Chapter 136

Cheng Chen stood on stage, utterly bewildered.

What… what just happened?

The audience below was also caught off guard by this sudden turn.

But when they saw Cheng Chen standing helplessly on stage, they finally understood.

It must have been the company's surprise, arranged without Cheng Chen's knowledge.

Yet from Cheng Chen's current expression, this wasn't a surprise—it was a shock.

The audience couldn't help laughing out loud from below.

Zhang Jie walked slowly toward Cheng Chen, holding the microphone, and mustered his courage to speak in an intensely emotional tone:

"Recently, Teacher Cheng Chen spent long hours practicing music alone to prepare for this concert."

He was so busy he even forgot his own birthday. Today is the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month—also Teacher Cheng Chen's birthday."

"Happy birthday to you!"

"Happy birthday!"

Hearing Zhang Jie's words, the fans below also smiled and shouted their blessings loudly.

"Hum."

Zhang Jie picked up his guitar and began to sing:

"Happy birthday to you… Happy birthday to you~"

Under Zhang Jie's lead, many audience members spontaneously joined in the chorus.

The glow sticks in their hands swayed gently, streams of light continuously merging into an ocean of illumination.

Rising and falling, flickering nonstop, the entire venue was filled with the sweet scent of cake and heartfelt wishes.

Listening to sixty thousand voices singing the birthday song beside him, Cheng Chen felt his eyes grow warm with emotion.

In all his life, Cheng Chen could barely recall having celebrated a proper birthday a few times.

Rural children are like this—they have no real concept of birthdays, and adults never bother to remind them.

As for blowing out candles, cakes, and birthday songs, many rural children once believed these were scenes only found in TV dramas.

Mentioning birthdays always carried boundless longing, as if it were an extremely grand occasion.

No one ever celebrated his birthday when he was a child.

As he grew older, he never deliberately brought up the subject of his birthday.

Gradually, he began to yearn for someone to notice his birthday, yet feared that celebrating it might trouble others.

But he loved celebrating other people's birthdays…

The venue continued echoing with the "Happy Birthday" song, perhaps off-key, perhaps with simple lyrics.

But it was the best birthday gift Cheng Chen had ever received.

He stood dazed in the center of the stage, watching the crowd below transformed into shimmering specks of light.

Accepting their sincere blessings, accepting their heartfelt intentions.

In the VIP section, Jia Jingwen looked at Cheng Chen on stage and sighed enviously:

"So touching—this concert turned into a birthday party, sixty thousand people singing 'Happy Birthday' together…"

"Mm."

Gao Yuanyuan nodded, touching the gift box inside her handbag.

It was the birthday present she had prepared for Cheng Chen, planning to give it to him after the concert.

At the other end of the VIP section, Yan Danchen held a gift box as well…

The invited celebrities present at the scene were also deeply moved.

Is this what a Heavenly King singer is like? His influence is truly terrifying!

Gradually, the singing faded, and Cheng Chen picked up the microphone, his voice hoarse:

"Thank you, thank you all for your blessings—I'm… truly moved."

At this moment, Cheng Chen had no thoughts beyond emotion.

"Boss, don't cry—we'll go with you!"

"Happy birthday, Boss!"

"Cheng Chen, live every day well, be happy and fulfilled for life!"

Sensing Cheng Chen's voice was trembling, the fans shouted loudly in response.

Cheng Chen smiled slightly and said:

"Don't worry, I'm not that fragile."

"Thank you all for showing me that my birthday can be this big of an event."

"Turning a concert into a birthday party—I think I'm the first to do this."

"To thank you, I'll give you a new song I just wrote…"

Clearly, this was an impromptu addition triggered by the fans' emotion.

The audience below erupted the moment they heard Cheng Chen's words.

"New song? Holy crap, we're in for a treat!"

"Using Boss's line from Happy Camp—my ears are going to get pregnant!"

"Cheng Chen's work? Always top quality!"

"Can't wait for the new song, aaaaaaah!"

The audience was utterly frenzied, and Cheng Chen now stood before the microphone, holding a guitar.

Seeing Cheng Chen's stance, the fans instantly fell silent, waiting with bated breath…

Cheng Chen strummed the guitar strings and sang in a low voice:

"The brightest star in the night sky, can you hear?

The loneliness and sighs in the heart of those who look up.

Oh, the brightest star in the night sky, can you remember?

