The opening ceremony was held in the university stadium.
Sichuan College's stadium ranked second in the entire city, with a capacity of over twenty thousand people.
After arriving at school, Zhang Yichen didn't head to his classroom. Instead, he led Chen Xiaoxi and the baby straight to the stadium, carefully choosing a spot off to the side. With a child in tow, sitting in the middle would only inconvenience others.
Meanwhile, Li Yue went to sign in and explain Yichen's situation to their class advisor. By the time she returned to the stadium and found them, the ceremony was about to begin.
Opening ceremonies were the same all across the country:
First, the host came on stage with a round of polite flattery, followed by the principal's speech.
As expected, the speech was nothing new—praising the school, promising a bright future, filled with enthusiasm and lofty visions.
The address dragged on for over half an hour before finally nearing its end. And at the very end, the principal began praising Zhang Yichen to the heavens, calling him a once-in-a-generation talent, a shining jewel of the college.
Even Yichen felt embarrassed by the exaggeration.
Finally, as the highlight of the morning, he was invited to the stage.
"Respected leaders, teachers, fellow and junior students—good morning! My name is Zhang Yichen…"
Like everyone else, he couldn't escape the clichés. After a bit of polite flattery and a brief introduction, he cut straight to the point.
"As for a speech, I won't bore everyone with the usual talk about studying hard or why I chose this college. There's nothing new in that.
"Many of you know I study music. Since the school gave me ten minutes to speak, I'll use the rest of the time to sing you a song instead!"
"The song is called I Believe. Could the fellow student at the tech booth please help play the backing track?"
With that, Yichen pulled a USB drive from his pocket and handed it to the staff at the side of the stage.
The student froze for a moment. This wasn't part of the plan. Should he really play it?
"Do as he says." The principal's voice came through his headset.
With the order given, the senior quickly loaded the track.
"This song is my original. In five days, it will be released along with a few others on major music platforms. If you like it, please download it then."
Taking advantage of the short wait, Yichen promoted himself openly.
Today, the stadium was nearly 70–80% full—around fifteen to sixteen thousand people. Not advertising here would be a waste.
"Oh, one more thing," Yichen added with a smile. "Any of my songs—no matter who you are—you're free to cover them however you like. I'll never pursue any legal action."
The moment he said this, the crowd erupted in shock.
But off to the side, both Xiaoxi and Yue looked worried.
Such a declaration could provoke the hostility of the entire music industry. After all, not all covers were the same. Non-profit covers didn't require licensing—like singing at a school ceremony. But commercial use was different. Bars, streaming platforms, live shows—those required copyright fees.
For popular songs, cover rights could generate huge profits.
So was Yichen waiving them because his songs weren't worth anything? Or because he was confident that no cover could surpass his originals?
Either way, Yichen didn't care.
Because the music had already started.
The stirring, powerful melody surged through the speakers, filling every corner of the stadium.
"This beat is amazing!"
"Not just the song—he's handsome too!"
"Just from the intro, I feel fired up already!"
"As expected of the national top scorer. He really isn't ordinary."
Even before the lyrics began, the audience was buzzing with excitement.
「Hey yeah~~」
「Oh—oh~~」
Yichen's clear, powerful voice cut through the air, instantly igniting the atmosphere. Thousands of hands rose and swayed in time with his gestures.
「I want to soar above and touch the blazing sun」「The world awaits the change that I'll become」「The dreams I chase, I'll never hide away」「Right here, right now—I'll make them real today」
Just a few simple, direct lines—yet they carried an unstoppable conviction.
「Laugh out loud, stand tall beside my friends」「Joy is found wherever the road bends」「Leave behind your fears, take every stride」「I'll shine my light with pride inside」
His voice rose higher and higher, almost breaking through the clouds. The audience was swept up in the climax, countless voices joining in the chorus.
「I believe—I am myself, I believe in tomorrow」「I believe youth knows no end, no shadow」「By the sunset shore, or the city's heartbeat」「Every place can be my dream's retreat」
「I believe in freedom, I believe in hope」「I believe I can reach the sky I've always known」「With you by my side, every dawn feels new」「Every breath I take shines because of you」「I do believe—!」
Each lyric radiated optimism and unshakable hope for the future.
The music swelled toward its finale, yet the energy of the crowd never waned. Even after the last note, no one wanted the moment to end.
Only when the next program began did the stadium slowly return to reality.
By then, Yichen was already back in his seat.
"You were amazing!" Xiaoxi's simple words were filled with raw admiration.
"Not bad. A promising start." Yue's praise sounded half-hearted, but there was truth in it.
Yichen only smiled, a glint of pride in his eyes though he kept his tone light.
"Just okay. Mostly thanks to everyone's support."
Xiaoxi turned, gazing at his sharp profile, her eyes soft and tender.
"You really are talented. I was completely drawn in just now."
Yue rolled her eyes. "Alright, enough. If you keep praising him, he'll float away."
Xiaoxi lowered her head with a shy laugh, fiddling with the corner of her sleeve, her heart brimming with sweetness.
Her gaze fell on the baby in the stroller, and she suddenly thought of something.
"Did you bring the formula?"
"Formula? Of course." Yichen reached under the stroller and pulled out a thermos and a can of powder.
"Does she need it now?"
Xiaoxi nodded, taking them gently.
"You're so thoughtful. I noticed her smacking her lips earlier—she must be hungry."
"Of course. I've made up my mind to be a good dad." His eyes softened with affection.
Completely forgetting, of course, his occasional stealing of the baby's milk.
Yue, watching from the side, shook her head.
"You two are unbelievable. All you ever do is torture us poor single people."
"Yue." Xiaoxi's cheeks flushed as she glared at her.
"You always tease me."
Yichen ignored their bickering. The baby was hungry—this was his time to step up as a father.