Facing someone who greeted him first, Chu Zhi responded warmly.
"Mr. Lombard is incredibly creative on the six strings of the guitar," Chu Zhi said. Lombard's new album had two nominations overlapping with his own, for Best Rock Song and Song of the Year.
The two chatted easily, and soon another singer joined their conversation, Whitehouse.
Whitehouse Reed was a Black musician skilled in multiple instruments—keyboard, violin, harmonica, drums, and guitar. His songs carried deep messages. Anyone familiar with him could guess that he was also a social activist who had participated in multiple protests about discrimination against lower-class white people.
While upper and middle-class whites discriminated against Black people, lower-class whites also faced discrimination from Black communities. Compared with the large-scale Black protests in Europe and America, lower-class whites lacked effective means to resist. Whitehouse insisted that opposing racial discrimination wasn't about seeking racial privilege. Because of his views, he had been expelled from the Black community.
All three had some knowledge of instruments, giving them plenty to talk about.
Reed admired Chu Zhi's encyclopedic knowledge. He and Lombard were both surprised to learn that the world-famous star Chu Zhi could play all eighteen types of instruments.
As they talked, Chu Zhi noticed how comfortable the chairs were. He'd attended many award ceremonies, and most seats were hard, leaving his backside sore after long periods. This hotel, built by MGM specifically for wealthy guests, was luxurious and above all, comfortable.
At exactly 7 p.m. Washington time, the Grammy Awards officially began.
The opening song was performed by Faberse, who walked onto the stage in a pink-and-blue crystal gown.
The familiar intro rang out through the stage speakers.
"The clothing store near my square plays this song every day."
"I've sung it from twenty-three to thirty-one, and I could probably keep singing it for a few more years."
"Doesn't she have any new songs?"
Many guests quietly wondered, some with envy, some with reluctance.
Faberse was a star made famous by one song. She wrote, composed, and performed Promise, which had gone viral, hitting over a billion views on YouTube. In eight years, it had been covered more than a dozen times—rock, jazz, country, folk—often by popular singers. One song alone could have ensured her financial security. Perhaps it was Promise that defined her talent and fortune. For today's opening, she was definitely singing it.
The song ended, and the audience applauded.
No matter how jealous, resentful, or disdainful anyone felt, after Promise finished, they had to admit the song was incredible.
"Welcome to our grand event. I know I have a huge responsibility tonight. I can't let the 69th Grammy Awards fall apart. I'm not sixty-nine yet this year, so let's treat the [elderly] well," host Milwaukee said as he walked on stage, his stout figure even more imposing under the lights.
"A single award ceremony that spans half the world and draws this much attention must be successful."
"Tonight we'll see artists in pop, rock, R&B, rap, country, jazz, Latin, and more, picking up awards and putting on performances."
"Just like Faberse's performance, hearing Promise reminded me of that summer, and the promise I made to myself—to lose weight…"
Laughter broke out in the audience before he could finish.
Milwaukee had always been overweight. If the difficulty for ordinary people to lose weight was ninety-nine, his challenge was three hundred. He often joked about it on shows, so Hollywood audiences were familiar with the gag.
This year's Grammys had 85 awards, down from 111 at its peak. The number of awards varied yearly depending on the music industry, but Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist were fixed.
First up were Best New Artist and Best Pop Solo Performance.
Best New Artist went to McLendon, a male singer who debuted after winning the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. His first album received critical acclaim, with Jazz Times calling him a "21st-century jazz prodigy." Chu Zhi also noticed the singer who had caused a stir at the airport earlier—it was McLendon.
Winning Best New Artist with his debut album meant this young man had a limitless future.
Next was Best Pop Solo Performance, and the screen displayed the eight nominees.
Not only was Chu Zhi nominated, but Horman and Susan were too. Every singer on that list was formidable.
The award went to dance queen Susan Kiernan. Horman looked a bit disappointed but applauded politely, likely muttering his frustration inside.
Susan gave a heartfelt acceptance speech, then the host handed her the stage for her performance.
She sang the lead single from her album. The dance queen's vocals were solid, and her stage presence was graceful. Her silver-pink evening gown seemed to shimmer gold under the stage lights.
As the golden-hued lights flickered, only four words came to Chu Zhi's mind: Golden Snake Dance.
The next four awards—Best Pop Duo/Group, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Metal Performance—didn't involve him. He applauded politely, smiling, eyes genuinely wishing the winners well, as a professional audience member should.
The winner of Best Metal Performance was a young musician Chu Zhi knew from the Wacken Open Air and Summer Sonic festivals, Quark. His English name was even harder to remember than his Chinese one. Chu Zhi couldn't recall the names of Quark's bandmates but remembered the three were university scholars from Munich, fluent in multiple languages, and could give him a challenge.
