Chapter 168: What an Absolute Surprise [Second Update]

"Hi!"

Yu Zhile greeted the singers with a touch of awkward diffidence.

One of the younger, idol-like female singers suddenly exclaimed with excitement, "Teacher Yu! I grew up listening to your songs! I never expected the challenger singer to be you!"

"..."

With the straightforwardness of an insensitive guy, Yu Zhile retorted, "I only debuted as a singer two years ago. If you say that out loud, the audience won't believe a single punctuation mark!"

The female singer excitedly babbled on, "Anyway, I'm your biggest fan! I adore your songs with Sister Haiyu! I can sing every single one of them!"

By this time, the other singers who had been slow to react finally caught on!

Teacher Yu?
Sister Haiyu?

So, this guy was Yu Zhile!

No wonder he looked somewhat familiar, though they couldn't place him right away!

He was none other than Yu Zhile, who had announced a temporary hiatus from the music scene and the entertainment industry after finishing the recording of *Where Are We Going, Dad?* the year before last!

They had guessed many names for this round's challenger, but Yu Zhile had crossed no one's mind!

Since more than a year had passed and neither he nor his wife had released any new works or made any public appearances, people had naturally forgotten about them.

Now, seeing Yu Zhile standing before them, they all began to feel a sense of nervous tension!

After all, this was a freakish singer who would drop original songs without the slightest warning!

Back in the day, before *I Am a Star* was renamed *I Am a Singer*, Yu Zhile's wife had won the championship of the show!

And during *The Masked Singer* the year before last, the couple had taken home the champion and runner-up titles respectively!

Therefore, it was impossible for them not to be nervous!

Talent? He lacked none.

Masterpieces? He could pull them out of thin air at will.

Thus, this was undeniably the strongest challenger singer since the show began airing.

Xiao Xiaoya, who had just claimed she grew up listening to Yu Zhile's songs, said nervously and excitedly, "Teacher Yu, please show mercy! Don't hit us with your heavy blows!"

The rest of the singers chimed in one after another...

"Who was it that just said they wouldn't be intimidated no matter who came to challenge?"
"The production team is too ruthless! Someone is definitely getting kicked out this time!"
"Right now, I'm only curious about one thing: is Teacher Yu going to sing an original song for his challenge?"

Yu Zhile chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Stop flattering me and setting me up! In terms of seniority and rank in the music industry, you are the teachers here, and I'm just a newcomer coming to learn from you!"

"This is the most low-profile big shot I have ever seen!"
"Think again! He's just low-profile in his personal life and high-profile when it comes to singing! When the time comes, his crushing defeat of us won't look low-profile at all!"

***

Yu Zhile felt quite embarrassed by all the flattery. *Am I really such a terrifying presence in their hearts?*

*Are they actually this terrified of me?*

*It's almost making me feel full of myself!*

At this point, Director Zhang stepped in to interrupt the polite banter among the singers. Following that, apart from Yu Zhile, the other seven singers drew lots in turn to decide the performance order.

Since challenger singers always performed last, Yu Zhile had to sit back and watch the performances of the seven singers while waiting idly.

Yang Bing sat behind him, chatting casually from time to time. Since singers were usually assigned a program manager, and Yu Zhile had joined the show in a rush without anyone designated for him, Yang Bing had volunteered to take on the job.

An hour later.

The recording of the singers' competition proceeded quite quickly. Since each singer had only one chance to perform regardless of their state on stage, there was no scenario where the director would shout "cut" and have them restart.

Therefore, excluding the recording time before and after taking the stage, once a singer's performance began, the recording duration generally did not exceed five minutes.

After all, from start to finish, the songs they sang lasted at most a little over four minutes.

Thus, after the staff members moved a piano onto the stage, it was finally Yu Zhile's turn to perform!

When he walked out onto the stage, most of the audience did not recognize him, but quite a few did, instantly bursting into screams and cheers!

"Who is that? Who is this challenger singer?"
"Hiss, why does he look a bit familiar? It feels like I've seen him somewhere before."
"What is going on? Am I out of touch with the world? Is it really just me who doesn't know who he is?"

Immediately afterward, as the information about the challenger's upcoming song began to appear on the stage screen, the entire audience erupted instantly!

*Just to Love You*
Lyrics: Yu Zhile
Composer: Yu Zhile
Performed by: Yu Zhile

Those audience members who hadn't recognized Yu Zhile initially, or those who knew him but didn't remember his face because they hadn't watched *Where Are We Going, Dad?*, all joined in the cheers with one accord!

That man—the man who participated in *The Masked Singer* and brought everyone so many incredible songs—had actually made a comeback after disappearing for more than a year!

Moreover, the first song he was going to sing upon his return was an original new track!

Most importantly, prior to this, Qin Haiyu's song *9420* had swept across the entire country, and the lyrics and music for that track were also written by Yu Zhile. Now, the song Yu Zhile was bringing everyone was titled *Just to Love You*. The meaning of the title was identical to *9420*, but the audience believed these must be two completely different songs!

Consequently, everyone filled with anticipation.

They eagerly awaited this new song that Yu Zhile was bringing them after a hiatus of more than a year!

Backstage, the remaining seven singers began to feel the tension. Someone said with a bitter smile, "As expected, he prepared an original new song! We're in bad luck this time; someone is definitely getting kicked off!"

"Now I can finally understand the terrifying feeling of being dominated by him that the singers experienced during the first season of *The Masked Singer*! We are simply not singers of the same caliber; how can we possibly compete with him?"

On the stage, Yu Zhile made a gesture for quiet, signaling the audience to settle down. He then walked over to the piano, sat down, and nodded in the direction of the band to indicate that they could begin playing.

Yu Zhile played the piano with complete composure. When those pleasant and comforting melodies drifted out, the audience immediately fell in love with it!

They hadn't been let down after all!

Judging solely by this melody, anyone could tell this was bound to be a new song that would leave everyone satisfied!

Yu Zhile began to sing:

"I've always wanted to tell you"
"You bring me happiness I never imagined"
"Like an oasis given to a desert..."

It truly was a new song!

A new song of the exact same genre as *9420*, one that made you fall in love with it the moment the vocals began!

"Say you'll always stay by my side"
"Be my roots and my wings"
"Allowing me to fly"
"While still having a nest to return to..."

This opening verse instantly captured the hearts of the audience!

It was still that very same familiar flavor!

As expected of Yu Zhile!

As expected of the man hailed as the "Godfather of Pure Love"!

At that moment, people even felt a sensation reminiscent of watching the grand finale of *The Masked Singer*!

"It's just to love you, loving you"
"Through sorrow and joy, with you"
"Even the mundane gains meaning"
"It's just to love you, loving you"
"Sweet and reassuring"
"That feeling is simply you..."

Listening to this sweet and touching melody, the audience drifted into a state of enchantment.

Their gazes were all focused on Yu Zhile, who was playing the piano and singing *Just to Love You* on stage. Both their eyes and expressions seemed brimming with love!

Everyone listened in quiet engrossment...

The challenger singer for this episode was simply too wonderful a surprise!