Chapter 55 Old Love Letters Without her, there would be no me.
"It would be really unacceptable if we didn't win an award this time," Zhuo Wencheng said. "We were fooled once last time, we can't let it happen a second time."
When Chen Jingchi was nominated for the Golden Melody Awards last year, everyone was thrilled. It was the first time he had received such a high honor, and everyone hoped that he could win the award and shock the music industry. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned, and the huge disappointment after not being nominated was a huge blow to Chen Jingchi.
This year, with the team making the shortlist again, everyone's enthusiasm was noticeably lower than before, fearing it might just be another sightseeing trip.
Zhou Yu still clearly remembers the scene at last year's awards ceremony, when the camera panned across Chen Jingchi and he smiled politely as he applauded others. She thought that if it happened again, even she wouldn't be able to accept it.
“To be honest,” Zhan Li said from the side, “going to that awards ceremony and sitting for four hours straight, watching other people receive awards, is really like being in prison.”
Even the few audience members sitting in the stands couldn't sit still, let alone the shortlisted singers who had to stay in position at all times.
"Didn't Teacher Ye say that, regardless of the outcome, our strength has already been recognized?" Xu Yue said.
The Golden Melody Awards nominees were announced at 8 PM. At that time, the concert was in progress, and Chen Jingchi, who was still performing, had no idea about the news. Ye Yunzhou, who was waiting backstage, heard his assistant mention it, which is why he specifically asked for an extra minute or two to say those words.
The vast majority of the audience members recorded videos, and they would know the latest news on their phones immediately.
It wasn't until the performance ended that they learned the trending news was all about whether Chen Jingchi had a chance of winning an award.
Regardless of whether he wins the award in the end, Chen Jingchi has already become the youngest singer to be nominated for the Golden Melody Awards for two consecutive years, a title that is already outstanding enough.
"My advice is not to have too high hopes." Chen Jingchi was quite relaxed about it. "Awards are not judged based on data."
"Two nominations, I refuse to believe I won at least one." Du Heng told his assistant to open a bottle of wine. "Whether we can take our concert abroad depends on this."
Chen Jingchi's debut album "Vulgar Monster" only barely passed muster in terms of current data. The fact that he won so many awards last year was due to the huge success of his second album. What truly brought Chen Jingchi into the public eye was "To My Dear You".
This song alone propelled the digital and physical albums of "Migratory Birds" to record sales records last year, making Chen Jingchi a top-tier singer.
To be honest, the odds of winning an award this year are much higher than last year.
"Then let's give it a shot," Zhan Li laughed. "I'd be willing to sit for eight hours straight for this goal."
"This is the Golden Melody Award!" the assistant said while pouring drinks for everyone. "Winning it will instantly elevate your status; you'll be on the verge of becoming a superstar."
"Don't flatter me to death." Chen Jingchi couldn't stand such exaggerated words. "I'm scared."
"What are you afraid of?" Du Heng said he doesn't even look at Weibo. "Your fans all use these kinds of titles copied and pasted, like 'Little King of Jiangchuan,' 'Great Demon King of Jiangbei,' praising them to the skies."
“And then there’s the Son of God,” the assistant added. “They say your luck is unbeatable.”
Chen Jingchi asked with mixed feelings, "Are you sure you're not haters?"
He doesn't have high hopes for the awards this time, fearing that his careful preparations might be in vain. As for Du Heng's suggestion to hold concerts abroad, that's all hypothetical, based on the premise of winning awards.
Very few singers can hold concerts abroad. Chen Jingchi doesn't think he's that popular yet. Even if he can hold a concert, the attendance rate will truly reflect his overseas popularity. If the data isn't good, it would be embarrassing.
After returning to the hotel after the dinner, the group had to catch a flight back to Jiangbei for classes early the next morning. Chen Jingchi didn't want to bother her and planned to get some rest.
Zhou Yu was unusually quiet tonight, barely participating in the boys' conversations. Only when she was with him did she suddenly say, "I'll be sitting with you at the awards ceremony this time."
Saying those words seemed simple, but it took her an entire night to think about them. Last year, she refused to sit next to him, and when she didn't win the award, she could only see his expression on the big screen. Zhou Yu regretted it ever since.
This time, she decided to stay by his side, and regardless of whether he won an award or not, she would be there to support him and help him through his emotions.
Chen Jingchi looked at her without saying anything, and Zhou Yu added, "If I win the Best Lyricist award, I want to go on stage."
Under Chen Jingchi's protection, not a single photo of her face can be found online, and those who know her dare not post photos of her. Zhou Yu has long since emerged from the shadows of a few years ago. Although she is still somewhat timid in front of the camera, she is willing to take the first step for him.
Like Chen Jingchi, she also has things she wants to say to him in front of everyone. If she could say them on such a grand stage as the Golden Melody Awards ceremony, it would be of great significance to her.
