Perfect Superstar.

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Buzz—

The spout of the electric kettle released a long stream of steam, and its low, pleasant whistle echoed through the cramped apartment.

Click!

In an instant, the automatic thermostat kicked in, and the switch on the base snapped off, cutting the power.

Chen Xiang skillfully lifted the kettle and poured the freshly boiled water into a prepared noodle container.

One pack of Master Gao's Braised Beef Noodles, half a bag of spicy and sour pickled mustard, and a five-spice marinated egg.

It was already 9 PM, and this was his dinner.

There was no other choice. Today, the entire company has to work overtime. Making it back to his rented apartment before 9 was considered lucky. On some days, he worked until 11 or even later, forcing him to sleep in the office.

Chen Xiang didn't feel like complaining. For a graduate of a third-tier university, this entry-level coding job was the best he'd been able to find in over a year—without question.

At least he could support himself with his salary and survive in this megacity of 30 million people.

Before the noodles were fully cooked, Chen Xiang carried the container over to his computer.

Tonight was the final round of the Singing China National Tour PK Competition, which would determine the top 10 singers nationwide.

He was ready to cheer for Lu Chen alongside tens of thousands of other members of the Lu Family Army!

Chen Xiang had first discovered Lu Chen a few months ago.

While casually browsing Whale TV, he clicked on a recommended newcomer on the homepage. That led him to the Lu Fei Livestream Room, where he discovered this talented singer-songwriter who could play guitar and sing beautifully.

He enjoyed listening to Lu Chen's music, appreciated the singer's optimism and humor, and, most of all, loved his original folk songs.

What truly made Chen Xiang a die-hard fan, however, was that Lu Chen, like him, was a Beijing drifter— a member of the city's "Ant Tribe."

Chen Xiang watched as Lu Chen rose to fame on Whale TV, stepped out of the streaming world, ventured into broader horizons, and finally stood on a dazzling stage.

In Lu Chen, Chen Xiang saw the dream he had been relentlessly pursuing for himself!

Tonight's competition held special significance for Chen Xiang. He had been so distracted at work that even overtime felt restless. Luckily, the show's live stream had started at 7:30 PM, and Lu Chen hadn't performed yet.

Otherwise, he'd have to watch the replay and miss the chance to cheer for Lu Chen live with tens of thousands of fans.

On the computer screen, the fifth pair of PK contestants had just finished their performances.

Mu Xiaochu from the touring team had narrowly defeated her challenger, Gao Zhanpeng from the Bihai host district, with her sweet song Small Town Nocturne. She won a spot in the national top 10 with a total score of 91.68.

Her advantage over her opponent was a mere 0.12 points!

Chen Xiang had come home late and only managed to catch a small part of their PK battle.

Still, it didn't stop him from applauding Mu Xiaochu and flooding the livestream chat with celebratory messages.

Like Lu Chen, Mu Xiaochu was also from the Capital City district.

She displayed remarkable determination, courage, and talent, earning widespread praise as she advanced through the competition.

Mu Xiaochu and Lu Chen shared a close, sibling-like relationship, and they had appeared together in multiple livestreams.

As the saying goes, "Love me, love my house." Lu Chen's fans had also grown fond of Mu Xiaochu and affectionately called her "Sister Xiaochu."

Now, seeing Mu Xiaochu defeat her opponent once again, the live stream erupted in excitement, with bullet comments flooding the screen like a tidal wave.

Chen Xiang chuckled as he hit "Enter" to send his prepared message.

"Congratulations to Sister Xiaochu for making it to the national top 10!"

But this wasn't the real highlight.

As the contestants left the stage, the host returned and rattled off a 10-second ad with lightning speed.

He then invited Chen Fei'er to draw the sixth pair of PK contestants.

The Lu Fei Livestream Room instantly fell silent. Everyone waited nervously, their anticipation palpable.

The competition was halfway through, with five contestants each from the touring team and the Bihai host district having already performed.

The tension in the air was electric.

Only 10 Contestants Left— Would Lu Chen Be Chosen?

The camera zoomed in on Chen Fei'er as she calmly pressed the draw button.

The LED screen immediately began scrolling through photos at lightning speed.

Stop!

When Chen Fei'er pressed the button a second time, the screen froze.

Lu Chen VS Xi Jia!

It was finally Lu Chen's turn to take the stage!

"Awesome!"

Chen Xiang slapped his mouse in excitement, nearly spilling his cooking noodles all over the desk.

But at this moment, who cared about eating?

The Lu Fei Livestream Room erupted instantly. The barrage of comments was overwhelming, covering the screen in a terrifying flood.

Anyone unfamiliar with the situation might have thought Lu Chen had already won.

For the hundreds of thousands of fans, Lu Chen's victory in this PK round seemed inevitable.

Just two days ago, someone on Wave Blog had tried to smear Lu Chen's reputation, causing a massive uproar. But Capital City TV had stepped in, slapping down the rumors with both hands. The four-member judging panel openly voiced their support for Lu Chen. If he didn't win, who else could?

