Chapter 75

Chapter 75

The clamorous 60,000-seat stadium fell into instant silence.

Everyone looked up in disbelief, staring at the large screen in front of them, carefully studying the familiar and handsome face.

Su… Su Xingyao?!

After the extreme silence, a deafening uproar followed.

After a brief mental shutdown lasting a few seconds, the live audience finally snapped out of it and shouted the name at the top of their lungs.

“Damn! Su Xingyao!!”

“It’s actually Su! Xing! Yao!!”

“Oh my god, oh my god, I just saw Su Xingyao in a mascot costume backstage in the contestants' lounge! He must be who I think he is!!”

“Ahhhhhhhh! Am I seeing things?! Oh my god! Su Xingyao is actually the cat!!”

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Can Su Xingyao really be that amazing?!”

Since *The Voice of Heaven* first introduced LostTide to the public, viewers had tried countless times to uncover his identity and made many guesses.

Many believed he might be an incredibly talented reclusive artist or perhaps someone with an ordinary appearance but extraordinary musical genius.

Everyone knew that he had many aliases, and each one that was uncovered was incredibly impressive.

Because of this, people had come to deify him.

No one could have imagined that his true identity was someone who, just two months ago, was being canceled by the entire internet and told to leave the entertainment industry. He was still seen by many as talentless in singing and dancing, except for his variety show appearances—Su Xingyao…

Su Xingyao…

The self-proclaimed variety show personality…

Was actually the most mysterious and talented musician, LostTide, who had delivered legendary performances time and time again throughout the show!

The sudden revelation of LostTide’s true identity left many people in shock.

Some couldn’t believe it and even raised their hands to frantically rub their eyes, trying to see everything more clearly.

But when they opened their eyes again, the broadcast had already cut off the stage footage due to the quick reaction of the director.

The large screen went completely dark once again.

The host, informed of the live broadcast mishap from backstage, froze on the spot and tried to salvage the situation.

But in that moment, the 60,000 people in the stadium didn’t hear a thing; there was only one name on their minds.

*Su Xingyao!*

Online, various forums had already been overrun with posts about this incident.

Any popular gossip forum or group had its front pages filled with threads on this very topic.

“Ahhhhhhhh! I just saw what Su-God looks like!!!”

“I got up early and actually saw the mascot had the same face as Su Xingyao!”

"You aren't dreaming, he is Su Xingyao."

"Is CatCat really Su Xingyao??? Is this for real, this is really important to me!!"

"No joke, it's him!!!"

"Damn, I thought CatCat's identity would stay a mystery in the entertainment industry, but it was unexpectedly revealed!! This truth is mind-blowing."

"Although it feels dramatic, if this person is Su Xingyao, it kind of makes sense."

"I agree, +1. To be honest, Su Xingyao is really impressive."

"Wow, Su Xingyao!! So shocking! So exciting!! So it turns out CatCat has been by our side all along."

Netizens were stunned and amazed by this outcome.

Many people who saw the reveal already believed that LostTide was definitely Su Xingyao.

However, this didn't stop those who chose to ignore it.

Many people wouldn't believe it until LostTide personally admitted he was Su Xingyao.

Feng Ling, who had just viciously dissed Su Xingyao for being a variety show personality, also couldn't believe it.

She felt like she had been hit with a brick and was completely dazed.

After all, she really couldn't imagine that Su Xingyao, someone from a totally different world, would be... the same person?

Many people had the same reaction as Feng Ling upon learning the truth.

Amidst the chorus of "aaaaaaah" and shocked screams, many trolls began to question, and Su Xingyao's haters also came to muddy the waters.

"Wearing a mascot suit means he's CatCat? The production team hasn't officially confirmed his identity yet! You seem so sure, what if Su Xingyao was just an invited guest performer or a warm-up act? Wouldn't that be embarrassing for you?"

"I'm getting suspicious, is this wave of attention for Su Xingyao just a publicity stunt?"

"No, I want to ask, can Su Xingyao even sing?? I've never heard him sing, okay? How can you all just believe it so easily."

"How can Su Xingyao be Su Xingyao??? Waaaaah, how can my CatCat be him."

"Su Xingyao doesn't deserve LostTide at all! Don't try to ride on his coattails!"

"If it really is Su Xingyao, then wouldn't he be too perfect? Can someone that perfect really exist? I don't believe it!!"

"Unless Su Xingyao goes up on stage without his mask and sings a song at the same level as CatCat. If he does, I'll kneel down and call him dad."

This sudden revelation of Su Xingyao's identity caused a huge uproar online.

After the initial shock, more questions arose.

A few people who disliked Su Xingyao but liked LostTide became furious and began to question Su Xingyao's motives.

