Chapter 54 "I am the Inverse Butterfly!!"

With everything arranged, Winnie accompanied Chen Meijing back to the backstage resting area.
Li Can returned to the sound control center.
Guests continued to enter the venue, and camera flashes flickered in the distance.
Singers took their seats in a neatly ordered arrangement.
From the sound control room on the side of the stage, Li Can had a panoramic view of the entire hall.
He could constantly spot third-rate internet singers ingratiating themselves with professional singers, who would respond with indifference before turning around to bow and scrape with obsequious smiles before well-known artists, while those established stars merely smiled and brushed them off perfunctorily.
Although the organizers had meticulously arranged the seating chart, certain artists still appeared profoundly dissatisfied.
Yet, maintaining some regard for their public image, they refrained from throwing tantrums on the spot.
Veteran singers who had known past glory, top-tier traffic idols of the present...
Seating arrangements were notoriously difficult.
Only a small minority of artists who had consistently remained at the absolute pinnacle appeared entirely composed, possessing a detached amusement toward the shifting tides of the industry.
As behind-the-scenes industry insiders, organizers, entertainment company executives, and financial backers began to arrive, the previously disgruntled singers all pinched their noses and settled into their seats, putting on professional, practiced smiles.
The only ones who seemed relatively normal were those artists who, on ordinary days, had hit songs without possessing massive personal fame, or those who maintained a steady fan base while focusing quietly on releasing music with a low profile.
Their level of attention was not low, after all; backed by actual works and recognition, they naturally had old friends coming over to greet them.
Some singers seemed to share good relationships, but perhaps due to corporate pressures, they all restrained their expressions once the heavyweights entered.
Soon, everyone was settled.
The media filed in, starting to take close-up photographs of the various artists.
The bizarre, eclectic atmosphere from moments before vanished, replaced by an easygoing and lively vibe. Two people who had been glaring daggers at each other the previous second would immediately hold up each other's albums, throw their arms around one another's shoulders, and smile for the cameras.
The awards ceremony officially commenced.
The stage lights dimmed.
The host walked to the center of the stage and began guiding the evening's program.
In the eyes of various entertainment agencies, this kind of middle-tier music award—neither prestigious nor obscure, yet offering decent exposure—was merely a resource for publicity.
Arranging for their own artists to go up, show their faces, and pick up a trophy was primarily a performance put on for the general public.
As a veteran entertainment company, Xingmei had naturally secured a face-saving opportunity for Chen Meijing, along with a reserved award:
Annual Best Hit Song.
Just hearing the title sounded amateurish and overly broad, but it was an award nonetheless, capable of fooling ordinary people.
Originally, after the conflict with Yao Jingye, Chen Meijing had prepared herself to forfeit this award.
After all, it was all about the exchange of interests.
If Yao Jingye pursued the matter relentlessly, Xingmei Entertainment might weigh Chen Meijing's value against Yao Jingye's contributions, strike a deal with Yao Jingye to have Chen Meijing surrender the award in exchange for alternative resources, or choose to protect Chen Meijing at all costs.
However, matters had not progressed that far; Yao Jingye had not made a move, and Xingmei had taken no action.
Thus, the award still belonged to Chen Meijing.
"The next recipient... has truly been extraordinary this year."
"She! The mere mention of her name brings controversy, yet she has conquered audiences purely through strength."
"Her new album has swept through the charts like a bloodbath, and to this day, three of her songs remain firmly locked at the top."
The host worked hard to liven up the atmosphere, and the artists in the audience played along graciously, wearing expressions of curiosity and interest while even applauding.
In reality...
Everyone essentially knew beforehand who would win which award.
"Let us welcome the winner of this year's Best Newcomer Album—Chen Meijing!"
Amidst the music, Chen Meijing walked up onto the stage.
Following some vapid banter from the host, Chen Meijing began her acceptance speech.
"I am truly grateful to Xingmei Entertainment, and to President Wang, for the company never giving up on me..."
"I am also deeply thankful to the listeners and fans for their support and affection..."
After speaking a few conventional lines of gratitude, Chen Meijing said with genuine, solemn sincerity,
"Of course, the person I am most grateful to is my mentor, the music producer who tailored my personal album specifically for me—Mr. Li Can."
As soon as that name dropped, the singers in the audience instantly perked up, turning serious.
People on the outside might not recognize it, but within the industry, that name was like thunder piercing the ears.
Although his methods possessed a bizarre dual nature, he truly understood what a top-tier tailor-made production meant, and he understood traffic algorithms to their very core.
Meeting a producer like this was both a blessing and a karmic entanglement.
You were guaranteed to become famous, but heaven only knew *how* that fame would manifest.
"I was in a really dark place back then, but to comfort me, Mr. Li Can casually wrote a song just to make me smile, and he made a bet with me..."
"If I ever got the chance to stand on this stage, he would reward me by letting me sing this song to him; if I didn't, he would come and sing it to me as a form of discipline."
As she spoke, Chen Meijing broke into a tearful laugh, as if recalling some hilarious memory.
Seeing her expression, the audience in the hall immediately grew intrigued, universally adopting the demeanor of spectators eager for juicy gossip.
Just by hearing that, it was obviously nothing orthodox.
Could it possibly be some soul-crushing social-death anthem like *Little Chicken Little Chicken*?
That really *was* a form of discipline!
Instantly, every pair of eyes was filled with intense interest.
Meanwhile, Yao Jingye, who had been observing the movements of Li Can's group, looked noticeably puzzled.
Something wasn't right. Didn't she say earlier that it was going to be sung for him?
How did it suddenly turn into a little bet story between her and Li Can in the blink of an eye?
What on earth were these two conspiring to do?
Just as Yao Jingye was lost in confusion, the music began to play.
The projection screen behind the stage displayed the song title: *The Butterfly Flying Against the Wind*.
The prelude began.
A distorted synthesizer accompanied drumbeats starting softly. The texture sounded almost normally excessive, featuring standard pop music arrangement elements that seemed to have zero relation to any anticipated comedic prank.
Everyone felt a trace of doubt.
And as Chen Meijing began to sing, that doubt deepened even further.
"Whenever I feel helpless...
You pat my shoulder and say it's fine, you're still there."
"Whenever I'm about to give up...
You cheer me on and guide the path ahead."
The singers in the audience looked at one another, completely failing to understand.
Was it an inspirational song? Could they have overthought the whole thing...
Lost in their daze, Chen Meijing continued to sing.
"The world is vast, and we still have many dreams to chase...
Even if it's hard, while we're young, we must try to break through!"
Listening from below, the singers occasionally nodded along to the rhythm.
The syncopated bass drum beat was actually quite catchy, and the emotional buildup felt entirely standard.
Yet as the song's emotion progressed, the climbing drumbeats and notes increasingly carried the portent of an impending eruption!
Coordinated with Chen Meijing's exceptional stage presence, that energy kept mounting, accumulating!
"Through all the bumps and trials, leaving my hometown behind,
I only wish to chase that ray of light!"
"Who says a butterfly cannot...
Possess the energy to shake the universe!!"
Here it comes! Here it comes!
Some singers even began waving their hands to the rhythm, waiting for the emotional explosion!
Just as the audience of singers waited in high anticipation—preparing even to cheer along with the song's emotional climax—they all froze simultaneously the moment Chen Meijing delivered the chorus.
Struck as if by lightning.
They heard Chen Meijing belt out at the top of her lungs, with all her might:
"I am the Anti-Butterfly!"
"?!!？？？"