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Mu Xiaochu was a good girl. She was pure and sweet, kind-hearted yet intelligent, and undeniably beautiful.
If she had one shortcoming, it would be her height— she wasn't very tall.
When it came to singing, Mu Xiaochu had exceptional talent. Even Chen Fei'er had praised her vocal quality. Among the thousands of aspiring singers who auditioned nationwide, she had made it to the finals— not by luck, but by sheer ability.
Most importantly, she had a crush on Lu Chen and wanted to be close to him.
Lu Chen had a good impression of Mu Xiaochu as well, but his feelings weren't romantic.
To him, she was like a younger sister— someone he cared for and wanted to protect.
So, without hesitation, Lu Chen helped her handle problems and warded off the annoying Zhang Xiaohai.
Even if it meant provoking Zhang Xiaohai's resentment.
Mu Xiaochu sat right next to Lu Chen.
Zhang Xiaohai wasn't far either. That afternoon's National Day gala rehearsal included all the Top 5 contestants from 'Singing China', including Lu Chen.
Naturally, they were invited by Capital City TV.
Per Lu Chen's original agreement with the network, he had granted them the copyright to 'Life on a String' for free in exchange for a performance slot at the National Day gala.
Initially, he was set for a solo performance, but now it had been changed to a group act, significantly reducing its impact.
When Lu Chen received the notice a few days ago, he wasn't pleased.
But after some thought, he decided to let it go.
A gala of this scale— especially one held in the Capital— was bound to attract competition among celebrities. Last-minute program changes were par for the course.
For instance, Mu Xiaochu, Zhang Xiaohai, and another singer in their group performance were all signed under Flying Stone Records.
Flying Stone Records had a longstanding partnership with Capital City TV.
Lu Chen, on the other hand, had no real connections within the network. He only knew a few people and had put little effort into building industry relationships. Frankly, he was lucky his slot hadn't been cut altogether— switching from a solo act to a group performance was already a courtesy.
He understood the situation well. He wasn't arrogant enough to think that Capital City TV needed him, and pushing back might only damage his hard-won opportunities.
While the gala was an important stage, it wasn't the be-all and end-all for him.
So, Lu Chen maintained a calm attitude. He didn't complain or feel wronged. He believed that as long as he kept improving, there would come a day when every stage— no matter how grand— would roll out the red carpet for him!
Mu Xiaochu, oblivious to the behind-the-scenes maneuvering, often leaned over to chat with Lu Chen about their group performance.
Their closeness drew quite a few eyes.
Especially Zhang Xiaohai, who was practically craning his neck to eavesdrop.
Lu Chen ignored him completely.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
As he and Mu Xiaochu laughed and talked, a flurry of notification tones suddenly echoed around them.
The sound of multiple phones receiving text alerts filled the rehearsal space!
A woman standing behind Mu Xiaochu glanced at her phone, her expression shifting to one of shock.
She was Zhou Fang, Mu Xiaochu's personal assistant from Flying Stone Records. In her early thirties, she was thin, plain-looking, but experienced in the industry.
Lu Chen had an assistant too, but with so much going on at the studio today, he had asked Li Feiyu to stay behind and help manage things.
Mu Xiaochu turned around, curious. "Sister Fang, what's wrong?"
Since the messages started coming in, the atmosphere in the dressing room had changed— there was an odd tension in the air, a hush settling over the space.
Something was clearly off.
Zhou Fang quickly scanned the room, then leaned in and lowered her voice. "Wang Bin just got arrested for drug use!"
"Wang Bin?"
Mu Xiaochu's eyes widened. "You mean 'that' Wang Bin?"
There were thousands of people named Wang Bin, but in the entertainment industry, only one truly mattered.
Wang Bin was a veteran of the music scene. He had debuted in the late '80s, risen to stardom in the '90s, and released multiple platinum albums. He had won countless awards and even made significant contributions to film and television.
While he wasn't on the same level as Tan Hong in influence, he was still a major name in the industry.
His drug arrest was nothing short of a bombshell— an industry-shaking scandal guaranteed to make headlines!
News traveled fast in showbiz. The moment he was taken in, countless insiders had already heard about it.
Wang Bin was one of the star guests invited to perform at Capital City TV's National Day gala.
The network had heavily promoted his appearance, and now, with such a major incident unfolding, they were undoubtedly scrambling behind the scenes.
Zhou Fang nodded, a knowing look in her eyes. "I heard he was reported by the Chaoyang District residents. This is the third one this year!"
The so-called 'Chaoyang District residents' had practically become legendary in the entertainment world— a nightmare for celebrities with skeletons in their closets!
Since the start of the year, thanks to reports from the vigilant residents of Chaoyang District, over ten well-known celebrities have been arrested for drug-related offenses, creating a massive public spectacle!
