Chapter 46: I Am Ashamed of My Inferiority

On stage, a lone beam of light seemed tilted, shining just in front of Su Chen. The brightness was so close, yet Su Chen himself stood shrouded in darkness, the two appearing worlds apart.

After a brief familiarization with the piece, the musicians in the band began to play the song’s prelude. First came the piano, its notes struck with clarity, followed by the orchestral bass gently joining in, allowing the prelude to flow quietly in this tranquil atmosphere.

Standing behind the circle of light, Su Chen felt the weight of doubts, mockery, and sneers he had endured. He took a deep breath. As the beat of the drums sounded, Su Chen finally stepped forward, entering the spotlight.

He gripped the microphone with resolve and began to sing.

“A world filled with flowers—where does it lie? If it truly exists, I will surely seek it. I wish to stand atop the tallest peak, caring not if it’s a sheer cliff.”

The style of Su Chen’s song was nothing like the previous sentimental ballad “Someone Like Me.” With rock-influenced accompaniment and crisp articulation, he immediately conveyed a sense of clear purpose and uplifting vigor.

Just this opening verse made Zhou Zhiqian look up abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief! Ten minutes—if Su Chen had written only these lyrics in that time, it would be enough to prove his talent!

“To live with strength, to love with strength, even if it means giving everything. Seeking no one’s approval, only staying true to myself. I have never chosen to abandon my ideals, even in days covered with dust and dirt.”

When Su Chen sang the second line of the verse, Han Hong, seated among the mentors, stared at him in shock. Just as Zhou Zhiqian has mastery over sorrowful songs, Han Hong is deeply sensitive to these songs of positive energy. Thanks to her position with the national team, Han Hong often sings such inspirational pieces at events, and with experience comes her own understanding of the genre.

From the two lines revealed so far, this song—“Dreamer’s Heart”—already promised a noble theme. Now it depended on how much of the song would be completed.

Even if the song only had a single chorus, as long as it seamlessly matched the verse in lyrics and melody, Han Hong had already decided to keep Su Chen in the competition!

Ten minutes—no one believed Su Chen could compose an entire, beautiful song in such a short time. It was considered impossible!

Zheng Huayu’s expression grew increasingly grim. Even if Su Chen were eliminated in this round, these two lines would still slap him across the face.

Zheng Huayu silently prayed for the song to end quickly. But Su Chen’s singing continued.

“Perhaps I lack talent, but I have the innocence of dreams. I will prove it with all my life. Perhaps my hands are clumsier than my feet, but I will never stop searching, giving all my youth without regret…”

The verse concluded. Su Chen’s resonant voice, with a suppressed intensity like a volcano on the verge of eruption, left everyone anticipating the chorus.

A brief pause of a second seemed to stretch into several, but soon, what was destined to come arrived.

“Run forward, facing cold stares and ridicule. The vastness of life cannot be felt without trials. Fate cannot force us to kneel and beg, even if our arms are stained with blood.”

As the chorus burst forth, Han Hong and Zhou Zhiqian couldn’t hold back, exclaiming aloud. This raw, roaring style of singing made every listener’s heart skip a beat, filling them with goosebumps.

The persistence and dedication to dreams in Su Chen’s voice moved the audience and viewers of the live stream alike, bringing tears to the eyes of many young people.

As Su Chen continued singing, Zheng Huayu lost control of his facial expression, his skin twitching, teeth clenched tightly. The better Su Chen sang, the harder it hit Zheng Huayu.

Despite his contempt for Su Chen, Zheng Huayu possessed basic musical appreciation. Without doubt, “Dreamer’s Heart” not only met the requirements of the assignment he’d set, but its quality was outstanding!

Yet Zheng Huayu still had hope. If Su Chen failed to finish the entire song, he could still claim victory. But clearly, Su Chen would not give him that chance.

“Keep running, with a child’s pride. Life’s brilliance cannot be seen without perseverance to the end. Rather than barely surviving, burn with passion. For the beauty in your heart, never compromise, even as you grow old.”

When the pianist pressed the final note, Su Chen had completed his performance of “Dreamer’s Heart” in its entirety.

After Su Chen’s bow, for a full ten seconds, the whole venue seemed spellbound, utterly silent, not a single movement.

Who knows which audience member first began to clap, but soon applause swept over the hall like a tidal wave!

Not only did the audience break into cheers, but the live stream was flooded with messages supporting Su Chen, overwhelming the voices of fans of Meng Xiaotian and Zheng Huayu.

Without a doubt, Su Chen had powerfully shown everyone that every song of his was his own creation.

In this moment, those moved by his music paid no mind to whether Su Chen was a scoundrel or not.

Thunderous applause echoed, but at the side of the stage, Wang Qi was in a daze.

He never expected Su Chen to actually compose a whole song in just five minutes!

Now, with Su Chen having proven himself, it was clear Wang Qi had deceived the audience. All his scheming against Su Chen had only made himself the clown.

“Alright, Su Chen has finished his performance. Let’s invite Wang Qi onto the stage,” Liu Shao announced.

Wang Qi walked onto the stage in a haze, standing beside Su Chen, knowing his fate was sealed.

With the duel complete, the two awaited the mentors’ evaluations.

“I have nothing more to say about this battle. To write such a song in five minutes—this is not just genius, it’s extraordinary! I am humbled by Su Chen’s performance!” Han Hong now regarded Su Chen as a precious gem, glad to be the stepping stone that revealed his brilliance.

If Han Hong felt this way, Zhou Zhiqian, ever a lover of talent, was even more impressed.

It was Zheng Huayu’s turn, and the audience began to chant in rhythm:

“Pass!”
“Pass!”
“Pass!”
...

Faced with such strong public sentiment, Zheng Huayu could not lie with open eyes. He could only say, “Both contestants performed excellently in this round, but Su Chen edged ahead... I also believe Su Chen wins.”

Zheng Huayu smiled as he spoke, but praising Su Chen left him feeling utterly disgusted.

With all three mentors finished, it was time for Su Chen’s chosen mentor, Yan Mi.

She didn’t declare a winner or loser, but simply opened her arms to Su Chen and said, “Welcome to my team, Su Chen!”

“Ah ah ah! Su Chen!”

In an instant, the crowd erupted in excitement.