The seven main singers and their music partners arrived at the recording site together. For the sake of the show's authenticity and smooth production, none of them knew who the surprise guest was. After all, not all singers were good actors. Pretending to be surprised when they already knew would look ridiculous. You could treat the audience as fans, but never as fools.
The singers chatted casually in the lounge while their music partners went to draw lots for their performance order. The lounge had been temporarily set up inside the TV station for I Am a Singer, decorated in a minimalist blue and silver-black metal theme. On the left, pyramid-shaped stacks of Chunsheng Organic Milk cartons (empty, for display only) stood beneath the show's giant logo.
Among the contestants, the eldest was Hou Yubin, a 53-year-old veteran who had debuted as the runner-up in a national singing competition at 20. With 33 years of stage experience, he had contributed countless iconic songs, especially with his deep, powerful voice—perfect for historical drama soundtracks. Now an associate professor at a prestigious music academy, Hou was a respected figure and a strong competitor, having already won the audience's top vote twice in the season.
"Uncle Hou, last time we at least had rumors about the challenger. Any insider info today?" asked Lin Xia, lounging on a two-seater sofa.
At 29, Lin Xia was the current popularity king among the contestants. He had debuted at 18 through Super Boy, and after five years of steady album sales, his fame skyrocketed at 24. Whether his vocals were outstanding or not, his sales justified his stardom—though fans lovingly called him "Lin the Trash" or "Trashy" as a joke.
"Last time's challenger was my student, so I happened to know." Hou Yubin chuckled. "This time? No clues at all."
"If even Uncle Hou doesn't know, then we're all in the dark." Lin Xia shrugged.
"Sigh." Zheng Yingying groaned.
"Don't be so down, Yingying. We all believe in you!" Lin Xia encouraged. "So you have our full support!"
After half a season of recordings, the contestants had grown familiar with each other—and with Lin Xia's habit of spouting nonsense.
"But I don't believe in myself!" Zheng Yingying whined. "Last time I was second-to-last. If a strong challenger comes, I'm done for!"
As one of only two female contestants, Zheng Yingying had started in an idol girl group before going solo with mediocre success. Now, with a chance to revive her career, she was desperate not to be eliminated.
"Yingying, think of it this way—if the show invites a strong challenger, they'll probably target the strongest, like Uncle Hou or Lin Xia." Gu Nanxi said bluntly. "Feel better now?"
"...Actually, yeah." Zheng Yingying nodded, not realizing the backhanded nature of the comfort.
The seating arrangement in the lounge—three-seaters, four-seaters, and two-seaters—subtly reflected the contestants' status. It wasn't enforced, just an unspoken rule.
"I hope the challenger is a female singer," Gu Nanxi mused. "So many talented women lack exposure and end up quitting the industry."
"Indeed, our nation has no shortage of outstanding female vocalists—jewels among jade, exceptional talents. It would be wonderful for the audience to discover them." Hou Yubin, when not singing, resembled a retired grandpa out for a stroll—except for his habit of spouting poetic idioms. (How is he not a regular on Chinese Poetry Competition? A travesty!)
Gu Nanxi, a few years older than Zheng Yingying, was a Hong Kong-Taiwan singer who had long since moved to the mainland. Despite her flawless Mandarin, the cameras occasionally caught glimpses of crow's feet and neck lines beneath her meticulous makeup.
"Koguchi-san, are you worried?" Lin Xia asked in Japanese. "If you're worried, then you're worried."
To add an international flair, I Am a Singer always invited foreign contestants. This season's pick was Koguchi Yoshihiro, a 37-year-old Japanese artist under Sony Music. His last album had sold 570,000 copies on release—a double-platinum certification by RIAJ. Known for singing popular anime openings, he had considerable fame in China too.
"I am indeed concerned. Your country has many formidable singers, and Teacher Hou's skills alone make my jaw drop." Koguchi replied via translation app, his actual partner absent at the moment.
"At your age, your vocal technique is already top-tier. Just enjoy the music." Hou Yubin encouraged.
"Thank you for your kind words, Teacher Hou. I feel energized." Koguchi bowed slightly after hearing the stiff machine translation.
Conversations flowed—"Judging by past challengers, we shouldn't underestimate them," "The crew guards the secret like thieves! I tried peeking earlier, and two staffers stopped me," "Nervous but excited…"
Then the music partners returned with the performance order, and the chatter died down as everyone checked their slots.
Two hundred meters away, in a separate blue-themed room, Chu Zhi waited. To maintain the surprise, he couldn't leave—not even to use the restroom. "Do male idols not pee?" But he kept the thought to himself, maintaining a calm, almost poetic demeanor for the cameras.
"Teacher Chu, who do you plan to challenge later?" Wei Tongzi prompted, knowing they needed dialogue for the recording.
"No one." Chu Zhi replied. "I'll perform last."
"Huh?!" Wei Tongzi's face twisted in shock. "But if you don't challenge anyone, you'll only stay if the audience votes you into the top three!"
"Wouldn't it be smarter to pick an easy target—like Zheng Yingying, Zheng Yingying, or maybe Zheng Yingying?" Going for the top three straight away against monsters like Lin Xia, Hou Yubin, and Koguchi was practically suicide.
"Teacher Chu, you…" She almost blurted out: "Do you still think you have your old popularity?" But that was too cruel, so she swallowed it.
"What is it, Tongtong?" Chu Zhi looked up.
Quick on her feet, Wei Tongzi pivoted: "Are you hungry? If so, we have the amazing Chunsheng Organic Milk!"
"If you recommend it so strongly, I must try it." Chu Zhi grabbed a carton, took a sip, and nodded. "Not bad. So this is the legendary Chunsheng Organic Milk? The delicious Chunsheng Organic Milk? Did I say 'Chunsheng Organic Milk' enough times for the sponsors?"
"Three times. A natural-born advertiser." Wei Tongzi laughed. "At least he's good at variety shows."
As they chatted, the show began. Through a monitor, Chu Zhi watched the live broadcast.
First up: Lin Xia.
The moment he stepped on stage, the 800-strong audience erupted. His popularity was undeniable.
Lin Xia had chosen a high-energy rock song—perfect for hyping up a live crowd. Though he wasn't known for rock, his stage presence was electric. He'd even brought his own band, The Explosive Legends, instead of using the show's house musicians.
The performance was a showstopper.
Four minutes later, the audience voted via handheld remotes.
Result: 679 votes.