The Road to Superstardom: Starting as a Singer

As the night deepened in Los Angeles, Huang Weijie drifted off to sleep early.

But at this moment, the National Day atmosphere on the other side of the ocean was pushed to a climax in another area where young people gather.

QQ Speed!

October 1st was the day the new version and the National Day event were launched simultaneously.

The number of players who flooded in during the morning was already quite large, but after 2 p.m., due to the event, the number of online players instantly exceeded the project team's expectations.

Official data shows that in the first hour after the new version was launched, the number of newly registered users increased by 300% year-on-year, and the number of daily active users doubled compared to the usual peak, setting a new record since the game's public beta launch.

Almost all popular channels and game rooms have changed their background music to songs like "Baby," "What Makes You Beautiful," and "As Long As You Love Me."

The public chat was also being spammed:

"I'm here, boss!!"

"I came here to hear the boss's songs!"

"I used to think game background music was a bit tacky, but now it's been completely upgraded to high-class!"

"The rhythm of 'Hold On' is perfect for racing!"

"My sister originally wanted to play games because she's a fan of a celebrity, but now I'm hooked myself..."

This collaboration resulted in a perfect win-win situation.

For QQ Speed, Huang Weijie's popular songs greatly enhanced the game's sense of style and its appeal to young users, completing a successful "brand" refresh.

For Huang Weijie, the game's massive user base (especially a large number of young male users who were not originally his core music fans) has become the most powerful "ground promotion" channel for his music works.

His music resonates deeply through game scenarios, further expanding his audience base.

Many players came to like his songs because of the game, and then went on to search for his albums and videos, forming a perfect closed loop for attracting traffic.

……

In the days that followed, Huang Weijie worked from dawn till dusk every day, working with the band to refine the new arrangement and practicing the moves with the backup dancers.

Since I've decided to sing solo, I need to strive to make a name for myself.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

October 4th, Saturday evening.

In a girls' dormitory at UCLA, four girls are gathered around a computer.

They are all fans of Huang Weijie, having become fans since the "Baby" era.

We deliberately stayed home tonight and instead gathered together to watch SNL (Saturday Night Live) live.

"It's starting! It's starting!"

"I heard that all three songs today are solo versions?"

"Yeah, I feel a lot of pressure singing alone this time..."

"I believe in him! He's so good at improvisation, he'll definitely have no problem adapting his own songs!"

"Exactly, what pressure is there? I believe his solo performance will sound even better than his duets!"

The four girls chattered excitedly about Huang Weijie's solo performance.

When they learned that Huang Weijie wanted to sing solo on stage, the vast majority of fans supported him. They had long wanted to see their idol prove those who were pessimistic about him wrong.

The small group of people who didn't support him weren't necessarily against it, but they were worried. They were concerned that Huang Weijie might not perform well, that the equipment wasn't good enough, that the performance wouldn't be good, and so on...

In short, these "worries" stem from not wanting their idols' shining image to be shattered in their hearts.

These ideas were also being discussed online. Madeline looked at the comments on Twitter, looked up at Huang Weijie who was getting his hair done with his eyes closed, and felt full of confidence.

Tonight, no one is more confident than her!

Music segment at 9:15 PM.

Amidst expectant gazes, the host introduced, "Next, let's welcome the young man who has made history—his album is selling globally, and his voice is redefining pop music. Ladies and gentlemen, Jace Huang!"

The stage lights dimmed, and a spotlight shone down.

Huang Weijie stood in the center of the stage, alone, without a band.

Tonight, he rejected overly glamorous looks and opted for a custom-made all-black patchwork performance outfit.

"Good evening," Huang Weijie said into the microphone, his voice carrying throughout the studio through the speakers. "Today I want to sing a few songs in a slightly different way. The first one is 'Just the Way You Are,' a version just for you and me."

As soon as he finished speaking, he nodded slightly, and the piano prelude began, slower than the original album version, with each note seemingly telling a story.

The string section provides a gentle backdrop.

"Oh her eyes' her eyes"

Make the stars look like they're not shining

Her hair's her hair

Falls perfectly without her trying

She's so beautiful...

After just the first line, the entire audience spontaneously joined in the singing.

This is why Huang Weijie specifically chose this song as the first one. Currently, "Just the Way You Are" is still number one on the Billboard Hot 100, which shows that a lot of people have listened to this song and remember it very well.

After the first song ended, without much rest, the intro to the next song, "What Makes You Beautiful," began to play.

As Huang Weijie's second number-one single, it also received cheers and sing-alongs from the audience.