Touched, Chen Jingchi nodded and agreed, "Okay."
He didn't know how much courage Zhou Yu needed to make this decision. She had always been reluctant to appear in public, but this time she actually said she wanted to go on stage to accept the award.
He had already lowered his expectations to the bare minimum, but now Chen Jingchi desperately hoped that fate would grant him a little more luck so that the girl he loved most could fulfill her wish.
*
After the two concerts in June, the group went to the awards ceremony.
This year's awards ceremony is on the same day as last year, June 28th, Zhou Yu's birthday.
Du Heng sat next to Zhou Yu, checked the award order on his phone, and gave her a heads-up: "The Best Lyricist will be announced first, which may take an hour or two. The Song of the Year will be announced last."
Zhou nodded to indicate that he understood.
She had already written her acceptance speech in her memo beforehand. Because she had no experience and was afraid of getting nervous on stage, she only wrote a few short sentences. Even if she didn't need to use them, it wouldn't be a big deal.
Zhuo Wencheng posted a picture taken from the stands of the stadium in the group chat, and exclaimed: "[Such a familiar angle, such a familiar plot]"
Zhan Li: [You better take that back right now! What do you mean by "familiar plot"? We're definitely going to win an award this year!]
[Zhuo Wencheng retracted a message]
Zhuo Wencheng: [Sorry, I misspoke.]
Xu Yue: [Back in jail again]
Tan Bei: [I'd actually be willing to spend time in this kind of jail; I'd suggest coming every year from now on.]
Zhan Li: [I second that]
Zhou Yu's mindset this year is different from last year. Back then, Chen Jingchi was just beginning to show his talent. After a year of growth, she believes that he now has the potential to win an award. If she misses out again, it will be even more regrettable than last year.
She agreed with Ye Yunzhou's words: if not this time, then next time. But for Chen Jingchi, having his name written on the medal required 100% effort, and every opportunity to remove it was incredibly precious.
After nearly two hours, it was finally time to present the Best Lyricist Award.
As song titles appeared one after another on the big screen, the name "Zhou Yu" stood out prominently. Chen Jingchi turned to look at her, holding her hand tightly, seemingly more concerned about the outcome than she was.
Zhou Yu leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Don't be nervous."
He smiled and asked, "Are you trying to comfort me or yourself?"
"To comfort you." Zhou Yu gently shook their clasped hands to remind him how tightly they were holding on.
Chen Jingchi then loosened his grip slightly.
The presenter was the singer who had just performed. She opened the envelope and read out the winner's name.
It wasn't Zhou Yu.
The camera didn't capture them on camera, so Zhou Yu's prior mental preparations were useless, and she suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. It was the result she expected; she hadn't had much hope for this award anyway.
He let go of her hand and put his arm around her waist.
Chen Jingchi really wanted to hug her, but the situation didn't allow it.
"It's okay, really." Zhou Yu smiled at him and said in a relaxed tone, "I want to leave all my luck to you."
His gaze towards her grew increasingly dark, and he longed to pull her into his arms and kiss her recklessly; this impulse nearly tore his reason apart.
Last night, he saw Zhou Yu typing on her memo. She didn't want him to see it and wanted to stay on stage and tell him, but in the end, she couldn't.
He had handled many trophies before, the only difference being their weight. But this was the first time Zhou Yu had received recognition and affirmation, and he hoped that she would be the one to win the award.
She didn't seem to care much, but Chen Jingchi felt sorry for her. Her wish had fallen through this time, and waiting for the next time would take too long.
Her phone kept vibrating; it was her friends comforting her in a group chat. She ignored it for the moment, avoiding his intense gaze, and whispered in his ear, "Don't look at me like that."
Chen Jingchi's gaze usually only appears after sufficient foreplay and before he frantically possesses her. Having seen it too many times, it easily triggers a conditioned reflex, and even just a second of that look is unbearable for Zhou Yu.
She looked down, unlocked her phone, and replied to them in the group chat.
Du Heng waited a while before leaning closer to Zhou Yu and saying, "It's okay, there will be other opportunities in the future."
Zhou Yu nodded and replied, "Don't let him hear that."
There's another award that hasn't been announced yet.
Du Heng chuckled: "This is really torturous."
Nearly two hours later, as the awards ceremony drew to a close, the announcement of Song of the Year finally arrived. After nearly four hours of waiting, everyone was getting restless, and messages kept popping up in the group chat.
The music videos of the nominated songs appeared on the big screen, and Zhou Yu began to get nervous. She turned her head to look at Chen Jingchi and couldn't help but raise her hand to grab his suit sleeve.
She touched a hard gemstone cufflink, the style she had chosen when she had it custom-made two weeks ago.
She hoped that, as she herself had said, all the luck would be on his side, and that he would live up to everyone's expectations and get what he wanted this time.
