Perfect Superstar.

"Life is like a great river— sometimes tranquil, sometimes wild…"

"Reality is like a shackle, binding me, impossible to break free…"

"This enigmatic life, sharp as a blade, wounds me again and again…"

"I know the happiness I seek lies in that higher sky."

"I want to soar higher, fly higher!"

"…"

The Capital City TV studio was utterly silent, with only Lu Chen's impassioned voice reverberating throughout the hall, striking deep into the hearts of everyone present.

The original song Lu Chen performed was titled 'Fly Higher'. He had sung it once during the Whale TV PK Theme Show, but after that, he didn't showcase it again.

Tonight, on the grand stage of Capital City TV, he brought this song back to life with his distinctive voice and raw emotional power, delivering a perfect rendition.

Compared to his earlier acoustic performance during the online live streaming, 'Fly Higher' had been rearranged with richer instrumentation and enhanced melodies, making its rhythm and tune even more impactful.

Lu Chen poured his entire soul into this performance.

During the climactic chorus, he unleashed his vocal potential, reaching new heights and creating an overwhelming impact on the 1,500 live audience members and those watching from their TVs and computers.

His performance deeply moved the four judges as well.

In the preliminary round, Lu Chen had performed 'Walking While Sing', a casual and laid-back love ballad that was touching and pleasant, evoking a sense of warmth.

In the top 32 elimination round, he switched to a folk song, 'My Old Classmate', a nostalgic piece that stirred countless memories of youthful days, resonating deeply with the audience.

From a purely artistic perspective, 'My Old Classmate' surpassed 'Walking While Sing'.

This young, exceptional singer was the biggest revelation Singing China had brought to its audience!

Tan Hong, Chen Fei'er, and Lin Zhijie had all looked forward to seeing Lu Chen deliver another stellar original piece in the Capital City division finals. They hoped he would surprise them yet again.

But they were also aware of the difficulty.

It's not unusual for a young artist to produce one or two good songs, but creating masterpiece after masterpiece requires extraordinary talent and a solid foundation.

'Could young Lu Chen achieve that? Could he still surprise everyone with his creativity?'

Before he stepped onto the stage, no one outside his die-hard fan base knew the answer.

But Lu Chen didn't disappoint. His new work was as brilliant— if not more so— than his previous ones.

Moreover, his style had transformed once again. It felt as though he had unleashed all his pent-up emotions through this song, opening his heart completely, breaking free from all constraints, and soaring toward the highest peak!

"I want to soar higher, fly higher! Dance like a storm, break free from these chains!"

"I want to soar higher, fly higher! Wings stirring the storm, heart roaring aloud—fly higher!"

"Fly higher, fly higher…"

Many in the live audience couldn't hold back. Even though Lu Chen's performance wasn't over, they stood up and clapped enthusiastically, cheering him on!

Such an electrifying, heart-stirring scene hadn't been seen with any of the previous contestants.

These audience members weren't hired by the TV station. They had no pre-written scripts or staged reactions. Their emotions were genuine, and their expressions came straight from the heart!

The energy in the venue was something that couldn't be fully conveyed through a screen.

Finally, Lu Chen roared out the last few lines of the song with all his might.

"I want to soar higher, fly higher! Dance like a storm, break free from these chains!"

Whoosh—

The entire audience rose to their feet, including the four judges, to applaud him.

Everyone gave the loudest, most thunderous applause, creating a storm to help Lu Chen soar even higher!

At that moment, words were unnecessary. The applause said it all.

For many, this moment would remain one of the most unforgettable memories of their lives.

The live broadcast then cut to the waiting area backstage.

For tonight's division finals, Lu Chen had two additional members in his support group: Lu Xi and Chen Xin.

After their conversation earlier, Chen Xin, the girl from Sichuan, had resigned from her job the next day and officially joined the Lu Chen Workshop as Lu Xi's assistant and office administrator.

After a few days of probation, Lu Xi was very pleased with her. So, she was invited to attend Lu Chen's performance that evening.

Chen Xin was clapping furiously, her round face flushed with excitement and joy. She looked like a ripe apple— adorable and charming.

By contrast, Lu Xi remained composed, clapping at a steady pace.

But the glimmer in her eyes betrayed her inner emotions, which were far from calm.

The song 'Fly Higher' had deeply moved her as well.

For the first time, she realized that her little brother was no longer the mischievous child he once was.

He had grown up, matured, and now possessed the wings to soar!

