Chapter 172: Knowing a Face Does Not Mean Knowing a Heart

Su Chen took the lyrics, folded the remaining ones back up, and tucked them into his coat pocket.

At that very moment, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the gazes of everyone in the entire hall focused on Su Chen's pocket.

Especially those working in the music industry!

If these songs possessed the same quality as "Blue and White Porcelain," then this stack of paper was no ordinary stack of paper.

They might as well be deeds to properties within the Third Ring Road of the Imperial Capital!

Of course, plain paper wouldn't be nearly that valuable, but those A4 sheets recorded hit songs written by Su Chen that were destined to explode in popularity!

Thank goodness this was a society governed by law; otherwise, the moment Su Chen walked out of this broadcasting studio, someone would likely throw a burlap sack over his head and shove him into a large golden van.

The subsequent plot would involve robbing him of his lyrics, stuffing Su Chen into the sack, and sinking him into the river!

Or perhaps locking him in a dark room as a human banknote printer, writing lyrics day and night...

Su Chen could never have imagined that in just this brief moment, he had taken a stroll right past the Bridge of Helplessness.

Right then and there, Su Chen had already walked back to the shadows of the stage, distributing the densely written sheets of paper to the band members.

The band members looked at the sheet music in their hands, feeling both thrilled and excited.

Whenever they performed Su Chen's songs, they always felt it was an enjoyment that emanated from within, a supreme comfort for both body and mind!

The band members never expected to experience such bliss twice in the very same episode. Wouldn't they be soaring high on cloud nine?!

Moreover, witnessing the birth of songs of this caliber and claiming the first kill on such tracks was a matter of great honor for them.

Not to mention, they deeply agreed with Su Chen's earlier statement. The line "Chinese style is the absolute coolest" set the blood of these veteran musicians, long past their youth, boiling with passion!

With these three factors combined, the hands holding the sheet music even began to tremble involuntarily.

Seeing Su Chen walk back to the microphone stand in the middle of the stage, closing his eyes as he waited, the band members hurried to study the hand-written music on the papers.

Aside from excitement and thrill, these older men still harbored some concerns.

After all, this song was different from all the previous ones; it incorporated traditional operatic vocal techniques—the *x腔* style.

Operatic vocals... could this young man named Su Chen really pull off traditional operatic singing?

He had to... he just had to nail it!

Only by doing so could they fiercely slap those worshipers of foreign cultures right across the face, and only by doing so could domestic musicians realize a profound truth:

Chinese style is the absolute coolest!!!

Meanwhile, sitting in the mentor's seat, Cai Xukun curled the corner of his lips, revealing a sneering smile.

Operatic vocals? Traditional opera? What the hell does a young man know about that!

Even if Su Chen truly understood it and could write this kind of ancient-style song, operatic vocals were such a niche genre that Cai Xukun simply refused to believe Su Chen could actually sing them!

Besides, the market had already proven that such ancient-style songs were absolute failures—a category of music abandoned by the market!

How good could such ancient-style songs possibly sound when written and sung?

Thinking this, Cai Xukun's smile grew even wider.

However, he failed to notice that the other three individuals sitting alongside him on the mentor's panel had already completely changed the way they looked at him.

Sometimes, transitioning from goodwill to looking at a complete fool takes only a single second.

Yan Mi, who had been watching Cai Xukun, gritted her teeth fiercely. Damn it, why on earth had she thought this chicken was a good person just now?

Dammit, she still needed more practice; you can know a person's face, but not their heart!

Yan Mi sighed, having no choice but to pin all her hopes on Su Chen standing on the stage.

You can do it!

At the same time, the band in the shadows finally struck up the prelude.

As the prelude began, some audience members with a strong musical background froze in surprise, because they discovered that the prelude to this song was entirely different from "Blue and White Porcelain."

The prelude of this song chose the *guqin* as its primary instrument, and its unique timbre made the entire intro feel both classical and mysterious.

