His eyes swept over Elena and the Pandemonium members, and for a brief moment, his gaze seemed complicated. Then he smiled.
"Great performance," he said. "Magnificent song."
"Thank you, Brother Jin Yang," Elena replied with a polite smile. "Do your best on your performance."
Jin Yang's smile widened slightly.
"Oh, I will."
For a moment, it felt like the air between them became heavier.
It wasn't hostility.
It wasn't hatred.
It was pure competition.
A silent clash of pride.
Cai Jun, Lin Dong, and several staff members nearby all held their breath. Even backstage, it felt like the battle hadn't ended. It had simply shifted to a different arena.
Then the commercial break ended.
The stage lights dimmed, and Jin Yang walked forward toward the entrance of the stage, his figure disappearing into the shadows like a king walking toward his throne.
Elena and the Pandemonium members stayed backstage to watch through the monitor.