"So why was he wearing a mask all this time, just to drum up hype and gain fans?"

"No wonder you old gossip veterans know how to attract followers and play with everyone's emotions—you've got all the tricks."

"If it really is Su Xingyao, wasn't it kind of pointless to keep everyone in suspense during previous competitions?"

Shocked, doubtful, dreams shattered, unable to believe, feeling incredibly surprised, waiting to see the drama unfold, unable to accept the truth and holding onto false hope... For a while, there were all kinds of voices online.

Every netizen had their own different thoughts.

But despite not making any plans, they all did the same thing—

Everyone quickly turned on their TVs or streaming platforms to catch the live broadcast of *The Voice of Heaven*.

In an instant, countless people flooded into the live stream of the show's network platform.

Within just a few minutes, the online viewership of *The Voice of Heaven* broke the 80 million mark.

And this astonishing number of viewers continued to grow geometrically by the second as the situation fermented.

The technical staff on the live streaming platform were alarmed and quickly went online to maintain network stability.

Meanwhile, backstage at *The Voice of Heaven*, it had already turned into complete chaos.

Xiao Li, after discovering that Su Xingyao was caught on camera in the room, rushed to his dressing room in a hurry.

"Mr. Su!! Mr. Su!!"

Su Xingyao, who had just put on the panda headgear with the help of Lu Jiuxu, opened the door to see Xiao Li, who was on the verge of tears from anxiety.

Before Su Xingyao could speak, Xiao Li pointed to the camera in the room and revealed the truth to him.

"There was a problem with this camera, and the image of you without the headgear was accidentally..."

"...broadcast."

After Xiao Li struggled to finish explaining, Su Xingyao's phone began to ring.

It was his manager, Zhou Mengxue.

Su Xingyao had already anticipated what Zhou Mengxue would say. He looked at Xiao Li, whose eyes were red from distress, and saw that she had run until her face was covered in sweat. He gently comforted her, "I understand, don't worry."

He then handed her a tissue gently, "Thank you for informing me as soon as possible."

Su Xingyao's calm demeanor immediately calmed Xiao Li's anxious heart.

Seeing that Su Xingyao's phone was ringing, she nodded at him, "Mr. Su… finals, good luck!"

After that, Xiao Li quickly closed Su Xingyao's dressing room door and stood outside to keep anyone else from disturbing him.

After Xiao Li left, Su Xingyao answered Zhou Mengxue's call.

He had thought he was going to be scolded.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Mengxue only said two sentences to him.

"Do well in the competition. I'm voting for you right away."

"Don't worry about everything else. You have Lanxing and me."

After hanging up the phone, Su Xingyao found Lu Jiuxu staring at him.

He removed the headgear and said to him,

"Lu Jiuxu, I've actually been thinking about how to balance these two roles all along."

Xing Yao smiled, "But it seems there's no need to worry anymore."

Why did Xing Yao originally choose to sing in a mascot costume in the first place, hiding his true identity behind this unseen costume?

He understood all these reasons.

He nodded in understanding and gently gave Xing Yao a hug in response.

His actions were gentle, his fingers loosely resting on the costume, embracing him tenderly and warmly.

As he was about to let go, Lu Jiuxu said firmly to Xing Yao, "No matter which identity, you're still the most shining you."

As he carefully helped Xing Yao put the headgear back on, amidst the staff's urging voices, Lu Jiuxu spoke softly.

"Xing Yao, I'll be here waiting for you."

Xing Yao smiled, "Sure."

This time when Xing Yao went out the door, there were already many staff members standing at the door.

The moment he appeared, all eyes were on him.

Song Yingming also hurried over.

Xing Yao didn't look at those gazes, and when facing Song Yingming, who seemed to have a lot to say, he waved his hand.

Although they didn't have much interaction on the surface, Song Yingming had been secretly helping him in times of trouble, providing countless forms of assistance.

Their unspoken understanding had long been established.

Song Yingming understood his meaning and didn't say a word.

Without any prior public relations or preparation, an unexpected reveal occurred.

Perhaps the netizens would think this was a long-planned deception and publicity stunt between Xing Yao and the show's team.

A slight misstep, and both Xing Yao's and the show's reputation would be destroyed.

But perhaps... This could also be his moment of legendary status.

Song Yingming smiled and patted Xing Yao's shoulder, his gaze gentle and his tone kind, "Enjoy the stage, Xing Yao."

Xing Yao nodded, and the round black-and-white panda mascot waved to everyone before striding towards the stage with determination, bravely.

Seeing this scene, Xiao Li felt like crying for no apparent reason.

You can do it, Mr. Su.

She cheered silently for Xing Yao in her heart again.

