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

"When the youth are strong, the nation is strong..."

He murmured the words repeatedly, his voice very soft, as if afraid of disturbing something.

Zhang Jianguo walked up to him at some point, looking at the scene in the classroom as well, and spoke softly.

"How about that? I told you your school's students are amazing, right? I was quite taken aback when I first saw them rehearsing. For a teenager to write such powerful lyrics is truly impressive!"

Li Jianping did not answer.

In this world without Mr. Liang Qichao's "A Discourse on the Youth of China".

The lyrics of this song had a tremendous impact on him.

He simply stood there, motionless, letting the singing relentlessly assault him.

a long time.

a long time.

He slowly opened his mouth, his voice hoarse:

"What's the name of this song?"

Zhang Jianguo said with some emotion, "I asked around, and they said it was taught by Teacher Chen, and his name is—"

"Ode to Young China"

Li Jianping closed his eyes.

A Young China.

What a magnificent statement about the young China!

Inside the classroom, Chen Ming seemed to sense something, and slightly turned his head to look towards the door.

Through the glass in the door, he saw the figure standing motionless outside.

It's Dean Li.

Chen Ming smiled slightly, then looked away.

The singing didn't stop.

"Daring to challenge the heavens and earth, I will forge ahead, overcoming all obstacles and thorns."

"Though the world laughs at me, I will strive harder and live up to my youthful potential!"

Then the children's voices rang out again, their voices becoming more engaged and powerful.

Li Jianping stood outside the door, listening to the singing, and suddenly straightened his back.

The man, who was over sixty years old, had a back as straight as a pine tree.

He suddenly remembered something his teacher had said many years ago when he first entered the music academy:

"The power of music lies not in how beautiful it sounds, but in its ability to express emotions that cannot be expressed in words."

He didn't fully understand at that time.

Now he understands.

He could feel that youthful vigor!

Zhang Jianguo whispered from the side, "Shall we go in and take a look?"

Li Jianping shook his head.

"No," he said softly, "Don't disturb them."

He just stood there.

Standing in the corridor outside the door, under the May sun, I listened to that song over and over again.

Until the last note falls.

The classroom was filled with the laughter and chatter of children.

Chen Ming stood up and walked towards the door.

The door was pulled open.

He saw Li Jianping and smiled slightly: "Dean Li, Principal Zhang."

Zhang Jianguo nodded.

He's been coming over frequently these days, so Chen Ming has gotten to know him.

Li Jianping looked at him, at this nineteen-year-old boy, at his calm eyes.

He originally thought that the child's musical talent was already extremely high!

Unexpectedly, the other party's literary achievements were even more astonishing.

This song, "Ode to Young China," was released.

It's highly likely that no one will dare to challenge Chen Ming on his lyrics writing in the future.

To tell the truth.

He had a lot to say.

I want to say this song is so powerful, I want to say how you wrote something like this, I want to say thank you, and I want to say you will go very far.

In the end, he simply reached out and patted Chen Ming on the shoulder forcefully.

Then he said something:

"Good boy."

Three words.

It's very light.

But Chen Ming sensed the weight behind those three words.

He nodded and softly replied, "Thank you, Dean."

Sunlight streamed in through the corridor windows, falling on the two of them.

In the distance, the children's laughter continued in the classroom.

Zhang Jianguo stood to the side, watching this scene, and suddenly smiled.

......

The children were picked up by their parents one by one, and their chattering gradually faded away.

Before leaving, the little girl with the ponytail turned back and waved to Chen Ming, shouting loudly, "Goodbye, Teacher Chen! I'll come again tomorrow!"

Chen Ming smiled and waved at her.

The classroom fell silent.

Standing by the window, watching those small figures disappear into the campus, Li Jianping suddenly said, "These children sing very well."

Chen Ming, who was tidying up the sheet music, smiled when he heard this: "They are very serious. Although they sometimes sing off-key, their energy is really genuine."