The gentle tone of the strings combined with the lingering echo of the instrument gave a sense of profound antiquity, making one feel as if they were placed right inside an ancient traditional Chinese setting.

This prelude alone filled everyone with immense anticipation for the song!

"Mocking whoever relies on beauty to flaunt their power, how can a heartless soul match up?"

"The crisp sound of disk bells, a faint, dim light amid the curtains."

"You and I, the most natural match made in heaven."

"Only without you can it be called an original sin, only without a heart can we truly match."

"You in tattered rags, I in colorful paint, walking shoulder to shoulder across mountains and waters."

"You look haggard, I bloom in radiance for your sake."

......

In his past life, this song was actually performed by a female vocalist, so when Su Chen was arranging the score just now, he made slight modifications to make it better suited for a male vocal range and tone.

History proved that this modification was the icing on the cake; it made Su Chen sound like a young nobleman from ancient times, gently recounting a tale and pouring out mutual affections.

Everyone was moved by this deep, resonant voice, as if standing amidst a traditional Chinese landscape painting, watching Su Chen interpret this poignant legend.

"It was your kiss upon the brush and ink that stained the pearl tears at the corner of my eye."

"Acting out parting and reunion, encounters of sorrow and joy—for whom?"

"They wander in circles and misunderstand, yet I submit only to your command."

"Ask the mortal world where else perfection can be found."

......

The story progressed layer by layer within Su Chen's voice, and everyone realized that the chorus of the song was coming up next.

And the operatic vocal element that had yet to appear would likely make its debut right here!

Filled with the highest expectations, everyone waited to see how this song would execute the operatic vocal style that had long been criticized by the market!

"An orchid finger twists the floating world like water."

"A three-foot red stage, all affairs turned into song and flute."

"Singing of long partings where sorrow is too deep for tears, ultimate crimson turning entirely to ashes."

"May someone remember someone, during the finest years."

......

At this moment, the entire venue erupted in an uproar!!!

The moment the operatic vocals chimed in, everyone broke out in goosebumps all over their bodies!!!

Through Su Chen's operatic vocals—indistinguishable between male and female—the song was elevated to a whole new level!

It wasn't that operatic vocals didn't sound good; it was simply that there hadn't been any good songs featuring operatic vocals!

But today was different from the past—such a song had finally appeared!!!

For a moment, everyone even forgot how to praise, how to cheer!

They could only roar like primordial beasts, using their shouts to express the overwhelming agitation within their hearts!

Yet, amidst the bustling and chaotic world, Su Chen remained as though he were in another dimension, singing quietly.

"With every pull of yours, my dance is like flight; with every lead of yours, I understand advance and retreat."

"Following through bitterness and joy alike, every gesture and movement in perfect harmony."

"Turning humility into absolute tenderness."

"You make mistakes, I refuse to be right; you are bewildered, I share your ignorance."

"How could the fire in my heart ever be content to be quenched by boiling water?"

"You wither, I have never faded; you grow weary, I dare not tire."

"What can I use to warm you for a thousand years?"

......

Following a verse came the chorus once more.

Though the audience had yet to hear the singing, their bodies instinctively broke out in goosebumps again.

And when the operatic vocals soared once more, a tingling, numb sensation rushed straight from the soles of their feet up to their scalps!

Truly... it sounds too damn good!!!

"Wind and snow faintly dust the tips of autumn-white hair."

"Lamplight flickers dim and lush, ruffling the edges of your eyebrows."

"Should you spare a single teardrop, should I be able to accompany you as we age."

"Turning to ashes amidst the misty waves, the departure would still be perfection."

"Wind and snow faintly dust the tips of autumn-white hair."

"Lamplight flickers dim and lush, ruffling the edges of your eyebrows."

"Should you spare a single teardrop, should I be able to accompany you as we age."

"Turning to ashes amidst the misty waves, the departure would still be perfection."