The comment section instantly descended into chaos.

Passersby: 【Holy crap, it's true? This group is pretty awesome.】

Fans: 【Ah ah ah ah ah, I'm eating melons, I'm believing melons, wait for the official announcement, but if it's true, my girl is amazing!!!】

Rival fans: 【Why are you so eager to be happy? What if they get rejected during the first rehearsal, wouldn't that be embarrassing?】

Fans: 【...】

But it must be admitted, although what the rival fans said was harsh, it was also true.

Groups like 5tars, with a solo program, usually either get replaced or have other people added in.

The Spring Festival Gala, this kind of resource, often leads to greater disappointment with greater hope.

So, the fans also held the same attitude as their idols at the beginning.

Of course, they're happy if they can actually get on, but if it doesn't work out in the end, it's fine to go home for the New Year.

It's unbelievable that the 5tars program actually made it to the very end.

The Spring Festival Gala has changed so many programs, but 5tars' spot has remained stable.

Not to mention the fans.

Even the members of 5tars themselves were puzzled.

After all, in this entertainment industry, business entanglements and exchanges of interests seem to be the norm.

Even the programs on CCTV's Spring Festival Gala, every minute is carefully calculated, there's definitely no such thing as being left in because of good luck.

Even celebrities with bigger names than them have been replaced several times.

Only their program has remained unchanged.

So, Jiang Ye's first reaction was that someone must have some connections and arranged it for them.

Until the last rehearsal.

The director came over to personally check.

The five girls on stage were wearing red dresses, they looked like a group of good young citizens.

After they finished their performance, the director waved to them.

Jiang Ye and her teammates walked over, quite nervous.

This was the last rehearsal.

They shouldn't be changing their program anymore, right?

Unexpectedly, the director gave them a thumbs up, "Good performance."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The director looked at the person in the middle, "Jiang Ye."

Jiang Ye: "Hmm?"

He smiled, "If you remove the children's dance performance, you're the youngest artist on the Spring Festival Gala tonight, how are you feeling? Nervous about your first time on the Spring Festival Gala?"

Jiang Ye's expression relaxed slightly, and she smiled, "Of course I'm nervous, this is the biggest stage in the country. But it's because of this nervous feeling that we can give our best performance on stage."

"It's good, young people, you have courage, confidence, and momentum."

The director said with a sigh, "Youth is good."

"Do you know why I chose you?"

5tars shook their heads.

They were only notified that their program was confirmed, but as for the specific reason, even Yan Jie did not tell them.

The outside world was abuzz with speculation.

Some people were curious about how much influence Guang Ying Entertainment actually had.

Others thought it was because of Cheng Zhen's parents' connections.

Director: "What's the name of the song you're singing?"

Jiang Ye: "《The Best Times》."

"Isn't that obvious?"

The director smiled and said, "Because you're really suitable to interpret this song."

Jiang Ye was slightly stunned, her pupils suddenly widened.

Sure enough.

The Spring Festival Gala had long been outside the reach of ordinary entertainment companies.

It even implicitly represented a country's national spirit.

The director's words proved that mainstream media and even the national direction would be happy to accept their existence.

"Idols first appeared in our field of vision, and they were actually controversial."

"That's why we didn't invite young idols for several years."

"But now times have changed."

"We want to inject more breadth, more inclusiveness, and more blood that represents young people into the Spring Festival Gala, to represent this new generation of power."

The director paused and said, "Actually, choosing you was also controversial at first."

"But I always believed that young people like you, as long as you stand here, you make people feel that the times are moving in a good direction."

Youth, vibrant, full of power.

In a time when spiritual needs are more important than material needs, these five idols chosen by young people not only represent the younger generation, but also represent the shared values of young people.

And 5tars also proved with their skills that they deserve it.

"What are the best times?"

"It's a time when everyone can have their own freedom and dreams."

The director paused and joked, "Maybe the future direction of our country's entertainment industry will be partly carried on your shoulders."

Receiving such high praise, the five girls were all a little overwhelmed.

"What's wrong?"

The director smiled and asked, "Are you nervous because of what I said?"

Jiang Ye shook her head and then nodded, smiling, her nose slightly sour, her eyes welling up, "Thank you for your recognition, we'll keep working hard!"

After this final rehearsal, 5tars hugged each other in the backstage and cried.

There was no company rivalry.

There were no exchanges of interests.

They were simply seen, chosen, and recognized for being themselves, for being the iconic figures of this era.

This was more important than anything to each of them.

They finally understood.

Even in such a complex and cruel entertainment industry, there are still some things that are pure and special.

And that's what they strive for.

•••

New Year's Eve, seven pm.

The orphanage was bustling with activity.

The children were running around inside and outside the yard, chattering and making a lot of noise.

The door opened.

A young man wearing a black down jacket entered the room.

"A Zhou is back?"

"Yeah."

He took off his scarf and said softly, "I just finished dinner, but I still wanted to come see you guys."

The children at the orphanage had a good impression of this big brother.

Because he always brought them gifts whenever he came, and this time was no exception.

The children surrounded He Zhou in the center.

"Big brother, big brother!"

"Long time no see!"

"Are you here to spend the New Year with us today? Will you stay and watch the Spring Festival Gala with us?"

"Yes."

He Zhou patted their heads and said, "I'm here to watch the Spring Festival Gala with you."

