159. A Promising Future, Ji Fanxing

Elder Chu quickly regained his composure. Seeing his old friend's flustered state, he couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"Old Qin, what is wrong with you?"

The old man in the Tang suit turned a deaf ear, as if spellbound, keeping his eyes glued to the television screen without blinking.

With trembling hands, he fished his reading glasses out of his pocket and put them on, wanting to see more clearly.

He muttered to himself, his tone filled with shock and disbelief.

"The strokes are sharp and vigorous, piercing straight through the paper, yet flowing with grace, untethered and utterly effortless...

Look! Old Chu, look quickly! Every single one of the dozen or so characters of 'zhi' is completely different!

Truly worthy of the *Lanting Xu* manuscript! Magnificent, simply magnificent!

This brushwork is nothing short of miraculous, something never heard of before!"

The old man in the Tang suit was so excited his face flushed red, as if he had just stumbled upon some rare and priceless treasure.

Elder Chu shook his head with a smile. This Old Qin had always loved collecting calligraphy rubbings, and after retirement, he had devoted himself entirely to studying calligraphy.

He simply hadn't expected him to become so obsessed now.

On the television, Lu Tianyu had already sung the final lines of the lyrics.

*Hand-written, owing nothing to the right and wrong of the mortal world,*

*Rain pattering against the banana leaves for yet another breezy night,*

*We await the spring thunder to remind you whom you love~*

The melodious singing faded, and the stage lights dimmed.

Lu Tianyu and the accompanying students bowed together to thank the audience.

Only then did the old man in the Tang suit notice that the students on stage were all wearing modernized versions of Hanfu.

These Hanfu garments featured a novel cut while retaining the timeless charm of traditional attire, making them look exceptionally grand and refined.

Recalling what he had said moments earlier, he turned his head to look at Elder Chu.

"Old Chu, I wronged you just now."

Elder Chu smiled, shook his head, and asked,

"Old Qin, can you recognize whose calligraphy this is?"

The old man in the Tang suit carefully recalled the handwriting he had just seen, mentally filtering through the great masters of calligraphy in the Dragon Country one by one.

Finally, he shook his head.

"To write characters like these requires at least sixty years of mastery, but the hand holding the brush in the video has skin that is smooth and firm—it is clearly a young person."

Hearing this, Elder Chu grew even more puzzled.

Could there really be such a breathtakingly talented calligrapher in this world?

Standing nearby, the butler listened in and tentatively asked, "Sir, could it have been generated using computer technology?"

This answer evidently convinced the two men present. In this era of advancing technology, what was impossible?

Perhaps only computer technology could create such a flawless piece of calligraphy.

Although they had reluctantly found an explanation, the old man in the Tang suit still felt an itch in his heart, feeling utterly unsettled.

"Miss Fansheng's work?" He recalled what the butler had said earlier, silently committing the name to memory.

Fast forward to three minutes earlier, in the audience seating of the live broadcast venue, Chu Hao quietly leaned closer to Ji Fansheng.

"Which company did you hire for the stage visual effects?"

"I made them myself." Ji Fansheng looked toward the stage, her expression quite satisfied.

As expected of her, the effect was truly magnificent.

Chu Hao knew that Ji Fansheng excelled at stage design, but being able to handle special effects as well crossed the boundary into the absurd.

He stared at her for two seconds, unable to distinguish truth from falsehood in her words, and then probed tentatively,

"What about the characters on screen? Were those computer-generated?"

Ji Fansheng glanced at him with displeasure. "How could that be? I wrote them with my own hands."

Chu Hao turned his head away with a cold expression. This woman was toying with him again!

On the stage, the melody of *Lanting Xu* echoed through the auditorium, resembling a flowing landscape painting that carried everyone into a refined and otherworldly artistic conception.

When Lu Tianyu bowed to exit, thunderous applause erupted, lingering endlessly.

Qu Feiyang's *Dawn on the Spring Mountain* described scenery, utilizing the traditional lyrical phrasing of pop music.

Ji Fansheng's *Lanting Xu* expressed emotion through imagery, featuring versatile vocal delivery and a tight integration of pop and tradition that offered a refreshing experience.

Everyone present was a professional and could naturally distinguish the superior from the inferior.

