Chapter 139: Throwing the Table

Li Kang seemed caught off guard by Su Chen’s reaction, standing there for a moment in awkward silence.

"Quick, cut the feed!" The director, sensing that things were going south, immediately ordered his crew to kill the live broadcast. Although billed as a live event, the feed was intentionally delayed to handle exactly these kinds of unforeseen incidents.

Lu Yuanqing and Jiang Yan looked back with concern, terrified that Su Chen might do something impulsive next. However, they were unable to intervene; the microphone was already at Su Chen’s lips.

"Haha, Su Chen, it’s alright," Yu Yixin said, trying to ease the awkward tension. "Even though you didn’t take home the Best Composer award this time, I’ve listened to your songs. They show incredible potential, and I’m sure you’ll have plenty of opportunities in the future!"

Meanwhile, Li Kang had managed to recover from his brief moment of rigidity. "Uh... haha, you aren't the first person to say that to me!" As a host, he couldn't afford to lose his composure just because Su Chen had flipped the table, but he could still deliver a jab with a velvet glove. "However, I believe Tang Guo truly deserves this award! Ever since his first song, 'White Fox,' last year, he has been unstoppable, eventually being named the 'King of Newcomers' by the official Weibo platform. His talent is beyond question."

The implication was clear: the official verdict was fair, and he was subtly painting Su Chen as someone who questioned official authority.

"I am certainly not questioning the fairness of the Golden Melody Awards!" Su Chen replied. "Tang Guo, like myself, is an excellent composer. I’ve heard his songs, and they are all fantastic! I can accept whoever wins the award. However, I hope that before you take on the role of a host, you learn what respect means! Even if you are only hosting for ten minutes, as long as you are standing on this stage, you should maintain professional integrity for those ten minutes!"

Su Chen didn't fall into Li Kang’s trap; instead, he dragged Li Kang’s petty tactics out into the open. The weight of his words was no different than a slap to the face in front of everyone.

"Furthermore, whatever 'task' you were given, if this is all it amounts to, it won't have any effect on me!"

This completely rattled Li Kang. Su Chen had exposed their dirty laundry in front of so many people. He couldn't possibly admit to it, so he hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "I didn't mean anything by it; I was just joking. I hope you don't overthink it."

Su Chen gave a faint smile. "I only look at facts, and I only trust what I see. Whether it was a joke or not, everyone here is a witness. But... it doesn't matter anymore."

He scanned the hall and offered a slight bow. "My apologies, I won't be joining the rest of the ceremony. You all carry on..." With that, he handed the microphone to a nearby staff member and, under the gaze of the entire room, walked out of the venue. Jiang Yan immediately followed him out at a trot.

***

A stir rippled through the hall. Singers in the audience whispered to one another, clearly stunned by the unexpected turn of events at the awards ceremony. Lu Yuanqing and Qin Pei sat in their seats, looking worried, but they couldn't show much. After all, Su Chen was Jiang Yan’s composer, so it was natural for her to follow him, but they—at least on the surface—had no special connection to him.

Outside the venue, Jiang Yan caught up to him, breathless. Su Chen stopped.

"Why would you say that?" Su Chen asked, staring into her eyes.

"You must know that Li Kang is with Imperial Entertainment, right?" Jiang Yan hesitated.

"I know."

"But by doing this, you’ve completely offended them! And they might use your words against you. They’ve always been experts at manipulating public opinion," she said, visibly worried.

Su Chen chuckled. "Then let them come. I’ll meet them head-on. It was a fight to the death anyway. Go back inside; there are still segments left to finish!"

Hearing the term "fight to the death," Jiang Yan asked out of curiosity, "What actually happened between you two? How did it get to this point?"

Su Chen shook his head, unwilling to elaborate. "Let’s not talk about it. I’ll handle it."

Jiang Yan frowned. "I don’t know what happened, but I want you to know that Imperial Entertainment is a massive power. They have deep roots in many fields; it’s hard for one person to stand against them."

Su Chen turned to look at her. "So?"

Jiang Yan didn't answer directly, asking instead in a soft voice, "Su Chen, is this argument really that important? Whether it’s Tang Guo or Su Chen, aren't they both you? Isn't the result the same?"

Su Chen paused.

"The result is important," he said, then added, "but I can't just stand by and let someone crap on my head."

With that, he turned his back to her and waved as he walked away.

In truth, if the award hadn't been given to him, he wouldn't have felt a thing. Why? Because as Jiang Yan said, Tang Guo and Su Chen were both him; the outcome was the same. But today, Imperial Entertainment’s actions had pushed his buttons—from the seating labels to the camera angles, the goading during the interview, and the mockery during the award presentation. It had completely enraged him.

Ever since he transmigrated, he had kept a low profile, even using pseudonyms for his work to establish a solid foundation before settling old scores with Imperial Entertainment. But today’s events made him reflect: had he been too cautious, causing him to be held back? Had he made himself look weak and easily bullied to others? If they were coming for him this early, why continue to avoid it?

As he walked, lost in thought, he reached the hotel lobby. Sensing something, he glanced toward the lounge area and saw someone in the distance giving him a thumbs-up.

It was the woman with short hair he had met that morning!

Su Chen was slightly taken aback and nodded in acknowledgment. To his surprise, she stood up and walked toward him.

"You were great today!" Her voice was cool, yet pleasant. "Let’s get acquainted. I’m Xu Shuang."

Su Chen shook her hand, looking at her with curiosity. Only then did he finally realize who she was.

Xu Shuang, the genius singer! Five years ago, shortly after rising in the music scene, she had crushed countless veteran artists and dominated the charts. She became one of the "Four Little Flowers" of pop music, with a status rivaling top-tier stars. At the time, critics said she was the most likely artist to break the record for the shortest time from debut to reaching the top.

But then, without warning, she disappeared from the public eye. Rumors ran wild online: some said she was heartbroken after being scammed by a deadbeat boyfriend and had retired to live an ordinary life; others said she had married a wealthy tycoon and settled down. None of these rumors were ever confirmed.

Seeing this legendary figure in the flesh, Su Chen was truly astonished.