Chapter 39

Chapter 39

The first three mentors had all written down Su Xingyao's group without hesitation. As the last one to reveal his answer, Shen Huaixi naturally became the focus once again.

Shen Huaixi stared at the card in his hand, gripping the edges as if to lift it, but hesitated and pressed it back down.

The pen was tightly clenched in his hand, and Shen Huaixi's fingertips dug deeply into his palm.

Frustrated!! So frustrated!!

He had never been so frustrated in his life.

Since he was adopted, his parents had always treated him like a treasure, and even Su Xingyao, their own son, couldn't compare to him.

At school, he always had everyone's attention, and with Qin Mingchuan and Fu Qingyan, the two most popular guys, by his side, no one dared to speak ill of him.

After graduating and entering the entertainment industry, stars cleared all obstacles for him, and he was always held in high regard. No one ever dared to show him any disrespect...

Throughout his life, except for his unfortunate birth, he had been well-protected since he was adopted at the age of three. Everything had gone smoothly for so many years, and it seemed as if the world revolved around his will. He could do as he pleased, and the rules were his to make.

But recently, something had gone awry. He suddenly noticed that everything around him had changed.

His mother's gaze now held a hint of scrutiny, and Fu Qingyan, who had always been compliant and endlessly tolerant of him, had subtly criticized him several times because of strangers.

Even Qin Mingchuan, his most devoted admirer, hadn't contacted him for a long time since Su Xingyao's contract termination...

But what frustrated and bewildered him the most was the backlash from this show.

He had never imagined that his impeccable reputation, which had been untarnished since his debut, would be completely overturned by five unknown amateurs.

He had heard countless praises and applause throughout his life.

But in just one night, the insults and mockery he received from netizens surpassed all the compliments he had received in the past twenty-four years...

The psychological gap was simply too much to bear.

After being cyberbullied for an entire day and night, Shen Huaixi lowered his head in frustration and confusion, filled with doubt and resentment.

Where had things gone awry? Why had it come to this?

The things the netizens were criticizing him for were things he had done in the past...

In fact, he had done even more egregious things to Su Xingyao in public.

But back then, no one had dared to accuse him, and no one had ever criticized him.

Even fans and onlookers had blamed Su Xingyao for the mistakes, helping him vent his anger once again.

So he couldn't understand why, now that he hadn't done anything particularly egregious—just delaying the advancement of some insignificant amateurs and casually forming a group of five—he was being dragged on hot searches and bombarded with curses in private messages...

In the dim light, Shen Huaixi, feeling utterly wretched, held the pen and looked at the numbers he had written on the card, his eyes filled with barely concealed resentment.

He had already been cursed so badly, and now these idiotic viewers were still trying to use public opinion to pressure him into letting those five most annoying contestants advance...

The thought of this outcome made Shen Huaixi feel like crying.

It's really so infuriating!!

How did things end up like this?

Off-camera, the live-streaming audience had already lost patience with Shen Huaixi's hesitation.

"Seriously... Does he always have to be so dramatic when announcing results? Who is he making that pained expression for?"

"If it were someone else, I’d get the delay for suspense, but with Shen Huaixi, it just feels fake."

"I can’t stand him. Does he think he’s the star? He’s always so dramatic. Let’s be nice—you’re a mentor. But honestly, you’re just a prop on this stage. Every time you announce the results, you act all torn, making it about yourself. The need for attention is just too much."

"Guys, why do I feel like Shen Huaixi’s stalling means he’s about to pull something shady again?"

"I’m getting a bad vibe too."

"No way, this group is too good. No mentor would be dumb enough to cut them, right?"

"Even if Shen Huaixi hates this group, he wouldn’t be dumb enough to cut them, would he?"

Seeing the live-stream chat turn against Shen Huaixi again, his fans jumped in to defend him.

"He hasn’t even said anything, and already people are trashing him."

"Can’t he take his time? He’ll announce when he’s ready. If you’re so bothered, why aren’t you the one up there?"

"Some people are just so bitter... Obviously, Shen Huaixi would let the five-member group through. Isn’t it obvious the show’s just milking the suspense? It’s hilarious how you blame him instead of the show for dragging this out."

"Fans, don’t jinx it. Shen Huaixi might just prove you wrong."

