Ling Cheng, the Divine Singer

In 2008, while winter's cold still lingered, China was already basking in its spring—a spring of national pride and unrestrained joy. The entire country buzzed with excitement, every city dressed up like a radiant maiden, ready to welcome guests from across the globe.

That year belonged to China.

As the President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, declared, "The 29th Olympic Games are now open," fireworks worth millions of yuan shot into the sky. As the Olympic anthem played, the Olympic flag and the emblem of the 29th Games unfurled, captivating the world. Then, the Chinese national flag appeared at the head of the procession, followed by the teams from the United States, Russia, Sweden, and more.

Wave after wave of applause and cheers erupted from the crowd as athletes from around the world entered the stadium. But, interestingly, the athletes didn't seem to command as much enthusiasm as the performers lined up for the opening ceremony.

And what a lineup it was.

The Four Heavenly Kings, Sun Nan, Na Ying, Twins, S.H.E., Britney Spears, Aaron Carter, BoA, and Rain—this was a star-studded ensemble of global talent. Each one was a superstar, a name big enough to crush anyone with its weight. Yet, despite the grandeur of their presence, the applause they received felt... underwhelming.

Backstage, Britney Spears was visibly unsettled. Grabbing the only two people she recognized, Jacky Cheung and Andy Lau, she forced a smile and greeted them, "Hi, you two handsome gentlemen. Long time no see."

After exchanging pleasantries, Andy Lau glanced at Britney with a knowing grin. "You seem distracted, Miss Spears. Did the beauty of our country leave you in a daze?"

"Yes! Your country is absolutely stunning. I'm completely enchanted," she replied with a playful tilt of her head. "But… something's off. When we entered earlier, it felt like we were being ignored."

Andy chuckled at her honesty and reassured her. "Ah, so you noticed that too, huh? Let me tell you, Britney, you're actually doing better than most of us. Did you see that lineup earlier? Every single one of us is a reigning king or queen in our own domain. Yet, even we barely got a response from the crowd. So don't take it too hard."

Britney blushed slightly. "It's not that I'm upset; I'm just curious. Who on earth is getting all that attention? I get that my fanbase is mostly in the West, but you guys are Asia's superstars!"

Andy let out a helpless sigh and pointed toward Jacky Cheung, who was busy fixing his makeup. "You'll have to ask him. The person stealing the spotlight tonight is his protégé."

"Protégé?" Britney raised an eyebrow.

Andy nodded. "A real prodigy. Jacky calls him a 'little monster.' Believe it or not, the kid's only 20, but his vocal skills are so refined they're almost otherworldly."

For a moment, Britney scrutinized Andy's expression, trying to discern if he was joking. But his serious demeanor made her jaw drop. "You're telling me he's reached your level already? That's insane!"

Jacky, overhearing this, smirked with pride. "Of course! Who do you think his mentor is? But honestly, his raw talent is unparalleled. Judging by the skills he showcased on his latest album, I'd say he's on track to surpass me soon. Calling him the 'Divine Singer of a New Generation' wouldn't be an exaggeration.

"And it's not just his singing. His stage presence, his movements—they're flawless. Utterly flawless."

Britney was floored. If Andy and Jacky were joking, they were doing a damn good job of keeping straight faces.

"Where is he?"

Jacky's eyes lit up as he spotted someone in the distance. "See for yourself. Here he comes now."

A cheerful and radiant young man weaved through the crowd with effortless grace. He approached with a calm demeanor and greeted them politely, "Uncle Lau, Master, is there something you need?"

Jacky stood up, dismissing the makeup artist, and gestured toward Britney. "Come here, I'll introduce you. I'm sure you've already recognized her—this is—"

"Britney Spears," the young man interjected. Then, as if realizing his bluntness, he added awkwardly, "Sorry, that must've been rude. Miss Spears, you're an idol of mine. My name's Ling Cheng."

"Ling Cheng…" Britney murmured, her mind flashing back to the deafening cheers from earlier. So that's who the crowd was chanting for. "Not bad. You're young, but your popularity's already making your mentor jealous."

Ling Cheng chuckled sheepishly, about to respond, when his expression suddenly changed. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a phone and excused himself to take the call.

Britney watched him leave, confused. "Why doesn't he have a manager? He's carrying his own phone backstage?"

Andy rubbed his nose, clearly embarrassed. "You're right—he doesn't have a manager. But he does own an entire management company. As for the phone, none of us understand it either. He never lets it out of his sight, not even when he's performing. It's practically a part of his wardrobe. But here's the funny thing—I've only ever seen him use it once."

"Once?"

"Yeah, last year, during the Chinese New Year Gala. You've heard of it, right? It's a huge deal here, a direct gateway for aspiring singers to break into the mainstream. Ling Cheng got a spot effortlessly, but during the event, he got a call. Afterward, despite our protests, he rushed out without even notifying the organizers. If it weren't for the quick thinking of the hosts, his absence would've turned into a massive scandal."

"...Unbelievable." Britney found herself increasingly intrigued by this young man. What could possibly be so important that he'd abandon a stage like this?

Sure enough, Ling Cheng returned from his call and rushed toward Andy and Jacky.

"You're leaving again, aren't you?" Andy asked knowingly.

Ling Cheng hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, Uncle. He woke up. I have to go."

Without waiting for a response, Ling Cheng darted over to Jacky, muttered a single sentence, and vanished from the backstage area.

"What a character," Britney remarked, unfazed by his abrupt departure. "I wonder who this 'he' is that woke up. Or maybe it's a 'she'? Judging by his expression, I'd guess the latter. Interesting."

Shaking her head, she bid farewell to Andy and Jacky and went off to prepare for her performance.