Fu Jinxe sat in the main seat, taking his time to pick up Jian Xingsui's profile card again.

Liu Shuang remarked, "Let's clear this up: firstly, this kid's intentions aren't pure. He's not here for the performance, but for the money."

Teacher Li agreed, "And, to be honest, while his singing is emotive, it isn't exceptionally good. Consider the student previously rated 'F class'. His singing was decent, but he was rated lowly because he couldn't dance."

Liu Shuang nodded, "I think 'B' is unlikely. His dance skills are subpar. 'F' seems more apt."

Tu Ya frowned, stating, "We shouldn’t focus solely on his weaknesses."

The group couldn't reach a consensus.

It was indeed a peculiar situation – perhaps the first time in the history of the "Starlight" show that opinions about a contestant were so divided.

All eyes turned to Fu Jinxe once again.

Tu Ya curiously asked, "What do you think, Teacher Fu?"

Fu Jinxe put down the paper in his hand. Among the group, he was the most reticent. However, when he spoke, everyone listened intently. He raised an eyebrow and responded leisurely, "If his motives are impure, what about the others?"

Liu Shuang countered, "Others are passionate about the stage, dreaming of their big break..."

"If they love performing so much, they could just dance in the public square," Fu Jinxe smirked. "Why come to 'Starlight'?"

While not always the case, many come to the stage with dreams of stardom, fame, and fortune. Some might aim high while others are content with less, but who can say one's aspirations are nobler than the other's?

"Moreover..." Fu Jinxe trailed off, glancing at the anxious-looking kid on stage, "Whether or not he's serious about the stage, his dedication to the song is evident."

In just a few words, Fu Jinxe made his stance clear.

A smile unconsciously graced Tuya's lips. Receiving support from Fu Jinxiao felt like having a solid backing, straightening her posture, "I believe that his rendition was deeply touching. He's a talented kid. It would be a pity to place him in the 'F' class or eliminate him. With time, I think he could excel even more."

Liu Shuang sighed, "So, what are you suggesting?"

Several eyes instinctively turned towards Fu Jinxiao, highlighting the hierarchy present among them, all waiting for his judgment.

Onstage, Jian Xingsui waited with bated breath, and so did the yet-to-perform contestants. Whispered exchanges filled the room:

"What grade will he get?"

"Probably a B, right?"

"I'm guessing F."

"If singing like that only earns an F, then I'm doomed."

"Oh my god, I'm so nervous."

The intense debate drew even Jian Xingsui’s roommate, Wen Shengge, to Shen Xingchen's side, whispering, "Chen, what grade do you think they'll give?"

Shen Xingchen, having deep connections with the Fu family, recalled a joke from his mother about marrying their youngest to Fu Jinxiao, uniting the families. Sadly, their youngest passed away shortly after birth, making it a taboo subject.

Although the union never happened, the bond remained, especially between Shen's elder brother, Shen Minglang, and Fu Jinxiao. So occasionally, Shen Xingchen had insights into Fu Jinxiao’s thoughts.

Responding to Wen Shengge, Shen Xingchen said, "It depends."

Wen Shengge asked, "What do you mean?"

"I don't think Fu will give a very high grade," replied Shen Xingchen.

Wen Shengge looked puzzled, "Why?"

Before Shen Xingchen could respond, the show's host, Teacher Li, already had the results. Holding his microphone, he cleared his throat, "Alright, let's announce the grade for Jian Xingsui. Your final evaluation is…”

The lights suddenly dimmed.

Teacher Li deliberately paused, heightening the tension. Many were on the edge of their seats.

Jian Xingsui gripped his mic tighter. Teacher Li smiled, continuing, "Congratulations! Your grade is... C."

The crowd erupted in murmurs.

The result was polarizing. Some thought it was generous, others felt it was low, and a few thought Jian Xingsui was incredibly lucky to receive a C just for singing without dancing.

Jian Xingsui on stage appeared stunned at first, then bowed, "Thank you, teachers."

Tuya took the mic, "This decision was made after collective deliberation. There's reasoning behind your grade. Would you like to know why?"

Jian Xingsui responded earnestly, "Yes."

Tuya remained silent, her gaze shifting to Fu Jinxiao.

The eminent Fu Yingdi initially hadn't planned to speak. However, since Tuya prompted him, he picked up the microphone. It was the first time he faced Jian Xingsui directly, his voice languid and genteel, "Do you know why you received only a C?"

