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

The applause gradually subsided.

Chen Ming led the children in bowing to everyone before leaving the stage.

After all the contestants finished performing, the school began voting on the campus app on their phones.

On the playground, more than 10,000 students looked down at their phones, selecting their favorite contestants on the campus software.

Each person has three votes, which can be cast for any three contestants. Each student can only cast one vote for each contestant at most.

On the screen, the vote count began to fluctuate.

At first, it wasn't obvious what was going on.

Fu Yun's votes rose first, by several hundred, then by over a thousand; Xia Die followed closely behind, her votes also fluctuating rapidly; the other contestants' votes were also slowly climbing.

But everyone knows that the real suspense isn't here.

They are just waiting.

Waiting for that name to appear.

A few seconds later, Chen Ming's name appeared on the list.

Then, everyone saw that number.

10000+

It's still rising.

It doesn't increase little by little.

They jumped up in hundreds of leaps.

"Holy crap!! It reached 10,000 in an instant! It must have crashed!"

"What the hell is this vote count?!"

"Does everyone else combined have as much as him???"

"Fu Yun only has a little over four thousand, and Xia Die has about the same."

"The difference is just too big..."

"That's normal, our whole class voted for Chen Ming."

"I only cast one vote for Chen Ming, and abstained from the other two votes."

"Hahaha, so true!"

"Losing to Chen Ming is not shameful."

The chat room erupted with activity again.

[Jiangyi's students are so lucky to be able to vote for Chen Ming in person]

We can only watch from the live stream, it's so tempting!

I want to vote too! Let me vote too!!!

[Exactly! We strongly demand that audience voting be allowed!]

[Hilarious! If it were a viewer vote, Chen Ming could get over 100,000 votes.]

Stop talking, the more you talk about it, the more it itches!

Look at the vote difference! That's what you call a landslide victory!

Fu Yun and Xia Die were a good couple, it's a pity they ran into Chen Ming.

There's no need to feel inferior about losing to Chen Ming, really.

Yes, anyone would lose.

The final result is as follows:

First place: Chen Ming, Department of Composition, 12437 votes

Second place: Fu Yun, Vocal Performance Department, 4856 votes

Third place: Xia Die, Vocal Performance Department, 4621 votes

Fourth place: Performing Arts Department...

Chen Ming received more votes than the second to fourth place combined.

A burst of laughter rang out on the playground.

"This vote count is incredible!"

"Hahaha, what do you call Chen Ming's move? This is called a landslide victory!"

"Fu Yun and Xia Die have had a tough time too, they developed feelings for each other while running for the championship."

"The fourth-place student from the performing arts department was just a hair's breadth away from third place, what a pity."

"It's no pity, it's no pity. Losing to Chen Ming is not shameful."

Fu Yun stood in the crowd, looking at the numbers on her phone screen, and suddenly smiled.

He turned to Xia Die and said, "Senior, the two of us combined don't even have as much as he does alone."

Xia Die smiled too: "So?"

"So," Fu Yun paused, his tone becoming serious, "we need to step up our efforts."

Xia Die nodded without saying anything.

But as she looked at that number, something else was on her mind.

What Chen Ming said backstage just now.

The vocalization position shifts forward, concentrating on the hard palate.

She tried it, and it really makes a difference.

This person is just too outstanding.

If I don't put in more effort, wouldn't I look like a useless fellow student of Jiangxi Arts University?

Then, the visitors began to leave one after another.

Volunteers stood at the exit, guiding the crowd to disperse in an orderly manner.

But those people walked very slowly, chatting excitedly as they went.

"Today's trip was really worth it."

"Who can argue with that? I originally came just to join in the fun, but I never expected to see a performance of this caliber."

"This isn't just a school audition; it's more exciting than some music festivals I've been to!"

"And it's free! No entrance fee!"

"Haha, yes, I got a top-notch performance for free."

"I'll remember Chen Ming's song for the rest of my life."

"When the youth are strong, the nation is strong"—that's a truly wise saying.

"When I get back, I'm going to show the playback to my son so he can hear what a song is and learn to use internet slang all the time."

How old is your son?

"Ten years old is just the right age to understand what they're saying."

"Then he should see it; this song is good for children."

In the crowd, a middle-aged man was walking and scrolling through his phone when he suddenly looked up and said to the person next to him, "I posted it on WeChat Moments, and it already has more than thirty likes."

The person next to him came over to look: "How did you post that?"

