The remaining three mentors gave evaluations that echoed Gao Yu's completely—especially after the incident last time, the finals this time didn’t even allow for "sympathy votes."

As a result, the final tally stood at 4 to 0.

Wu Fan’s face had gone pale. Even without the audience vote, the outcome was already decided.

A crushing defeat.

The song he had been so proud of had been utterly destroyed in the most critical round of the competition.

And then, the audience vote appeared on the big screen, dealing another heavy blow to the already-dejected Wu Fan.

Eighty-eight percent of the audience voted for Double Happiness, while his own song had only a pitiful twelve percent of support.

Adding insult to injury—it was the final straw that broke the camel’s back. Wu Fan felt dizzy just looking at it.

He regretted it—regretted that moment of impulsiveness that led him to challenge Gu Xingyi, that freak! In Wu Fan’s eyes now, Gu Xingyi wasn’t even human!

What kind of normal person was this good at everything?

Love songs? Children’s songs? Even weird, unconventional ones like this? He could just whip them out like it was nothing!

If that’s not inhuman, then what is?

Wu Fan still couldn’t figure it out. If Gu Xingyi was that ridiculously talented, then why had he kept such a low profile for so long? Was it fun pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger?

On stage, the host was announcing the theme for the next song.

But Wu Fan wasn’t listening at all. He staggered to his feet and walked out. He knew—he was no longer the "Godfather of Music." The rest of the competition had nothing to do with him anymore.

The first match of the finals ended just like that.

The competition may have ended, but the online buzz was just getting started.

After a full week, audiences were finally treated to another amazing song, and the joy on their faces was overflowing.

As always, a clip of Xia Xiyao singing had already shot to the top of Douyin’s trending list.

But this time, unlike before, everyone seemed to agree—the trending tags were unanimously titled The Most Beautiful Ghost Bride.

Click into any video and the comment section was on fire.

    “Wuwuwu~ next time I have to go in person! Xia Xiyao is so gorgeous!”
    “Highly recommend watching this under the covers! The effect is even better! (just kidding)”
    “We were never meant to meet—if not for that one old six saying you didn’t blink! I just wanna know—are your eyes dry or what?”
    “Bro, is this really about dryness now?”
    “Most beautiful ghost bride! One and only! None other than Xia Xiyao!”
    “Hahaha~ I just wanna know… isn’t Gu Xingyi scared when he cuddles Xia Xiyao to sleep at night?”
    “How dare you try to shake my cultivation heart!”

While Douyin was filled with unified praise, Weibo was even livelier—with words far sharper.

Countless viewers started tagging Wu Fan, rubbing salt straight into his wound.

    “Where is he? Where’s he gone? Weren’t you talking all big earlier?”
    “Gu Xingyi: ‘Music Godfather?’ That’s it?”
    “I’m team Gu Xingyi this time! I represent traditional Chinese music!”
    “Wu Fan the Music Godfather! Don’t play dead—come out and join the fun! Hahahaha!”
    “Are you all sick? Wu Fan’s song wasn’t bad! Anyone who brings us good music deserves respect!”
    “Nobody said his song was bad! But he was the one who picked the fight, remember? What, only Wu Fan is allowed to diss people first and we’re not allowed to talk back?”
    “If you make a mistake, admit it! If you lose, stand straight and take it! A loss is a loss!”

Amidst the wave of criticism online, Wu Fan finally updated his Weibo with a single, simple sentence.

    “My skills weren’t good enough—I admit defeat. I give up the title of Music Godfather and apologize to Xia Xiyao. I’m sorry—I didn’t recognize your brilliance before.”

As soon as this post went up, a lot of the harsh criticism against him quieted down.

Since he had already admitted fault and apologized, there was no need to keep dragging Wu Fan through the mud.

To be fair, Wu Fan was smart in this regard—if he had kept being stubborn, things would’ve only gotten worse for him.

...

The moon was high in the sky when Xia Xiyao stepped out from backstage and saw Gu Xingyi quietly waiting by the roadside, phone in hand.

Beside her, Tao Lele saw the scene, covered her mouth and chuckled, then sensibly slipped away first.

In the distance, Gu Xingyi was still looking down at his phone, so focused that he didn’t even notice Xia Xiyao approaching from behind.

“What are you looking at?”

The sudden voice pulled Gu Xingyi out of his thoughts. He turned around to find Xia Xiyao standing playfully behind him, hands tucked behind her back, looking cute and cheerful—nothing like the sorrowful figure she’d been on stage.

“Reading the online comments. Right now, everyone’s calling you the Most Beautiful Ghost Bride!”

Gu Xingyi grinned and waved his phone in front of her.

Xia Xiyao gave a soft “hmph,” her face turning a bit red. Most Beautiful Ghost Bride? That made it sound like she really had become a ghost!

“I’m serious, that’s what they’re all saying! And honestly, I think it fits pretty well!”

Afraid she wouldn’t believe him, Gu Xingyi quickly held his phone out so she could see for herself—only to be met with a dramatic eye-roll.

“No? You don’t think it fits?”

Gu Xingyi scratched his head. He really thought it did.

Xia Xiyao didn’t want to bother with this silly guy anymore, so she turned and started walking toward the parking lot.

Seeing this, Gu Xingyi hurried to catch up. The two of them walked with two or three steps between them. They hadn’t gone far when Xia Xiyao suddenly stomped her foot, cheeks puffed in frustration, and turned to look at Gu Xingyi.

“W-what now?”

Women are like the ocean—deep and impossible to predict. Gu Xingyi felt like that phrase had never been truer. He had no idea what Xia Xiyao meant this time.

Seeing his utterly clueless expression, Xia Xiyao bit her lip lightly and muttered under her breath.

“Dummy~”

In her heart, Gu Xingyi was getting dumber by the day!

Before he could even ask what she said, Xia Xiyao suddenly stepped forward, a whiff of her perfume hitting his nose as she wrapped her arms around his arm.

Softness pressed against his skin, and Gu Xingyi froze up a little.

“You’re supposed to walk with me like this,” Xia Xiyao said softly, her cheeks tinged red as she slid her arm around his.

Gu Xingyi nodded stiffly and started walking again—only his steps were a bit mechanical now, like a robot.

Noticing how tense he was, Xia Xiyao couldn’t help but giggle quietly.

It was such a normal thing for a couple to link arms while walking, but somehow, with Gu Xingyi, it looked hilariously awkward.

Like she was a robber and he was the hostage being dragged along—funny, and kind of adorable.

Right now, Gu Xingyi was feeling both pain and joy. The joy was from this sweet, close moment. The pain? He couldn’t do anything about it!

To someone like Gu Xingyi—who had been single for decades—that simple touch on the arm from Xia Xiyao was already a huge shock. If they hadn’t already had a bit of skinship before, he honestly might’ve panicked and run away.

The two walked all the way to the parking lot—but there was no sign of Tao Lele.

After Xia Xiyao made a quick phone call, she found out Tao Lele had already taken a taxi and left!

And over the phone, Tao Lele even sneakily asked whether Xia Xiyao was coming back to the apartment tonight.

Xia Xiyao’s face instantly flushed. She glanced at Gu Xingyi sitting like a clueless puppy in the passenger seat, then whispered into the phone—

“I’m not going back tonight.”