

"No reason, really."

At this, Shen Huaixi’s smile faltered for a moment.

Not used to being turned down, a competitive streak ignited in him.

The more Contestant 78 clammed up, the more determined Shen Huaixi became to get something out of him.

So he spoke again, his tone now laced with a touch of pity.

"Oh? Well then... could you turn off the voice changer and let us hear your real voice?"

"This is the first time I've encountered such a situation, and I really want to hear your voice."

Su Xingyao lowered his eyes, not even bothering to watch the performance, and firmly refused once more.

"Sorry."

Being treated so coldly, Shen Huaixi was on the verge of losing his temper.

His hand under the judge's desk clenched tightly, but mindful of the cameras, he quickly controlled his expression.

"Oh, is that so..."

He tilted his head slightly and smiled lightly, adding sarcastically, "You're quite a character."

Sheng Yan, seated next to Shen Huaixi, glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.

Then, as if casually, he spoke up in Su Xingyao's defense.

"Actually, I think it's pretty cool that you're using a voice changer. Your singing voice conveys a gentle yet powerful sense of determination, but when you speak, it's so cool and detached. This contrast makes you seem incredibly mysterious and utterly captivating."

He gave Su Xingyao a thumbs up, saying, "Truly unique, I really like it."

With just one sentence, Sheng Yan effortlessly doused the fire Shen Huaixi had inadvertently ignited.

The words were so well-put that Shen Huaixi, after being silenced, wanted to make another sarcastic comment but found no opening.

Now that all four mentors had shared their thoughts, following Fu Qingyan's cue, it was time for the most thrilling part—the distribution of the pass cards to the contestants.

For other contestants, this might still carry some suspense and tension.

But for Su Xingyao, who had just delivered a nearly flawless performance...

Almost everyone assumed he would be the first to receive all four pass cards and advance today.

Backstage, the contestants were buzzing with excitement.

"After waiting so long, we finally get to see the first contestant advance."

"If he doesn't advance, I'll eat my keyboard!"

"Why am I so excited even though it's not me?"

"Surely no mentor will hold back this time, right?"

The contestants were thrilled, many rubbing their hands together and staring intently ahead.

Fu Qingyan promptly walked over to Su Xingyao and spoke again.

"Alright, mentors, will contestant number 78 successfully advance?"

He glanced towards the mentor seats and slightly raised his voice.

"Please reveal your pass cards now."

As soon as Fu Qingyan finished speaking, an exhilarating sound effect echoed through the venue.

With the drumbeat stirring, Wen Yun immediately raised two cards, waving them playfully towards the camera.

Wen Yun had two cards because the show had added this for dramatic effect.

They intentionally prepared two cards for each mentor.

One card had the word "pass" written on it, while the other was blank.

Any contestant who received a mentor's approval would see the mentor hold up a card for them on stage.

However, whether the card showed "pass" or was blank would only be revealed after the mentor flipped it over.

Wen Yun played up to the camera for a while, and when the time was about right, he smiled and raised his left hand.

After raising it, he acted as if he was afraid he had picked the wrong card, so he looked down to confirm again.

Only after seeing the word "pass" written on it did he breathe a sigh of relief, then he raised the card high into the air.

"Pass!!"

As soon as Wen Yun loudly announced these words, Fu Qingyan immediately declared the result.

"Congratulations to contestant number 78 for receiving Wen Yun's pass approval!"

The contestant section erupted in cheers and screams.

With the first pass card issued, the on-site cameras quickly captured the moment.

They focused on the card in Wen Yun's hand while also zooming in on Su Xingyao, trying to capture his excited reaction upon receiving the pass card.

However, to the disappointment of the production team, Su Xingyao remained as composed as before, merely bowing politely and saying thank you.

He did not show the excitement everyone had anticipated.

He stayed calm and steady, his demeanor unchanged, radiating an air of unflappable composure.

In contrast, Wen Yun, sitting in the mentor's chair, was still buzzing with excitement over the result, as if he were the one who had advanced.

After handing out the card, Wen Yun made sure to wave at Su Xingyao and then loudly reminded him, "Make sure to pick me later."

Hearing this, Sheng Yan immediately stood up with a grin and grabbed Wen Yun's hand, preventing him from waving at Su Xingyao.

"It's not that round yet, Mentor Wen, you can't start scouting like this!"

With Sheng Yan's words, the answer was already clear.

By stopping Wen Yun from scouting, he was signaling that he also wanted this contestant.

