Chapter 65: The "Golden Melody Awards for Chinese Music"

"Yes, yes, yes! This is exactly the feeling I want. Good, cut!" Chef Huang nodded in satisfaction as he watched Zhou Ran and Zhang Xiaofeng’s performance on set.

Ever since Zhang Xiaofeng and Zhou Ran had dinner together, Zhang Xiaofeng had returned to her usual state; she no longer had that evasive look in her eyes during filming as she had before. The filming schedule for "The Drummer" was finally getting back on track, and Zhou Ran’s acting was gradually improving with time.

At first, Zhou Ran would often need two or three takes for a scene, but now he could get through most simple scenes in one take. Chef Huang had witnessed Zhou Ran’s progress step by step. Whenever Zhou Ran didn’t understand something during filming, he would come over and ask Chef Huang, always humble and eager to learn.

Zhou Ran’s attitude was straightforward—there was no shame in asking questions about things you don’t understand. The real embarrassment would be refusing to ask just to save face.

That day, after filming wrapped, instead of heading straight back to the hotel, Zhou Ran sought out Chef Huang.

"Ah! You want to take a day off?" Chef Huang was sitting in the director’s lounge, just about to have a bite to eat and rest, when Zhou Ran appeared, asking for leave.

"Yes, I need to attend an award ceremony tomorrow. I’ve been nominated for several awards," Zhou Ran nodded to Chef Huang.

He had only found out about the ceremony the day before, when he received a call from Li Mi while filming. Over the phone, Li Mi told him he’d been nominated for six categories at the Chinese Golden Melody Awards:

Best Mandarin Album
Best Mandarin Male Singer
Best Mandarin Newcomer
Best Mandarin Single
Best Mandarin Composer
Best Mandarin Lyricist

The Chinese Golden Melody Awards were the most prestigious music awards in the country, with over thirty years of history. Many kings and queens of music had emerged from these awards—Chen Yi, who once competed alongside Zhou Ran, had earned his “King of Songs” title here.

Winning a Golden Melody Award was every singer’s dream, as it represented both honor and recognition of one’s talent. Even a single nomination could keep a moderately famous singer elated for a long time.

The spirit of the Golden Melody Awards was fairness and justice. Every selected singer was treated seriously, with no bias toward big names. This made it one of the most respected and coveted awards, with many singers aiming to win it during their careers.

As soon as the organizing committee announced Zhou Ran’s nominations, the news shot to the top of the trending charts. After more than half a month of silence online, this was the only update about Zhou Ran. As a result, the Golden Melody Awards received unprecedented attention because of him.

Zhou Ran, a newcomer, seemed to have burst onto the scene like a force of nature. Since his debut, he’d performed only original songs, each of astonishing quality. He was like a shark entering a river, sending the fish already there scattering in every direction—Zhou Ran singlehandedly stirred up the entire entertainment industry.

It was also important to note that Zhou Ran had not yet won any official awards since his debut. His resume was still a blank slate, apart from being the champion of "Who Is the King of Songs." No other accolades adorned his name.

The announcement of Zhou Ran’s participation in the Golden Melody Awards immediately set off a flurry of discussion among his fans on social media. They wildly speculated how many awards Zhou Ran might win—could he take home every category he was nominated for?

The Best Mandarin Newcomer award was considered a sure thing. With Zhou Ran’s performance and strength this year—his songs dominating the charts on all major music platforms—there was no question about it. If the committee didn’t give him Best Newcomer, everyone would suspect a rigged outcome, as no other singer could possibly compare. If the committee wanted to preserve the credibility of the Golden Melody Awards, this award would undoubtedly go to Zhou Ran.

Fans weren’t debating whether Zhou Ran would win Best Newcomer, but how many awards in total he would take home.

Everyone chimed in with their opinions:

"Zhou Ran must take all the nominations home!"
"If Best Lyricist doesn’t go to Zhou Ran, do they even understand the power of the pioneer of Chinese-style music?"
"Who could beat ‘A Thousand Degrees’ or ‘Fireworks Fade’ for lyrics this year?"
"Best Mandarin Album should also be Zhou Ran’s. His debut album ‘Departure’ topped the sales charts for half a month straight—are you kidding me?"
"Let’s be bold—Zhou Ran goes for a grand slam!"
"Don’t they understand the idea of gradual progress? If Zhou Ran sweeps everything in one go, what will he do next year?"

As the debate grew more heated, the topic’s popularity skyrocketed.

With the rising buzz, many music critics and media personalities joined in, predicting Zhou Ran’s award prospects. The speculation turned into a nationwide frenzy.

Ear Emperor, Zhou Ran’s most loyal fan, would never miss such a celebratory event. He joined the predictions right away, and for some reason, took things to a whole new level.

On social media, Ear Emperor boldly declared: "If Zhou Ran wins the grand slam, I’ll wear women’s clothes and record a congratulatory video for him."

Ear Emperor was known online for his serious and professional persona, and had never revealed his face—he only published articles, never his voice or appearance. The prospect of a face reveal combined with cross-dressing for Zhou Ran’s grand slam instantly set the internet ablaze.