All eyes were on Pan Yu. The other contestants were also confused; they had been training in seclusion and knew nothing of what was happening outside, only gleaning a glimpse of what was going on from the production team's three conversations with Pan Yu. When they discovered that Pan Yu seemed to have been eliminated, the contestants were so shocked that even their sadness vanished.
Bai Yuchen glanced coldly at Pan Yu and said, "Regarding the elimination of contestant Pan Yu, I need to explain here. Pan Yu revealed that the three mentors were treacherous and treated his teammates very unkindly on the show, leading the national producers to question Pan Yu's character and strongly demand his elimination. Therefore, the production team opened an elimination channel. If the number of elimination votes exceeds the original number of votes before the end of this episode, then he will be eliminated."
Bai Yuchen found Pan Yu's vote count on the form. "Pan Yu's total votes from the previous live broadcast plus all the votes from the National Producers over the past few episodes are 5,860,934. His elimination votes are 10,323,956. So Pan Yu is eliminated this episode. This is the decision of the National Producers."
As soon as Bai Yuchen finished speaking, the entire audience erupted in uproar. Xu Zifan on the throne only received 11,098,735 votes. Pan Yu had almost caught up with Xu Zifan! However, Xu Zifan received support votes, while Pan Yu received elimination votes, which was equivalent to -4,463,022 votes?! This was absolutely shocking!!
Everyone's expression changed, and one contestant couldn't help but ask, "PD Bai, is the elimination process open to everyone?"
Bai Yuchen shook his head, raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and smiled reassuringly, "Don't worry, everyone. This is a special case, so we're handling it specially. The elimination channel is now closed. It won't reopen unless there's a major incident, so just focus on the competition. As for what happened to Pan Yu, the contestants who left today can find out when they get back. The remaining contestants don't need to be curious. We'll be starting the next match soon, so keep up the good work."
Pan Yu stood there stunned for a long time before he came to his senses, shaking his head in disbelief. "Impossible! This is impossible! What kind of elimination channel is this? Why are they doing this to me? This is a shady deal by the production team! They manipulated the votes, I don't believe it!"
Bai Yuchen said coldly, "Please have security come in."
Two security guards quickly entered and escorted Pan Yu away, one on each side. As Pan Yu struggled, he looked up and saw Xu Zifan. Xu Zifan sat high on his throne, having lost 30 pounds and no longer being as fat as before. Wearing the uniform of the contestants, he seemed unapproachable from his luxurious throne. Pan Yu met Xu Zifan's gaze and felt an intense sting. It must have been Xu Zifan! This was Xu Zifan's revenge!
Pan Yu was taken away, and Bai Yuchen had the eliminated contestants share some of their thoughts. The recording of the fifth episode concluded smoothly. The editors had already finished editing the contestants' daily training sessions over the past two weeks, and once the elimination scene was added, the fifth episode would be broadcast soon.
On their way back to the dorm, the contestants ran into Pan Yu, who was packing up and about to leave. Pan Yu stared intently at Xu Zifan, walked up to him, and said, "I won't let this go!"
Xu Zifan curled the corners of her lips and looked down at him, "This is just the beginning."
The two brushed past each other. Xu Zifan felt incredibly calm, knowing he would eventually crush this petty man's confidence. Pan Yu, on the other hand, was extremely agitated, a fear rising within him: was fate truly unchangeable? He had done so much, yet he still couldn't compare to Xu Zifan, and so many bad things had happened to him in his attempts to change his destiny. Would his life ever be smooth sailing again?
The first thing Pan Yu did after leaving the training camp was to check what was happening online on his phone. He then discovered that everything he had done had been exposed, and some people had even revealed that he was an illegitimate child! Seeing the overwhelming insults and the loss of most of his followers, Pan Yu smashed his phone away and grabbed his hair hard!
He's finished. Even if he releases all the songs he writes, he won't become famous. Everyone who admires his talent will also lament his character. In the entertainment industry, someone nailed to the pillar of shame can never rise again. He'll never be famous! Why? Why is he in such a terrible situation even though he has all the advantages of being given a second chance at life? He shouldn't have gone after Xu Zifan, but it's all Xu Zifan's fault. He doesn't know what Xu Zifan did, but Xu Zifan definitely retaliated against him!
They were born to be each other's nemesis. They shared the same blood, so why was Xu Zifan better off than him in both of his lives? He had to become famous. Only when he became famous and Xu Zifan fell from grace could he be satisfied!
Pan Yu left, but the competition continued. Episodes six and seven featured group battles. Seven people per group, leaving 56 participants divided into eight groups to choose four songs. This time, the four songs were further subdivided into parts: one lead vocalist, four sub-vocalists, and two rappers. Those ranked lower chose first, and then those ranked higher could freely swap positions, highlighting the importance of ranking once again. Xu Zifan naturally chose a song and position he was good at.
He was also in a group with Li Keyang. After practicing with their mentors for a week, the production team added a segment the day before the competition: each contestant had to call their family in a small room. These calls will be edited into the sixth episode. If the contestants' interactions with their families are heartwarming, this segment can help them gain more fans, essentially allowing the national producers to see the contestants' true selves.
Xu Zifan dialed his mother's number. Since it was afternoon, his mother was off work and answered excitedly, "Son, you finally called! I watched your competition, you were amazing! I never knew you could sing and dance so well, so dazzling on stage. You're my pride! I asked all my colleagues and students at school to vote for you; they all know you, and..."
