Chapter 51

On Saturday morning, Yang Jingxing arrived at school on time to pick up Yu Xinting and then head to Room 306. A group of girls had already gathered, making final preparations for the evening's five ensemble performances and their individual solos. They would critique and advise each other, even learning from one another. Liu Siwan and Guo Ling could swap roles at any time, both capable of playing the erhu and the huqin. In fact, students in the music college who specialized in traditional Chinese instruments were often versatile, with many proficient in several instruments.

Yang Jingxing focused on their solos. Gao Pianpian and Yu Feifei both played traditional pieces. Chai Litian used a flute for her solo, performing a canon.

Shao Fangjie and Liu Siwan gave a duet erhu performance, echoing each other in a very interesting way. Nian Qing's drumming was truly impressive, with over ten years of experience. Nian Qing and Qi Qingnuo had been friends for many years, and their parents were also acquainted.

Cai Fuxuan's electric guitar performance was outstanding among the girls. She had her own band and often performed at venues, already a seasoned performer.

Wang Rui's pipa performance aimed for a modern touch, but was somewhat limited by the piece and her playing technique, giving it a somewhat middling feel. However, her efforts were still worthy of praise.

From the audience's reaction, Qi Qingnuo's double-manual keyboard performance was the most atmospheric. She played a movie theme song, a powerful piece that effectively stirred the audience's emotions.

Without understanding, one has no right to speak. Yang Jingxing could only listen and watch, as the girls were all dressed beautifully today. However, their styles were not uniform. Cai Fuxuan was very fashionable, while Gao Pianpian appeared more innocent.

Qi Qingnuo seemed to favor a unisex style, wearing a shirt and jeans. But these clothes were not casual; the colors and styles were carefully matched, and they were likely not cheap.

As the girls practiced, Yang Jingxing sat in a corner, enjoying both the music and the sight.

Around eleven, some visitors arrived. Yang Jingxing met Yu Feifei's boyfriend, who was from another school and seemed to be a good match. Cai Fuxuan's partner and boyfriend, a graduate of the music college, was also a trendy man. Liu Siwan's boyfriend, from the management department, was rather quiet. Shao Fangjie also had a boyfriend, who said he would come in the afternoon.

Yang Jingxing felt a bit sad: "Everyone has a boyfriend, I'll leave."

Wang Rui said bluntly: "What's the rush? We're having dinner together, and you still need to help move things and set up the stage in the afternoon."

Cai Fuxuan's boyfriend said: "Don't run away, we're all here to help."

Yang Jingxing said: "I'll come in the afternoon."

Yang Jingxing went to pick up Yu Xinting. Yu Xinting came downstairs with a bunch of bananas, grinning: "Jiajia's mom asked me to give these to you."

Yang Jingxing looked up and shouted: "Thank you."

From upstairs came the reply: "You're welcome, come by anytime."

Yang Jingxing took a detour to refuel before returning to school. He had lunch with Yu Xinting and, of course, met the group from Room 306.

With the boyfriends and Yang Jingxing, an outsider, there were five guys. Qi Qingnuo assigned tasks, saying that with the five of them and the additional help she had called in, they could set up the stage in the small playground in about two to three hours.

The materials for the stage were borrowed from the school, including several large steel frames and boards, which would likely exhaust the helpers.

Qi Qingnuo was popular, having called in several guys from her department, about seven or eight, all eager and ready to work.

They got to work immediately. Over a dozen guys made several trips, moving the materials to the small playground under the supervision of school staff. Each steel frame weighed about 200 to 300 pounds and required five people to move, with Yang Jingxing's help.

After three hours of hard work, a simple stage about 20 square meters wide and over a meter high was set up. The helpers were exhausted, sitting on the ground to catch their breath. Qi Qingnuo and Yu Xinting brought a lot of water to distribute.

Yu Xinting whispered to Yang Jingxing: "The bananas are still in the car, do you want to eat them?"

Yang Jingxing shook his head: "Not enough to share, don't reveal them."

Yu Xinting giggled.

After a short rest, they helped the girls move their instruments and equipment. By four in the afternoon, everything was ready. The weather was perfect, and the night sky would be clear.

After an early dinner, the girls went to get ready. Yang Jingxing and the boyfriends watched over the stage, chatting. Liu Siwan's boyfriend praised Yang Jingxing in front of everyone, making him the center of attention.