Sure enough, after stopping Wen Yun's scouting attempt, he quickly flipped over the card in his hand.

It also clearly displayed the word "pass."

Before all the cards were even distributed, two mentors had already started competing for the contestant, and Xu Beizhou, not wanting to be left behind, immediately joined the fray.

"Since you've all made your intentions clear, if I don't step up now, I'll be at a total disadvantage."

After saying this, he hastily flipped over his pass card.

In an instant, another "pass" was revealed to everyone.

By this point, Su Xingyao had already secured pass approvals from three top mentors.

And he, as long as he gets Shen Huaixi's last approval card, will easily secure his spot as the first contestant to advance today.

After Xu Beizhou handed out his approval card, the accompaniment drumbeat played by the program team immediately sped up.

The atmosphere reached its peak at that moment.

Just as everyone wanted to see how Shen Huaixi would hand out the card, Fu Qingyan interrupted the rhythm and walked directly to Su Xingyao.

"Contestant 78, you’ve already received three approval cards. Can you share your feelings at this moment?"

This is a common tactic by the show's producers, having the host step in to build suspense at the most anticipated moment.

Although the contestants on the scene were eager to reveal the result immediately, they calmed down and patiently listened to what he had to say when they thought that the Cat Head tycoon was going to share his feelings.

They were also curious about what he was thinking at that moment.

However, Su Xingyao did not answer this question directly.

He bowed to the judges' panel again and then calmly said, "Thank you for the recognition of all the teachers."

No emotional outburst, no excitement—just a simple, heartfelt thank you.

But witnessing this, the fans among the contestants grew even more impressed with Su Xingyao.

At times like this, they often imagine themselves in his position.

Many thought that if they were in his shoes, they'd either admit to being nervous or express their excitement.

But neither response could match the charm of the Cat Head tycoon's confidence and composure.

Fu Qingyan glanced at the person beside him, a hint of admiration flickering in his eyes.

He then took over, ready to announce the final result as per the show's protocol.

"Now there is only the last judge left..."

As Fu Qingyan followed the camera's focus to Shen Huaixi, he saw him raising his right hand high, his face lit up with a playful expression.

Having known him for years, Fu Qingyan could instantly tell he had something to say.

Always indulgent toward him, Fu Qingyan immediately prompted him.

"Huai Xi, do you have something to add?"

Shen Huaixi nodded, modulating his voice slightly before speaking.

"Before handing out the card, I'd like to ask contestant 78 one more question."

He then added emphatically, "This is really important to me!!"

He flashed a smile at the camera before turning to Su Xingyao with a solemn look.

"Why are you wearing a costume?"

"I think everyone here is curious about your outfit... so I figured I'd ask on their behalf."

Shen Huaixi is someone who deeply values the audience's perspective.

He knows that once the episode airs, viewers will undoubtedly wonder why contestant 78 is dressed this way.

So he decided to bring up this question now.

Of course, Shen Huaixi had another layer of meaning behind his question.

He guessed that contestant number 78 might not be much to look at.

After all, a contestant who is both good-looking and talented wouldn’t hide their face behind a mascot costume.

Now, he wanted this person to admit they weren’t much to look at, so everyone’s expectations would drop.

From the moment Shen Huaixi first saw this person, he felt something unsettling about them.

This feeling drove him to make sure the other person didn’t feel too comfortable.

So, he didn’t want the other person to steal the spotlight and kept trying to trip them up.

Su Xingyao saw right through what Shen Huaixi was trying to do with these questions.

He knew the other guy was trying to push the idea that he was ugly, which was why he wasn’t wearing the headgear.

He didn’t care what people thought about his looks, but he wasn’t about to fall for Shen Huaixi’s little game.

He glanced down, avoiding Shen Huaixi’s face, and simply said, "Because this headgear is cute."

Not getting the answer he wanted, Shen Huaixi kept pushing.

"It’s cute, sure, but will you take it off if you make it to the next round?"

Su Xingyao replied without hesitation.

"No."

"So… you’re just gonna keep wearing it like that?"

Shen Huaixi pressed, but Su Xingyao stayed cool the whole time.

Hearing this, he tilted his head slightly, as if deep in thought.

After a pause, he spoke again.

"If I make it through, maybe I’ll switch to a dog headgear next time…"

As he said this, he even reached up and mimicked dog ears wagging by his head.

