Chapter Seventy: The End of the Second Phase, The Conclusion of Proud Wanderer

"He An, please choose your team!"

He An held the microphone. "I choose Mentor Zhou Lun's team!"

The audience applauded.

"Let us congratulate He An for joining Mentor Zhou Lun's team. Mentor Zhou Lun gains another student."

The audience clapped, and Jiang Yun joined in as well.

Another male contestant came on stage, singing Tian Zhen's "Persistence."

"Every night when I return, loneliness is always by my side!"

"Click!"

"Click, click, click!"

All four mentors turned around.

"I choose Mentor Tian Zhen!"

This young man had all four mentors turn for him, successfully joining Tian Zhen's team.

Next was a female contestant, also singing a song by Tian Zhen.

She was poised and stylish, dressed in a black leather jacket, her ponytail swaying to the rhythm: "All beauty is but yesterday's intoxication, a touch of bitterness is today's flavor."

"Wow!"

As soon as she started singing, the audience was captivated.

"Click!"

Tian Zhen was the first to turn.

On stage, Zhang Ting moved gracefully, full of confidence.

"The pain in my body keeps me from sleep,
The road ahead is even more exhausting,
Chasing dreams is always winding and twisting,
Facing it calmly, with no regrets."

"Wow!"

The audience erupted in a wave of excitement.

"It's so good! Even better than the original!"

Tian Zhen had already turned. "Aren't you three going to turn?"

"We're making a bet, guessing what kind of girl she is," said Zhou Lun.

"I guess she's the domineering type," Zhou Lun said.

Wang Feng said, "I bet she's the cute type—a contrast in style!"

"Jiang Yun, how about you?"

"Me? I think she's around thirty, similar in style to Tian Zhen, wild and unrestrained."

"Then let's make a bet!" Zhou Lun suggested.

"Bet on what?" Wang Feng asked.

"Tonight's dinner!"

"Deal!"

"Wait, you three stop thinking about your bet. Jiang Yun, explain to me—why do you think I'm the wild type?"

"Tian Zhen, we're just joking!"

The cameras recorded the scene, and their playful banter was broadcast.

The female contestant was already into the second chorus, with only Tian Zhen turned. Her confidence faltered.

Finally, just as she finished, Jiang Yun, Wang Feng, and Zhou Lun pressed their buttons.

All three turned, and the girl beamed with delight.

Wang Feng and Zhou Lun were surprised.

"See, I told you—her style is close to Mentor Tian Zhen," Jiang Yun said, holding the microphone. "Introduce yourself, please."

"My name is Zhang Ting, I'm thirty years old, and a music teacher at Shanghai City University."

Wang Feng took the microphone. "Do you know why we took so long to turn?"

Zhang Ting shook her head.

Wang Feng explained, "Because we were secretly guessing what type of girl you are!"

Zhang Ting blushed.

"Did you see that? Her cheeks just turned red!"

"Haha!"

The three stopped their joking.

"Zhang Ting, please choose your team."

"I choose..."

"I choose Mentor Jiang Yun!"

"Wow!"

The audience was in an uproar, surprised by her choice.

"I thought you'd pick Mentor Tian Zhen!" Jiang Yun said, amazed.

"Ah? How could this be?" Tian Zhen sighed.

Yang Yang took the microphone. "I really didn't expect Zhang Ting to choose Jiang Yun's team! Can you tell us why?"

"I've liked Jiang Yun for a long time! I truly admire Mr. Jiang Yun!"

"Well, that's a good reason!"

The four mentors turned back to await the next contestant.

Li Ge stepped onto the stage, after much deliberation.

He finally stood on the stage of The Voice.

The music began, and Li Ge sang along: "I come from spring, you say goodbye in autumn."

"Wow!"

As soon as he sang, the audience was enthralled.

"I want to ask you if you dare,
To love me as you once said.
I want to ask you if you dare,
To be as crazy for love as I am."

...

"Wow!"

The audience burst into enthusiastic applause.

"I want to ask you if you dare..."

"Click!"

"Click, click, click!"

All four mentors turned in succession.

The audience below discussed excitedly.

"Did you hear that? His high notes are incredible!"

"I heard he's a bar singer!"

Yang Yang walked on stage. "Congratulations to our contestant, who has won the favor of all four mentors."

Jiang Yun, holding the microphone, elbow on the table, said, "Introduce yourself!"

"Hello, mentors. My name is Li Ge, twenty-five years old, and I sing at a bar!"

Tian Zhen picked up the microphone. "Why did you come to The Voice?"

"For my dream!" Li Ge replied, his gaze unwavering.

Wang Feng clapped lightly. "Alright, please choose your team!"

"I choose Mentor Jiang Yun's team!"

"Wow!"

The audience applauded wildly.

Jiang Yun walked onto the stage and hugged Li Ge.

Time slipped by, two hours passed unnoticed.

Two more contestants succeeded, each joining Wang Feng and Zhou Lun's teams.

The second episode of "The Voice of China" concluded.

Jiang Yun had three students, Tian Zhen three, Zhou Lun two, and Wang Feng one.

After the recording ended, it was already nine-thirty at night. The staff finished cleaning up by ten.

The four mentors went to Red Romance Barbecue.

"Today, Wang Feng and Zhou Lun lost the bet, so this barbecue is on you two."

"I'll pay, just leave it to me!" Zhou Lun said, flaunting his wealth.

After their meal, it was midnight.

Jiang Yun took out his phone and sent his location to Li Lulu.

Half an hour later, Li Lulu arrived at Red Romance Barbecue in her Cadillac.

"Zhou Lun, Tian Zhen, I'll be heading off now!"

"Alright, take care!"

Li Lulu started the car and drove Jiang Yun away.

When they got home, Jiang Yun didn't even wash up, collapsing onto his bed and falling fast asleep.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window.

Jiang Yun opened his eyes.

"Ah—"

"I was so exhausted yesterday!"

He got up, washed, and began making breakfast.

Li Lulu had already gone to work, so Jiang Yun made breakfast for one.

After eating, he went to his room, turned on the computer, and started uploading today's chapters.

Jiang Yun wrote thirty thousand words, divided them into ten chapters, and uploaded them, then started writing "Smiling Proud Wanderer."

He finished thirty thousand words for "Smiling Proud Wanderer," and on the last page, wrote the words "The End," then uploaded it.

"Ding! You have a new message!"

Jiang Yun opened the book reviews.

Linghu Chong: "Dear author, is this really the end?"

Jiang Yun replied: "It’s finished. Thank you for your support!"

Meanwhile, on another computer, a twenty-five-year-old young man saw Jiang Yun’s reply.

Without a second thought, he tipped ten rockets.

"Whoosh!"

The entire internet received the notification.

"Linghu Chong tipped 'Smiling Proud Wanderer' ten rockets!"

A banner announcing the tip ran across the whole web.

"Ring, ring, ring!"

Jiang Yun answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Hello, 'Hope,' did you see the tip notification?"

"I just received it!"

"Did you finish your book today?" Zheng He asked from the other end.

"I did!" Jiang Yun replied.

"Can you extend the ending date?"

"No, I can’t."

"Alright! Do you have a new book?"

"I do!"

"Okay, hurry up and publish it. I’ll review it for you!"

"Alright..."