Chapter 16: Unshakable

“Heh, there’s been so much going on lately I really did overlook this—money won’t be an issue, you can rest assured. By the way, which kindergarten does Miss Yue teach at? How about I send Yangyang there as well?” Lin Chuan’s heart stirred as he nodded.

“Me?” Wang Yue was taken aback.

Tang Qinru beamed even brighter at the suggestion. “No problem! Xiao Yue works at a kindergarten downtown called ‘Starlight’.”

“Qinru!” Wang Yue’s face changed and she shot her a sharp look.

Lin Chuan nodded, pondering for a moment before smiling. “I know Starlight Kindergarten. Once my competition finishes the day after tomorrow, I’ll find time to bring Yangyang over. Miss Yue, I’ll have to trouble you then!”

Whether out of irritation or not, Wang Yue only murmured an acknowledgment and fell silent.

The three chatted a while longer, their conversation revolving mostly around Lin Yiyang starting kindergarten and Lin Chuan’s upcoming competition. It wasn’t until a taxi pulled up and they all got in that Lin Chuan finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

Wang Yue had a mature disposition, perhaps because of her profession, and she cared deeply for Lin Yiyang. Although she had realized during the day that Lin Chuan wasn’t the kind of irresponsible father she’d assumed, her attitude had changed little. In stark contrast, Tang Qinru was lively and rarely stopped talking, especially when it came to Lin Chuan’s personal affairs, about which she seemed endlessly curious.

Normally, Lin Chuan was a reserved man, so encountering someone as outgoing as Tang Qinru left him feeling somewhat overwhelmed and exhausted in both body and mind.

After seeing the two women off, Lin Chuan didn’t linger outside but quickly returned home.

Upon entering, he found Lin Yiyang fast asleep, limbs sprawled out in a star shape, utterly unaffected by Lin Chuan’s absence. Lin Chuan smiled with fondness as he approached the bed, gently tucking the blanket around his son. Then, moving quietly, he made his way to the bathroom.

That night, Lin Chuan barely slept. Every time he closed his eyes, images from the past would flood his mind—scenes of him with his ex-girlfriend, Lin Yiyang’s mother. He had overheard the conversation between Lin Yiyang and Wang Yue during the day, though he hadn’t revealed himself.

In truth, just as Lin Yiyang had said, his mother was a forbidden subject for Lin Chuan, one he was unwilling even to think about.

Unknowingly, dawn crept upon him, and only then did Lin Chuan, in a daze, finally feel the pull of sleep.

The entire next day, when he wasn’t napping, Lin Chuan spent time drawing with Lin Yiyang. Father and son got along harmoniously.

On the day of the competition, Lin Chuan rose early, standing before the mirror with a wry smile at his reflection. Though the swelling on his face had subsided, the bruises remained, now dark purple—especially around his eye and mouth, making him look battered and unsightly.

If he were to compete as he was, wouldn’t he be a laughingstock?

As Lin Chuan fretted, Lin Yiyang quietly approached, holding a blue box. “Daddy, this is my treasure box. I’ll let you use it!”

“My treasure box?” Lin Chuan blinked, opening it to find several bandages, a jumble of small medicine bottles, and even some hangover remedies.

Seeing these, Lin Chuan’s heart trembled. He reached out and hugged Lin Yiyang tightly. He understood that this so-called ‘treasure box’ was simply a collection of commonly used medicines his son had gathered. The bandages and hangover cures were ones Lin Chuan himself had relied on in the past.

He often drank himself into oblivion, so bumps and scrapes were inevitable. There were also cold and fever medicines, and something for stomachaches—everything one might need.

At that moment, Lin Chuan was speechless. He simply stood there, holding his son, making silent promises to himself. Despite his failures in love and career, at least his son remained by his side.

“Daddy, you’re going to be late!”

Time passed unknowingly until Lin Yiyang suddenly patted Lin Chuan’s forehead.

“Oh no, why didn’t you remind me sooner? Quick, give me the bandages!” Lin Chuan snapped out of his reverie, fumbling in a hurry.

Grinning, his toothy smile wide, Lin Yiyang handed him several bandages.

About twenty minutes later, Lin Chuan left home with Lin Yiyang. His face was covered with three or four bandages, barely concealing the bruises.

