Chapter 45

After finishing the song "Hypnosis," Cheng Xiaoyu held the microphone and said a few words to warm up the audience, introducing each member of the band. When it came to Xia Shamo, the screams and whistles made her blush, which was quite rare for her, as she usually transformed into a different person when holding the microphone.

The audience passed up many requests for songs and even more notes asking for phone numbers. After the bartender handed them to Cheng Xiaoyu, he coughed into the microphone and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, most of our band members are hardworking high school seniors, working part-time in the bar during winter break. We only perform our own compositions, so we can't fulfill the song requests for now." After saying this, Cheng Xiaoyu put on a mischievous smile and said in a high-pitched voice, "As for those asking for my phone number, I'm already committed to my country, and I can't promise you anything. Besides, with so many of you here, if you can catch my eye, what else can't you achieve? Don't have any unrealistic thoughts about our cute lead singer." This humorous refusal drew laughter from the audience, who found the band very interesting, and their goodwill towards the band increased significantly.

Cheng Xiaoyu paused and continued, "The next song is also our original composition, something you won't hear anywhere else! Please give us a warm round of applause!" As a seasoned bar performer, Cheng Xiaoyu knew how to stir up the atmosphere and was not stingy with his words, especially since Chen Jinglong had been very kind to them. After the applause, Cheng Xiaoyu said, "A song about dreams and perseverance, dedicated to all the brave souls here who are still striving on the path of life. 'Snail,' thank you all."

Chen Jinglong realized he had found a gem. He discovered that Cheng Xiaoyu not only had astonishing musical talent, responsible for both performance and arrangement, but also had a natural flair for hosting. The 300 yuan he paid was more than worth it. Thinking about the future, he was even more satisfied with his risky decision to hire a high school band. He couldn't yet imagine that his bar would become famous in Shanghai because of this risky move.

At that time, the Chinese music scene was dominated by melancholic love songs, which almost monopolized the pop charts. Out of the top ten songs of the year, seven were of this style. Inspirational songs like "Snail" were rare.

Many in the audience were students or young professionals just starting their careers, and they found such songs particularly touching and relatable. Many students raised their phones to record videos. Tired of the sentimental love songs, the fresh and clear, heartfelt voices of the band were a breath of fresh air. Before the song was even over, the vase was once again filled with roses, and the bartender had to count them again. Thinking about it, he removed the vase and replaced it with a blue plastic bucket, as one vase couldn't hold all the love from the audience.

The bar was now packed, with many people called by friends and classmates. It was only a few steps from Jiaotong University and Fudan University, and many were probably looking for a place to hang out, so they all crowded into this small bar called Forest of Lights.

When Xia Shamo finished the climactic final line, "Waiting for the sun to quietly watch its face, a small sky with big dreams, I have my own sky, let the wind dry the tears and sweat, one day I will have my own sky," her performance was much higher than the original, reaching a high B. Thanks to Cheng Xiaoyu's symphonic rearrangement, the song's intensity and expressiveness reached a peak, and the final high note was exhilarating.

The thunderous applause in Forest of Lights attracted more guests from the crowded bar street.

Chen Jinglong, seeing the bar at its capacity, quickly called for someone to guard the entrance and stop more people from entering.

However, for Cheng Xiaoyu and his band, who had experienced the New Year's performance, this crowd wasn't particularly large, though the enthusiasm was unprecedented.

Cheng Xiaoyu said a few words about safety and then started the third song, "Huangpu River," a more mellow tune.

He also sang in this song, and Cheng Xiaoyu had never relaxed his vocal training. After several months of conscious practice, he was confident in performing more challenging songs. However, he didn't have time to rehearse, and he wanted to focus on cultivating Xia Shamo.

Xia Shamo was very familiar with this song and loved singing with Cheng Xiaoyu. The clear piano notes supported her clean and melodious voice, which floated gently in the overheated bar. Cheng Xiaoyu's voice was rich with emotion and layers, adding a unique flavor. The combination of their voices, like tea and milk, created a refreshingly sweet style. This soothing song miraculously calmed the crowded audience. In the bustling Forest of Lights, apart from the music, there was not a single sound, and anyone who spoke would be shushed by those around them.

After "Huangpu River," everyone was left wanting more, wishing the music would never stop.