The contestants below burst out laughing at Su Xingyao’s unexpectedly cute gesture.

To the other contestants, he’d always come off as this cool, almost god-like figure.

But here was this aloof tycoon, making such a cute gesture…

And even talking about switching to a dog headgear later.

Hearing this, a lot of people couldn’t help but feel a little excited…

A tycoon in a dog headgear… now that’s something you’ve gotta see!

Su Xingyao’s words had everyone’s attention now.

Seeing how effortlessly Su Xingyao brushed off his questions, Shen Huaixi started to get a little antsy.

He couldn't help but blurt out his thoughts.

"Why do you have to wear a mask? Are you not confident about how you look?"

This time, Su Xingyao didn’t respond but simply chuckled softly.

His laugh wasn’t showy, but it wasn’t self-deprecating either.

Anyone with a brain could tell the mask wasn’t about that.

Shen Huaixi caught on too and felt a wave of embarrassment, like he’d just been silently roasted.

As soon as he asked, he regretted it. It didn’t fit his sweet, innocent, high-EQ image.

Realizing he’d put his foot in his mouth, he let out an awkward laugh to cover his tracks.

"Ah... I was just kidding..."

But the damage was done.

The contestants below couldn’t help but hype Su Xingyao up right then and there.

"I’m totally digging Cat Bro’s vibe."

"Is this the swagger and boldness of a tycoon?"

"Awesome!!"

"Mad respect!!"

In this showdown, the contestants were clearly Team Su Xingyao.

For one, they loved how the Cat Mask Tycoon had such a unique vibe—confident but not cocky, even with a mentor.

Plus, they found his laugh kinda satisfying.

It wasn’t outright mocking, but it hit harder than any insult.

A lot of the contestants had beef with Shen Huaixi.

Especially the ones rooting for Su Xingyao—many had been screwed over by Shen Huaixi.

Anyone paying attention could see it.

The low pass rate wasn’t about skill—it was Shen Huaixi holding people back.

Take contestant 77, for instance.

The other three mentors had already greenlit him and acknowledged his skills.

But Shen Huaixi, in the end, pulled some ‘I need to see more’ excuse to block him.

The contestants weren’t industry insiders, so they didn’t catch on right away to Shen Huaixi’s act of playing the strict, music-expert mentor for the cameras.

But they weren’t dumb.

His moves had clearly rubbed them the wrong way.

So, when it came to the showdown between the Cat Mask Tycoon and him, they were Team Cat all the way.

The audience's laughter was unmistakably loud, and Shen Huaixi, once again feeling mocked, struggled even more to keep his composure.

This discomfort and inability to retaliate made him very uneasy.

No one had ever disrespected him so openly in public before.

The more Shen Huaixi dwelled on it, the more he resented contestant 78.

He tightly clenched the card in his hand, wishing he could immediately hand out a white card and send them packing.

However, the audience, seeing that Shen Huaixi had not issued a card after asking the question, started booing him, led by some eliminated contestants.

"Why hasn't he given out the card yet? Is he holding back again?"

"Mr. Shen, it's fine if you didn't give a card to number 77, but number 78 is amazing—are you really going to hold back?"

Shen Huaixi heard the boos from the audience.

He knew full well that if he didn't give out this card, he'd face harsh criticism later.

So he took a deep breath, forced a smile, and turned to Su Xingyao.

"Congratulations! I also give you the pass~"

Suddenly, streams of smoke burst out around the stage, and the LED background board displayed the large characters "Successfully Advanced."

Realizing the first contestant to advance today had been decided, the audience erupted in applause.

"Congratulations."

Fu Qingyan handed Su Xingyao the pass card specially made by the program team, raised his arms, ready to hug him.

However, just as he made this gesture, he noticed the other person subtly step back, only extending a hand to shake his gloved one.

Fu Qingyan looked at him, surprised, but the other party seemed unaware, saying thank you to the audience, and then immediately left.

After Su Xingyao walked offstage and entered the advancement area alone, many of the waiting contestants couldn't help but wave at him warmly.

Contestant 77 even raised both hands high, giving him two enthusiastic thumbs up.

As soon as Su Xingyao sat down, contestant 79 took the stage.

However, with Su Xingyao's outstanding performance earlier, listening to contestant 79's singing felt as bland as plain water.

Contestant 79, completely overshadowed, was promptly eliminated by Sheng Yan, who couldn't stand to listen any longer.

After about another hour of recording, the preliminary selection finally wrapped up.

