Don't call me a singing god, I just want to go back to doing scientific research.

Ling Luo knew this, which was why she made the call.

He knew very well that even if he only released songs behind the scenes, he would eventually be photographed by resourceful paparazzi or fans. Rather than being passively exposed, he decided to proactively report it and see what the higher-ups thought.

Old Zhou pondered on the other end of the phone. He couldn't understand why Ling Luo would want to take such a completely different path.

The entertainment industry and the scientific research community are clearly two parallel universes that will never intersect.

Give me a reason.

"My hand might be able to recover. But the price will be very high."

"What?" Old Zhou's voice suddenly rose, almost dropping his phone. "Really?"

"Yes."

"How much money do you need? The teacher has it! The department can approve it!"

"It's not just about money, teacher," Ling Luo said calmly. "Some things can't be created in a laboratory."

Emotional value is also a form of value.

If it were just about money, he could easily sell a few of his non-classified research results for patent fees, which would be enough to make him live a comfortable life.

But what he needs is something that money can't buy.

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone, so long that Ling Luo thought the signal had been lost.

"...Alright, I'll apply for it for you." Old Zhou's voice carried a hint of weariness, but more so a sense of determination. "But Ling Luo, remember your identity and your bottom line."

"Thank you, teacher."

After chatting for a couple more minutes, Ling Luo hung up the phone.

~~~~~~~

The next morning at seven o'clock, Ling Luo prepared breakfast, went upstairs on time, and yanked Gu Yang out of bed.

"Oh my god, I don't want to go to work..." Gu Yang groaned in a dreamlike voice with his eyes closed.

"We're having rehearsals today, so we need to get our hair and makeup done early. Should we keep the stylist waiting?"

Let alone those obscure nobodys, even top celebrities can easily be made a big deal out of being late.

Gu Yang choked for a moment, then resignedly sat up, his hair a mess: "Ling Luo, has anyone ever told you that you look like my grandmother?"

"Then why don't you make a sound and let us hear it?"

"roll!"

  

Gu Yang felt as if he had no bones, and he sluggishly swam towards the washroom.

Seeing that everyone had finally gotten up, Ling Luo went out with a sense of relief.

Before long, Gu Yang sat down at the dining table with his eyes half-closed, looking at the energetic Ling Luo, and couldn't help but complain:

"I really admire you. Back in school, you were always the first one to arrive at the classroom. I seriously doubt you ever get any sleep at night."

Ling Luo's slender fingers were slowly peeling the eggshell. Hearing this, he carefully removed the yolk completely before placing the smooth egg white into Gu Yang's bowl, and then replied:

"Then your suspicions are quite accurate."

Gu Yang rolled his eyes, stuffed the peeled egg Ling Luo had just given him into his mouth, and asked indistinctly, "You're really not coming with me today?"

Ling Luo nodded: "The stage is simple this time, so I won't go. I'll come to see you at the competition tomorrow."

"Alright. By the way, we need to submit the song information today. Do you want to use your real name or a stage name?"

"Let's use a stage name, like 'The Curtain Falls'."

"The End?" Gu Yang paused, the drowsiness on his face instantly vanishing. "Why is it called that? It sounds a bit depressing."

"Where's the downside of a perfect ending?" Ling Luo looked up at him, her tone calm. "I think it's great."

Perfect?

Gu Yang looked at him. If he were truly perfect, how could he be here?

After so many years of hard work and risking everything, this is the ending I got.

Gu Yang felt a tightness in his throat and a wave of bittersweet emotions welled up inside him.

He must be feeling terrible, but he never says it.

"Alright, then... then I'm leaving." Gu Yang suddenly stood up, hurriedly grabbed the things on the table, and practically fled.

If he didn't leave soon, he was afraid he would burst into tears, which would be too embarrassing.

Just as Ling Luo had predicted, the stage this time was indeed simple, requiring neither dazzling lights nor elaborate costumes.

As long as he could sing well and steadily, Gu Yang returned from rehearsals full of confidence.

……

The next day, "Sing, Youth" officially premiered.

Ling Luo took a taxi from Tsinghua University. Just as she arrived at the entrance of the studio and was about to have her ticket checked, her phone rang.

The caller ID showed it was Mr. Zhou.

"Ling Luo, the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics has sent people to see you." The voice on the other end of the phone was serious.

Ling Luo held her phone, looked up at the brightly lit studio building, and could faintly hear the screams of fans.

After a moment, he calmly replied, "Understood, teacher."

After hanging up the phone, he didn't hesitate at all and turned around to flag down another taxi.

On the train, he sent Gu Yang a message: "Something came up, I might be a little late. Good luck."

He knew that Gu Yang definitely couldn't see it right now.

Half an hour before the show starts, backstage.

Gu Yang's styling was complete. He wore a simple white T-shirt and jeans, and his bangs were slightly styled by the stylist, revealing his smooth forehead. His makeup was very light, hardly changing his original appearance.

As soon as I stepped backstage, two huge cameras stood conspicuously in the corner, their red lights flashing, indicating that a live broadcast was in progress.

Gu Yang's curiosity got the better of him, so he took a few steps closer and put his face right in front of the camera, looking at it from left to right, almost sticking his head into the lens to study its internal structure.

"Hey! Gu Yang! What are you doing!"

Agent Li rushed over in one stride and almost tore him off the camera.

"My goodness, mind your image! Who stands so close to the camera like that? Your face is practically touching it!"

"Let me see how this thing can make me look better in a picture," Gu Yang said innocently.

Agent Li shoved a glass of warm water into his hand and pressed him into a chair.

On the huge screen backstage, live footage of the studio was being played, and audience members were gradually entering the venue.

Gu Yang's gaze swept across the audience seats, finally settling on seat number 56.

empty.

"Waiting for Ling Luo?" Manager Li couldn't help but ask, seeing his anxious look. "Why didn't you come in this morning?"

Gu Yang pursed his lips. He wanted to, but unfortunately, the person had disappeared after breakfast.

Neither of them knew that their conversation and Gu Yang's confrontation with the camera had already been broadcast live across the entire internet.

Holy crap! Who was that guy who just shoved his camera in my face?! What kind of god-like looks are those? I can't even see his pores up close!

[What happened?! I walked in and was immediately hit by a handsome guy's face-to-face gaze! Mom, I'm in love!]

Who is this guy? A newbie? I've never seen him before, he seems a bit wild.

[Haha, he just said he wanted to see how to take a good picture of him. Handsome guy, have some confidence!]

I'm curious, his agent said he's waiting for whom? Lin Luo? Ling Luo?

[Blind student, you've discovered the key point.]

[Look at his eyes, staring straight at the audience, could he be waiting for his girlfriend?]

As Yang was inwardly complaining, another person came in from backstage.

"Hello, teacher." Upon seeing the senior inside, the visitor immediately bowed and greeted him.

Gu Yang snapped out of his daze: "Hello, my name is Gu Yang, and yours is Gu Yang?"