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

This song is indeed full of classic elements, using moonlight, red medicine, and awning boats as metaphors for hometown, first love, and time, creating a triple metaphor that transcends time.

This is what made Xu Song so amazing in his previous life: he didn't need to be hysterical; he could move people's hearts simply with his words.

At this moment, the host, Dong Xuelan, had returned to the stage. Her eyes were also red, but her professionalism allowed her to quickly adjust her emotions.

"Thank you, Professor Xiao, for your professional and insightful interpretation! You've given us a completely new understanding of this song! Now, it's time for the most exciting moment! Please, four judges, give your scores to Gu Yang!"

The entire venue fell silent again, with everyone's eyes fixed on the big screen.

With Zhang Minghui's four near-perfect scores preceding them, everyone had high expectations for Gu Yang's score, yet some dared not.

After all, with such outstanding works preceding them, surpassing them is extremely difficult.

The first to stop was Zhuo Tongyu.

【99】

A collective gasp rippled through the room, quickly turning into gasps of astonishment! Zhuo Tongyu was known for his strictness; he had given Zhang Minghui a score of 98, but now he had given Gu Yang a score of 99!

Next up was Qi Hanze.

【99】

Another 99 points! The atmosphere in the room is getting heated! Two 99s, and they've already tied Zhang Minghui's highest score!

All eyes were focused on Ba Meng's profile picture. She had cried the most earlier, and she was also from Luzhou. Could her emotions overcome her reason?

The numbers scrolled until they finally stopped.

【100】

boom--!

The whole place exploded!

The studio lights seemed to flicker, and someone in the audience suddenly stood up, unable to believe their eyes.

Full score!

Since the premiere of "Sing, Youth", no, it should be the first time in all singing variety shows in China that a judge has given a perfect score!

"Mr. Tomoe has gone mad! But it's good that he's mad!"

"Ahhhhh, I'm so happy! This song deserves a perfect score!"

Ba Meng wiped away her tears, picked up the microphone, her voice still thick with a nasal tone: "I can't give it any other score. This song is about my home, my youth, and all the past I can never return to. To me, it's a perfect score. Thank you for the curtain call, thank you for Gu Yang."

Now, all the pressure and all the attention are focused on the last one, a titan of the Chinese music scene—Xiao Ruqian.

How many points would he give?

With a score of 98, Gu Yang will tie Zhang Minghui's record. With a score of 99, he can make history.

And 100 points... no one dares to dream of it.

Xiao Ruqian is highly respected and never shows favoritism in his professional work. Would he give a perfect score just for the sake of creating a certain atmosphere?

  

On the big screen, the number representing Xiao Ruqian jumped rapidly, and everyone's heart was in their throat.

Time seemed to stretch out.

Finally, the numbers slowly stopped.

【100】

Another perfect score!

If Ba Meng's perfect score is a victory of emotion, then Xiao Ruqian's perfect score is the highest crowning of the song's artistry!

The scene was completely out of control! Screams, applause, and cheers merged into a huge wave of sound that almost blew the roof off the entire studio!

Xiao Ruqian picked up the microphone, facing the already boiling audience, his voice steady yet powerful: "Teacher Ba Meng's perfect score is for his hometown. My perfect score is for art. To connect a person's life with three images—this skill transcends the scope of the competition. It deserves it."

Two perfect scores of 100! Two perfect scores of 99!

Total score: 398 points!

It surpassed Zhang Minghui's 394 points, creating a brand new record since the show's premiere! A god-like record that is almost impossible to break!

Gu Yang stood on the stage, completely stunned. He stared blankly at the golden "398," his mind a complete blank, all the noise around him turning into a buzzing background sound.

He knew Ling Luo's singing was good, but he didn't expect it to be this good—two perfect scores, something he never dared to dream of before.

He subconsciously looked towards the audience seats and, in the dim light, accurately spotted that familiar figure.

Ling Luo was looking at him with a faint smile on her face, and mouthed something to him.

"That's great."

In that instant, all the sounds and lights returned to Gu Yang's world. He could no longer hold back, grinning broadly like a child who had just gotten a perfect score on his first test and was eager to show it off to his parents.

Dong Xuelan's voice trembled with excitement: "The judges' total score is 398 points! Now, audience members, please pick up your scoring devices and cast your precious vote for Gu Yang!"

As soon as Dong Xuelan finished speaking, the scrolling numbers on the big screen blurred into a blur.

Two minutes later, the tickets were locked.

Finally, the total number of votes on the big screen stopped at—

【1368】

Unsurprisingly, a new, almost unbreakable record appeared on the big screen!

Gu Yang kept bowing and saying thank you on stage.

After he finally calmed down, Dong Xuelan smiled and said, "Gu Yang, please adjust your mood now. We are about to draw the theme for the next round. Are you ready?"

Gu Yang took a deep breath, nodded, and turned to face the big screen.

The entries on the screen scrolled by rapidly. He stared at them for a long time, his eyes almost blurring, but he didn't call for them to stop.

Ah! With his luck, how can he choose!

"Um... Gu Yang?" Dong Xuelan couldn't help but whisper a reminder when she saw him standing like a statue waiting for his husband.

"Oh, oh!" Gu Yang snapped out of his daze, steeled his resolve, and casually shouted, "Stop!"

The large screen freezes on the screen.

[A Farewell Letter Under the Streetlights]

The scene was completely silent.

This topic... seems...

Holy crap, whose theme is this color? A farewell letter on such a joyous occasion? Are they deliberately trying to ruin everyone's day?!

Gu Yang looked at the words and cursed under his breath.

Ling Luo, sitting in the audience, looked at the words on the big screen and nodded thoughtfully. This wasn't all bad luck.

See, what he drew was just something he didn't already have in hand.

After thinking about it, Ling Luo shook her head with amusement. She was already trying to make amends for Gu Yang. Ling Luo, you really have no ambition.

At the backstage entrance, the last contestant waiting to go on stage almost dropped his microphone on the ground.

He stared at the score on the monitor with a look of utter despair.

Dude, I'm here to participate in the show, it's not even the finals yet, there's no need to use your trump card.

How can we even play this game? Pure and simple victim number one!

After Gu Yang stepped down, this "victim" brother took the stage with a heavy heart.

Sure enough, my mindset was severely affected.

Even though his skills and song choice were both good, he still lost his composure, his high notes cracked, and he lost half a beat in rhythm. The judges couldn't find a way to make amends for him.

In the end, they could only leave the stage with regret.

In the final segment of the program, Dong Xuelan stood in the center of the stage, with Gu Yang's photo and his glaring total score magnified infinitely on the large screen behind her.

"I hereby announce that the champion of the first round of the first group in the regional competition of 'Sing, Youth' is—"

She deliberately dragged out her words, but everyone knew the answer.

"Guyang!"

As Yang ascended the platform, golden ribbons descended from the sky.

Each round's champion will be given a pass card, which shows the round's score, ranking, and the song performed.

Gu Yang held the pass in front of his chest and shook it, his usually refined appearance masking a foolish grin.

P.S.: Yesterday's gifts exceeded my reading earnings, I'm so happy! I'm adding an extra chapter today, I'll post it tonight as a thank you for all the little gifts. See? Even the free gifts from reading GG add up to a lot, hehe.