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

"Aaaaaah! Sister, you finally released an album! I've been waiting for half a year!"

"The title track, 'Listen to the Sea,' just the name evokes such a feeling!"

"I cried, I really cried, I've finally waited for this."

"Speaking of Chen Ming, who is he? To catch Lin Wei's eye, he must be really amazing!"

"Same curiosity +1. Lin Wei is known for her high standards when it comes to songs, so the creator must be really good at it to satisfy her this time."

"Chen Ming! The one who's number one on this month's newcomer list! 'Big City, Small Love'!"

"Wow, his songs are really good! I really like that one of his songs."

"Thanks to Chen Ming for the new song!!! Hahaha, we can finally hear Wei Cao's new album."

The comments section was buzzing.

Lin Wei's fans have been waiting for this album for far too long.

At this moment, we finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, and the excitement and anticipation are almost overflowing from the screen.

......

The composition department is located on the sixteenth floor of the Star Trail Entertainment Building.

The innermost private office has a sign that reads "Gold Medal Senior Creative Consultant: Qiu Xuan".

Forty-six-year-old Qiu Xuanzheng leaned back in an ergonomic chair, one hand supporting his chin, the other unconsciously swiping his phone screen.

On the screen is a Weibo post that Lin Wei just made.

"The new album 'Wei' features the title track 'Listen to the Sea'..."

Qiu Xuan's finger hovered over the two characters "Listen to the Sea" for several seconds.

"Freshman."

Qiu Xuan threw his phone on the table, making a soft thud.

He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and a melody floated into his mind.

That was a song he wrote for Lin Wei three months ago, called "The One Who Loves You".

He spent two whole months polishing that song.

From the initial motivation to the chord progressions to every single word and phrase of the lyrics, everything was meticulously crafted in an effort to achieve perfection.

That was one of his most satisfying works in the past two years.

He thought this song would definitely move Lin Wei.

After all, Lin Wei has high standards for music, and "The One Who Loves You" achieves a good balance in terms of both artistry and commercial appeal.

But the result?

Lin Wei's agent replied politely: "Teacher Qiu's work is excellent, but we feel that it is slightly different from the overall concept of the album. It is a pity that we cannot cooperate this time, but we look forward to the next opportunity."

It's very official and euphemistic, but the core meaning is just one thing: no.

Qiu Xuan didn't say anything at the time, only replying, "I understand, and I wish you success with the album."

But that thorn was planted in my heart.

Now, Lin Wei has chosen "Listen to the Sea".

A song written by a 19-year-old college freshman.

"Chen Ming..." Qiu Xuan murmured the name, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

He remembered the name.

Last week, it was Chen Ming who, with his song "Big City, Small Love," dethroned Sun Hong's "Summer Night Breeze" from the top spot on the newcomer chart.

"Summer Night Breeze" was also written by Qiu Xuan.

Of course, he just wrote that song casually, without putting too much thought into it.

It's perfect for a newcomer like Sun Hong, who has connections. The melody is catchy, and the lyrics are simple and straightforward. It doesn't aim for artistry, but only for widespread appeal.

He wasn't really bothered by being pushed off.

But "The One Who Loves You" is different.

That was a song he wrote with his heart.

But he was outshone by a newcomer who sang "Listen to the Sea".

"Knock knock".

A knock came at the door.

Qiu Xuan opened his eyes and composed himself: "Come in."

The door was pushed open, and a man in a casual suit walked in.

She was around thirty-five years old, in great shape, with a gentle smile on her face—the kind of poise honed from years of facing the camera and the public.

Lin Peikun, a top-tier male singer, has collaborated with Qiu Xuan several times and they are considered old friends.

"Old Qiu, what are you doing?" Lin Peikun walked over to the sofa and sat down, crossing his legs. "You don't look too good."

Qiu Xuan took off his glasses and rubbed his temples: "Nothing, just looking at something."

"Lin Wei's new song promotion?" Lin Peikun waved his phone, the screen displaying the same Weibo page as Lin Wei's. "I just saw it too. What happened? Your song 'The One Who Loves You' really got rejected?"

Qiu Xuan remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Lin Peikun clicked his tongue and shook his head: "What a pity."

"What's the pity?" Qiu Xuan slammed his hand on the table, looking at Lin Peikun with suppressed dissatisfaction. "My song 'The One Who Loves You' is so good! Why didn't she choose it?!"

He was genuinely angry.

It's not that I'm angry that Lin Wei didn't choose his song.

In this industry, rejection is common.

He was angry that Lin Wei chose "Listen to the Sea".

I chose the song written by that freshman.

This made him feel offended.

It's like a master chef who has painstakingly honed his culinary skills for decades, meticulously preparing a dish, only to have the customer not even glance at it, instead turning to try a street food dish made by an apprentice at the stall next door.

They ate with great relish.

At this moment, Qiu Xuan suddenly raised his head, looked at Lin Peikun, and his eyes lit up: "Old Lin, how about I sing you my song 'The One Who Loves You'?"

Lin Peikun was taken aback: "For me?"

"Yes." Qiu Xuan sat up straight, his tone becoming serious. "Aren't you releasing a new single next month? Perfect, let's use 'The One Who Loves You' to target Lin Wei."

Lin Peikun was silent for a few seconds, then shook his head with a smile: "Old Qiu, don't be silly. Lin Wei has released an album after so long, and she's very popular right now. What would I gain from competing with her?"

