Perfect Superstar.

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In August, the golden heat of Hangzhou seemed to burn the air.

A light rain had just passed, and although the sky was now a clear blue, the ground steamed under the blazing sun. The rising mist lent the surroundings an almost surreal quality, intensifying the humid heat.

Despite the weather, the banks of West Lake were bustling with people at midday.

As one of China's seven ancient capitals and a premier tourist destination, Hangzhou welcomes over 70 million visitors each year. On holidays, the popular spots overflow with crowds.

For Lu Chen, Hangzhou was a place of vibrant beauty and cherished memories.

Yet, returning to this familiar city after more than a month, he felt a tinge of estrangement.

Thankfully, he still remembered the way to the restaurant; otherwise, he might have embarrassed himself in front of his friends.

They walked through a long alley until an elegant, traditional mansion appeared before them. Its white walls, dark tiles, and lush greenery painted a picturesque scene. A bright red gate stood open, and four red lanterns bearing black-and-white calligraphy hung beneath the eaves.

The sign read: Bailu Restaurant.

The entrance was flanked by couplets: "Two orioles sing amid the green willows; a row of egrets soars into the blue sky."

"Brother Chen, is this a restaurant?" Mu Xiaochu asked curiously, her wide, sparkling eyes brimming with surprise.

Her reaction was understandable— this place looked more like a scholar's mansion than a dining spot.

Lu Chen smiled. "This used to be an imperial scholar's residence. It's been a restaurant for many years now."

Bailu Restaurant, a century-old establishment, was famous for its authentic Hangzhou cuisine. While it had several branches in the city, the West Lake location was the flagship. The head chef was a nationally recognized culinary master.

Without a reservation, getting a table here was nearly impossible. Luckily, Lu Chen had a VIP membership card for Bailu Restaurant, allowing him to secure a private room in advance.

Since his family's misfortune, this was the first time Lu Chen had returned to the restaurant.

Joining him today, aside from Mu Xiaochu, were Li Feiyu and two members of the Singing China tour team: Zhang Junhua and Lin Lang.

Zhang Junhua, two years older than Lu Chen, had graduated from the Beijing Modern Music Department. During the Capital City Top 10 round, his original song 'Sea of Love' had topped the leaderboard before Lu Chen overtook him.

Despite this, Zhang Junhua remained a talented and aspiring singer-songwriter, reportedly signed with a notable entertainment company.

Lin Lang, a contestant from the Shenyang division, had defeated Zuo Qiuqing in the first PK round, earning his spot on the tour.

At the same age as Mu Xiaochu, Lin Lang was a lively university student who excelled in rap and dance. With his original works and cheerful personality, he had become a fan favorite.

After fierce competition in three PK rounds, the Capital City Top 10 now had only three survivors: Lu Chen, Zhang Junhua, and Mu Xiaochu.

Lu Chen had invited Zhang Junhua and Mu Xiaochu out for a meal to show hospitality, as Hangzhou was in his home province. Over the course of the tour, the three had grown familiar enough to call each other friends.

Li Feiyu, as always, accompanied Lu Chen in his role as an assistant.

Lin Lang had tagged along as well, likely drawn by his growing fondness for Mu Xiaochu.

Lu Chen didn't mind— one extra person was no big deal.

After presenting his VIP card to a waiter, the group was soon led to a reserved private room.

The room, though modest in size, was tastefully decorated in traditional style. Opening the window revealed a serene view of bamboo groves and ponds, where a gentle breeze dispelled the heat.

"Brother Chen, this place is incredible!" Lin Lang exclaimed. "Do you come here often? It must be expensive, right?"

Lin Lang, being relatively young, felt a little awkward about dining in such an upscale setting since Lu Chen was footing the bill.

Lu Chen laughed. "I've only been here twice before, and the membership card was a gift. The prices here aren't that high."

Despite its prestigious reputation, Bailu Restaurant offered affordable dining, especially if one avoided extravagant dishes. Even regular workers could enjoy a meal without financial strain.

The flagship branch near West Lake was slightly pricier but still reasonable.

The real draw was the authentic Hangzhou cuisine, and Lu Chen wanted his friends to taste the best.

This VIP card had been a gift from one of Lu Qingsheng's business associates.

Lu Chen had once brought his girlfriend here for meals.

But life had changed— his father had passed away, and his girlfriend had left.

Only Bailu Restaurant remained unchanged.

Brushing aside a pang of nostalgia, Lu Chen called the waiter to place their orders.

