Chapter 42: Big Disappointment!
"Then, next, let's invite the next group, from VantagePoint Entertainment, Xin and Meilin!"
The announcement resonated in Manager Ciel's ears, instantly capturing her attention. Her face lit up with excitement, causing her to forget her anger towards Alan momentarily.
"Xin is coming!" she exclaimed.
Alan's focus was already fixated on the stage, disregarding Manager Ciel's outburst. He never cared about Manger Ciel who was yelling at him.
Although Xin and Meilin didn't have a large fan base, the audience couldn't help but be curious about these idols and their upcoming performance.
Before long, their anticipation was rewarded as Meilin and Xin emerged from backstage, their faces adorned with warm smiles. Xin stylishly adjusted his hair, exuding confidence as he made his way to the stage alongside Meilin.
Xin and Meilin greeted the audience with enthusiasm.
"Hello, everyone! I'm Xin from VantagePoint Entertainment."
"Hello, everyone! I'm Meilin! Today, we have meticulously prepared a song for this competition, entitled 'Whispered Melodies of Love.' We sincerely hope that everyone enjoys it!"
Meilin finished speaking.
Then took a deep breath before acknowledging the staff members nearby with a nod.
Moments later, the accompaniment began playing, initiating the prelude of the song which initially sounded quite impressive. Meilin's soft voice joined in, creating a pleasant sensation in the air.
However, this pleasing experience was short-lived. Right after Meilin's charming voice, Xin's unrefined voice entered the scene. It was rough and far from pleasant to hear, especially following Meilin's gentle tones.
While Meilin's voice was satisfactory, Xin's performance fell below the expected standard. After listening for a while, Alan shook his head in disappointment, clearly unimpressed.
It was evident that Xin's arrogance did not align with his actual skill. Alan was not well-acquainted with Xin's background, but he doubted that Xin's profession was that of a singer. If it was, Alan questioned how Xin had even managed to become an idol.
Furthermore, numerous people had expressed their opinions and reviews during the live broadcast, further emphasizing the impact of Xin's subpar performance.
"Is this guy serious? My five year old son sings better than him."
"The song was good but this guy ruined it. I think he should go to singing class before coming here to perform."
"This song is alright, it's listenable, but not very pleasant. It can be used to pass the time."
Though the number of comments was limited, the majority of them expressed negativity towards Xin's singing.
The audience had high expectations, especially after the captivating prelude and Meilin's sweet voice. However, their anticipation quickly turned into disappointment.
Greater the expectation, greater the disappointment. Consequently, many individuals came forward to voice their frustration and disillusionment.
Xin and Meilin continued singing passionately, but if one observed Meilin closely, a tinge of disappointment could be detected in her expression.
At that moment, Manager Ciel noticed the comments on the screen and her face contorted with annoyance. She exclaimed, "These people are just amateurs!"
Her excited mood seemed to have been destroyed by the comments.
"They actually say it's not good? I think it sounds pretty good!"
After she finished speaking, she looked at Alan.
"What about you? What do you think?"
"Xin has an explosive and loud voice!" Alan replied. "Just right for karaoke!"
Manager raised an eyebrow, her face turning serious.
"I think you're just envious that Xin is better than you! Just wait, the number of votes would definitely be high and you will know how wrong you are."
Alan had no interest in engaging in an argument. Manager Ciel had posed a question to him, and now she appeared dissatisfied with his response. This left him wondering why she had bothered to ask in the first place.
One of the reasons why he answered her though was because the performance on the stage is so lousy that he thought that talking with Manager Ciel might be better. Though it ended up making Manager angry.
Manager Ciel was seething with anger, her frustration evident in her demeanor.
Xin continued to give his all during the performance. The only redeeming aspect of this disaster was Meilin, whose voice was somewhat good. Otherwise, many members of the audience might have begun to curse at the performance, which was no better than a karaoke session.
-CLAP!
A weak applause filled the room.
The audience clapped, but their applause lacked the enthusiasm displayed for the previous performers. It seemed that most of them were applauding out of respect rather than being genuinely moved by the performance.
"Thank you for listening! I hope you like our song."
Meilin said, bowing and expressing her gratitude. Her mood appeared to be less than cheerful, but Xin was the opposite. He wore a smug expression, as if he believed he had nailed it.
The host appeared on stage and announced the start of the voting period.
As the voting period progressed, Xin's smug expression gradually faded away.
Two minutes had already passed, yet the number of votes received was barely over 10,000.
Despite his initial confidence, the number of votes for their performance remained stagnant. The disappointment started to creep into Xin's eyes, and a sense of unease washed over him.
The audience's lackluster applause had already hinted at their lukewarm response to the performance. The atmosphere in the room had noticeably shifted, and Xin couldn't help but feel the weight of the audience's indifference.
Manager Ciel, who had been eagerly anticipating a high vote count, grew increasingly frustrated. Her face contorted into a mixture of disappointment and annoyance.
One minute left and the votes were only at 20,000.
She had expected Xin's talent to shine through and capture the hearts of the audience, but reality had turned out to be far from her expectations. She gnashed her teeth in anger and glared at Alan.
( It is all his fault! )
she thought, placing the blame squarely on Alan's shoulders. She believed that arguing with Alan had brought bad luck to Xin.
"Alright, voting is over! Meilin & Xin received a total of 29,000 votes. Let's congratulate them!"
The host announced.
As the host announced the voting results, Xin's hopes dwindled with each passing moment. The number flashed on the screen—far lower than what he had anticipated. It was a stark contrast to his earlier confidence, and he struggled to mask his disappointment.
He had envisioned this competition as a stepping stone to elevate his fame to new heights.
*SIGH!
On the other hand, Meilin appeared more composed. While she shared Xin's disappointment, she had anticipated that the vote count might be on the lower side.
( I should have never agreed to perform with him. I need to complain to higher ups! )
Meilin thought.
Xin's countenance turned sour, and he finally stepped off the stage, overcome with a sense of injustice.
Meilin followed suit, managing to maintain a smile on her face as she graciously waved to the audience before making her way backstage.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone