Chapter 134: The Outcome

He recalled the joy of joining Galaxy Entertainment, the hardships of starting out, the helplessness of Lian Yuling, the sorrow of Yu Fengqin, and the tear-streaked, roaring cries of Lei Jing.

He thought of the difficulties in joining "The Vocalist," the excitement of becoming famous with a single song, the satisfaction of standing on equal footing with other singers, the relief of reuniting with Zhao Wanting, and the stunning presence of Gu Yuhan.

He remembered the steely resolve of Su Zitong, the targeting by Tang Zhijie, the storm of accusations, and the arduous struggle of "Morning Star" to cope.

All of this had happened to him within the span of just one year. What path was he to take? What kind of artist did he want to be? What exactly was he holding onto?

Everyone has their own pursuits and their own convictions, and so did he. He didn't care what others thought of him; as long as the people around him supported him and walked alongside him, that was enough. He would be happy. Yes, it was that simple.

The nebula in his mind began to spin faster, becoming more brilliant and more beautiful.

"Do you agree with me, too?" Lin Qihua thought happily.

The nebula remained silent, yet it provided its own answer. Lin Qihua had found what he was looking for—a flash of inspiration he had been struggling to capture, now transformed into the work before him.

As the imagery unfolded, a breathtaking figure appeared. The brilliant singing and performance completely enthralled Lin Qihua. In that moment, he forgot his original purpose and became a devoted fan, cheering for every splendid instant and every lyric.

"Truly, this is incredible," Lin Qihua groaned inwardly. "Could I ever reach this level?"

"Still, to have such a magnificent performance and such a classic song, it would be a shame not to perform it. Forget it, I'll go for it. I must present it."

He reviewed the various versions of the performance in his mind repeatedly, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the song. Once he felt confident, Lin Qihua opened his eyes and stood up. He staggered slightly, but managed to steady himself against the table, avoiding a potential fall that would have been embarrassing on live camera.

"That was quite draining," he muttered, shaking his head. He sat down before the piano, gently tapping the keys to find the familiar notes, allowing his exhausted mind a moment to recover.

"Look everyone, Lin Qihua is finally moving. Huh, he almost fell."

"Could he be panicking?"

"It’s likely mental exhaustion," someone explained. "Some creators prefer to compose and write lyrics in their minds—it’s essentially synthesizing a song entirely in thought, which is very taxing. Perhaps that is what Lin Qihua has been doing."

"Look, he’s slowly familiarizing himself with the keyboard, tapping one note at a time. With his eyes closed, he certainly looks exhausted."

"Come on, you must create a song!"

"If you can still produce a song that everyone loves under these conditions, I’ll be your fan for life."

Lin Qihua gradually adjusted and began the formal process of creation, playing a segment and then writing down the score. He knew that even though the music was already fully formed in his mind, presenting it directly on live television would be shocking and might invite too much scrutiny and skepticism. He had to act as if he were composing it naturally.

Furthermore, he was accustomed to this method because the version in his mind belonged to someone else, not him. The reality was different, the stage was different, and the arrangement required adjustments. Lin Qihua had gradually developed the ability to adapt the original versions according to his own vision, making them better suited to his style. This meant he was progressively gaining the capabilities of a top-tier creator. He owed this to the countless templates in his mind; through analysis and study, Lin Qihua was advancing rapidly.

Only what he truly mastered was his own. Lin Qihua never believed he could rely on the nebula in his mind forever. If he did, he would be nothing more than a tape recorder with no sense of achievement. He loved adding his own emotions to the music, transforming the songs into his own works. He believed that one day, he would eventually create his own original pieces that could rival these classics. He was certain of it.

Time passed. The four of them remained in their small rooms, fully immersed in their work. They didn't even come out for lunch or dinner, fearing that any interruption might break their flow of inspiration.

"This is the beauty of creation," Teacher Cheng remarked with emotion. "Watching a song take shape under the hands of a creator—does everyone feel the impact?"

"Yes, it’s my first time seeing something like this, too," Le Kai sighed. "There have been variety shows before that featured live creation segments, but they were always edited down to a quick flash; you never really felt it."

"How could such programs truthfully reflect a creator's process?" Teacher Cheng laughed. "That is why this is a historic event. I am honored to have witnessed it."

"I am honored as well, and at the same time, I feel as if something is about to happen," Le Kai said.