•••

Eight pm.

At the Spring Festival Gala venue, all the spotlights lit up.

At this moment, almost all of China's 1.4 billion people were watching TV.

Whether it was a fixed program during New Year's Eve dinner, or background music for family conversations, only when the Spring Festival Gala music started playing did the New Year feel like it had a festive vibe.

5tars' program was around nine pm, a pretty good time slot.

Before going on stage.

Cheng Zhen: "I'm so nervous."

Jiang Ye: "Me too."

Jiang Ye: "After all, this is the first time I'm lip-syncing in my life."

Jiang Ye: "So, I'm very nervous."

Everyone else: "..."

Jiang Ye tilted her head and smiled, "Just kidding, how about it, do you feel better?"

Cheng Zhen sighed in frustration, "Still nervous."

Although the Spring Festival Gala ensured the effect of the program, the songs were basically pre-recorded.

But at the moment of the actual performance, they were still worried that something might go wrong.

It's a global live broadcast.

"Don't be afraid."

Jiang Ye said, "Once you've done it once, you'll have a second and third time, just think of it as practice."

She stretched out her hand, winked at her teammates.

Everyone immediately understood and stacked their hands on hers, encouraging themselves.

This is the biggest stage of their lives.

But it's not the end.

It's the beginning of their bright future.

"Let's go!"

"Take the name 5tars out there, to the whole country, to the Chinese people around the world, to everyone who understands Chinese!"

•••

The recording base in Da Chang.

Zhu Li sat among a group of chattering trainees.

Today was New Year's Eve.

After finishing dinner, the trainees finally had some time to rest, they could gather together and watch the Spring Festival Gala.

"Hey, hey, hey!!! It's starting, it's starting!"

"Is that our senior from last year!!!"

"Oh my god, the seniors are so beautiful!!!"

"It's so good, hey, do you think we'll be able to go on the Spring Festival Gala after we debut?"

"That's thinking too far ahead, we don't even know if we'll make it to the next round!"

Suddenly, someone poked Zhu Li, "Hey, Zhu Li."

"You participated in the competition last year, right? Do you know them?"

Zhu Li looked at the five people on the screen, her eyes welled up, and she nodded vigorously, "Of course I know them!"

"The one in the middle, she's the most perfect idol I've ever seen!"

•••

"Two more bottles of beer!"

At a barbecue stall, Liang Yu was hanging out with her rapper friends.

In the distance, the owner's small TV was playing the Spring Festival Gala.

The moment Liang Yu took the beer bottle, she stared at the screen for a moment and suddenly smiled.

Friend: "What's wrong?"

"Did you see, those five people?"

Liang Yu raised her chin towards her friend.

She popped the bottle cap with a snap, took a gulp, and said with a suppressed pride, "That's my best friend."

•••

The night was dark.

Gu Jin was sitting in a van, preparing to go to her next event.

Even on New Year's Eve, she still didn't have time to rest, she had to run around for work.

Only during the short drive could she use her phone to peek at the Spring Festival Gala broadcast.

The people on the screen were shining brightly.

Gu Jin watched for a moment and then wiped her tears furiously.

The manager noticed her and asked, "What's wrong?"

Gu Jin shook her head, her voice slightly choked, "... She did it."

To become the best, top girl group in China, to leave their mark on this era.

That was the agreement between Jiang Ye and her.

It was also her unfulfilled dream.

Jiang Ye really did it.

•••

"Jiang Ye sister is out!"

"Wow, she's so pretty!"

"She seems even prettier than before!"

"I declare!"

A little boy raised his head and shouted, "From this moment on, Jiang Ye sister is my favorite person!"

The other children were stunned for a second, and then they burst into laughter.

The little boy instantly became embarrassed, his face flushed red.

Only He Zhou patted his head, his voice calm as he agreed, "You have good taste."

"She's my favorite person too."

•••

Jiang Ye held the microphone and sang.

She has a beautiful and energetic face, even facing the CCTV camera, she was still beautiful enough to move countless people.

It makes you feel like it wouldn't be a bad thing if the future was entrusted to young people like her.

This is a good time.

The younger generation will no longer be confined to a rigid life, no longer be told what they should do, it's all up to what they want to do.

In this era, everyone lives a different life.

Some people follow the rules and walk their own path.

Some people go all out on their dream journey.

Some people drift in and out of the entertainment industry for years but never change their initial intentions.

Some people finally shine with confidence after being hidden away.

Some people give up their enviable wealth and fame and make their own way in the world.

Some people spend years in the practice room, sweating every day, just waiting to shine one day.

Some people find their way back to their original aspirations after many twists and turns.

Some people finally spread their wings and fly high after ten years.

We still have youth.

We have an unlimited future.

We can do whatever we want, achieve the dreams we want to achieve.

The last lyrics ended.

The stage lights went down.

Jiang Ye reached out and caught the light, smiling brightly at the camera.

In her life, she has experienced many hardships but also stood on the highest stage, she has had nightmares but ultimately walked the path to the most dazzling stardom.

A chance encounter changed her fate, giving her a second chance, allowing her to be accepted by this inclusive and open era.

And then she became a unique idol legend of this era.

She made everyone who remembers this year say, it's a hopeful era for idols.

It is also an era that belongs to Jiang Ye.