Perfect Superstar.

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When Lu Chen returned to the apartment, it was already late at night. After finishing all the competitions of "Singing China" and winning the national championship, he had gone with everyone to Daylily Bar to celebrate, partying until midnight.

He had completely relaxed, losing track of how many drinks he had consumed. In a daze, he was sent home by Lu Xi.

As they arrived at the apartment, Lu Chen became a bit more sober. "Sis, why did you bring me back here?"

Lu Xi replied impatiently, "If I didn't bring you back, should I have left you alone in the workshop?"

Drunk people need a lot of care, and she certainly wouldn't leave Lu Chen alone. Surprisingly, his alcohol tolerance was quite good, and he wasn't completely wasted. At the bar, she had watched him being toasted with drink after drink, but since everyone was so enthusiastic and happy, it would have been a mood killer to stop them. 

Still, she felt a twinge of heartache. Now, seeing Lu Chen sober, she finally felt relieved. If she had known earlier, she would have left him at the workshop!

Lu Chen chuckled, "Then I'll sleep on the sofa." This single apartment was originally rented by him, but after Lu Xi came to the capital, he had given it to her.

Lu Xi pinched her nose and said, "Go take a shower first. You reek of alcohol!" Lu Chen lifted his shirt and sniffed, but he didn't smell any alcohol. "Uh, my change of clothes is over there."

Lu Xi said impatiently, "I bought some for you on the way back." She had thought of it while they were out. Fortunately, the capital is a very commercially developed city, and there are supermarkets open late at night.

Lu Chen scratched his head, feeling a bit dazed. Lu Xi shoved the paper bag into his arms and pushed him toward the bathroom. "Go take a shower!"

Lu Chen chuckled, grabbed the paper bag, and headed to the shower.

After a refreshing hot shower that washed away the alcohol and its effects, and after changing into clean clothes, Lu Chen felt revitalized. No matter how busy he was with work, even while competing, he exercised every day without fail. 

After several months of persistence, his physique had noticeably improved, with visible muscle contours on his abdomen. Not only was his physical strength abundant, but his alcohol tolerance had also greatly increased.

"Come eat." While Lu Chen was showering, his sister had prepared a midnight snack for him in the kitchen. The snack was a bowl of noodles, simply paired with tomatoes and eggs, plus a few green onion segments. The soup was clear and colorful, smelling fragrant and looking appetizing. 

Having digested all the alcohol, Lu Chen was now very hungry. He sat down without hesitation, picked up his chopsticks, and in the blink of an eye, finished the entire bowl of noodles along with the soup!

He patted his belly and let out a satisfied burp. "I'm full." It felt so good to have a home and family by his side!

Lu Xi watched him finish eating and then said, "Go rest now. I'll wash the dishes." 

Lu Chen nodded. "Sis, thank you." Lu Xi didn't say anything, but there was a softness in her eyes.

Suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed, Lu Chen's ears started to itch. He couldn't help but dig at them with his pinky finger. He had been wearing wireless earbuds during the competition.

"Itchy Ears?" Lu Xi asked. "Let me help you clean them. Go over to the sofa."

Lu Chen was about to say it wasn't necessary, but since his sister had already stood up, he swallowed his words and followed her.

Lu Xi took out some tools from her bag. She had Lu Chen lie down first, resting his head on her lap, and then, under the light, she started cleaning his ears. At first, Lu Chen felt inexplicably nervous because his sister hadn't been this gentle with him in a long time. 

But soon, he relaxed. He remembered how, as a child, his sister used to clean his ears like this. When had they become distant? Lu Chen couldn't quite remember. But having his ears cleaned was really comfortable!

The two didn't speak, and the small living room was filled with a faint warm aroma. Lu Xi carefully dug out a clump of earwax and suddenly asked softly, "Did you and Ye Zi break up?"

It took Lu Chen a moment to react, and he forced a smile. "Sis, we were never really in a relationship."

He and Ye Zi had mutual feelings, but that affection never turned into real love. Over time and with distance, it became a faint melancholy and memory. There was regret but no sadness because they had never truly invested in it. 

After everything he had experienced, Lu Chen wondered if he still had the courage to deeply love someone. "When the competition ended, she sent me a text wishing me victory."

Lu Xi was silent for a moment, then said, "Ye Zi is a good girl. It's good that you didn't hurt her." 

She knew very well how busy Lu Chen had been recently, with no time for romance. Or, more accurately, Lu Chen himself didn't want to be in a relationship. The heavy debt at home was like a mountain, weighing on him. It also weighed on Lu Xi. She could understand Lu Chen's predicament, but she still felt a bit regretful. Ye Zi was a good girl.

Lu Xi's ear-cleaning movements became even more gentle. "Mm." Lu Chen responded, and a deep fatigue quietly crept in, making his eyelids heavy. He closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep, soon letting out soft snores. He was too tired.