"I just posted one sentence: Today at Jiangyi, I heard a song that will be popular for a lifetime."

"Great! I'll copy it!"

More people took out their phones and started posting updates on WeChat Moments, Weibo, and Douyin.

"Jiangxi Arts School Selection Competition: Chen Ming's Deification Moment"

"Youth has its own wildness, and I was inspired by a song today."

"I recommend that all parents take their children to read Chen Ming's 'A Young China'."

"I got to see a divine performance for free. Thank you Jiang Yi and Chen Ming."

The comment sections under those posts are growing rapidly.

Someone asked: Is it really that good?

Someone answered: It's not just pleasant to listen to, it's breathtaking.

Someone asked: Is there a replay?

Someone replied: Search for Chen Ming, "The Young China," there should be a screen recording.

The topic is quietly gaining traction.

Behind the stage, Chen Ming stood among the children.

The performance is over; it's time to send them home.

Parents of students from the Experimental Primary School were already waiting at the exit. Some were standing on tiptoe to look in this direction, while others were waving.

Chen Ming squatted down and looked at the group of children in front of him.

More than thirty little faces were tilted up, some still chattering excitedly, others already yawning from exhaustion, but their eyes were all bright.

"You've worked hard today," Chen Ming said gently. "You sang exceptionally well, fantastic!"

"Teacher Chen sang well too!" the little girl with the ponytail immediately chimed in.

"Yes! Teacher Chen is the best!"

"Will we be able to sing with Teacher Chen again in the future?"

"When is the next time?"

The children asked all sorts of questions.

Chen Ming smiled and said, "There's a chance."

He stood up and looked at the parents waiting in the distance.

"Let's go, I'll take you home."

At the exit, parents had already gathered around.

Chen Ming handed the children over to their parents one by one.

"This is your child; he behaved exceptionally well today."

"Thank you for bringing your child. You must be tired."

"The child is very talented. We can encourage him more when we get back. Children need encouragement to grow."

Every word was spoken earnestly and sincerely.

The parents were initially a little reserved, after all, the young man in front of them was a star who had just received applause from more than 10,000 people on stage.

But Chen Ming's attitude was too natural.

He acted as naturally as an ordinary teacher, taking the children home from school.

The mother, whose hands were trembling as she held her phone, was now holding her daughter's hand, her eyes slightly red.

Seeing Chen Ming approaching, she quickly wiped her eyes.

"Teacher Chen," she said, her voice a little tight, "thank you so much for today."

Chen Ming shook his head: "I should thank you for letting the child help."

"No, no, I mean..." The mother paused, organizing her thoughts, "I mean the song, its impact on the child. After she went home, she kept repeating those lyrics, like 'When the youth are strong, the nation is strong' and stuff like that... I think it's especially good for her."

Chen Ming looked down at the little girl with a ponytail.

The little girl looked up, her eyes sparkling.

"She's very talented," Chen Ming said. "She'll be successful no matter what she does in the future."

Mom's eyes reddened again.

Beside him, the mischievous boy was pulled in front of Chen Ming by his father.

The father patted his son on the shoulder: "Quick, thank Teacher Chen."

The boy looked up at Chen Ming and suddenly pulled a small box out of his pocket.

"Teacher Chen, this is for you!"

Chen Ming was stunned for a moment, then took it and saw that it was a small cake.

"My mom brought this for me this morning, saying I could eat it when I'm tired from the performance," the boy said earnestly. "I'll share half with you!"

Chen Ming looked at the cake, then at the boy's serious face, and suddenly smiled.

He crouched down to be at eye level with the boy.

"Thank you," he said softly. "Keep it for yourself. You sang so well today, you should reward yourself."

The boy scratched his head, a little embarrassed, but still stuffed the small box into Chen Ming's hand.

"No, no, take it! You sing better than me!"

The adults around them laughed.

Chen Ming smiled too.

He took the cake and then reached out to pat the boy's head.

"Okay, I'll accept it then, thank you."

The boy grinned, revealing two prominent canine teeth.

Nearby, another little girl ran over, holding up a piece of chocolate: "Teacher Chen, I'll give you one too!"

"Teacher Chen, I have cookies!"

"Teacher Chen, my mom bought some fruit, do you want some?"

The children crowded around, eagerly stuffing things into Chen Ming's hands.

Chen Ming was surrounded and his hands were quickly stuffed with all sorts of snacks.

He was both amused and exasperated, yet he couldn't refuse those earnest little faces.

