"Wait… something's not right!"
Suddenly, Ah Hua turned to look at Zhang Yichen.
"Brother Zhang, you still haven't told us—what song are you going to perform?"
"Me?"
Zhang Yichen let out a soft chuckle. His fingers lightly traced the rim of his teacup, his gaze deep and unreadable.
"Since Brother Hua asked, I won't keep it a secret. The song I plan to perform is called Heaven and Earth Dragon Scales."
"Oh?" Ah Hua raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Heaven and Earth Dragon Scales? That's quite a grand title. What style is it?"
"A blend of ancient style and modern pop," Zhang Yichen replied calmly, quiet confidence flickering in his eyes. "I call it—national-style music. Rise falls into the same category."
Ah Hua's eyes lit up, his fingers tapping lightly against the table in excitement.
"That sounds promising. Why don't you sing a few lines right now? Give us a preview."
Though Gangzi remained silent, his gaze was firmly locked onto Zhang Yichen, his curiosity unmistakable.
Zhang Yichen nodded slightly, then rose to his feet, clearing his throat.
"Then I'll do my best."
He began to sing—
"With this land, I take up my pen,
The bloodline of a nation stretches for thousands of miles.
Through centuries, through six hundred years,
The descendants of the dragon have weathered every storm.
In this capital, along the central axis,
Like a gentleman walking through the seasons.
I inscribe mountains and rivers upon my stele,
My signature etched through time itself."
In just a few lines, the air in the room seemed to freeze.
All eyes were fixed on Zhang Yichen.
His voice was deep and powerful, like an unseen force pulling everyone into the world of his music.
Ah Hua's tapping fingers came to an abrupt stop, his eyes filled with undisguised shock.
Gangzi narrowed his eyes slightly, as if savoring the deeper meaning behind every lyric.
As for Chen Xiaoxi—
She looked at Zhang Yichen with unhidden admiration.
She had no idea when he had even written this song.
Zhang Yichen's voice continued to resonate, carrying a rhythm steeped in history and grandeur.
"To lift the fate of a nation,
To rise again in proud revival.
Roaming heaven and earth in search of dragon scales,
The dragon's bloodline flourishing like a forest."
At times, his voice soared like a dragon's roar.
At others, it rumbled like distant thunder.
Each line struck directly at the hearts of those present.
Ah Hua's hand slowly clenched into a fist, a spark of excitement flashing in his eyes.
Gangzi nodded faintly, his lips parting as if to speak—only to hold himself back.
The song gradually drew to a close—
"These dragon scales once fell,
Clashing like shattered ice upon the ground.
Each scale, each inch, a piece of heart—
Stories drifting, too painful to hear.
Yet the fate of the nation rises again,
Proud and unyielding in its revival.
Through heaven and earth, we seek the dragon's scales—
Its bloodline thriving, vast as a forest."
As the final note faded—
Ah Hua froze for a moment.
Then suddenly, he slammed his hand onto the table.
"Brilliant! This song is absolutely made for the Spring Festival Gala! Brother Zhang, your talent—I'm completely in awe!"
Even Gangzi broke into a rare smile.
"Incredible," he said in a low voice filled with genuine admiration. "This song captures the vast history and grandeur of our nation—its glory, its struggles, and everything in between."
The atmosphere in the room reached its peak.
It felt as if the very air had been compressed by the weight of the song, pressing down on everyone's chest.
Ah Hua's breathing quickened slightly, his eyes blazing like fire.
Gangzi, though still composed, had visibly softened—his usual stern expression replaced by quiet appreciation.
And yet—
Zhang Yichen showed no trace of pride.
He simply sat back down, lifted his teacup, and took a calm sip.
"You flatter me," he said lightly. "This is just my small interpretation of our culture."
Ah Hua shook his head, his tone full of undisguised admiration.
"Stop being modest. This kind of innovation isn't something just anyone can achieve—especially the way you fuse ancient style with modern music. It's unmatched."
Gangzi nodded in agreement.
"Indeed. Not only is the melody captivating, but the lyrics carry real depth."
At the side, Chen Xiaoxi watched everything quietly, warmth rising in her heart.
She discreetly clenched the hem of her clothes, trying to suppress the surge of emotion within her.
At that moment, Ah Hua suddenly thought of something.
"By the way, Brother Zhang—since both you and Miss Chen are aiming for the Spring Festival Gala, why didn't you release these songs earlier? If you had, you wouldn't even need a recommender."
To be honest—
Zhang Yichen knew he was right.
But before meeting Chen Xiaoxi, he had never planned to enter the music industry so soon.
And afterward, he hadn't expected the two of them to explode in popularity the way they did.
At first, the Spring Festival Gala hadn't even been on his radar.
But things had taken an unexpected turn.
With a few calculated moves, both he and Chen Xiaoxi had skyrocketed to fame.
And with that—
His ambition had grown.
He wanted the Spring Festival Gala stage.
Still, ambition aside, he had worried about timing.
That was why he sought recommenders.
Zhang Yichen offered a half-truth:
"Brother Hua, what you don't know is—Sister Xiaoxi was dealing with depression before."
"I hadn't planned to enter the industry so early. It was only after she recovered that I decided to take this path."
Ah Hua frowned slightly, concern flashing in his eyes.
"Depression? No wonder Miss Chen disappeared at the peak of her career."
He turned to Chen Xiaoxi, his tone gentler.
"Miss Chen, how are you feeling now?"
Chen Xiaoxi nodded softly, her voice calm yet resolute.
"Thank you for your concern, Brother Hua. Thanks to Ah Chen, I've fully recovered."
Gangzi remained silent, but a complex emotion flickered in his eyes.
He had heard the rumors before—
But he hadn't expected there to be such a story behind them.
Ah Hua let out a quiet sigh, then smiled reassuringly.
"From what I've seen today, you're in excellent condition."
He paused, then looked back at Zhang Yichen with a serious expression.
"Brother Zhang, don't worry. With works of this caliber, Gangzi and I will do everything we can to help. You will stand on that stage."
Zhang Yichen smiled and raised his teacup.
"Then I'll thank you both in advance."
"Not a big deal," Gangzi replied with a nod, his tone steady but noticeably warmer. "But you'd better release these two songs first. That way, the director can truly experience their impact."
"Exactly," Ah Hua agreed.
The path to the grand stage—
Was already unfolding.