Perfect Superstar.

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July 24th, 7:05 PM

In the kitchen of Unit 201, Building 7, Dongping Residential Area, Binhai City, Zhejiang Province, Fang Yun carefully placed the freshly washed dishes into the cabinet.

"Mom, hurry up!"

From the small living room, Lu Xue's bright voice rang out, "Brother's competition is about to start!"

"Got it!" Fang Yun replied, quickly wiping her damp hands on her apron before dashing out.

She sat down next to Lu Xue and froze at the sight of the television screen. "Where's your brother? This is still the news broadcast! You little rascal, always trying to trick your mom!"

Lu Xue grinned mischievously, wrapping her arms around Fang Yun and resting her head on her shoulder. "If I didn't get you over here, you'd just keep busying yourself. Now you can take a break. Brother's program is up next."

"I'll clean the house tomorrow then!"

Fang Yun shook her head in exasperation, though her eyes sparkled with affection for her daughter.

Still, her gaze remained fixed on the screen.

…

7:15 PM

Two thousand kilometers away in Capital City, inside Room 305 of the girls' dormitory at Jing Shi University, Ye Zitong sat alone against the headboard of her bed. She donned her headphones and powered up her laptop.

Her roommates had gone out for the evening, but she didn't feel lonely at all. Instead, a unique sense of satisfaction washed over her, as if she had the entire world to herself.

With practiced fingers, she navigated to a bookmarked website on her browser.

The page displayed the countdown for the live broadcast of 'Singing China's' Top 32-to-16 competition in the Capital City division, aired by Capital City TV.

As the countdown numbers ticked down, Ye Zitong's heartbeat began to race inexplicably and a faint blush crept onto her delicate face, giving her a radiant and charming look.

…

7:20 PM

At the Daylily Bar in Houhai, it was the first night of the weekend. Though it wasn't yet peak hours, the bar was already packed.

Strangely, there was no music playing, nor was there any singer performing on stage.

Instead, the LED screen was broadcasting the news, with the Capital City TV logo displayed in the top left corner.

Such a scene was unheard of in the past— who goes to a bar to watch the TV?

A moment later, Chen Jianhao stepped onto the stage while holding a microphone.

With a warm smile, he said, "I'm sure many of you already know that tonight, our former resident singer at Daylily Bar, Lu Chen, is competing in Capital City TV's 'Singing China' Top 32-to-16 competition."

"We're all gathered here to watch the live broadcast and cheer him on. We're his fan club!"

"And tonight, all drinks are 20% off!"

The bar erupted into a cacophony of applause, laughter, whistles, and cheers.

Many regular patrons raised their glasses to Chen Jianhao in gratitude while voicing their support for Lu Chen.

"Don't let us down!"

…

7:25 PM

In Room 1905, Building A8 of Lantian Creative Park, Lu Chen's workshop was still in disarray.

Desks and chairs were scattered everywhere, with piles of cardboard boxes stacked in the corners. The distinct smell of latex paint lingered in the air.

In the newly set-up streaming room, Li Feiyu sat in a brand-new chair, looking energized. Wearing large headphones, he faced a fresh set of equipment—computer, webcam, and microphone— and shouted loudly:

"Attention, everyone! Just five more minutes until the live broadcast starts!"

"Let's get the music going! Get hyped with me!"

"Let's cheer for Lu Fei!"

"Keep it up!"

The screen was filled with countless comments and a barrage of virtual gifts, from Fish Balls to awe-inspiring Aircraft Carriers cruising by.

…

7:27 PM

In the backstage waiting area of the Capital City TV studio, Lu Chen held his cherished guitar close, awaiting his turn to perform.

Outside, the host's passionate voice resounded.

Tonight's 'Singing China' Capital City Top 32-to-16 competition included live audience and online viewer voting, reducing the delay from 60 minutes to just 5 minutes— making it a true live broadcast.

Lu Chen was assigned to perform first, with the contestant number "001."

Behind him stood 31 other competitors, all formidable talents who had emerged from thousands of applicants.

"And tonight, half of the contestants will be eliminated, bidding farewell to this stage."

Lu Chen knew that in front of televisions and computer screens, many people— both familiar and unfamiliar— would be watching his performance, including his family and friends.

Yet, he felt no trace of nervousness, remaining as calm as a Buddha statue, it was as if he was heading to an afternoon tea appointment with a friend.

"Now, let's welcome Contestant 001 from the Capital City division's Top 32— Lu Chen!"

Thunderous applause erupted like a summer storm, sweeping through the grand studio in an instant, resounding in Lu Chen's ears.

His eyes lit up, and a faint smile curved the corners of his lips.

Amidst the applause, he ascended the steps with steady, confident strides, arriving at the center of the stage under the spotlight.

He stood face-to-face with four judges, 27 camera lenses, and an audience of 1,500 people.

"Good evening, judges and audience members!"

Lu Chen spoke clearly into the microphone with an unwavering look in his eyes. "I am Contestant Number 001, Lu Chen."