Netizens jokingly remark that if these stars were to be gathered together, they could shoot a blockbuster prison drama!
The entertainment industry dazzles on the surface, but behind the glitz and glamour lie many hidden vices. Some artists succumb to temptations, leading them down an irreversible path of self-destruction.
Many celebrities reside in Chaoyang District, making it a frequent hotspot for such incidents. In recent years, the government has ramped up efforts to tackle public safety issues and crack down on illegal activities, further solidifying the reputation of the Chaoyang District community as the bane of misbehaving stars.
Backstage in the studio, the news spread rapidly among the artists, passed along by their assistants.
Soft murmurs filled the air.
Words like "Wang Bin," "drug abuse," and "arrested" floated through the hushed conversation.
Amidst this charged atmosphere, nearly half an hour passed before a staff member finally entered the backstage area.
He picked up a microphone and called out, "Is Lu Chen here?"
Startled, Lu Chen instinctively stood up, raising his hand. "I'm here."
In an instant, he became the center of attention.
Many of the artists present— well-known indie singers and actors— turned to look at him, their expressions filled with curiosity, confusion, and surprise.
Lu Chen felt the weight of their gazes.
Thankfully, the staff member immediately gestured for him to follow. "Please come with me."
Lu Chen quickly walked forward.
As he left the backstage area, the murmurs behind him grew louder, blending into a chaotic hum.
Following the television station staff, Lu Chen was led into a small office.
The room was hazy with cigarette smoke, and the scene felt oddly familiar to him.
Seated inside were two familiar faces—Chen Qi, the deputy director of Capital City TV, and Gu Rui, the music director of "Singing China."
Several other television station officials were also present.
The atmosphere in the office was tense.
Gu Rui, in particular, looked extremely worried, his face scrunched up like a bitter melon as he sulked and smoked.
Seeing Lu Chen enter, he forced a stiff smile. "Little Lu, you're here."
Honestly, it would have been better if he hadn't smiled—it only made him look more troubled.
In contrast, Chen Qi remained composed. He gestured to the sofa. "Little Lu, have a seat."
He introduced Lu Chen to the others in the room, including the hosts, deputy directors, and planners of the National Day gala.
After exchanging polite greetings, Lu Chen took his seat. Without preamble, the deputy director of Capital City TV got straight to the point.
"Have you heard about Wang Bin's drug arrest?"
Lu Chen nodded. "I just found out."
Chen Qi let out a deep sigh. "This incident was completely unexpected. Wang Bin's segment is obviously being removed, and we'd like you to take his place."
"What?"
Lu Chen was genuinely taken aback. He had not anticipated being asked to replace Wang Bin!
Gu Rui explained, "We originally planned for you to have a solo performance, but with this sudden turn of events, after discussing with Director Chen, we decided that you should step in for Wang Bin."
"Additionally, the group performance featuring the Top 5 from 'Singing China' will still go ahead, meaning you'll have two performances now."
Chen Qi added, "Little Lu, you're talented and the champion of 'Singing China.' You are more than capable of handling this!"
So that's how it is.
This was truly a blessing in disguise. Had Lu Chen fought Capital City TV over the change from a solo act to a group performance, he might have missed this golden opportunity.
Without hesitation, he said, "Thank you, Director Chen, thank you, Director Gu. I will do my best to deliver an excellent performance."
Two performances were an unexpected windfall!
In fact, the real person he should be thanking was the ever-diligent Chaoyang District community!
"Don't rush just yet," Chen Qi raised a hand. "Here's the situation—some senior executives from CCTV will be visiting this afternoon to observe our rehearsal. You'll need to bring your A-game while filling in for Wang Bin."
Gu Rui asked, "Have you thought about what song you'll perform for your solo act?"
The weight of expectation pressed on Lu Chen. While both Chen Qi and Gu Rui had made their decision, they still seemed slightly hesitant.
Chen Qi suggested, "How about performing 'The Brightest Star in the Night Sky,' your championship-winning song?"
Gu Rui, however, sighed. "Wang Bin was originally scheduled to perform 'New China, New Era,' and given that this is a National Day gala, the theme should ideally be patriotic. Adding your song into the lineup might not align with the event's overall atmosphere."
"Then…"
Chen Qi hesitated. He realized he had thrown Lu Chen into the deep end without fully considering whether he was the best choice for the slot.
Just then, Lu Chen spoke up. "Director Chen, Director Gu, I actually have a song that fits the patriotic theme and should be well-suited for the National Day gala."
Noticing the subtle shift in Chen Qi's expression, he quickly put forward his idea.
This opportunity was too valuable to slip away!
Gu Rui's eyes lit up. "What song? Where can we hear it?"
Lu Chen tapped his temple with a sheepish smile. "It's still in my head."
(End Of This Chapter)