Absolute Devotion

“Are there any more contestants who wish to challenge the King?” As soon as the host finished speaking, the second challenger stepped forward without hesitation.

His stride was resolute, each step heavy and powerful. Before anyone could react, he struck the gong with a resonant clang. “Wow—Chu Hao!” Amidst Du’s exclamation, Chu Hao strode confidently onto the main stage.

Tall and imposing, dressed simply in black from head to toe, his body adorned with accessories that marked him as a rapper, he went straight up to Ji Fanxing, locking eyes with her. Even though the brim of his black cap shadowed his razor-sharp gaze, Ji Fanxing could still sense the wildness hidden beneath his calm exterior.

Rap, in this world where the entertainment scene is lackluster, is a genre colder than ice. Yet Chu Hao, with all his outstanding qualities, had plunged headlong down this “one-way road.” By sheer charisma, he’d become one of the top three most popular contestants in “The Ultimate Singer.” Ji Fanxing remembered his debut vividly—Chu Hao’s sense of rhythm was impeccable, and his stage presence formidable.

Most important of all, he possessed a unique style—his enunciation crisp and dynamic, making his lyrics easy for the audience to grasp. Never underestimate the importance of clear diction: many people are indifferent to rap simply because they cannot understand what the performer is saying, and so, unable to connect, they gradually drift away from the genre.

“Ji Fanxing! The last two songs you performed were pretty good. I hope you can maintain that standard.” Chu Hao’s voice was magnetic, every word matching his rebellious aura. “Otherwise, you’ll find it hard to win.”

“I hope your performance will be worthy of my consistency.” Ji Fanxing tilted her chin, meeting his gaze unflinchingly—if anything, she seemed even more audacious than Chu Hao.

A crackling tension sparked between them, the air charged with anticipation.

[Look at these two—arrogant king and queen!]
[Let them fight!]
[My Hao is invincible! Hao is the real King! Kick Ji Fanxing off the stage!]
[Go, Ji! What right does a rapper have to challenge the queen of love songs?]

Everyone sensed the tension in the air—the comments section was already on the verge of an uproar—except for Guan Xiaoyue, who, perched on the fence, covered her face in fright, unable to bear watching her two favorites go head-to-head.

Yet before long, unable to resist, she peeked through her fingers at the two sparring figures on screen, her heart racing uncontrollably...

The music swelled, and Chu Hao once again performed a love song in rap style. Ji Fanxing’s interest was piqued. Unlike her earlier performances, this time she wove together toughness and tenderness to create a truly distinctive piece.

“So this is the real show,” she thought. No wonder Chu Hao’s earlier performance felt lacking compared to his debut—they were the same, both saving their trump cards for last.

Chu Hao was at ease on stage, pouring his passion for rap into every movement. Midway through, he even broke into song and dance. “I spotted you in the crowd, and my heart began to race…” As he sang, he mimed a heartbeat against his chest, as if his pulse was echoing through the music.

The atmosphere ignited. The audience bobbed their heads to the beat, and even the producers and crew couldn’t help but move along.

The comments exploded:

[So handsome!]
[Absolutely electrifying! Chu Hao is my rap god!]
[Our Hao will definitely become a top-tier rapper!]

Chu Hao’s final note lingered in the air. Sweat traced down his jaw as his performance drew to a close. The cheers from the audience had yet to fade when Ji Fanxing stepped to center stage. As they passed each other, their eyes locked—a flash of provocation in Chu Hao’s gaze, met by Ji Fanxing’s silent, mocking smile.

“Next up: Ji Fanxing!”

This challenger was exceptionally steady, her performance brilliant—finally living up to the producers’ vision for the King’s throne: a high-stakes, tension-filled showdown.

Du’s voice quivered with excitement: “What dazzling surprise will she bring us? Let’s find out together!”

[Honestly, Ji Fanxing’s first two songs were great, but if she keeps up the same style... well…]
[They’re all starting to sound similar. That’s just her thing, I guess.]
[I still love her debut. I’ve never seen a performance like that—absolutely stunning.]
[Sweet love songs are nice. From now on, I’ll look to Ji Fanxing for my sugar fix!]

Though Ji Fanxing’s songs led the trend, the audience was already growing weary of their similarity. Of course, she understood this well. There are thousands of love songs in the world—not all must wrench the soul. She simply wanted people to taste sweetness before the inevitable heartbreak.

After all, she was a kind soul.

As the lights dimmed and all eyes fixed upon Ji Fanxing, the prelude began softly. The melody was no longer as light as before; a gentle sorrow seeped into every listener’s heart.

She stood at the center of the stage, like a black rose blooming in the moonlight. Her vocal range now expansive, she could master any tone with ease. This time, her voice was no longer sweet and light, but deep and soulful.

“I want to get you drunk on a cup of latte, so you might love me just a little more…”

“Unrequited Devotion,” a song about secret love, is timeless on Earth—no matter the era, you’ll always hear someone singing it in a karaoke room.

