Chapter 35: Appearance

Having personally experienced the story behind "Camellia," Lin Chuan found his emotions swept along with it. He began to sing the song over and over until he had memorized every lyric. Then, gradually, he poured all the feelings conjured by the scenes in his mind into the song.

The opening verses described the camellias sprawling across the mountainsides and the tea-picking girls who lived among them. The rhythm was lively, and Lin Chuan sang softly, a faint smile on his lips.

But as he reached the chorus, Lin Chuan's voice grew heavier. Had anyone been present, they would have been astonished to sense that every lyric, every note, burned with fierce flames—almost as if he were filled with rage.

Time slipped by as Lin Chuan sang the song again and again. Yet each time, he was drawn into those vivid images, his emotions rising and falling with the music.

This, perhaps, was what it meant to truly sing from the heart.

Evening, 7:30.

The sun had long set, and dusk shrouded the sky. Outside the television station, a steady stream of people made their way inside—audience members come to watch the competition.

In the crowd, two young women and a handsome man walked together in the middle of the line. A little boy trailed beside them, eyes darting about as if searching for someone.

"Honestly, Lin Chuan is something else—calling us out so early when the show doesn't start until tonight!" Tang Qinru complained.

Wang Yue glanced at her impassively, saying nothing.

"Heh, maybe he’s just too excited," Yuan Ye replied with a grin. "Besides, it’s not like we were idle all day, right, Yangyang?"

"But where's my dad? Why isn’t he coming with us?" Lin Yiyang didn’t answer, still scanning the crowd.

"Yangyang, you’ll see your dad soon. There are a lot of people here, so don’t wander off. Stay close to your sister," Wang Yue said, gently pulling Lin Yiyang closer.

All day long, as the only adult man, Yuan Ye had accompanied Tang Qinru and Wang Yue, along with Lin Yiyang, shopping, dining, and buying heaps of things. The purchases were almost all Tang Qinru’s clothes and Lin Yiyang’s toys; Wang Yue, on the other hand, got nothing.

It wasn’t that Yuan Ye was unwilling to buy anything for her—it was Wang Yue who refused everything, insisting she shouldn’t accept unearned gifts, especially since they barely knew each other.

Because it was Saturday, Lin Chuan had to prepare for the live show, and with Lin Yiyang’s kindergarten closed for the weekend, there was no one to look after him. Originally, Lin Chuan had asked Yuan Ye to help out for the day, intending to join Wang Yue and the others in the evening.

But Yuan Ye adamantly refused unless he was accompanied by beautiful women. Left with no choice, Lin Chuan swallowed his pride and called Wang Yue and the others out early.

Yet Yuan Ye never imagined the cost of this day—several thousand yuan spent, and that was without Tang Qinru splurging on luxury brands or designer bags. Otherwise, he’d have really bled dry.

The line moved quickly, and within fifteen minutes, it was their turn. Yuan Ye hurriedly produced their tickets, handed them to the staff, and they were let inside.

The lobby of Beining Television was spacious, its walls adorned with photos of renowned hosts and visiting celebrities. Posters for current hit dramas and variety shows broadcast by the station were everywhere.

Prominently displayed were promotional photos for this season’s “A Song to Fame,” featuring Lin Chuan, Huang Quan, Fang Hao, Li Rong, and the Rocker.

When Lin Yiyang spotted his father’s photo, his eyes sparkled. He rushed over, exclaiming, "Sister Yue, look, that’s my dad!"

Wang Yue, Yuan Ye, and Tang Qinru joined him, each smiling.

"Tsk, tsk, television stations in big cities really are something else," Yuan Ye marveled.

"Oh, feeling envious? Well, considering where you’re from—what’s it called again?—there’s not much room for growth. Envy is probably all you have left," Tang Qinru sneered.

Such a sharp tongue.

Yuan Ye’s face clouded, but he gritted his teeth and declared, "One day, I’ll make our station famous, just you wait!"

