Perfect Superstar.

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'Drip!' 

Chen Jian had just finished dinner. As usual, he sat down in front of his computer, skillfully clicked on the blue icon in his browser's favorites bar, and navigated to YouVision, one of the largest video platforms in the country.

Chen Jian, a middle-aged office worker with a 7-to-6 job, had a gentle, kind wife and an energetic, adorable daughter. But he also carried the heavy burden of a mortgage and the responsibilities of supporting his family.

Because of this, he had quit smoking and playing video games, reduced outings with friends, and saved money wherever possible. Most of his free time was now spent in his small study, browsing the internet for news, novels, movies, and videos.

YouVision was one of his favorite sites— it was the oldest and largest video platform in the country, boasting millions of registered users. Chen Jian enjoyed its wide variety of free content. 

Just as he scrolled down the page a couple of times, searching for something interesting, a small pop-up window appeared, intrusively occupying his screen. 

"YouVision is getting more and more ads," Chen Jian muttered in mild annoyance. But as a free user, he had grown accustomed to such "discriminatory" treatment. Resigned, he clicked on the pop-up— it earned him points that could eventually be exchanged for a premium membership. 

The pop-up expanded to fill the entire screen, displaying a high-definition video. 

The first scene that appeared was a bustling cityscape, instantly recognizable as the Capital City. 

The camera rapidly zoomed downward, diving into an underground pedestrian tunnel. 

The spacious tunnel was clean and well-maintained, filled with a constant flow of people moving briskly, matching the fast-paced rhythm of city life. 

On one side of the tunnel, within areas marked off by yellow lines, street performers displayed their talents. Some performed magic tricks, others showcased dance routines, and a few sang softly, hoping to catch the attention of passersby.

The camera zoomed in further and finally settled on a street band. 

A middle-aged singer with a weathered face and a guitar stood in front of the microphone, his eyes reflecting the depth of his experiences as if lost in distant memories. 

Behind him, four band members— a drummer, a keyboardist, a bassist, and another guitarist— stood motionless against the wall, like statues frozen in time.

For a moment, the hustle and bustle of the underground tunnel seemed to fade away. Then, the prelude of a song began to play.

It was as if the band had suddenly awakened from a deep slumber.

They began to perform. 

"Remember the spring many years ago, 

At the time I hadn't cut my long hair short, 

Without credit cards, without her, 

No home with 24-hour hot water. 

But then I was so happy, 

Even with just a broken guitar, 

On the streets, under the bridge, in the fields, 

Singing songs that no one cared about. 

…" 

As the slightly raspy voice poured out through his inexpensive speakers, Chen Jian's hand, which had been gripping the mouse, suddenly froze. His index finger hovered over the left-click button, unable to press down.

He had intended to close the window.

But the song was like a bolt of lightning, piercing straight through his defenses. It reached deep into a corner of his heart where emotions had long been buried— emotions he thought had vanished with time. 

In that instant, they were awakened and surged to the surface! 

"… 

If one day, 

I grow old with no place to call home, 

Please leave me, 

In those old times! 

If one day, 

I quietly depart, 

Please leave me, 

In Spring! 

…" 

A flood of memories surfaced in Chen Jian's mind. His once youthful arrogance, his past ambitions, all came rushing back. 

Now, Chen Jian no longer had the impulsiveness or passion of his younger days. His life had settled into a routine of peace and stability.

'He Treasures His Life, Yet Something Feels Missing' 

Chen Jian cherished his current life— exhausting yet filled with happiness. However, there was always a lingering sense of something missing, something he couldn't quite articulate.

Until he heard this song.

Chen Jian hadn't shed a tear since he was ten years old, but at this moment, he felt a powerful urge to cry. 

He sat there, frozen, watching the relatively short music video to the end, his hand never moving to click the mouse.

At that moment, the door to his study suddenly swung open. A little head with pigtails peeked in, wide, curious eyes fixed on the dazed look on Chen Jian's face, full of confusion. 

Biting her finger thoughtfully, the little girl turned her head and shouted, "Mom! Something's wrong! Dad is crying!" 

