Perfect Superstar.

As the song came to a close, applause erupted like a tidal wave.

Xi Jia's original composition, 'Uninhabited Island', was undoubtedly the highlight of tonight's PK match in the Bihai district. The top 10 contestant revealed her trump card against a formidable opponent, instantly winning the audience's admiration.

With her unique voice, powerful vocal performance, catchy lyrics, and lively, upbeat melody...

Accompanied by a passionate live band, the new song felt like a sudden tropical rainstorm on a summer night, sweeping through the 5,000-strong audience with the force of a whirlwind.

Many spectators stood up, clapping enthusiastically and expressing their appreciation for the wonderful song.

Xi Jia's fans raised their glow sticks high and shouted her name.

The atmosphere in the venue reached a new climax!

Amidst the cheers of thousands, Xi Jia's chest rose and fell rapidly, her porcelain-like face flushed with excitement, and glimmering tears welled in the corners of her eyes.

Holding her electric guitar, she bowed deeply to the audience in gratitude.

She then turned to express her thanks to the live band.

When she straightened up, two lines of tears traced her cheeks, but she was still smiling— her joyful smile.

Among the four judges, Chen Fei'er stood up and applauded for her.

Once seated, the "Queen of Sweet Songs" smiled and asked, "You sang so beautifully, Xi Jia! I remember in the previous rounds, you always performed covers of others' songs. Why did you choose to showcase your original work tonight?"

Xi Jia wiped away her tears, feeling a little shy as she replied, "Because I've been working on this song for a long time, and I never had the right opportunity to share it with anyone. But tonight is different..."

After a slight pause, she continued, "Tonight is the PK match for the Bihai district, and I wanted to use this song to express my love for my hometown and thank all my fans and the audience for their support!"

"Thank you, everyone!"

The applause that had just subsided erupted again.

Chen Fei'er encouraged, "Well said! I give you 10 points!"

She pressed the button, awarding Xi Jia a perfect score of 10.

Amid the enthusiastic applause, Xi Jia bowed again, saying, "Thank you, Teacher Chen."

Next, Tan Hong, Lin Zhijie, and Zhen Zhen each gave their comments and awarded 9, 9, and 10 points, respectively!

Adding it all together, Xi Jia's total score from the judges was 38, the highest score so far in the competition.

The entire venue was filled with thunderous applause.

Uninhabited Island was a typical fast-paced song, perfectly matching the tastes of young people today.

Its lyrics and melody were unique, and with the right promotion, it would have no problem climbing the Original Sound charts, possibly even making it to the Top 10.

However, while it was outstanding, it couldn't be considered a classic, as it lacked deep meaning. It was only due to Xi Jia's nearly perfect performance that it earned such a high score from the judges.

Original compositions were certainly a bonus, but vocal skill was equally important. After all, Singing China was not The Strongest Singer, so Xi Jia's performance was key to her score.

By earning such a high score, she had unknowingly placed immense pressure on the next contestant, Lu Chen.

Especially since Xi Jia had relied on her original composition.

By the time the touring PK round arrived, the judges' scoring standards had become much stricter, and it was no longer easy to score a perfect 10.

Even Lu Chen, in his previous two rounds, had only scored 36 and 37 points, though both scores were still higher than his opponents.

Now, with Xi Jia's score of 38, and her home-field advantage, she posed a significant threat to Lu Chen.

This pressure was keenly felt by Lu Chen's fans in the Whale TV LiveStreaming room.

"Xi Jia is really impressive! Although I'm a Lu Chen fan, I have to admit this song is great."

"Yes, it's really good. Even Chen Fei'er gave her 10 points."

"What if...?"

"What is this? I'm really done with you people. Lu Fei has faced strong opponents before, hasn't he?"

"There's no 'what if.' General Lu will definitely win!"

"If the streamer loses, I'll eat my keyboard on LiveStreaming!"

"Chocolate keyboard, maybe?"

"Pah, pah, pah! Don't jinx it! I believe in General Lu; he will win for sure!"

"Supporting the streamer."

Amidst the discussions, Lu Fei's top fan, Li Bai, suddenly dropped five Aircraft Carriers in the Live Streaming chat.

After shocking the audience with his generosity, he coolly said, "General Lu will definitely win, no doubt. Win this PK match, and everyone come to the group to grab some red envelopes!"

The Live Streaming chat immediately filled with flattery.

When a rich fan makes a move, it's a different story— it instantly silenced all the noise.

At the competition site, after the judges gave their scores, Xi Jia stepped down, and Lu Chen took the stage.

The rules of the Touring PK match differed from the previous district advancement matches. In addition to the judges' scores, the audience's votes, both on-site and online, would also be revealed later. Of course, the counting time for both contestants was the same.

Lu Chen walked onto the stage with his guitar.

"Good evening, esteemed judges, and hello to all the viewers at the venue and watching from home!"

"I am Lu Chen!"

He bowed after his introduction.

The audience, though polite, responded with warm applause, but it wasn't quite as loud as before.

However, two female fans sitting in the front seats waved their glow sticks enthusiastically.

The words "Lu Chen" written in a cute font were very noticeable and eye-catching.

"Hello."

Tan Hong nodded, smiled, and asked, "Lu Chen, everyone is eagerly awaiting your performance tonight. Xi Jia scored 38 points earlier; do you feel any pressure?"

Since Tan Hong's appearance on Singing China, his rigorous approach and professional judgment had earned him the title of head judge. Some online critics mentioned that he was overly strict with "vagabond singers," but no one accused him of unfair scoring.

Tan Hong wasn't one to engage much with the contestants. He preferred to offer musical guidance and feedback instead.

This casual questioning was rare, and it was probably only directed at Lu Chen.

Lu Chen answered calmly, "Of course, there is pressure. Xi Jia's performance was amazing, and her song is really great. If I had a choice, I'd prefer not to face her in a PK."

"Well, let's all be good friends!"

The venue immediately erupted in laughter and applause.

Lu Chen's response was not only humble but also humorous, winning him the audience's goodwill.

The camera feed in the Live Streaming room quickly shifted to Xi Jia, who was standing in the waiting area.

Lu Chen's words made her smile slightly, and when the camera caught her, she waved and made a victory gesture.

Chen Fei'er chuckled, "What if you really became good friends? Would you be willing to give up your spot in the national top 10 to her for the sake of friendship?"

The Sweet Song Queen winked, her eyes sparkling with mischievous light.

This question... Lu Chen had nothing to say for a moment. When did Singing China become a "Witty Answers" show?

But his reaction was quick. After a brief pause, he said, "I think real friendship is built on mutual respect and understanding. Friendship is not about benefits or status."

"So, I think Xi Jia wouldn't accept my offer to give her my spot. She would want to earn it herself, and rightfully so!"

As soon as Lu Chen finished speaking, the audience erupted into applause again, even more enthusiastic and sincere than before.

It was for his brilliant answer.

Xi Jia bit her lip, her eyes shining brightly.

Chen Fei'er smiled and said, "Well said, now go ahead and start your performance. I'm really looking forward to it!"

It wasn't just her who was looking forward to it. The audience in front of the TV and computer screens, as well as the hundreds of thousands of fans in the online LiveStreaming room, were all eagerly awaiting Lu Chen's performance tonight.

What kind of song would he use to face such a powerful opponent?

Standing before the microphone with his guitar, Lu Chen was calm.

After so many competitions, he had been truly tempered by them, and now, facing even the biggest stage, he would not feel nervous.

But at this moment, his heart was not calm.

In just the blink of an eye, Lu Chen thought of so many things, countless memories flashing through his mind.

He remembered the dark years he had endured, the despair he felt after his father's death, the hardships brought by life's changes, the heartbreak after his breakup with his girlfriend.

He recalled the days of hustling in Beijing, working tirelessly to earn more money, living like a walking dead.

He remembered being blacklisted by StarryLive, the oppression and pressure he faced after refusing to sign a contract.

He could never forget the two times he was slandered online, with rumors and malicious attacks on his character.

Although he had overcome all the hardships and solved all the problems along the way, he had never expressed his true feelings, never retaliated.

Anger had long been accumulating inside him, waiting for an explosion!

And this was the perfect stage for it.

Lu Chen straightened his chest, his eyes blazing with fire.

He held his guitar tighter and turned to give a thumbs-up to the live band.

It was time to start.

Let the world hear my voice!

The song was called Follow the Dream of the Red Heart.

"The world full of flowers, where exactly is it?

If it truly exists, I would go there,

I want the highest peak there to stand,

Not caring whether it's a cliff or a precipice!

Live with all your might, love with all your might, even if it means sacrificing everything,

Not asking for anyone's approval, just being true to myself,

I've never chosen to give up on my dreams,

Even in the darkest of days.

Maybe I don't have talent,

But I have the innocence of dreams,

I will prove it with my life.

Maybe my hands are clumsy,

But I am willing to keep searching,

Giving all my youth without regret!

Run forward, facing cold stares and ridicule!

The vastness of life cannot be felt without going through hardships,

Destiny will never make us kneel and beg,

Even if blood stains our embrace!

Keep running, with the pride of a child!

The brilliance of life can't be seen without persistence,

Rather than struggling to survive, let it burn with passion,

One day, it will bloom again!"

(End Of The Chapter)

You can read ahead up to 30 chapters on my patreon and I've also activated (date to date) subscription model on my patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395