He was in college, but his songs were at the Grammys.

Chapter 38 Mysterious

In the classroom, the chubby boy was the first to speak, his voice loud and clear:

"Can we go on TV?!"

Chen Ming looked at him and nodded seriously.

"Yes, and many people will see it."

The classroom erupted in chaos.

Can my mom see me on her phone?

"Then my grandma can see it too, right?"

"I want my dad to take a day off and stay home to watch!"

"Teacher Chen, Teacher Chen, should I dress up nicely when I go on TV?"

"Can I wave to my mom?"

The children chattered excitedly, like a flock of sparrows just released from their cage.

The little girl with the ponytail was already holding her friend's hand and spinning around. The chubby boy's face was flushed, and his eyes were shining.

Chen Ming looked at them, a slight smile playing on his lips.

What he didn't say was that, in the future, many people will see more than just your faces.

And your voices.

The voices of Chinese youth.

Meanwhile, on the Jiangxi Arts University campus, the atmosphere of preparation for the competition is growing stronger.

Every day, groups of students would stop in front of the bulletin board and study the list.

"Fu Yun from the vocal music department, I heard he practices singing until the early hours of the morning every day."

"Senior Xia Die is even more dedicated; she took leave from the company and stayed at school to prepare for the competition."

"The one who applied to the performing arts department, I heard, found a vocal coach for one-on-one tutoring."

"That's what you call attitude! Giving it your all, leaving no regrets!"

"That's true, but did you see the name on the far right?"

silence.

That name, like a mountain, weighs heavily on everyone's heart.

"What has Chen Ming been doing these past few days? Has anyone seen him?"

"It seems like he left as soon as get out of class ended, all mysterious."

"I guess they're preparing for war too?"

"Prepare for battle? He needs to prepare for battle? He can just sing a little and win!"

"You can't say that. Their seriousness is a sign of respect for the competition."

"That's true, but to be honest, I'm more curious about what he's going to sing now."

"Who isn't?"

Similar conversations were repeated in every corner of the campus.

The discussion was even more heated in the composition department's class group chat:

[Li Yue]: "Does anyone know what Chen Ming has been busy with these past few days?"

[Wang Haoran]: "I don't know, he's like a dragon whose head is seen but not its tail."

[Zhang Wei]: "I asked Tang Yuan, and he said that they rarely see Chen Ming nowadays."

[Liu Qian]: "So mysterious?! I'm even more curious now, what should I do?!"

[Zhao Lin]: "+1, I've already started the countdown!"

[Zhou Xu]: "He has been very mysterious lately, but I have a feeling."

[Li Yue]: "What premonition?"

Zhou Xu: "This time, something big might happen."

[Tang Yuan]: "Don't ask, anyway, my brother Ming said it's crazy!"

On the other side of the city, Jianghai Experimental Primary School.

A black sedan slowly pulled up at the entrance.

The car door opened, and Li Jianping, the dean of the Jiangxi Academy of Arts Music Academy, stepped out.

He looked up at the sign for the Experimental Primary School, straightened his collar, and walked towards the school gate.

A few days ago, Huang Xing approached him and said that Chen Ming needed some children to help with the audition performance.

Without saying a word, Li Jianping immediately contacted the principal of the Experimental Primary School.

They are old acquaintances; they were classmates in college and have kept in touch over the years.

"It's nothing," he said on the phone. "I'm looking for a few kids to help out; one of my students is putting on a performance."

The other party readily agreed at the time.

But today, Li Jianping suddenly wanted to come and see for himself.

Firstly, to thank my old classmate for his help, and secondly...

He was indeed curious.

What exactly is Chen Ming preparing?

Do we need to use an elementary school choir?

At the school gate, a man in his fifties with gray hair was already waiting there.

"Old Li!" Zhang Jianguo, the principal of the Experimental Primary School, greeted him, his eyes crinkling into slits with a smile. "You've finally arrived!"

Li Jianping shook his hand: "Thank you for your help, Jianguo. Did Chen Ming cause any trouble for the school?"

"Adding to the trouble?" Zhang Jianguo's smile deepened. "Old Li, don't say that."

He paused, his tone carrying an ambiguous meaning:

"The students at your school are amazing!"

Li Jianping smiled and waved his hand, "You're too kind, he's really talented in music!"

That's not what I meant.

Zhang Jianguo interrupted him, his smile becoming mysterious.

Li Jianping was taken aback: "What could it be?"

Zhang Jianguo didn't answer directly, but took two steps forward, then turned around and waved to him:

"Come with me, you'll see in a moment."

Li Jianping was a little confused, but he followed.

The two crossed the playground, bypassed the teaching building, and walked deeper into the campus.

The May wind blows, bringing the fragrance of roses from the flowerbeds.

In the distance, children are running during a physical education class, and their slogans can be faintly heard.

Li Jianping pondered as he walked.

If it's not about music, then what could it be?

Jianguo's expression makes it seem like he's hiding something good and insists on taking you to see it himself.

He shook his head and didn't ask any more questions.

Walk through a corridor, turn a corner, and you'll see the music classroom ahead.

From afar, a song drifted over.

Li Jianping didn't pay attention at first, but subconsciously listened.

Then, he suddenly stopped.

Those were the voices of young children, chanting something in unison.

The words and phrases were intermittent and difficult to hear clearly from a distance, but the rhythm, the cadence, and the vigorous, upward spirit were still palpable.

Li Jianping frowned slightly.

He quickened his pace.

The singing became clearer and clearer.

This time, he heard it clearly.

"If the youth are wise, the nation is wise; if the youth are wealthy, the nation is wealthy."

"A nation is strong when its youth are strong; a nation is free when its youth are free."

Li Jianping froze on the spot.

Those words struck his mind like a thunderbolt.

The wisdom of the youth makes the wisdom of the nation.

A strong youth is a strong country.

This is……

What a moving and inspiring phrase!

He stood there, motionless.

Standing beside him, Zhang Jianguo's smile deepened as he looked at his expression.

But he didn't say anything, he just waited quietly.

Li Jianping suddenly came to his senses and practically ran towards the music classroom.

Footsteps echoed hurriedly in the corridor.

The music classroom door was ajar, and the singing voice poured out from the crack, growing clearer and more powerful.

He rushed to the door and suddenly stopped.

He could see the scene inside through the glass in the door.

More than thirty children stood in three rows, backs straight, singing earnestly.

Their voices were young, but their earnestness was touching.

At the front of the group, a boy sat in front of a multimedia system, holding a microphone and singing:

"A young man has his own youthful exuberance, his body as upright as mountains and rivers."

"Daring to measure the sun and moon once more, today only we, the young men, stand tall."

"Daring to challenge the heavens and earth, I will forge ahead, overcoming all obstacles and thorns, none can stand in my way."

"Though the world laughs at me, I will strive on my own, and live up to my youthful potential..."

The sound pierced through the children's chorus, like a ray of light, like a flame.

Li Jianping's hand trembled slightly as he pressed it against the door frame.

He has lived for over sixty years and has heard countless songs.

Folk songs, bel canto, pop, rock, classical...

He thought his ears were discerning enough that he could hardly be moved by anything anymore.

But at this moment, standing outside this door, listening to that song, and looking at that boy and those children.

His eyes suddenly stung.

This song...

No, this is more than just a song.

This is a declaration.

It's a shout.

It is the expectation of one generation for another, and the answer of young people to the world.