Shen Huaixi’s fans were scrambling to defend him at every turn.

But their confidence was shattered when Shen Huaixi proved them wrong moments later.

When the host pushed him, he finally turned over his card.

The moment the answer was shown, the room went dead silent.

Everyone stared wide-eyed at Shen Huaixi’s answer on the big screen.

On the card, Shen Huaixi wrote two lines.

The first line read: Sheng Group.

Some in the audience, not seeing clearly, cheered for the five-member group.

But their cheers died down almost instantly.

Because they saw three numbers below the line that didn’t belong to the group.

And those numbers matched three members of Shen Huaixi’s own team.

Realizing Shen Huaixi had given two spots on one card, the audience was stunned.

"Am I seeing this right..."

"What... is this?"

"He wrote both... so who did he actually pick?"

The live audience was confused, but the host on stage acted as their voice.

"Mr. Shen... could you please explain what you meant by what you wrote?"

After reaching the breaking point of anger, Shen Huaixi stopped caring about the audience's reactions.

The moment he revealed his card, he no longer cared about their opinions.

When asked by the host, he responded with a touch of spite, "It means I believe both groups are the best."

As he said this, Shen Huaixi watched closely the reactions of the five-member group on stage and the live audience.

He focused his gaze on the five-member group.

Except for contestant number 78, who was wearing a mascot costume and whose face was hidden, the other four contestants showed clear signs of shock and confusion. This gave Shen Huaixi a sense of satisfaction, like he had finally struck back.

He thought with a sneer.

He had already been criticized so harshly, and his reputation had taken a nosedive because of this group.

Why should they have it so easy?

Having suffered an inexplicable loss and being criticized so severely, Shen Huaixi, who had been spoiled since childhood, couldn't stomach this unfairness.

Blinded by anger, his spoiled nature took over, and he no longer wanted to play along with these people.

He was annoyed by the five people on stage and thought the audience, who were so easily swayed, were idiots.

So, since these idiots were so eager to see the names of these five people on his card, he decided to write them down.

But writing their names didn't stop him from adding others...

Shen Huaixi lowered his gaze, hiding the spite in his eyes.

If he was unhappy, no one else should be either.

To him, there was only one rule.

Those who pleased him would prosper.

Anyone who made him unhappy wouldn't fare well either.

Under the host's astonished gaze, Shen Huaixi didn't wait for anyone to ask him. He jumped in to explain himself.

"Mr. Sheng Yan's group is indeed very impressive. They managed to turn a stage accident into an opportunity, and I admire that."

After offering this insincere praise, the smirk on Shen Huaixi's face disappeared, and his expression turned serious.

"However, because of the accident, the performance fell short of being smooth or perfect."

"Although I understand that this was due to unforeseen circumstances, when I listened to the a cappella section compared to the earlier music, it felt disjointed..."

"So, although it's a bit regrettable and a difficult decision, I wanted to go with my gut and write down who I believe is the best."

After saying this, Shen Huaixi couldn't be bothered to explain why he included the three members of his own group. He quickly turned his attention to contestant number 40, "Besides, contestant number 40 admitted that there were mistakes during their performance."

"In my opinion, this mistake costs them points."

Before Shen Huaixi could finish speaking, the live chat exploded once again.

"Did you completely miss Sheng Yan's point that mistakes can create classics?"

"I knew he would use this mistake to attack this group, but even if contestant 40 didn't admit it, could you, a tone-deaf person, really hear their mistake?"

"Shen Huaixi is really delusional! That mistake was brilliantly salvaged, adding a different layer to the song, clearly a plus."

"Shen Huaixi, why don't you take a look at how many legendary moments in both domestic and international stages were created by accidents or mistakes? Those masters are way more impressive than you."

"Are you okay? Seriously, are you okay?"

"Who can understand the logic of the nonsense he's spewing? What kind of drivel is he spouting?"

"The last part of the a cappella didn't flow well? Are you deliberately lying to prevent them from advancing?"

"They compensated for the lack of music with a cappella vocal accompaniment throughout the song, making it as if there was background music when there wasn't. How could it not flow well? Were you not listening at all and just spouting nonsense?"

"Does Shen Huaixi really have the same hearing as us? I'm curious..."

"I feel like he's talking down to me."

