Chapter Twenty-Four: You Said You Wanted to Buy a House by the Sea

After confirming that Chen Nian had accepted his challenge, He Wei smiled triumphantly.

To ensure he would defeat Chen Nian without fail, He Wei had listened to several of Chen Nian’s songs, discovering they were mostly popular ballads. Folk music, He Wei’s specialty, seemed almost unfairly advantageous against ballads.

“Damn, He Wei versus an internet singer? Isn’t this bullying?”

“He Wei is going all out from the start. Come on, little brother, you can do it!”

“This is so unfair—He Wei sings folk, and little brother is good at ballads. How can he possibly win?”

“If you’re afraid to lose, just surrender. A competition is a competition; fairness doesn’t matter.”

As the accompaniment began, only He Wei remained on stage. He slowly lifted his head, gazing affectionately at the ceiling.

“Oh god! He’s opening with ‘Across the Sea’—he’s using his trump card right from the start, planning to crush this internet singer!”

“He Wei is showing him the difference between a real singer and an amateur!”

The barrage of comments online was filled with ‘invincible, invincible, invincible!’

He Wei had brought out his signature song, and everyone believed Chen Nian was doomed to lose—utterly and completely.

After four minutes, He Wei finally finished singing.

“It’s settled now. With this song, He Wei can’t possibly lose, especially since his opponent is just an online singer.”

“He could win with his eyes closed singing ‘Across the Sea.’”

“This is so boring—clearly a one-sided match. Who would’ve thought the grand finale of New Voices would be so anticlimactic?”

After finishing her day’s schedule, Lin Xinrou lay at home, watching the livestream comments and laughing smugly.

“Chen Nian, you still want to challenge me? Crushing you is as easy as squashing an ant!”

How could anyone compete now?

Even the host, who had experienced countless grand occasions, could only smile helplessly.

He Wei wielding his signature song against an unknown internet singer—wasn’t that blatant bullying?

He Wei descended the stage just as Chen Nian was preparing to go on, passing him by.

“Kid, savor this moment—it’ll be your last song on this stage.”

“Oh, and after the recording ends, remember to publicly apologize to Lin Xinrou, then obediently exit the entertainment industry!”

He Wei, full of arrogance, declared smugly.

Chen Nian glanced at He Wei but said nothing, heading straight onto the stage.

He had originally planned to slack off, sing a song, then pack up and go home to sleep.

But unfortunately, those fools at Hearttrace Entertainment insisted on walking right into trouble.

Well, since I’m eager to get home, I’ll just do the good deed and see you off.

“Mr. Chen Nian, may I ask what kind of song you’re going to sing?” The host asked as usual, though his expression was full of regret.

He had heard Chen Nian’s songs and, honestly, if it wasn’t for He Wei or Zhou Lu, Chen Nian might have made it to the second round.

“Wow, little brother doesn’t seem nervous at all?”

“His ballads don’t stand a chance against folk music.”

“He must have been scared stiff after hearing He Wei’s song.”

“It’s normal—he’s just an internet singer. Even if He Wei didn’t use his trump card, he’d take him down easily.”

“Folk music,” Chen Nian said, looking at the camera with a blank expression.

“What?” The livestream comment section exploded.

“Chen Nian is singing folk music too?”

“Does he even know what folk music is?”

“Singing folk in front of the godfather of folk—he’s looking for trouble!”

“Is he serious?” The comments were so dense they obscured the live footage.

“A classic moment is coming!”

“Oh my god, a classic moment!”

“Quick, mark this moment!”

Both the barrage of comments and the television viewers were in disbelief.

“It’s okay, little brother. Folk against folk—if we lose, we’re only losing to ‘Across the Sea,’ not to the man!”

“Hahaha! Chen Nian, you’re seeking your own doom! ‘Across the Sea’ has been popular for seven or eight years, and you, a nobody, dare to challenge its status in the music world?”

Lin Xinrou stared at the livestream, laughing maniacally.

What she most wanted was to see Chen Nian utterly defeated, crawling online to apologize to her like a dog.

“Are you sure?” The host, regaining his composure, asked in disbelief.

Chen Nian nodded.

“Alright, then we’ll leave the stage to Chen Nian.” With that, the host stepped down.

Because Chen Nian had changed his song at the last minute, the previously prepared accompaniment could not be used.

He left the rest area and brought a guitar onto the stage.

“What’s he up to? Singing without accompaniment?”

“Next, I’ll perform an original song called ‘Rose.’ I hope you’ll like it.”

After speaking, Chen Nian began to strum his guitar.

“Damn! Another original song—he’s really going head-to-head with He Wei!”

Those who had heard Chen Nian’s original compositions were instantly excited.

He Wei, waiting backstage, frowned, then laughed.

“So young, and already trying to overturn my work that’s been popular for seven or eight years? Don’t think you’re so amazing just because you’ve had a few hits, kid. You really underestimate music.”

“You said you wanted to buy a house by the sea, and live there with your adorable chow chow.”

But when Chen Nian sang the first line, audiences in front of their TVs and online were stunned.

These lyrics—so evocative!

On stage, Chen Nian sang into the mic, playing the guitar and gently swaying to the rhythm.

“You’ll be the proprietress of a little shop of moods, selling things you like depending on how you feel.”

“Life is getting more oppressive, you’re becoming less like yourself.”

“Standing alone in the miserable wind…”

“Wow, this is so beautiful. Guys, I’m crying already.”

“Isn’t this lyric describing me? Help, it’s so moving.”

“Rose, where are you? You said everyone you loved has left—don’t deceive yourself.”

“You’re just hiding deeper, that’s all. Rose, where are you?”

“You always cling to things you can’t hold. Please don’t cry.”

“We’re all left with nothing but memories woven from our youth.”

As he reached the climax, Chen Nian tilted his head back and sang out with all his strength, as if venting his resentment toward life and fate.

“What’s going on? Why do I think this is even better than ‘Across the Sea’?”

“This song really made me cry!”

“Sobs… Swallow, I miss you. Swallow, why did you leave me?”

Both the comments and the live audience were stunned.

What everyone thought would be a crushing defeat turned out, once Chen Nian opened his mouth, to make He Wei seem like the one being overwhelmed.