He was in college, but his songs were at the Grammys.

"Chen Ming is amazing! He actually defeated top artists from two major entertainment companies! He's reached number one!"

"Holy crap!!!!"

"I deserve some credit!! Hahahaha! I've recommended it to countless friends outside of school!"

"Me too! I ran into a terrible teammate yesterday. I was going to curse out his family, but then I overheard him sing a line from 'Big City, Little Love,' and I forgave him! He has good taste!"

"..."

Say something.

Chen Ming was able to take first place so quickly.

Students from the school also contributed a lot.

Although their strength may be relatively small.

But it's helpful nonetheless.

Chen Ming ultimately topped the newcomer song chart.

They also felt a sense of honor.

Unless they are extremely jealous, all the students would be genuinely happy for Chen Ming.

Some might even go out and brag.

"Chen Ming, did you see that? The one at number one on the new song chart, my classmate! Impressive, right!"

At this point, all you need is a simple "Awesome!" from the other person, and that's enough.

Sometimes, a teenager's vanity is so easily satisfied.

Chen Ming put down his phone, looked at the two brothers who were still excitedly punching each other, waved his hand helplessly, and said with a smile, "Hey~ calm down, calm down, this is nothing! Keep a low profile, don't get too excited, you'll get used to it."

Upon hearing this, Tang Yuan and Zhou Xu...

That feeling of joy vanished instantly.

Tang Yuan pursed his lips: "Ew~ Showing off!"

Zhou Xu nodded in agreement, feeling that Chen Mingchun had gotten arrogant. Getting first place on the newcomer list once was already extremely lucky, and he was already used to it?

Doesn't that mean Chen Ming still wants to stay at number one on the newcomer list?

Zhou Xu felt he should put the brakes on his good brother: "Everyone has their moment of glory, but don't mistake a moment for eternity, Ming-ge!"

Chen Ming, however, seemed not to have heard their conversation and turned around, saying, "Hey~ what if I write a song that gets accepted to the Grammys? Will I be able to eat the food in Los Angeles?"

"Besides, I'm only number one on the newcomer list right now, and you guys are already shouting so loudly. If I win a Grammy, you guys will all be hoarse from shouting."

Chen Ming finished speaking.

Tang Yuan and Zhou Xu exchanged a glance, both suppressing a smile, then burst out laughing at the same time, pointing at Chen Ming and saying it in unison.

"What a load of bull! If you can get this into the Grammys, we'll call you 'Dad'!"

The Grammys are not some low-level award.

Is it really that easy to get?!

They took advantage of the fact that their good brother Chen Ming was very capable.

However, the Grammys are not something Chen Ming can consider right now.

Chen Ming looked at the two of them and shook his head with a smile.

I've made up my mind about these two sons.

Then he stretched and got up to leave the dormitory.

"Brother Ming, are you going out?" Zhou Xu asked subconsciously as he watched Chen Ming get up and pack his things.

"Um, something came up." Chen Ming took a clean light blue shirt from the closet and put it on, straightening his collar in front of the mirror.

Tang Yuan, still caught up in the excitement, immediately leaned over upon hearing this: "What's up? Aren't you going to play basketball this afternoon? Our dorm team is playing a friendly match against the building next door this week, and we can't do without you!"

Chen Ming's impressive three-pointers on the basketball court last week made him an instant sensation in the dormitory building, even though he ultimately lost the game.

But Tang Yuan had already boasted to his brothers in the next building that he would definitely win this time.

Chen Ming turned around, a perfectly measured look of regret on his face, and sighed softly, "Sigh, I also want to play ball."

His tone was sincere, and his eyes even held a hint of longing for the basketball court.

Tang Yuan and Zhou Xu exchanged a glance, both thinking there was hope.

But the next second, Chen Ming's words made both of them freeze.

"But—" Chen Ming drawled, as if he was really in a dilemma, "Didn't I write a new song for Senior Lin Wei before? I have to go and discuss the details of the collaboration and sign the contract this afternoon."

The dormitory was silent for two seconds.

then.

"Chen! Ming! You son of a bitch!"

Tang Yuan's voice was almost a shout, filled with intense anger: "Is this a regret?! You're clearly showing off!!!"

Zhou Xu also rubbed his forehead, his eyes behind his glasses filled with speechlessness: "Ming-ge, do you know what? Your expression, your tone, that 'sigh' just now, it was just...!"

"What do you mean, 'absolutely'?" Chen Ming asked innocently.

"Absolutely." Zhou Xu took a deep breath and said, enunciating each word clearly, "Van...er...se...ben...se!"

Chen Ming was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.

Yep!

That feels so good!

"Get out of here, get out of here, get out of here!" Tang Yuan really didn't want to see Chen Ming's smug look, so he pushed Chen Ming out of the dormitory.

As Chen Ming was being pushed along, he grinned broadly: "If I said it wasn't intentional, would you believe me?"

"Don't believe that!" Tang Yuan and Zhou Xu said in unison.

Chen Ming laughed again, this time even more heartily: "Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing you. I'll try to come back as soon as possible. If I make it in time, I can play some ball."

"Come on, you're too kind." Zhou Xu waved his hand, his tone sarcastic. "You have important business to attend to right now. We ordinary folks should just go have some fun on our own."

Tang Yuan also started being sarcastic: "Yeah, she's talking about a collaboration with Senior Lin Wei~ What's the big deal~ What's our basketball game compared to that~"

Chen Ming left the dormitory in a good mood.

After more than a week.

Chen Ming has figured out some of the system's functions.

If he takes skill-based courses, such as composition, arrangement, or piano and guitar, he will improve his composition and arrangement abilities as well as his piano and guitar skills.

If the courses are more focused on appreciation or knowledge, the students will learn related songs or literary works from other fields.

"Listen to the Sea" is a song we learned in a music appreciation class on Wednesday afternoon.

Just then, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

Chen Ming took it out and glanced at it; it was Anya.

He pressed the answer button, and Anya's familiar, capable voice immediately came through, her tone brimming with undisguised excitement: "Amazing, Chen Ming! Number one on the newcomer list!"

Chen Ming's lips curled slightly: "Yeah."

There was a pause on the other end of the phone.

"You're number one on the newcomer list! Aren't you excited?" Anya's voice was filled with doubt.

"I'm so excited," Chen Ming said naturally.

"And the way you said it." Anya paused, as if she had thought of something, and suddenly laughed out loud, "Okay, I get it now, you call it 'a calm exterior masking a turbulent inner world'."

Chen Ming smiled and said, "An Ya's summary is spot on."

"But seriously, Chen Ming," Anya's tone became more serious, "I just saw the data curve for your new song in the conference room. The increase was so great that even President Song said he hadn't seen such a strong newcomer in all these years. You did a great job, better than any of us expected."

Chen Ming listened quietly, then said, "Of course."

This person is ranked first on the newcomer list.

Chen Ming was not surprised at all if he hadn't gotten this result.

Chen Ming was the real surprise.

This song deserves this result.

"This isn't something you should expect; it's your own ability!" Anya clearly misunderstood Chen Ming's meaning and continued, "By the way, remember to come to the company next week if you have time. President Song said he wants to see you. Also, let me know any progress on 'Listen to the Sea'. Don't hesitate to ask for the company's support if you need it."

"it is good."

"Okay, you go ahead with your work, I have a meeting to attend to."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Ming put it back in his pocket.

I had only taken a few steps when my phone rang again.

This time it's Lin Wei.

Lin Wei's voice was light and cheerful, "Where are you, junior? I'm already near your school."

Chen Ming was somewhat surprised: "Didn't you say we'd meet at a coffee shop?"

"Oh, I can't wait!" Lin Wei said with a smile. "It's on my way, come on over, I'm right at the street corner."

"Okay, I'll be right there."

Chen Ming quickened his pace.

Even big stars came to pick me up in person.

Of course, one must not be impolite.

As I walked to the street corner, I saw Lin Wei's white SUV parked on the side of the road.

Lin Wei rolled down the car window and waved to him.

She changed into a pair of brown sunglasses, and her long hair was casually draped over her shoulders, making her look more relaxed than when she was at the company last time.

Chen Ming opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat.

Soft piano music was playing in the car, the air conditioning was at a comfortable temperature, and a faint citrus scent filled the air.

"Fasten your seatbelt." Lin Wei glanced at him sideways, then started the car. "By the way, I haven't officially congratulated you yet. You're number one on the newcomer list, that's amazing."

She said this with genuine appreciation in her tone.

She really didn't expect that the junior who had recently helped her with harmonies would...

In just a few days, he has transformed into a rising star in the Chinese music scene.

Chen Ming fastened his seatbelt and smiled, "Thank you, senior."

Lin Wei turned on her turn signal, and the car slowly merged into the traffic.

While waiting at a red light, she turned her head and took a closer look at Chen Ming, her eyes filled with inquiry.

"But junior, I noticed that you are really calm. You know, when I first won the rookie ranking two years ago, I was so excited that I couldn't sleep all night. The next day, I went to the event with dark circles under my eyes, and my manager nagged me for a long time."

Chen Ming looked out the window at the street scene passing by.

"Maybe it's because I was too excited and hadn't reacted yet."

Lin Wei was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing: "Junior, you're really joking."

She could tell it was a joke, but for some reason, she felt that Chen Ming's tone when he said it had a maturity beyond his years.

It was as if those applause and honors were merely scenery along the way for him.

I've seen it, remembered it, and then I'll keep moving forward.

"But seriously," Lin Wei said, her smile fading and her tone becoming more serious, "Your mindset is excellent. This industry is too superficial. Many people get carried away with a little success and end up crashing down. It's rare to be able to stay clear-headed and know what you want."

Chen Ming turned his head and looked at Lin Wei.

She drove with focused concentration, her profile appearing gentle in the soft afternoon light.

"Wasn't my senior sister the same?" Chen Ming said. "She waited half a year to find a satisfactory title track."

Lin Wei was slightly taken aback, then smiled: "That's different. I was forced to do it. The album can't be delayed any longer. If we can't find suitable songs, the company will have to consider changing projects."

"But my senior didn't compromise," Chen Ming said calmly. "She'd rather wait than settle."

Lin Wei tightened her grip on the steering wheel slightly.

She suddenly thought of herself over the past two years.

Under pressure from the company and the market, I listened to those demos that were "not bad but not good enough" time and time again, struggling between "making do" and "waiting a little longer".

Sometimes she wonders if she's too stubborn, if she should be like other artists, singing whatever's popular and doing whatever's trending.

But now, the freshman sitting next to her affirmed her persistence with a simple sentence.

So, someone did understand.

"Thank you," Lin Wei said softly.

"You're welcome," Chen Ming said.

The two soon arrived at the coffee shop.

We discussed in detail the collaboration on "Listen to the Sea".

Chen Ming also shared with Lin Wei many important points to note when recording the song "Listen to the Sea".

It was finally decided that, after deducting the company's share, the remaining profits would be split 40/60, with Chen Ming taking 60%.

Chen Ming could tell that Lin Wei was taking care of his junior from elementary school.

Even if his songs are great.

He's actually just a newcomer right now.

In the entertainment industry, seniority and popularity are really valuable.

As a newcomer, no matter what, it's impossible for him to share the profits 40/60 with an established, near-top-tier singer; he would still get 60%.

Chen Ming also presented this situation to the other party.

No matter how far I go in the future, the share I give to the other party will never be less than 40%.

After the contract is signed.

Lin Wei put away the contract, turned around, and looked at him seriously: "Junior, I was just thinking about the recording of 'Listen to the Sea.' Next Tuesday is the day we'll be going into the studio. Could you come to the studio to help oversee things? We don't need the whole thing, just listen to the key parts and give us some feedback."

Chen Ming shook his head almost without hesitation: "I won't go to the site to check it out; I don't have time on Tuesday."

Lin Wei was taken aback: "Is something wrong?"

"Okay." Chen Ming nodded. "I have to go to class."

Lin Wei: "..."

She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but then fell silent.

Class.

What a just and irrefutable reason.

But for some reason, coming from the mouth of this junior who just won first place on the newcomer list and wrote "Big City, Small Love" and "Listen to the Sea," there was a strange sense of incongruity.

"Junior..." Lin Wei carefully chose her words, "With your abilities, is there really any need for you to attend classes?"

She wasn't questioning the significance of attending classes; she simply felt that, given Chen Ming's current level of songwriting and singing, the courses at school might already be somewhat "basic" for him.

Putting everything else aside, just take the song "Listen to the Sea" for example. Lin Wei is certain that even the teachers in the school's composition department might not be able to write a work with this level of completion and depth.

With such talent and achievements, even if you miss a few classes occasionally, the teachers probably won't say anything, right?

Chen Ming laughed after hearing Lin Wei's words.

"Learning has no end, senior."

In a word.

Light as a feather, yet like a stone, it was thrown into Lin Wei's heart lake, creating ripples.

Life-long learning.

She suddenly remembered that when she was first admitted to the vocal music department of Jiangyi University, she had the same mindset.

I arrive at the music room earliest and leave latest every day, practicing the sheet music over and over again, and adjusting my lip movements and expressions in front of the mirror repeatedly.

At that time, she felt that the world of music was as vast as the sea, and she was just a small boat with so much to learn and explore.

But what happened next?

Later, she debuted, her songs became hits, and she had more gigs, with her time filled with various events, interviews, and business collaborations.

I go to the music room less often, listen to fewer new songs, and even my reading time has been reduced to almost zero.

She always comforted herself: This is the price of growing up, and an inevitable consequence of becoming famous.

Although she still maintains her obsession with the quality of the album's songs.

But deep down, she knew that something was slowly slipping away.

That primal, insatiable thirst for knowledge about music.

That kind of humility that says, "I'm not good enough yet, I still need to learn."

The fingers holding the coffee cup tightened slightly, the warmth emanating from the porcelain.

Lin Wei raised her head and looked at Chen Ming with a complicated expression.

I was moved, I felt ashamed, but also a renewed passion.

"Your words, junior," she said slowly, her voice soft, "have truly enlightened me."

Chen Ming shook his head: "Senior, you're too kind. I was just telling the truth. It's my honor to be of help to you. Well then, I'll be going now. I have two sons waiting for me to play basketball at school."

"The truth is the most precious thing." Lin Wei smiled, this time with a hint of determination. "I'll take you back."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, senior."

......

Today, besides "Big City, Small Love" topping the newcomer chart,

The novel "Battle Through the Heavens" that Chen Ming drew was also published in the Thousand Realms Bookstore with the first 20,000 words.

Furthermore, Chen Ming directly set a timer to send out 10,000 words every day, which would be enough to reach Wednesday. He has a public basic Chinese class on Wednesday, which would allow him to receive the subsequent articles, and perhaps even add another 100,000 words.

Simply perfect.

The editor of Qianjie Bookstore was amazed by Chen Ming's extravagant update style.

He immediately contacted Chen Ming via QQ and advised, "Teacher 'Suiyi,' this isn't how you update online novels. You've already posted 20,000 words on the first day, so you only need to update 4,000 words a day after that. You don't need to update that many."

Upon seeing this message, Chen Ming immediately typed a question mark at the other party.

In his previous life, Chen Ming liked to read novels when he was lying in a hospital bed.

What I hated most back then was that novel authors updated their work at a snail's pace, like a donkey pulling a millstone.

He writes novels himself now, and his typing speed is fast enough, so how could he possibly update four thousand words a day?!

[Suiyi (Chen Ming)]: "????"

[Chen Ming (casual)]: "Four thousand a day isn't enough for anyone to read! If word gets out, people will think I can't write! Ten thousand a day! At least ten thousand a day!"

Xiaoqing was completely bewildered in front of the computer screen.

The entire online literature community on Blue Star.

Most authors update 4,000 words a day, and if they can update 6,000 words a day, that's considered a lot.

Ten thousand a day?!

Could this "casual" teacher possibly write this?

Just a few days ago, Teacher "Suiyi" only received 50,000 views for his submission!

[Xiaoqing]: "Teacher 'Suiyi,' do you already have a lot of drafts saved up?"

[Chen Ming (casual)]: "No."

[Xiaoqing]: "Then you..."

[Casual]: "It doesn't matter, my hand speed is unbeatable."

[Xiaoqing]: "......."

Xiaoqing felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

How invincible can one's hand speed be?

This teacher seems a bit too casual.

Logically, when dealing with ordinary authors, he should exercise his rights as an editor.

But this casual teacher.

He really doesn't dare to do anything reckless!

This is an author that even the editor-in-chief is paying attention to.

And what if this teacher gets angry and causes a "thirty-year cycle of fortune" for their Thousand Realms Library?

He genuinely felt that Teacher Suiyi could make a name for himself in the world of online literature.

Xiaoqing was out of ideas.

He could only compromise, saying, "Then, Mr. Suiyi, you must write more!"

[Suiyi (Chen Ming)]: "Don't worry, I'll give you 100,000 words by Wednesday!"

Look at this passage.

A sense of despair enveloped Xiaoqing; it was already Sunday.

There are only three days left until Wednesday, so where is Teacher Sui going to write 100,000 words?

30,000 words a day?

That would require incredibly fast hand speed!

How could that be possible!

I can't feel at ease at all!

Compared to Xiaoqing's internal strife.

Chen Ming, on the other hand, was quite relaxed.

After sending the message, I went straight to the court to play basketball with Tang Yuan and Zhou Xu.

......

On Sunday evening, the Xianxia (fantasy/martial arts) writing contest page of Qianjie Bookstore.

The first 20,000 words of "Battle Through the Heavens" have been released. As per Chen Ming's schedule, 10,000 words will be uploaded every day for the next three days.

At this moment, this newly published novel is quietly lying in the third position of the "New Works Recommendation" section.

The cover features a simple ancient-style background image created by the website, paired with a rather plain Song typeface title, making it stand out somewhat from the exquisitely illustrated covers of fantasy novels.

Even more out of place are the comments that have started appearing in the book review section.

Some netizens started commenting after only reading the first hundred or two words.

[Reader 38472]: "I clicked in and what the heck? Battle Qi? What kind of setting is this? It's neither martial arts nor fantasy."

[Fantasy/Xia Enthusiast]: "Why is this in the 'King of Fantasy/Xia Enthusiasts' essay contest? Did the administrator get the categories wrong? I wanted to see flying swords and magical treasures, Golden Core and Nascent Soul, not this 'Three Stages of Battle Qi'..."

[A seasoned bookworm]: "I quit after reading the first few hundred words. Is this just the author indulging in self-indulgence? He created his own battle qi system, but there's absolutely no sense of immersion in it."

[Seeking good Xianxia (fantasy/martial arts) novels]: "How did this book get featured? It stole the spot from 'Swordsman' which I was following! I'm so angry!"