"Wow! 85 points!"
"The Untouchable Diva's 85 points are more convincing than the 90 or 95 points from the others!"
"I knew it! How could Diva Queen Celeste not recognize true talent?"
"Is this tough love?"
"Whoa, whoa, what 'tough love'? Diva Queen Celeste is Amelia Quinn's aunt! Don't talk nonsense!"
Celeste Monroe's words made the audience erupt in cheers and applause. Regardless of Frank Castle's personal reputation, this song, "The Balladeer," truly moved them and perfectly fit this episode's theme of "Grand Principle." If a song like this didn't deserve a high score, what song would?
Amelia Quinn's face froze, her heart a tumultuous mix of emotions, as if a spice rack had tipped over. She had expected her aunt to finally stand up for her this episode. She never thought that after criticizing Frank so much, she would ultimately give him a high score. It looked like a genuine expression of concern from an elder to a junior, with true affection hidden within the sternness. But I'm her niece!
Amelia couldn't help but turn to look at Celeste Monroe. She happened to catch her usually cold and frosty aunt looking towards the stage, a smile in her eyes and a slight curve to her lips. In that instant, it was as if an iceberg had melted, a spring breeze breaking through the frost—incredibly stunning, and uncharacteristically gentle. During family gatherings on holidays, Celeste Monroe had never shown such gentle, warming tenderness to her own grandfather, uncle, or mother.
Amelia instinctively looked at the stage. Frank, too, was looking up at the mentor's table. Amelia clearly felt that Frank's gaze wasn't directed at her, but towards Celeste Monroe. In that moment, Frank and Celeste Monroe's gazes met across the distance, colliding, intertwining...
Amelia Quinn's eyes widened, and an absurd thought surged through her mind. Could Aunt Celeste and Frank...
But the next instant, Celeste Monroe and Frank's gazes shifted away from each other. Frank bowed to the mentor's table: "Thank you for your feedback, Teacher Monroe. I'll definitely keep working hard!"
Celeste Monroe nodded slightly and said nothing more, her attitude no different from how she treated other contestants. Amelia Quinn collected herself, feeling a slight sense of relief. Sure enough, she had seen it wrong. Her aunt was the number one Diva Queen in America, while Frank was a washed-up scumbag despised by everyone. And one was her aunt, the other her ex-husband. For those two to be together? It was more likely that she, Amelia Quinn, would suddenly become the world's number one diva!
Still, the fact that her aunt had given Frank high scores for two consecutive episodes left Amelia feeling a bit uneasy. She quickly figured it out. Her aunt had always resented her grandfather, uncle, and mother for not supporting her in the past, holding a grudge against the family. So, she was merely caught in the crossfire. But why her? She hadn't wronged her aunt! Amelia decided that after this episode's recording, she would go home and complain to her grandfather, asking him to intervene. That way, her aunt surely couldn't refuse to help her, could she?
While Amelia Quinn was calculating in her mind, she didn't notice that Frank Castle and Celeste Monroe exchanged another glance. Many things couldn't be said on stage, but the two had already communicated with their eyes. There was actually nothing ambiguous or romantic; Frank was simply expressing his sincere gratitude. Every word of Celeste Monroe's criticism just now hit Frank's weak spots. This was encouragement for him, and moreover, the care and guidance of an elder towards a junior. Frank's heart was filled with gratitude. Celeste Monroe also received the meaning in his eyes, which was why she subtly nodded and smiled, a response in kind. Neither of them, however, considered why they, who had only met a few times, could communicate so tacitly with their eyes.
After the mentors' critiques, it was time for the audience to cast their votes. This time, the audience's reaction was strikingly different from the previous episode. In the last episode, audience members were ashamed to admit they had given Frank a score. This episode, however, was different. "The Balladeer" sang of the grand principle of patriotism. We give our votes, and we're proud of it!
"I choose to vote!"
"This point is dedicated to our pioneers!"
"This song deserves a point! No regrets ever entering America!"
The audience members generously cast their votes, shouting loudly, as if afraid others wouldn't know they had voted. Only the section with Amelia Quinn and Liam Reed's fans remained in dead silence. The fans looked left and right, full of hesitation. Earlier, they had all agreed they would absolutely not give Frank Castle a score. But now, if they didn't give Frank a score, wouldn't they be betraying their conscience a little?
Lynn's brows were furrowed in a tangled mess, as if constipated. Ugh! This is so frustrating! Frank is clearly a scumbag who hurt Amelia, so why can he sing such a good song?! What should I do?
"Giving Frank a score is a betrayal of Amelia. Between 'Grand Principle' and 'Great Love,' I choose love!" A staunch Amelia Quinn fan beside her chose not to vote.
"Right! One song makes us betray Amelia? What was all our years of companionship and understanding for?"
"Absolutely no points for that scumbag!"
Others quickly followed suit, all giving Frank Castle zero points. Lynn saw her companions were so firm and immediately felt ashamed of her earlier hesitation. She instantly followed suit and gave zero points. Instantly, she felt refreshed, as if her love for Amelia had been sublimated.
I am indeed Amelia's most loyal fan! Amelia, do you feel my love for you?
Soon, the audience's voting results were revealed: 435 points.
The moment the score appeared on the big screen, the entire hall erupted in an uproar.
"No way, the mentor scores were 457, but the audience score is only 435?"
"Such a tragic and principle-driven song, sung so well, and the score is so low?"
"Who exactly didn't vote?"
"Damn it, are they all descendants of the enemy?"
Normally, mentors are stricter than the audience, and a contestant's mentor score is usually lower than their audience score. But for "The Balladeer," the mentor score was as high as 457 points, while the audience score was over twenty points lower. This was clearly abnormal. Many audience members were dissatisfied and began looking around, asking questions, wanting to find out who hadn't voted and what they were thinking. Some of the older folks, who held a deep hatred for the historical enemies, had already started cursing.
Amelia Quinn's fans, who had moments ago looked proud of not voting, now turned into timid quails, burying their heads and remaining silent. Lynn also hung her head, afraid of being noticed as one of those who hadn't voted.
The atmosphere in the audience was strange. Someone suddenly remembered: In the last episode, no one in the audience admitted to having voted for Frank. But this episode, no one admitted to not having voted for Frank. The contrast between the two was too stark.
People looked at Frank, still composed on stage, their gazes complex. This guy truly possessed a strange ability, drawing everyone's emotions to him. Was this the charm of talent? Lynn stared blankly at Frank, suddenly thinking that scumbag was actually quite handsome. Then she fiercely shook her head. Frank was a scumbag; what if he had some talent? Hadn't Amelia seen through him and resolutely cast him aside? No matter how good the songs he wrote, Amelia wouldn't care for them! As a proud fan of Amelia Quinn, she had to have backbone, just like Amelia!
Lynn became resolute again.
Just then, Frank's total score appeared on the big screen:
Mentor Score: 457
Audience Score: 435
Total Score: 892 points.