If people hadn't had such stubborn prejudices against him before, he wouldn't have had to hide himself in a mascot costume to sing.

More and more people were entering the live stream room, and after the previous two contestants performed, everyone was urging the show team to let Xing Yao take the stage immediately.

*

"Ahhhhhh, it's him, he's coming, Xing Yao is coming!"

"Hurry up, hurry up, I want to see the cat!"

"Is LostTide actually Su Xingyao? Can we get a clear answer?"

"I already know the costume is a panda, but I still really want to know if it has a name."

"I'm curious about what he's going to perform tonight. His previous performances were all so amazing. I can't imagine what kind of tricks he'll pull this time to top those performances."

"My only wish is, now that he's been unmasked, can he please sing without the headpiece?"

Although many people online struggled to accept that Su Xingyao is LostTide, everyone still had high hopes for his performance.

Finally, after much anticipation, the familiar panda costume appeared on the rising stage, just as it had on camera.

"Aaaaaah"

"He's coming! He's here!!!"

"It's really the panda costume!!!"

"Aaaaaah panda costume!!! Su Xingyao! Su Xingyao!!!"

When Su Xingyao, dressed in the panda costume, appeared on stage, the audience went wild with excitement for him.

Su Xingyao stood on the stage and calmly bowed to everyone.

Usually a man of few words, he unexpectedly spoke up before this performance.

"Today's costume has a name."

Su Xingyao pointed to his costume and introduced it to the audience, "Her name is Niannian Panda."

The familiar mechanical voice rang out across the stadium.

It was then that the audience realized Su Xingyao was still using his voice changer, just like before.

"There's someone very important to me."

"She loves pandas."

"So tonight, I want to dress up as her favorite thing."

"And sing this song to her."

After hearing Su Xingyao's introduction, the viewers in the live stream got excited.

"Aaaaaah, so he's performing an original song tonight?"

"To be honest, tonight's panda costume is really well-done."

"Does the name Niannian Panda refer to the 'Nian' in 'Nian Su'?"

"He's already been unmasked, so why is he still using the voice changer?"

"People can say what they want. It's none of your business."

"Are you going to control everything he does, even using the voice changer?"

"Some people are just too upset. If you can't handle Su Xingyao doing well, then leave and don't listen to his songs."

As Su Xingyao finished speaking, the lights gradually dimmed.

In the end, the large stage was left with only a single beam of light softly illuminating the top of the panda head mask.

The person in the panda costume bowed their head under the beam of light, holding the microphone gently with both hands, their attitude deeply sincere.

The whole audience was caught up in the atmosphere and naturally fell quiet.

Everyone watched Su Xingyao on stage, their eyes glued to his costume, wondering what song he would perform tonight.

After a short while, a gentle and lyrical melody poured out from the speakers.

Hearing this intro, the audience were a bit surprised.

"This intro... why does it feel kinda sad?"

"It seems kinda ordinary too..."

"Shouldn't he choose a really high-energy song for the finals to get more votes?"

"What's going on with Su Xingyao... This intro seems kinda flat, it's not at the same level as his earlier performances at all."

"Did LostTide's level drop after becoming Su Xingyao?"

"It's only the intro, can we wait until the song's over before we judge?"

The original song Su Xingyao performed tonight began with a quiet, simple intro.

Compared to the emotionally rich "Farewell Yesterday" from the first episode, the bright and energetic "Kissing Summer" from the second episode, and the spine-tinglingly skillful "Fog" from the previous one—this song's arrangement seemed unusually simple.

But just as some fans began to worry, they were immediately captivated by a voice as clear as a mountain stream.

"The first time I met you

You wiped my cheeks and told me not to cry

A lollipop was placed in my palm

In those tough times, you gained another little brother"

Without complex melodies or elaborate arrangements, the simple and pure background music, combined with Su Xingyao's clear and pristine voice, gave the song a sense of sacred purity, returning to the simplest and most innocent form.

On the screen, the director also presented the name of the song in black and white halos.

"Sister"

Lyrics by: LostTide

Composed by: LostTide

Performed by: LostTide

"You were very timid but also very bold

The monstrous beast was fierce and scary

Your weak body blocked all the pain

You quietly wiped your tears after crying"

"What I gave my brother was a warm embrace."

"Your hands are small but so full of strength."

"In the dark night, holding even smaller hands, you weren't afraid."

"Fragile shoulders carrying the burden of the entire family."

"Tired, but always smiling and never giving up."

"The woven edelweiss, carrying dreams, flies even further."

Amid the light accompaniment, Su Xingyao's voice sounded incredibly gentle.

The audience's initially restless hearts gradually found peace, note by note.

"Is this song about his sister?"

