Chapter 168: Hehe, a pink bunny girl outfit~

Of course, that wasn't the main point.

The crucial part was that after the judges provided their critique, her traditional-style performance in this round was indeed astonishing. Compared against Lin Jinxia, who also performed a traditional-style song, the judges ultimately voted for Xu Mengbai!

The camera shifted to Lin Jinxia’s face standing nearby. It was evident that she felt utterly wronged, her eye rims instantly turning completely red. A hand reached out from beside her, gently patting her shoulder in comfort.

The live stream chat instantly flooded with comments like "Keep it up, you'll definitely get it next time," "It doesn't matter, you were great too," alongside words praising Xu Mengbai.

Next, the subsequent contestant to advance was Wang Fei. The little prince of love songs secured his advancing token without any surprise! His capability in covering old songs remained solid.

Chiefly, he had chosen the love song genre he was most proficient in, instantly winning over the hearts of the judges.

Following that, the camera panned back and forth among the remaining singers.

Giving a close-up to this one for a moment, then to that one the next.

Every single face bore an expression of nervous tension, causing the audience both inside and outside the venue to fall silent, their hearts in their throats, terrified that their favorite contestants would be ruthlessly eliminated!

The judges offered their critiques once more, pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of the remaining contestants, which was followed by a brief silence.

This silence directly sent the hearts of the audience, both present and remote, soaring up to their throats.

Especially... Lin Yu's fans.

Why were the judges the only ones who hadn't critiqued Lin Yu? Could it be that his performance wasn't good enough?

Faced with a wave of questions from beneath the stage, the live stream’s bullet comments were likewise filled with various question marks.

Yet Lin Yu appeared quite calm and composed.

From beginning to right up to the end, his gaze remained fixed directly on those teachers sitting at the judges' table.

Until...

"The third contestant to advance is, Lin Yu!"

The judges stood up and called out Lin Yu's name.

The corners of his lips curved upward into a smile.

Having already guessed the outcome, he possessed absolute confidence in himself.

He would advance anyway, so whether they critiqued him or not, did it really matter?

The remaining four contestants looked at each other in dismay, their hearts fluttering with anxiety.

The one on tenterhooks above all others was Si Shaozhe.

Watching as the familiar faces had already advanced, leaving only himself and three other contestants behind...

Si Shaozhe wanted to cry.

Isn't this completely over for me... Could it be that my voice cracking just a tiny bit during the high note earlier was actually discovered?!

It's over, it's over, it's over. If I lose this competition, I am definitely going to get a thorough beating from my older sister when I get back!!

Yet precisely at this most nerve-wracking moment, two of the big brothers at the judges' table were still giggling and bantering.

"Oh dear, if I had known you were going to pick Lin Yu, I wouldn't have held back and made my choice first."

"I can only say great minds think alike, and everyone wants a talented scholar~"

"Sigh, since you've already picked him, I suppose I can only reluctantly choose..."

The judges' gazes swept back and forth among the contestants, finally lingering on Si Shaozhe.

"Si Shaozhe, congratulations on successfully advancing!"

Si Shaozhe: ??

Let's be reasonable!

I'm a top traffic idol! A top traffic idol, hello!!

Are you guys really pulling this kind of stunt?

After dragging it out back and forth, you choose me reluctantly—may I ask if I have no pride at all?!

...

Lin Yu passed the advancement match without a shred of suspense. Upon receiving the news, Ji Ya immediately dropped her work, rushed from the hotel to the program's filming location, and took Lin Yu and Su Xiaolin out for a celebratory meal.

Upon hearing that there was free food to sponge off, Xu Mengbai agreed without a second thought and happily tagged along.

Yet who could tell her?

Why on earth were they eating a couples' set meal at a Western restaurant for a celebratory dinner?

She looked across the table at Su Xiaolin, who was sharing the couples' set meal with her and wearing an equally helpless expression.