When they finally arrived at the recording venue, the place was already swarming with reporters and fans.

“Lin Chuan, you’re finally here! We thought you were going to drop out!” As soon as he entered the waiting room, Huang Quan greeted him with a hearty laugh.

“Phew, I overslept this morning. I hope I’m not late?” Lin Chuan replied, still catching his breath.

Lin Yiyang stood pale-faced nearby. As Lin Chuan tried to enter, they’d been swarmed by reporters and fans, barely managing to break free. Even Yiyang had been frightened by the commotion.

“Heh, Brother Chuan, you’re the talk of the town lately! I heard you got into a brawl with some rich guy at a bar the other day—tsk, tsk. Why didn’t you call me?” Li Rong, ever the tomboy, walked over.

Lin Chuan had a good impression of Li Rong. She was blunt and straightforward, lacking the delicacy of most girls, but she was forthright and unconcerned with trivialities. Her personality had earned her the unshakable title of ‘tomboy.’

Lin Chuan offered a sheepish smile and took a seat on the sofa with Lin Yiyang. There were only a handful of people in the room—besides Huang Quan and Li Rong, only the ‘rock’ singer Chen Yong remained.

Chen Yong had stood out since the preliminary rounds, his talent making him a formidable contender and a major rival for the championship. He was also a man of few words, preferring to keep to himself in a corner, tinkering with his electric guitar and rarely speaking to anyone—an undeniably eccentric character.

Still, since this was a solo competition, his reclusive nature didn’t matter.

Lin Chuan chatted a bit more with Huang Quan and Li Rong.

Suddenly, the host’s voice echoed from the stage, signaling that the elimination round—fifty contestants down to thirty—was officially underway.

Time ticked by as contestant after contestant took the stage, the competition fierce and intense. It wasn’t until the afternoon that Lin Chuan’s turn finally arrived.

As he made his way down the corridor toward the stage, many contestants and staff members gave him looks that ranged from disdain to open avoidance, stepping aside to keep their distance.

Lin Chuan saw it all but his expression remained calm and unmoved.

“Did you hear? A few days ago, that guy got into a fight with some rich kid in a bar and got thoroughly beaten. Serves him right!”

“I know about it. The rich kid wanted him to write a couple of songs, but this guy acted all high and mighty and refused in front of everyone…”

“Hmph, so what if he can write a few songs? If I were him, I’d be too embarrassed to even show up. Look at those bandages—what a joke!”

Whispers spread through the crowd, with both staff and contestants chiming in, their eyes full of mockery.

Lin Chuan glanced at them from the corner of his eye, pretending not to hear as he kept walking.

Suddenly, a figure darted out in front of him, colliding with him head-on.

A woman’s shriek pierced the air.

“Are you blind? I’m standing right here and you can’t see me?” A girl sat on the floor before him, her face twisted in anger.

“I’m truly sorry—I didn’t see you,” Lin Chuan apologized, reaching out a hand to help her up.

But the girl made no move to rise, continuing to shout, “Didn’t see me? You can’t even notice someone this close—are you blind? Why don’t you just stay home instead of embarrassing yourself at this competition?”

Her words dripped with derision, and those watching from the sidelines pointed and snickered, their ridicule blatant.

Lin Chuan’s brow furrowed as he straightened. He now realized the collision was deliberate—a ploy to humiliate him.

“If you don’t want to get up, then just stay there,” he replied coldly, turning and striding away.

As he walked off, the girl shouted after him, “Lin Chuan, so you can write a few songs—big deal! If you’ve got what it takes, make it into the top thirty and show us!”

“I will.”

As those three words reached the ears of the girl and the onlookers, Lin Chuan vanished from their sight.

The fifty-to-thirty elimination round was even tougher than the previous stages, demanding not only true talent but also popularity and fan support.

As a singer-songwriter, Lin Chuan had stood out in this year’s competition, a formidable rival to all. But since the news of his recent fight had spread, his standing had suffered. Some contestants, thinking they had a chance to advance, seized the opportunity to try and undermine him—if they could get him to quit, so much the better.

This was why the girl had staged the collision and hurled insults.

But they underestimated him. Such petty tricks couldn’t shake Lin Chuan’s resolve.

Unless eliminated, he would press on without hesitation—for he needed to win the championship, and the prize money that could change his and Lin Yiyang’s lives.