Chapter 146 The Show is Over

Following the intensive training in vocal and dance skills over this period, Chen Zhe had achieved tremendous progress in both areas. His control over his breath was also exceptional, ensuring his performance remained remarkably steady throughout the entire stage.

"Melody oh Melody, I can never forget, how beautiful you are, keeping this music playing continuously."

"Melody oh Melody, I cannot bear to forget, our happy past, please do not let me wake from this dream."

"Melody, the melody in my mind is so familiar, loving you, I beg you to listen to me finish singing this passage, please do not leave."

On the third verse with its semi-rapped variation, Chen Zhe delivered his finest performance. Every single word fell like drumbeats, striking rhythmically into the deepest corners of everyone present.

It sent ripples across the lake of their hearts, as if performing a love story exclusive to each of them right before their eyes. The narrative told by the song resonated deeply with them.

"Melody, the melody in my mind is so familiar, loving you, I beg you to listen to me finish singing this passage, please do not leave."

"Melody, you are the melody that plays endlessly in my mind, having loved you, my heart can only sigh in silence."

"Melody, countless moving notes within my life, having loved you, I only learned to cherish you after losing you."

As the third verse concluded, the musical tempo slowly grew soothing. Accompanied by the gradually softening melody, Chen Zhe gently closed his eyes and sang the final stanza, as if all sorrow and sadness were fading away.

Once Chen Zhe finished his performance, the originally somewhat noisy venue fell into absolute silence, as though a pause button had been pressed. Everyone seemed to have drifted into their own worlds.

"Chen Zhe! Melody! Fighting!"

Just as Chen Zhe himself was still immersed in the poetic mood of the song, Park Chorong, who had been watching from below the stage, reacted the fastest. Looking at the quiet venue, she bit her lip.

After a brief moment of thought, using her unique, soft, baby-like voice, she raised her volume and called out Chen Zhe's name, the song title, and words of encouragement, shattering the silent atmosphere of the venue.

Seemingly startled by that earnest, baby-toned shout, the surrounding crowd snapped back to their senses. Led by Eun Ji-won and Kim Hee-chul, the artists who had come to support Chen Zhe also began to cheer in unison.

At that moment, the broadcasting station's cameraman very cooperatively shifted the lens toward them. Consequently, viewers in front of their televisions could witness the iconic scene of veteran Eun Ji-won, the Super Junior members, and Girls' Generation shouting Chen Zhe's name to support him.

Hearing the calls of his own name and the song title echoing through the air, Chen Zhe slowly opened his closed eyes. The very instant his eyes fluttered open, a roar of cheers resembling a tidal wave erupted directly around him.

Looking at the people in the venue cheering, applauding, and excitingly celebrating his performance, the corners of Chen Zhe's lips could not help but curl upward, tracing a smile. This expression was perfectly captured by the camera.

After taking a deep bow to the fans below the stage, Chen Zhe slowly retreated from the stage. As he walked down the corridor leading to the waiting room, he could still hear the roaring cheers of the audience.

Upon arriving at the waiting room, Chen Zhe felt something was slightly amiss. Why did the waiting room feel somewhat quiet? He wondered if Ji-won-hyung and Hee-chul-hyung had not returned from the stage area yet.

Without dwelling on it, Chen Zhe shoved the door of the waiting room wide open. The moment the door swung open, several loud popping sounds of party poppers burst forth.

Before Chen Zhe could even react, with colorful ribbons and sequins hanging from his head and clothes, he was grabbed by the arms by two large pairs of hands in a dazed state and pulled forcefully into the waiting room.

"Congratulations! Ah-zhe, your debut stage performance was a massive success!"

Standing right in the center of the crowd, listening to their applause and congratulatory cheers, the corners of Chen Zhe's mouth split open wider and wider, wearing a somewhat silly grin.

"Alright, stop standing there with that silly smile. Get ready first. If you win first place, you'll have to go back up for an encore stage."

Seeing Chen Zhe's goofy smile, Seohyun—who, aside from Park Chorong, possessed the strongest big-sister aura among the group—walked up to him. She removed the ribbons and sequins from his head and brushed them off his clothes, acting entirely like a caring older sister.

"Indeed, I think with Ah-zhe's performance level and the quality of this song, winning first place shouldn't be a problem at all!"

Watching Seohyun earnestly tidy up Chen Zhe's appearance, Kim Hee-chul also walked up with a grin, lightly tapping Chen Zhe on the shoulder as he spoke with a smile.

"As for first place, I think it'll still be quite difficult for me. Senior PSY's 'Gangnam Style' is no joke; its addictiveness is just too strong!"

Mentioning the prospect of first place, the silly smile on Chen Zhe's face收敛 (faded), and his expression instantly turned serious and earnest.

Having come from the future, Chen Zhe naturally could not be unaware of PSY's "Gangnam Style." The global craze and popularity of this song during 2012 and 2013 went without saying.

One only needed to look at the achievements it racked up. At around 15:50 UTC on December 21, 2012, "Gangnam Style" became the first video in internet history to surpass 1 billion views.

In September 2012, the music video also broke the Guinness World Record, becoming the most "liked" video in YouTube history.

On January 6, 2022, "Gangnam Style" surpassed the milestone of 4.3 billion views on YouTube.

……………………

Therefore, when facing PSY and his "Gangnam Style," even with the popularity and buzz Chen Zhe had accumulated in advance, his confidence was not very high.

"Senior PSY's 'Gangnam Style' is indeed fiercely addictive, but Ah-zhe, your 'Melody' is also exceptionally good. Why are you lacking confidence like this!"

Seeing Chen Zhe's worried expression, Im Yoon-ah trotted right over and delivered a fierce slap to his shoulder—with enough force that it actually made Chen Zhe stagger.

When Chen Zhe turned his head to glare at her in anger, she patted her own rather flat and unassuming chest, offered Chen Zhe a cheeky grin, and began showering him with words of encouragement.

"Indeed, Ah-zhe, have a little confidence in yourself. Don't wear such a worried look, or you'll end up squeezing wrinkles onto your face!"

Following Im Yoon-ah's encouragement, Krystal Jung also walked up gracefully and familiarly adjusted his collar, speaking in a slightly playful tone.

"Besides, I don't like a boyfriend without confidence, nor do I like a boyfriend with a face full of wrinkles!"

Finally, right in front of everyone, Krystal gave Chen Zhe a big hug, lowered her voice intentionally right beside his ear, and whispered another sentence.

Seeing Krystal embrace Chen Zhe so naturally and intimately, Oh Ha-young—who had originally prepared to step forward and offer Chen Zhe some comfort—stood frozen in place as if she had been petrified.