Chapter 62: Concert

Zhang Guangfeng truly lived up to his reputation as a debuted singer.

After finishing "Fairytale," thunderous applause erupted from the entire audience.

He surveyed the whole audience, basking in their applause, and couldn't help feeling smug:

Even if the original singer were here, it couldn't get any better than this...

The three judges kept nodding — indeed, a singer with real skill.

The Singer Competition should be full of singers like this; those people earlier were just here to cause trouble!

The three judges passed him unanimously, and the audience cast sixty passing votes.

But Cheng Chen backstage frowned deeply as he listened — Zhang Guangfeng had used far too many flashy tricks while performing "Fairytale."

Showing off technique for its own sake had completely changed the mood that "Fairytale" was meant to convey.

Zhang Guangfeng bowed and left the stage; the host announced:

"Please welcome the next contestant, Cheng Chen."

Hm?

Hearing the host's voice, the audience below wore stunned expressions.

"Same name, right?"

"How could Cheng Chen possibly take part in a talent show? He's already famous!"

"It has to be the boss — his blog said he was going to enter the Singer Competition. I didn't expect him to be in this district!"

The Singer Competition held open auditions across all of Jingcheng — eighteen venues across sixteen districts and two counties of Jingcheng.

Each venue would select two contestants to take part in the Arts Channel's recorded elimination rounds, ultimately crowning a champion.

News of Cheng Chen entering the talent show had long spread everywhere; people just couldn't pin down which sub-district he was competing in.

Now, hearing Cheng Chen's name, the audience waited for his appearance with a sense of disbelief.

The three judges on stage exchanged wry smiles, then lowered their heads to check the materials in their hands before confirming it.

Who would have thought this big shot was actually in their own district!

Whether in fame or achievements, this person was leagues ahead of the three of them — and yet here they sat on the judges' panel, evaluating him.

That seat is a bit hot under the butt...

Hearing the host's voice, Zhang Guangfeng, who had been about to head straight back, suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned to look at the stage.

But that single glance froze him in place.

Holy sh*t...

Isn't this the guy who reminded me to wash my hands after using the restroom?!

He's actually Cheng Chen?!!!

A young man wearing a fisherman's hat stood at the center of the stage; he slowly removed the sunglasses that covered most of his face.

"Hello everyone, I'm Cheng Chen..."

Before he could finish, his words were immediately drowned out by the audience's enthusiasm.

"Boss, I love you!"

"Boss, you're so handsome, incomparably cute!"

"Boss, I! CAN! DO IT!"

Good lord, they've thrown the whole idol-fan routine at him.

In that case, then...

Cheng Chen smiled and gently pressed his hand down, signaling the fans to quiet down; he took the microphone and said:

"Why are you all hurting me?"

The fans below looked puzzled:

Huh, who's hurting you?

Did we do something wrong?

Just as the fans were thrown into bewilderment by Cheng Chen's sudden remark, they heard him say unhurriedly:

"Hurting me into loving you all so much... a song, 'Fairytale,' for you all — I hope each of you finds the angel who will protect you!"

This sudden confession caught all the fans off guard, and then fervent screams erupted.

Only the three judges, after hearing Cheng Chen's second half of the sentence, smelled gunpowder — he was about to grind Zhang Guangfeng into the dirt!

After all, they had also heard about Zhang Guangfeng's falling out with Tianhai Records; now Cheng Chen was Tianhai's pillar and the album-sales king.

And the songs for the competition were all prepared by the contestants themselves — Cheng Chen had clearly decided to sing the same song only after hearing Zhang Guangfeng's performance backstage.

Most crucially, Cheng Chen was the original singer of "Fairytale"!

This was a bare-faced slap in the face!

Zhang Guangfeng watched Cheng Chen's performance on stage with an ashen face, his fists clenching and unclenching, clenching and unclenching.

Realizing that the original owner had heard every word of his phone call in the restroom, he couldn't help but pick at his foot...

So awkward!

"Maybe you won't understand, ever since you said you loved me.

My sky, even the stars lit up... everyone, sing along!"

Reaching the chorus, Cheng Chen pointed the microphone toward the audience, and the audience sang along loudly and joyfully:

I want to become the angel you love, in that fairytale.

Spread my hands, become wings to protect you..."

The entire venue now seemed to have turned into Cheng Chen's concert.

Down below, glow sticks swayed to the melody, and the fans sang their hearts out.

On stage, Cheng Chen patiently held the microphone, his face full of smiles as he looked at them.

The September weather was very hot, but even though they were drenched in sweat, not a single fan called out about the heat or complained.

Everyone was immersed in this melody that was a little sorrowful, a little melancholy.

When the song ended, Cheng Chen bowed and prepared to leave the stage.

But the fans hadn't heard enough and shouted loudly one after another:

"One more song! One more song!"

Cheng Chen looked toward the judges' seats. The three judges cupped their fists at him in a plea for mercy. Cheng Chen instantly understood what they meant, and understood their work as well, so he took the microphone and said:

"That's all for today. If I hold a concert in the future, you all have to come, okay? Because seeing you makes me really happy~"

The fans reluctantly agreed, watching Cheng Chen leave.

The three judges secretly wiped a bead of sweat — finally sending this fellow off. Turning the audition site into a concert — he was truly without precedent!

Naturally, the three judges had nothing to say and gave him three votes of approval.

Of course, this fellow's performance was still acceptable.

Back in the day, the "Godfather of Love Songs" Xiao Gang participated in a talent show as a contestant and was brutally critiqued by a traffic star, ultimately being eliminated.

The media cried out: Is there still hope for the Chinese music scene?

From that moment on, Cheng Chen was utterly disappointed in the entire Chinese music scene.

It was also that year that a powerhouse vocalist lost to a traffic star…

The audience seats also gave 90 approval votes.

And this record remained unbroken until the end of the auditions!

After it ended, Cheng Chen was informed by a staff member that he didn't need to come back for the subsequent advancement rounds.

Their production team gave Cheng Chen a ticket that went straight to the elimination round.

After asking around, Cheng Chen finally understood — it turned out that the Singer Competition kept a few such "fast-pass tickets" for each competition district.

This fast-pass ticket didn't count toward the district audition's contestant slots, which meant that Cheng Chen's Chaoyang District would still send two contestants forward to the elimination round.

After learning it wouldn't take up someone else's slot, Cheng Chen finally felt at ease and signed his name on the form.

"Hello, I'd like to ask — did the singer before me, Zhang Guangfeng, get one of these fast-pass tickets?"

Cheng Chen asked curiously.

Originally, this matter involved the show's arrangements, and the staff lady didn't want to answer.

But she was Cheng Chen's fan, so she leaned close to Cheng Chen and whispered:

"Boss, if I tell you, you absolutely must not spread it around… Zhang Guangfeng didn't get a ticket!"

"Awesome!" Cheng Chen gave her a thumbs-up.

……