Perfect Superstar.

"Will you remember tomorrow the diary you wrote yesterday? Will you still think of the past..." 

"Stop!" 

Lu Chen had just sung the opening lines of his original song "My Old Classmate" when the female judge interrupted him. 

This judge, an elegant woman in her 30s or 40s, smiled warmly and said, "Not bad. I'll give you a pass. 

She turned to the other two judges and asked, "What do you think?" 

Both judges nodded in agreement. "Pass!" 

The female judge smiled at Lu Chen. "Congratulations, you've qualified for the official audition. Keep up the good work!" 

Lu Chen was momentarily stunned, but he quickly regained his composure. He bowed his head and said, "Thank you, teachers. 

It had taken him less than half a minute on stage to pass. Was it really that fast? 

In fact, Lu Chen had underestimated himself. His skills went beyond songwriting and performance. His physical appearance also played an important role. 

With a height of over 1.8 meters, a handsome face, and a fit physique, Lu Chen stood out. In mass audience talent shows, contestants like him were rarely eliminated early - a privilege of being a "handsome guy". 

As long as he could play and sing reasonably well, the judges didn't care much about his songwriting level. They just passed him over. 

This was an era where looks mattered, and Lu Chen fit the bill perfectly! 

After he left the stage, a staff member handed him a laminated colorful card. On the front was the logo of 'The Strongest Singer' and his new audition number - 0580. 

The back of the card had two large gold letters for "Advanced" on a starry blue background. 

It was a beautifully designed card, something worth keeping as a souvenir even if he didn't make it to the next round. 

Lu Chen didn't leave the tent right away. Instead, he waited for the girl, contestant 17691, to perform. 

The young girl gave an impressive performance, demonstrating decent guitar skills. She also quickly earned her promotion card. When she came down from the stage, she proudly lifted her chin and showed her card to Lu Chen. 

Lu Chen chuckled silently and walked out of the audition area with her. 

Her family, who had been waiting outside, erupted with excitement when they saw her waving the card triumphantly. They seemed almost ready to announce her success to the world. 

Lu Chen found it amusing, silently wished her well, and left the sports arena. 

That evening, he received a phone call from Chen Jianhao. 

Chen briefly inquired about Lu Chen's audition experience and promotion number, but didn't say much else. 

Lu Chen couldn't help but feel that his former boss was hiding something or planning something behind the scenes. 

However, everyone had their secrets, and Lu Chen saw no need to dig any deeper. 

--- 

Five days passed quickly, neither too long nor too short, filled with busy work. 

On June 25th, under a clear sky, the official audition for "The Strongest Singer" began. 

The venue remained the same, the capital's Grand Sports Arena, but the auditions had moved from the outdoor soccer field to the indoor basketball court. The scale had shrunk, but the standard of the event had risen. 

Despite the heavy eliminations in the preliminary round, the number of vagabond singers who made it to the official auditions was still considerable, far more than could be covered in just one or two days. 

Fortunately, Lu Chen's luck held out, and he was scheduled for the first day. 

The basketball court was divided into two sections, forming the north and south stages for the auditions. Staff members dressed in Xiangnan TV uniforms bustled around, setting up over a dozen camera positions inside and outside. 

Although the auditions were branded as "Live Streaming," they were actually pre-recorded. The footage would undergo post-production editing before being broadcast online and on TV. The "live" segments were mostly on-site interviews and similar content. 

As a result, most contestants wouldn't even appear on screen unless they advanced to the first official round. 

Contestants were seated in the audience stands according to their advancement numbers, waiting to be called in. By Lu Chen's estimation, there were about three to four hundred competitors on the first day. 

And so began another long wait. 

Many contestants, experienced in such events, formed small groups to chat, talk about music, and encourage each other. Some practiced their performances, but only in short fragments. 

At noon, the staff provided boxed lunches. 