The figures who once walked with me, vanished into the wind…"

……

This song had not yet been released by Cheng Chen, but it was one of his personal favorites.

It also carried deep meaning, so Cheng Chen chose it as a gift of thanks.

"I pray for a transparent heart

And eyes that shed tears.

Give me the courage to believe again, oh, embrace you beyond the lies.

Whenever I cannot find the meaning of my existence, whenever I am lost in the darkness,

Oh~ the brightest star in the night sky, guide me closer to you…"

The slightly rock-infused, emotional voice carried the sixty thousand fans present into an ocean of music.

They unconsciously waved their glow sticks; the entire venue sparkled with countless points of light, everyone singing along.

Some sang until tears streamed down their faces; others sang passionately, filled with conviction.

Whether lyrics or melody, they moved the present selves trapped in hardship.

Thus, this song held special meaning for everyone present.

Fall down, rise again—most do so.

"The brightest star in the night sky, can you hear?

The loneliness and sighs in the heart of those who look up…"

Gradually, Cheng Chen's voice faded. He looked out at the audience and said slowly:

"Though we may fail, may fall, we must enjoy the process of chasing and striving.

We need belief to carry us forward, to run toward it.

The meaning lies in that we never stopped—you are the stars in the night sky shining just for me.

Guiding me, lighting up my own Renshen—this song, 'The Brightest Star in the Night Sky,' is for you…"

The moment Cheng Chen finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted in the venue.

Everyone stared at Cheng Chen's handsome yet slightly youthful face.

Only then did they realize he was barely in his early twenties.

Yet along his path, he had endured countless hardships.

Years as a background actor, ignored by everyone; one day he rose to fame, known throughout the land.

When he stood against the Korean wave shouting "Huáliú is the best," had he not also been lost?

Through this journey, climbing to the peak, had he not suffered greatly, had he not also been uncertain?

Just as he sang:

"Whenever I cannot find the meaning of my existence, whenever I am lost in the darkness,

The brightest star in the night sky, guide me closer to you…"

Though this song was presented as a gift to fans, the audience could hear his arduous journey within it.

"Boss, you are the brightest star in the night sky!"

"I declare, Cheng Chen is no longer just my idol—he is the guiding lantern on my path in Renshen!"

"The brightest star in the night sky—Cheng Chen will always be the brightest star!"

Cheng Chen pressed his hand down, signaling silence, and said:

"Time's about up—I had a blast singing tonight, hope you had a blast too…"

"Ah, is it ending already?"

"Damn, it's already nine? Holy crap, time flew so fast!"

"Please, extend it by another hour—I haven't heard enough!"

"This is unquestionably the best concert I've ever attended—the atmosphere, the energy—no contest!"

It was now nine o'clock, with only half an hour left before the end. Cheng Chen calmed the fans and said:

"There's plenty of time ahead—we'll have many more chances to meet.

But today, as my first concert, your presence has made me truly happy.

For the final song, I give you 'Blue and White Porcelain'!"

"On the raw porcelain, the blue-and-white brushstroke deepens then fades.

The peony painted on the vase is just as you looked in your first makeup.

The rising sandalwood incense drifts through the window—I understand your thoughts.

The brush on the rice paper stops halfway…"

As Cheng Chen's most popular song, though fans were reluctant to see the concert end so soon,

when Cheng Chen began singing, the fans still hummed along…

At that moment, sitting below the stage, Xu Tianju heard the melody of "Blue and White Porcelain" begin, and his heart skipped.

Yes, he had come to Cheng Chen's concert.

Beside him was Xiao Ya, Cheng Chen's die-hard fan and the new receptionist at Xu Tianju's company.

Xiao Ya's eyes were red, waving her glow stick, singing along with Cheng Chen's rhythm.

These two tickets were for adjacent seats, and Xu Tianju paid a huge price to buy them from a scalper.

"Blue and White Porcelain" was Xiao Ya's favorite song, and the most crucial part of Xu Tianju's "confession plan."

It was when Cheng Chen sang "Blue and White Porcelain" that he would confess to Xiao Ya.

"Sky-blue waits for the misty rain, and I wait for you."

"Smoke curls up, a thousand miles across the river."

"On the bottle's base, I write Han clerical script, imitating the elegance of past dynasties."

"Consider this the foreshadowing of our meeting…"

On stage, Cheng Chen had reached the chorus; below, Xu Tianju clenched his fists, palms sweating.