After applauding for so long, it was finally time to stand as his name was announced:
"The winner of the 69th Best Rock Song is… oh, a legend, Chu Zhi with Zombie! Zombie is an alternative trash-rock song with blurred, noisy, angry melodies combined with distorted guitars to create a tense yet calm listening experience. Chu Zhi's vocals clearly denounce war, a rare masterpiece of the 21st century."
Winning Best Rock Song was expected, given that half of the eight nominated songs were his. What surprised him was that it was Zombie that took the award. The lyrics referenced Irish politics, specifically echoing the Easter Rising in Dublin against British rule. Chu Zhi wasn't about to get involved in Ireland-Britain conflicts, so he changed the year to 1931.
"I believe music isn't just entertainment. It can carry more meaning," Chu Zhi said simply during his acceptance speech, echoing his shared view with Grey Wolf. He'd be back!
How the Grammys chose performers seemed random. Chu Zhi collected his award and stepped down without performing, while the Best Rock Album winner took the stage instead.
There wasn't a fixed program. Sometimes, after three awards, there'd be a performance. Other times, nothing.
"The trophy used to be gold-plated, now it's alloy," Chu Zhi said, holding the Grammy, shaped like a gramophone. The award's name and design matched perfectly.
Next were Best Alternative Music Album, Best R&B Performance, Best Traditional R&B Performance, Best R&B Song, and Best Progressive R&B Album. Chu Zhi didn't win Best R&B Song, but Whitehouse did win Best R&B Performance.
Traditional R&B focused on purity, without electronic elements or fusions.
The fourth stage performance was by Best Traditional R&B singer Louis. He seemed off, his voice not fully opened, but polite applause still echoed. The Grammys were broadcast domestically by CBS and internationally sold to several networks, including in China. Louis's performance was widely seen as a disappointment.
"The Grammy categories are detailed. Honestly, if I didn't have experience creating music with many world-famous artists, I wouldn't even know what Best Bluegrass Music is," Chu Zhi thought.
Bluegrass is a branch of country music, faster-paced with more harmonies, named after the band that pioneered the style.
Compared to Chu Zhi's relaxed attitude, others were anxious.
"Damn it, if I don't win any of the four nominations, I'll be a complete failure!"
Horman was stressed. Best Melodic Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Album—and he hadn't won Best Pop Solo Performance.
The rap awards began. Horman sat in the second row, a little far from Chu Zhi.
He noticed Chu Zhi but didn't know how to approach him.
Chinese singers were some of the most masculine in the world. Horman admired him but didn't want to show it. That was his inner struggle.
"Thanks to the judging panel for awarding me Best Melodic Rap Performance," Horman said.
"I was born in Zaragoza, Spain. Even though I moved to Manhattan at sixteen to study, my childhood memories remain vivid. Spanish culture inspires my music—people, bullfighting festivals, and even escaping the dragon of Coca. I've used Spanish percussion in my arrangements," Horman said, holding his gramophone-shaped trophy high. "I will always love Spanish culture!"
If Chu Zhi remembered correctly, Horman was American, proud of his roots, which was admirable.
The winner's pride was evident. Horman beamed, celebrating his sixth Grammy, making him the rap artist with the most Grammy wins.
The losers looked downcast, like Min McClendon, who'd lost his nomination for Best Jazz Song, unable to hide the disappointment on his face.
Winning the Grammy for Best New Artist with a debut album was a powerhouse start, but history showed it wasn't impossible. McClendon had hoped to make a record by snagging two awards, yet reality was harsh.
The two artists' completely different reactions revealed how much industry insiders respected the Grammys, even seeing them as career-defining milestones.
The fifth stage performance featured an artist who hadn't won an award, which made sense. "If no one's winning, shouldn't someone get a chance to perform?" Chu Zhi had predicted it pretty accurately—the choice of performers was totally chaotic.
During the fifteen-minute intermission, anyone with sore bottoms could stand and stretch. As for going to the bathroom, that was tricky—male stars could manage, but female stars in evening gowns had a nightmare situation.
Even in the intermission, the stage wasn't empty. Foreign artists performed to keep the atmosphere flowing. Don't take "filler act" the wrong way; no star would agree unless it was a golden opportunity. Many even volunteered, because who would pass up the chance to shine?
Once the break ended, Milwaukee came back on stage and the ceremony continued. Ten awards were announced, including Best Gospel Song, Best Electronic Song, and Best Music Video, all of which Chu Zhi had nominations for.
Chu Zhi won Best Gospel Song and Best Music Video.
When it came to gospel, he had it in the bag. Endorsed by the Pope, what chance did other singers stand?
By now, he already had three gramophone-shaped trophies.
"Thanks to the judging panel for the awards, and thanks to all my fans who've supported me," he said. "It's because of you that I can be a singer."
"My wish is for world peace. I know it's a huge goal, but it's a hope shared by all humanity. If I can bring us a little closer to it, that's my success as a singer."
