In the heart of Capital City, street performers are a common sight.
They come from all corners of the country, chasing dreams of stardom in this vast metropolis. With talent in their hearts and ambition in their eyes, they hope to carve out a place in the spotlight, standing on a stage where millions will applaud them.
But for the vast majority— ninety-nine percent, to be exact— these dreams remain just that: dreams. The harsh realities of city life grind them down, their aspirations gradually eroded until survival becomes their only goal.
Many of these performers, unable to find a way forward, drift onto the streets, singing in public squares, underpasses, and busy sidewalks.
On the one hand, they sing to scrape together enough money to get by. On the other, they hold onto the faint hope that a talent scout might take notice.
After all, the entertainment industry has seen its fair share of success stories—street performers who made it big, turning their passion into stardom.
Among them, there are those who truly have talent.
But sometimes, talent isn't enough. Sometimes, luck just isn't on their side.
The young man strumming a guitar and singing 'The Brightest Star in the Night Sky' on the pedestrian street is no exception. He looks to be in his early twenties, with a lean frame, average height, and an unremarkable but youthful face.
His setup is standard for street performers: a guitar, a microphone, a portable speaker, and an open guitar case on the ground for tips.
Unfortunately, while his guitar skills are decent and his pitch is on point, his voice lacks the depth and emotion needed to captivate an audience.
The result? His performance fails to draw attention. Pedestrians walk past without pausing, and no one drops any money into his case.
In a city like this, where street performers are everywhere, people have grown indifferent. Without something special to set him apart, most won't even spare a glance, let alone their spare change.
Yet, despite the lack of recognition, the young singer doesn't falter. He keeps singing, standing tall, his persistence unwavering.
Watching him, Lu Chen suddenly finds himself lost in thought, memories of his own struggles flooding back.
Had it not been for his dream, he might still be waiting tables at Daylily Bar, moonlighting as a part-time singer, drowning in debt with no future in sight.
As he watches the struggling performer, Chen Fei'er watches him in turn, a playful glint in her eyes.
The pop diva chuckles and says, "He's butchering your song. You should go over and teach him a thing or two!"
Lu Chen is caught off guard. "Wouldn't that be a little inappropriate?"
Chen Fei'er smirks. "Why? You'd actually be doing him a favor. If he doesn't get better, he won't make any money. He probably had to pay for this spot, you know."
Unlike in smaller cities, busking in Capital City isn't as simple as picking a spot and setting up shop. Performers need to apply for permits from city authorities, and even after securing a license, they must pay fees for specific locations.
Some spots are free. Others? Quite expensive.
In a high-footfall area like this, renting a spot is both competitive and costly. If a performer can't earn back their rent, they might genuinely go hungry.
Chen Fei'er tilts her head and teases, "Just think of it as a live performance for me. Sing it for me!"
Lu Chen hesitates for a moment but eventually stands up and walks toward the young street singer.
Since this performer chose his song, he must like it. In a way, that makes him a fan.
And if that's the case, helping him out might not be a bad idea.
Lu Chen waits for him to finish a verse before stepping forward with a friendly smile. "Hey, mind if I join you for this song?"
The young singer freezes.
He hadn't paid much attention earlier, but now that he's looking directly at Lu Chen, he suddenly realizes—
"You…"
His eyes widen in shock. He recognizes Lu Chen instantly.
Before he can blurt out his name, Lu Chen grins and asks, "So, what do you think? Is it okay?"
"Y-Yes! Of course!"
The young singer's face flushes with excitement. He nods so fast he nearly loses his balance. "I mean— yes! No problem at all!"
He never expected that his cover of a hit song would draw the attention of the original artist.
Lu Chen! Of all people!
What are the odds?
The young man stammers, "I-I'm Guo Han. Guo, as in 'Dongguo'."
Lu Chen chuckles and extends a hand. "Nice to meet you. I'm Lu Chen."
Then, he picks up the microphone.
Their conversation, broadcast through the microphone and speaker, quickly drew the attention of passersby, curiosity sparking in their eyes.
Guo Han took a deep breath, steadied himself, and then strummed the opening chords.
Lu Chen nodded slightly to the rhythm before parting his lips to sing.
"The brightest star in the night sky, do you remember the figure who once walked beside me, vanishing into the wind?"
His clear, soulful voice resonated through the bustling pedestrian street, effortlessly reaching the ears of those around.
"The brightest star in the night sky, do you remember the figure who once walked beside me, vanishing into the wind?"
"I pray for a heart that remains pure and eyes that still know how to weep."
"Grant me the courage to believe again, oh, to embrace you beyond the lies!"
"Whenever I lose sight of my purpose, whenever I drift alone in the night, oh~ the brightest star in the night sky."
"Please, guide me closer to you~"
As Lu Chen sang, people sitting on nearby benches looked up, their attention drawn to the performance. A few young women exchanged surprised glances, as if they had just stumbled upon something remarkable.
More and more pedestrians slowed their steps, drawn in by the familiar melody. Some stopped outright, their gazes locked on Lu Chen and Guo Han.