Still, a few cautious voices surfaced:

"Xi Jia is the top-ranked contestant in the Bihai district's top 10. She's a really strong singer!"

"Yeah, Lu Fei shouldn't underestimate her."

"Xi Jia graduated from the Sichuan Conservatory of Music. She's genuinely talented and could put up a tough fight."

"I've watched two of her performances. She's definitely skilled."

"This is the third time Lu Chen is facing a district's top-ranked singer, right? Isn't this too much of a coincidence?"

"Wonder what song General Lu will sing this time."

However, these cautious or skeptical comments were quickly drowned out by the overwhelming enthusiasm in the livestream chat.

Everyone's attention turned to the live broadcast.

Lu Chen and Xi Jia appeared on stage simultaneously.

Xi Jia, 23, hailed from the southern island province. She was tall, with fair, baby-soft skin, though her features weren't particularly striking.

Her style leaned toward androgynous, with short hair, earrings, and a casual outfit of a T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers that made her look clean and energetic. A small dimple appeared on her left cheek when she smiled.

"Hello!"

The two approached each other from opposite sides of the stage, meeting in the center. Xi Jia extended her hand toward Lu Chen.

"I really like your songs. It's an honor to compete on the same stage as you!"

Xi Jia's natural and confident demeanor set the tone. Lu Chen responded in kind, shaking her hand with a smile.

"The honor is mine as well!"

Their exchange, amplified by the microphones, was clearly heard by the 5,000-strong audience, who erupted into thunderous applause and cheers.

"Xi Jia!" "Xi Jia!" "Xi Jia!"

Many audience members shouted Xi Jia's name, waving glowing signs high in the air to cheer her on.

This was the advantage of performing on home turf.

As the top-ranked contestant from the Bihai district and a local favorite, Xi Jia had built a strong fan base throughout the competition, earning enthusiastic support from the audience.

Of course, not all 5,000 spectators were locals. Lu Chen also had his share of supporters in the crowd, though their cheers couldn't quite match Xi Jia's. It was likely that when the audience votes were counted after the PK round, Lu Chen would find himself at a slight disadvantage.

The rules of Singing China's touring PK competition were designed to give touring team members an edge in external support. However, against a district's homegrown contestant, it was tough to dominate the in-venue votes, creating a relatively balanced dynamic.

Victory would ultimately depend on the combined scores.

According to PK rules, the home contestant would perform first. Lu Chen stepped back to the waiting area at the side of the stage.

Xi Jia picked up an electric guitar.

She confidently cradled the guitar in her arms and said into the microphone, "Tonight, I will be performing a song I composed myself. It's called Uninhabited Island."

"I hope you all like it!"

Wow!

The entire audience was in an uproar, stunned that Xi Jia would perform an original composition in such a crucial competition.

Those familiar with Xi Jia knew that from the auditions in the Bihai district to the qualifiers, semi-finals, and finals that earned her the top spot in the district's top 10, she had always performed covers of other artists' songs.

Xi Jia's voice stood out with its unique metallic texture, magnetic quality, and subtle rasp, combined with her exceptional vocal skills and charismatic stage presence. These traits had won over countless fans and carried her this far.

On the blogs, forums, and fan groups dedicated to Singing China, Xi Jia's followers had speculated endlessly about what song she might choose for tonight's performance. There were numerous guesses, but no one anticipated that she would perform her own composition.

Moreover, her opponent was none other than Lu Chen, the touring team's most formidable singer, renowned for sweeping victories with his original works!

Wouldn't this be playing to her weakness while highlighting her opponent's strength?

Of course, many spectators were unaware that both the touring team members and the district contestants had to finalize their song choices well in advance. Contestants couldn't change their selection at the last minute, especially since the touring PK competition featured live band accompaniment.

Although Xi Jia couldn't have predicted facing Lu Chen, her decision to debut her first original piece in such a critical match demonstrated her confidence.

Xi Jia believed in her abilities, and her self-assurance showed on her face as she lifted her head with a smile, waiting for the band behind her to start the intro!

The steel strings struck with a bold rhythm, delivering a lively and vibrant melody that instantly evoked the distinctive charm of a tropical island summer. The sound captivated the four judges and the 5,000 audience members alike.

Xi Jia's unique female vocals soon joined in, elevating the performance into an auditory feast!

Standing in the waiting area, Lu Chen straightened his back suddenly, his eyes gleaming with surprise and admiration.

Even after hearing only the opening bars, he could tell that Xi Jia's original composition was extraordinary. It was not only polished and stylish but also the kind of upbeat and energetic track that audiences loved.

This top-ranked contestant from the Bihai district was far from an easy opponent to defeat.

But it was precisely her outstanding performance that fully awakened Lu Chen's fighting spirit.

To defeat such an opponent was the only way his victory would be unquestionable!

(End of Chapter)