So many of them are your fans! Oh, Mom is so happy!
Xu Zifan laughed and said, "Mom, you have to have more confidence in my future. Don't work too hard, take good care of your health, and wait for me to come and pick you up."
"Okay, okay, I'm confident. But why are you so fat? Have you been eating junk food outside? Those aren't hygienic. You should cook for yourself."
Xu Zifan's smile faded, and after a few seconds of silence, he said, "Mom, I'm fine. I'm already on a diet, and it's working well. Don't worry."
Xu's mother hurriedly said, "I saw it. You lost a lot of weight in the fifth period compared to the first period. Although being too fat is not good, losing weight too quickly is also not good. I think you look quite good when you're fair and chubby. If you want to lose weight, we can do it slowly. We can't let it affect your health."
"No, I took leave to go to the hospital for a check-up. They prescribed some traditional Chinese medicine for me, which is for healthy weight loss. Besides, I practice dancing regularly, so I get a lot of exercise, which is why I lost weight. There's nothing wrong with my body. Mom, don't just talk about me. How are you? Does your wrist still hurt? I asked the doctor at the hospital last time, and there's a really effective ointment. Mom, write down the name and buy a tube to use later."
Xu Zifan told his mother the name of the ointment, and she quickly wrote it down. "Okay, I'll go buy it after get off work tonight. Don't worry about me, I'm fine. Just focus on the competition, but don't be too concerned about winning or losing. Participation is a gain in itself. You'll always be the best in my heart!"
Xu Zifan smiled brightly, "Thank you, Mom. Your words give me even more motivation. Don't worry, I'll definitely stay calm and composed."
"Oh, by the way, I overheard the students talking about your advisor. Uh, may I say that?" Xu's mother hesitated, lowering her voice.
Xu Zifan glanced at the cameraman. "Mom, you tell me. If it can't be broadcast, the production team will cut it." He quickly stuck out his tongue at the camera, changed his posture, and turned to face the camera from the side. "Mom, don't listen to people's nonsense. Our mentors are all very nice and have helped me a lot."
"Really? Then you must thank them properly." Xu's mother hesitated for a moment, then said in a very low voice, "Zifan, I heard that your white-haired man was even criticized for dating? If you are ultimately selected to debut, does that mean you can't have a partner? That won't do, such a major life event... I don't know how to say it, but Mom just hopes you have a good job, marry a nice wife, have a lovely child, and have a happy family. I think if idols aren't allowed to date, then let those who choose not to marry be the ones who are. Didn't you say you wanted a happy family when you were little?"
Xu Zifan was taken aback by what she was going to say, paused for a moment, looked at the camera, and laughed, "Mom, don't worry. Just like PD Baek, he made it clear when he debuted that he wanted to get married and have children. I will also be honest with everyone." He looked at the camera calmly and said naturally, "My life plan is to get married and have children before I turn 30. I don't think this has anything to do with whether I'm an idol or not. There's no rule in China that forbids idols from dating. Even if I debut as an idol, I will still tell everyone that I want to get married before I turn 30. People who mind this shouldn't be my fans, and those who are my fans shouldn't ignore my statement. I think those so-called 'conventional views' are formed under the premise that the attitudes of fans and idols are ambiguous and the topic has not been explicitly discussed. I have made my position clear, and there is no wrongdoing at any time. I will not flirt with fans or ask them to spend money. If people still criticize me for this, that's just being a scoundrel."
Chen Jing, a staff member, stood next to the cameraman and kept waving at Xu Zifan to stop, but he finished speaking anyway. He felt that these things needed to be said as soon as possible: he didn't want female fans, he didn't ask for their votes, and he didn't ask them to support him. He made it so clear that those so-called female fans naturally wouldn't support him anymore. What an idol says isn't just empty talk. Saying he wants to get married and have children and then demanding that idols can't date is unreasonable. Selective deafness is just their own fault for being deaf.
Xu's mother breathed a sigh of relief on the other end of the phone. "That puts my mind at ease. It's just the two of us in our family all these years. I'm so happy just thinking about having a big, lively family in the future." Xu's mother paused, then said, "And... about Pan Yu, um..."
"Mom, my surname is Xu. What happens to the Pan family has nothing to do with us. Don't worry about it."
"Alright, you're all grown up now. Mom won't interfere with your decisions in this regard. Just think it through yourself. Don't let anyone bully you outside. We shouldn't hurt others; we should be kind. But we also shouldn't let others hurt us. If the Pan family causes you trouble, tell Mom, and Mom will talk to them!"
Xu Zifan smiled and said, "Okay, I will."
Xu Zifan chatted with his mother for a while longer before hanging up. Afterwards, he asked the production team to turn his phone back on and give it to Chen Jing for safekeeping. "My mom is almost fifty, and I'm always a little worried about her being home alone. Also, recently the relationship between the Pan family and us has been exposed, and I'm worried they might contact my mom. It's very inconvenient to be out of contact by phone. Could you please keep an eye on her for me, Sister Chen? If my mom calls, please answer it, and if there's an emergency, please let me know, okay?"
Xu Zifan performed very well on the show, was very cooperative, and even increased the show's ratings. The show was also very generous to him and agreed to his request.
After the family-themed segment ended, the production team had the mentors lead the contestants in games, followed by a hot pot dinner to help them relax before the competition. This round of competition will eliminate contestants ranked 35th and below, a final act of kindness before the brutal competition begins.