By six, the small playground was gradually filling up with people chatting in groups. The girls from Room 306 appeared together, some in new outfits, some not, but all wearing makeup.

Yang Jingxing was amazed. Qi Qingnuo had applied lip gloss, eyeshadow, and a bit of foundation, and wore beautiful earrings, looking much more feminine.

But Yu Xinting hid, covering her face with her hands, not wanting Yang Jingxing to see. However, she didn't cover her face completely, probably to avoid ruining her makeup.

Qi Qingnuo helped Yang Jingxing pull Yu Xinting's hands and said: "Don't worry, anyone I help will be stunning!"

Yang Jingxing finally saw Yu Xinting. Her makeup was similar to Qi Qingnuo's but with a lighter eyeshadow, almost imperceptible. Her naturally long lashes were enhanced with mascara, curling beautifully.

Qi Qingnuo boasted: "Cai Fuxuan's lipstick, Wang Rui's blush, a combination of everyone's skills... the foundation is hard to see, her skin is so good!"

Yang Jingxing was indeed impressed, looking very pleased. He told Yu Xinting: "You should thank her, you look so beautiful!"

Yu Xinting smiled shyly, unable to speak, and grabbed Qi Qingnuo's arm as a thank you.

Yang Jingxing had already prepared a camera and took a close-up of Yu Xinting.

It seemed like the school had its informants. As soon as the girls from Room 306 appeared, the number of spectators in the small playground increased sharply. By 6:30, there were already four to five hundred people. They started to claim the best spots in front of the stage.

Yang Jingxing and Yu Xinting stood with the boyfriends on the left front, ready to be the main fans. An Xin laughed at Yu Xinting's makeup for a while but genuinely said she looked beautiful.

Two first-year composition students also arrived, greeting Yang Jingxing and asking: "You have the time for this?" They felt Yang Jingxing was elusive.

At 6:45, the host, a pretty girl and a friend of Qi Qingnuo but not a member of Room 306, took the stage. She was lively, wishing everyone a happy Singles' Day and saying: "Single men stand on the left, single women on the right, and couples in the middle to be ridiculed!"

She set the mood, making bold statements. She mentioned that a few talented girls from Room 306 were still single, encouraging the boys to make their move before midnight. She also noted that a few of the boyfriends were handsome, inviting the girls to "dig" them.

The audience was cooperative, cheering and heckling under Yang Jingxing's group's lead.

Then the girls from Room 306 took the stage, each introduced to applause. Qi Qingnuo, the fifth to go on, seemed the most popular.

The girls didn't use typical greetings like "How are you all?" or "I've missed you." They got straight to the performance after taking their positions.

The host introduced the first piece, "Contra," boasting that she could get through the first level with thirty people. The arrangement was excellent, lasting eight minutes, with multiple instruments fully utilized and well-coordinated. If a survey were conducted in the music college, most people would know Room 306 for this piece.

The opening notes, played by the entire ensemble, were powerful, serving as a brief prelude. The nostalgic game music brought immediate cheers and applause from the audience.

Actually, Wang Rui had wanted to use this as the finale, but Qi Qingnuo didn't want to stay in the past, so it was placed at the beginning.

The sound system wasn't great, but the overall effect was still good. The erhu and flute stood out, with Liu Siwan fully engaged and Chai Litian playing exceptionally well, showing a mastery of rhythm and force.

The guzheng had potential for a significant role, but Gao Pianpian didn't capture the martial spirit.

Qi Qingnuo's double-manual keyboard was present throughout, but her performance was the least noticeable, using seven or eight different sounds to support the others.

Wang Rui, despite her talkative nature, showed great skill in her pipa performance, taking on a significant role in the piece. She played while looking at her companions and the audience, clearly enjoying herself.

The audience followed the music as if playing the game, cheering and clapping at each level, creating a lively atmosphere. After eight minutes, the game ended, and the audience of six to seven hundred people cheered loudly, the sound likely heard outside the school.

At this point, a boy brought a large bouquet of roses, dozens of them. The audience found this more entertaining and cheered even louder.

The host, microphone in hand, asked the boy: "Are you single?"

"…Yes," the bold boy replied, a bit embarrassed.

"Who are the flowers for? Speak up."

"Qi Qingnuo!" he shouted loudly.

The audience cheered again, and Yang Jingxing clapped and hollered.

