Have you ever been a celebrity? Why are you writing about entertainment?

Many people at the scene noticed Yu Wei's intention. His song was too obvious. It had the same theme and elements, and it was even a Cantonese song. It was obviously aimed at Chen Ping.

What did Senior Chen do to you that you need to target him specifically?
You want to maintain a 100% win rate, right...?

They didn't understand Yu Wei's purpose, but they could recognize the excellence of the song. Whether it was the rise and fall of the melody, the pauses and inflections of the syllables, or the emotions infused into it, the song was flawless.

Their expressiveness is similar, but the feeling they give is completely different.

From the static desolation of "snow falling on a cold night" to the dynamic struggle of "chasing after wind and rain," the highly evocative lyrics allow them to see a life experience completely different from that in "Freedom."

This kind of experience, or rather, this kind of journey, is more in line with ordinary people. It is a kind of wandering far from home, and a sense of confusion when looking back on the road we have traveled.

Living a carefree life is not for them; they have too many worries and are constrained at every turn. The mundane realities of life prevent them from being carefree.

From this perspective, Yu Wei's song is undoubtedly more appealing because its angle is more authentic, allowing everyone to see themselves reflected in it.

However, to surpass Chen Ping's songs in every aspect, simply achieving resonance is not enough. Audiences need resonance when listening to songs, and now it's the judging process.

If a song is released directly to everyone, songs that resonate with the listener are indeed more likely to be favored, but personal preferences should not be the basis for scoring.

During the judging process, resonance was only a key aspect of the song; the judges were all professionals who only evaluated its artistic merit.

In terms of singing performance, Yu Wei certainly did not fall behind; his singing skills are beyond doubt. But what about the quality of his songwriting?

This little-known song has good lyrics and music, but so far, it still falls short of "Ziru" in terms of artistic merit.

It's no exaggeration to say that after listening to "Free and Easy," they were captivated by its profound and detached spirit.

So far, they haven't gleaned any deeper insights from Yu Wei's songs.

It's a bit superficial, but that's how you appreciate a work. The judges placed Yu Wei in the same position as Chen Ping, which is why they treated him with the same standards.

However, they could also sense that the song was about to reach its climax, and whether it could go any further remained to be seen.

Before the chorus arrives, there is only a very brief, almost imperceptible pause, like a climber taking one last deep, silent breath before reaching a certain critical point.

Then, his previously slightly restrained chest opened up a little, and all the suppressed and accumulated undercurrents found an outlet that was both explosive and controlled at this moment.

"Forgive me for my uninhibited and love of freedom in this life——"

Yu Wei's voice suddenly rose, but it wasn't a sharp scream; rather, it was a release full of tension.

The word "freedom" was sung with great nuance and complexity. The first half was a resolute cry to break free from constraints, while the last note was drawn out and turned into a long and complicated sigh.

It contains no regrets, there are costs, there are scars, and there is still a refusal to back down with its head held high.

The guitar strumming suddenly comes in, no longer the previous arpeggios, but a steady and rhythmic chord progression.

One beat after another, like a heavy and firm heartbeat, or the sound of fate knocking on the door, pounded heavily on everyone's eardrums and resonated deep in their chests.

This is also a very memorable sentence, and with this shout, the final element is also completed.

"free!"

This word, like a bolt of lightning, shattered all the expectations in the studio. It was not the unrestrained fantasy of "Ziru," but rather a yearning, an indomitable spirit, and a passion.

On the judging panel, several older musicians stood up straight without realizing it; they understood every single word.

Those syllables encapsulate years of hard work and dreams, and an emotion that cannot be described in words.

Their journey was far from the carefree one Chen Ping had experienced; freedom came with a heavy burden and came at a price…

Zhao Rujun, however, focused on the word "forgiveness," suggesting that the song should be a high-level summary of the song's theme of unrestrained freedom.

If it weren't for the addition, the shout might have been even more powerful. She looked in Yu Wei's direction, puzzled, trying to find the answer.

"I'm also afraid that one day I'll fall down—"

After soaring high, the tone suddenly shifted, carrying an undisguised vulnerability and fear.

This sudden emotional shift, far from weakening its power, actually made the "unrestrained" declaration seem incredibly real and full of life because of its honesty.

Zhao Rujun instantly understood the meaning of the word "forgiveness" she had used earlier. She knew the price of being "unrestrained and loving freedom," but she still made that choice. This was a clear-headed courage.

Even so, I still yearn for freedom.

This sentence completely separates it from "Ziru" (自如), as it is not an individual's enlightened realization, but a collective belief.

This is not a retrospective by successful people, but a self-reminder by those who have gone before; it is a painful perseverance knowing that one may stumble and that one may be alone.

"betrayed their ideals"
Anyone can

Why would I be afraid of a day when it's just you and me?

Xu Zhen felt a sudden stinging sensation in his nose, and his vision blurred for a moment. He almost forced himself to look away for a moment, subconsciously glancing to the side.

Right next to him, Wang Taikang was tilting his head slightly, his fingers tapping the table unconsciously and very lightly in rhythm, his lips pressed into a serious straight line.

Anyone can abandon their ideals. This simple statement raises a profound question about how many lives have been worn smooth by time and forced to compromise.

Their silence wasn't just because of the song, but also because it touched upon their own long-held memories of perseverance.

Hearing this, the judges finally understood the profound meaning behind Yu Wei's song.

