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

"Love requires companionship."

"Hate needs freedom even more."

"Love and hate are endlessly intertwined."

His voice began to rise.

It wasn't a sudden outburst, but a natural rise, like the rising tide, like the gradual brightening of the sky.

And then! The chorus came!

"What can I do to save this?"

When love is spilled, it cannot be gathered up again.

The moment that high note was uttered, the entire studio seemed to vibrate.

It's not the kind of shrill, ear-piercing high-pitched sound that makes you want to cover your ears.

It's a high note that strikes right into your heart.

It was bright, steady, and yet it carried a tearing emotion.

Like a knife, it pierces straight into the softest part of everyone's heart.

Who can protect whom?

For whom does my heart wait?

Chen Ming stood on the stage, eyes closed, completely immersed in the song.

"Salvation" is a deeply moving song.

When pain spreads, when people truly stand before cruel fate, will they have the courage and strength to face it? And when all this becomes powerless, what will they use to save themselves?

His body swayed slightly with the melody, but his voice was as steady as if it were welded to the pitch line.

That's something only truly top-tier singers can achieve.

Using all their strength, yet appearing effortless.

The power of this song lies in finding a heart-wrenching feeling within a chaotic space that is beautiful, desolate, and collapsing.

"What can I do to save them?"

"Love can be deadly."

Who can protect whom?

"To make love immortal"

The chorus ends, and the melody fades away.

The audience was deathly silent.

No one speaks.

No one moved.

Even the sound of breathing seemed to be suppressed to the lowest level.

The five mentors on stage were all smiles.

Xu Huaimin leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, a smile playing on his lips.

Li Jinghua nodded gently, her eyes full of appreciation.

Zhou Guoping pushed up his glasses and muttered something silently to himself.

Zhao Yazhi turned her head slightly and whispered something to Wang Weizhou beside her:

"This child is extraordinary."

Wang Weizhou didn't speak, he just nodded.

But his eyes remained fixed on the boy on the stage, never looking away for a moment.

However, the most exciting part was yet to come.

The verse loops again.

The chorus arrives again.

This time, Chen Ming raised his voice by another octave.

"What can I do to save them?!"

"Love can be deadly!"

"Who can protect whom!"

"May love last forever!"

The high notes seemed to pierce the dome, penetrate the entire studio, penetrate everyone's eardrums, and strike straight into the deepest part of their hearts.

Fu Yun's mouth was agape, and she forgot to close it.

Xia Die's eyes reddened at some point.

Shen Yuewan clutched her chest, feeling her heart pounding uncontrollably.

And Huang Mo...

His body trembled even more violently.

Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, dripping onto his clothes and soaking a small patch.

His own words just now seem like a complete joke.

What a huge joke.

The last note fell.

The lingering sound slowly dissipated in the air.

Chen Ming put down the microphone, slightly out of breath.

But in just a moment, his breathing returned to normal.

The song was so difficult, but he sang it as if nothing had happened.

Relaxed and carefree.

It was as if everything was effortless for him.

The entire room fell silent.

A deathly silence.

one second.

two seconds.

three seconds.

then.

The five mentors simultaneously raised their flags.

Five sides.

S-class.

But no one cheered.

Because everyone was still immersed in the afterglow of that song and hadn't come back to their senses yet.

A few more seconds of silence followed.

Then, I don't know who started clapping.

Once, twice, three times.

Immediately afterwards, applause surged up like a tidal wave, instantly engulfing the entire studio.

"S-rank!!!"

"Holy crap!!! Chen Ming is awesome!!!"

"The first S-class track in the popular circuit!"

"That's too strong! That's too strong! That's too strong!"

"Chen Ming's song 'Salvation' has truly saved the pop music scene!"

The racers on the popular tracks have gone crazy.

They stood up, waving their arms and calling out Chen Ming's name.

The competitors on the other tracks were completely dumbfounded.

In the seating area of ​​the bel canto track, several contestants looked at each other in shock.

"This singing ability, even in our bel canto category, would be top-tier, right?"

"His breath control is so steady, and the quality of that high note is something we might not be able to achieve even after practicing for so many years."

"His breathing stabilized immediately after he finished singing...that lung capacity, that control..."

"And this song is an original; he's really a pervert."

