Song Zijian wasn't boiling with anger—he was burning with excitement. In his mind, he had already won and crushed Sian onstage. His grin was so contagious that even Jin Ruohan, sensing the other's delight, smiled politely and said,
"Brother Jian, even though we're competitors right now, we're still brothers. No matter the outcome, our bond isn't something fake—it won't be affected. I wish you the best of luck."
The first thought that crossed Song Zijian's mind upon hearing those words was to scoff.
Where does all this blind confidence come from?
He thought Jin Ruohan should be the one needing luck—him and the others, not himself.
Still, he was a master at masking his thoughts, always playing the role of the obedient, delicate garden flower. So he simply nodded with polite composure, offered a faint smile, and turned his gaze toward the stage.
After a few words from the host and a short break to allow the five judges to prepare, the competition finally began.
