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For any celebrity, the most crucial asset isn't their looks, talent, or skills, but their fans.
Fans largely determine an artist's status and value, so increasing popularity and maintaining fan loyalty are paramount.
Lu Chen had debuted relatively recently, but thanks to his exceptional achievements in music and acting, he had accumulated a level of popularity and a fan base that most artists could only dream of reaching within just over a year.
However, Lu Chen's schedule was incredibly demanding. He rarely accepted ordinary endorsements, which limited his opportunities to interact directly with fans. He mostly relied on his blog to engage with them.
This was clearly insufficient.
True superstars often nurture their fan bases for decades. In contrast, Lu Chen's foundation was still shallow. His current popularity and fame were like a magnificent mansion built on sand; a single storm could bring it crashing down.
In the fiercely competitive entertainment industry, such situations were common. Many artists rose to fame overnight only to fade into obscurity. Only a select few superstars managed to remain at the pinnacle.
Lu Chen was well aware of his weaknesses, which is why this album promotion event was a crucial step in strengthening his bond with his fans.
His fan base was primarily young, and even when some were immature or stubborn, he always treated them with ample tolerance and kindness.
"Good evening, everyone. I'm Lu Chen."
Holding Hao Lulu's hand, Lu Chen stood at the center of the stage, bathed in the spotlight.
He smiled and said, "Thank you all for coming to this fan meet!"
"Ah!"
The crowd erupted in screams and cheers. Many fans vigorously clapped their light sticks, while others raised fluorescent signs bearing Lu Chen's name, sending the atmosphere into a frenzy.
When the noise finally subsided slightly, Lu Chen continued, "You must all be curious. Everyone's wondering who this little sister beside me is, right?"
He was, of course, referring to Hao Lulu.
Hao Lulu's face was flushed crimson, a mix of excitement and nervousness leaving her speechless. She felt as if she were dreaming.
In fact, many fans were visibly surprised and curious when Lu Chen brought her onto the stage.
Since they didn't recognize Hao Lulu, the fans were curious why Lu Chen had brought her onstage.
After a brief pause, Lu Chen revealed the mystery: "This young lady's name is Hao Lulu. She got lost inside earlier and I happened to find her. Does anyone here know her?"
Someone immediately called out, "Hao Lulu!"
Lu Chen seized the opportunity: "That's wonderful! Please, her parent, take her back now."
The fans burst into laughter.
It was clear to everyone that Hao Lulu must be a bold fan of Lu Chen's, the kind who would dare to sneak backstage.
After escorting Hao Lulu offstage to reunite with her friends, Lu Chen had smoothly resolved the minor incident.
He settled onto the stool that had been prepared for him, adjusted the wireless microphone clipped to his head, and picked up the guitar resting beside him.
Holding the guitar in his arms, Lu Chen first bowed his head to test the tuning.
He gazed out at the audience and smiled, saying, "Before we begin today's concert, I'd like to share a little secret about this guitar in my hands."
The fans' cheers quickly faded as everyone strained to hear Lu Chen's words.
"This guitar was a gift from my sister for my 18th birthday. To buy it, she spent all her savings."
"Although I can now afford guitars ten or even a hundred times more expensive, in my heart, none can compare to this one. It's my most precious and cherished companion."
"It's been with me through my darkest times."
"That's why I brought it here specially today."
"I want to use this guitar to tell you all that you, and friends like you, are the most precious and cherished in my heart. Thank you for your unwavering support all this time!"
Lu Chen stood up again, head held high, and declared loudly, "An 'Ordinary Road' for you!"
Whoosh!
The venue erupted in thunderous applause. The backing track began simultaneously, and the giant screen behind Lu Chen displayed the promotional MV for "Ordinary Road."
"Wandering, on the road, do you want to go, viavia? Fragile, yet proud."
"I've crossed mountains and seas, and passed through crowds of people. I once had everything."
This song, "Ordinary Road," kicked off the fan meeting. Though it was just the opening promotional track, Lu Chen still poured all his emotion into singing it again.
Looking back, the events of the past seemed as vivid as if they had happened yesterday. Sometimes, Lu Chen couldn't tell if he was awake or dreaming, because everything had happened so quickly.
He had once been lost and anxious, afraid that one day he would wake up and realize it was all a dream, and he was still that insignificant person struggling in the underbelly of the capital, just trying to survive and pay off his debts.
But now, Lu Chen had found his true path. He was no longer lost or uncertain. He had his own dreams and ambitions, and loved ones he needed to protect.
Even if the road ahead was fraught with challenges, he feared nothing!
"Deep down, this is the only path I must walk!"
Beyond the hundreds of fans present, a camera positioned at the back of the audience focused solely on Lu Chen, capturing his image and transmitting it to Whale TV's live streaming room, where it appeared on the screens of millions of fans worldwide.
Only a select few lucky fans had received invitations to attend the event in person. The vast majority could only participate through this virtual means, listening to Lu Chen's voice and joining the musical celebration.
Whale TV was also a partner in Lu Chen's new album promotion campaign. To support the live streaming of this event and his upcoming fan meetups in six major cities, the platform had prominently advertised the broadcasts on its homepage well in advance.
As soon as the live stream began, the online audience count easily surpassed one million, rapidly climbing toward even higher peaks.
Li Feiyu was in charge of the live stream at the Workshop in the Capital City, keeping the atmosphere in the live streaming room in a constant state of excitement.
So, even though this fan meeting was relatively small-scale, even drawing fewer viewers than a typical work announcement or endorsement event, the truth was that the number of fans who genuinely supported Lu Chen was enormous!
(End Of This Chapter)