Chapter Eighteen: A Song for the Goddess Zhou

A few people glanced at the lyrics in their hands, then looked down at Chen Nian sitting quietly to the side. The expressions on their faces were intriguing, and in the end, they all tacitly chose silence.

Watching the group who had just been so rowdy, Mo Fan frowned and snatched the lyric book from their hands. "What’s wrong with you all? Why do you look like you’ve eaten something foul?"

He looked at the lyrics, his confusion slowly giving way to shock, and finally disbelief.

"This—did you just write this?"

Chen Nian nodded. "Your demo’s composition is decent, but the lyrics didn’t work. So I replaced them."

At that moment, Mo Fan could only think of two words to describe Chen Nian.

"Incredible!"

Chen Nian, the strikingly handsome young man before him, was the most talented producer Mo Fan had ever met since his debut—bar none.

Those producers who had hoped to suppress Chen Nian’s momentum fell silent after seeing the lyrics he wrote in just three minutes.

They knew in their hearts that the lyrics Chen Nian had crafted reached a height they could never hope to attain in their lifetimes.

The man who had boasted he could write something like "Sunny Day" or "Elopement" if given a little time now felt the sting of his own words, wishing he could disappear into the ground.

"Zhou Lu, this song will explode! It’ll be a hit, I’m sure!" Mo Fan, clutching the lyrics, hurried to Zhou Lu, his face alight with excitement.

Zhou Lu took the lyrics and began to read.

She knew Chen Nian’s lyric-writing skills were formidable, but what kind of work could have stirred Mo Fan so deeply and silenced those arrogant producers?

As she skimmed the lyrics, an unusual light flashed in her eyes. She looked at Chen Nian in disbelief.

"Chen Nian, are you really giving me these lyrics?"

Chen Nian nodded. "I promised you, so I won’t just give you anything half-hearted; besides, these lyrics suit your melody perfectly. Just take them."

The original lyricist for the demo lowered his head even further.

This wasn’t just a good fit—it was a complete rout, leaving the original lyricist battered and bruised.

Compared to Chen Nian’s work, his own lyrics were no better than a schoolchild’s—no, a preschooler’s scribbles.

"Let’s go, let’s head to the studio right now!" Without hesitation, Zhou Lu grabbed Chen Nian’s hand and strode toward the recording studio.

The producers left in the conference room exchanged glances, then followed after them.

Having witnessed the brilliance of the lyrics, they were now curious to see just how high the finished song, sung by Zhou Lu, could soar.

When they arrived, a crowd of soon-to-debut trainees had already gathered outside the studio.

Whenever Zhou Lu recorded, the trainees would come to watch, eager to learn from the national diva’s singing technique.

One girl was scheduled to record before Zhou Lu and Chen Nian. She wanted to yield her spot to Zhou Lu, but Zhou Lu declined.

So Chen Nian and Zhou Lu stood outside, watching the girl’s performance.

To be honest, the girl’s voice was pleasant and her technique was solid, but the lyrics and composition left much to be desired in Chen Nian’s eyes.

After the girl finished, Chen Nian and Zhou Lu entered the recording studio together.

Through the soundproof glass, everyone could clearly see the two inside.

"Who is that? I’ve never seen him before—is he a new recruit?"

"No idea, but he’s quite handsome."

"To debut and collaborate with Goddess Zhou right away, I envy him."

"He must be the boss’s kid. How else could he work with Zhou Goddess so soon after debuting?"

"Exactly, definitely got in through connections! Damn capital, ruining my star dreams!"

"Quiet, all of you! Say another word and you’ll be thrown out!" Mo Fan shot the trainees a sharp look.

As a gold producer at SkyStar, Mo Fan’s word carried weight.

The room fell silent, the only sounds were the producers tapping at their equipment.

Since the studio was soundproof, Chen Nian and Zhou Lu couldn’t hear what was being said outside.

After the mic check, Chen Nian gave the producers outside an OK sign.

A melancholy accompaniment began, and Chen Nian and Zhou Lu looked at the lyrics in their hands, tapping out the rhythm.

With Mo Fan’s warning fresh, the trainees didn’t dare to breathe too loudly, watching Chen Nian and Zhou Lu’s performance with rapt attention.

Zhou Lu started.

"The scattered moonlight pierces clouds, hiding from the crowd.

It lays scales across the ocean, waves dampen white skirts.

Attempts to push you back, waves cleanse the bloodstains.

Foolishly trying to warm you, listening deep into the sea.

Whose lament guides the way, soul sinks into silence.

No one wakes you…"

The accompaniment reached its peak, and Chen Nian and Zhou Lu sang together.

"You love the salty scent of the sea breeze, stepping on wet sand.

You say people’s ashes should be scattered in the sea, you ask where I’ll go after death.

Is there someone who loves you, can the world ever cease?

Always smiling at indifferent faces, the people on the shore wear masks of indifference…"

"Holy—?" The trainees in the waiting room couldn’t help but exclaim at their performance.

"These lyrics are so profound, I feel almost depressed."

"This is Zhou Goddess? Her singing is so steady, she doesn’t even need tuning."

"And that guy, he’s amazing—his vocals are on par with Zhou Goddess."

"I was wrong, this guy definitely didn’t get in through connections—he’s incredible!"

The soon-to-debut trainees in closed training might not understand, but Mo Fan and the other producers, who had heard Chen Nian’s other songs, knew perfectly well.

Chen Nian was deliberately holding back for Zhou Lu. If it came down to pure vocal ability, Chen Nian could easily leave Zhou Lu—the revered diva—far behind.

Yet the better Chen Nian sang, the worse the other producers felt, except for Mo Fan.

These so-called industry veterans, living off their reputations, suddenly realized a serious issue.

If Chen Nian really debuted, they might have to pack up and leave the business for good.

The song ended, Zhou Lu took off her headphones and playfully waved to the trainees in the waiting room.

The trainees responded excitedly.

"What’s the name of this song?" Back in the lounge, Zhou Lu tucked a lock of hair behind her eyes, her gaze moved.

"Under the Sea," Chen Nian replied.

"Under the Sea… Under the Sea." Zhou Lu repeated it twice, her eyes brimming with joy for the song.

Knock, knock, knock…

Just then, someone knocked on the lounge door.

"Sister Lu, could you help me revise the lyrics for my song?"

"Come in," Zhou Lu considered, then addressed the girl.

Moments later, the girl entered with her lyric book.

"Luo—Miss Luo, Sister Yi?"

Seeing Chen Nian and Luo Xiaoyi also in the lounge, the girl paused in surprise.

Luo Xiaoyi, maintaining the poise expected of an artist, smiled and greeted her.

"Her name is Xing Fei, a new recruit at SkyStar. In a few days, she’ll participate in Heart Track’s 'Who Is the Singer.' Could you take a look at her lyrics?" Zhou Lu said, handing the lyric book to Chen Nian.

Chen Nian accepted it, and before even opening it, an intriguing idea surfaced in his mind.

"Do you want to be the champion? That is, the champion of 'Who Is the Singer.'" Chen Nian looked up at Xing Fei and smiled.

Everyone present showed expressions of confusion.

Xing Fei’s eyes widened, unable to believe what she’d heard.

Her cheeks flushed, wondering if Chen Nian really was, as rumors said, the child of some big boss—was he trying to make her his protégé?

Chen Nian curled his lips. He had no intention of debuting himself, but cultivating a talent show champion sounded like an amusing challenge.