Qi Qingnuo didn't want to embarrass anyone, so she walked out from behind the double-manual keyboard, bent down at the edge of the stage to receive the bouquet, and said into the microphone: "Don't misunderstand, this isn't a matchmaking event… but thank you, on behalf of everyone." She then started to distribute the flowers, shouting: "Catch them, happy holiday!"

Qi Qingnuo threw the roses one by one into the audience, like darts. She had a strong arm, throwing them far.

This created a frenzy, with people scrambling to catch the flowers. Qi Qingnuo was biased, throwing several to the families of Room 306. Yang Jingxing jumped high and caught two, laughing triumphantly.

"One for each, wishing you a good boyfriend soon," Yang Jingxing said, giving the flowers to Yu Xinting and An Xin.

An Xin took one, laughing. Yu Xinting also took one, smelling it: "No scent."

Finally, Qi Qingnuo gave one to each member of Room 306, keeping one for herself, and returned to her position. After this interlude, the concert continued. The next part was the solos, in the same order as their entrance, likely based on age.

The solo performances lasted about an hour, each unique and receiving enthusiastic applause. The next two pieces were game adaptations, "Moonlight Legend" and "Super Mario."

"Moonlight Legend" had good musicality, but the arrangement didn't match the brilliance of "Contra." The audience's applause was noticeably less enthusiastic.

"Super Mario," on the other hand, was purely for entertainment, and the audience laughed and cheered.

The final piece was "Clouds Dispersing." The host introduced it grandly, saying it was Room 306's first original composition, without mentioning it was Qi Qingnuo's work.

The prelude featured the flute and erhu, creating a distant and profound atmosphere. The music brought immediate silence to the audience. As an original piece and a premiere, everyone listened attentively, respecting the effort.

The piece lasted six minutes, in a rondo sonata form. While the structure was somewhat simple, the diverse sound colors and varied melodies were undeniable. The harmonies and ensemble playing of various instruments were well-executed, especially after Yang Jingxing's suggestions.

However, the various techniques didn't deviate from the core of the piece, maintaining a good balance of thoughtfulness and musicality throughout.

The melody was beautiful, the rhythm slightly intense. The intimacy of the erhu and flute, the harmony of the jazz drum and yangqin, and especially the synchronized rhythm of the guzheng and electric guitar in the latter part, supported by the melody, gave a fresh and innovative feel.

From the perspective of the music college, "Clouds Dispersing" was undoubtedly a remarkable work, one that might not appear for years. Its listenability was undeniable, though its artistic value might not be fully appreciated by conservatives.

Regardless, the audience clearly enjoyed it. The applause grew gradually, without loud shouting.

When the applause lasted for a minute, Chai Litian's eyes began to tear, and others were moved. Qi Qingnuo, more composed, hugged her companions, genuinely moved.

While others might see Room 306 as a group of girls having fun, they had truly put in a lot of effort. "Fun" was just an attitude, a cover for fear of failure and lack of recognition. The sustained applause of three to four minutes was the reward they deserved.

Yu Xinting, clapping, said to Yang Jingxing: "They are so amazing, I envy them."

Yang Jingxing nodded: "You can be too."

Yu Xinting said: "I now realize how much I don't know."

Yang Jingxing said: "That means you're starting to understand, just like me."

Yu Xinting clenched her fist: "I need to work harder!"

It was still early, only nine o'clock, and the audience was reluctant to leave, many shouting for an encore. The girls from Room 306 were also enthusiastic, seemingly reluctant to let the stage go. After a brief discussion, the host said: "To thank everyone, the girls of Room 306 will perform an impromptu piece, please enjoy."

This time, Qi Qingnuo started without announcing the piece, and everyone recognized it as "Until the End of the World."

Qi Qingnuo had spent some time on this piece, but it wasn't as refined, making it truly impromptu. The double-manual keyboard was used more like an electric piano, with a bit of other sound effects, not comparable to her solo movie theme.

However, it was a nostalgic piece, and the audience quickly cheered.

Qi Qingnuo played for two to three minutes, then let others take over. The same melody was passed around, with Yu Feifei and others taking turns. This continued for about half an hour, with applause breaking out several times.

Finally, Qi Qingnuo said: "That's all for tonight, thank you all. If you want to hear the full version, please look forward to Room 306's next concert, and we hope everyone will no longer be single by then."

Then the twelve girls from Room 306 and the host lined up on stage and bowed.

Page break for AD starts

Page break for AD ends