Curiosity. Amazement. A sense of disbelief.
Others, hearing the song from a distance, hurried over to see what was happening, forming a small crowd.
"He sounds exactly like the original."
"What do you mean 'like the original'? Don't you recognize him? That's Lu Chen— the original singer and songwriter!"
"Wait, seriously? Are you sure?"
"Of course! I saw him on 'Singing China'. He won the whole competition!"
"Wow, he's even more handsome in person— and his voice is incredible!"
Among the growing crowd, a group of young women exchanged excited whispers. Unlike fans in other cities, Capital City residents were known for their composure. Even as they murmured among themselves, they maintained a respectful distance, speaking in hushed tones.
Many fans discreetly took out their phones to record the moment. Those in the front crouched down to avoid blocking others, ensuring everyone had a clear view of the impromptu performance.
The crowd continued to swell.
Lu Chen hadn't expected this level of attention.
Having only debuted recently, he still wasn't accustomed to the life of a public figure. He had gone out without sunglasses or a mask, assuming he could blend in. He never imagined he would be recognized so quickly.
But he had underestimated the power of his own music. 'Singing China' had garnered massive viewership, and his newly released album 'My Old Classmate' had already cemented his place in the industry.
This song, which was both the title track of his album and his winning piece from the competition, had become widely known through online platforms and radio stations. As soon as he began singing, his distinctive voice naturally drew attention.
Luckily, the audience remained well-mannered, allowing him to perform without disturbance.
From the corner of his eye, Lu Chen spotted Chen Fei'er standing among the spectators. She wore a knowing smile— the kind of look a fox might have after swiping a hen from the coop.
Clearly, she was enjoying the show.
"The brightest star in the night sky, can you hear the loneliness and longing in the hearts of those who look up to you?"
He sang the final lines with warmth and sincerity, his voice lingering in the air before fading into silence.
Then, with a slight bow, Lu Chen stepped back, showing his gratitude to the audience.
Wow—
A round of enthusiastic applause erupted instantly.
Lu Chen smiled and said, "Thank you all for your support."
Some quick-thinking individuals immediately reached for their wallets, dropping cash into the open guitar case on the ground.
Others quickly followed suit, and what was once a near-empty guitar case, holding just a few coins, soon filled with a layer of crisp paper bills.
Guo Han's face turned bright red with excitement, his mouth opening and closing as if struggling to find words.
A bold young woman stepped forward and asked, "Lu Chen, can I take a picture with you?"
Being asked for a photo by a fan was still a new experience for Lu Chen.
He smiled and nodded. "Of course."
"Ah!" The girl let out a delighted squeal and rushed over, wrapping herself around Lu Chen's arm and tilting her head against his shoulder.
Her movements were swift and practiced, as if she had done this many times before.
Her friend quickly snapped several photos with her phone.
Once the first girl got her picture, others followed. Some wanted selfies, while others asked for autographs.
Interestingly, Lu Chen's fans were overwhelmingly female.
There were a few guys in the crowd, but they mostly held back, watching from a distance. They clearly weren't as eager to take selfies with him.
After all, Lu Chen was still just a rising artist— famous, yes, but not yet a household name.
In a city as culturally rich and entertainment-savvy as Capital City, his presence alone wasn't enough to cause a massive commotion.
Now, if it were Chen Fei'er standing here, that would be a completely different story!
After fulfilling the last of the fans' requests, Lu Chen finally managed to extract himself from the crowd.
He turned to Guo Han and encouraged, "Keep it up. Work hard!"
Guo Han nodded so hard it looked like his head might fall off. He finally managed to squeeze out a heartfelt, "Thank you!"
Lu Chen simply smiled, patted Guo Han's shoulder, and then walked toward the shopping mall ahead.
A moment later, Chen Fei'er caught up and fell into step beside him.
The pop diva flashed a knowing smile. "How does it feel?"
Lu Chen thought for a moment before replying honestly, "Not bad."
Being admired and appreciated—it was a great feeling. A really great feeling.
Chen Fei'er sighed. "But as time goes on and it happens more and more often, you might start to feel overwhelmed. It could even become exhausting."
She glanced at him before adding with a teasing smile, "And yet, when that day comes, if someone asked you to give it all up, you probably wouldn't be able to."
Lu Chen turned to her. "So what do you suggest?"
Chen Fei'er's smile widened. "Simple. Enjoy it while you can. Live in the moment, young man!"
Lu Chen had nothing to say to that.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Chen Fei'er suddenly declared, "I want a drink. A beer. A big glass!"
Lu Chen blinked in surprise. "Sister Fei, are you sure? Didn't you just have spicy food? Drinking isn't great for your throat…"
Chen Fei'er's voice was considered a national treasure in the entertainment industry—her golden vocal cords were worth millions!
But she cut him off with an exasperated glare. "Just say whether you're joining me or not!"
Lu Chen paused, then said seriously, "Nope."
——
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 30 chapters on my patreon and I've also activated (date to date) subscription model on my patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395