Chapter Thirteen: The Divine Melody Returns, Cinderella

At this moment, Wang Duoyu held his phone and flashed a wicked smile. He hadn’t expected Chen Nian to actually accept the challenge. Compose a themed song on the spot? What a joke. Even if you were extraordinarily gifted and brimming with talent, this isn’t something a greenhorn can handle. Even the most renowned producer in all of China couldn’t pull it off! You want to compete with me? I’ll crush you without mercy!

“Damn, is it really going to be this intense?”

“Bro, did you seriously agree to this? How can you improvise a song? He’s clearly making things difficult for you. If you can’t do it, just back out. You’re just an unknown—no one will care.”

“If you don’t have the guts, hand over the rights and get lost, you useless piece of trash!”

The trolls in the comment section began stirring the pot once again.

Even the national goddess, Zhou Lu, who had absolute faith in Chen Nian, furrowed her brow at this moment.

“Isn’t Chen Nian being too reckless? Not only does he have to improvise, but it’s also a set theme? That’s impossible!” Brother Lu sighed, beginning to doubt Zhou Lu’s choice.

Zhou Lu remained silent, still watching the livestream on her phone. She was deeply curious how Chen Nian would handle this seemingly hopeless situation.

“You can set the theme,” Chen Nian said indifferently in the livestream.

“Alright then, how about a rock song—one that praises love,” Wang Duoyu declared after a show of deliberation.

“Rock? And a love-themed rock song?” The moment Wang Duoyu announced his theme, the comment section exploded.

Even the pop diva was left dumbfounded.

What kind of absurd request was this?

The music scene was currently in a downturn for rock—there weren’t even a handful of decent rock songs released in a year, let alone a sentimental rock ballad.

He was obviously making things impossible for him!

Elsewhere, Lin Xinrou lay delightedly in Brother Wei’s arms, her eyes glued to the livestream on the computer screen.

Wang Duoyu truly lived up to his reputation as an old hand in the entertainment industry—his moves were ruthless.

Rock music had long been abandoned by the new generation of singers.

A sentimental rock ballad? Only someone like him could come up with that.

Forget improvising—even given a year or a decade, some singers couldn’t create something like that.

And to ask for something that could rival “Sunny Day”? What a joke!

Perhaps worried that Chen Nian might back out at the last minute, Wang Duoyu smiled and said, “Young man, lest you say I’m bullying the younger generation, I’ll give you an hour to prepare.”

“No need.” Chen Nian shook his head with a smile. A sentimental rock song? That’s nothing.

I’ll play one right now!

He picked up the guitar without a hint of hesitation. In the next moment, the drum intro began to play softly.

“Damn, why does this intro sound so good?”

The moment the intro played, everyone watching the livestream was stunned.

“How did I end up falling for you? I keep asking myself.”

“I could give up anything, yet today I find it hard to leave.”

“You’re not beautiful, but you’re impossibly cute.”

“Oh, Cinderella, my Cinderella.”

“I’m always hurting you, I’m always so cruel.”

“I told you not to take it seriously, because I can’t quite believe it.”

“You’re so beautiful, and you’re impossibly cute.”

“Oh, Cinderella, my Cinderella…”

When the song ended, Chen Nian stood and gave the livestream audience a deep bow.

“Holy crap, bro, you’re incredible!”

“To sing rock to this level—are you even human?”

“Chen Nian, from today on, you’re my idol!”

“Awesome, awesome, awesome…”

Watching the livestream, Lin Xinrou suddenly jumped up from Brother Wei’s arms, her eyes filled with disbelief.

She slowly raised her hands to clutch her head, took two steps back, and collapsed weakly onto the sofa.

“What the hell! Is this guy even human?”

Brother Lu, Zhou Lu’s manager, was now in existential crisis. After so many years in the entertainment industry, it was the first time he’d heard rock music this good.

Wang Duoyu stood frozen, phone in hand, his mind buzzing.

Impossible. Absolutely impossible!

In today’s climate, no newcomer would ever try to write a rock song. Rock is a dead end in the current music scene—a road that leads nowhere.

Unless Chen Nian was a fool, he’d never write a rock song.

Could it be that he really just improvised this piece?

After Chen Nian finished singing, the livestream fell silent. With over a hundred thousand viewers online, barely a dozen comments trickled through.

“Bro, can I ask what this song is called?”

“Cinderella,” Chen Nian replied after a moment’s thought.

“This has to be cheating, right? How could anyone improvise a song like this?”

“You expect me to believe this was improvised? Do you take me for an idiot?”

“Can someone who knows music explain to me what true improvisation means?”

“I give up—I can’t even hate on him anymore. I admit it, I was a paid troll hired by Xinji Entertainment.”

“I’m a new fan now. Thank you, Xinji Entertainment, for introducing me to such a legend.”

“Zhou Lu, may I ask if I can commission a song from you?” At that moment, a bold comment floated across the screen.

“Holy crap! The goddess herself is requesting a song?”

“Bro, you’ve struck it rich! Say yes, quick!”

Seeing Zhou Lu’s message, Chen Nian was momentarily taken aback—after all, he’d already promised to write a song with her.

He quickly realized Zhou Lu was helping him gain more exposure.

“Of course, Goddess Zhou. When I have time, I’ll definitely write a song for you,” Chen Nian replied with a shy smile.

He was joking, of course—as a multitalented artist, a little acting was no trouble for him.

Sure enough, after Zhou Lu’s collaboration request, the viewership in the livestream soared past two hundred thousand.

Meanwhile, Wang Duoyu, finally recovered, couldn’t stop trembling.

After so many years as a top composer in the music industry, he now felt like a child who hadn’t even graduated kindergarten compared to Chen Nian.

“Mr. Wang, are you still there? I hope you remember what you said—my livestream has a replay function,” Chen Nian said with a gentle smile, instantly directing all the chat’s firepower at Wang Duoyu.

“Mr. Wang?”

“Mr. Wang, could you please respond?”

“Tell us, could you write a song like this? Could Lin Xinrou write a song like this?”

“Someone who can instantly come up with a masterpiece like ‘Cinderella’ has no need to plagiarize—why would he stoop so low?”

Wang Duoyu slumped helplessly on the sofa, phone in hand.

After all these years as the dark horse producer for Xinji Entertainment, this was the first time he’d encountered someone like the sun itself.

This man was too dazzling—there was no way to tarnish him.

“Mr. Wang, does this finally prove that ‘Sunny Day’ was written by me? If you’re still not convinced, feel free to bring Lin Xinrou here for a face-to-face confrontation.”

Chen Nian smiled faintly, his face the very picture of innocence.