Chapter 135: The Golden Melody Awards Begin

Su Chen’s expression darkened instantly.

Logically speaking, he should have been seated in the rear area, but instead, he had been assigned to the front row. If it had been a simple clerical error by the staff, it would have been understandable. However, it was now obvious that someone had done this deliberately.

Who was trying to sabotage him? While the front row represented status, one first needed the strength to back it up. For superstars like Lu Yuanqing or Jiang Yan, sitting there was perfectly natural. But what was a composer like Su Chen supposed to be doing there? Not only would he gain no tangible benefits, but he would also invite jealousy and resentment. Furthermore, the person whose name had been replaced to make room for him must have been a heavyweight. If that person mistook Su Chen for the culprit behind the switch, it could lead to an unnecessary and malicious rivalry.

Su Chen was naturally easygoing; he didn’t usually care where he was seated. But after Chen Qianyang’s outburst, he immediately grasped the gravity of the situation. Yet, he couldn't recall offending anyone.

"Heh, do you have anything to say for yourself now?" Seeing Su Chen’s fluctuating expression, Chen Qianyang felt a surge of triumph. He felt as though he had finally cleared his chest after holding back for so long.

"Where did this list come from?" Su Chen ignored him and turned his gaze toward the manager.

"I... this..." The manager looked at Chen Qianyang, clearly in a difficult position.

Chen Qianyang offered a disdainful smile. "Just answer him!"

According to the manager’s explanation, the list had been issued by the organizers a day in advance, and the hotel had arranged the seating accordingly. As for why there were smudges on it, the manager claimed to know nothing.

Su Chen frowned. This meant there were two possible points of failure: either it had been tampered with by the organizers, or it had been altered after reaching the hotel.

"Su Chen, you don't have to pretend with me. You know perfectly well what's going on with this list, don't you?" Chen Qianyang sneered at Su Chen’s demeanor. He was convinced that Su Chen was acting. In his eyes, Su Chen was the one who benefited most from the alteration, so naturally, it had to be his doing.

"May I see the list?" Su Chen asked, looking at the manager.

The manager glanced at Chen Qianyang for permission.

"Why are you looking at me?" Chen Qianyang curled his lip. "If he wants to see it, let him! Let's see what kind of tricks he can pull."

Su Chen took the document and carefully cross-checked it. Because the auditorium was massive, it was divided into different zones, each with its own seating chart. Su Chen flipped through page after page. Not in this area. Not in that one either. Finally, after four or five pages, his eyes narrowed. His gaze landed on a name that had been smudged out.

It really was a big shot. So, someone had intentionally swapped her name with his? To verify his theory, Su Chen checked the surrounding seating assignments; they were all members of Jiang Yan’s team.

"Heh, can’t talk your way out of it now, can you?" Chen Qianyang gloated. "I said it before, how could a mere composer like you possibly sit in the front row? Su Chen, if you want to become famous, you should do it the right way."

Chen Qianyang was feeling incredibly satisfied, seizing this perceived handle on Su Chen to attack him relentlessly.

"Thank you."

Su Chen’s response left Chen Qianyang stunned. Shouldn't he be flying into a rage, grabbing onto some detail to confront him? Why was he suddenly thanking him? This bizarre reaction left Chen Qianyang unable to process the situation, feeling as though he had punched a pile of cotton.

"Please double-check this. If there’s a mistake, just switch the names back," Su Chen said, ignoring Chen Qianyang and turning to the staff member.

"This..." The staff member hesitated, unsure of what to do.

Seeing this, Chen Qianyang wavered as well. He looked at Su Chen with suspicion, replaying his motives in his head, and finally, after confirming everything seemed fine, he nodded to the staff. Chen Qianyang watched as Su Chen was moved to a seat even more remote than his own, then left with a few parting threats, feeling satisfied.

The morning ceremony lasted quite a while, ending just before noon. The organizers arranged for lunch on-site, with the official ceremony slated for the afternoon.

Shortly after 2:00 PM, inside the magnificent auditorium, the 33rd China Golden Melody Awards officially commenced. As per tradition, the ceremony was broadcast live in its entirety.

"Respected guests, dear audience members, good afternoon!"

"Welcome to the 33rd China Golden Melody Awards ceremony."

"We are gathered here today to witness a grand event in the music industry..."

On the opulent stage, the host began the introductions. Su Chen sat in the rear area; after exchanging greetings with those around him, he went quiet and watched the ceremony. Despite the curiosity of the Jiang Yan team members nearby, he remained composed.

The ceremony was divided into several segments: opening remarks, award presentations, acceptance speeches, and musical performances. Typically, after the host introduced a segment, different singers would take the stage to handle the subsequent hosting duties. Though they weren't professional hosts, they were familiar faces, and their ability to crack jokes kept the atmosphere lively.

The awards were categorized into three main areas: works, records, and professional contributions. Works included Best Singer and Best Lyricist/Composer; records included Best Album and Best Sound Recording; and professional contributions included Best Producer and Best Arranger. In total, there were over twenty awards. Su Chen noted that Jiang Yan’s nominations fell within the works and records categories.

The ceremony proceeded at a leisurely pace, with the hosts cracking jokes between each award. Just moments ago, one host had teased a friend’s thick regional accent, drawing roars of laughter—all in good fun.

After more than an hour, the ceremony finally reached its highlight: the awards for Best Male and Female Singers of the Year.

"Shiya, I haven't been to the Golden Melody Awards in three years!" the male host said. He was a second-tier singer known for his comedic flair, which was why he was chosen to announce the most important awards of the night. "Can you walk me through the protocol?"

"Oh, what a coincidence, Sunny! I haven't been here in years either!" the female host replied, showing off her own top-tier improvisational skills.

"Well, what do we do then?" The host called Sunny feigned confusion, then his eyes lit up. "How about we forget the rules and just do it our own way?"

"I agree!"