Chapter Nineteen: This Isn't Even the Complete Version?

Songs truly have the power to make one forget their troubles.
That is the magic of music!
And the skill of the performer!
"Anhe Bridge" was not the pinnacle of Chen Fang's creativity.
In just a single week, Chen Fang composed a song that surpassed "Anhe Bridge" in quality.
Consider this:
For most musicians, a week is barely enough to gather inspiration.
Each legendary song requires years to progress from a spark of inspiration, through arrangement and lyric writing, to final refinement.
Yet Chen Fang needed only seven days.
It’s unbelievable!
Astounding!
"An Tinghan is no match for Chen Fang."
Judging solely by his debut, Chen Fang could easily outshine An Tinghan by miles.
This thought crossed the minds of all four judges, each struck by a chill of shock.
Backstage.
Cheng Jie was left dumbfounded.
His manager, Wang, wore an expression of utter dismay.
Everyone here was from the industry.
They understood exactly how exceptional Chen Fang’s song was.
"Impossible!"
Cheng Jie refused to accept the truth.
Wang could only sigh in resignation, "Cheng Jie, barring any surprises, we’ve lost."
His hunch was right!
The two of them had been set up by their company.
If only they’d known.
It would've been better to join the romance show!
At least Cheng Jie and An Tinghan could have stirred up some buzz—better than being roasted alive now.
Cheng Jie suddenly sprang to his feet, his handsome features dark and tense, teeth clenched in frustration. In that instant, he recalled what Chen Fang had said to him before going on stage.
Bang!
A loud crash.
Cheng Jie slammed his fist onto the table.
He had been crushed by a mere street performer…
His gamble had failed!
After tonight,
He would likely lose many followers on his social media, and his company would be deeply dissatisfied with him—this was what Cheng Jie feared most.
...
"Smile, for fame and success aren’t the goal,
Making yourself happy is the true meaning,
The paper airplanes of childhood
Finally fly back to my hands."
The lively rap brought smiles to everyone’s faces.
Happiness is the purpose!
Don’t let yourself get bogged down in unhappy matters.
The lyrics were simple.
No profound meaning.
But Chen Fang simply wanted to tell everyone, in the most direct way, that happiness matters most—like folding paper airplanes with unending delight as a child.

"The so-called happiness
Is chasing dragonflies barefoot in the fields until exhausted,
Sneaking fruit and getting stung by bees until you’re scared,
Who’s secretly laughing?
Leaning against a scarecrow, singing in the breeze, falling asleep."
Chen Fang set down his guitar and switched to pure rap.
Without his guitar, he joined the audience, waving his right hand along with them.
This song proved one thing to everyone:
Chen Fang wasn’t limited to melancholic folk songs, but could also sing joyful children’s tunes.
A singer with boundless potential is never defined or confined by a single musical style—it is he who leads the style, not adapts to it.
Summer, insect calls.
This song was perfect for a summer performance.
Chen Fang sang the essence of childhood.
Gradually,
The song drew to a gentle close.
Clad in casual denim amid the crowd’s gaze, Chen Fang shone brilliantly.
In this moment,
Everyone understood why Chen Fang dressed this way.
Suits and romance have nothing to do with childhood.
True childhood should be lighthearted, free, and imbued with an incomparable sense of ease—
Just like Chen Fang.
Singing with ease.
Dressed naturally.
"Don’t cry, let the fireflies carry you away,
The village folk songs are your eternal refuge,
Go home, return to the original beauty."
Having sung the last line, Chen Fang exhaled deeply, feeling lighter all over. He had practiced this song hundreds of times these days, but never felt bored.
Some songs become classics for good reason.
Go home!
Return to that place where you feel safe, singing the nursery rhymes of your youth.
That is the meaning of childhood.
This time,
The venue didn’t remain silent for long.
The essence of "Rice Fragrance" wasn’t to trap listeners in nostalgia, but to remind them of the joys of childhood.
To find childhood, one must act—not merely reminisce.
Instead of clinging to memories, return to your hometown, and you’ll always rediscover traces of your younger self in unexpected corners.
"Wonderful!"
Applause sounded from the judges’ table.
Chen Fang hadn’t expected the first to clap would be Cheng Wenjian.
At this moment,
Cheng Wenjian’s hands clapped loudly.
All four judges applauded, and the audience erupted in deafening cheers and applause, with Chen Fang’s name echoing throughout the hall.
The applause lasted for a long time.
Minutes passed before it gradually faded.
Cheng Wenjian gazed at Chen Fang on stage, filled with emotion, unsure what to say. After hesitating a few seconds, he spoke: "I apologize for what I said during the first round of auditions. Chen Fang, I shouldn’t have held prejudiced or dismissive views, nor should I have looked down on street performers."

"Your song—I’m not qualified to judge it."
"When you perform at the formal show, those judges will be worthy to evaluate your singing."
Cheng Wenjian raised the pass card.
Hai Kuo and Du Wenshan did likewise.
Confronted by Chen Fang, they felt guilty and ashamed.
If their prejudice had led to Chen Fang’s elimination in the first round, their guilt would have been enormous.
Only Guo Ping
Her comments were candid and fair.
"You blended hip-hop and folk in this song. What surprised me most was that the accompaniment wasn’t overly complex, and each instrument was used just right."
"But personally, I feel there are still some shortcomings."
At these words,
Everyone was stunned.
Was a second Ke Min about to appear?
"The song is excellent, but I think the arrangement lacks something."
"The arrangement isn’t quite complete."
"If you added more instruments, the effect would be even better."
Guo Ping looked at Chen Fang, totally serious.
The audience murmured.
"I think it’s already great."
"Is she nitpicking again?"
"One Ke Min left, and here’s another."
"Can’t the show pick stricter judges? There’s always someone trying to stand out!"
"I think Guo Ping is right—the song’s not that special anyway."
"Yeah, not as good as my idol."
"Ordinary, nothing special."
"Weren’t you the one beside me just now, totally enchanted, waving your glow stick? What happened, did someone possess you while listening?"
The venue erupted into debate.
Comments flooded the livestream.
Some agreed with Guo Ping, others thought she was the show’s second Ke Min.
On stage,
Chen Fang replied earnestly, "Teacher Guo Ping’s opinion is correct."
"When I composed this song, I actually included several instruments—harmonica, cajón, guitar, and so on—but due to the venue’s limitations, I only used guitar."
"The finished version of the song is even better."
Chen Fang wasn’t boasting.
How valuable is "Rice Fragrance"?
It could easily win a Golden Melody Award.
Still,
Chen Fang was surprised that Guo Ping could discern the arrangement’s shortcomings in "Rice Fragrance."
The audience was even more astounded.
It turned out,
Guo Ping wasn’t simply nitpicking.
The version of "Rice Fragrance" Chen Fang performed wasn’t complete.
If the unfinished version was already this captivating, what would happen when the full version is released? It would surely dominate the charts of every music platform.