Chapter Thirty: Are All the Singers from Huaxia Useless?

“Chen Nian, this king crab was specially brought back from Alaska for you. Eat up, it tastes wonderful. Don’t worry—absolutely nothing to do with Japan, you won’t mutate after eating it.”
At the dinner table, Chen Nian’s bowl was already piled high with food, but Luo Youdao kept adding more to it.

Sitting to the side, Luo Xiaoyi stared wide-eyed at her old man. In all these years, this was the first time she’d seen him take such an interest in one of her friends.

“Uncle Luo, if you have something to say, just tell me directly. Xiaoyi and I have been friends since we were kids. If there’s anything I can help with, I’ll do my best,” Chen Nian said with a slight smile. Compared to last time, Luo Youdao’s attitude toward him this evening was like night and day.

Even a fool could see he had something he wanted help with—let alone someone as shrewd as Chen Nian.

“There’s nothing of the sort,” Luo Youdao replied with a faint smile, waving his hand. As a top businessman, he would never let his needs slip in front of Chen Nian.

“I know you and Xiaoyi have been friends since middle school, all the way through university. You’ve always looked out for her, so I just wanted to thank you with a nice dinner.”

“So that’s what it is,” Chen Nian responded, grinning as he picked up a big piece of king crab and started eating heartily.

“Oh, Dad, this is between me and my friend. You don’t need to interfere,” Luo Xiaoyi said, a little annoyed. Usually, Luo Youdao didn’t meddle in her social life—who knew what had gotten into him this time?

After dinner, the three of them sat chatting in the living room as a rerun of “The Voice” played on TV.

On stage, Chen Nian strummed a guitar and sang “Rose,” his melodious voice leaving Luo Youdao staring in astonishment.

Just then, someone knocked at the door.

“I’ll get it,” Luo Youdao said, rising to answer.

“Well, if it isn’t Teacher Yu Wenqing! What brings you here?” Luo Youdao greeted, smiling as he recognized the man at the door.

“Uncle Wenqing, you’re here!” Luo Xiaoyi called out playfully.

Yu Wenqing nodded, “Xiaoyi, it’s been ages. I hear you’re a big star now?”

“Oh, nothing like that! Compared to you, Uncle Wenqing, the great calligrapher, I’m nothing.”

“Chen Nian, let me introduce you—this is Yu Wenqing, Teacher Yu. He’s my mentor who first introduced me to calligraphy.”

“Old Yu, this is the Chen Nian I’ve told you about so often.”

“Hello, Teacher Yu. I’m Xiaoyi’s friend,” Chen Nian said politely, standing to greet him.

“I know you. Your ‘Cinderella,’ ‘Rose,’ and ‘Elopement’—I’m a big fan,” Yu Wenqing replied.

“You flatter me, Teacher Yu,” Chen Nian said with a slight smile, sensing that Luo Youdao was about to get to the real reason for inviting him tonight.

Sure enough, Luo Youdao and Yu Wenqing continued their little performance, each with their own agenda.

“Old Luo, tell me honestly, that calligraphy piece you showed me before—who wrote it?” Yu Wenqing asked.

Luo Youdao tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Old Yu, your timing is perfect. You won’t believe it, but that piece was written by young Chen Nian here.”

“What? It was you?” Yu Wenqing whipped his head around to stare at Chen Nian.

His acting was so clumsy that even Luo Xiaoyi couldn’t bear to watch.

Chen Nian nodded. “Well, if Uncle Luo says so, I suppose it must have been me who wrote it.”

So that’s what this was about.

“In that case, Nian, may I discuss something with you?” Yu Wenqing continued.

Chen Nian smiled inwardly. First, a dinner invitation, then an “accidental” encounter with Yu Wenqing—it was all orchestrated. If things worked out, Luo Youdao would owe two favors; if not, it wouldn’t matter to him either way. No wonder Luo Youdao could become such a top entrepreneur in Rong City—he played his cards with precision.

“Teacher Yu, tell me what you need, and I’ll do my best,” Chen Nian said with a smile.

“With your word, I’m relieved,” Yu Wenqing replied. “Here’s the thing—I’ve seen your regular script. It’s absolutely astounding, a masterpiece fit for the nation, flawless in every way. In three days, our city is hosting a national-level calligraphy competition. I wanted to ask if you’d be interested in taking part.”

Chen Nian’s expression didn’t change, but Luo Xiaoyi was so shocked she was speechless.

She’d seen Chen Nian’s handwriting herself—calling it chicken scratch would be generous. How could that possibly be a national treasure? But coming from Yu Wenqing, she couldn’t help but believe it.

Who was Yu Wenqing? A master of the National Calligraphy Association, with countless classics to his name—one of the most outstanding calligraphers in the country. If he said it, could it be false?

“A calligraphy competition?” Chen Nian rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Reborn into this life, he had little interest in becoming a celebrity, but becoming a great calligrapher? That could be fun.

“All right, since Teacher Yu asked, I have to participate!” Chen Nian slapped his thigh and laughed.

“Uh, Chen, there’s one more thing. I hope you’ll agree,” Yu Wenqing said, looking a bit embarrassed.

“What is it?” Chen Nian asked, surprised.

“Well, you need a certain reputation to enter this competition, so I was hoping you could participate under my master’s name.”

Pfft!

Luo Xiaoyi sprayed her drink everywhere.

“Chen Nian? Uncle Wenqing’s master?”

“Are you joking, Uncle Wenqing?”

Luo Xiaoyi was completely stunned. Ever since Chen Nian shot to fame at the concert, everything he did seemed more and more unbelievable.

...

At a top hotel in Rong City, two foreign singers invited to “The Voice” had just arrived.

Know your enemy and yourself, and you need not fear a hundred battles. The two gathered to watch the first episode of “The Voice,” trying to gauge their competitors’ abilities.

“Oh, Lucy, is this really the standard of singers in China?” said a black woman with dreadlocks, laughing.

“Other than that woman called Zhou Lu, is there anyone else who can challenge us? It’s almost boring.”

“That’s right, they’re terrible! If this is all it takes to dominate China’s music scene, it’s unbelievable.”

“Let’s turn this off. What a waste of time.”

Just as Lucy was about to switch off the video, Chen Nian’s performance began.

The moment Chen Nian started singing, the two international powerhouse singers exchanged stunned looks.

Compared to him, they were worlds apart.

“Who is this?” After Chen Nian finished, Lucy turned to ask the temporary manager.

“Oh, he’s Chen Nian, just an online singer. But he’s already withdrawn from the competition,” the manager replied indifferently.

“What? An online singer? With that kind of talent?” Lucy was dumbfounded.

Fortunately, Chen Nian had quit.

Otherwise, with him in the mix, winning the championship on “The Voice” would have been much more difficult.