"Hahaha, this is hilarious. He's just venting his frustration from being scolded yesterday and today, taking it out on this group. He numbers his own group's contestants but doesn't even bother numbering the five-member group, just labeling them as 'Sheng's group'. His petty thoughts are not even hidden."

"Damn, did this group piss you off this much? You've been targeting them from start to finish."

Shen Huaixi's reasoning clearly did not convince anyone, and even the trio he selected to advance looked extremely awkward.

At this moment, they did not want to come out and be used as scapegoats by a mentor who had never cared for them...

After Shen Huaixi's confusing speech, there were many people questioning him on the scene, and some angry audience members couldn't help but start cursing him to his face.

Seeing that the situation was getting out of control, the host quickly signaled for everyone to stay calm.

But after all the hardships his group's contestants had overcome to deliver such an incredible and heartfelt performance, they still didn't get recognition.

As a mentor, Sheng Yan, who had always been patient with Shen Huaixi, had had enough this time.

After Shen Huaixi's speech, he directly turned on his mic and looked at him.

"Teacher Shen, I think you should know that stage accidents are uncontrollable, but being able to turn an accident into an opportunity and regain control of the stage, they pulled off the best they could."

"And regarding the mistake you mentioned, I hope the program can play the rehearsal footage of this group after the broadcast, so the audience can compare the final presentation of that part with today's stage performance."

Even Wen Yun, who always likes to mediate, couldn't stand Shen Huaixi's actions and, fearing that everyone would be misled by him, indirectly told the audience how amazing this group really was.

"Actually, today's stage can be described as absolutely stunning."

"Of course, in my opinion, it can be considered a perfect example of how to handle a stage accident."

"I won't dwell on how serious this stage accident was."

"Just speaking for myself, if I were in their shoes today, honestly, I would never have been able to pull it off as smoothly as they did..."

Wen Yun looked at Su Xingyao, admiration shining in his eyes.

"When contestant 78's voice matched the music, it sent chills down my spine."

Wen Yun smiled, "I'm not exaggerating, it truly did."

After saying this, he looked back at Shen Huaixi, shifting the focus back to the point he had raised about deducting points.

"Mistakes should not be overlooked, but from the results, they didn't lead to any further performance problems. So I don't think this should count against them."

"Of course, as for the final a cappella (singing without instrumental accompaniment) section, I believe it made the song, which had to interrupt its accompaniment, feel complete again. In fact, it made up for the regret of the accompaniment issue."

After Wen Yun finished speaking, he gave Shen Huaixi a puzzled look.

He couldn't understand how Shen Huaixi came up with such outrageous answers.

After listening to Wen Yun, Shen Huaixi gave a nonchalant smile.

Sheng Yan was really angered by his indifferent attitude.

He had been speaking carefully to maintain decorum, but now, fearing everyone would be misled by Shen Huaixi, he brought up the main issue.

"If such a hard-earned performance can't get a unanimous vote to advance tonight, how many hardworking contestants will be disheartened?"

"If this becomes the norm and everyone accepts it, does it mean that in the future, when such stage accidents happen, singers shouldn't bother to handle them?"

"After all, no matter how much effort you put into saving the performance, it's pointless, so why not just give up right then and there?"

Sheng Yan's words were met with a wave of agreement from the audience.

Xu Beizhou, caught between the three, stayed quiet.

On one side were some unimportant contestants, and on the other was someone he liked.

Xu Beizhou naturally sided with Shen Huaixi.

Especially when he noticed Shen Huaixi's face had turned pale after being addressed by the two mentors, he defended Shen Huaixi.

"Mr. Sheng, it's not a big deal."

Then he reminded Shen Huaixi, "Mr. Shen, the rule is that you can only write one team. Why don't you make a change?"

Xu Beizhou meant to use the rules to help Shen Huaixi save face, letting him remove his own group to end the argument.

But after being confronted by the two mentors, Shen Huaixi's spoiled attitude came out, and he completely ignored Xu Beizhou's suggestion.

Seeing that Shen Huaixi didn't respond to Xu Beizhou and had no intention of changing his decision, the audience was getting fed up with his behavior.

"Sheng Yan's right, this performance doesn't deserve to win? Haha?"

"Shen Huaixi, why don't you take a good look in the mirror and see how ugly you are?"