This was the first time that the heavyweights of the music industry had been moved to applause by a newly created pop song written for a newcomer and performed by a star.

"Wonderful!

The lyrics, the composition, the performance, and the stage effects of this song are all top-tier. To deliver two stunning works back-to-back—

Old Fang, you have a great eye indeed, actually discovering such a fine sapling. The future of the Dragon Country's music scene is promising!"

The president of the Dragon Country Conservatory of Music applauded in admiration, turning to look back at Ji Fansheng's seat, his eyes filled with appreciation.

In the online livestream room, the barrage of comments surged like a tidal wave, almost completely submerging the screen.

[I said it! I said it! Deity Ji would never let us down!]

[This song was practically custom-made for Lu Tianyu! His voice matches the mood of the song so perfectly!]

[The stage effects are simply stunning! Ink-wash landscape scrolls, Hanfu accompaniment, calligraphy... What a genius idea, whose brainchild is this?!]

[Both of Deity Ji's songs are this incredible. It looks like traditional-style music might actually become the mainstream of pop music from now on.]

[Truly, the waves behind drive the waves ahead, and the former waves die on the beach. Qu Feiyang might want to consider handing the title of "Second Person in Mandopop" over to Deity Ji.]

[You people are exaggerating too much. *Lanting Xu* is quite breathtaking, but *Dawn on the Spring Mountain* is the one with true replay value, and most importantly, the vocalist is my male god Chen Yin.]

[Fair is fair, both songs are very good, but if we really have to compare them, *Lanting Xu* is indeed superior.]

[Master Qu is a veteran musician after all, with plenty of experience. Losing this time is no disgrace.]

[Look at what you're saying—as if Ji Fansheng doesn't need to accumulate experience? She produced work of this caliber on her very first time participating in an exchange conference, her future is boundless!]

[......]

The general public's perception was not as sharp as that of professionals. Most people felt that although *Dawn on the Spring Mountain* and *Lanting Xu* had different styles, they were both slow, emotional songs.

Everyone had different opinions and thoughts; some supported Qu Feiyang and Chen Yin, while others backed Ji Fansheng and Lu Tianyu.

The two factions argued endlessly.

Online, the debate over *Dawn on the Spring Mountain* and *Lanting Xu* intensified, and for a moment it was hard to tell which one had the upper hand.

In the VIP seating area, Lin Wan turned to look at Zhou Fangran beside her. "It seems Qu Feiyang has met his match this time."

Zhou Fangran picked up her teacup and took a gentle sip. "Then you are underestimating that sly fox Qu Feiyang."

Lin Wan froze slightly, looking somewhat uncomprehending.

"Could it be... he still has some hidden cards up his sleeve?"

Zhou Fangran did not answer, merely offering a meaningful smile. "Ji Fansheng is just a youngster after all; she's still too green."

On the other side, Qu Feiyang, who had been faintly overshadowed by Ji Fansheng, wore a somewhat gloomy expression.

Immediately afterward, he glanced not far away at Yuan Bingbing, who was currently making preparations, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Upon stepping off the stage, Lu Tianyu headed straight for the audience seats.

"How was it? Not bad, right?!" Lu Tianyu eagerly sought praise from Ji Fansheng.

Ji Fansheng cooperatively offered a round of applause.

Lu Tianyu was somewhat excited. "This time, you'll definitely win first place in popularity votes again. Just maintain a steady performance for the remaining two rounds—

Tsk tsk tsk... From now on, you'll be a genuine top-tier star in the music world!"

As a reigning top-tier star himself, what was there to rejoice about in witnessing the rise of a formidable competitor?

Watching Lu Tianyu acting like a fool, Chu Hao wanted nothing more than to chase him out.

Ji Fansheng didn't take Lu Tianyu's words to heart.

How could merely being a top-tier star in the music industry be enough? She wanted more than that.

She beckoned for Lu Tianyu to sit down, lazily leaning back against the seat as she looked toward the stage.

"It's not over yet. The good show is only just beginning."

?

Lu Tianyu looked over in confusion, only to see Yuan Bingbing already standing in the center of the stage.

"Hello, esteemed teachers. I am singer Yuan Bingbing, and I will be performing a piece by Master Qu Feiyang..."

Lu Tianyu and Chu Hao: ?!!