Cheng Xiaoyu, looking at the packed Forest of Lights, was also quite excited. He said into the microphone, "Thank you all for your support. We hope you enjoy our music. The last song, 'Summer Light Years,' is dedicated to all of us who are young, passionate, and unrepentant! Thank you all."

For this song, Cheng Xiaoyu didn't use the keyboard but picked up the bass. It was also a significant challenge for Xia Shamo, as the high notes required a raw, powerful delivery, a continuous F3, with no room for error. However, Cheng Xiaoyu had great confidence in her vocal abilities.

First, Cheng Xiaoyu's deep, melancholic, and melodic bass notes, intertwined with Huang Yong's guitar lines, set the stage. After the intro, Xia Shamo's gentle yet determined voice came through.

I proudly destroy

I hate the ordinary

Only then do I realize these are what I love

Let summer indulge in play

Put the cruel future

Madly into the light years (and now)

Abandon the rules and love freely

Indulge in the present and forget the future

I won't turn, I won't turn

I won't turn, I won't turn

Simplify the rules

Disrupt the order

This is the youth I love

Let summer indulge in play

Put the cruel future

Madly into the light years (and now)

Abandon the rules and love freely

Indulge in the present and forget the future

I won't turn, I won't turn

I won't turn, I won't turn

After the restrained chorus, the main song burst into a crescendo. Xia Shamo, holding the microphone with both hands, followed the intense drum beats and began to raise her voice.

I want to go crazy, I want to love

I want to go crazy, I want to love now

Ten thousand songs on my MP3, ten thousand times of crazy love

Can't extinguish a tiny loneliness

I want to go crazy, I want to love

I want to go crazy, I want to love now

A summer carnival has reached the light years

Growing up, is it a necessary decay?

The entire bar seemed to be filled with gunpowder. After a high, explosive note, everyone's hearts were on a thin thread, trembling in anticipation of the rolling notes.

Abandon the rules and love freely

Indulge in the present and forget the future

I won't turn, I won't turn

I won't turn, I won't turn

Wo

When the final, raw high notes burst out, Xia Shamo perfectly conveyed the unwavering determination. All the listeners felt a burning, exhilarating sensation.

Cheng Xiaoyu also breathed a sigh of relief. Xia Shamo's performance exceeded his expectations. She brought out the sharp and fierce momentum of "Summer Light Years" and the courage to pursue dreams with unwavering determination.

The entire bar was ignited, with applause and cheers almost tearing the small bar apart. The bucket was filled with roses, and many more people were waiting to buy roses to send up.

Chen Jinglong could only smile bitterly. The roses the band received were worth much more than the performance fee he paid. He was also worried about the future of Forest of Lights without Cheng Xiaoyu and the band.

Cheng Xiaoyu had Xia Shamo say, "Thank you all," and then announced, "Today's performance by Sinful Crown is over. Tomorrow at 9 AM, we'll meet again at Forest of Lights."

The audience called for an encore, but Cheng Xiaoyu pushed Xia Shamo to leave quickly. The unexpected popularity of the performance and the crowded bar made him worry about potential accidents, so he didn't plan to sing any more songs.

The four of them escaped to the backstage dressing room, unable to hide their excitement. Even Chen Haoran, who usually remained calm, was hyped up by the final song, "Summer Light Years," his face flushed with sweat and excitement.

Huang Yong, experiencing such applause and cheers for the first time in a bar, was in a state of excitement but also felt a deep regret for not being a part of the band.

Xia Shamo, on the other hand, seemed less outwardly excited, but the light in her eyes was unmistakable. She had gained more strength and joy from her performance.

Cheng Xiaoyu was also very happy. He realized that good music would always resonate in the right environment, which gave him more confidence to create a new world with his music. He saw himself as a cultural ambassador, sharing good things with everyone and earning a bit of extra income, which wasn't too much to ask.

Wang Ou pushed the door open, his face full of surprise and excitement. Although he was present during rehearsals, he was still overwhelmed by the performance. He stammered, "Do you know how many roses the band received?"

Cheng Xiaoyu, unaware of the roses, asked, "What roses? Did the guests give them to Xia Shamo?"

Huang Yong quickly explained, "The roses given to the band are 10 yuan each and can be cashed out."

Cheng Xiaoyu said, "Oh," not particularly concerned about the money, but still asked, "How many?"

Huang Yong was also curious and looked at Wang Ou.

Wang Ou took a deep breath and said a number that even surprised Cheng Xiaoyu.

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