Yuntu TV’s New Year Gala saw FTM as headlining guests performing three consecutive songs.
Whether ballads or singing-dancing tracks, they maintained full live vocals throughout three consecutive songs with stable voices—this group’s ability was unquestionable, absolutely the ceiling of domestic idol business capabilities.
At the moment midnight bells rang at 12 o’clock, FTM had just finished performing.
The five stood at stage center, shouting in unison: “Happy New Year!”
Brilliant streamers filled the stage, fireworks launched outside the stadium—their first time performing around midnight, headlining to accompany audiences through New Year, spending this important moment together.
New year, new beginning.
January 5th was Chinese music industry’s most prestigious Chinese Golden Song Awards ceremony, with FTM invited to attend.
FTM’s second debut year title track “Sunshine Coast” had won Annual Top Ten Golden Songs.
This was their sixth debut year.
Returning to the Golden Song Awards ceremony after many years, all five had complex emotions. Excitement, anticipation, but more anxiety.
Many singers released new albums this year. Annual Golden Songs were 10 tracks—they’d definitely get one. But the most prestigious “Annual Best Music Album” had only one winner.
Could FTM’s second album “Nirvana” actually win?
This album had excellent sales performance, but Golden Song Award judges were industry professionals and renowned music academy expert professors—whether they’d like this album remained unknown.
Awards were announced one by one.
At the most crucial moment, the host’s voice rose: “Next to be announced are the winners of Chinese music industry’s 20XX Annual Top Ten Golden Songs.”
“Fang Yinnian ‘Jiangnan Misty Rain’!”
Named Fang Yinnian froze momentarily, overwhelmed—his solo song actually won an award?
The host continued reading the citation: “After this song performed on CCTV’s ‘Chinese Good Songs,’ it received widespread public acclaim with total collections exceeding 10 million across major music platforms. This Chinese-style song’s arrangement uses numerous traditional instruments with very unique operatic vocal techniques.”
“Congratulations Fang Yinnian, please come to the main stage to prepare for your award.”
Livestream fans screamed with excitement.
“Yinnian’s song actually won! So happy ahhh~”
“This Chinese-style song from his first album was my favorite—the operatic vocals were superb”
“Cross-platform explosive data—award well deserved”
“Yinnian went on stage alone? Don’t his teammates have awards?”
As audiences wondered, the host announced the next song.
“FTM ‘Distance’!”
“This sad ballad made countless listeners cry, its portrayal of unrequited love incredibly sincere. The fresh and natural MV ranked #1 in annual MV viewership across major platforms, with audio collections also exceeding 10 million across all platforms. Let’s congratulate FTM.”
The four below exchanged glances, simultaneously standing and walking on stage to join Fang Yinnian.
Excellent. Yinnian’s solo single “Jiangnan Misty Rain” and FTM’s ballad “Distance” both made the Annual Top Ten Golden Songs—this was truly the most perfect outcome.
Many livestream fans were also celebrating.
“Congratulations, congratulations—double happiness!”
“Distance is indeed beautiful—harmonies are amazing, MV was especially touching”
“Made me cry +1, this is Fang Yinnian’s most heart-wrenching song”
“Why didn’t ‘Nirvana’ win? I think this title track is more awesome!”
“Golden Song Award judges seem to prefer ballads?”
“Dream of Nirvana directly winning the album award~”
The ten Golden Song Award winners were quickly announced.
Besides Fang Yinnian and FTM’s two songs, the other eight selected tracks were all works by renowned powerhouse singers in the music industry.
Everyone lined up on the main stage waiting for awards.
This year’s trophy design was very creative—the base inscribed with “20XX Chinese Golden Song Awards,” topped with a 20cm tall golden logo shaped like a treble clef, round and adorable.
Fang Yinnian held his individual trophy while Mo Xun held the team trophy as everyone happily took photos on stage together.
After receiving awards, the five returned to their seats.
The next moment, they heard the host excitedly announce: “Finally, we present the Chinese Golden Song Award for 【Annual Best Music Album】!”
“As everyone knows, the Best Album honor can only go to one album.”
“This year, Chinese music industry singers released many new albums, but one album not only achieved stunning sales of 60 million, but also received excellent reviews—scoring 9.3 points on rating websites!”
