Volume One, Chapter 118: The Final Prize Winner

As soon as the result was announced, everyone in the audience was stunned. How could this particular song win the "Song of the Year" award?

As the music began to play,

"Look at this bowl, so big and round..."

A bald male singer dressed in a blue suit stood up excitedly. After shaking hands with those around him, he eagerly made his way onto the stage.

The music seemed to have stirred people awake—scattered applause came from different corners of the venue, gradually swelling into a full-room ovation.

Meanwhile, the live broadcast’s comment section erupted into chaos.

“What nonsense is this? Both Zhou Gewang and Jiang Yu ended up as runners-up?”

“I’ve racked my brain and still can’t understand how two such beautiful songs lost to a bowl of noodles!”

“This has to be rigged. The streaming numbers on the music platforms are worlds apart, yet this song wins? Ridiculous!”

Then suddenly, the comments shifted.

“Every one of you has always been there. We stand with you, Wu Hanhang!”

...

To be honest, this award heavily depends on streaming numbers, usually dominated by the top three on the music charts.

By the rules, there’s nothing wrong with it, but compared to the other two songs, it was like comparing heaven and earth.

Without the massive fan vote manipulation, it’s questionable whether this song could have even made third place.

By contrast, "The Road Where the Phoenix Flowers Bloom," which perfectly captures the bittersweet emotions of graduating classmates, has been validated by countless professionals and even chosen as the anthem for Jiangxia Film and Television University.

Zhou Gewang’s song is also a masterpiece among masterpieces. At worst, it’s still better than a bowl of noodles.

Which song deserved the award more is obvious.

Onstage, Wu Hanhang was beaming as she gave her acceptance speech.

Down below, Zhou Gewang turned his head and glanced at Jiang Yu with a bitter smile. “Never thought we’d both be just runners-up.”

Jiang Yu smiled faintly. “Don’t take it too hard. There’s still a chance.”

At that moment, the camera deliberately zoomed in on Jiang Yu and Zhou Gewang, capturing their conversation and expressions in full view.

Though Zhou Gewang smiled, it was clearly a forced smile.

Jiang Yu, on the other hand, looked relaxed and unaffected.

Nearby, Yang Weiwei and Su Muyu wore looks of displeasure.

Next came another important category: Best Male/Female Singer.

Jiang Yu, Zhou Gewang, and several veteran contenders were all nominated.

This time, Zhou Gewang finally won the Best Male Singer award.

“Congrats, Brother Zhou,” someone said.

Zhou Gewang’s expression brightened somewhat. “Just scraped one in.”

“I want one too,” Zhou Muren joked as he walked onto the stage.

The Best Female Singer award went to a woman named Xiao Ya.

She seemed to treasure the award deeply, shedding tears multiple times while delivering her acceptance speech.

Yang Weiwei explained that Xiao Ya was a peer singer, nearly forty years old now, who had been nominated many times but never clinched this award.

Winning it meant a significant rise in her industry status and solidified her position as a diva.

That’s why she was so emotional.

Finally, the earlier awards were all handed out.

The last and biggest award was up next.

The Chinese Golden Melody Award.

Everyone held their breath.

This is the highest honor in the Chinese music scene. Winning it cements one’s status as a musical king.

The large screen behind the host slowly displayed the nominated songs and their performers:

Zhou Muren: "Only You"

Luo Wei: "Summer on the Peninsula"

Li Yanqiu: "Wounded Heart"

Xu Kun: "hughug"

And...

Jiang Yu: "Displaced Time and Space"

Jiang Yu was nominated again!

Since the ceremony began, Jiang Yu had been nominated for countless works but had never stood on the winner’s podium.

Could this final grand prize be his?

Fans began discussing excitedly.

“This time it’s definitely our Yu Ge’s turn. The first three are great, but compared to ‘Displaced Time and Space,’ they’re nowhere close!”

“Why didn’t you mention ‘hughug’?”

“Are you kidding? That’s a purely English song! This is the Chinese Golden Melody Award, not a foreign language award! Honestly, it’s a scandal that it was even nominated.”

“Ha! Exactly. I can’t believe the judges are either blind or deaf to nominate an English song.”

“This is definitely Jiang Yu’s. Didn’t expect he’d win this award. He’s got kingly talent!”

“I was cursing earlier because Jiang Yu hadn’t won anything, but turns out he was hiding a big one. Haha!”

“Wow, Jiang Yu debuted only five months ago and is already winning this? That’s incredible!”

“My husband is so handsome, my husband is amazing!”

...

As the ceremony’s grandest award, the presenter’s presence was naturally weighty.

Wang Xianjun, chairman of the Chinese Music Association.

Who else but him was fit to present the final grand prize?

An elderly man with silver hair slowly ascended the stage. Before stepping up, he gave Jiang Yu a thumbs-up.

Jiang Yu smiled and responded with a cheerful “Yeah!”

Wang Xianjun took the stage, and a hostess brought over a tray holding the winner’s card.

Wang Xianjun had listened carefully to Jiang Yu’s "Displaced Time and Space" and even reviewed it with him after Jiang Yu composed it.

It was a song that had been performed at the National Day Gala.

Its lyrics cleverly used the motif of crossing time and space to converse with past heroes—a true masterpiece.

Everyone present believed Jiang Yu’s song was the inevitable winner of this grand prize.

The live comments were flooded with Jiang Yu’s name, filling the entire screen.

Other presenters often teased with suspenseful remarks, but as chairman, Wang Xianjun said nothing.

He simply picked up the exquisitely packaged card and tore open the seal.

But when he read the winner’s name, his previously smiling face darkened instantly.

Everyone noticed the sudden change in his expression.

What had happened?

Could it be that Jiang Yu hadn’t won?

The other songs were good, but none matched "Displaced Time and Space."

So who, then, had won this award?

At that moment, Wang Xianjun stared at the card’s name. How he wished he could change it on the spot! But he couldn’t. More than anything, he hoped someone else had been chosen to present this award.

With a sigh, he slowly pronounced the words.

“The winner of the Chinese Golden Melody Award is—”

“Xu Kun for ‘hughug.’”