Two awards, two speeches—first one thanking fans, second one on the moral high ground.
Chu Zhi missed out on several other nominations, including Best Rock Song and Producer of the Year, which felt a bit unfair. If Best Rock Song wasn't being presented with the other rock awards, why hang it here?
Now came the two core Grammys: Song of the Year and Album of the Year. The whole room tensed, and even Chu Zhi felt a flicker of nerves.
Really, there was no suspense. With the presenter's words, Song of the Year went to Chu Zhi. Who else could it be besides Earth Song? That made four trophies for him.
Then came the biggest one, Album of the Year.
"I'm so nervous, really nervous. Here it comes, here it comes! Who'll win this year's Album of the Year? The screen shows the eight nominees," Milwaukee said. "Is it David? Is it Alex? Is it Chu Zhi? Is it Ross? Oh, I have no idea."
The lighting crew played along, shining spotlights on each nominee as the host read their name.
"I have the envelope, but I can't open it," Milwaukee said. "Please welcome the award presenter, Cindy Wanda."
A short, frail-looking elderly man walked on stage. Despite his appearance, he had once been a giant in music.
Cindy Wanda had won twenty Grammys, two Golden Globes, one Oscar, one Tony Award, and had even received the Kennedy Center Honor. Just those accolades alone confirmed his legendary status—he was one of America's biggest living music stars.
"Without a doubt, the Album of the Year for the 69th Grammy Awards goes to Is It Peace? by Chu Zhi," Cindy Wanda announced. "The judging panel's comment: It can be determined as one of the greatest anti-war albums in music history, influencing countless people."
Chu Zhi had half of the ten nominations and now shared the record for most Grammy wins with Kevin Alexander Carter.
Whether the committee suppressed him because of his nationality? No one could say for sure, but probably.
Chu Zhi got up and walked back onto the stage.
"I ran into you in the hotel lobby this afternoon. I knew we'd meet at the ceremony, but five encounters in one evening? That's incredible," Milwaukee said.
"Yeah, what a coincidence," Chu Zhi nodded.
"My granddaughter and son are your fans," Cindy Wanda said as he handed over the award. "They always talk about how much you've moved them."
"It's not me who moved the fans; it's them who moved me," Chu Zhi replied.
"You're too humble," Cindy Wanda said. "You've already accomplished so much."
The old presenter meant, "You're already this famous, so why stay humble?"
"Now, Chu Zhi will perform a song for us," Milwaukee announced.
Finally, my stage time, Chu Zhi thought. He'd worried it might be wasted.
The audience still saw it as just a performance by a superstar, unaware of its gravity.
He placed the five trophies aside and returned to the stage.
The angelic gospel and alluring tones were set to 100% and 50%. He didn't push both to max; causing a riot mid-performance wasn't worth it.
Song performance: We Are The World, genre: gospel music
🎵"When we hear the earnest call, the world should unite," 🎵 he sang.
🎵"In some places, people are dying, it's time to lend a hand. Life deserves the best gift."🎵
🎵"We can't keep pretending day after day."🎵
The moment he started, over a thousand guests' faces registered surprise, as if hearing the Lord's call.
Again, Horman knew this all too well. He'd stood behind Chu Zhi before, hearing this irresistible voice that overpowered reason.
🎵"In some places, in some places, there are always people trying to change. We're all part of God's big family."🎵
🎵"Actually, what we need is love."🎵
🎵"One world, one family. We are God's children, and building a better future depends on us."🎵
Everyone became focused, listening seriously—even the lighting crew.
The music was like a path for lost souls, offering direction to confused hearts.
The voice felt so sacred that Whitehouse crossed himself.
🎵"The choices we make now save our own lives, and we really can create a better tomorrow."🎵
🎵"Give your heart, and they'll know someone cares."🎵
🎵"Their lives become stronger, freer, just as God showed us by turning stones into bread."🎵
People thought about the lyrics.
Chu Zhi had arrived in Las Vegas a day early and lost over a million dollars gambling. If he donated it to refugees, could he save more lives? Rumbelton pondered.
Calling Chu Zhi's voice "brainwashing" was exaggerating, but with 100% angelic gospel and 50% alluring tones, his performance fully awakened the goodness in people's hearts.
Not surprising—unless someone was born a sociopath, there's always something that could stir their innate kindness.
🎵"We should all reach out. One world, one family, we are God's children."🎵
🎵"Creating a better future depends on us, so let's start giving ourselves."🎵
🎵"The choices we make now save our lives, and we really can create a better tomorrow."🎵
The song moved stars, critics, guests, and producers alike—they couldn't help standing.
This was a song that demanded people stand.
🎵"When your will is low, when you're rejected, and everything seems hopeless, if you believe, we can't fall."🎵
🎵"Let me think clearly: one change, standing together like a family."🎵
🎵"One world, one family, we are God's children…"🎵