Hearing this, the five seated below couldn’t control their excitement.
It was their second album “Nirvana”!
“This album’s 10 tracks are all noteworthy. The producer’s carefully crafted music album will become Chinese music industry’s most precious treasure.”
“Congratulations to FTM’s ‘Nirvana’ for winning Annual Best Music Album’s supreme honor!”
“Please welcome FTM’s five members on stage once again to receive their award.”
In the livestream, musical notes were moved to tears.
This was the Chinese Golden Song Award’s Best Album—only one per year, the music industry’s most prestigious award!
The reunited music group finally received industry recognition.
This album was truly a “hexagonal warrior” with no weaknesses—sales broke digital album records, critical rating 9.3 points, all 4 singing-dancing tracks had noteworthy choreography, and 6 ballads were each better than the last.
This album deserved Best Album—everyone was convinced.
The five had just received Ten Golden Songs awards and immediately went back on stage for Best Album.
The Chinese Music Association president personally presented their trophy.
Fang Yinnian smiled but his eyes couldn’t help reddening.
This album consumed countless days and nights while he studied abroad, with every note repeatedly polished. Back then he wasn’t certain whether FTM could truly reunite—he just wrote songs for teammates with hope and longing, wishing someday everyone could perform these works on stage.
Fortunately, his dreams didn’t fall empty.
FTM smoothly reunited and returned. Their completely self-created album also won Chinese music industry’s most prestigious Golden Song Annual Album Award—nothing could be better reward!
Mo Xun saw Fang Yinnian’s reddened eyes and couldn’t help turning around, forcefully pulling him into his arms.
The man’s low voice sounded in his ear: “Yinnian, you’re truly amazing.”
Fang Yinnian tightly hugged him back, choking up: “You’re amazing too. I know you sacrificed a lot. FTM’s ability to reunite relied on your careful planning as captain.”
Opening companies, building bases, sending his sister undercover to catch Tao Yizhou’s dirt, negotiating with Sheng Yao to reclaim FTM usage rights—Mo Xun had truly devoted enormous effort to their team these two years.
He was the world’s best captain.
Mo Xun smiled while patting Fang Yinnian’s shoulder, temporarily releasing him before extending both arms to pull the other three teammates over.
The five hugged together on stage, excitedly celebrating this glorious moment.
Livestream fans were also happy for FTM.
This was truly a beautiful scene fans never dreamed of.
Reunion, reaching the top, winning awards, with national tour concerts coming next.
As FTM fans, they were truly too happy this year!
***
The hashtag #FTM Chinese Golden Song Awards# topped Weibo trending, triggering internet-wide discussion.
Fang Yinnian individually and FTM as a team both had songs selected for Top Ten Golden Songs, with “Nirvana” also winning Annual Best Album. FTM swept three high-value trophies at this year’s Golden Song Awards—truly returning with full honors.
After the ceremony, the five flew back to Jiangzhou overnight.
Jiangzhou Airport was only 30 minutes’ drive from their base. After everyone returned to their new home, they immediately placed trophies in the display cabinet behind the first-floor living room sofa.
This was the glass display cabinet Mo Xun designed during renovation, specifically for trophy storage.
Inside were their original “Music Billboard” three consecutive championship trophies, first Chinese Golden Song Award, plus this year’s three Golden Song trophies. Mo Xun placed the newly won three trophies in the display cabinet’s center position.
Many empty spaces remained nearby. Xiao Fei excitedly said: “We’ll win more awards in the future—how about filling this entire wall of display cabinets in a few years?”
Tan Junwen laughed: “How many songs would that require?”
Fang Yinnian said: “We’ve only released our second album. We should release at least one album per year going forward. By age 40, we could have 10 albums and definitely fill this space with trophies.”
Xiao Fei said excitedly: “Whoa, will we still be able to dance at 40?”
Tang Che said flatly: “By then our fans will have become parents, grandparents, bringing children and grandchildren to concerts saying: ‘This is the boy group mom/dad or grandma/grandpa once supported?'”
Everyone burst into laughter.
Fu Fei: “Hahaha, idols in their forties and fifties still singing and dancing?”
