Chapter 116: My Chinese Heart
“Now, please welcome Jiang Yun to the stage. Everyone, enjoy ‘My Heart Belongs to Huaguo’!”
Jiang Yun, dressed in a gray suit, walked onto the stage.
The audience below frowned in unison.
“What is Jiang Yun doing? How could he wear a suit at such an important event!” Li Mengya was extremely nervous.
Others also frowned.
The music began, beautiful harmonies ringing out in the accompaniment.
“Oh oh oh oh~”
“Ah oh oh oh~”
Jiang Yun followed the rhythm and sang slowly.
“The rivers and mountains linger only in my dreams.”
“Oh oh oh oh~”
“My homeland has been distant for so many years.”
“Oo oo oo oo~”
“This melody is so unique!” The audience whispered to each other.
Jiang Yun continued singing.
“No matter what, it cannot change my heart for Huaguo.”
Jiang Yun walked three steps across the stage: “Though Western clothes cover my body, my heart remains Huaguo’s heart.”
“Wow!”
Thunderous applause erupted.
“Clap clap clap!”
In the judges’ seats, ten judges were moved to tears.
“This song is so beautiful, with a sorrowful emotion!”
“How helpless it feels—as times change, we are forced to wear foreign attire! But our hearts always belong to Huaguo!”
Jiang Yun continued singing.
“The blood that flows within me pulses with the voice of Huaguo.”
...
“Clap clap clap!”
When Jiang Yun finished his performance, the audience applauded enthusiastically.
Jiang Yun left the stage.
The host announced the next contestant.
With Jiang Yun’s performance preceding, the contestant felt immense pressure and made frequent mistakes.
The selection contest lasted from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., with all twenty contestants performing.
“Everyone, please take a break. The results will be announced this afternoon!”
Jiang Yun exited the hall. Li Mengya, sneaking behind him, hopped over playfully.
“Who would have thought! You made it into the competition and didn’t even tell me!” Li Mengya exclaimed.
Jiang Yun rolled his eyes. “Didn’t you keep it from me as well?”
“Well then, we’re even!” Li Mengya declared.
“What’s going on between you and Wang Fengwan?” Jiang Yun asked.
“What do you mean?”
Jiang Yun flicked Li Mengya’s smooth forehead. “Don’t play dumb with me. When did you two become so close?”
Li Mengya covered her forehead with both hands. “Bend down, I’ll tell you!”
Jiang Yun hesitated. What trick was Li Mengya up to now? He bent down, uncertain.
“I’m not telling you!” Li Mengya turned and ran off, making funny faces at Jiang Yun as she ran.
“Bleh bleh bleh!”
“Ouch!”
Two cries of “ouch”—Li Mengya collided directly with Yang Wuxia.
Jiang Yun hurried over to them. “Are you both alright?”
“You know her?”
“You know her?” Li Mengya and Yang Wuxia spoke in unison.
“She’s my friend!”
“Who?”
“Who?” Again, both spoke at the same time.
Jiang Yun rubbed his forehead and explained, “Mengya, this is Ms. Yang Wuxia.”
He turned to Yang Wuxia, gesturing to Li Mengya, “Ms. Yang, this is my friend, Li Mengya!”
“Oh!”
“Oh!”
Li Mengya and Yang Wuxia stood up from the ground.
“Hello!”
“Hello!” They greeted and shook hands in unison.
“Ms. Yang, where are you headed?” Jiang Yun asked.
“Nothing much. Someone upstairs asked me to come over.”
Jiang Yun nodded. “Then I won’t keep you.”
“Alright!” Yang Wuxia nodded and hurried off.
...
“Old Du, what do you think? Which performance satisfied you the most?”
The man called Old Du, about sixty years old, was watching video footage from the morning’s contest.
His name was Du Heng.
Du Heng said, “Old Wei, what brings you here?”
If Jiang Yun had been present, he would have been surprised—wasn’t this Wei Meng from the Magic City recording studio?
“I heard there’s a selection for an ambassador, so I came to take a look,” Wei Meng replied.
“Sigh~” Du Heng sighed.
“What’s wrong, Old Du?”
“These programs—all of them are formulaic, lack innovation, and don’t quite fit the intended theme.”
Wei Meng pondered. “There’s one contestant I think you should see.”
“Oh?” Du Heng’s interest was piqued. “If you recommend him yourself, who could it be?”
“Jiang Yun.”
“Jiang Yun?” Du Heng frowned.
“What’s the matter?” Wei Meng asked.
“I don’t have this person’s information here,” Du Heng said.
“How can that be? Really?” Wei Meng was surprised.
Du Heng picked up his phone and dialed.
“Beep... beep...”
“Hello, Chief!”
Du Heng spoke, “Is there a contestant named Jiang Yun?”
“Yes, Chief, there is.”
“Why don’t I have his details?” Du Heng asked.
“It’s like this—because Jiang Yun had negative publicity, he was excluded.”
“What kind of negative publicity?”
“Infidelity.”
“Oh, that’s all? Send me his audition video immediately!”
“Yes, Chief!”
“Alright.”
Du Heng hung up.
“How is it, Old Du?”
“Filtered out.”
“I thought so!”
“Ding! You have a new email, please check!”
Du Heng quickly opened the email.
“The rivers and mountains linger only in my dreams.”
“Oo oo oo oo~”
“My homeland has been distant for so many years.”
“Oh oh oh oh~”
The video showed Jiang Yun singing.
Du Heng continued watching.
“Though Western clothes cover my body, my heart remains Huaguo’s heart.”
“Excellent!” Du Heng slapped his thigh.
“Ouch, Old Du, could you please slap your own thigh instead?”
“Hehe!” Du Heng laughed awkwardly.
He watched the entire video. “It’s him!”
Du Heng dialed again. “Hello! I’ve decided, let’s go with Jiang Yun!”
“Chief, won’t you reconsider? Zheng Fei, Wang Fengwan, and Li Mengya are also outstanding!”
Du Heng looked troubled. “They are good, but...”
“Old Du, Old Du!” Wei Meng whispered Du Heng’s name.
Du Heng covered the receiver. “What is it?”
“Why not select all four? There’s no rule saying you can only choose one!”
A light flashed in Du Heng’s eyes. Of course! Why hadn’t he thought of that?
Du Heng spoke into the phone. “Let’s do this—Wang Fengwan, Li Mengya, and Zheng Fei, select them as well!”
“What? Did I hear that right?”
“Do I need to say it again?” Du Heng feigned anger.
“No need, no need. Four is great. If one has an emergency, the others can substitute.”
“Good!” Du Heng nodded. “Announce it as soon as possible!”
“Yes, Chief, I’ll do it!”
Du Heng hung up and started chatting with Wei Meng.
After returning to the hotel, Jiang Yun packed his things and boarded a flight to Wushang.
Li Mengya was heading back to Magic City, while Jiang Yun was going to Wushang, so they didn’t travel together. Instead, Wang Fengwan and Jiang Yun flew together to Wushang.
Neither spoke during the flight.
Jiang Yun thought to himself, Since you’re ignoring me, I’ll ignore you too. I’m perfectly content on my own.
By the time Jiang Yun and Wang Fengwan disembarked, it was already eleven o’clock at night.
Someone was holding up a sign with Jiang Yun and Wang Fengwan’s names.
The two walked straight to the car.
“Are you Teacher Jiang Yun and Teacher Fengwan?”
They nodded.
“Please get in.”
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