Lu Xi waited quietly for a while until Lu Chen was sound asleep. Then she took a pillow and replaced her lap as his pillow. She covered Lu Chen with a thin blanket, turned off the light, and went back to her room to rest.

It was late at night. The living room was plunged into darkness, with faint light from outside shining through the glass window. In the darkness, Lu Chen turned over on the sofa to make himself more comfortable. 

He slept soundly and relaxed. In a mysterious way, a familiar voice told Lu Chen that he and his sister had truly reconciled. So he felt at ease.

...

Early morning, Binhai. Fang Yun woke up very early. After a quick wash, she hurriedly ate breakfast and prepared to go to the supermarket. It was Saturday, and the Dabaifu Supermarket near Dongping Community had discount promotions. 

Many fresh meats and vegetables were cheaper than at the market, so housewives often rushed to buy and stock up. But if you went too late, many of the discounted items would be sold out, leaving only the poor-quality ones.

Fang Yun was in a good mood today, so she wanted to buy more things and had specially prepared two large shopping bags. Before leaving, she felt a bit worried and thought about it before pushing open the door to the small room. 

The room was still air-conditioned, and the temperature was a bit low. Lu Xue was lying on the bed, sleeping soundly, with half her body exposed outside the blanket, looking like a sleepy little pig.

"This child..." Fang Yun complained a bit, found the remote, adjusted the temperature, and then pulled the blanket over Lu Xue. She gave Lu Xue's little bottom a light slap. 

The latter grunted in dissatisfaction in her sleep, twisted, and shrank back in. Fang Yun couldn't help but laugh and turned to leave the room, carefully closing the door behind her.

On the stairs downstairs, Fang Yun ran into a neighbor, Zhang Meilan, the wife of Section Chief Lin from the local tax bureau. The tax bureau's collection management department was a key department, and Section Chief Lin was a semi-powerful figure in the unit. 

His second wife was a bit proud and usually ignored Fang Yun. But today was different. When Zhang Meilan saw Fang Yun, she immediately smiled and took the initiative to greet her. "Sister Yun, you're up so early today! Are you going to Dabaifu to buy groceries?"

Fang Yun was taken aback but responded, "Yes, you're up early too." 

Zhang Meilan smiled. "I'm used to getting up early for exercise, but today I want to go to the supermarket with you." Fang Yun was puzzled but couldn't refuse, so she agreed.

On the way to the supermarket, Zhang Meilan said, "Sister Yun, I saw your Lu Chen on TV last night. He's really getting more and more promising. He actually won the championship! He's going to be a big star!" 

Mentioning last night's "Singing China" final, Fang Yun couldn't help but smile. Lu Chen's wonderful performance in this crucial competition not only won high praise from the four judges but also conquered countless viewers inside and outside the venue. 

In the end, he won with a large score advantage against all his opponents. As Lu Chen's mother, Fang Yun felt incredibly proud.

After the competition ended, Lu Chen called her, and then many friends and relatives also reached out. Of course, in front of outsiders, she had to remain humble. "It's not easy to become a big star. Lu Chen just got lucky. Who knows what will happen in the future!"

Zhang Meilan smiled and said, "Don't be so modest. My WeChat moments are full of posts about your Lu Chen. They all say he's a musical talent and the pride of Binhai. He's definitely going to have a big future!" Then she changed the subject and indirectly asked, "Does Lu Chen have a girlfriend now?"

Fang Yun began to understand. "It seems not yet." 

Zhang Meilan was astonished. "Lu Chen is so handsome and talented. How can he not have a girlfriend? Let me introduce him to someone. My sister's niece is studying in the capital. She's got great character and appearance."

Fang Yun really had nothing to say. She knew that when someone was overly attentive, there was always a purpose. She perfunctorily responded to Zhang Meilan and soon arrived at the supermarket.

There were even more acquaintances in the supermarket. 

"Sister Lu is here!" 

"Ah, Sister Yun, you're here to buy groceries too? What a coincidence!" 

"Accountant Fang, congratulations! You've raised such a good son. He's brought honor to our Binhai!" 

"Lu Chen is amazing. My son really admires him!" 

"Your Lu Chen is really promising!"

Binhai is a small county-level city with a relatively closed local circle. Any news spreads quickly. Fang Yun lived in the Dongping Community, where employees of the municipal finance bureau, national tax bureau, and local tax bureau resided. 

Her son Lu Chen's participation in the "Singing China" competition had long been widely known. Many colleagues knew Lu Chen and naturally paid extra attention to last night's final. As a result, Lu Chen lived up to expectations and won the championship!

So when they saw Fang Yun here, they all gathered around to sincerely congratulate her. They even squeezed to one side to include Zhang Meilan.

Fang Yun was surrounded and felt a mix of pride and emotion! 

(End of chapter)