Chapter 105

Zhejiang province, Binhai city, Dongping District, Building 7, Room 201 kitchen.

Fang Yun put the newly washed dishes into the cupboard. (TN: Lu Chen’s mom.)

“Mom, come here quickly!”

In the small living room came Lu Xue’s crisp voice: “The show where big brother is in is about to begin!”

“Got it!”

Fang Yun promised. She rubbed her wet hands on his apron twice and hurried out of the kitchen.

She sat down beside Lu Xue and gawked when she saw the scene on TV. “Where is your brother?” she said angrily. “It’s obviously still showing the news! You child, you would lie to your mother!”

Lu Xue smiled and hugged Fang Yun’s arm. She leaned her head on her shoulder, and said, “if you don’t come over, you must be busy again, so I tricked you into resting first, and soon it will be big brother shows’ turn.”

“Let me clean the house tomorrow!”

Fang Yun shook her head helplessly, but her eyes were full of affection.

Then they locked their vision on the screen.

…….

07:15 p.m.

2,000 kilometers away, Beijing Normal University, Girls dormitory, Building 7, Room 305.

Ye Zitong sat alone at the head of the bed, put on her headphones and turned on the computer.

Her roommates all went out to play for a few days, but she didn’t feel lonely at all. Instead, she felt the satisfaction of owning the whole world by herself. Sliding her fingers skillfully, she opened a web site in her browser’s bookmark. (TN: I’m assuming she was using the touchpad in her laptop.)

The website shows that the live broadcast of Beijing Satellite TV “Singing China” top 16 of 32 has entered the countdown stage.

Staring at the number that changes constantly, Ye Zitong’s heart suddenly beats more rapidly!

Before she knew it, a faint blush appeared on her face.

As red as a rose.

…….

07:20 p.m.

Houhai, Forget Worries Bar.

It’s the first night of the weekend, and even though it’s not prime time, the bar is already full.

Strangely enough. There were no singers on the stage, even the music was off.

Unexpectedly, what was displayed on the big LED screen was news footage of a TV station, and the logo in the upper left corner belongs to Beijing satellite TV.

Such a scene is simply impossible to appear in the past – who goes to the bar to watch the news?

After a while, Chen Jianhao came up to the stage with a microphone in hand.

He said with a smile, “I believe we all know that tonight, Lu Chen, a former resident singer in the Forget Worries Bar, will take part in the Beijing Satellite TV “Singing China” top 16 of 32.”

“We are here to watch the live broadcast and cheer for Lu Chen. We are all his friends!”

“Tonight’s drinks will be discounted by 20%!”

Applause, laughter, whistles and cheers burst out in the bar.

Many regular customers raised their glasses. They thanked Chen Jianhao and were cheering for Lu Chen.

Don’t let everyone down!

…….

07:25 p.m.

Blue Sky Creative Park, Room 1905, Building A8, Lu Chen Studio.

The studio, which had not yet been decorated, was a mess, with desks and chairs were everywhere, cardboard boxes, large and small, were stacked in the corners, and the air was filled with the peculiar smell of latex paint.

In the live broadcasting workshop. Li Feiyu sat in his brand-new chair full of energy. He was wearing big headphones and facing the similarly brand-new computer, camera and microphone, he shouted, “Attention, everyone, there are still five minutes to go live!”

“Let’s play the music. Everybody, get up. Follow me… ”

“Let’s cheer for Lu Fei!”

“Come on!”

Numerous bullet screens have been brushed on the screen, and fish balls were falling like raindrops. (TN: Bullet screen = barrages.)

Aircraft carriers majestically sailed by one after another!

…….

07:27 p.m.

Beijing Satellite TV studio, backstage waiting area.

Lu Chen hugged his favorite guitar, waiting to go on stage.

There was an impassioned voice from the host outside.

Tonight is “Singing China” Beijing Singing District’s top 16 of 32 competition. Due to the addition of the live audience and off-site audience voting session, the delayed broadcast time has been changed from 60 minutes to 5 minutes. It can be regarded as a real live broadcast!

Lu Chen was arranged to be the first to go on stage, number 001.

There are 31 contestants behind him, all of whom stand out from tens of thousands of competitors.

And half of them will be eliminated tonight, leaving the stage.

Lu Chen knows that in front of TVs and computers, there would be many people who know or don’t know him that will be watching him sing, including his relatives and friends.

But he was not nervous at all. He was calm, as if he was going to a friend’s afternoon tea appointment.

“Next, let’s welcome one of Beijing Singing District Top 32, contestant No. 001, Lu Chen, on stage!”

Warm applause suddenly rang out like a summer storm, instantly sweeping across the big studio.

Assaulting Lu Chen’s eardrum.

Lu Chen’s eyes suddenly became bright, and the corners of his lips raised a faint smile.