"Heh, I’ll look forward to it," Tang Qinru retorted with disdain. "But I doubt it’ll happen in my lifetime—maybe your grandson can burn me a newspaper in the afterlife!"

Yuan Ye’s face turned green, his teeth grinding audibly.

Wang Yue frowned slightly and nudged Tang Qinru with her elbow, signaling her to let it go.

It was odd, really—Yuan Ye and Tang Qinru hadn’t met before today, but from the moment they did, it was as if they were old enemies. Whatever one said or did, the other would immediately counter or mock.

As a man, Yuan Ye didn’t want to stoop to bickering with a young woman, and he’d spent quite a bit trying to ease the tension. It was all to no avail.

The three, plus the child, wandered the lobby for a long while before following the crowd into the studio.

…

Meanwhile, with the competition about to begin, Lin Chuan, Huang Quan, and the other contestants left their rooms and gathered in a conference room. A large screen displayed a live feed from the set.

"Xiao Chuan, how’s your song coming along? How confident are you for the competition?" Huang Quan asked, brows furrowed.

"It’s fine, shouldn’t be a problem," Lin Chuan replied with a relaxed smile.

"That’s a relief. I was worried you might just drop out," Huang Quan sighed in relief, finally smiling.

Lin Chuan chuckled quietly.

Just then, the host’s voice rang out from the screen, signaling the official start of the competition. First, the host read a lengthy list of sponsor advertisements. Then, with a perfectly composed expression, he delivered a short opening speech and began introducing the judges.

The first to appear was Teacher Chen Dong—white-haired yet sharp-eyed, exuding a natural authority.

The second was a middle-aged woman, introduced as the most renowned lyricist and composer in the music industry; many hit songs from top stars were her work. For Beining Television to invite someone of her caliber spoke to their influence.

The third judge was a middle-aged man named Liu Ke, a veteran of the music world, though his reputation didn’t quite match the first two.

When the fourth and final judge was introduced, Lin Chuan, Huang Quan, and all present were speechless. Even the host gave only a perfunctory introduction. The judge was Yang Wei, who’d entered the entertainment industry by pulling family strings.

Next came the drawing of lots. The eight contestants, including Lin Chuan and Huang Quan, would determine their performance order by random draw.

The host reached into a crystal ball, rummaged for a while, then pulled out a slip with a song title.

When he read the name aloud, one contestant stood up reluctantly and headed toward the stage.

"Good thing it’s not us. Going first is always a disadvantage," Huang Quan breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Chuan just smiled, eyes never leaving the screen.

The first contestant, a man in his thirties known for sentimental ballads, had been assigned a folk song by the producers, which left him quite at a loss.

After a brief chat with the host, he was left alone on stage. As the music started, he brought the microphone to his chest, drew a deep breath, and began to sing.

The soulful folk song ended, and the voting channels opened. The audience members picked up their voting devices and cast their votes. The maximum vote count was 500. When the channel closed, the screen froze at 387 votes.

The contestant was clearly dissatisfied, shaking his head dejectedly as he left the stage.

The second performer was a girl with a pure and innocent look, yet she’d been assigned a rock song—clearly, the producers had intentionally mismatched styles and songs.

Still, after her performance, she was met with enthusiastic applause and surpassed 400 votes, her final tally landing at 421. She seemed pleased, smiling with satisfaction.

The host returned to the crystal ball, drew another slip, and his gaze flickered as he read the name.

"This song was once a sensation across the country, heard in every street and alley. For more than a decade, it has been imitated but never surpassed. Tonight, a contestant dares to take on this classic—let’s welcome Lin Chuan with ‘Camellia’!"

"No way, such bad luck?" Huang Quan muttered with a wry smile.

Lin Chuan was momentarily surprised, but not discouraged. He patted Huang Quan on the shoulder, rose, and stepped out the door.

Meanwhile, as the host finished his announcement, Yang Wei, seated among the judges, let a sly smile curl at his lips, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.

If nothing unexpected happened, tonight would mark Lin Chuan's final appearance on this stage.