The lyrics expressed his deepest feelings. Love, something he had struggled to understand, finally made sense when he met her.
In his mind, his love was meant only for Bianca; he couldn’t imagine giving it to anyone else.
The combination of the music and his powerful voice gave the song a special charm, making it truly captivating.
After the song, the applause went on for a long time.
The judges led the standing ovation, and Blake graciously acknowledged their praise by rising and bowing. His passionate performance exceeded Bianca’s expectations; it was so emotional that it almost rivaled the original singer. It seemed like Blake’s success was only a matter of time.
When the judges began to give their comments, Sophia was the first to share her thoughts.
“Even though I’m not a music expert, your clarity and emotional depth were clear. Your stage presence is very impressive.” However, her smile hinted at some criticism. “But the transitions between the highs and lows could be smoother. There’s still room for improvement; the journey offstage is just as important.”
Sophia pointed out other details and offered constructive feedback, highlighting Blake’s weaknesses to help him succeed.
“Thank you, Ms. Johnson. I appreciate your feedback,” Blake replied respectfully.
Sophia’s criticism left the audience offstage in shock. Her firm words towards their company’s trainee showed how serious their training process was. It made the Emerald Artists Agency seem responsible and fair, easing worries about biased competition.
At the same time, it highlighted the show’s fairness and transparency, which improved its reputation.
Next, Natalie spoke up.
Bianca, aware of Natalie’s tendency to use provocative words, couldn’t help but roll her eyes.
When Natalie criticized Blake, her comments were hard to understand.
“Your performance lacks the intensity of unrequited love. Still, it has potential, especially since you’re new to this,” she said.
Bianca brushed off Natalie’s remarks, finding them neither professional nor fair, and refused to take them seriously.
In contrast, Skylar’s feedback felt more professional and offered helpful suggestions for Blake’s singing and stage presence.
The other judges followed suit, each giving positive feedback on Blake’s performance in their own way.
After removing the highest and lowest scores, Blake ended up with an impressive score of 9. 3, which even surprised Bianca.
The exciting opening had set a high standard, making the contestants waiting backstage look visibly nervous.
The next contestant, a trainee from Orion Entertainment, took the stage to perform a traditional-style dance.
Maybe because of Blake’s amazing performance, the next contestant’s dance left the audience feeling disappointed. It was just average, without any excitement or standout moments.
However, Natalie’s reaction was surprising. Even though she had criticized Blake, she now praised the ordinary dance, saying the contestant had a unique charm. Natalie complimented the contestant’s flexibility and coordination, saying she captured the mood of the music well.
The audience, however, didn’t like Natalie’s obvious favoritism towards the Orion Entertainment trainee.
As the crowd’s frustration grew, the host stepped in to restore order.
The dance, though not great, got only brief comments from the other judges, which took away from the show’s lively energy.
After the highest and lowest scores were removed, the contestant received a modest 7. 9 points. Bianca couldn’t help but smirk, feeling satisfied. Blake was truly amazing!
The next contestants showcased their talents through dance or song, with the highest score reaching 8. 6. None of the performances outdid Blake’s, which helped relieve Bianca’s tension earlier.
As time flew by, Reese stepped up as the final contestant.
Bianca knew that Reese had chosen to perform without props, making her act stand out. It was a unique choice for this stage.
In addition to Sophia and Natalie, Wendy Benson, a well-known veteran actress and respected professor at the country’s top film and television academy, brought her expertise to the judging panel. Her experience was definitely impressive.
Bianca felt worried for Reese, knowing Wendy’s reputation for making sharp comments on another talk show. Wendy’s words could be cutting, and Bianca feared that Reese, who didn’t have acting experience, might have a hard time handling any harsh feedback.
As Reese stepped onto the stage, she revealed her carefully chosen theme: Unrequited Love.
This theme felt personal to Reese. Her stage presence was impressive as she wore a cute blue and white school uniform, with her hair in a high ponytail and light makeup. A school bag completed her look.
In her performance, she acted as if she were on her way to class. When she looked up, she saw the person she had feelings for walking ahead of her.
Shyness and excitement filled her heart, captivating the audience, who were now completely drawn into the story she was telling.
Every move Reese made showed her deep admiration for the person she liked.
She lifted her eyes toward Blake, who was standing at the side of the stage, but he wasn’t looking at her. His eyes were focused elsewhere.
A subtle feeling of loss filled Reese’s heart, and luckily, this genuine emotion blended perfectly into her performance.
This unexpected moment was something Reese hadn’t planned. Bianca couldn’t help but silently admire Reese’s ability to react so well in the moment.
Bianca glanced at the judges and saw they were completely absorbed in the performance on stage.
Wendy, in particular, showed a strong interest in the performance.
Even after it ended, the audience stayed captivated by the mood, taking a moment to return to reality.
Once the applause died down, Wendy was the first to grab the microphone. Bianca squeezed her fingers nervously, waiting for Wendy’s comment.
Adjusting the microphone, Wendy looked at Reese on stage and asked, “Did you study acting? Have you had any formal training?”
Wendy’s two questions left her feelings unclear, making it hard for Bianca to read the situation. She couldn’t help but feel nervous and started to sweat.
Reese showed a shy side when she wasn’t performing. After a moment of thought, she replied, “I don’t have formal acting training, but I’m studying hard now. The company even arranged for me to have a professional teacher. Is there anything wrong with my performance? Please let me know. I want to improve.”
Wendy, however, saw Reese’s nervousness amusing. Turning to Sophia, she said, “This trainee from your company is so cute. I didn’t say anything, but she looks really nervous.”
Reese responded with a shy smile, nervously picking at her fingers.
Sophia smiled gently at Reese and reassured her, “There’s no need to be nervous, Reese. Wendy is actually praising your performance.”