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At 7:25 PM, the National Centre for the Performing Arts was aglow with dazzling lights.
As star guests continued entering the main hall, the audience seats were packed to capacity. Lu Chen and Chen Fei'er were seated in the fifth row, and, notably, next to each other.
To Lu Chen's left sat Chen Fei'er; on his right was Li Mubai, followed by Fanny and Lu Xi.
Lu Chen had received four nominations at the Asian Chinese Music Awards, and the organizing committee had granted him four invitation passes. Besides himself, he could bring three guests.
He gave one to his sister Lu Xi and the remaining two to Li Mubai.
With Li Mubai's family background, securing seats at such an event would've been no trouble at all, but coming as Lu Chen's guest carried a different kind of significance.
Li Mubai happily accepted this gesture, seizing the chance to invite Fanny to attend with him.
"Lu Chen, nice to meet you," Fanny greeted him proactively with a graceful and elegant demeanor.
Although she couldn't quite compare to Chen Fei'er, Fanny was undeniably a stunning woman, no wonder Li Mubai was head over heels.
Lu Chen smiled and nodded. "Nice to meet you."
He introduced Li Mubai and Fanny to Chen Fei'er. To his surprise, Fanny turned out to be a fan of Chen Fei'er. As they exchanged pleasantries, the Asian Chinese Music Awards ceremony officially began.
The opening performance was a magnificent large-scale dance routine. With years of experience producing major gala shows, CCTV had perfected the use of stage visuals, music, choreography, lighting, and effects, the artistry was masterful.
Once the opening act concluded, four hosts made their grand entrance.
All were household names. They first recapped the glorious history of the Asian Chinese Music Awards, followed by congratulatory speeches from leaders. In just ten minutes, the tone of the evening was set.
Then, famous CCTV host Xia Jun, with his signature booming voice, announced:
"Before we reveal the 21 major awards of this year's Asian Chinese Music Awards, we will first present a special honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Golden Melody Chart!"
He continued, "So, who is the recipient of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award, as selected by our judging panel?"
With a smile familiar to audiences across the country, Xia Jun added: "Let us welcome the renowned musician Fang Xinghai to unveil the winner!"
The hall immediately erupted in enthusiastic applause. Many guests were visibly surprised, most had no idea this award even existed.
Including this year, the Asian Chinese Music Awards had been held 15 times. The number of awards started at 17 and eventually increased to 21, but there had never been a Lifetime Achievement Award, until now.
This was the final edition of the Asian Chinese Music Awards, making this Lifetime Achievement honor the first and last of its kind.
Its significance, therefore, could not be overstated.
No one expected the ceremony to open with such a dramatic twist.
Amid the tide of applause, an elderly man with a full head of silver hair walked onto the stage and accepted an envelope from Xia Jun.
Fang Xinghai was a legendary figure in the Chinese music world. Known not only for his work in classical and traditional music, he also had deep insights into modern pop. In the 1990s, he even penned a few immensely popular songs.
Compared to him, everyone else in the audience was a junior.
Now over eighty years old, Fang Xinghai was still in great health, his spirit sharp and complexion glowing. He tore open the envelope, took out a card, and read into the microphone with a loud, clear voice:
"The recipient of the 16th Asian Chinese Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award is-- "
The entire hall fell into dead silence, as everyone held their breath.
"Tan Hong!"
Because this award was a last-minute addition, there had been no prior nomination list. Except for a very select few, no one knew who was even in the running, let alone who the final recipient would be.
So when Fang Xinghai announced the winner's name, there was a moment of stunned silence among the guests and audience members present. But then, like thunderclaps exploding in a clear sky, resounding applause erupted, spreading instantly throughout the entire hall.
Lu Chen was the first to rise to his feet, clapping hard, offering his most sincere congratulations to Tan Hong!
On Lu Chen's journey in music, Tan Hong had once provided him with enormous help and support, unconditionally.
Lu Chen had never forgotten this deep kindness. Sadly, he'd never had the opportunity to properly repay it.
Next to stand was Chen Fei'er, followed by a wave of other celebrities and artists.
Tan Hong, born in the 1970s, had been in the industry for 25 years. Over the course of his career, he released 17 studio albums, including the legendary 'Flying Pigeons', which sold over 5 million copies in 1999, marking one of the final glorious milestones in the golden age of record sales. His cumulative album sales rank him among the Top 3 best-selling solo artists in the history of Chinese pop music.
'Flying Pigeons', 'After the Rain', 'End of the World Prodigal Son', 'Remembering Our Time Together', 'Passion'... These timeless classics are still widely sung and loved to this day.
Beyond his musical talent, Tan Hong was also known for his impeccable character. Since his debut, he had almost never been embroiled in any scandals. He was widely regarded in the entertainment circle as a model husband and a devoted father.
Moreover, Tan Hong had always been passionate about mentoring newcomers. The number of aspiring singers he had supported and guided was too many to count. The most famous among them was Chen Fei'er, whose long-standing friendship with him had become one of the most beloved stories in the industry.
Just like how he once helped Lu Chen, Tan Hong never asked for anything in return. His generosity earned him deep friendships across the entertainment world.
When it comes to seniority and accomplishments, there may be others who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Tan Hong. But in terms of character and respect among peers, he was the undisputed choice for the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The applause rolled like waves, growing louder and more emotional. Tan Hong rose from his seat and bowed graciously to those in front, behind, and beside him, then began walking toward the stage.
He didn't immediately accept the shimmering Golden Lark Trophy from Fang Xinghai. Instead, standing two steps away, he bowed deeply toward his former mentor.
Fang Xinghai had once been Tan Hong's teacher. The organizing committee's choice of him as the award presenter was no coincidence.
Fang Xinghai stepped forward and gently helped Tan Hong to his feet, placing the trophy into his hands, his face beaming with pride and warmth.
Holding the Golden Lark in his hands, Tan Hong stood before the microphone.
His eyes shimmered with unshed tears. This man in his forties let his true emotions show as he said:
"Thank you. Thank you to my mentor, Fang Xinghai. Thank you to CCTV and CRI. Thank you to the Golden Melody Awards jury panel. Thank you to everyone, thank you all!"
He bowed deeply once more.
The entire audience, all 5,000 people, rose to their feet in unison, delivering a standing ovation.
At that moment, many people felt a quiet certainty in their hearts: Tan Hong was saying goodbye.
This titan of the music world had chosen to step away, leaving behind the stage that had once brought him immeasurable glory, without hesitation, without regret.
And with that, the era that belonged to Tan Hong… had truly come to an end.
(End of Chapter)