Tan Junwen helplessly face-palmed: “Spare me, please.”
Fang Yinnian chuckled: “If we can’t dance by then, we’ll dance less and arrange more ballads. Old idols with sore backs and legs can sit on stage singing ballads together.”
Everyone: “…”
That scene actually seemed quite beautiful. Being able to sing with good friends into old age would be incredibly happy. But could their group last that long? Could they still hold concerts at 40?
Regardless, they’d try their best!
Maybe they’d set precedent.
***
The next day, the five slept in before energetically meeting with concert organizers alongside Xu Baichuan.
Xu Baichuan found a very reputable organizing company in the industry.
This company had organized national tours for major singers like Xie Shiqi and He Yan, with very rich experience and unquestionably top-tier industry stage construction capabilities.
Of course, such organizers would charge higher fees.
Fortunately, FTM had recently earned considerable money from endorsements and gala appearances.
Xu Baichuan said decisively: “Starting from Jiangzhou, rent the local largest 50,000-person Asian Games Center Stadium as a four-sided stage.”
Organizers asked: “Do you have a budget for stage construction costs?”
Xu Baichuan replied: “Starting from 10 million, design according to top-tier stage aesthetics.”
All five were surprised hearing this—their manager was too generous! Money really made one bold!
Xu Baichuan looked at the five, smiling: “You’ve rarely reunited as a group—building a beautiful stage counts as benefits for you and your fans.”
All five nodded in unison.
As singers, who wouldn’t want to perform on beautiful stages?
Ten-million-yuan stage construction rivaled major TV networks’ New Year galas.
Such concerts would absolutely be worth ticket prices for those attending.
Xu Baichuan continued: “Do you five want to design the stage style yourselves, or directly leave it to the organizing company for their designs?”
Mo Xun said: “Let’s create a theme ourselves, then have organizers provide some proposals.”
Fang Yinnian asked: “Can stages in different cities have some variations?”
Organizers replied: “Generally, singers doing national tours have some differences in each city’s stage design. To save money, you could just vary colors and decorations. If cost isn’t a concern, completely overhauling entire stages is no problem.”
Tan Junwen’s eyes lit up: “Then we could try different stage aesthetics? Like gaming style, ancient style, cyberpunk sci-fi, interstellar mechanical, post-apocalyptic wasteland, etc.”
The art student’s imagination was running wild.
Fu Fei asked in surprise: “Changing style each show—what would that cost!”
Fang Yinnian asked organizers: “Concerts generally… won’t lose money, right?”
Organizers said: “As long as tickets sell out, they usually profit. If tickets don’t sell, such high stage construction costs would definitely bankrupt you. I think you should carefully consider—first set dates and see ticket sales?”
Xu Baichuan thought: “Alright, first contact venues. Building such large stages requires at least one week’s rental—venue scheduling must be confirmed quickly.”
Organizers: “Good, we’ll contact immediately.”
Jiangzhou’s Asian Sports Center was a 50,000-person large venue. Domestic singers with average fame dared not hold such large-scale concerts—large venue rentals and stage construction costs would double, risking losses if tickets didn’t sell out.
Only first-tier singers dared open national large stadium tours.
Jiangzhou Stadium already had a singer scheduled for January 25th, so organizers ultimately rented February 1-7 week’s slot.
Days 1-4 for stage construction, 5-6 for rehearsals, and February 7th for the official performance.
Ticketing platforms were also contacted.
FTM’s 20XX “Nirvana” National Tour would land in Jiangzhou on February 7th—once this news was released, concert enthusiasts immediately rolled up their sleeves, setting alarm clocks on ticketing websites to prepare for the rush.
January 7th, FTM’s fan club released 5,000 “fan priority purchase” internal tickets. In less than 3 seconds, all 5,000 priority tickets were sold out.
Countless fans cried online: “Ahhh didn’t get any!”
“My god what hand speed? I timed it perfectly to the second and still didn’t get tickets?”
“Only releasing 5,000 fan tickets—how is that enough? You five should know your own popularity! Each person individually has tens of thousands of active fans—together you have hundreds of thousands!”
“I nearly broke my phone screen tapping—too many people made the network lag, payment failed 5555.”