"How can someone who knows nothing become a mentor? Wen Yun took the time to explain so much to him."

"Can Shen Huaixi just leave? I can't stand seeing him anymore."

"What's the point of having a mentor like this? To frustrate the contestants? To annoy the audience? To make us watch him cause trouble every episode?"

"Shen Huaixi, get out!"

The host on stage, seeing Shen Huaixi's lack of response, kindly reminded him, "But Mr. Shen, according to the rules, we can't count the results if you write like this. Why don't you..."

Before the host could finish, several curses erupted behind Shen Huaixi.

Hearing the audience members curse him to his face, Shen Huaixi, who had given up trying, confronted them head-on, refusing to change his decision and even warning them.

"But this is my genuine opinion. Sorry, but you can't force your views on me. No one can."

He stressed the last seven words.

The young master, who had always been living in the clouds, was unwilling to lower his noble head.

Moreover, he genuinely believed that those five less privileged contestants were not worthy of his humility.

Seeing Shen Huaixi's stubbornness, the host was also helpless.

"But according to our rules..."

The more everyone defended those five, the less Shen Huaixi was willing to give in.

After being criticized by Sheng Yan and Wen Yun, he grew so uncomfortable he could barely control his expression.

Thus, he took out his anger on the more vulnerable host.

"That's not my problem."

After Shen Huaixi said this, his indifferent attitude immediately infuriated the audience.

The audience knew one thing for sure.

When you can't reason with a fool, it's better not to waste your breath.

Shen Huaixi's constant antagonism had pushed everyone's patience to the breaking point.

Finally, a few audience members who could no longer tolerate it yelled at him angrily.

"Shen Huaixi, get lost!"

"Shen Huaixi, get lost!"

At that time, the audience was still muttering curses under their breath.

So initially, only a small group of people yelled at Shen Huaixi as he walked away.

Shen Huaixi was slightly bothered upon hearing it, but he didn't take it too seriously.

He had been booed by the audience before, and he could pretend not to hear it this time.

If others were unhappy, he was satisfied.

But Shen Huaixi had misjudged how things would play out.

He never expected that, in such a short time, the audience could be so in sync.

In less than thirty seconds, more than half of the audience had started chanting along.

Some even gave Shen Huaixi the middle finger.

The chanting continued to grow.

After another thirty seconds, those who were slower to react also caught on.

Amidst the relentless and synchronized chants of "Shen Huaixi, get lost,"

everyone in the audience, except for a few of Shen Huaixi's fans, joined the chant.

And those few fans of Shen Huaixi, upon hearing such loud anti-chants, shook with fear.

Under the gazes of those around them that seemed to say, "Sis, what kind of nonsense are you supporting?", they quickly and quietly hid the cheer signs they had brought, keeping a low profile, fearing that the anger directed at Shen Huaixi would turn towards them, escalating into a real-life brawl.

The audience of such competitions, each having their own favorite contestants, rarely unite to do something together.

Unless the other person is really vile and obnoxious.

But obviously, Shen Huaixi's various actions today have genuinely upset everyone.

So without anyone leading, everyone spontaneously united.

They directly turned off their own cheer signs, using their chants and the pitch-black venue to express their resistance and dissatisfaction towards the disgusting mentor, Shen Huaixi.

Nearly five hundred people uniting to do the same thing, this collective power is overwhelming.

Just as arrogant as Shen Huaixi was when he targeted the group of five, the voices of the audience cursing him now are equally fierce and loud.

The unified voices of everyone directly surpassed any previous support for mentors and contestants, deafening.

Even the online audience, watching through screens, could clearly feel the overwhelming momentum of the on-site audience.

With the on-site audience being so powerful, the live broadcast room audience didn't lag behind.

In Shen Huaixi's personal live broadcast room, the screen was flooded with neatly typed messages saying "Shen Huaixi, get out."

And on major forums, enthusiastic netizens were also live-tweeting his outrageous actions today.

The issue with Shen Huaixi quickly blew up online.

And the intense emotions of the live audience were completely out of control.

The host, seeing such a scene for the first time, stood there, stunned for a long time. Although he also found Shen Huaixi detestable, out of a sense of professional duty, he tried several times to stop the audience.

But it was of no use.

