Chapter 123: Able to Yield and Able to Stretch

The police unfurled the banner, revealing its full design to the crowd. It was a grand red flag edged in gleaming gold. Golden silk thread had been embroidered across its surface in two lines of words: "Promote good and eliminate evil, pillars of the nation!"

The police lifted the banner with both hands and carried it to Su Chen, declaring, "Mr. Su, thank you for your dedication and efforts in safeguarding Sha City's peace and the well-being of its people!"

"I represent the Sha City Police Bureau in extending my most heartfelt gratitude to you!"

Staring at the banner, Su Chen felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him. Yet standing there with it held aloft indefinitely was not a viable option. He accepted the flag with both hands and thanked the officers profusely.

At that moment, on the mentors' platform, Zheng Huaiyu stared in stunned disbelief at the unfolding scene. He had never imagined that his simple act of attempting to trip Su Chen and stir up hatred would result in attracting not just a doctor but even the police!

And both groups were now speaking out on his behalf!

What on earth was happening?

Zheng Huaiyu seethed with fury, unable to vent his rage. Just as he opened his mouth, he noticed his assistant below the stage frantically signaling him with urgent glances. Zheng Huaiyu paused, momentarily confused.

Moments later, a WeChat message arrived from his assistant.

Zheng Huaiyu opened his phone, and the chat log filled his screen.

Assistant: Huaiyu bro, now that everyone's eyes are locked on Su Chen, slip away while you can!

Assistant: Do you recall what happened at the end of last episode? There were security guards last time, but this time I called them and they won't even acknowledge me!

Assistant: Hurry and leave! If you wait any longer, it will be too late!

Zheng Huaiyu read the messages and felt a chill run through him. He quickly scanned the audience seats, and when he spotted that nearly every spectator held a full bottle of drink, he shuddered.

This time, for some inexplicable reason, empty bottles were nowhere to be found—everyone's drinks were brimming full! One or two tossed bottles could easily strike him, and with his freshly healed wound, he might not even need his retired wheelchair; he could end up straight in a hospital bed! Not every snapped tendon could be reconnected!

He swallowed hard.

Cautiously, he surveyed the room once more and confirmed that every audience member's focus was indeed on Su Chen.

Zheng Huaiyu made a swift decision, crouched low, and stealthily slipped from the mentors' platform, looking utterly disheveled.

Meanwhile, on stage, after the police presented the banner and announced its significance, they quickly departed. They had duties to uphold in maintaining Sha City's security and could not linger.

Once Liu Shao saw the group off, he returned to the stage, lifted the microphone, and announced, "I believe you've all been waiting with great impatience. I won't waste words—let's move straight into the next segment and tally Su Chen's score!"

"The mentors' evaluations are in; let us witness together whether Su Chen can achieve another miracle this time!

"First up is mentor Zhou Zhixian... 100 points!"

"Mentor Han Hong... 100 points!"

"Mentor Yan Mi... 100 points!"

"My goodness, Su Chen's score matches last time exactly—the first three mentors awarded full marks!"

"This is utterly unbelievable!"

Liu Shao could not help but exclaim.

He quickly continued, "Excellent. Now, let us see how many points mentor Zheng Huaiyu awarded!"

"Zheng Huaiyu mentor gave... 0 points?!"

Liu Shao was visibly shaken, his tone laced with disbelief.

It was not his fault; Zheng Huaiyu's score was simply outrageous!

Last time, during Su Chen's double-topic challenge, he had not awarded a zero either!

Was he abandoning the pretense this time?

The revelation of this score sent the entire venue into an uproar.

In the live chat, the barrage exploded as well.

"Damn! How did that 0 points happen? Wasn't the competition meant to be absolutely fair and just? What kind of fairness is this?!"

"Zheng Huaiyu has completely given up on pretending, hasn't he? This is basically a blatant admission that he's targeting Su Chen!"

"Can you let this idiot Zheng Huaiyu disappear far away? Why is someone like him still allowed on the mentors' platform? The program team is utterly negligent!"

"If there's another episode with Zheng Huaiyu, I won't watch anymore!"

"No way, our Chen brother is still competing—what else is there to see? Why not join me in piling on negative reviews? /silly"

"Spot on, I'm in! /silly"

...

Throughout the live chat, everyone was denouncing Zheng Huaiyu. At the same moment, the director deliberately shifted the camera back to the mentors' platform, landing on Zheng Huaiyu's empty seat.

Then, everyone realized that Zheng Huaiyu was no longer there.

The audience was stunned, and Liu Shao looked equally bewildered.

The man hadn't even finished recording the episode before fleeing!

The director, sensing the confusion, promptly played a pre-edited clip on the large screen in the center of the stage.

Viewers could clearly see Zheng Huaiyu quietly slip away while all attention remained fixed on Su Chen.

This backbone certainly knew how to yield and advance!

"Haha, damn, Zheng Huaiyu is truly bold—straight for the exit!"

"What a mouse; he could sneak off last episode too?"

"Tsk... What a waste. I was hoping to see him get hit again."

"Exactly!"

...

The audience seats and live chat dissolved into laughter.

Regardless, we must still thank Zheng Huaiyu for providing this episode's sole source of amusement.

After a brief pause, Liu Shao snapped back to reality and continued, "Ahem... I nearly forgot that we have not yet incorporated the audience's scoring for Su Chen!"

"Let's take a look at how many points Su Chen's contestant received from the audience!"

With that, the audience turned their attention to the large screen, where Su Chen's audience score—a three-digit number—was rapidly fluctuating!

Someone in the crowd was the first to shout Su Chen's name, and soon the cheers surged like a tidal wave.

"Su Chen! Su Chen! Su Chen!"

Amid the chants, the audience score locked into place.

"600 points! My god! Another six hundred!!!"

"This... this is truly a miracle on the talent show!"

Liu Shao declared, his voice rising with emotion.

"Therefore, combining the mentors' current scores with our 600 audience votes, Su Chen's final score is 900 points!"

"Congratulations to Su Chen!!!"