The entire venue fell silent.
The host looked at the young man who had stood up and asked with a smile, "Do you have any questions?"
With a live broadcast, the host felt a bit uneasy.
The audience's questions were varied and some were difficult to handle.
"I'm very skeptical of Prince Catface. Can someone so young write songs himself? Is he really singing live?"
His voice was too good, so good it sounded fake.
The emotion he poured in was genuine – heavy, sad, lost, confident, soaring towards dreams. He interpreted the mood of the song perfectly, but it was precisely this perfection that bred suspicion.
Mu Jiuchen glanced at the man. All of his son's songs were written by himself; it was an innate talent.
The host: "..."
This was a difficult question to answer.
He looked at Jiang Yukuo.
The comments in the live stream instantly went wild.
[Damn, this kid! I want to smack him. Has he never heard Prince Catface sing acapella?]
[Right, right! I love that song 'Mom'. I cried when he sang it acapella.]
[He has a natural, heavenly voice, a gift from the heavens. Why is this kid questioning my cub?]
[Ahhh... I really want to see cub's true face!]
[This is obviously someone trying to piggyback on his fame, desperate to get noticed!]
On the scene, an elegant lady stood up.
"You brat, why are you questioning my future son-in-law?"
The man who had asked the question: "..."
Jiang Nuan. Mu Jiuchen: "..."
The man's smile was strange: "From what I know, he's only a little over seven years old. Such a young child, what would he understand? Yet he dares to say he wrote the songs himself. I can believe he's singing live, but can he really write songs like this?"
The noble lady looked at the man with disdain: "Just because you can't write them yourself, does that mean no one else can be excellent? Or is it because a child is more excellent than you, and you're jealous, so you're stirring up trouble?"
The man choked, his eyes darting away.
He was indeed jealous of Prince Catface's songs.
His own songs were also very good, but because they lacked connections, he had been rejected countless times.
And to see a child receive such applause truly made him jealous and envious!
His songs were perfectly crafted, with no flaws to be found.
"Hmph! I think you're deliberately looking for trouble, trying to seize the opportunity for publicity." The noble lady was furious.
Then she looked at Jiang Yukuo standing on the stage, "Cub, don't be afraid, Momma will protect you!"
Jiang Yukuo: "..."
Seeing this, his mother felt utterly mortified.
Jiang Nuan, however, thought differently. She looked at the noble lady gratefully, thanking her for defending her son. No matter where she was, there were always kind people!
Jiang Yukuo took a step forward and said, "Thank you, Auntie."
He then looked at the man and said, "You suspect I'm lip-syncing, I can sing acapella for you."
The man's smile turned somewhat awkward. Prince Catface's momentum was too strong; he couldn't compete.
In the end, it would only invite criticism. He just wanted to catch a wave of attention; this was a live broadcast.
"Yes, please! I'm sure everyone wants to hear Prince Catface sing acapella." The man went along with the suggestion.
Jiang Yukuo had the staff check him to ensure he had no accompanying equipment. Then, he raised the microphone and began to sing.
"I'm blowing in the wind... walking towards my dreams... no matter how late, there will be light..."
His acapella rendition still deeply resonated with emotion.
"Clap clap..."
Warm applause filled the venue.
The comments in the live stream:
[Ahhh... cub, it's still the same feeling! This is so inspiring. No matter how great the wind and rain, there will be light even in the dark. That's right, no matter how difficult the road ahead, as long as you have dreams in your heart, that is the light that illuminates yourself.]
"Cub, Momma loves you!" The noble lady echoed the sentiment, and everyone joined in!
The deafening cheers were like thunder.
Jiang Nuan's lips curved upwards. She looked at her son on stage, smiling with immense pride.
Mu Jiuchen held her hand tightly. The couple exchanged a knowing smile.
The man suddenly bowed and apologized: "I'm sorry! Prince Catface, thank you for dispelling my doubts!"
Jiang Yukuo looked at him, "I thank you too! You've cleared my name. I've loved singing since I was three. Composing is like living, a series of joyful journeys. I hope my future songs can also bring joy to everyone."
This was a way that suited only certain people. Everyone pursued their dreams differently. Being doubted by others, being slandered, these were all normal. What he had to do was to be careful and not be tripped up by insignificant rumors on this path.
When he grew up and could see a better world, he could embrace all rivers.
The man sat down sheepishly.
The judges presented the trophy.
Jiang Yukuo's acceptance speech was simple: "Understand your own strengths. Only when you are rich within can you achieve everything you desire."
Everyone pondered!
It was a word that awakened the dreamer!
Indeed, improving oneself was more important than anything.
As he finished speaking, a beam of colorful light shone upon Jiang Yukuo. He raised the trophy in his hand, instantly bathed in brilliance, the focus of all attention.
"Wow!" Jiang Siyun clapped her hands ecstatically.
"Brother is so dazzling!" Jiang Siyun was thrilled.
...
The competition ended, and Jiang Yukuo returned to the Lu family.
As soon as he entered, there was a "bang..." which startled him and made him fall to the ground.
"Holy crap, who let out such a big fart? You scared me to death."
Lu Chengs, who was about to fire the celebratory cannon: "..."
Uh...
His hand holding the cannon instantly became extremely awkward.
Jin Yan: "..."
She was the one who fired the cannon.
"Darling, did I scare you?" Jin Yan asked Jiang Yukuo worriedly.
Jiang Yukuo felt a bit embarrassed to admit it.
Having won first place, he was a little elated. He had been lost in thought when entering the house and was truly startled.
"Grandma, no?" Jiang Yukuo quickly shook his head.
"Bang..." Lu Chengs fired the cannon he was holding.
Jiang Yukuo flinched.
It was too sudden; he had no preparation at all.
A shower of colorful flowers fell, their faint fragrance filling the air.
"Congratulations! Kuobao, congratulations on winning first place!"
Lu Chengs and Jin Yan shouted happily.
In the living room, everyone happily stood up and applauded.
Lu Jinyan had also returned.
"Kuobao, you're amazing!"
Jiang Yukuo looked at his third uncle, whom he hadn't seen in a while, and smiled: "Thank you, Grandpa, Grandma, thank you everyone!"
"Brother, you're so amazing! This is the gift I prepared for you." Jiang Siyun excitedly ran over and gave him the small bear in her hand.
Jiang Yukuo looked at the off-white bear: "..."
It's okay, it's from his sister, he liked it!
"Thank you, Yunyun!" Jiang Yukuo hugged it happily.
"Hehe..." Jiang Siyun seemed even happier than her brother. Her smile hadn't stopped since they returned.
Jiang Nuan and Mu Jiuchen also watched them and smiled.
Jiang Yukuo instantly felt immensely proud.
Everyone sat in the living room chatting. The four members of the Jin family were staying in the backyard, so no one bothered them.
Just as everyone was happily chatting, Lu Jinyan suddenly exclaimed, "Holy crap!" followed by his surprised voice, "Why is AT Entertainment being investigated?"