Meanwhile, as the target of everyone's curses on-site, Shen Huaixi's eyes were filled with unmistakable shock and fear.

Previously, being cursed online, it was through internet cables and screens, he could choose not to look or think about it.

But now, being cursed by hundreds of people face-to-face, and being completely unable to stop or control it...

The sheer volume of curses felt like a tidal wave crashing over him, threatening to engulf him the next second.

Such a scene of being shunned by the entire crowd rarely happens in the entertainment industry, even many seasoned stars can't handle it.

Not to mention Shen Huaixi, who has always grown up amidst flowers and applause and never suffered any grievances.

With each shout of "get out," Shen Huaixi felt like he was being slapped in the face over and over.

He had once plotted against Su Xingyao, causing him to be verbally abused by classmates for a long time.

Back then, seeing Su Xingyao unaffected, he felt unsatisfied.

But when he faced it himself today, he realized how terrifying people's words could be.

Shen Huaixi, utterly humiliated, found his mind going blank, and his mental defenses finally gave way under the relentless shouts of "get out."

It turns out that the previous online curses were just child's play; real, in-your-face verbal abuse is terrifying enough to destroy someone's confidence in a heartbeat.

Being universally shunned and despised by countless people in person is even more terrifying than a physical slap.

Finally realizing things weren’t as simple as he thought, Shen Huaixi, terrified, hurriedly tried to speak.

Realizing he couldn’t afford to upset the audience any further, his face flushed with embarrassment, he finally hung his head, trying to explain himself.

After steeling himself, he spoke in a trembling, pitiful voice.

"I think... everyone... seems to really misunderstand me..."

As Shen Huaixi spoke, tears welled up in his eyes, and he looked utterly pitiful, as if he were the real victim.

After saying this, his lips quivered, desperately trying to salvage the situation.

But after struggling for a long time, he finally forced out a reluctant compromise.

"If anyone... has a problem with this... I can... change it..."

"I actually..."

Before he could finish, the entire audience roared in unison: "Get out!!!!"

It was too late for explanations; no one wanted to hear another word.

The tears that had always gotten him sympathy since he was a kid fell at this moment.

But now they were useless.

After his vision blurred for a moment, the shouted insults left him weak in the knees.

He felt completely drained, his throat tightened.

Overwhelmed, he could barely breathe.

Regretting ever joining tonight’s live broadcast, he had only one thought in his mind.

He wanted to leave this place.

This live broadcast program, filled with humiliation, was something he could not endure for another moment.

Soon, in Shen Huaixi's solo camera shot, all the audience saw.

The stunned Shen Huaixi, trembling and pale-faced, stood up, stumbled off the stage, and even fell once.

But he didn’t care, hurriedly got up, and embarrassingly walked towards the backstage, fleeing the recording scene as if escaping.

Shen Huaixi's exit was so hasty that he even forgot to put down the microphone in his hand.

However, the audience did not stop because of Shen Huaixi's sudden departure.

Even when he walked backstage, far from the recording scene, he could still clearly hear the audience's unified shout: "Shen Huaixi, get out!"

For the first time in his life, being publicly scolded so harshly, Shen Huaixi felt all his blood rushing to his head.

Unable to walk any further, leaning against the wall, he saw his manager who had arrived late and glared at him fiercely.

"Is this the good PR strategy you arranged?"

When he said this with all his strength, Shen Huaixi's voice couldn’t help but tremble.

"Now, everyone is laughing at me."

After such a big accident, the manager was too frightened to speak.

She also felt deeply wronged.

After all, this little troublemaker insisted on being on this show, and when things went south during the live broadcast, he deliberately went against everyone...

But she didn’t dare say anything at this crucial moment and could only quickly take the blame.

"It's all my fault; I didn't expect their team to be so prepared."

Upon hearing the manager's words, Shen Huaixi got even angrier.

He raised his right hand, pointing at her, ready to unleash all his frustrations on her.

But he suddenly realized he couldn’t even get a word out.

The next second, he felt like he couldn’t catch his breath, his vision blacked out, and he collapsed straight to the ground.

Meanwhile, the live stream audience couldn’t see Shen Huaixi fainting from anger backstage.

But hearing the live audience's rhythmic cheers for Shen Huaixi, they all smiled and posted a flood of comments.

"That feels satisfying."