You're insecure

Don't know what for

You're turning heads when you walk through the door..."

From the audience's initial soft chorus, it gradually transformed into a unified, unison sing-along: "Baby you light up my world like nobody else—"

The girls in the UCLA dorm room held their breath in front of their computers.

"My God...this version is so good..."

"Completely different from Taylor's version, this one is so bright and cheerful!"

"So this song can be sung like this??"

"This version makes me cry..."

"Oh my god, that lazy humming at the beginning is already so catchy, and then... ahhh! I really want to go to the live show and sing along!!"

Many viewers in front of their screens have already affirmed Huang Weijie's solo ability.

But Huang Weijie himself was not satisfied.

After the second song ended, he didn't immediately start the third song. Instead, he walked to the front of the stage, squatted down, and looked at the camera.

"Before the third song begins, I have a few words to say." He spoke slowly, "Four months ago, I released my first song, and nobody knew who I was. Now, I stand here, and many people know my name."

But some things haven't changed. I still get excited when I write a good melody, I'm still moved when I see comments from fans, and I still believe that music can connect different people. During this time, some people have questioned me, and I didn't want to respond, but…”

At this point, Huang Weijie smiled, a hint of disdain in his voice: "Today, I want to stand on this stage and tell everyone with my voice: I've gotten this far not just because of cooperation. Are you willing to give me this opportunity to prove it?"

"able!"

"willing!!"

"Go for it, Jace! Prove them wrong!"

Who said it's hard to stir up the audience's emotions?

Huang Weijie's few words not only made the audience at the scene shout excitedly, but even the four roommates watching on the screen became excited.

"I knew it! He remembers all those negative comments. He never says anything, but he sees everything."

"My God... he's still the same person! Some things have never changed!"

"Now it's his turn to prove himself! I've been waiting for this moment!"

"YES! JACE! THAT'S MY BOY! That's how it should be! Show them our strength in their faces! Tell them this is the attitude a king should have!"

"We're not sleeping tonight! We're going to let everyone see this!"

Seeing the outrageous crowd below, Huang Weijie smiled and made a shushing gesture.

After the sound gradually faded away, he said, "Then the third song, 'As Long As You Love Me,' is dedicated to everyone who believes in love!"

The stage is completely dark.

A few seconds later, a beam of intense white light pierced the darkness like a sharp sword, striking precisely the center of the stage.

"As long as you love me——"

Huang Weijie's most distinctive voice suddenly rang out, and this familiar voice made the fans, who were originally quiet, cheer again.

"As long as you love me——"

Another chanting sounded, and the exciting prelude with a strong electronic pulse suddenly exploded!

"As long as you love me, We're under pressure

Seven billion people in the world trying to fit in..."

Huang Weijie appeared in the pillar of light, his previous gentleness and affection completely gone, replaced by a powerful aura of a king, one that commanded the entire scene.

He sang and danced to the beat of the drums, delivering a powerful, fluid, and stylish performance.

Head-shaking, sliding steps, and interactive coordination with the backup dancers...

Every movement was perfectly timed to the beat of the drums, brimming with youthful hormones and unbridled energy.

"I'll be your platinum I'll be your silver

I'll be your gold

As long as you lo lo lo lo ~love me

As long as youlo lo lo lo ~love me..."

As the song progressed, the atmosphere became incredibly lively.

"Aaaaaah!!"

"Ahhhhhh!!! Jace!!!"

The girls' screams reached their peak instantly, almost lifting the roof off the studio.

The waves of sound rose higher and higher, mingling with the deafening music to create the most stimulating live sound effects.

The camera panned across the audience, showing countless young girls shouting wildly, their eyes red with excitement, waving their arms frantically.

At this moment, he was no longer the newcomer who was being questioned.

He is the sole focus of this stage, a singer who can captivate audiences with his voice alone, and an all-around idol who can ignite the entire venue with his dance.

"As long as you love me~~~"

After finishing the last move, Huang Weijie bowed slightly, slowly placed his hands over his head, and finally hugged the back of his head.

The intense visual light froze at that moment; he was breathing slightly, his chest heaving, and beads of sweat glistened on his forehead under the light.

All around were screams and shouts, and it was impossible to make out what they were saying, but the word "Jace" was very clear.

Huang Weijie glanced at the audience below who were going crazy for him, patted his chest, and revealed a tired but incredibly dazzling smile.

"Thanks."

He didn't say much, but his performance tonight was enough to prove that even as a solo singer, he can create a dazzling starry sky!