Chapter 72: "Having You Is Our Honor as Well"

“Next, I must thank all the friends who have helped me along the way—Director Ning Wei, Teacher Ji Song, Teacher Chen Yi, and the many singers whom I competed against on the stage of 'Who Is the King of Singers.' Competing alongside them, I truly learned a great deal. For example, Teacher Ji Song would often share singing techniques with me in private, and generously offered me recording spaces; my first song, 'Sunny Day,' was completed thanks to his help.”

Seated in the audience, Ji Song smiled and waved when he heard Zhou Ran mention his name.

“Oh! I also want to thank a few others—Chef Huang and Sister Xiao Feng! Especially Sister Xiao Feng, who sent me encouraging messages today before I came to the award ceremony. I'm really grateful to her,” Zhou Ran said, not forgetting to wave at the camera facing him.

Zhou Ran knew in his heart that Xiao Feng would see him this way.

He guessed right. In the 'Drummer' production team, Xiao Feng, watching Zhou Ran at the ceremony, saw him on the big screen the moment he waved. Xiao Feng instantly recognized Zhou Ran’s gesture as a greeting to her, and coupled with his earlier words, she was almost moved to tears.

The moment Zhou Ran waved on the big screen, Xiao Feng waved back, unable to consider whether Zhou Ran could see her. Chef Huang and others, watching alongside her, burst into laughter at her reaction. “Oh my, Xiao Feng! Why are you so excited just because Zhou Ran waved at you?”

“Oh, come on! I’m just politely responding to Zhou Ran’s greeting, stop laughing, Teacher Huang!” Xiao Feng’s face reddened from the teasing of her colleagues, feeling a little embarrassed.

Chef Huang laughed even harder seeing Xiao Feng’s reaction. His teasing was simply a playful gesture, treating Xiao Feng and Zhou Ran as juniors, nothing more. If it were someone unrelated, Chef Huang wouldn’t bother.

Everyone in the production team had already sensed Xiao Feng’s feelings for Zhou Ran—her look toward him was too obvious. Only someone as clueless as Zhou Ran, oblivious to romance, failed to notice.

As Zhou Ran waved for the final time, many fans in the audience who shipped Zhou Ran and Xiao Feng were beside themselves with excitement. This wave was simply too sweet for them.

They could easily imagine a thousand stories stemming from that gesture.

Zhou Ran sometimes browsed social media and had seen people discussing the “Feng-Ran couple.” He actually admired the fans’ creativity—they were so imaginative that he thought it a shame they weren’t working as screenwriters.

Even an ordinary gesture could delight the couple’s fans for half a day.

Despite all the speculation online, Zhou Ran felt that, up to now, he and Xiao Feng were simply good friends.

“Now, as I come to the end of my acceptance speech, there’s one crucial group I haven’t thanked yet—my fans, who have always supported me. I am truly, deeply grateful to all of you.”

“Without your support, I wouldn’t have the chance to stand on this stage. Without you, I’d still be just an unknown nobody, and no one would know my name.”

After speaking, Zhou Ran bowed deeply toward the audience and the cameras, then stepped off the stage.

As he left, the audience erupted in thunderous applause, acknowledging his heartfelt speech. Zhou Ran’s words were simple yet sincere, pouring out his innermost feelings.

Meanwhile, the live broadcast chat was flooded with messages from Zhou Ran’s fans:

“Zhou Ran, fly bravely—we will always be with you!”

“Zhou Ran, it’s our honor to have you!”

“I’m in tears, family!”

“I can hardly believe this is Zhou Ran’s very first award!”

“Congratulations, Zhou Ran, on winning your first award!” Chen Yi congratulated him when Zhou Ran returned to his seat.

But as Chen Yi spoke, his expression was strange, as if there was something he couldn’t say.

Ji Song wore a similar look.

Zhou Ran, absorbed in taking photos to send to Xiao Feng, didn’t notice their expressions. Had he paid attention, he would have seen something was amiss.

There was a reason for their concern: a tacit rule existed in the Mandarin music industry, never spoken openly but well known among insiders. Normally, the Best New Artist Award and Best Male Singer Award were never awarded to the same person; no newcomer had ever won both at the Golden Melody Awards.

This unwritten rule had always existed—even the most celebrated pop icons in previous generations didn’t receive both in their debut year.

So Chen Yi and Ji Song worried that Zhou Ran’s Best New Artist Award might have been given in lieu of another nomination.

Yet they chose not to tell Zhou Ran. Seeing his happiness, they couldn’t bear to spoil it with bad news.

All they could do was silently hope that this year’s Golden Melody Awards would break precedent. They truly believed Zhou Ran had what it took to win both Best Singer and Best New Artist, given his stellar performance in the music world this year.