Just that statement was loaded with subtlety.

The underlying message was clear: He believed Jian's talent deserved more than just a C, potentially higher.

The audience, being savvy to the industry, instantly grasped the true meaning behind his words. Many now looked at Jian with a mix of admiration and envy.

"It's because you didn't approach this stage with the right mindset," Fu Jingxiao continued, noticing Jian's tension, "And by mindset, I don't mean participating for the sake of the 20,000."

Jian looked perplexed, wondering if it wasn't about the money, then what was it?

Fu Jingxiao explained, "Your fault was that you performed with the expectation of defeat, rather than a will to succeed."

Jian Xingsui had approached the competition as though it was just a fleeting moment. Even though he gave his best, he didn't perform with a determination to win but with an acceptance of impending defeat. Such an attitude on stage was wrong, especially from someone who professed respect for the craft. Fu Jingxiao, known for his exacting standards, was naturally critical.

"Once you're on this stage, facing competitors, no matter how formidable they may be, you should carry the spirit of dominance," Fu Jingxiao's passionate eyes, often gentle, now flashed with a cold intensity.

His powerful aura, usually calm and respectful, now felt heavy and oppressive. The atmosphere dropped, and silence reigned, even Jian felt his heart sink.

Yet, just as he set down the microphone, Fu Jingxiao's lips curled into a hint of a smile, "After all, I've never taught anyone how to lose."

The statement seemed somewhat puzzling to most, but for some reason, Jian suddenly felt he understood the underlying sentiment.

Fu Jingxiao was a man who never accepted defeat.

Through his work and demeanor, he always conveyed a message of bravery and tenacity to his fans and peers.

So how could you be hesitant, young man? I've never taught you to back down.

Holding the microphone, Jian struggled to find the right words, feeling overwhelmed by emotions. He finally bowed deeply and sincerely said, "Thank you, teacher."

Tuya smiled gently, picking up her microphone, comforting the young contestant, "Don't be disheartened. Believe in yourself. That's the most crucial thing. Your song was excellent, and we all look forward to your future performances."

Teacher Li added, "Young man, those 20,000 won't come easy. Keep pushing yourself."

Jian, amused by the mentors' remarks, bowed again, "Thank you, all. I will strive harder."

Online viewers had been keenly following Jian's performance:

"This young man is actually quite impressive."

"I personally believe he deserved a B."

"B for him? Even An Ran only got a B. They're not on the same level."

"He doesn't even dance. If he got a B, it'd be favoritism."

After Jian's performance, the stage saw a succession of participants. The event was long, and by night they hadn't completed the recordings. They had to return the following day to continue.

On the way back, Shen Xingchen grumbled, "I've sat all day and still haven’t had my turn."

Jian Xingsui comforted him, "Your turn will come quickly tomorrow."

Ning Ze, a man usually of few words, surprisingly chimed in after getting water, "Fu Ge is the main mentor this time. He's very strict. Today many were criticized. Many landed in class F. Those who made it to C and B are already fortunate. No one has achieved A yet. Tomorrow will be even more challenging for those performing."

In the dormitory, without the cameras around, everyone spoke more freely.

Wen Shengge, from the same company as Shen Xingchen and paired with him for the performance, whispered, "Xingchen, don’t worry about your performance tomorrow. I’m sure you’ll be ranked A. After all, you know Fu Ge, and you're on good terms. He wouldn’t let you get a bad ranking."

Shen Xingchen scoffed, "Nonsense. He wouldn't play favorites. In all these years, I’ve never seen him genuinely favor anyone."

Fu, the film emperor, known for his affability, seemed to know everyone in the entertainment circle. But the more approachable he appeared, the harder it was to get close. Some hearts are just cold.

Shen Xingchen looked at the obedient Jian Xingsui and sighed, "But for some reason, I think he quite likes you."

Jian Xingsui blinked, "Why?"

"He always looks so serious, right? But haven’t you noticed? He fiddles with his pen during many of the performances. That’s basically his way of zoning out. Even when An Ran performed, he only paid brief attention."

Jian Xingsui realized he hadn’t noticed this.

"But with you, he didn’t twirl his pen at all!" Shen Xingchen said in amazement. "And I’ve noticed him glancing at your profile card frequently. Did you see him do that with anyone else?"

Author's Note:

Shen Xingchen: I've seen through it all!