He actually felt that Qiu Xuan's reaction was a bit excessive.

It's Lin Wei's freedom to choose which song to sing.

Why is Qiu Xuan, a top-notch creator, arguing with a freshman?

"What's the point?" Qiu Xuan stared at him. "To prove that my 'The One Who Loves You' is no worse than 'Listen to the Sea,' to prove that Lin Wei made the wrong choice!"

He spoke very seriously, even with some excitement.

Lin Peikun looked at him without saying a word.

Qiu Xuan continued, "Old Lin, believe me, this song 'The One Who Loves You' is truly a work of painstaking effort. I've polished the melody, lyrics, and arrangement countless times. It's not just catchy; it has depth and artistry. If it's done well and promoted properly, it will definitely not lose to 'Listen to the Sea'."

Lin Peikun remained silent, but picked up the now-cold coffee on the table and took a sip.

"Besides," Qiu Xuan lowered his voice, "don't you want to give it a try? If you can really ride the wave of Lin Wei's new album, it wouldn't be a bad thing for you, would it?"

Lin Peikun put down his coffee cup and finally spoke: "Old Qiu, are you sure?"

"I'm sure." Qiu Xuan said decisively, "It's a guaranteed win."

The office fell silent again.

Lin Peikun looked at Qiu Xuan's eyes, which were slightly shining with excitement, and weighed his options.

He had worked with Qiu Xuan for many years and knew his old friend's temperament.

Arrogant, but undeniably talented.

He had heard the demo of "The One Who Loves You" before, and it was indeed good, with the potential to become a hit song.

If, as Qiu Xuan said, they can really capitalize on the momentum of targeting Lin Wei's new album, then...

He didn't lose out.

"Okay." Lin Peikun finally nodded. "Then I'll trust you this once."

Qiu Xuan finally smiled: "Alright! I won't let you down!"

......

At 10:00 AM, StarTraces Entertainment's official Weibo account released a teaser for Lin Peikun's new single, "The One Who Loves You."

[StarTraces Entertainment]: "On May 9th, at 12:00 PM, our artist Mr. Lin Peikun's collaboration with renowned songwriter Qiu Xuan, the song 'The One Who Loves You,' will be released. Let's soar once again in the ocean of R&B!"

Initially, the comment section was filled with cheers from fans:

"Kun Ge finally released a new song! I've been waiting for so long!"

"The One Who Loves You! What a beautiful name! I can't wait!"

"Saturday at noon! I've already set my alarm!"

However, some astute netizens quickly noticed the problem.

"Wait, Saturday at noon? Isn't that when Lin Wei's new album's title track is released?"

"Holy crap! It really is! 'Listen to the Sea' is also on Saturday at midnight!"

"What a coincidence? Could it be intentional?"

"It was definitely intentional! What a coincidence!"

"They're targeting Lin Wei! What grudge do they hold against her?"

The discussion quickly escalated.

Some astute netizens have spotted the problem.

The most recent work by award-winning creator Qiu Xuan is Sun Hong's "Summer Night Breeze".

Some people are reminded of last week's battle for the top newcomer rankings.

"Big City, Small Love" dethroned "Summer Night Breeze" from the top of the charts.

This also brings to mind that Lin Wei's new song "Listen to the Sea" was written by Chen Ming.

"I get it! Qiu Xuan is after revenge!"

"Has Chen Ming taken down 'Summer Night Breeze'? Now he's going to get back at them with 'The One Who Loves You'?"

"And the timing of specifically choosing the same time as Lin Wei's song release is way too obvious!"

"The Battle of the Two Lins! Lin Wei vs. Lin Peikun! Qiu Xuan vs. Chen Ming! This is going to be a great show!"

"There's going to be something interesting on Saturday noon!"

Although the netizens' reasoning process was incorrect.

But the results were all correct.

On Weibo, the hashtag "Battle of the Two Lins" climbed to the top of the trending topics list at an astonishing speed.

This matter is being discussed on all major music forums, online communities, and fan groups.

Some people sided with Lin Wei, thinking that Qiu Xuan was petty and was competing with a newcomer;

Some people support Lin Peikun, believing that the market should have competition and that one should let their work speak for itself.

Many others are simply there for the spectacle, eager to see what happens, and have already prepared to sit back and watch this "duel" on Saturday.

The atmosphere was more somber in Lin Wei's fan group.

"Fans, things aren't looking good. Qiu Xuan is a veteran gold medalist, and he's very strong."

"Lin Wei and Lin Peikun are both top-tier singers, and Lin Wei has the added boost of her new album's popularity."

"But Lin Peikun is no slouch either. He has deep roots and a stronger fan base, so in this respect, they are evenly matched. Ultimately, the competition comes down to the quality of the songs!"

"What should I do? I'm so worried that Sister Wei will be successfully targeted."

"The key lies with Chen Ming. He's only nineteen. Can he withstand an opponent of Qiu Xuan's caliber?"

Concerns are spreading.

Although fans have confidence in Lin Wei and have high expectations for "Listen to the Sea", they still can't help but feel apprehensive about the combination of Qiu Xuan and Lin Peikun.

After all, that's a combination of a top-tier songwriter and a top-tier singer.

Chen Ming, on the other hand, was just a newcomer who had just begun to make a name for himself.