The song "I Crossed the Ocean to See You" was tailor-made by Lu Chen for Chen Fei'er's new album.
Chen Fei'er's new album marked a turning point in her career, with a very clear direction: abandoning her previous sweet-pop style and fully transitioning to a love-song concept.
For any vagabond singer, especially one who has already made a name for themselves, such a transformation is never simple.
Fans are already accustomed to her established style, and over time, they've developed a strong attachment to that type of music. A sudden change can be difficult for them to accept; it can trigger feelings of discomfort or even resistance, lowering overall acceptance.
In the history of pop music, failed transformations are common. Some singers never recover, some persist but fade into mediocrity, and others try to return to their old style only to find there's no way back.
Even for Chen Fei'er, this new album was approached with extreme caution. She preferred to delay its release rather than let it have any flaws. To ensure this, she turned down numerous appearances, commercial performances, and endorsements, dedicating herself entirely to the recording room at Flying Stone Records.
As Chen Fei'er's partner, Lu Chen naturally took full responsibility, devoting himself to helping her complete the album.
Actually, transitioning from sweet-pop to love songs isn't such a massive leap. If Chen Fei'er, known for her sweet-pop hits like Heavenly Queen / Days Later, had attempted rock or R&B, that would have been a near-impossible challenge. She had previously released love songs, so fan acceptance was still relatively high.
The real key lay in the album itself. Without strong, solid, or even classic tracks, success couldn't be guaranteed.
To this end, Lu Chen wrote six songs for Chen Fei'er, and "I Crossed the Ocean to See You" was one of them.
The song carries a beautiful melody and intense emotion, tinged with melancholy and longing. It expresses a persistent pursuit of love that touches the heart deeply.
Chen Fei'er possesses a Tian Lai (Heavenly Sound) quality in her voice. Her vocal tone is extremely distinctive, instantly recognizable by her fans, giving her a unique personal signature.
Her sweet songs are charming and melodious, like a spring breeze, comforting, warm, and pleasant.
When singing love songs, her vocal characteristics don't change fundamentally, but the tone deepens with warmth and tenderness, adding a subtle magnetic quality that perfectly conveys the emotion of the song.
Especially when this Heavenly Queen / Days Later sings and plays the piano with heartfelt expression, millions of fans watching the livestream are captivated.
"...
Stranger city,
In familiar corners.
We comforted each other,
We embraced and sighed,
No matter what ending awaits.
Amidst the endless wind and sand,
Watching you leave,
I am overwhelmed with sorrow.
How I long to send you a thousand miles away,
Until mountains end and waters dry,
To spend my life depending on you!
..."
At the chorus, Chen Fei'er intensified her performance, plucking the piano strings with added strength. Within the familiar tenderness, there was now a resolute courage, a fearless commitment, elevating the song's emotional theme.
For a ten-track album, every song was practiced repeatedly. "I Crossed the Ocean to See You" was no exception. Even outside a professional recording room or a dazzling stage, she delivered the aura of a true superstar.
Leaning against the piano, Lu Chen watched Chen Fei'er intently, eyes unwavering, and though their relationship was intimate, what he saw was a vagabond singer undergoing a glamorous transformation.
So moving!
Chen Fei'er's voice seemed magical, capable of piercing through space and reaching every listener's ears, touching their hearts.
Viewers flooding into Lu Chen's livestream kept growing, quickly surpassing the two-million mark.
Among them were several super administrators from Whale TV.
They, too, were there to listen.
When Lu Chen unexpectedly started the livestream that night, Whale TV immediately noticed. Administrators quickly ran a homepage advertisement, attracting countless casual viewers.
Before Chen Fei'er appeared, the livestream had around 1.5 million viewers. After her appearance, within minutes, the numbers surged, as fans rushed over to watch, nearly overwhelming the servers.
Whale TV had hosted many celebrity livestreams before, but this was the first time a star couple livestreamed together, especially Lu Chen and Chen Fei'er, currently the hottest celebrity couple in the entertainment circle.
Online news spread at lightning speed through blogs, forums, WeChat groups, and countless other platforms. Many people who had never used Whale TV before clicked the link out of curiosity.
Yet despite the massive audience, Lu Chen's livestream remained remarkably orderly. Fans respected viewing etiquette, and the screen was barely cluttered with distracting comments.