Though it was just fast food, the quality was surprisingly good. Beef, shrimp, eggs, and fresh vegetables were included—far from the cheap meals costing only a few bucks. The taste was excellent. 

Lu Chen ate until he was about half-full. It wasn't about wasting food—singing on a full stomach wasn't ideal. 

Finally, at around 1 PM, Lu Chen heard the staff call his number. 

"Contestant 0580!" 

Led by the staff, Lu Chen was quickly taken to the preparation area. After waiting for another two minutes, it was finally his turn to perform on stage! 

The official audition panel now consisted of four judges—two men and two women—all of whom were well-known figures. Lu Chen recognized two of them immediately, while the names of the other two rang a bell, though he wasn't as familiar with them. 

The stage setup was lavish. Four cameras were positioned around the venue, capturing every angle. Besides the four judges, there were seven or eight staff members bustling about. Even though there was still no live audience, the atmosphere was markedly different from the preliminary round. 

Facing the cameras and the judges' gazes, Lu Chen remained composed. With a calm demeanor, he said, "Hello, respected judges. I'm contestant 0580, Lu Chen, from Zhedong." 

Having watched numerous audition videos online over the past few days, Lu Chen was well-prepared. Following the standard protocol, he introduced himself first. 

"Today, I will be performing an original song titled 'My Old Classmate'. I look forward to your feedback." 

One of the female judges smiled warmly. "Go ahead. You have two minutes. Sing well." 

Lu Chen recognized this judge— Lu Ya, a famous domestic vagabond singer known for her emotional ballads. Though she was in her late 30s or nearing 40, her youthful appearance and elegant charm made her seem much younger. 

Nodding slightly, Lu Chen began his performance, guitar in hand. 

"Will you remember tomorrow, the diary you wrote yesterday..." 

'Beep!' 

Just as he finished the simple prelude and sang the first two lines, a sharp buzzer sound pierced the air. 

The red light at one judge's table lit up conspicuously! 

According to the audition rules, this meant the judge disapproved of Lu Chen's performance and would not advance him to the next round. 

Lu Ya glanced at the judge in surprise. 

The judge was Zhang Xiaoan, a well-known variety show host from Xiangnan TV with a reputation in the industry. His quick rejection of Lu Chen seemed rather unusual. 

Lu Chen's guitar playing was flawless, even exceptional, and the melody of his song was quite appealing. Why would Zhang Xiaoan hit the buzzer after only two lines? 

Unfazed by Lu Ya's questioning glance, Zhang Xiaoan maintained a blank expression. 

Lu Chen raised an eyebrow. It would be a lie to say the abrupt buzzer didn't affect him. 

However, he wasn't an inexperienced newcomer, so he continued his performance smoothly. 

"...Will you still think of the one who cried the most back then..." 

'Beep!' 

The second red light lit up! 

This time, it was Chen Zhenni, another female judge. A singer-songwriter who had returned to the domestic music scene after a successful career abroad, she was currently a rising star in the pop music industry. 

She seemed unimpressed by Lu Chen's style, frowning in visible frustration. 

According to the rules, if three of the four judges activated their buzzers, the contestant would be immediately eliminated. 

Despite having two red lights against him, Lu Chen remained calm. He continued his performance, completing half of 'My Old Classmate' with poise. 

"Thank you!" 

After finishing, he bowed politely to the judges with his guitar in hand. 

Even with the interruptions from the red lights, Lu Chen's rendition of the song was flawless. 

Zhang Xiaoan commented indifferently, "The style is outdated, and the melody is mediocre. You need to keep working on it." 

Chen Zhenni added, "Your guitar skills are good, but we're looking for the strongest singer. Sorry, but better luck next time." 

Her implication was clear— Lu Chen's song didn't make the cut. 

Lu Ya, however, smiled and said, "Lu Chen, I think your work is excellent—" 

'Beep!' 

Before she could finish her sentence, the fourth judge on the far left pressed the red button. 

Three red lights. Elimination. 

'(End of Chapter)' 

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