Have you ever been a celebrity? Why are you writing about entertainment?

As the narration for "Where Has the Time Gone?" began, the noise on stage receded like the tide.

The atmosphere from the previous skit hadn't completely dissipated, and the host's enthusiastic smile had just disappeared behind the curtain.

A brief, slightly lingering silence descended, subtly contrasting with the previous commotion.

As readers look at the description of the program in the new chapter, their eyes inevitably fall on the Spring Festival Gala in front of them. Isn't this the very song being performed right now?

The reading experience of this text combined with the program is quite good. The novel has images, and the gala has details. Yu Weizhen is a genius for thinking of live-streaming the Spring Festival Gala with text.

However, unlike the singer in the novel who wore a wool sweater, Qi Yuan actually wore a white shirt when he went on stage, which was more formal.

He sat on a high stool, his figure appearing unusually thin and even somewhat out of place on the empty stage.

There were no backup dancers, no elaborate band, just him and the huge, still dark, curved screen behind him.

A simple piano prelude begins, a few clear, even somewhat lonely notes, carefully unfolding in the not-yet-completely-quiet air.

Qi Yuan spoke, his voice still hoarse, but this only made his deliberate restraint, as if he were handling something fragile, all the more palpable.

"The old tree in front of the door is sprouting new buds"

The dead tree in the yard is blooming again.

I've survived for a long time.

It was hidden behind a full head of white hair.

The lyrics are straightforward and ordinary, so much so that the audience initially had a slight unease, a sense of bewilderment at not having their expectations met in time.

Someone looked down at the program, seemingly trying to confirm what it was.

But the commotion quickly subsided.

Qi Yuan's singing has a unique focus. He doesn't look at the audience, his eyes are slightly lowered, as if his whole mind is immersed in every word flowing from his lips.

It's like a whisper, a solitary questioning of time...

My brother-in-law never misses an opportunity to show off; that's what you call style!

Then, the big screen lit up.

It was a divided photo wall, where countless old photos from all over the country and from thousands of households quietly emerged.

The version of "Where Has the Time Gone" with visuals is different from the version on its own, a fact that deeply resonated with the judges who initially put the song on hold.

At this moment, on the live broadcast of New Year's Eve, under the possible gaze of hundreds of millions of eyes, the power of these images is growing exponentially.

Initially, the audience was indifferent.

They looked at the unfamiliar faces and scenes from bygone eras on the screen, their eyes perhaps filled with curiosity and a touch of nostalgia.

But that's all; scenes unrelated to myself don't evoke much emotion.

The song continued to flow, like a tranquil river overflowing its noisy banks.

"Little Feet in My Memory"
chubby little mouth

I gave my love to him for the rest of my life.
All for that one word: "Mom and Dad."

When this line was sung, a middle-aged man in the audience, who had been relaxed and leaning back in his chair, leaned forward almost imperceptibly.

His gaze was fixed on a photo in the upper right corner of the screen.

It was a black and white photograph. A thin boy was riding on his father's shoulders. Both father and son were smiling so hard that their eyes were almost closed. The man's Adam's apple bobbed violently.

The infectious energy, like silent ripples, began to spread from the stage to the darkened audience seats.

It was no longer just silence; something increasingly thick and heavy began to seep into that silence.

Below the stage, the fake smiles that had initially been filled with agreement gradually began to change.

Their smiles faded, their lips relaxed, their brows perhaps unconsciously furrowed, their eyes vacant, staring at the screen, yet seemingly piercing through the screen to look at their childhood selves.

Where has the time gone?
I'm old before I've even had a chance to truly experience youth.
Having children is a lifelong commitment
My mind is filled with images of my child crying and laughing.

Qi Yuan's voice was slightly choked up, more genuine and harder to hide than during rehearsals.

It wasn't just about technique; it also incorporated emotion. Under the shared gaze and memories of countless people, his singing skills underwent a qualitative leap.

"That kid really did become a traitor."

Zhang Lingye, who was backstage, heard it all clearly. Forget about making a mistake; this kid was practically unleashing his full potential! He was just coasting along in his own camp while the opposing camp was ten times stronger—what else could he be but a traitor…

In fact, Qi Yuan just wanted to prove himself. After his transformation, he had been accumulating experience for far too long, and he needed a stage like this.

His slight nasal tone and the tremor at the end of his voice were enough to break through the audience's last defenses.

On the big screen, the photos slowed down. One particularly clear photo was enlarged: in a simple courtyard, an elderly couple sat side by side, their shadows long in the setting sun.

The old lady's head rested gently on the old man's shoulder. Both of them had deep wrinkles on their faces, but also smiles of utmost tranquility.

Where has the time gone?
My eyes are blurry before I can even get a good look at you.
Half a lifetime spent on daily necessities

In the blink of an eye, all that's left are wrinkles on her face.

The photos, paired with the lyrics, were incredibly moving. When that sigh-like chant ended, an uncontrollable sense of emotion welled up in the audience's hearts.

The previous atmosphere of grand celebration has long since vanished, replaced by a collective, silent sorrow, and beneath this sorrow, a surging empathy for love and loss.

The singing gradually faded and disappeared with the last repeated question.

Where has the time gone...?

The lingering echo of the last note was gently swallowed up by the well-insulated studio, leaving behind an almost vacuum-like silence.

As the lights dimmed, Qi Yuan's figure disappeared into the darkness.

The audience gazed at the stage, now resplendent with light and color, but their eyes couldn't focus. The hoarse question seemed to still echo in their ears, the faded old photographs still swaying, and countless faces lost in memories still flickering in their minds.

Where's the time?

No one answered; only on the stage, a brand-new song and dance performance was about to begin, pushing the hustle and bustle of New Year's Eve to its midnight climax.

It was as if the collective silence and tears of those few minutes were just a brief and untimely daze.

Qi Yuan's performance was flawless, and Xu Zhen couldn't help but nod in approval, which was exactly the effect he wanted.

This heartwarming piece, coupled with Qi Yuan's expressive performance, quickly made "Where Has the Time Gone?" a trending topic, with many people leaving comments and reminiscing under related topics, generating a high level of discussion.

CCTV's Spring Festival Gala turned the tables with this, and Xu Zhen was overjoyed. Qi Yuan did a great job.

Next up is Chi Leying's "Come Home Often," and after these two songs, he will have the situation firmly in his hands.

"Director Xu, I have something to report to you."

The staff at the Spring Festival Gala quickly discovered the novel, and many people in the comments section were saying "the program is better enjoyed with the novel." It would have been difficult for them not to notice.

"novel?"

Xu Zhen was a little taken aback. When she opened the reading app, she discovered that Yu Wei had actually been quietly updating many chapters since the Spring Festival Gala.

This content is none other than the live text broadcast of the Spring Festival Gala.

Seeing this, Xu Zhen was both shocked and furious. She finally understood what had happened tonight. No wonder some of the audience members were running around in an organized and disciplined manner. So that's what was going on.

"It's incredibly sinister."

Xu Zhen never expected Yu Wei to have this move. How could he have forgotten that besides being a singer and screenwriter, this kid is also an online novelist?

For this battle, Yu Wei pushed his abilities to the limit...

Looking back at the dismal ratings report, Xu Zhen felt a surge of anger rising to his head, and he couldn't help but start cursing.

Damn, there are so many different ways to be born, who can compete with that?
He was manipulated and manipulated to the point of exhaustion. If he hadn't been spying on him, he probably wouldn't have known what was going on until the end of the party.

Who would have thought that Yu Wei would update his novel at this crucial moment?
"Fortunately, it was discovered early."

Xu Zhen quickly calmed down, partly because she discovered it in time, and partly because Yu Wei's novel did not show favoritism.

He didn't just keep writing novels for the Spring Festival Gala; he focused on both, which greatly reduced Xu Zhen's resentment.

He couldn't control what Yu Wei wrote in his novels, nor could he judge whether the content constituted a leak; if there was a problem, the higher-ups would take care of it.

As the director, his top priority now is to maintain the momentum of the gala.

Knowing about the novel fills the information gap, meaning they can react based on the new chapters.

The latest chapter features the programs "Where Has the Time Gone?" and "Come Home Often".

This is undoubtedly good news for Xu Zhen, as the audience's attention is focused on the CCTV Spring Festival Gala, allowing her to maximize her popularity.

If you can consistently play these two cards, you've already won half the battle.

"Xiao Deng, go and take a look at the novel's next program for the Spring Festival Gala."

Even if the audience goes back to their show later, they'll have to see if the other show can handle their two songs.

Yu Wei is probably too clever for his own good. These two songs are not so easy to catch.

Once the new program on the Spring Festival Gala fails to keep up with the audience's expectations, they will naturally return. Once trust is broken, the threat will disappear.

On stage, the performance of "Come Home Often" has already begun.

A spotlight followed a woman in a red dress as she slowly descended the steps.

Holding the microphone, Chi Leying stepped to the beat of her heartbeat, her red dress swirling in the center of the stage like a blooming pomegranate flower.

The music prelude is played by the erhu and flute, festive yet with a lingering aftertaste, like the light of lanterns on New Year's Eve, so warm it brings tears to your eyes.

"Find some free time, find some time"

Take your children home to visit often.

The moment she opened her mouth, the sweetness in her voice melted the air.

The sound had warmth to it; it was the white steam rising from the steamer when Mother lifted the lid on New Year's Eve, and the warm breath exhaled by Father after taking a small sip of wine.

Suddenly, a surge of dancers emerged from both sides of the passageway, eighty people, perhaps more, representing three generations: old, middle-aged, and young, dressed in red with gold trim, their flowing sleeves billowing.

The number of backup dancers directly affects the festive and joyful feeling of the song, and Xu Zhen is very dedicated to the stage of this show.

This song will definitely be loved by middle-aged and elderly audiences. It's festive and has a good meaning, so there's no need to worry about its popularity.

With Qi Yuan's explosive performance and the grand stage presence of this song, what can Yu Wei's side possibly use to win?

"Director Xu, I listened to it, and the new song over there is a bit corny."

The staff member known as Xiao Deng reported the situation, saying that he simply couldn't appreciate it.

"earth?"

Xu Zhen did not take it lightly upon hearing this. If it were a festive and down-to-earth song like "Come Home Often," it would be hard to say.

"It has nothing to do with the Chinese New Year."

The staff member scratched his head. It wasn't a song specially made for the Spring Festival; it was just a simple, slightly corny song.

Xu Zhen breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

It can't compete with "Come Home Often" in terms of festive atmosphere, and it can't compete with "Where Has the Time Gone" in terms of song quality. What makes it stand out?

He's hard to win even in a one-on-one situation, let alone one against two. In this match, the advantage lies with him. (End of Chapter)