<h4>Chapter 301 - Hey, It’s Me </h4>


    "Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you have all been waiting for has finally arrived. Performing the titr song of his new album for the first time on television, please wee the one and only Jin Chonglin singing "Hey, It’s Me"!!!"


    His army of fans went crazy. They cheered for him and unfurled huge banners saying, "Wee back, Prince Lin Lin! Always #1!" They chanted his name. Many of them even burst into tears. They missed him so much.


    He took a break for only a few months around the same time Iris Long disappeared but the way his fans were acting, it was as if he had been gone for years. His connection to his fans was definitely on a deeper level than what Iris had with the ck Stars. Many of them started following him way back since he debuted during his teens.


    They literally watched him grow and develop into who he was now as one of the most sessful artists in the country. As for the ck Stars, they only formed when Iris made her firsteback after recovering froma.


    Finally, Jin Chonglin appeared on stage. His get-up looked a lot more casual than what he usually wore in his performances before. Nevertheless, he still looked as handsome and charismatic as ever. His natural sex appeal was something that could never be taken away from him no matter how much he changed the way he dressed. At the moment, however, his sex appeal was toned down, overshadowed by a refreshing ease and gentleness in his countenance.


    Another thing that was different from usual was that he was carrying a guitar slung across his shoulder. What was more, he had other musicians and a DJ performing with him. It seemed that he was going to y the music with actual instruments instead of performing a recorded track with his back-up dancers. He looked so different from the usual sexy and shy Jin Chonglin.


    He smiled at everyone as if seeing his old friends. Then he spoke to the microphone.


    "Hey, everyone. It’s me, Jin Chonglin. How are you all doing? Thank you for weing me back. I also missed all of you. This song is very special for me because it reminds me of who I am as an artist, as a musician. I wouldn’t be the Jin Chonglin that I am today without music. So please listen. This is my voice, my music. This is for me and for you."


    Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and began strumming his guitar. The keyboardist harmonized with him, ying a rxing melodious music. Then the DJ added a slow catchy hip hop rhythm.


    Jin Chonglin opened his eyes and began singing in a smooth voice that seemed to cling to the listeners like warm and sweet caramel.


    "The golden sun or the thunderous storm


    Everything has music if you open your heart"


    Then the beat slightly changed and he began semi-singing and semi-rapping in a wonderful pop-rap tune.


    "Hey, it’s me


    Do you wanna know


    Where the music ys in this great big world?


    Close your eyes


    Listen with your heart


    Look deep inside


    You’ll find music everywhere"


    A violinist joined the serene melody, adding more emotion to the music. Jin Chonglin’s army of fans began waving their light sticks up in the air. The ck Stars, the Pandemonium fans and the rest of the audience all followed suit.


    "Hey, it’s me


    Do you wanna know


    That everyone can sing without any words?


    Words are just words


    Sing with your heart and soul


    You can make your own music


    If you just let your feelings flow"


    He looked directly at the camera in front of him. All the people watching him on TV felt like he was looking straight at their souls. They could feel the sincerity of his feelings in this performance.


    "What do I do?


    Who would I be?


    I would be no one without music deep inside me


    Can you imagine a silent world?


    A world without music


    To feed our very souls?"


    Usually, his audience wouldn’t stop screaming or singing with him during his performances. This time, however, the people just savoured the easy melody and his smooth singing while clutching their chests or swaying their hands up in the air.


    Jin Chonglin continued to sing while strumming his guitar. His eyes glistened, as if he was holding back unshed tears.


    "How can I live in a world


    Without the beat of the music?


    Such a world without melody


    Such a world without beauty


    Such a dark, silent world


    Without music filling you and me"


    Some of his fans began sniffing and wiping the corners of their eyes. The song started off as lighthearted—it was still light—but somewhere along the way, their chests just filled up with so much emotions that they couldn’t help but be teary-eyed. The feeling, however, wasn’t sad. It was joyful and somewhat nostalgic.


    "Hey, it’s me


    Listen to my song


    Everything has music


    Just open up your soul


    Look deep inside


    Let it all out


    Sing like a bird


    Sing it to the world"


    The pop-rap melody started to transition into something akin to sentimental bad. The violin and the keyboard made the music soar and Jin Chonglin’s voice followed suit.


    "Life might be rocky


    Life might be hard


    But every day I’m thankful that I’m still alive


    Every day I feel my soul sing like a bird


    Every day I sing my heart out to the world"


    His voice reached impressive high notes but still managed to sound smooth and effortless. He made the feat look so easy. It was incredible.


    Many of his fans started crying, but still continued to sway and wave their hands up in the air. They also started singing along the easy and catchy melody. It was rxing yet still very emotional. They felt like their troubles were melting away while listening to him sing this song.


    Suddenly, he stopped ying his guitar. The keyboardist and the violinist also stopped. It was only the DJ’s slow hip hop rhythm that was left. Then he began singing in a soft voice, just him providing the melody without any musical instruments.


    "Thank you for the music


    Thank you for the beauty"


    He slowly began strumming his guitar again, as he sang thest lines of the song.


    "I am who I am


    Because of the music in...you...and...me~"


    The song ended softly and smoothly like how it began. He closed his eyes, even trembling a bit from the emotions that he could barely hold back from spilling.


    His eyes were still closed when the apuse started like the pitter-pattering of raindrops. The standing ovation was as gentle like his song. It started like a drizzle but then gradually intensified into a heavy rain. More than the sound of the apuse, it was the audience’s emotions that could be felt by everyone in the studio.


    Jin Chonglin finally opened his eyes. They were slightly red. He gave everyone a grateful smile. He raised both of his hands high up in the air and took a bow.


    Backstage, Iris and Pandemonium watched everything on the monitor. The members of Pandemonium looked dazed, still affected by Jin Chonglin’s song.


    Admiration shone in Iris’ eyes. She pped her hands along with the audience.


    "Amazing," she said in a soft voice.