Amid the applause, he stepped up the steps, walked steadily and forcefully to the center of the stage, and stood in the spotlight.

At the same time, he faced the 4 judges, 27 cameras, and 1,500 live audience!

“Hello, four judges, audience and friends! Good evening everyone!”

Lu Chen looked steadily forward and said into the microphone: “I am contestant No. 001, Lu Chen.”

With that, he bowed.

The applause that just calmed down sounded again, and one could hear the audience’s love and support for him.

The songs “Life On A String” and “In Spring”, not only made Lu Chen’s name well known during his first performance in “Singing China”, but also made many audiences no longer unfamiliar to him. (TN: Not sure if I translated this correctly.)

He even skipped the quarter-finals, and advanced directly to the top 32.

Last week, July 19, the third week in China Music Charts, after a month of promotion and publicity, “In Spring” successfully topped the list!

The Wandering band became famous and became a hot new band. And as the songwriter of “In Spring”, Lu Chen’s name has been firmly remembered by many insiders.

One of the judges, Queen of Sweet Songs Chen Fei’er, smiled and asked, “Lu Chen, we meet again. What song did you bring to everyone tonight? Is it still your own original work?”

She showed an expectant expression and the camera gave her a close-up shot.

Lu Chen did not disappoint. He nodded and replied, “Yes, the song I brought to everyone tonight is very special. It is my first original work, a campus folk song…”

“Its name is, “You Who Sat Next To Me”!”

Tan Hong said, “I’m looking forward to your wonderful singing.”

The music sounded.

Lu Chen lowered his head slightly and gently plucked the strings.

Then he started singing.

“Tomorrow, will you recall, the diary you wrote yesterday, tomorrow, will you think about, you who loved to cry.”

“The teachers have long forgotten, you who couldn’t guess the answers, It was only because I randomly flipped through my pictures, that I thought of you who sat next to me!!”

“……”

Lu Chen has played and sung this song “You Who Sat Next To Me” many times, but every time he plays and sings it, he has different feeling and experience. He can’t say which time was the best, but he always sang it from the heart.

The song itself is not complicated; simple two-paragraph body, the range is not wide, and only has six intervals.

But it has a beautiful melody, simple and easy to sing, and long and delicate lyrics like silk. It easily touched the feelings that people have been hiding in their hearts, which makes people have a strong resonance, bringing them back to the past.

This melodious and fresh song perfectly reflects the pure and hazy feelings of campus life, so it has always been one of Lu Chen’s most popular works.

Different from the usual, the song has been rearranged by Nirvana Studio. Wang Jing has added accordion and harmonica score to the accompaniment, which not only greatly enriches the timbre, but also strengthens the sense of nostalgia of the melody.

Therefore, when Lu Chen took out “You Who Sat Next To Me” and sang it on the real stage, the charm of this classic work not only didn’t fade at all, but became more and more touching.

Even if people listened to it many times, they will still be deeply touched!

The studio hall became quiet, very quiet. Everyone listened and savored it quietly.

Many people, in Lu Chen’s slightly sentimental narrative, recall the beautiful years of youth they experienced – the borrowed eraser, the notebook they copied, the 38th line on the table…

Those beautiful times, those sweet memories, have gone with the wind!

“… Who lifted your long hair, who made your wedding gown, la…”

Until Lu Chen finished singing, the whole audience remained silent.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The first to clap his hands was Judge Lin Zhijie.

There was an irrepressible admiration and appreciation in the eyes of this Music Director of Flying Stone Records.

However, as if awakening from a dream, everyone applauded one after another. At first, it was disorderly, and then it became orderly. Sincere and warm applause sounded like waves!

Chen Fei’er was the first to stand up. Her eyes sparkled brilliantly and she applauded Lu Chen.

Many audiences stood up. Although the live broadcast of the competition has only just begun and Lu Chen was the first singer to appear, the atmosphere has already been pushed to the climax!

“Thank you!”

Lu Chen bowed deeply and said sincerely, “Thank you everyone!”

His heart was no longer calm.

It was good feeling!

It took a full minute for the applause to finally subside and everyone sat back to their seats.

Chen Fei’er said, “Lu Chen, I like this song of yours. I like it very much!”

She was even a little excited: “So I’ll give you ten points!”

As soon as her voice fell, the Queen of Sweet Songs pressed down on the scorer on the table and gave Lu Chen the highest score.

Lu Chen was surprised and happy, and he thanked her: “Thank you, Teacher Chen.”

“Singing China” top 16 of 32, uses the combination of judges’ score and on-site and off-site audience votes to select the top 16, of which the percentage of judges’ scores reached 40%.

Chen Fei’er’s first 10 points, undoubtedly pushed the balance to Lu Chen’s victory, pressing down a lot of weight!

She smiled and said, “Thank you, too, for letting me listened to a really good song.”

She smiled with tears in her eyes.

As emotional as she is, as moved as she is.