The Asian Chinese Music Awards ceremony, organized by CCTV, has long been a major event in China's pop music industry. With live broadcasts across two satellite channels and a star-studded guest list, the ratings are naturally sky-high.
For Lu Chen's fans, his four nominations were without question the best reason to tune in via TV or online livestream.
Earlier that year, the "Chinese Music Chart Awards" hosted by Xiangnan TV had left fans disappointed and angry, so expectations were running high for the more authoritative and respected Golden Melody Awards.
With four nominations, surely he'd walk away with at least one?
And the results didn't disappoint, he won the first award announced, which also happened to be the one with the highest confidence behind it: Best Newcomer Award, awarded to Lu Chen!
The internet exploded in celebration!
Especially in Lu Chen's livestream room on Whale TV, a platform that had long been the stronghold of the "Lu Family Army", his most loyal fanbase. This community had always been his firmest support, playing an irreplaceable role in building his popularity and fan engagement.
Due to copyright restrictions, Whale TV's official channel couldn't promote the award ceremony directly, but news of Lu Chen's nominations had already been posted well in advance. So when his fan room began rebroadcasting the awards show, viewership hit a record high once again.
"Oh yeah! Best Newcomer Award!"
"Lu Chen da-da is unstoppable!"
"Hehe, totally expected. Who else but our Lu Chen deserves this award?"
"Hahaha, I even made a bet with someone that Lu Chen would take home two awards, one down!"
"Best Newcomer and Best Composer, both are in the bag!"
"Don't take Best Composer too lightly. That one really requires seniority. I think it's out of reach."
"Ugh, here we go again with the 'seniority' talk, I hate that kind of gatekeeping!"
"We believe in Lu Chen da-da. Best Newcomer is just the start. There's bigger to come!"
"Long live! He's finally won something!"
With so many viewers online, even the livestream began to lag slightly. As for on-screen comments and virtual gifts, they were flooding in nonstop, without setting filters to block visual effects, the screen would've been utter chaos.
On blogs and forums, posts celebrating Lu Chen's first major newcomer award were popping up in countless numbers.
"CCTV is just more reliable after all. Lu Chen should've won this ages ago."
"As for Xiangnan TV and their BS, hehe, how's that slap in the face feel now?"
"They probably don't even care. Xiangnan TV's face is thicker than a city wall. Not even iron fists could break through."
"Finally, I feel at peace. That last snub left me so frustrated… ugh, don't even wanna talk about it."
"Hardships overcome, justice served!"
"Congrats."
At the National Centre for the Performing Arts, on the magnificent, dazzling main stage, Lu Chen received his award trophy from Chen Fei'er.
The Asian Chinese Music Awards trophy is in the shape of a lifelike nightingale, holding a musical note in its beak. Cast in solid brass and coated in gold, it is both elegant in design and impressively hefty in hand.
Their eyes met, no words were exchanged, but their shared gaze said everything.
Then, Chen Fei'er flashed her enchanting smile, opened her arms, and gave Lu Chen a hug, whispering: "Congratulations."
Lu Chen accepted her embrace and congratulations naturally.
In front of hundreds of millions of viewers, the two of them had just openly, yet subtly, shown their affection for one another!
The scene instantly caused a stir in the venue, with laughter and applause erupting from the audience.
Lu Chen and Chen Fei'er's relationship was steadily moving from behind the scenes into the public eye. Like spring rain quietly nourishing the earth, those who understood already knew, and those who didn't would slowly come to realize it too.
What followed were bursts of flashing lights. This touching moment was swiftly captured by the journalists and photographers on site, and would no doubt become one of the most iconic images in entertainment news coverage of the event.
Of course, public displays of affection have their limits, especially under the spotlight. To avoid making the singles in the audience feel too "attacked," Lu Chen and Chen Fei'er let go of each other's hands at the same time. With a soft smile, she stepped aside.
Because right now, the center of the stage, was Lu Chen!
Holding the heavy award trophy in his hands, Lu Chen took a deep breath, trying to calm the excitement and emotion surging in his chest.
He spoke into the microphone:
"Thank you, everyone. Thank you to CCTV and CNR. I'm deeply grateful to the Golden Melody Awards judging panel for giving me this important honor, this has been my biggest surprise of the year!"
Applause rang out once again.
Lu Chen continued: "Stepping onto the path of music was an accident, but it's exactly this accident that helped me find the most important goal in my life.
On this journey to where I am today, I owe thanks to many people, like Brother Tan Hong, like Miss Chen Fei'er, and countless fans who have supported me. Without you, there would be no me, neither now nor in the future."
Then he added, his voice carrying even more emotion: "But the person I'm most grateful to, is my mother.
I know she must be watching in front of the TV right now, and I want to tell her: I will always be your pride! Thank you!"
Lu Chen took a step back and bowed deeply in thanks.
Thunderous applause erupted across the Grand Hall of the National Centre for the Performing Arts. One by one, the guests rose from their seats to offer genuine congratulations.
A full ten seconds passed before Lu Chen straightened up again. He raised his trophy and gave it a wave or two, then returned to his seat, hand in hand with Chen Fei'er.
The Asian Chinese Music Awards ceremony was far from over.
Next up were the awards for Best Producer and Best Lyrics. The former had nothing to do with Lu Chen, but for the latter, he had received a nomination.
However, unlike the Best Newcomer Award, the other three nominees in the Best Lyrics category were all seasoned industry heavyweights, with reputations and résumés far exceeding Lu Chen's.
So even though Lu Chen's nominated song, "I Love You, China," had been a nationwide hit in 2015, the award ultimately went to the celebrated lyricist Wang Guangzong.
Wang Guangzong is a veteran in the showbiz world, with a career spanning decades and countless collaborations with top-tier artists. He's no stranger to winning awards, and so when he took the stage, his demeanor was calm and composed. After a few words of thanks, he stepped down.
Next came the highly anticipated Best Composer Award, another prestigious honor.
Lu Chen was again nominated for "I Love You, China," but just like in the lyrics category, his competitors were once again top-tier figures in the industry: Dong Zhen, Zhang Keyi, and Tang Xiya.
When it came to seniority, fame, and connections, Lu Chen was miles behind these three legends.
His only real advantage was that none of them had produced any particularly iconic works in 2015, and their nominated pieces simply weren't as widely sung or resonant as "I Love You, China."
Still, despite this slight edge, very few people besides Lu Chen's fans actually believed he had a shot at winning this one.
(End of Chapter)
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