"Alright, alright," he said with a smile, "There's too much, I can't finish it."

"Then eat slowly!"

"Yes, eat a little bit every day!"

"Teacher Chen, you have to eat it all!"

The parents stood by, watching this scene, their smiles barely concealed.

The mother who had come earlier out of concern now held her daughter's hand and whispered, "Look how wonderful Teacher Chen is."

The daughter nodded vigorously.

"I want to be like Teacher Chen when I grow up!"

The mother smiled and ruffled her daughter's hair.

"Okay, good luck."

Finally, all the children were picked up by their parents.

Chen Ming stood at the school gate, watching the last car disappear around the street corner.

He was also clutching a bunch of snacks in his hand: cake, chocolate, cookies, and a lollipop.

He looked down at those things and suddenly smiled.

The sunlight fell on his shoulders, warm and comforting.

Behind me, the crowd on the playground had dispersed, leaving only staff members cleaning up the area.

In the distance, the campus of Jiangyi University appeared exceptionally quiet in the afternoon light.

Chen Ming put the snacks away and turned to walk back.

......

The Starry Sky Building, top-floor conference room.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows is the skyline of Jianghai City, where the setting sun is slowly sinking, bathing the entire city in a warm golden light.

The conference room was full of people.

On either side of the long table, a dozen or so company executives and shareholder representatives watched silently as a large projection screen on the wall displayed a replay of the recently concluded Jiangyi School Selection Competition.

The image freezes at the very last moment.

Chen Ming led the children in bowing, then turned and walked off the stage.

The meeting room remained quiet for a long time.

No one speaks.

No one moved.

After a long while, a shareholder with gray hair slowly leaned back in his chair and gently exhaled.

"This kid..." he began, his voice a little hoarse, "The timing of this song is absolutely brilliant."

The person next to him nodded: "May, just half a month after May Fourth Movement. If this poem, 'Ode to Young China,' had come out half a month earlier..."

He didn't finish speaking, but everyone present understood.

May Fourth Youth Day.

What kind of node is that?

That was a time when the whole country was talking about youth, teenagers, and the future.

If this song had come out at that time.

"The cultural sector will definitely take note," another shareholder chimed in. "The education sector too; this kind of song isn't your average pop song."

"More than that," someone added. "Look at the lyrics: 'When the youth are strong, the nation is strong,' 'When the youth are independent, the nation is independent,' 'Throughout history, across the vast wilderness,' such vision, such breadth of mind, such perspective..."

"This doesn't seem like something a nineteen-year-old could write. Even though Youth Day has passed, I believe this song's status will not diminish."

The meeting room fell silent again.

Song He sat in the main seat, and there were already several cigarette butts in the ashtray in front of him.

He rarely smokes, but he made an exception today.

His gaze remained fixed on the projection screen, on that young face.

A white shirt, a clean profile, and calm eyes.

He recalled the scene a month ago when he first saw that campus video on his phone.

At that time, he only felt that this was a promising talent and worth nurturing.

Later, Chen Ming released "Big City, Small Love" and topped the newcomer chart. He felt that this kid had potential and could be given a push.

Later, Chen Ming wrote "Listen to the Sea" for Lin Wei, and then published "Special Man" to directly challenge and defeat Qiu Xuan and Lin Peikun. He felt that this was a genius and should be given special attention.

but now……

He looked at the frozen image on the projection screen, at the children standing behind Chen Ming, at the crowd applauding below the stage, and at the barrage of comments scrolling wildly on the screen.

He suddenly realized that all his previous judgments about Chen Ming might have been too conservative.

This is not some "promising newcomer".

This is not a "promising talent worth nurturing".

This is a musician who has already reached a higher level.

You can't judge a hero by his age or seniority.

"President Song." The vice president sitting next to him spoke softly, interrupting his thoughts.

Song He snapped out of his daze and stubbed out his cigarette.

He glanced around at everyone in the conference room.

More than a dozen pairs of eyes were watching him.

He took a deep breath and spoke:

"I propose—"

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear.

"Upgrade Chen Ming's contract to S-level."

The meeting room fell silent for a second.

Then, someone gasped.

S-class.

That was the highest level contract in the galaxy.

Who does this correspond to?

They are the three kings and queens of singing in the company, the top gold medal songwriters and the only two ace songwriters, those who truly stand at the top of the industry pyramid.

Putting everything else aside, the guaranteed annual salary alone is a million.

Even if you do nothing for a year, the company still has to transfer the money to your account on time.