Chapter 47: The Tree Longs for Stillness, Yet the Wind Will Not Cease

“Congratulations to Su Chen!”
Liu Shao, having received instructions from Director Wu Tong, walked up from the audience and addressed Su Chen, “Su Chen’s performance of ‘A Dreamer’s Heart’ just now left us all astounded—not only by his extraordinary vocal prowess but also by his genius-level songwriting talent.”
“Now, regarding contestant Wang Qi’s earlier remarks, do you have anything you’d like to say in response?”
Su Chen picked up the microphone, feigning helplessness, and replied, “What else can I say? He claimed I didn’t write my own songs, so I wrote one on the spot just for him. If he still has the nerve to claim I bought it, then there’s nothing more I can do.”
His words provoked a wave of laughter from the audience. He paused, then continued, “As for the other things he mentioned... I have a clear conscience. Regarding Tianbao, I think it was just a miscommunication between us. He probably wanted to chat before going on stage, but I was wearing headphones preparing my song, so he must have misunderstood.”
Liu Shao smiled and pressed on, “We also believe those statements may not be true. So, on behalf of our audience, I’d like to ask: if all these rumors are false, does that mean the statement from Starlight Entertainment is false as well?”
This time, Su Chen didn’t answer directly. Instead, he smiled and asked in return, “Liu Shao, do I look like someone who can’t get a girlfriend?”
Liu Shao was briefly taken aback, unsure of where Su Chen was going with this, and answered honestly.
“With your talent and looks, I hardly think you’d have trouble finding a girlfriend.”
“Exactly. So why would I go out of my way to harass an artist from Starlight Entertainment? Just because she’s a celebrity? How foolish would I have to be to make myself a laughingstock like that?” Su Chen chuckled at his own words.
Seeing Su Chen laugh, Liu Shao’s curiosity grew.
“So... if it’s all false, why have you avoided commenting on Starlight Entertainment’s statement until now?”
“Because it concerns my previous relationship. My silence isn’t out of guilt, but because bringing it up wouldn’t do her any good. I’m a man, after all—even though we’ve broken up, I still hope she lives well.”
With that, Su Chen put down the microphone with a smile, his meaning clear. Liu Shao did not pursue the matter further.
Online, however, Su Chen’s statements caused a massive stir!
At last, after seven hours, the live broadcast of the hundred-to-thirty-two competition drew to a close.
Liu Shao called all eight qualifying contestants from each of the four mentors' teams to the stage and announced the results.
As the names of the thirty-two finalists were read out, excitement and joy lit up their faces.
No matter what came next, at least for this round, they were the victors!
But there were two exceptions.
Meng Xiaotian, watching Su Chen in Yan Mi’s team, had no smile left on his face.
Not only had this upstart who challenged him advanced, but he’d done so by stepping over Meng Xiaotian’s own lackey!

To beat a dog, you must first look at its master; Su Chen’s actions were nothing short of slapping Meng Xiaotian’s left cheek, and finding it insufficient, slapping the right as well!
This humiliation, bitter to the core, made Meng Xiaotian clench his fists so hard it seemed he might cough up blood.
Su Chen, just wait! If I run into you in the next round, you’d better watch out!
Standing in the lineup, Su Chen’s expression was calm. Whether it was Xu Fangyuan’s hostility or Wang Qi’s slander, not once did his composure falter.
After the breakup, Su Chen had never planned to drag his past with Lin Yanran into the open; he simply wanted to make the most of his new life and live it brilliantly.
Yet Xu Fangyuan, in her arrogance, saw this relationship as a stain on Lin Yanran’s record, assuming Su Chen would use it for drama, and even targeted him to force him out of the entertainment industry.
She never considered that, for Su Chen, recalling his romance with Lin Yanran was equally a humiliating chapter best left forgotten.
The tree wishes for stillness, but the wind does not cease!
Wang Qi, Meng Xiaotian, and even Zheng Huayu—
Su Chen knew without asking that Zheng Huayu’s persistent antagonism was inseparable from Xu Fangyuan’s machinations.
Her repeated targeting was beginning to anger Su Chen; he was not made of clay to be trampled.
Heh, just wait.
This song, “A Dreamer’s Heart,” is only the beginning of my counterattack.

“...All right, our thirty-two finalists are now standing here. Let’s give them another round of thunderous applause!”
With a beaming smile, Liu Shao started clapping, joined by the four mentors, who also stood and applauded—though Zheng Huayu’s smile was noticeably forced.
Unlike the four mentors, the audience’s applause came crashing down like a tidal wave.
“Ahhh! Tianbao, you’re the best!”
“Su Chen! Go for it! I believe in you!”
...
Amid the cheers, the four mentors left their seats and joined the contestants on stage.
After taking a group photo with the thirty-two, the live broadcast ended. Each mentor led their team offstage.
On the way down, Yan Mi’s and Zheng Huayu’s teams crossed paths. In the line, Su Chen and Zheng Huayu’s eyes met. Su Chen smiled, broke eye contact, and followed his team offstage.

Where he stood, Zheng Huayu’s face instantly darkened. He’d expected Su Chen to at least bow and greet him as “Mentor Huayu,” but instead, Su Chen simply walked away.
Smile? Do you think you’re my equal?
As a senior, Zheng Huayu had every right to look down on Su Chen and make things difficult for him. But Su Chen’s attitude was a clear sign of disrespect.
Fine! Very well!
If you manage to advance any further in this show, I, Zheng Huayu, will quit the entertainment industry for good!
He clenched his fists, a cold smile curling at his lips.
Elsewhere, Xu Fangyuan stared at the now-closed livestream, not shutting her laptop but simply sitting in silence.
Had anyone looked closer, they would have seen her face twisted with rage, trembling with fury.
Suddenly she slammed her fist onto her laptop screen, which instantly flickered with colors, then went black.
“Damn you, Su Chen! Damn you!” she screamed.
She’d invested so much effort and resources, and yet Su Chen had still advanced—and had deftly sidestepped the Starlight Entertainment statement!
He’d even alluded to a past romance. Even though Su Chen hadn’t named names, the sense of looming crisis nearly suffocated her.
If Su Chen spoke of a past relationship today, would he use his history with Lin Yanran tomorrow to boost his popularity?
A poor boy supporting his girlfriend, only to be dumped the moment she became a star?
That would ruin Lin Yanran!
For Xu Fangyuan, this was simply intolerable!
Lin Yanran was on the verge of landing a luxury brand endorsement; with that, her status would soar, and just a few hits would put her on the path to stardom!
No... Su Chen absolutely cannot be allowed to stay on “Tomorrow’s Star”!
Xu Fangyuan immediately grabbed her phone and dialed Zheng Huayu’s number.