As Ji Fanxing sang the opening line, the comments were skeptical:

[Lol, isn’t latte just coffee? Who gets drunk on coffee?]
[Is Ji Fanxing just pretending to be cultured?]

But as her voice soared and the song unfolded, the comments dwindled and silence fell. To perform “Unrequited Devotion” well, emotion must outweigh technique.

Though Ji Fanxing’s own experiences with love were shallow, she had witnessed countless tales of longing and heartbreak over her long years. She mimicked those she had seen, stripping away her defenses and laying her heart bare.

Every word conveyed the pain of loving in secret; every note tugged at the listeners’ emotions.

“I know it’s impossible for you to leave his world,
Yet I still foolishly wait for a miracle to appear,
Until the day you realize
The one who truly loves you is left alone with heartache…”

The song’s lyrics pierced the soul, capturing the helplessness and treasuring of unrequited love.

“Damn!” Li Ming, watching live, could no longer hold back tears—forgetting entirely the ongoing dare that he’d eat something unspeakable if he lost his composure. He wiped his tears furiously, but the more he wiped, the more they flowed, until he could only bury his face in his arms and sob.

The figure he thought he’d left behind resurfaced, reminding him of the love that had driven him from city to city, desperate to escape. So close, yet forever out of reach—such love is the cruelest.

For those who finally move on, a single memory can send them spiraling.

[Until the day you realize, the one who truly loves you is left alone with heartache.]
[To love and not possess, to forget and not let go—is it devotion or just foolishness?]
[XXX, are you well? I’m still waiting for you.]

For a long while, the live stream was filled with such messages before gradually returning to normal.

Even Song Qing, who’d been glaring daggers at Ji Fanxing, was momentarily stunned—the song had voiced her innermost sorrow. Instinctively, she reached for the trinket she always wore, the only thing she had left of him… Only then did she remember that her belongings had been checked in for the show.

She let her hand fall, head bowed, her expression unreadable.

On stage, Chu Hao returned once more.

Though a rapper at heart, his musical sensibility was keen. Ji Fanxing’s performance had far surpassed his own.

Realizing the outcome was set, Chu Hao’s sharpness softened. He leaned in and whispered, “Hey, what kind of heartbreak did you go through to sing something so pitiful?”

Ji Fanxing shot him a glance, finding his sudden teasing rather ridiculous.

So skillfully had she controlled her emotion that even the host, Du, was drawn in. “Fanxing, your performance was so moving! Tell me, was this song inspired by your own experience?”

He asked with excitement and curiosity, holding the mic out to her.

Both on and off stage, everyone wore the same expectant expression, waiting for her reply.

So everyone’s here for the gossip, she mused.

Ji Fanxing smiled, a spark of mischief in her eyes. “Du, this song is like a mirror—everyone can see their own reflection in it. If you ask whether it’s based on my own story… I’d say: both yes and no. Because it comes from life, yet rises above it.”

Before her rebirth, she had indeed harbored a crush that withered before it could blossom. But now, that emotion seemed trivial to her, hardly worth mentioning.

Anyone hoping for some juicy gossip from her would be disappointed.

Yet her answer only fueled the audience’s curiosity, setting imaginations ablaze. The crowd buzzed with speculation, the comment section awash in conjecture:

[So mysterious! Is there really some secret story?]
[I feel like she’s hiding so much!]
[Is the person in Ji Fanxing’s heart… him?]
[Who?]
[Who?]

One commenter refrained from voicing their guess, and further inquiries were quickly drowned out.

At the scene, Judge Xie Huai rose to his feet, leading a round of thunderous applause. “Ji Fanxing, you’ve truly surprised us. But I want to ask—what’s the deeper meaning behind the first line, ‘I want to get you drunk on a cup of latte’?”

“Because a latte can’t actually get someone drunk, so the line that follows—‘So you might love me just a little more’—is destined to be impossible, too.”

Hearing her explanation, Xie Huai was struck. “So that seemingly illogical lyric is actually so heartbreaking…”

So your love really has been hard, hasn’t it?

He looked at Ji Fanxing with a subtle sympathy that even he couldn’t hide.

Ji Fanxing found his gaze baffling.

He wanted to ask more, but after a moment’s hesitation, he simply set down the mic and cast his vote for Ji Fanxing—a clear show of support, not only for her song, but for her love.

At the same time, the hashtag #WhoDoesJiFanxingLike shot up the trending charts.

“Unrequited Devotion” had become an explosive hit. Those who missed the broadcast or only caught a snippet could only wait for the official release, and in the meantime, curiosity over the singer’s backstory grew rampant.

Modern netizen status:
Celebrity gossip? Idol chasing?
Trash, not interested.
But is there a juicy secret?
Yes, yes, yes! Count me in!

The online storm had yet to reach the set of “The Ultimate Singer.”

On the main stage, Ji Fanxing’s gaze swept across the hall, fixing upon Ji Shengxue in her finery on the side stage.

Still not coming, big sister?