Someone muttered under their breath, "I thought the pop music scene was all about popularity and looks, but I never expected..."

The words were left unsaid, but everyone understood the meaning.

In the direction of the ethnic race track, Mu Ze sat there, his eyes fixed on the figure in the white shirt on the stage.

His friend leaned closer and whispered, "Muze, what do you think?"

Kizawa was silent for two seconds, then let out a soft breath: "Strong."

There is only one word.

But that word contains too much.

As a top student at the Kyoto Academy of Performing Arts and the only S-level student in the ethnic music track, he has absolute confidence in himself.

But now, looking at Chen Ming, he suddenly felt...

That "uniqueness" may only be temporary.

On stage, the five mentors exchanged glances.

Xu Huaimin was the first to pick up the microphone.

His face wore an undisguised smile, a smile that conveyed the relief of "finally waiting for you".

"Chen Ming, right?"

Chen Ming nodded: "Yes, teacher."

Xu Huaimin leaned back in his chair, his voice filled with emotion: "You gave me a pleasant surprise."

He glanced at the contestants on the popular track below the stage: "I originally thought that was all there was to the popular track today, a bunch of D-level, a few C-level, and maybe a B-level would be considered good."

An awkward laugh rippled through the audience.

Xu Huaimin continued, "But today you gave me a different answer."

His voice became serious:

"You have proven that pop music can also have top-notch singing techniques. The combination of technique, emotion, and expressiveness is something that only bel canto and folk music can achieve."

He looked at Chen Ming, his eyes full of admiration: "You sang very well, very well."

Chen Ming bowed slightly: "Thank you, Teacher Xu."

Beside her, Li Jinghua also picked up the microphone.

Her tone was gentler than Xu Huaimin's, but her admiration was equally evident:

"You have a great voice and solid technique. More importantly, you are completely emotionally invested when you sing, which is very rare."

Chen Ming thanked him again.

Zhou Guoping adjusted his glasses and began to speak:

"I'd like to add something: your handling of high notes is very mature. Many people sing high notes by shouting or forcing it, but you are different. Your high notes are supported and have space, so they don't sound harsh; instead, they have a penetrating quality."

He said earnestly, "This is something that many singers who have been singing for over a decade may not be able to do."

Chen Ming nodded: "Thank you, Teacher Zhou."

Zhao Yazhi smiled and replied:

"I have nothing more to add. They've already said everything they needed to say. I'll just say one thing: this kid is amazing. The song is called 'Salvation,' right? I think it will be a favorite song on my playlist from now on!"

As she spoke, she gave a thumbs-up.

The actions were simple, but sincere.

Another burst of laughter and applause erupted from the audience.

For a musician, the highest praise is when someone adds their songs to their playlist.

Finally, Wang Weizhou picked up the microphone.

He smiled before he spoke.

Just as he expected.

"Students in the popular track," he said, his gaze sweeping across the audience, "Do you see them?"

The audience fell silent.

Wang Weizhou's voice was not loud, but every word was clear: "This is what Teacher Xu Huaimin just said: technique, emotion, and expressiveness, all in one."

He looked at Chen Ming:

"Chen Ming has set a good example for everyone. I hope everyone can do better in the future."

After he finished speaking, he nodded to Chen Ming:

"Go down and prepare well for the next round."

Chen Ming bowed again, then turned and walked off the stage.

As he descended the steps, his pace remained unhurried.

Just like when I took office.

Just like when I walk on campus normally.

The spotlight followed him, shining on his white shirt and his tall, straight back.

The other contestants below the stage watched the boy in the white shirt bow slightly to the audience, and then turn and walk off the stage.

His eyes held admiration, envy, and a complex mix of emotions.

Someone muttered to themselves:

"This...this is Chen Ming?"

No one answered him.

Because everyone is thinking about the same problem.

Just how strong is this 19-year-old boy?

Chen Ming stepped off the stage and returned to his seat.

Fu Yun was so excited that he became incoherent:

"S-rank! Chen Ming, you got an S-rank! You're amazing! You're my god!"

Xia Die smiled and gave a thumbs up:

"Junior, that's impressive."

Chen Ming smiled but didn't say anything.

He simply looked at the stage.

The next contestant has already gone up.

The rating process is ongoing.

But he has already raised the ceiling for the popular track.

Next, it depends on whether the others can reach it.