You can read ahead up to 30 chapters on my patreon and I've also activated (date to date) subscription model on my patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395
Backstage at T1 Studio.
Mu Xiaochu kept glancing toward the entrance, her eyes flickering with anxiety.
Lu Chen had been called away nearly an hour ago, and there was still no sign of him. It was as if he had vanished into thin air. Meanwhile, the group performance for the top five contestants of 'Singing China', titled 'Life on a String', was about to begin rehearsals.
She had no idea what was keeping him, and earlier, a staff member had even come by to ask about his whereabouts.
'What's going on?'
Mu Xiaochu worried that Lu Chen's delay would disrupt the program schedule, something that would undoubtedly offend Capital City TV. That kind of mistake could deal a serious blow to his career.
But then again, it was someone from the station who had called him away. Logically, there shouldn't be an issue. So why hasn't he returned yet?
Her thoughts were in turmoil.
Sitting beside her, Zhang Haohai noticed her concern, and his heart filled with bitterness.
"Xiaochu, don't worry about others."
Zhang Haohai couldn't help but interject, "Let's just get ready for the stage. It's only a rehearsal— one person missing won't make a difference."
A faint smirk played on his lips.
Deep down, Zhang Haohai hoped that Lu Chen wouldn't make it—or better yet, that Capital City TV would drop him altogether. He believed he was just as talented and good-looking as Lu Chen, yet Lu Chen's rise had been meteoric, while he remained overlooked.
Even Mu Xiaochu treated Lu Chen differently, while barely acknowledging him.
Mu Xiaochu pursed her lips and glanced at Zhang Haohai, her voice calm but firm. "This song was written by Senior Lu Chen. He's the champion of 'Singing China', and without him, this show wouldn't even exist."
Mu Xiaochu was kind, but that didn't mean she lacked a temper.
She was reminding Zhang Haohai that Lu Chen was the centerpiece of this performance. Some people needed to know their place.
'Don't be so full of yourself!' Zhang Haohai's face flushed red.
He had a fragile ego and couldn't stand being put down. He immediately wanted to retort.
But before he could, Mu Xiaochu suddenly stood up, her face lighting up. She waved her arm and called out, "Senior Lu Chen, over here!"
At that moment, Lu Chen walked in.
Zhang Haohai swallowed the words at the tip of his tongue, his expression darkening.
Unaware of the minor drama that had just unfolded, Lu Chen walked up to his spot, smiling at Mu Xiaochu. "What's up?"
Mu Xiaochu beamed. "We're about to go on stage. Senior, are you ready?"
Her smile was so radiant that it made Lu Chen's heart skip a beat.
He nodded. "I'm ready."
But just then, the air in the room seemed to shift, and everything fell silent.
Mu Xiaochu also sensed the change. She and Lu Chen instinctively turned their heads.
'What's happening?'
A stunning woman in an exquisite gown walked toward them, surrounded by assistants. Like a true star in the limelight, she carried herself with effortless grace.
She smiled warmly and greeted them, "Lu Chen, Xiaochu, long time no see."
The woman in the luxurious outfit was none other than Chen Fei'er—the reigning queen of love ballads and a household name in the entertainment industry.
Many celebrities had gathered for today's gala rehearsals, but in terms of status, no one outranked her.
If Wang Bin were still around, he might have been able to stand on equal footing with her.
Unfortunately, he was now sitting in a detention cell.
Despite being in the industry for over a decade and now in her thirties, Chen Fei'er's beauty had barely faded. With her flawless complexion and meticulous self-care, she looked as though she were still in her early twenties. More importantly, she exuded a natural elegance and charisma that commanded respect.
No one dared act out in her presence. Instead, admiration— and for some, even reverence— was written all over their faces.
"Hello, Teacher Chen!" Lu Chen and Mu Xiaochu greeted her in unison.
Chen Fei'er had been one of the four judges on 'Singing China'. She had taken a liking to Lu Chen and was also fond of Mu Xiaochu.
"Hello, Teacher Chen."
The other contestants and artists nearby, including the remaining top five finalists, also stood up and greeted her respectfully.
"Hello, everyone." Chen Fei'er smiled and said, "No need to call me 'Teacher.' It makes me feel old. Just call me Sister."
Mu Xiaochu immediately complied. "Sister Fei'er."
"Hmm!"
Chen Fei'er nodded approvingly before stepping forward and taking Mu Xiaochu's hand. "What's your performance?"
Under the weight of so many gazes, Mu Xiaochu blushed slightly at the intimate gesture but still answered obediently, "Sister Fei'er, we're performing a group song, 'Walking While Sing', written by Senior Lu Chen."
Chen Fei'er's eyes gleamed with interest. "So you're up next."
Then, tilting her head toward Lu Chen, she asked with a playful smile, "Lu Chen, I remember you promising to write a song for me. Did you finish it? Or did you forget?"
Her starry eyes shimmered with a hint of mischief, carrying a charm so youthful and captivating that it made people momentarily forget her actual age.
Lu Chen was momentarily dazed but quickly snapped back to reality. "It's done, Sister Fei'er. When do you need it? I'll send it over."
Chen Fei'er had indeed asked him for a song— back when 'Singing China' was still airing.
Lu Chen hadn't given it much thought at the time, including her invitation for him to be a guest at her concert. After all, the gap in their status was too vast, and he didn't want people to think he was trying to climb the ranks by associating with her.
He hadn't expected Chen Fei'er to still remember— and she seemed completely serious about it.
Of course, he wasn't foolish enough to admit he hadn't prepared anything.
Chen Fei'er's eyes lit up with surprise. "Really? That's great! Thank you. I'll have my assistant reach out to you."
Lu Chen nodded. "Sounds good."
Those who overheard the exchange couldn't help but cast glances filled with envy and jealousy.
To them, Lu Chen was incredibly fortunate— not only had he gotten close to Chen Fei'er, but he had also been personally invited to write a song for her.
In the industry, only top-tier composers had the privilege of collaborating with Chen Fei'er. Yet, Lu Chen, a newcomer who had just debuted, had already caught her attention.
Wasn't that just pure luck?
Chen Fei'er noticed the subtle shifts in the crowd's expressions but remained unfazed. She smiled and said, "Alright, I won't keep you all."
With that, she left with her assistants, heading toward the VIP lounge.
Once she was gone, the backstage atmosphere quickly returned to normal.
Soon, a staff member arrived with a microphone, reminding the next group of performers to prepare to go on stage.
It was time for Lu Chen, Mu Xiaochu, and the others to perform their group song.
The top five contestants of 'Singing China' gathered in the waiting area before stepping onto the stage together.
According to Capital City TV's schedule, today was the first rehearsal for the National Day Gala. A second rehearsal was scheduled for the 21st, followed by a full dress rehearsal on the 25th, leading up to the live recording on the evening of October 1st.
With such a tight schedule, any performance issues could mean additional rehearsals.
Aside from the New Year's Eve Gala, all major productions by Capital City TV were pre-recorded.
Today's rehearsal was critical for the performers. If their act wasn't up to standard, they risked being cut from the final broadcast. Even though they were among the top five contestants, there was no guarantee that their performance would make it to the official recording.
Because of this, Lu Chen, Mu Xiaochu, and Zhang Haohai all took the rehearsal seriously, putting in their best effort. Although this was the first time the five contestants had performed together, and their coordination wasn't perfect, there were no major mistakes.
The song itself wasn't technically difficult, and each of them had the vocal ability to handle it with ease.
T1 Studio could accommodate up to 3,000 audience members, but since this was just a rehearsal, the seats weren't filled. The audience mostly consisted of TV station staff, production leaders, and judges overseeing the performances.
After their performance, the judges provided brief feedback before allowing them to exit the stage.
Their rehearsal for the day was officially over.
Backstage, Mu Xiaochu turned to Lu Chen. "Senior Lu Chen, are you heading back now?"
Time was valuable for artists, especially those juggling multiple engagements. Although they made time for the gala rehearsals, the station's schedule was fairly accommodating.
Once they completed their part, they were free to leave and return for the dress rehearsal on the 25th.
Lu Chen shook his head. "You go ahead. I still have a solo performance to rehearse."
A solo performance?
The other contestants were momentarily stunned, barely believing what they had just heard.
Zhang Haohai, in particular, looked as if he had been struck by lightning.
They all knew that the program was originally supposed to feature Lu Chen as a solo act, but after their agency's PR efforts with Capital City TV, it had been changed to a group performance instead.
The only one unaware of this behind-the-scenes maneuvering was likely Mu Xiaochu.
Zhang Haohai and the others had secretly reveled in Lu Chen's supposed setback, assuming he must have felt bitter about the change.
But who would have thought that Capital City TV had actually arranged a solo performance for him as well?
Wasn't that overkill?
Other artists were limited to a single act, yet Lu Chen was given two slots—just because he was the champion?
The trio was filled with resentment, jealousy, and frustration, but they couldn't say anything.
Mu Xiaochu, on the other hand, was genuinely happy for Lu Chen. "Senior Lu Chen, that's amazing!"
Lu Chen smiled. "Just lucky, I guess."
Zhang Haohai and the others cursed silently in their hearts: What a show-off!
But no matter how much they envied him, it didn't affect Lu Chen in the slightest.
After bidding farewell to Mu Xiaochu, Lu Chen remained backstage for nearly half an hour before he was called up again.
This time, he was going on alone.
By now, the rehearsal had progressed considerably, and the number of people in the audience had increased. The first two rows, in particular, stood out.
Lu Chen recognized some of the figures seated there—several were senior executives from Capital City TV, along with two high-ranking officials from CCTV.
All eyes were on him.
Compared to the earlier group performance, the pressure he faced now was significantly greater.
Standing at the center of the stage, in front of the microphone, under the weight of those scrutinizing gazes…
Lu Chen's heart remained as calm as still water.
---
(End of this chapter)