Perfect Superstar.

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"Young people these days are truly remarkable!"

Gu Rui gazed at the bright young man in front of him, feeling genuinely impressed.

As a seasoned veteran in the industry and the current music director of "Singing China," he had witnessed countless newcomers trying to make their mark in the entertainment world.

Some were arrogant and self-important, while others were naive and immature, cautious and timid, or even overly eager to please...

In Gu Rui's experience, very few newcomers could maintain such a poised and respectful demeanor when facing a giant like Capital City TV, especially without any influential connections.

Unlike several other contestants who had performed well in the qualifiers, Lu Chen hadn't signed with any entertainment or management company.

So what— or who— gave him such immense courage and confidence?

A mysterious agent who may or may not exist?

Gu Rui couldn't quite figure it out.

However, he could see that Lu Chen wasn't merely putting on a brave face. His bright, clear eyes and sincere, approachable smile reflected authenticity. Polite yet principled, Lu Chen never crossed his own boundaries or made promises lightly— even when faced with such a golden opportunity to build a relationship with Capital City TV.

"This young man has a bright future!"

Gu Rui smiled and said, "Monday works perfectly. I'll leave you my number so we can stay in touch."

While Gu Rui represented the "Singing China" production team, acquiring the copyright for "Walking While Sing" or negotiating its cost wasn't particularly critical to him.

He genuinely appreciated Lu Chen.

Gu Rui handed Lu Chen his business card.

Lu Chen stood up, accepted it with both hands, and said, "Thank you, Director Gu."

This small gesture left a favorable impression on Gu Rui. It was rare for a 22-year-old fresh college graduate to be so polite. Such social graces typically took years of experience to acquire— if they were learned at all.

Many people never learn or even disdain such behavior.

Gu Rui's attitude grew even more amicable. "No need to thank me. Our production team truly admires your talent. I hope you'll keep advancing through the rounds, reaching the finals and bringing even more incredible works to the audience. Keep it up!"

Lu Chen thanked him again and then took his leave.

When he returned to the backstage area of the studio, the third contestant had just finished their performance.

Their performance didn't seem to go well. Among the four judges, Lin Zhijie and Zhen Zhen gave 4 points each, Chen Fei'er gave 6 points, and Tan Hong gave 5 points, totaling only 19 points.

Barring any unexpected circumstances, this contestant was likely to be eliminated.

Unsurprisingly, she left the stage in tears.

Such was the brutal reality of modern reality singing competitions, especially at the elimination stage. A single slip-up could result in immediate disqualification, and earning a revival wildcard from the judges was no easy task.

The competition continued.

One by one, the 32 contestants performed, receiving scores from the judging panel. It was undoubtedly a lengthy process.

But Lu Chen had plenty of patience, waiting for the moment to reap the fruits of his success!

At 11:15 PM, all the contestants had completed their performances.

The host immediately announced that the audience votes, both from within the venue and external viewers, would now be tallied to determine the top 16 contestants.

Due to the large number of contestants in this round, the audience votes were consolidated using a computerized system and revealed simultaneously to save time.

For the next round— where the top 16 would compete for the top 10— the results would be announced live after each performance rather than at the end.

"And now, let's anticipate together the announcement of the top 16 contestants in 'Singing China''s Capital City division!"

"They are…"

With the host's enthusiastic proclamation, the atmosphere in the studio reached a new peak.

The 1,500 audience members in the studio all craned their necks in anticipation, their eyes fixed on the massive background screen. The 'Singing China' logo flashed repeatedly, signaling that the moment of truth was near!

Tan Hong, Chen Fei'er, Lin Zhijie, and Zhen Zhen, the four judging panel members, began clapping their hands.

The screen suddenly shifted, and a dazzling golden number appeared:

"16!"

In the next moment, the number burst apart into golden fragments, revealing the identity of the 16th finalist.

"Lin Yaru!"

"Contestant Name:" Lin Yaru

"Contestant Number:" 023

"Song Performed:" 'Summer Night Romance'

"Judging Panel Total Score:" 27 points

"In-Studio Audience Votes:" 1,025 votes

"External Audience Votes:" 162,540 votes

"Final Score:" 77.69 points

Backstage in the studio, a long-haired woman covered her face with her hands, crying tears of joy.

She was none other than Lin Yaru, who had just secured her place in the top 16.

Though she ranked last among the qualifiers, this achievement meant she had defeated half her competitors and advanced to a higher level of the competition. Regardless of whether she made it into the Capital City division's top 10, this was already a significant victory.

In past talent shows, many contestants eliminated during the qualification stages still caught the attention of entertainment or management companies, leading to contracts and successful debuts— often surpassing the careers of the contestants who had beaten them.

"Visibility matters." The more one shows their face, the greater the opportunities that come their way!

Following this, the announcements continued for the 15th, 14th, 13th...