"Haha, indeed. I have that feeling too. I hope it’s something good."

"If Lin Qihua can really produce a high-quality song in such a short time, can we conclude that his talent is truly exceptional?"

"Not just exceptional, but astonishing," Teacher Cheng shook his head and smiled. "Honestly, if it were me, I would find it hard to believe that a young man could write so many good songs in a single year, and with such varied styles. It’s normal that there are doubts from the outside; most people simply cannot do this."

"But what if he isn't 'most people'?"

"Then if he succeeds, and these works are indeed his own, it can only be explained as an innate gift. There is no denying that there are a few rare individuals in this world who, once their talent awakens, become unstoppable and defy conventional logic," Teacher Cheng said. "Perhaps he is one of them."

"Give us an example."

"Well, look at Dennis and Jerica in the United States, Lan Shan in the UK, Qian Han from Taiwan, He Qin from Hong Kong, and then Gao Jun and Gu Yuhan. These are all people whose existence feels incredible—they became famous overnight and never looked back."

"That is true," Le Kai nodded in agreement. "So, we can look forward to seeing if Lin Qihua will be the next one."

"I would be happy to see it," Teacher Cheng stated. "Because that would mean the rise of another future superstar. We would have one more powerful figure on the world stage, and a talented singer-songwriter at that—which is entirely different from a mere singer. The impact is much greater."

"I hope so, too."

As the time neared ten o'clock, a door finally opened. Yan Jun was the first to walk out. He looked exhausted, suggesting this had been a significant challenge for him, but his expression was bright, indicating a successful outcome.

"Looks like you're finished?" Teacher Cheng asked, looking at Yan Jun with satisfaction.

"I didn't disappoint," Yan Jun smiled. "Although my lyric writing isn't the best, I managed to finish it."

"Good, you've worked hard." Teacher Cheng pulled up a chair for him to sit and rest.

Staff members stepped forward to collect his work and place it on a nearby table. According to the rules, all works would be judged only after everyone had finished.

A while later, Qu Ping also pushed the door open, laughing as he walked out. "That wasn't easy, but I'm finally done."

"Seems like it went well?"

"Not bad." Qu Ping handed his work to the staff, sat down in a chair, twisted the cap off a water bottle, and took a large gulp. He let out a long breath and laughed, "I'm a bit lopsided in my skills. I think the lyrics are decent, but the composition needed some deliberation. I did my best, though, and I'm relatively satisfied with it."

"That’s already quite impressive," Le Kai applauded. "To be able to create something like this in such a short time is remarkable."

Both men felt a sense of pride. For them, hadn't this also been a personal breakthrough?

Han Dongli was the third to emerge. She looked a bit weary, and after handing in her work, she sat in her chair without saying much, clearly drained of energy.

The others didn't disturb her, letting her rest, while all eyes turned to the final door.

"Creak." Lin Qihua pushed the door open. It was ten minutes before ten o'clock. "You teachers are truly formidable; I am in awe."

"Stop with the sarcasm," Qu Ping said, unimpressed. "Looking at your expression, I can tell you finished early. You had it much easier than us."

"Even when finished, one still needs to refine it," Lin Qihua said, handing his work to the staff with a smile. "I don't have the same confidence as you teachers."

"Alright, let's begin. I'm looking forward to the work you've produced," Yan Jun said, waving his hand and turning to Cheng Dinglong. "Teacher, let's start. I'm starving; let's get this over with so we can go eat."

"Haha, me too. I feel like I could eat a whole cow," Qu Ping said, rubbing his stomach and laughing.

"Very well, since everyone is eager, let's begin," Cheng Dinglong said, gesturing for the staff to bring all the works to him.

"First, let's look at Teacher Yan Jun's work," Teacher Cheng said, picking up the first piece. "The title is 'Persistence.' A very good name. The melody is uplifting and inspiring, though the lyrics have some minor flaws. However, few people can achieve perfection, so this is already quite good. May I ask Teacher Yan to perform it for us?"

"Of course." Yan Jun stood up with a smile, picked up his guitar, and with a skilled strum, immediately made everyone feel energized.

Listening to Yan Jun’s performance, Lin Qihua was full of admiration. The lyrics indeed didn't match the melody perfectly, but the music itself was top-tier. With a little more refinement of the lyrics, it would be an exceptional song, which spoke volumes about his level of skill.