The assistant director returned to the stage, clapped the board, and announced the official end of the day's recording.

As the first to receive the advancement card, Su Xingyao was immediately surrounded by fans who had been won over at the scene, chatting and asking for autographs after the program recording ended.

Su Xingyao had never been so fervently liked by anyone since his debut, and for a moment, he found it hard to adapt.

Although somewhat unaccustomed, he did not belittle others' affection for him and continued to take photos with everyone in good spirits.

However, as he was taking a photo with a little sister who had been eliminated, Fu Qingyan walked up to him.

"Mr. Cat Head~"

From a few meters away, Fu Qingyan called out to Su Xingyao in a teasing tone.

He used the nickname the contestants had given Su Xingyao, his face lit up with a warm smile.

As soon as Fu Qingyan spoke, everyone realized he had come specifically to talk to the big shot known as Mr. Cat Head.

Though reluctant, the fans tactfully stepped aside, giving Fu Qingyan space to chat with Mr. Cat Head.

Once the crowd thinned out, Fu Qingyan handed Su Xingyao a bottle of lemon water.

"It’s good to see you again."

Fu Qingyan’s voice was tinged with joy at seeing him again.

When Su Xingyao stepped on stage, Fu Qingyan instantly recognized him as the guy in the mascot suit he’d run into earlier.

Back then, the guy hadn’t said a word, making Fu Qingyan wonder if he was mute.

But who could’ve guessed...

Not only could he speak, but his singing was absolutely stunning.

Fu Qingyan had always been drawn to the arts, especially talented singers and actors, and he naturally felt a connection to them.

Their strange earlier encounter made the guy in the mascot suit even more intriguing and mysterious to Fu Qingyan.

Fu Qingyan glanced at him and, noticing he hadn’t taken the water, gently prompted him.

"Don’t you remember? We ran into each other before the show, my bodyguard..."

Before he could finish, Shen Huaixi, walking by, called out to him.

"Qingyan."

Shen Huaixi gave Fu Qingyan and Su Xingyao a once-over, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

"I’ve been searching everywhere for you..."

With that, he shot Fu Qingyan a meaningful glance.

Catching Shen Huaixi’s hint, Fu Qingyan gave Su Xingyao an apologetic smile.

"Take care getting home. See you around."

Su Xingyao didn’t reply, just nodded and headed for the exit.

Once Su Xingyao was out of earshot, Shen Huaixi, standing beside Fu Qingyan, spoke up.

"Mingchuan’s here, waiting for us at Gate D."

Fu Qingyan gave a nod of acknowledgment.

Noticing Fu Qingyan’s distraction, Shen Huaixi asked, a touch of annoyance in his voice, "So, what did you think of today’s contestants?"

"They were alright."

Shen Huaixi hummed, then added, his tone probing, "I couldn’t help but notice you couldn’t take your eyes off that cat mascot on stage."

Fu Qingyan didn't sense any hostility from Su Xingyao and simply nodded.

"His getup is pretty interesting."

Shen Huaixi smirked, "Oh really..."

Then he looked up at Fu Qingyan, "Did the crew tell you who he is?"

Fu Qingyan shook his head, "Nope."

Shen Huaixi felt a little let down.

Before approaching Fu Qingyan, he'd already discreetly asked the chief director about it.

They told him the cat head was just some random person they found, and they're wearing the mask because they're shy and socially awkward, not comfortable showing their face to a big crowd.

It sounded reasonable enough, but Shen Huaixi couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.

Noticing Shen Huaixi deep in thought, Fu Qingyan asked, "Why the sudden interest?"

Shen Huaixi pouted, putting on a pitiful act for Fu Qingyan.

"I just get the vibe... he's not too fond of me."

Fu Qingyan came to a halt.

"Huh?" Fu Qingyan sounded completely baffled.

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Huaixi kept up the pity party.

"I just think... he's pretty distant with me."

He tried to reassure himself, adding, "But whatever, I'm not the strongest mentor. A singer like him probably looks down on someone like me."

Fu Qingyan frowned at this.

He remembered how awkward the guy was when they first met, barely able to get a word out.

"Don't read too much into it. He's just quiet, probably acts the same with everyone."

Fu Qingyan meant to reassure Shen Huaixi by sharing his own experience.

But to Shen Huaixi, it came off like Fu Qingyan was lowkey sticking up for the guy.

In the darkness, his brow stayed furrowed.

He couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed...