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

Monday morning, the sun was shining brightly.

When Liao Mei walked into classroom 6203 carrying her lesson plan, her gaze habitually swept over the first row of seats by the window.

Chen Ming sat there, wearing a simple white shirt, his head down, as if looking at something.

Liao Mei paused slightly in her steps.

She had already heard about it.

Last weekend, the news that "Big City, Small Love" topped the newcomer chart had already spread throughout the teachers' groups.

Several familiar colleagues jokingly asked her, "Ms. Liao, isn't Chen Ming from your class the student you praised last time?"

Liao Mei just smiled and didn't say anything more.

She has taught for twenty years and has seen countless talented students.

Some people become arrogant after they start to show their talent, thinking that the classroom can no longer contain their ambitions. They find all sorts of excuses to ask for leave and be absent, spending all their energy on running around for announcements and commercial performances.

She understands, but doesn't agree.

In the path of art, talent is certainly important.

However, without a solid foundation and continuous accumulation, even the most dazzling light will eventually dim.

So when she opened the classroom door this morning and saw Chen Ming still sitting in his old spot, quietly waiting in the classroom as usual, her surprise quickly turned into relief.

This child is truly different.

Liao Mei walked up to the podium, put down her lesson plan, and glanced around the classroom.

The students also noticed Chen Ming's presence, and whispers spread through the air like ripples on water.

"Chen Ming actually came. I thought he stopped coming to class after he became famous."

"Do you think you're like me? Getting cocky just because you've achieved a little success."

"That's true, no wonder he's so popular. I admire his composure."

"I've been listening to 'Big City, Small Love' on repeat for days now. Whenever I see Chen Ming, 'You' is all I can think about, you're all I can feel' plays in my head..."

"Haha, me too!"

The low laughter contained envy, admiration, and a sense of closeness stemming from shared pride.

Liao Mei clapped her hands, and the crisp applause quieted the classroom down.

"Class begins." Her voice was as capable as ever, but if you listened carefully, you could hear a rare hint of gentleness.

Today's lesson is about the influence of Western classical music on modern popular music.

Chen Ming listened very attentively.

[Host detected to be studying music history in depth!]

[Randomly selected works in related styles...]

[Selection complete: "Special Person" (R&B/Pop)]

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Special People

One of Khalil Fong's representative works from his previous life, a song that wonderfully combines R&B rhythm with pop melody.

In my mind, the progress bar moved forward slowly but steadily as the class progressed.

Loading: 1%...2%...3%...

The melody slowly emerged in my mind, like the morning mist, gradually becoming clearer.

Chen Ming took a look at his own voice.

Singing this song shouldn't be a problem.

Let's keep it for now.

The course ended quickly.

After Liao Mei left, the suppressed excitement in the classroom instantly erupted.

Several classmates who usually had a good relationship with Chen Ming pushed and shoved each other, wanting to step forward but hesitating.

"Go get his autograph!"

Why aren't you going?

"What if they become famous now and don't want to talk to us anymore?"

"Yeah, I feel like there's a distance between us now."

Whispers drifted into Chen Ming's ears.

Tang Yuan and Zhou Xu patted Chen Ming on the shoulder, then gestured to Chen Ming in the direction of their classmates.

Chen Ming smiled, packed his things, and then turned and walked towards his classmates.

"What are you chatting about, you seem to be having a great time?" he asked with a smile, his tone no different from usual.

Several students were stunned and stammered, unable to say a word.

Finally, class monitor Zhang Wei scratched his head and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Hey Ming-ge, we'd like an autograph. If you become a big star in the future, it'll be harder to get autographs."

After saying that, he quickly added, "Of course, it's okay if you don't give it to me! We were just saying it casually!"

The other students nodded repeatedly, their eyes filled with both anticipation and trepidation.

Chen Ming looked at them and suddenly laughed.

"You guys should have said so earlier!" He took a notebook from Zhang Wei and pulled a pen out of his bag. "We're all buddies, why are you being so hesitant to ask for an autograph?"

The pen tip glided across the paper, and he signed the two characters "Chen Ming" with a free and powerful handwriting.

"And my signature." Chen Ming finished signing, handed the notebook back, and winked. "Doesn't the class monitor have a bunch of them? Every time our classmates have an activity or buy something, the notebooks with everyone's signatures are with the class monitor, right? My name is definitely in them!"

Zhang Wei was stunned for a moment, then realized, "Oh yeah! Holy crap! I think I have a lot of Chen Ming's autographs!"

The other students burst into laughter upon hearing this.

"Class monitor! Hand over Chen Ming's homework right now!"

"We want to see Chen Ming's autograph!"

"And his sheet music! Maybe it can sell for money!"

"Screw you! That's a treasured item!"

The atmosphere immediately relaxed.

The subtle barrier between them vanished amidst the laughter.

The students then realized that Chen Ming was still the same Chen Ming.

She can joke around and play around with her roommates, takes serious notes in class, and complains with them about having too much homework after class.

He didn't become arrogant because a song became popular, nor did he deliberately distance himself because of the attention he received from others.

He still sits in the first row by the window, still laughs out loud at Tang Yuan's lame jokes, and still argues with someone until their face turns red over a ball on the basketball court.

"Chen Ming," a girl mustered her courage to ask, "when are you going to write a new song? We're all waiting!"

Chen Ming thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "You'll know in a few days."

"Really? Another new song coming out?"

"It's not mine." Chen Ming shook his head. "It's written for Senior Lin Wei. Her album has been delayed for too long. It should be released as soon as it's finished recording."

"Senior Lin Wei?!" Several classmates' eyes lit up. "Is she the Lin Wei who sang 'Letter in the Wind'?"

"right."

"Holy crap! Ming-ge, you're amazing! You even wrote a song for Senior Lin Wei!"

"Exactly! I'm a fan of Lin Wei! I heard from her fan group that she'd been waiting a long time for this album's title track, and I never expected Chen Ming to get it in the end! That's amazing!"

"Yeah, Chen Ming's skills are just...it's infuriating to compare! Are we even in the same class? How come you're so amazing!"

"We'll definitely support you then! We'll help you climb the charts! We'll boost your numbers!"

Count me in!

Chen Ming felt a slight stirring in his heart as he looked at their excited expressions.

These classmates may not be able to provide him with a huge amount of traffic support, but their liking is genuine.

He was genuinely happy.

"Thank you," Chen Ming said sincerely. "But you don't need to do anything special, just enjoy listening to it."

"Of course we love it!" Zhang Wei patted his chest confidently. "We listen to Ming-ge's songs on repeat!"

"Exactly!"

Amidst the laughter and conversation, Chen Ming glanced at the time.

"I have to go now, I have something to do." He waved to his classmates, "We'll talk later."

"Take care, Ming-ge!"

See you on the basketball court next time!

Chen Ming took his things and walked out of the classroom.

In this life.

There is music, friends, teachers, and a future.

He also has his parents who support him.

That's enough.

Chen Ming walked out of the teaching building and looked up at the sky.

The sky was a clear, deep blue, with wispy clouds drifting by.

It's time to share the good news with my parents.

They must have been waiting for this moment.

Behind him, in the classroom, the students were still excitedly discussing.

"Chen Ming really hasn't changed..."

"Yes, I thought he would be different."

"That's why they can succeed; even after becoming famous, they remain so grounded."

"I want to learn from him from now on! Intensive competition begins!"