Chapter 229: Chapter 229 How Should I — Exist! Chapter 229: Chapter 229 How Should I — Exist! “Jiang Feng,” another mentor smiled and said, “I think we are all quite familiar with you by now. According to statistics, you’ve been on this stage sixty-four times before, and I am truly curious, what power has supported you to stand on this stage for ten, twenty, up to today’s sixty-fifth time?”
“Because… because I love it,” Jiang Feng’s hand holding the microphone gradually tightened, faintly showing bulging veins: “I love music! I’ve loved it since I was a child! Music is everything to me, I believe, music will not abandon me! It won’t!”
The whole audience fell silent.
After a brief silence, what greeted him were the cheers of the audience—
“Jiang Feng! Keep going! You are the best!” “I came just for you! Keep it up!”
The three mentors exchanged glances, and although the competition hadn’t started yet, Jiang Feng’s dedication to music had already deeply moved them—the sixty-fifth touching moment!
“Alright, I really admire your spirit,” the mentor nodded and said, “but you should also know, as much as I admire you, we won’t go easy on you. Actually, I am more curious about, what song do you plan to sing today? You know, those songs you chose before didn’t really suit your voice, they always sounded a bit… odd.”
“What I brought today,” Jiang Feng slowly said, “is a new song written especially for me by one of my teachers, the song’s name is… ‘Existence’!”
“Good,” the three mentors nodded together: “So please, Jiang Feng, bring us the song—’Existence’!”
As soon as his words ended, the intro began to play.
Jiang Feng took a deep breath and started to sing—
“How many people walk yet are trapped in place…”
As he began, the three mentors frowned, exchanged looks, and shook their heads, one mentor whispered, “He seems a bit nervous, sigh…” another said, “He’s lost his confidence…” and the third said, “Give him another chance, I’d like to hear this song, it seems quite nice. ”
“How many people live yet seem as if they are dead…”
In the resting room, Wei Yuanzhou burst into laughter, saying, “Hahaha, listen to how his voice is trembling, still nervous after sixty-five performances!”
Wang Hao chuckled, “Just watch, he’ll make your jaw drop!”
“How many people love yet feel as if parted, how many people smile yet tears are on drip…”
After this part ended, the accompaniment abruptly stopped, and Jiang Feng took a deep breath, then slowly closed his eyes!
“Who knows where we should go! Who understands what life has turned into!”
His voice began to rise and swirl higher and higher!
Suddenly, one of the mentors sat up sharply: “Hmm?” The others were also bright-eyed: “There’s improvement!”
“Whether to find an excuse to keep surviving or to spread wings and fly in anger, how should I exist!”
The entire venue was suddenly stunned!
Today, Jiang Feng’s performance had exceeded everyone’s expectations, and by this time, Jiang Feng had already started the latter part of his performance!
“How many times glory feels like humiliation…”
People come near me just because my family is wealthy, not because of the music…
“How many times ecstasy but extreme pain…”
Each laugh deepens the scars inside!
“How many times happiness yet the heart wrenches…”
Happy? Happiness! But why does my heart always hurt so much?
“How many times brilliance yet utterly dispirited…”
Looking at those past photos filled with radiant smiles, but still growing more dispirited…
Jiang Feng clenched the microphone in both hands, taking a deep breath!
If I fail again this time…
Brother Hao! Give me strength! God of music, please grant me the final strength! This is my backs-against-the-wall moment, the final battle of my music career!
Release all my emotions, let go of all my reluctance!
Back in the resting room, Wang Hao slapped his thigh hard: “Explode, kid!”
“Who knows where our dreams should return to! Who understands what dignity has become!”
Explode! Explode! Explode!
“Should I find a reason to just go with the flow, or bravely move forward and break free from the cage!”
“How should I exist!”
Jiang Feng seemed to catch fire, his pursuit of music, his fresh ideas about music, soaring to the skies!
The three judges below were completely stunned; they had never thought someone could convey such a tangible belief through music!
“Who knows where we should head, who understands what life has turned into!”
Music is my place to belong! Life, what the hell is it! Music! All I want is music!
“Should I find an excuse to barely live, or spread my wings, fly high, and hold onto anger!”
Why should I barely live?! I want to be angry! Angry! I want to spread my wings and fly!
Jiang Feng’s voice got higher and brighter! He had long shed his previous timidity and anxiety; now, he was music’s darling, soaring freely in the arms of the god of music!
“Who knows where our dreams should return to, who understands what dignity has become!”
“Should I find a reason to just go with the flow, or bravely move forward and break free from the cage!”
Continue! Can’t stop! Continue! I don’t want to just go with the flow, I want to break free from the cage that binds me! Erupt! Erupt!
“How should I exist!”
This is how I should exist!
This song ignited all of Jiang Feng’s passion, his confidence, and his belief in music, expressed entirely through this song!
Suddenly, there was no other sound in the entire stadium. Everyone just stared blankly at Jiang Feng on stage!
No one believed that he, who had previously failed sixty-four times, had finally transformed!
“How… how is this possible?” Wei Yuanzhou was flabbergasted, staring incredulously at the television screen!
The Jiang Feng who seemed worthless, like trash before, had transformed into a butterfly right before his eyes?!
“What’s impossible,” Wang Hao laughed heartily, proudly giving himself a thumbs-up, “because he hangs with Brother Hao!”
Su Hongye murmured, “You… you knew he would win?”
“Nonsense,” Wang Hao lit a cigarette, taking a light puff, “Isn’t that obvious? My little brother, how could he lose to a kid who treats music as a toy.”
Outside in the arena.
Clap! Clap! Clap clap! Clap clap clap clap!!!
Thunderous applause erupted like an earthquake, the entire audience stood up, offering the most enthusiastic applause to this young man who made music his life! The applause was thunderous; everyone was shouting just one name—
“Jiang Feng!” “Jiang Feng!” “Jiang Feng!” “Jiang Feng!” “Jiang Feng!” “Jiang Feng!”
The applause was deafening, the shouts earth-shattering!
And Jiang Feng, standing on the stage, was shaking and then, a figure rushed onto the stage like lightning to catch Jiang Feng who almost fell.
“Did you sing until you were out of breath?” Wang Hao, supporting Jiang Feng’s arm, laughed, “Stop talking nonsense, breathe first, you sang with too much force just now, haha.”
Tears smeared Jiang Feng’s face; he was even crying too much to see anything,
“Brother Hao! I… I did it, right,” Jiang Feng depended entirely on Wang Hao for support, sobbing heavily, “I’m not worthless, I made it, right?! Music hasn’t abandoned me! I can still sing, right?!”
“Yes!” Wang Hao patted Jiang Feng’s back vigorously and then helped him stand up, pointing to all the spectators, he shouted loudly, “Listen to that applause! Listen to those cheers from the audience! Who else could do it besides you?!”
“I made it, I made it! Hahaha!” Jiang Feng took big breaths and then turned around and hugged Wang Hao tightly, shouting loudly, “Brother Hao! I made it! Thank you, I made it! Hahahaha!”
“Hahaha! Of course!” Wang Hao hugged Jiang Feng tightly, saying, “That’s what you deserve, well done!”
“Spectacular! Truly spectacular!” The three judges stood up together, listening to the tidal wave of applause throughout the stadium, they exclaimed loudly, “Jiang Feng, congratulations! You’ve finally made it!” “Your song completely conquered us!” “Yes, the public’s eyes are clear! Listen to the cheers from the audience! That’s the best affirmation for you!”
Jiang Feng released Wang Hao, listening to the cheers from the audience, he bowed deeply and shouted loudly, “Thank you! Thank you all! Thank you!”
“And now,” the three judges announced loudly together, “we declare that Jiang Feng’s performance score is—”
“Ninety-eight points!”