HONG KONG — The winners of TVB’s “Midlife Voice 4” made their first public appearance together on Sunday, drawing a large crowd of fans as they discussed post-competition plans, addressed allegations of rigged results, and revealed their new recording contracts.
Champion Yan Ging-shun, first runner-up Xu Yunni, and second runner-up Zheng Jiasheng appeared alongside four other contestants—Cai Mijie, Xu Meiqi, You Shuqing, and Wu Yiwei—at a fan meeting in Hong Kong. The event also featured support from former contestants Huang Jianwen and Liu Yang, as well as judges Hai’er and Fei Ma.
Turning Criticism into Motivation
Yan delivered a live rendition of Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You, earning praise from attendees who said his performance surpassed his finals showing. “I sang too relaxed during the final, so there were some flaws. I wanted to do better today,” Yan explained.
When asked about negative online comments, he struck a defiant tone. “The more harshly they criticize me, the more I like it. Whether reviews are good or bad, I will use them to improve myself. I don’t pay much attention to the comments—what matters is what happens after the competition.”
Addressing Rigging Allegations
Rumors of a fixed outcome have circulated among fans since the finale. Zheng dismissed the claims outright. “Rigging has nothing to do with us—we have no power to influence the results. If I really had that kind of influence, I wouldn’t have won by just a single point. If someone wanted to fix it, they would have given me a bigger margin,” he said.
New Contracts and Upcoming Performances
All three top finishers confirmed they have signed recording contracts with TVB, the city’s leading broadcaster. They are preparing for a “Top 7” concert in October, which will also feature smaller breakout performances.
Xu Yunni revealed she will soon perform aboard a cruise ship. Meanwhile, three other contestants—Xu Meiqi, You Shuqing, and Cai Mijie—have signed with TVB’s sister record label, though official details are pending.
Balancing Stardom and Real Life
Cai Mijie, who lives in Macau, said she plans to return to her daily routine post-competition, balancing on-screen work with her full-time job. “I’m not planning to become a full-time artist for now,” she said.
In contrast, Xu Meiqi has quit her previous job to pursue a music career in Hong Kong—even if it means living apart from her husband and family in Scotland. She also reflected on a technical issue during the finals, when her in-ear monitors malfunctioned mid-performance. “I still don’t know what happened. I just kept singing. Afterward, I went backstage and cried because I was so upset.”
Xu also addressed online mockery of her Bad Romance stage outfit, which some compared to veteran actress Kingdom Yuen. “I can’t pull off that style,” she admitted, adding that others have likened her to Paula Tsui and the character “Ah Mei” from Stephen Chow’s film Shaolin Soccer.
‘People’s Champion’ Looks Ahead
You Shuqing, dubbed the “people’s champion” by fans, thanked supporters for their encouragement. “I put a lot into preparing for the competition, so it’s a shame that small mistakes cost me,” she said, noting she forgot to put on her in-ear monitors before rushing onstage for the finals. “I can only blame myself—I won’t complain about anyone else.”
You plans to split her time between Hong Kong and Malaysia, hoping to build a career in both markets.
Broader Implications
The event signals TVB’s aggressive push to monetize its reality show talent pipeline, turning viral contestants into signed recording artists with scheduled live performances. As the entertainment landscape shifts toward multiplatform engagement, the “Midlife Voice” franchise continues to demonstrate that age is no barrier to breaking into the competitive Cantopop industry.
Related reading: TVB’s evolving strategy for nurturing older talent; The rise of post-pandemic cruise ship concerts in Asia.