She suddenly felt a touch of melancholy.

The applause lasted for over a minute before gradually subsiding.

Lu Chen bowed deeply. "Thank you!"

Once the audience's emotions returned to normal, Zhen Zhen was the first to speak:

"Your song reminds me of 'In Spring'— both have such powerful emotional expression and profound lyrics."

"Lu Chen, do you know something?"

"You've made me believe that the original spirit of domestic pop music will never disappear. There's always hope!"

She firmly pressed the scoring button. "That's why I'm giving you 10 points this time!"

The audience erupted in applause once again.

In the previous round, Zhen Zhen had given Lu Chen his only score of 9 points.

Lu Chen expressed his gratitude: "Thank you, Teacher Zhen Zhen."

Tan Hong suddenly stood up and strode onto the stage. Opening his arms, he gave Lu Chen a big hug.

"Well written, and even better sung!"

His unexpected gesture drew both laughter and applause.

After returning to the judges' table, Tan Hong also gave Lu Chen a perfect 10.

Chen Fei'er smiled and said, "Big Brother Tan always supports new talent. I like this song too."

"Lu Chen, you're an exceptional singer. I love all your works, so I'd like to invite you to be a guest performer at my Capital City concert later this year. Would you be willing?"

'Wow!'

The 1,500 audience members in the venue, as well as the millions watching from their screens, were stunned and surprised.

It was clear that Chen Fei'er admired Lu Chen, but no one expected her to invite him as a guest for her concert.

For a newcomer who had just debuted, this was an extraordinary honor and an incredible stroke of luck.

Chen Fei'er, long known as the "Queen of Sweet Songs" in the domestic music scene, had set numerous records as a female singer. Though her career wasn't as dazzling as it once was, she remained a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.

Being promoted by Chen Fei'er and performing at her concert would be no less impactful than appearing on the stage of Singing China.

Lu Chen was momentarily stunned but quickly regained his composure and replied, "It would be my honor!"

Chen Fei'er smiled radiantly, and the camera perfectly captured her enchanting expression.

Absolutely captivating.

Chen Fei'er also awarded Lu Chen a perfect score of 10.

Finally, Lin Zhijie offered a few words of encouragement before giving Lu Chen another 10 points.

40 Points!

Lu Chen received full marks from the judges. Although his advancement to the top 10 was already a foregone conclusion, this unbeatable score significantly boosted his chances of claiming the top spot.

Now, it all depended on the votes from the live and external audiences.

The host took the stage, standing beside Lu Chen with a tablet in hand.

He was there to announce the real-time voting results.

Contestant Name: Lu Chen

Contestant Number: 007

Song Performed: 'Fly Higher'

Judges' Score: 40 Points

Live Audience Votes: 1,488

External Audience Votes: 1,275,280

Total Score: 98.71 Points

Unparalleled!

Compared to the previous round, Lu Chen's external votes had nearly doubled— from over 700,000 to 1.27 million— showcasing his surging popularity.

With a total score of 98.71, Lu Chen was firmly atop the Capital City top 10 rankings, leaving no room for doubt.

To put it into perspective, the two strong contenders, Zhang Junhua and Zuo Qiuqing had scores of 94.23 and 93.17, respectively— which put them far behind Lu Chen.

Thanks to this high score, Lu Chen's name appeared at the very top of the big screen leaderboard.

The audience broke into thunderous applause once more!

Meanwhile, Lu Chen's live streaming channel on Whale TV and the official Singing China forum were also buzzing with excitement.

In particular, Lu Chen's fans on the forum, who had endured nearly 10 minutes of silence, were now celebrating triumphantly. They dug up earlier posts filled with doubts and criticisms, using them to mock and ridicule the naysayers.

Those critics had gone completely silent. Even if they wanted to fight back, they had no grounds to do so.

Not only did Lu Chen achieve the highest score so far, but he also gained the support of heavyweights like Tan Hong and Chen Fei'er, the latter even inviting him to her concert.

How could anyone doubt or defame him now?

A few stubborn accounts insisted that the competition wasn't over and that victory was still uncertain.

But their hopes were destined to be dashed. None of the eight contestants who followed Lu Chen managed to surpass his total score— not even Zhang Junhua or Zuo Qiuqing.

Thus, Lu Chen indisputably secured the championship of the Singing China Capital City division top 10!

In addition to the prestigious title, he also received a tax-free cash prize from Capital City TV.

100,000 Yuan.

(Chapter End)

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