Perfect Superstar.

"My original dream hasn't changed. Because I want to earn money to help my family pay off our debts. I want to give my family a happy life, and I want my mother to no longer have to work day and night. So, I want to make lots and lots of money!"

As Lu Chen's firm and powerful voice resonated through the sound system of the LCD TV hanging on the wall, Lu Xi felt tears welling up in her eyes. She had traveled from Binhai to Capital City and had witnessed firsthand how hard Lu Chen worked to earn money. She knew the sacrifices he had made.

Chen Jianhao had once confided in Lu Xi that when Lu Chen first started working at his bar, he was incredibly diligent, almost never late for his shifts. To earn more tips, Lu Chen was the most active among the waitstaff, constantly running orders. 

He often bent over so much while carrying drinks that he could barely straighten his back, and he frequently took the last subway home to his rented room at night. He had been living in a basement apartment with no sunlight, where the rent was cheap.

Later, when he began performing, Lu Chen practiced the guitar relentlessly to improve his skills. He played until his fingers bled and calluses formed, and his ability to effortlessly fingerpick folk songs now was built on that foundation, leading to remarkable improvement. 

Chen Jianhao was moved by Lu Chen's hard work and dedication, which is why he was willing to help him.

At that moment, the slight barrier Lu Xi had felt toward Lu Chen silently vanished. The Lu Chen standing before her was no longer the immature boy he once was. What reason did she have to cling to her prejudices? He was her younger brother.

In the T1 Broadcasting Hall, applause erupted. Although talent shows had changed significantly over the years, with contestants no longer competing to share the most tragic stories, when it came to dreams and ideals, people still naturally expressed inspiring or touching sentiments to move the audience and win votes. 

Since joining the "Singing China" competition, Lu Chen had always relied on his talent and excellent original works to succeed. He never boasted or shared sob stories; he simply stated that his dream was to make money. Now, everyone recognized that his dream was the most genuine!

The enthusiastic applause from the 3,000 audience members was a testament to their appreciation and encouragement for his sincerity.

Chen Fei'er was visibly moved. "I hope all your dreams come true, and I believe they will!"

Lu Chen smiled back, "Thank you!"

Tan Hong nodded, "Then let's begin your performance!"

Lu Chen took a deep breath, suppressing the intense emotions within him, and adjusted his aura and mood to their best state. He turned to the live band and gave a thumbs-up— it was time to start. The prelude began immediately. This song was for him!

He held his guitar and plucked the steel strings. As the broadcasting hall quickly quieted down, the surrounding lights dimmed, and countless stars began to twinkle on the black dome, resembling the most beautiful night sky.

"'The Brightest Star in the Night Sky',

Can you hear,

The loneliness and sighs of the person looking up at you?

'The Brightest Star in the Night Sky',

Can you remember,

The figure who once walked with me,

But disappeared in the wind?

I pray to have a transparent heart,

And eyes that can shed tears.

Give me the courage to believe again,

OH, to embrace you beyond the lies!

Whenever I can't find the meaning of existence,

Whenever I lose myself in the night,

OH~ 'The Brightest Star in the Night Sky',

Please guide me closer to you~..."

Behind Lu Chen, a massive screen displayed a magnificent cosmic scene, with the lyrics appearing and disappearing. "'The Brightest Star in the Night Sky'" was the original piece Lu Chen prepared for this final. 

This song expressed the dreams of his youth, carrying the courage, confidence, and drive of a young person, showcasing the power of passion to every young heart like his! 

The lyrics conveyed a spirit of pursuit, a belief that no matter what, there will always be a brightest star guiding us forward, always believing in the existence of light. Because there are always things in life worth caring about, worth being moved by!

"... 'The Brightest Star in the Night Sky',

Do you know,

Where the figure who once walked with me is now?

OH, 'The Brightest Star in the Night Sky',

Do you care,

Whether to wait for the sun to rise,

Or for the unexpected to come first?

I'd rather keep all the pain in my heart,

Than forget your eyes.

Give me the courage to believe again,

OH, to embrace you beyond the lies!

Whenever I can't find the meaning of existence,

Whenever I lose myself in the night.

OH~ 'The Brightest Star in the Night Sky',

Please light my way~..."

In the T1 Broadcasting Hall, an unusual tranquility settled. This tranquility wasn't just the absence of sound; it was the 3,000 audience members quietly listening to Lu Chen's soul-stirring voice. 