As they waited for the food, Li Feiyu set up a digital camera, first pointing it at Lu Chen.

Li Feiyu's main task as Lu Chen's assistant was recording and live-streaming his Singing China tour for fans on Whale TV.

For fans, it was an exciting glimpse behind the scenes. Every evening, over 500,000 viewers tuned in, ensuring that Lu Chen continued earning significant rewards even during the tour.

Actually, outdoor live streaming using a phone was an option, but to ensure better content quality, Li Feiyu would usually record the footage during the day and later edit it using software back at the hotel.

Whenever possible, Lu Chen would host live streams personally. If he had to participate in a competition, Li Feiyu would handle the live streaming in his stead.

This interactive engagement steadily increased his fanbase, expanding the ranks of the "Lu Family Army."

These passionate and supportive fans were undoubtedly one of the crucial pillars of Lu Chen's foothold in the entertainment industry.

Setting aside contractual obligations, Lu Chen had no intention of giving up on live streaming. He was also continuously exploring new ways to enhance audience interaction.

Holding the camera, Li Feiyu chuckled and said, "This is a rare opportunity, Big Chen! Greet your fans first, then I'll film our future superstar friends here!"

Lu Chen waved with a smile. "Hello, everyone! I'm your host, Lu Chen. Right now, we're at Bailu Restaurant by the West Lake in Hangzhou, having lunch with some friends from the Singing China tour team."

"This here is everyone's favorite, Xiaochu!"

The camera turned to Mu Xiaochu, who shyly waved with a gentle smile. "Hi, everyone."

Dressed in a simple white dress, Mu Xiaochu looked like a delicate white flower, exuding a soft and graceful beauty.

Lu Chen had a good impression of his shy junior, but it wasn't romantic— more like an elder brother's protective care for a younger sister. He often looked after her along the way.

After filming Mu Xiaochu, the camera panned to Zhang Junhua and Lin Lang, who both cooperated warmly.

Once the recording was done, Lin Lang asked curiously, "Brother Chen, are these recordings for promotional purposes?"

Lu Chen explained, "Not exactly. They're for my live-streaming broadcasts. You've heard of online streaming, right?"

Mu Xiaochu, Zhang Junhua, and Lin Lang all nodded in understanding.

Lu Chen smiled. "I'm a contracted online streamer. What we're filming now will be used as material."

This wasn't a secret, and Lu Chen didn't mind sharing.

Lin Lang's eyes widened in surprise. "Brother Chen, I thought you were signed with some big company! Why would you do this? Is streaming really profitable?"

Although Lin Lang's question was innocent, his tone carried a hint of disdain that was hard to miss.

Even Zhang Junhua's expression reflected some disapproval.

Online streaming has emerged as a new profession in recent years. With low entry barriers and intense competition, the industry has seen its fair share of controversies, including scandalous behavior by some streamers desperate for attention.

Such incidents, often sensationalized by the media, had cast a negative light on the profession.

Both Lin Lang and Zhang Junhua were surprised that someone as talented as Lu Chen had chosen such a grassroots path instead of signing with a prominent entertainment company.

Noticing their reactions, Lu Chen smiled lightly. "I'm an independent artist and don't plan on signing with any entertainment agency. Streaming is quite fun, actually— just singing, chatting, and performing while making new friends."

"If you're interested, you can give it a try someday."

Lu Chen didn't bother trying to change their biases, as he knew some issues did exist in the streaming world.

But as long as he had a clear conscience, that was enough.

Unable to hold back, Zhang Junhua asked, "How much can you even make from this? I've heard people exaggerate their earnings a lot."

Privately, Zhang Junhua still harbored some resentment toward Lu Chen and used the opportunity to throw a subtle jab.

Lu Chen, unfazed, replied calmly, "There's definitely some hype in those numbers, but for someone like me, with a fixed salary and a share of tips, it's roughly a million or so a year."

He deliberately understated the figure.

Clatter!

Lin Lang's chopsticks fell to the table, and Zhang Junhua froze in shock.

A million? Just about a million?

Was that real or fake?

Mu Xiaochu gazed at Lu Chen with admiration. "Brother Chen, you're amazing!"

Her words could easily be misinterpreted.

Lu Chen coughed lightly and said, "The food's coming. Let's focus on eating. We can talk after we've filled our stomachs!"

In the grand scheme of things, nothing was more important than a meal.

Of course, someone at the table suddenly seemed to lose their appetite.

But Lu Chen wasn't about to concern himself with that.

(End of Chapter)