As she watched the host open the envelope, she felt the same way she did last year, her eyes glued to the big screen.
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
Zhou Yu heard that quite a few people in the venue were calling Chen Jingchi's name.
A gentle female voice came from the speakers: "The winner of Song of the Year is..."
"Congratulations, Chen Jingchi!"
A burst of enthusiastic cheers immediately erupted around her. Zhou Yu's brain seemed to be cleared by a single button, instantly crashing. The person next to her squeezed her hand and then got up from their seat.
Despite anticipating a high probability of winning the prize, Zhou Yu still found it hard to believe.
She watched as Chen Jingchi walked steadily and unhurriedly towards the stage. His face appeared on the big screen, and he calmly and composedly accepted the trophy from the host.
He appeared more composed than anyone else.
Du Heng leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh: "It's perfect."
Her phone kept vibrating, but Zhou Yu didn't pay attention to it. She stared at the person on stage, waiting for him to say his first words.
"I am very grateful to the judges for this honor, and I am also very grateful to my manager and friends who have always been by my side, to the listeners who have always supported me, and to the author who wrote this song for me, Zhou Yu."
He looked in her direction and met her gaze.
"What I prepared last year was not used. Fortunately, I was lucky and I can finally tell her this year."
"Today is my girlfriend Zhou Yu's 20th birthday. I want to tell everyone who is here or watching the live broadcast tonight that I wish her a happy birthday."
"Without her, I wouldn't be standing on this stage today."
As soon as he finished speaking, a cacophony of voices erupted in the venue. It took Zhou Yu several seconds to discern that everyone was shouting "Happy Birthday."
For the first time, tens of thousands of people wished her a happy birthday at the same time.
“Zhou Yu.” He called her name, his face serious like never before. “Most of the time we’ve spent together, it seems like I’m the one desperately running forward, and I have so few opportunities to spend with you. During these months of tour, every time you’ve looked at me, my attention has been diverted by my studies, work, and music, and only a few bits of attention have been left for you.”
"I want to give you enough security, and I want to have a two-way relationship with you."
"I hope you can wait a little longer, until I reach the end of the road and clear away all the obstacles for you, so that you can run towards me without any worries."
After he finished speaking, he took a step back, left the microphone, and bowed to the audience.
Everyone applauded his words, and the applause was deafening.
Zhou Yu couldn't hold back her tears as she watched Chen Jingchi walk off the stage and back to her side.
The camera didn't capture Zhou Yu's face. Chen Jingchi turned around and hugged her, gently pressing his thumb against the corner of her reddened eyes, and chuckled, "Don't cry."
"You didn't cry." She didn't look at him, her gaze lowered, and reluctantly reminded him, "Everyone's watching."
Surrounded by people, Chen Jingchi released her, his gaze never leaving her.
*
After the awards ceremony, Chen Jingchi's acceptance of the award dominated headlines and trended on social media multiple times.
#Chen Jingchi wins Golden Melody Award for Song of the Year#
#Youngest winner of the Golden Melody Award#
#Chen Jingchi's acceptance speech#
#Chen Jingchi publicly expresses his love#
Zhou Yu knew that this time he had truly established himself firmly in the music industry.
Overnight, countless praises and applause appeared online. Everyone was amazed that Chen Jingchi, at only twenty years old, had won the highest honor in the Chinese music scene, reaching a pinnacle that most singers could not reach at such a young age.
Those dreams that once seemed unattainable suddenly became within reach at this moment.
In the private room late at night, the drunken boys made a ruckus without any regard for their image.
This time, even Du Heng, who could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, got drunk.
"I'll make those who looked down on us open their damn eyes!" Du Heng slammed his hand on the table, making it shake. "Let's see who dares to give Dad a hard time now!"
"Dad!" Zhuo Wencheng cried out, hugging him tightly. "You promised a world tour! I want to go abroad to play bass!"
"Play it! Go play it in front of the Statue of Liberty!" Du Henghao agreed arrogantly. "I'll call Lin Xiao right now!"
Upon hearing an unfamiliar name, Tan Bei asked, "Who is Lin Xiao?"
Chen Jingchi chuckled: "The big boss of Shengyu."
"..." Tan Bei grabbed Du Heng's phone, "Brother! You're drunk! We can talk about it tomorrow!"
Chen Jingchi didn't dare to drink as freely as the others; he had to continue his tour next week. Zhou Yu was a little doubtful whether Du Heng would remember this after sobering up, so she asked him softly, "Are you really going to talk about it?"
"Really." Chen Jingchi turned to look at her, "After the domestic tour ends."
Zhou Yu smiled and asked, "Then, will you release an English album?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Jingchi immediately denied it: "No entry is allowed for those who do not listen to Chinese songs."
Zhou Yu laughed and said he was domineering.
In the early hours of the morning, the assistant and driver helped the group back to the hotel.
As soon as they entered the suite, Chen Jingchi led her to the bedroom and took out a keychain from deep inside his suitcase, handing it to her.
Zhou asked, puzzled, "What? Another keychain?"
Chen Jingchi just smiled and said, "A birthday present."
Zhou Yu didn't understand what he meant. She looked down at the things in her hand. The keychain had a key and a black and gold access card hanging from it. The card had a simple logo with the words "Yunqi Palace" printed on it.
Seeing the unfamiliar name of the neighborhood, she exclaimed in surprise, "You bought another house?"
Including his house in Xianhai and his apartment in Jiangbei, he now owns three properties.
“Your name can’t be on the property certificate,” Chen Jingchi said. “It can only be transferred to you after we get married.”
"Why buy so many?" Zhou Yu said softly. "It's not like we don't have a place to live."
“It has a different meaning,” Chen Jingchi laughed. “It’s for you.”
Zhou Yu gripped the keys tightly in his hand and asked, "When did you buy them?"
"Around the Chinese New Year," he said. "The renovations aren't finished yet, but we should be able to move in next year."
Zhou Yu felt a dull ache in her chest. She reached out and hugged his waist, unsure how to refuse him. His gifts grew more expensive each year. She had heard about the housing prices in Jiangbei; if they bought a house near their university, it would cost at least a million yuan.
Although it wasn't a large sum in Chen Jingchi's eyes, it was an astronomical figure for Zhou Yu.
Price was one factor, but Zhou Yu dared not say the other reason.
She would keep everything else she was given away, but she would never accept the house.
But she also knew that once Chen Jingchi made a decision, he wouldn't easily turn back.
This key has become a hot potato.
He seemed to see through her thoughts and looked down at her, saying, "Don't feel guilty."
Zhou wanted to meet his gaze, but her throat felt so tight that she couldn't utter a single word.
“Zhou Yu, all my honors are thanks to you. Don’t feel unworthy.” He gently stroked her face. “I’m not trying to prove how much I love you with a number. You can think of it as our home, as a promise I’m making to you.”
He always had a way of persuading her to overcome her inner vulnerability. Zhou Yu looked up to meet his gaze, her heart feeling as if it were being pierced by needles, a dense, throbbing pain spreading through her.
Her moist eyes made him misunderstand.
A smile slowly spread across his eyes: "Wait a little longer, until my world tour is over, okay? I'll tell the company to reduce my activities and focus on making music from now on, and spend the rest of my time with you."
He's already reached the pinnacle of his industry, and there's no rush to achieve even greater goals. After his world tour ends, he plans to take a long vacation to make up for the time they lost during their honeymoon phase.
Zhou Yu could no longer hold back. She lowered her head and leaned against his chest, her nose tingling and her voice heavy with emotion, forcing herself to say, "Okay."
*
Two weeks after the awards ceremony, Chen Jingchi secured an endorsement deal with the top French luxury brand Leonor Paris, becoming the brand's only Chinese ambassador who is also a singer, thus joining the ranks of the fashion world's elite.
Following the Golden Melody Awards ceremony, his Weibo followers surged to over 60 million in a short period, and his new and old songs dominated the charts on major music platforms for a week, with the hype lingering. Although the new songs from his third album, which he performed in various cities, have not yet been released online, videos taken by fans at the concerts have gone viral. Zhou Yu already anticipates that the studio versions will perform exceptionally well upon their official release.
During the last two months of the tour, Chen Jingchi took time to shoot several endorsement advertisements. During this period, his second album "Migratory Birds" also became a regular at various mid-year music award ceremonies, and his name was frequently trending on Weibo. He truly became incredibly popular.
August 31st was the last show of his national tour. After the encore, a line of handwritten text by Chen Jingchi appeared on the big screen:
[World Tour]
Just three words caused a sensation.
Chen Jingchi's rise to fame was so rapid that it left everyone speechless, and the Golden Melody Award honor truly propelled him to stardom.
At the celebration banquet that night, Zhou Yu also wanted to drink, but Chen Jingchi was afraid she would get drunk, so he only let her take a sip to taste it.
The red wine had a slightly intoxicating taste, bitter yet mellow. She wanted to have another sip when her phone suddenly rang, and the screen showed that it was Liu Xianya calling.
The boys in the private room were making a lot of noise, so she told Chen Jingchi and got up to go outside to answer the phone.
It was almost midnight, so Liu Xianya's call at this hour must have something very important to say.
The hallway was much quieter. Zhou Yu answered the phone: "Mom, what's wrong?"
"Xiao Bao." Liu Xianya's voice was filled with undisguised joy. "The parole notice was issued today. Your father can be released as early as next month."
Zhou Yu was startled.
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Author's Note: Thank you so much for the nutrient solution, everyone!! [Pink Heart]
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