"Su Xingyao has a sister?!"

"This voice is so clear and comfortable, it's almost like acapella!"

"Exactly, it's practically acapella. Su Xingyao's vocal skills are truly impressive."

"This song is so gentle, yet it makes me feel unexpectedly sad."

"His sister must be both gentle and strong."

On stage, Su Xingyao closed his eyes, recalling every moment with his sister, narrating their stories through his song.

"From learning to walk to relying on each other for survival."

"My understanding of the word 'family' was all thanks to my sister."

"My classmates would complain about how fierce their sisters were."

"But my sister was always tender and gentle."

"We made promises, hooked our pinkies, and vowed to grow up together."

Su Xingyao used no fancy techniques in his performance. The simple, unadorned song overflowed with sincere emotions.

Sincerity is always the most touching.

The audience had long been drawn into the tender, emotional, and somewhat melancholic mood of his singing.

Even though this was an original song, one they had never heard before.

It didn't stop everyone from spontaneously turning on their light sticks and waving them in the dark to the gentle melody for Su Xingyao and his sister.

The entire audience was immersed in this warm and healing musical style.

Few noticed the clear sky had quietly become overcast with clouds.

At that moment, sporadic raindrops fell gently like tears, drop by drop, on Su Xingyao's plush costume.

The audience hadn't yet realized that it had started raining when the mood conveyed by the song's lyrics quietly changed.

"Now I can be the wall that protects you from harm

But why can I no longer see your clumsy magic on your birthday?

I’m waiting to hear that phrase, ‘Hurry and grow up, little brother.’"

"I went to see the pandas you loved the most

They are plump, round, and carefree

If you could see them with your own eyes,

You’d be very happy."

Su Xingyao remained quietly standing in place, still singing gently. His voice was tender and soft.

Though the melody sounded healing and soft, every line revealed an undercurrent of bitterness.

The rain started to pour harder.

As raindrops fell on every corner of the venue, many people could no longer hold back their emotions.

"Is his sister gone?"

"This song is really touching."

"It turns out that even without those complex arrangements, a song can strike such a strong chord."

"I can’t hold back anymore, girls."

"My eyes are getting teary."

As Su Xingyao sang these lines, the rain suddenly fell in a fine, dense downpour.

Drop by drop, his panda costume became soaked.

On stage, the now cute and adorable panda was completely soaked, its ears limp and floppy.

Seeing this scene, the fans couldn’t help but tense up.

The waterlogged costume was heavy, and with such a downpour, it would definitely affect the quality of the performance later.

But the person inside the costume appeared unaware.

He held his microphone and slowly walked along the runway toward the stage's edge.

He extended his right hand, like a child, reaching out as if to touch the distant stars.

"Sister,

I want to call you,

To ask how you're doing on the other side,

Are the cats and dogs by your side?"

"Sister..."

I want to make a call to you

I want to ask, do people really become stars after they're gone?

When we raise our heads, can we see you in the distant night sky?

The torrential rain seemed to be echoing Su Xingyao’s emotions from afar.

With each question he asked, the rain fell even harder than the moment before.

Su Xingyao's mascot costume was already completely soaked through.

The heavy costume weighed him down, making it impossible for him to move another step.

The soggy, limp panda stood halfway down the stage’s runway, looking somewhat dejected.

After standing there for a few seconds, Su Xingyao opened his palm and looked at the raindrops in his hand.

The song, amplified by the pouring rain, carried even more sincere and intense emotions.

The audience didn’t bother putting on the raincoats that the production team had handed out earlier; instead, they firmly raised their light sticks.

The pouring rain became the performer’s accompaniment, and the audience's light sticks lit up the darkness like stars.

"Strong and pure sister,

Are you okay?"

The rain fell in lines, like the gentle tears falling from his sister.

Across time and space, Su Xingyao’s unanswerable call to his sister,

The song was the message, and the rain was the connection,

Seemed to be finally connected at that moment.

Each raindrop felt like his sister’s reply from heaven.

Su Xingyao looked up at the rain pouring down from the sky. Raindrops ran down the corners of his eyes.

He grabbed the microphone and altered the final lyrics.

"It's raining,

Can you hear it, sister?"

The pouring rain blurred the audience’s sight.

But through the rain cascading down, they saw the figure in the mascot costume raise their hand and gently remove the headpiece.

Time felt like it had slowed to a crawl.

Su Xingyao’s familiar face slowly came into view.

Rain soaked his hair and eyelashes.

The singer standing in the rain without any makeup shone brightly.

The entire venue was silent for a few seconds.

The crowd burst into thunderous applause.

Everyone there saw it with their own eyes.

The person who sang so sincerely in the rain was truly Su Xingyao!!