"Xiao Nan, don't shout nonsense!" 

Chen Jian snapped out of his reverie, nearly falling off his chair. He quickly let go of the mouse and wiped the corner of his eye with a hand. 

His fingertips were slightly damp. 

Footsteps approached from the distance, and Chen Jian's wife appeared at the doorway. "What's wrong?" she asked. 

The little girl confidently pointed at him. "I saw Dad crying! Shame, shame!" 

Chen Jian, flustered and embarrassed, snapped, "Who's crying? My eyes were just tired, and I used eye drops! I wasn't crying!" 

His wife chuckled, bent down to pick up their daughter, and gently closed the door. "Let's not disturb Dad anymore."

Chen Jian finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned his attention back to the screen.

The video froze on its final frame, displaying the song's title and the name of the performers: 

''In Spring" / Wander Band.'' 

Chen Jian took a moment to calm his emotions, and then clicked on the link to the video's comment section.

He felt an overwhelming need to say something. If he didn't, he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep that night.

The video titled "The New Power of Rock: Wander Band's 'In Spring'" had already garnered immense attention in the comments section.

The number of comments had surpassed 50,000!

For platforms like YouVision, video ads were a major revenue source alongside VIP memberships. The cost of purchasing a homepage pop-up ad was exceptionally high due to the massive user base.

Initially, such pop-ups were dominated by product advertisements. But as users began to dislike them and the entertainment industry grew, the content shifted to music releases, film trailers, and promotional material for variety shows.

Many established indie singers launched their new songs with homepage pop-ups on YouVision. The promotional effect was significant, drawing a large audience.

To the tens of thousands of YouVision visitors, 'Wander Band' was an entirely unfamiliar group. Yet, that didn't stop them from falling in love with "In Spring."

---

''A truly great song!" 

''I've already downloaded it. I need to listen to it at least ten more times." 

''Such a soulful track—a rare gem in recent light rock releases!" 

''Well written and beautifully sung. Does Wander Band have any other songs?" 

''Are they a new band? I couldn't find any info online." 

''I'm deeply moved, though the song feels so melancholic it makes me want to cry. What should I do?" 

''Your tear threshold must be low! But yeah, this song is really good!" 

''Starting today, I'm officially a Wander Band fan!" 

''First time I've ever finished watching a YouVision homepage pop-up." 

''Same here!" 

''..."

One user, with the screen name ''Dreaming of Chang'an," posted a heartfelt comment: 

> '"If life hasn't experienced suffering, one can never truly understand happiness. Suffering is a part of life's happiness, and happiness is a refined form of suffering. When we reflect on the past, how can we not shed tears? 

> Thinking about those youthful days, filled with hardships yet worth chasing, days that vanished before we could say goodbye—there's always a sense of nostalgia and emotion. 

> But sadness does not mean despair. When we lament the shared struggles of life, we should also cherish the beauty and joy of the present. 

> I believe this is the message that 'In Spring' wants to convey! 

> Thank you, Wander Band, for giving me this emotional experience and allowing me to hear a truly great song. 

> In this noisy and superficial world, such beautiful songs are far too rare."'

This comment by ''Dreaming of Chang'an" was pinned and highlighted by the site administrator, receiving over ''30,000 likes!'' 

''Dreaming of Chang'an" was none other than Chen Jian.''

---

'Wander Band's' debut single ''In Spring" was first released on YouVision through a homepage pop-up, and on the very first night, it garnered over ''5 million views'' and over ''100,000 comments'', with a ''92.85% positive rating'' from viewers.

These figures marked a blazing start!

Following this, ''In Spring" was simultaneously released across various platforms, including Tomato Network, WeChat Music, NetEase Music, and popular online radio stations, where it continued to generate widespread buzz and enthusiastic discussions.

Between ''June 11th and June 15th'', in just five days— 

The song "In Spring" surpassed ''100 million views'' on YouVision!

A truly classic song possesses the power to withstand the test of time and space, never fading into obscurity.

"In Spring" has that kind of power.

It only needed the right opportunity to shine with unparalleled brilliance! 

---

'End of Chapter.'