They felt emotions so intense it was almost chilling! In this song, Lu Chen fully showcased the unique qualities of his voice. His transitions between mid and high ranges were smooth and effortless, especially in the high notes, which weren't piercingly sharp but still sent shivers down the spine, like an electric shock. 

Additionally, Lu Chen's guitar playing and the live band's accompaniment were perfectly synchronized, expressing the song's excellent melody to the fullest, leaving no regrets!

Everyone present, as well as the millions of viewers watching on TV and computer screens, were hearing this song for the first time, and all were deeply moved. Different people could interpret this song in various ways. 

It could represent love, family, or even friendship. Its inclusiveness was its greatest charm! The song also conveyed that even in the darkest times, we must bravely seek hope, and even in the most lost or desperate moments, we must learn to face everything.

Because we are young, we have been arrogant;

Because we are young, we have gradually become worldly;

But no matter where we are, we should always keep a pure heart.

Listen to the call of your heart and pursue the direction of your life!

"'The Brightest Star in the Night Sky'," Lu Chen sang for himself and for everyone.

"'The Brightest Star in the Night Sky', can you hear the loneliness and sighs of the person looking up at you?" 

The sound of the guitar faded, leaving a lingering echo.

Tan Hong was the first to stand up. He gazed at Lu Chen and clapped his hands vigorously! Then Chen Fei'er, Lin Zhijie, Zhen Zhen... and the 3,000 audience members joined in. The applause was loud and uniform, as if rehearsed, yet so heart-stirring! For a truly great song, the glory it receives is well-deserved!

Lu Chen put down his guitar, bit his lip, and smiled with joy, then bowed deeply. "Thank you all for listening to me sing this song." 

The applause, no longer uniform, suddenly became wild, like a storm crashing against the walls and dome of the broadcasting hall, making the entire building resonate!

Backstage, many contestants and their family members also applauded, cheering for this formidable opponent. Lu Chen's song had conquered the audience and them as well. There was no jealousy, just genuine admiration! 

Lu Xi stared blankly at Lu Chen on the TV, tears streaming down her face. At that moment, whether Lu Chen won the final or not, she felt no regrets!

The applause in the hall lasted a full two minutes. Only after it subsided did Tan Hong speak: "'The Brightest Star in the Night Sky', this is the best song I've heard tonight."

"I don't want to overpraise it, so I'll give you a 10, because that's the highest I can give!"

Chen Fei'er: 10 points, Lin Zhijie: 10 points, Zhen Zhen: 10 points... One striking number after another flashed quickly on the big screen, adding up to the highest judge score of the night. 

40 points! 

Although the final result hadn't been announced yet, the winner was no longer in doubt. Despite the outstanding performances of the other nine singers, they all covered other people's songs. Lu Chen not only matched any opponent in singing but also presented a brand-new original song— a song destined to become a classic!

'The Brightest Star in the Night Sky', he was undoubtedly the brightest star tonight. Whether inside or outside the venue, Lu Chen's advantage was now insurmountable! No one doubted this. Such a situation was extremely rare in past talent shows.

At home in Binhai, Lu Xue hugged Fang Yun, jumping and shouting, unable to contain her excitement. Fang Yun let her be, her eyes fixed on the live stream of Lu Chen. This was her child! 

At Daylily Bar, customers pounded their tables, raising their glasses high, laughing loudly. The beer in their glasses swayed, foaming with countless white bubbles.

In the Lu Fei Live Streaming Room, the celebration of a million fans reached its peak. The barrage of comments was overwhelming, even affecting Whale TV's servers and putting immense pressure on them!

"We are the champions!" "We are the strongest!" "Long live Lu Chen!" 

Countless members of the Lu Family Army used the Fish Balls they had accumulated from daily check-ins and tasks to tip generously. Many even pooled resources to send an Aircraft Carrier as a group to celebrate Lu Chen winning the first season of "Singing China" on Capital City TV. 

Before this, they had cast countless votes for Lu Chen through the internet, phones, calls, and text messages. They could proudly say that this championship had their contributions!

At the live broadcast, the vote counting was complete, and the host began announcing the results from 10th place up. Until the final name.

"I announce that the winner of the first season of 'Singing China' is..."

"Lu Chen!"

(End of chapter)

You can read ahead up to 30 chapters on my patreon and I've also activated (date to date) subscription model on my patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395