Chapter 8: The Return of the Celestial King

The live audience at "Who is the King of Singers" began to chant Zhou Ran’s name, their applause refusing to die down. Many in attendance felt that just hearing this one song made the trip worthwhile—Zhou Ran was simply extraordinary. Both songs he performed were not only his own but of exceptional quality; the melody of the first and the lyrics of the second could both be called classics.

If not for the confidentiality agreement signed before the competition, which strictly forbade sharing performance details ahead of time, the audience would have rushed to spread the news.

"Thank you, thank you all for your applause and encouragement, and thanks as well to the teachers in the band," Zhou Ran said, bowing slightly only after the applause finally subsided.

"Wow, Mr. Zhou, your performance today was really impressive! And those lyrics truly captured the essence of loneliness," the host said, stepping in to maintain the flow of the show.

"Alright, let’s anticipate how many votes Zhou Ran will receive today!" With the host’s cue, the audience began casting their votes.

The voting segment ended swiftly.

The host, holding the freshly tallied results, announced, "Zhou Ran’s 'Ease the Sorrow' has received a total of 901 votes, making it the current leader."

Hearing this, most of the contestants backstage were immediately thrown into panic. They hadn’t expected Zhou Ran to launch such an explosive opening. Their earlier moments of joy now seemed premature.

If only Zhou Ran had performed later—starting with such a showstopper had raised the audience’s expectations to a peak. With the brilliance of Zhou Ran’s performance set as the benchmark, all subsequent acts faced a greater challenge.

Ji Song was delighted when he learned of Zhou Ran’s score. Ji Song had witnessed Zhou Ran’s progress, and even the owner of Xingchen Recording Studio had told him that Zhou Ran was incredibly dedicated, practically living in the studio.

When Zhou Ran returned backstage, it was Ji Song’s turn to take the stage. He had drawn the second slot, which meant that the previous round’s first and second place winners were opening the show—truly a trial by fire.

Tonight, Ji Song would be performing "Father’s Prose Poem" by Xu Fei.

As soon as he stepped onstage, Ji Song immersed himself in the song’s emotions. It resonated deeply with him; he was nearly fifty, with a wealth of life experience.

Ji Song’s outfit was simple—a gray sweater and jeans, carrying his guitar. The moment he sang the first line, the audience broke into applause. When a true master performs, it’s immediately apparent; you can tell the quality from the first note.

"In 1984, the crops had yet to be harvested, my daughter lay in my arms, sleeping so sweetly. Tonight’s open-air movie, I had no time to see."

As Ji Song sang, the audience seemed to travel through time with him, witnessing a daughter gazing at her father, hunched over his notes, or perhaps listening to him tell stories, face to face. The power of music is to breathe life into stories, to make them vibrant and moving.

After his performance, Ji Song’s vote tally reached 903. Even he hadn’t expected such a result—he had outdone himself under the pressure Zhou Ran’s performance had created.

Zhang Yuan, scheduled to go third, was stunned. After those two spectacular performances, how was he supposed to follow?

Just as Zhang Yuan prepared to go on, an alarm sounded on stage—"Doo doo doo!"

This was the signal for a surprise challenger. The contestant had chosen to perform immediately after Ji Song, taking on the toughest position.

No one backstage had anticipated this move.

Ji Song, having just returned from his performance, was a bit surprised as well. Was this challenger really so bold?

"Brother Kun, do you know who it is?" Zhang Yuan asked Jin Kun, curiosity bright in his eyes.

"According to my information, it’s a very capable singer," Jin Kun replied, feigning mystery.

"Oh, come on!" Everyone rolled their eyes. Of course the challenger was formidable—who else would dare to follow two headliners right out of the gate?

The mysterious challenger who had piqued everyone’s curiosity was Chen Yi. At that moment, he was making his final preparations.

Chen Yi was a renowned singer from Hong Kong, well-established in the entertainment industry and famous for his Cantonese ballads of heartbreak. He hadn’t performed publicly in two years, due to an accident on a film set, which had forced him into an extended break.

Now, after two years, Chen Yi wanted to return. His main motivation was financial—his spouse’s spending habits had whittled his savings down to just ten million in two years, which made him feel uneasy.

The show's producers had invited him to compete, and Chen Yi decided to seize the opportunity for a proper comeback.

Like Ji Song, Chen Yi thrived on challenges; adversity only spurred him on. After witnessing Ji Song’s stellar performance, he couldn’t hold back any longer and pressed the challenge button.

"Welcome back to ‘Who is the King of Singers,’ brought to you by International Grand Hotel and Lixian Delicacies!" the host announced. "Our next performer is someone of great renown—once crowned King of Chinese Pop, and a multiple-time recipient of the Golden Dragon Award for Best Male Singer."

The audience buzzed with speculation upon hearing that the next singer had won the Golden Dragon for Best Male Singer. The Golden Dragon Award was the highest honor in Chinese music, and the Best Male Singer title was its crowning jewel.

"Could it be Chen Yi?"

"Impossible! He hasn’t performed in years—it can’t be him."

The audience was abuzz with debate.

"It is Chen Yi," the host finally revealed.

As the announcement was made, Chen Yi stepped onto the stage, greeted by a wave of ecstatic screams. The atmosphere was electric, even before he sang a single note.

The audience was not alone in their astonishment; the contestants backstage were equally stunned.

"My god! It really is Chen Yi? I grew up listening to his songs!" Jin Kun couldn't contain his excitement.

Tonight, Chen Yi would perform "Red Rose," the song that had won him the top spot in Hong Kong’s Top Ten Golden Melodies.

His attire was simple—a black T-shirt adorned with a smiling face and a pair of dress slacks. He took the stage with understated confidence.

"In dreams I dream a dream I can’t awaken from, the red thread holds captive the red, all that remains of the thrill is a weary ache, in utter indifference."

With the very first line, Chen Yi’s voice transported the audience back in time. Many had grown up listening to this song.