One by one, the top 16 contestants were revealed. The audience erupted into cheers, with thunderous applause echoing in the hall.

Seeing their favorite contestants succeed brought a strong sense of satisfaction to the supporters.

Backstage in the rest area, the reactions among the contestants varied— some were silent, some cheered, some were overjoyed, while others wept.

No process was more nerve-wracking or a greater test of willpower than this.

By the time the third finalist was revealed, Lu Chen's name had yet to appear.

However, he remained calm and composed, sitting steadily with a serene expression.

In contrast, viewers at home and online, especially Lu Chen's family and fans who had been watching for over three hours, were starting to grow restless.

Fang Yun rubbed her eyes and smiled wryly, saying, "These shows nowadays really know how to keep people on edge!"

Lu Xue clenched her small fists and declared confidently, "Don't worry, Mom! Big Bro is definitely going to win— he's the champion!"

At Daylily Bar, regular patrons had even stopped drinking, their eyes glued to the screen.

"Could he be eliminated?"

"That's impossible!"

Ye Zitong reassured herself silently, completely unaware that her roommates had just returned to the dormitory.

Even though the university was on summer break, many students chose to stay in this sprawling metropolis, eager to enjoy its vibrant and exciting atmosphere during the hot season.

Ye Zitong's summer wasn't particularly colorful, but this year, for the first time, she had applied to stay on campus during the break.

Why?

To stay in her dorm room and watch a talent show.

Meanwhile, on Lu Fei's live streaming channel, the number of online viewers had soared past "950,000," with the barrage of comments reaching an overwhelming level.

Without separating the comments into zones, it was almost impossible to watch the live stream.

"Ahh, there are only two spots left! Do you think our Lu Fei will be eliminated?"

"Don't jinx it! Our streamer is 100% going to be the champion!"

"I'm so nervous, so nervous, so nervous!"

"Calm down, everyone. He'll either be first or second place. Trust me—I'm never wrong!"

"I don't even get why you're all so anxious. Lu Fei's judging panel score is the highest. There's no way he'll be eliminated!"

"Exactly! The streamer is guaranteed to win!"

"I'm honestly impressed by Capital City TV—they made the top 32-to-16 round feel like a national final!"

"If the streamer gets eliminated, I'll eat crap on the livestream!"

"Haha, you're all too naive…"

At this moment, Mu Xiaochu was announced as the second-place contestant in the overall rankings for the top 16!

The audience in the studio and the backer rest area erupted into loud applause. Whether they were contestants who had been eliminated or those who had successfully advanced, everyone sent their congratulations to the shy and delicate Mu Xiaochu.

"Thank you, thank you, everyone!"

Mu Xiaochu's face turned bright red, and she was so overwhelmed that she almost didn't know what to do, repeatedly bowing in gratitude.

She hadn't expected to secure second place in the top 16.

While thanking everyone, her gaze involuntarily turned toward Lu Chen, who was also applauding her.

At that moment, what was on her mind was the identity of the last finalist.

Was it Lu Chen's?

Not just Mu Xiaochu, but many other contestants in the backer rest area were quietly speculating.

Although Lu Chen had earned the highest score from the judging panel and his talent in songwriting was widely acknowledged, it was still possible that the "Singing China" production team might stir things up by eliminating Lu Chen to create buzz and attract more attention.

This kind of tactic was commonly seen in past talent shows: the so-called "rising star must fall!"

And Lu Chen didn't necessarily have to be eliminated for good— don't forget, the four judging panel members still held a "revival golden egg," which meant they could easily eliminate him, only to have him miraculously revived later and re-enter the top 16 candidates, ready to continue competing.

This way, the dramatic effect would be achieved, and the publicity would reach its goal, making everyone happy!

As for whether Lu Chen would be willing to play along with this, did a small-time newcomer like him dare to oppose Capital City TV?

That would be an enormous joke!

Lu Chen noticed the odd glances from the other contestants. He even knew exactly what they were thinking.

But Lu Chen didn't care at all— 'How can the sparrow understand the ambition of the swan?'

Finally, the stage screen displayed the number "1," with a beautiful crown adorning it.

The top scorer from the Capital City division of 'Singing China', advancing from the top 32 to the top 16, was revealed!

It was…

"Lu Chen!"

"Contestant Name:" Lu Chen

"Contestant Number:" 001

"Song Performed:" 'My Old Classmate'

"Judging Panel Total Score:" 39 points

"In-Studio Audience Votes:" 1,469 votes

"External Audience Votes:" 726,502 votes

"Final Score:" 95.35 points!

Yes, it was Lu Chen, and Capital City TV had played it straight—no tricks.

His victory was well-deserved!

A storm of applause erupted from both inside and outside the studio, with many audience members standing and clapping.

They cheered for their favorite vagabond singer!

'(End of chapter)'