Then she looked at Lin Yu and Ji Ya sitting opposite each other, eating the couples' meal with practiced ease.

Xu Mengbai experienced a flash of sudden realization and raised a hand to beckon.

Su Xiaolin leaned closer.

"What is it?"

"Between your President Ji and Ah Yu, is it real?"

"What's real?"

"You know... a romance? Look at them eating a couples' set meal, hey!"

"Oh, between a boss and an employee, is there any rule saying they can't eat a couples' set meal? Is it against the law?"

"Well, it's not like it's against the law, it's just a little weird."

Xu Mengbai blinked, wearing an innocent expression. She just wanted to gossip; why did Sister Xiaolin's tone and reaction have to be so strange?!

It was as if something that belonged to her had been snatched away...

Wait!

Could it be that Su Xiaolin liked Lin Yu too?!

A love triangle?!

Holy cow! Holy cow! What kind of earth-shattering piece of gossip had she uncovered just by eating a meal?!

...

After the meal, Su Xiaolin received a hint from Ji Ya's gaze, hauled Xu Mengbai away, and slipped off.

Lin Yu was dragged away by Ji Ya to browse the surrounding shopping mall.

"As an artist under my banner, you need to mind your image. I'll buy you a few outfits to take back."

Lin Yu scratched his head. "How could I possibly have the face to let my boss spend money?"

Ji Ya saw right through his act, waved her hand, and rolled her eyes.

"Alright, I know you've been looking forward to it, stop pretending."

The two of them had already arrived at the entrance of the mall, and Ji Ya reached out to point at several luxury shops behind them.

"Whatever you like, buy it to your heart's content. The whole bill is on me."

Lin Yu clapped and cheered; a female CEO truly was domineering, impressive, and high-class.

Her opening statement was full of extravagant generosity!

...

The two of them shopped and strolled, ate and drank, with Ji Ya footing the bill for everything. Carrying large and small bags, Lin Yu's face was brimming with irrepressible joy.

To mention nothing else, just recalling how the salesgirls at the luxury shop had fawned over him earlier, providing attentive service wave after wave.

That feeling of money flowing like water, where buying anything required merely a single look to be waited on hand and foot from head to toe, was beyond wonderful.

He could only sigh with emotion: having money really is amazing!

Lin Yu made a silent resolution in his heart: in the future, besides standing at the peak of the entertainment industry to make those who had harmed him in his past life regret their actions, he must also strive to make himself a wealthy and willful person just like Ji Ya!

"You've bought everything, right? Is there anything missing?"

Ji Ya inquired. When no response came for a long time, she turned her head to look and saw that Lin Yu had stopped in front of a pink shop at some point, carefully examining the items displayed in the window.

She scratched her head; it seemed he was looking quite earnestly?

Ji Ya walked forward, noticing that the display window actually held a pink cat-girl outfit. Its revealing cut left her blushing furiously!

"What are you looking at?"

A sharp pain shot through Lin Yu's ear, instantly changing his expression as he pleaded for mercy.

"Sis, my good sis, go easy!"

Ji Ya rolled her eyes dramatically. "I looked away for just a moment, and you're already up to no good?"

Lin Yu struggled and protested.

"Boss! You've misunderstood me!"

"Misunderstood?"

Ji Ya frowned. You were sneaking around looking at such lewd things here, how did I misunderstand you?!

Did I misunderstand that you aren't an innocent boy, or did I misunderstand that you, brat, harbored ill intentions?

"I was just thinking, didn't we agree to have another ice-skating match last time?"

"Shouldn't I take the opportunity while I have free time to prepare the outfit you'll need to wear next time in advance?"

Ji Ya's pretty face turned instantly crimson with shyness!

What nonsense is this brat spouting?!

Who wants to wear such a perverted outfit?! How is wearing that any different from wearing nothing at all?

However...

If you think it looks good on me...

Ji Ya shook her head; something about this felt ten thousand times wrong.

Why was her own train of thought getting dirtier and dirtier?