After speaking, he bowed respectfully.

The applause, which had just quieted, erupted once more, brimming with the audience's admiration and support.

With one song, 'Walking While Sing', and another, 'In Spring', Lu Chen had made a name for himself during the preliminary rounds of 'Singing China'. His performances had left a strong impression on many viewers, making him a familiar face to them.

Even though he had skipped the second round and directly advanced to the Top 32, his reputation had only grown stronger.

Just last week, on July 19th, 'In Spring' had climbed to the top of the July Week 3 chart on the China Original Music Best-Seller Rankings after a month of promotion and exposure.

The Wandering Band, which performed the song, had risen to prominence, becoming one of the hottest new bands. Meanwhile, as the song's original songwriter, Lu Chen's name had been firmly etched in the minds of many in the entertainment industry.

One of the judges, the Sweet Song Queen, Chen Fei'er, smiled and asked, "Lu Chen, we meet again. What song are you bringing us tonight? Is it another of your original compositions?"

Her expression radiated anticipation, perfectly timed for the camera to capture a close-up.

Lu Chen didn't disappoint. He nodded and replied, "Yes, tonight, I will perform a very special song. It's my first original composition, a campus folk ballad…"

"Its title is 'My Old Classmate'."

Tan Hong, another judge, said, "We're looking forward to your performance."

The music began.

Lu Chen lowered his head slightly, gently strumming the guitar strings.

He began to sing:

"Will you still remember tomorrow, the diary you wrote yesterday?

Will you still think of the one who used to cry the most?

The teachers have forgotten, those who couldn't solve problems.

It was only when flipping through old photos, that I thought of 'My Old Classmate'."

"..."

Lu Chen had performed 'My Old Classmate' countless times. Yet, every time he sang it, he experienced different emotions and insights. It was hard to say which rendition was the best, but each one resonated deeply from the heart.

The song itself was not that complicated, composed of just two simple verses with a narrow range of only six notes.

However, its melody was elegant and easy to follow, and its silky, delicate lyrics effortlessly touched emotions buried deep in the heart, evoking a strong sense of nostalgia and shared memories of the past.

This soothing, melodious song beautifully captured the pure and hazy emotions of student life, making it one of Lu Chen's most beloved works.

This time, the song had undergone a transformation at the Nirvana Workshop. Wang Jing had enriched the arrangement with accordion and harmonica accompaniments, enhancing the nostalgic quality of the melody while diversifying the tonal palette.

As a result, when Lu Chen brought 'My Old Classmate' to a real stage, its classic charm not only remained intact but became even more moving.

Even those who had heard it many times before found themselves deeply touched.

The studio fell silent— remarkably silent. Everyone was quietly listening, savoring the song.

Many, many people, as they listened to Lu Chen's slightly wistful narration, found themselves recalling their own beautiful youthful days— the borrowed erasers, the copied notebooks, and the chalk-drawn desk boundaries...

''Those beautiful moments, those sweet memories, have all vanished like the wind!''

''…Who pinned up your long hair, who made your wedding dress, la…''

Even after Lu Chen finished singing, the room remained utterly silent.

''Bang! Bang! Bang!''

The first to break the silence was one of the judges, Lin Zhijie.

The musical director of Flying Stone Records clapped his hands with an expression of unrestrained admiration and appreciation.

As if awakened from a dream, the rest of the audience erupted into applause. Initially scattered and disorganized, it soon became synchronized and thunderous, with waves of heartfelt and enthusiastic clapping surging through the venue!

Chen Fei'er was the first to stand. Her eyes shimmered with tears as she applauded for Lu Chen.

Many in the audience followed suit. Although the live broadcast of the competition had only just begun and Lu Chen was the first contestant to perform, the atmosphere had already reached a peak of excitement!

"Thank you!"

Lu Chen bowed deeply, his voice filled with sincerity. "Thank you, everyone!"

His heart, once calm, was now stirred.

''This feeling— what a joyful feeling it is!''

It took a full minute for the applause to finally subside, and everyone returned to their seats.

Chen Fei'er said, "Lu Chen, I love your song— I truly love it!"

Her voice carried a hint of excitement as she continued to speak. "So I'm giving you a ten!"

As soon as she spoke, the Sweet Song Queen decisively pressed the scoring button on her desk, awarding Lu Chen the maximum score.

Lu Chen was pleasantly surprised and deeply grateful. "Thank you, Teacher Chen."

In the 'Singing China' Top 32 to Top 16 round, the competition combined judges' scores with votes from both live and remote audiences to determine the finalists. The judges' scores accounted for 40% of the total weight.

Chen Fei'er's initial score of ten was undoubtedly a significant boost to Lu Chen's chances of advancing!

She smiled and added, "I should be thanking you for letting me hear such a wonderful song—truly."

Her smile glistened with tears as she spoke. She was deeply moved by Lu Chen's song.

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''(End of Chapter)''