Even if you're afraid, you still have to do it. This breaks away from the heroic narrative of "Ziroom" and shows the courage in real human nature of choosing to be true to oneself despite knowing the risks.

It may not have been so magnanimous, but it was incredibly real and struck a chord with everyone present.

Even Zhong Qing, who was backstage, was no exception. Her heart was far from as calm as it appeared. Yu Wei's words before going on stage were echoing in her ears.

What if it becomes obsolete?
"No, no, he's always been the best," Zhong Qing murmured in a voice only she could hear. They hadn't lost yet. Even if the song itself was equally excellent, they had only achieved parity; they hadn't lost...

The guitar music grew increasingly intense, and Yu Wei's singing entered a state of complete absorption.

In the second verse, his voice tells a story, with detailed imagery constantly emerging. It is the melancholy after the passage of time, the faint sorrow after the passion has cooled, which only highlights the embers that have never been extinguished and are burning brightly in the ashes.

The melody is richer, and the guitar interlude is like a mournful cry and a roar that tears through the sky, pushing the emotions to another peak.

If Meng Han were here, he would definitely be amazed by his performance and leave a comment: This is real rock and roll.

The final chorus is a complete emotional outburst, and all the judges are thoroughly engulfed in this sonic storm.

The song doesn't seem to be over yet, because they still haven't figured out the song's title...

"Still free myself

Always sing my song
Traveling thousands of miles.

At this moment, "freedom and self" is no longer the cry of the past, but a steadfast commitment made after traversing mountains and rivers and seeing the truth of life.

The word "forgive" that was the finishing touch earlier echoes "still free and myself, forever singing my song".

This is a closed loop from fragility to steadfastness; this is the second realm of the song—vast horizons and boundless skies.

From struggle to open-mindedness, from distress to relief, the realm of boundless freedom begins with perseverance in personal difficulties, is achieved through a sincere pursuit of freedom and ideals, and ends with transcending the limitations of life.

This is similar to the sobriety that comes with "Freedom," but its breadth is clearly superior to the former.

The judges' expressions froze, then turned into deeper astonishment; they realized this.

The first level could be considered to be on par, but the moment the second level appeared, the outcome was already decided...

This is without considering the lack of resonance; the purity and intensity of the emotions in Yu Wei's song are unparalleled.

No matter how outstanding "Freedom" is, it is still just a specific personal story, but this song is enough to become an ultimate musical symbol.

Many people in the audience were longtime fans of Chen Ping, but they were not the devoted followers they saw online. It was their professional knowledge that made their feelings so genuine.

We lost, once again...

The singing had long since stopped, and the process of the last guitar note vibrating and dissipating in the air seemed to last for an eternity.

Inside the judging room, there was absolute silence—a silence heavy with emotion, deafeningly so.

Backstage, Zhong Qing sat there, motionless, without anger, without grief, and without even a sigh.

Only a profound weariness seeped out from the very marrow of my bones.

So, he can lose too...

No matter how unwilling Zhong Qing was to admit it, Yu Wei's song had also caught her off guard. She was also a musician and could feel the spirit of "always singing my song".

Lost.

Thoroughly, cleanly, and elegantly.

If Chen Ping were still alive, he would probably love this song very much.

In that instant, Zhong Qing felt something inside her shatter. Tears streamed down her face, but a smile remained.

Actually, she wasn't stubbornly clinging to her delusions. On the contrary, after seeing Chen Ping's letter, she came to a realization and decided to use the Spring Festival Gala stage to put an end to this ill-fated relationship.

Unexpectedly, the result seemed even crueler; this guy shattered her illusions with almost violent methods.

If she were to rely on herself, it might take her some time to get through this, but Yu Wei certainly accelerated that process...

it's the same.

On stage, Yu Wei put down his guitar, slightly out of breath, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead, as he awaited the judges' discussion results.

The six judges on the panel looked at him with varying expressions. Ye Shengyu was overjoyed, Zhao Rujun was filled with doubt and surprise, and Liao Ling seemed to have lost her composure.

Xu Zhen glared at him fiercely. This kid had given him another big problem, one even bigger than the previous ones.

What to do with two Cantonese songs that have similar themes and core ideas?
It's not a matter of choosing one or the other; he wants both, but having such similar programs on the Spring Festival Gala is against the rules.

There are no other options but to either keep only Yu Wei's works or release both of them together.

If only one song could be kept, it would definitely be Yu Wei's, since he deserved to win.

Furthermore, Chen Ping's return was just a surprise; even without an audience, they wouldn't be disappointed, but without Yu Wei, the audience would definitely be dissatisfied.

This was something that ordinary judges couldn't discuss, so Xu Zhen directly announced a suspension of the judging process, and they had to hold an impromptu meeting.

Yu Wei silently stepped down from the stage, not even knowing whether she had been selected or not...

Are you trying to hook me?
He opened his phone and found it was full of messages from Qi Luoan and the others. They had guessed that their performance was over and were now asking about the judges' results.

"I don't know, the presiding judge had to go to a meeting and had already left."

We don't know either, and we dare not ask. After all, Yu Wei was the one who started this trouble. Wouldn't it be asking for trouble if we went to ask?

The people waiting for news on the other side of the screen didn't understand what it meant to not know the review results.
Even if there's an emergency meeting, a decision should be made beforehand; CCTV wouldn't be that unprofessional.

Unless, of course, the topic of their meeting is Yu Wei's program...

What did that kid do? (End of Chapter)