"Truthful." Li Jianping repeated the word, nodded, "Yes, it's true. The worst thing for music is falsehood—false technique, false emotion, false feeling. But that song just now was absolutely genuine."

He turned around and looked at Chen Ming, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration:

"How did you get here? By taxi?"

Chen Ming nodded: "Yeah, I took a taxi here."

"Then I'll take you back," Li Jianping said casually, as if he were talking about something perfectly ordinary.

Chen Ming was slightly taken aback, then shook his head: "Dean Li, this is too much trouble for you. I can just take a taxi myself, it only takes half an hour..."

"No trouble at all," Li Jianping interrupted him, waving his hand with a smile. "Let's chat on the way, let's go."

As he spoke, he walked towards the door.

Chen Ming stared at his retreating figure for a second, then quickly followed.

The two walked through the corridor and out of the teaching building.

Zhang Jianguo was already waiting at the school gate.

Seeing the two come out, he came up to them: "Old Li, you're leaving already? Won't you stay for a meal?"

"Maybe next time," Li Jianping patted his old classmate on the shoulder. "I have things to do today, I'll treat you another day."

Zhang Jianguo nodded, then looked at Chen Ming and gave him a thumbs up: "Young man, impressive! I heard that song, it was really good! If you ever want to come to our school for rehearsals again, just let us know!"

Chen Ming bowed slightly: "Thank you, Principal Zhang."

Zhang Jianguo waved his hand: "You're welcome. The lyrics of your song are so well written. In the future, they might plant a seed called 'ambition' in the hearts of the children in our school. I'm so grateful to you."

The three said goodbye.

Li Jianping's car was parked on the side of the road; it was an unassuming black sedan.

He opened the driver's side door and gestured for Chen Ming to get in.

The car started and slowly drove away from the Experimental Primary School.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the car window.

Li Jianping drove very steadily, neither too fast nor too slow.

Instead of going directly to the main road, he took a detour along a side road lined with tall sycamore trees whose branches and leaves intertwined overhead to form a green dome.

"This road is quiet," he said. "It's a good place to chat."

Chen Ming leaned back in the passenger seat, watching the scenery flash by outside the window, without saying a word.

Li Jianping was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke up: "Chen Ming, I have something to tell you."

Chen Ming turned his head.

"During the main competition of 'China's Top Singers,'" Li Jianping looked ahead, his tone as calm as if he were talking about the weather, "I will also be there."

Chen Ming was slightly taken aback.

Li Jianping continued, "The production team invited me to be a special guest mentor, not a regular one, just to sit in each episode and give the contestants some advice. I didn't originally intend to agree; I'm too old and lazy to bother, but—"

He glanced at Chen Ming, then looked away.

"Now I think it wouldn't be bad to go."

Chen Ming paused for two seconds, then said softly, "Thank you, Dean."

"What are you thanking me for?" Li Jianping laughed. "It wasn't specifically for you. The program team invited me. I'm just giving CCTV face."

He spoke casually, but Chen Ming understood the meaning behind his words.

Whether it was "dedicated" or not, he appreciated the sentiment.

With Li Jianping, one of our own, around.

During the program, many unnecessary troubles can always be avoided.

"So," Li Jianping continued, "if you encounter any problems on the show, you can come to me, whether it's professional or anything else. It's the same with school; if you encounter anything, you can come to me."

Chen Ming opened his mouth, as if to say something, but was interrupted by Li Jianping raising his hand:

"I know you signed with Brilliant Galaxy and have the company backing you up, but a company is a company and a school is a school. There are some things that the company may not be able to handle, but the school can."

He looked straight ahead, his tone calm yet resolute: "Even if you've been wronged at the agency, you can come to me. Although I'm not very capable, I've been in the entertainment and education industries for decades and have built up some connections."

He truly cherished talent.

We can't let such a talented person go through those unnecessary dirty tricks in the entertainment industry.