His throat felt dry, as if blocked by something.

"Xiao Ya… I…"

His voice was too soft; Xiao Ya, lost in the music, didn't hear him.

Xu Tianju gritted his teeth—worst case, he'd die with his cock to the sky.

"Xiao Ya, I like you!"

Xu Tianju summoned all his strength and suddenly shouted toward Xiao Ya beside him.

At that moment, the stage was in an interlude, and the crowd around them swayed their glow sticks, immersed in the music.

Xu Tianju's sudden shout startled everyone nearby.

All eyes turned to him; Xu Tianju's face flushed red, but he knew there was no turning back now.

Under Xiao Ya's startled gaze, he pulled out the rose he had hidden beneath his seat.

Kneeling on one knee before Xiao Ya, head held high, he looked like a man marching to his death, and shouted:

"Xiao Ya, I like you—I've liked you since the moment you joined the company."

I know you like Cheng Chen, so I bought concert tickets from a scalper and gave them to you."

"I hope that, under the witness of your favorite star, you'll be my girlfriend!"

Xu Tianju's confession instantly made the crowd around him go "Ooooh!"—everybody's gossip instinct flared.

At that moment, no one was listening to the song anymore; they shouted loudly:

"Say yes! Say yes!"

"Say yes!"

Beside them stood a camera capturing audience reactions.

Noticing this scene, the cameraman immediately turned the lens toward Xu Tianju holding the flowers.

The director in the control room spotted the moment and instantly switched the feed to the main screen.

Xiao Ya's eyes widened in shock; she covered her mouth with her hand.

Everyone waited expectantly for Xiao Ya—she blushed deeply, then nodded and said:

"I accept!"

Ooooh!!!

Everyone clapped; those watching the confession's outcome on the big screen erupted in cheers.

After finishing his song, Cheng Chen clearly noticed the screen's scene; he chuckled and said:

"Didn't expect someone to confess during my concert—and actually succeeded."

"Hehe, if you ever like someone, just bring them to my concert."

"Judging by this, the confession success rate is one hundred percent!"

The audience below burst into laughter—ha, you held one concert, and only this one pair succeeded.

Of course the success rate is one hundred percent!

Cheng Chen scanned the VIP section, had a sudden insight, and said:

"Someone I like is here too—I want to tell her how I feel!"

Hearing Cheng Chen's words, the fans immediately erupted.

Holy shit!

Cheng Chen's really going wild!

Is he about to reveal his relationship?!

Everyone's gossip fire blazed up.

They began craning their necks, searching for the person Cheng Chen said was "here too," ready for confession.

Of course, some extreme female fans began tearing up.

No, Cheng Chen!

You're still young—you can't handle romance yet!

"Hey hey hey, Yuanyuan, Cheng Chen's confessing to you! Right now!"

Jia Jingwen excitedly grabbed Gao Yuanyuan's arm and whispered in her ear.

Gao Yuanyuan's cheeks flushed; she lowered her head shyly:

"You're gonna kill me~"

Though she spoke that way, her heart was sweetly fluttering.

On the other side of the VIP section.

"Cheng Chen… really has the guts to do that? Your Cheng Chen is expressing love to you!"

Chen Zihan said sourly to Yan Danchen beside her.

"This… he never told me about it before!"

Yan Yu wore a sweet expression and whispered softly.

Regardless of how the fans stirred, or how Yan and Gao changed internally.

Cheng Chen picked up the microphone, strummed the guitar, and a lively rhythm immediately spilled from the strings.

At the intro, the fans instantly went wild—new song!

Another new song!

This guy produces like a sow!

But this is great!

"By the Saina He, coffee on the left bank.

I hold one cup, savoring your beauty.

Lips that left a kiss mark~

Whose name was misspelled on the rose from the flower shop?

The Confession Balloon blows across the street.

Smiles fly through the sky…"

This song is fresh and casual, catchy and easy to sing.

The opening is rich with R&B flavor, depicting the flutter of falling in love.

It makes listeners unconsciously smile, their hearts filled with sweetness.

"You say you're hard to chase, hoping I'll give up.

Gifts don't need to be the most expensive—just fallen leaves on Champs-Élysées.

Oh, crafting a romantic date, unafraid of ruining everything.

Having you means having the whole world.

Dear, I fell for you, from that day on.

Sweetness comes so easily.

Dear, don't pout—your eyes

Are saying 'I do…'"

…