Chapter 37: Number One on the New Song Chart

“Have no fear that there will be no soulmates on your journey ahead; who in this wide world does not know you!”
The fans following Xu Ze on Weibo were the very first to see the new post he had just published.

“So this is the full version of what Xu Ze posted before? I got goosebumps all over just reading it.”

“Same here. When Xu Ze only posted the first half before, I didn’t really get it, but now I understand!”

“Wow, even someone like me, who’s always struggled with literature, understands this line. It feels so powerful!”

“Xu Ze doesn’t just write lyrics—his poetry is amazing too!”

“So profound, so moving!”

“This line is really inspirational, isn’t it?”

“Yes, reading it makes me feel motivated to study again—and then I just roll over in bed!”

…

At this moment, everyone felt more than ever that Xu Ze was no ordinary young man. Facing repeated mockery from Li Lianfeng and the relentless scrutiny of various media outlets, he had never stooped to respond or explain himself. People had once assumed that, because he was only a student, he might be afraid when confronted with such attacks. That was why he had seemed to reply meekly with just, “Have no fear that there will be no soulmates on your journey ahead.”

Back then, everyone thought he was lamenting his own lack of understanding friends. But now, it was clear: Xu Ze had never been afraid. He simply disdained to respond to those who doubted him—he had his own pride. Now, with all doubts blown away by the wind, he finally stepped forward and said, “Have no fear that there will be no soulmates on your journey ahead; who in this wide world does not know you!”

His bearing was noticed not just by netizens but by the authorities as well. The Huaxia Daily, the nation’s leading mainstream media, was the first to like Xu Ze’s Weibo post, sharing and commenting:

“To the young people of today: when you face difficulties and feel lost, let us give you a line from student Xu Ze: ‘Have no fear that there will be no soulmates on your journey ahead; who in this wide world does not know you.’”

“Do not worry that there will be no one who understands you on your path forward. In this vast world, with your talent, no matter where you go, there will always be those who appreciate you.”

“We hope you will face the future with hope, and bravely stride out with confidence on your journey!”

…

With the official media reposting, the internet exploded instantly. Youth League, Huaxia Net, and University Students Online all followed suit and shared the post. “Have no fear that there will be no soulmates on your journey ahead; who in this wide world does not know you” shot to the top of the trending searches, stunning netizens everywhere.

“Oh my god, is this for real? The state media actually reposted Xu Ze’s Weibo!”

“Xu Ze is amazing!”

“Didn’t Xu Ze say on the show that he hadn’t thought of the next line? Was he tricking us? Maybe he’d already planned it out!”

“Or maybe he really just came up with it, like his song ‘Do You Know, Do You Know’—he wrote it on the spot before performing.”

“Xu Ze is so talented! Why bother singing—he should be writing poetry for textbooks!”

“Come on, aren’t his lyrics basically poetry already? Let him keep singing; this way, we get both the music and the poetry.”

“Agreed, agreed! Can’t wait for the next episode.”

“Ugh, I missed the live broadcast and now I have to wait for the recorded version next week.”

“I watched it live, but I’ll still watch the replay—just to catch another glimpse of Xu Ze!”

“Isn’t it to hear the song again? Reporting the person above for only wanting to see Xu Ze himself!”

“You guys are so pitiful, having to watch Xu Ze on TV. Not like me—he’s right here in my arms.”

“Move aside, ladies. Let me wake her up with my fragrant perfume!”

“My feet stink—let me do it!”

…

With the surging popularity, Xu Ze’s Weibo followers instantly surpassed two million. Many fans started following the trend and changed their own bios to “Have no fear that there will be no soulmates on your journey ahead; who in this wide world does not know you.” On social media, everyone kept seeing friends post this line. Even those who rarely posted were moved to share it, as if it had truly struck a deep chord within them.

Just then, a fan suddenly reminded everyone.

“Xu Ze’s ‘Eastern Wind Breaks’ just overtook Wang Yihan’s ‘Just Because You’re So Beautiful,’ rising from second to first on the overall new songs chart!”

“The song he just released, ‘Do You Know, Do You Know,’ also shot straight to fourth on the new songs chart.”

“Right now, first is ‘Eastern Wind Breaks,’ second is ‘Just Because You’re So Beautiful,’ and third is ‘When You’re Lonely, Who Will You Think Of?’ Bear in mind, these songs have been out for days, but ‘Do You Know, Do You Know’ climbed to fourth in just one night—amazing!”

But the fans weren’t too surprised by this.

“Xu Ze’s ‘Eastern Wind Breaks’ should have been number one long ago. The quality is so high—it’s just that he didn’t have a company to promote him.”

“Which proves Xu Ze’s words: don’t worry, just like gold, it will shine in the end!”

“Interesting, interesting. The contestant’s song has overtaken the mentor’s. I wonder if Wang Yihan will feel awkward in the next episode?”

“All I can say is Xu Ze did great. I’ve been sick of Wang Yihan and his fans for ages. Every time I check the news, I see ads from their company—so annoying.”

…

Within the music industry itself, insiders were even more shocked than the fans. Since the music charts began, this was the first time a song by an unknown contestant had surpassed those of professional singers to claim the top spot on the new songs chart. It was absolutely unheard of.

At that moment, many entertainment companies suddenly felt a strong sense of crisis. Before Xu Ze appeared, there was a shared belief in the industry: if you wanted to make it in the music world, you had to have a company promoting and supporting you. Otherwise, no matter how good your music was, it would be drowned out, barely making a ripple. Maybe, after many years, someone might dig it up and listen to it once in a while.

But Xu Ze’s rise revealed something new: if a song from an unknown artist was good enough, it could soar to the top of the new songs chart—even take first place. For a music scene long dominated by major entertainment companies, this revelation was a thunderbolt, waking up many musicians with a jolt.

Among them was Xu Ze’s mentor, Zhang Yingjing. As a top-tier female singer, she had spent years preparing to become the next queen of pop. Now, she was only one platinum album away from that title. To qualify, the platinum album had to sell over eight million copies, both online and offline. But with the industry’s changes, physical album sales had plummeted, and it had been years since anyone achieved platinum. Only albums of truly exceptional quality stood a chance.

So, for the past two years, she had been searching for songs, but her company’s support was waning. Zhang Yingjing knew they wanted to promote a younger female singer instead. Without the company’s backing, her platinum album became even harder to achieve. All the top composers were monopolized by the Big Four entertainment companies, while smaller firms couldn’t even find good songwriters. As a result, her album was delayed again and again, and she hadn’t released a new song in ages. This year, her popularity had even started to slip—a fact not lost on her or her company.

She was unwilling to compromise. She believed that success depended on effort. So when the program “I Am a Singer-Songwriter” approached her, she accepted. Ordinarily, with her status, she wouldn’t have joined such a show. But, unable to find a suitable composer, she was unwilling to pass up any potential opportunities.

And now, it seemed, she might have found one—that person was Xu Ze.