Some viewers, either overly excited or deliberately trolling, were immediately kicked out by the super admins, who cleared the screen.
"Fuck, how dare you mess around during Chen Fei'er's livestream! Consider yourself banned, no discussion!"
This unscheduled celebrity couple livestream was pure gold for Whale TV, a kind of publicity that even huge investments usually couldn't buy. The platform would never allow anyone to ruin it.
Unfortunately, Chen Fei'er had only done it on a whim; she hadn't planned to play for long.
After finishing the song, she smiled at the microphone and said, "I Crossed the Ocean to See You, I hope you all like it! My new album will be released next week, so please support it when it comes out!"
The Heavenly Queen / Days Later playfully saluted with clasped fists, then handed the guitar back to Lu Chen.
Fans in the livestream erupted again!
"Aaahhh～"
"Fei'er, don't leave! Sing one more song for us!"
"It's so beautiful, can't you sing just one more?"
"Stay! We beg you to stay!"
"I'll buy your entire album, just sing one more song, please, crying!"
"555～ I want to hear it again!"
"Sing one more +1!"
Fans begged and lamented, desperate for Chen Fei'er to continue singing, while others tried to persuade her with actual action, sending gifts! Simple Fish Balls were too weak, hundreds or thousands felt like child's play; wealthy fans sent full aircraft carriers directly.
On the screen, one after another appeared, dense enough to block the view, so many it was terrifying!
Among Whale TV's many streamers, some had livestreamed for years without ever earning even a single aircraft carrier in gifts. Chen Fei'er, just showing up and singing lightly, earned hundreds.
In terms of gift points (CDs), many famous streamers would have fainted from excitement at this sum. But Chen Fei'er didn't feel anything special; she only had a basic understanding of livestreaming and hadn't realized how terrifying these rewards were.
Still, she could clearly feel the fans' enthusiasm.
"Thank you all so much! If you want to hear more great songs, please buy the album!"
The Heavenly Queen had seen every kind of scene in her career. She was moved, yes, but she didn't fulfill all fans' wishes. Singing a second song would only prompt demands for a third, it would never end.
She cleverly gave another plug for her new album and then left decisively!
The livestream immediately descended into wails of disappointment.
Lu Chen returned to his seat, cleared his throat, and said, "Thank you all for the support. Alright, I'll sing this song one more time for everyone!"
Fans grumbled, but they understood it couldn't be forced. While some were still dissatisfied, most accepted it.
To soothe the mood, Lu Chen performed "I Crossed the Ocean to See You" again.
In his memory, this song had been covered by many famous vagabond singers, each giving it a unique style, flavor, and nuance, turning it into a timeless classic.
Compared to Chen Fei'er's tender and delicate rendition, Lu Chen's performance was firmer and more rugged, with a deeper emotional weight and a hint of folk music style.
Equally beautiful.
For millions of fans, hearing two different interpretations of a brand-new song was a delightful, rare experience, a true treasure.
It wasn't until after 11 p.m. that Lu Chen ended the livestream, his voice slightly hoarse from singing.
Of course, the rewards were substantial: from gift revenue alone, he had earned over 1,000,000+ points.
Even though Lu Chen now operated at a scale of millions or tens of millions for projects, he couldn't help but marvel at fans' enthusiasm over this extra income.
However, at least half of that 1,000,000+ came thanks to Chen Fei'er.
"So much?"
Chen Fei'er, still in her bedroom reading the script, was surprised by Lu Chen's report.
Making that much money seemed almost too easy.
She had appeared for less than ten minutes in total, and it was all earned from the comfort of her own home.
Lu Chen lay down beside her, smiling: "Once the money is in, I'll transfer half to you."
"Really necessary?"
Chen Fei'er rolled her eyes at him. Did the great Heavenly Queen / Days Later need to fuss over such small change? Their relationship didn't require that kind of accounting.
Lu Chen, determined not to freeload, thought for a moment: "Alright, here's the plan: I'll deposit this money into another card. Later, whenever we go out to eat or travel, we'll use this card. How about that?"
Chen Fei'er's eyes lit up, setting her script aside: "A dating fund? That's a great idea!"
(End of chapter)
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