Chapter 49

As the four girls burst into laughter, the music on the performance stage began to soar. At first, the people in the booth didn't take it seriously, thinking that Cheng Xiaoyu's band wouldn't be able to create much of a splash. Su Yuxi knew Cheng Xiaoyu was talented, but she also thought that songs of the caliber of the New Year's performance wouldn't just appear out of nowhere. What she didn't know was that Cheng Xiaoyu wasn't an ordinary person but a穿越者, with a wealth of classic songs in his head.

As soon as the music rhythm started, everyone could tell it was different. They straightened up and began to listen attentively.

When the rapid snare drum beats created a tense atmosphere in the forest of lights, the intense and distorted guitar playing came in like a stroke of genius. Cheng Xiaoyu's accompaniment followed gracefully, laying a magnificent and uplifting foundation. The grand symphonic background was thus created. Xia Shamo, with one hand holding the amplifier and the other the microphone stand, produced a sound like a blunt pair of scissors, cutting through the heavy and luxurious background, creating a cacophony of tearing silk.

Cheng Xiaoyu's "Flowers in Full Bloom" combined the arrangements of Xiao Jingting and Wang Fei's versions, with a stronger rock flavor and less symphonic complexity. However, Xia Shamo's singing style still followed Wang Fei's ethereal and mysterious approach. The Cheng Xiaoyu version, combining the strengths of both, had a unique charm.

Every ant

Has eyes and a nose

Whether it is beautiful

Or deviates by a hair

What does it matter

Every person

Cries when sad

Eats when hungry

The difference is no more than heaven and earth

What is exciting

There is too much magic

Too little reason

There are too many games

Just for curiosity

What is worth

Going to extremes

For what

Being utterly devoted

One by one, idols

Are no different

Idols we were obsessed with

Disappeared one by one

Who has committed great sins

Who is God

We are waiting

For what miracle

In the end, only ourselves remain

Unwilling to be picky

In the end, facing ourselves

We don't even respect ourselves

Who gives me the whole world

I will doubt

The heart blooms

But blooms to the end

Every ant

Has eyes and a nose

Whether it is beautiful

Or deviates by a hair

What does it matter

Every person

Cries when sad

Eats when hungry

The difference is no more than heaven and earth

What is exciting

There is too much magic

Too little reason

There are too many games

Just for curiosity

What is worth

Going to extremes

For what

Being utterly devoted

One by one, idols

Are no different

Idols we were obsessed with

Disappeared one by one

Who has committed great sins

Who is God

We are waiting

For what miracle

In the end, only ourselves remain

Unwilling to be picky

In the end, facing ourselves

We don't even respect ourselves

Who gives me the whole world

I will doubt

The heart blooms

But blooms to the end

One by one, people

Who is more beautiful

One by one, people

Who is sweeter

One by one, people

Who is easier

What is so great

One by one, people

Who is more beautiful

One by one, people

Who is sweeter

One by one, people

Who is easier

What is so great

Every ant

Passing by whom

So neatly

What does it matter

Every person

Meeting the one they love

Yet with lingering fear.

After the song ended, Li Ling'er jumped up in surprise and said, "Damn, this band is too awesome! This is better than the performances by Nirvana and Myth. It's so exciting to play pop music like this. Are they really high school students?"

Tang Wenqian, with a look of disbelief, leaned over to Xu Qinling and said, "I didn't expect Su Yuxi's brother's band to be so amazing. I missed their performance at the New Year's show, which was a real pity. Oh, I really like that girl who sang!"

Xu Qinling was also a bit surprised. Although the New Year's show had left a strong impression on her, she thought Cheng Xiaoyu's talent was limited to a few tricks. She didn't expect this surprise to come so quickly. She suppressed her shock and said to Tang Wenqian, "Their performance at the New Year's show was even better. They are indeed different from ordinary bands and have some real skills."

Li Ling'er turned to Su Yuxi and said, "Sister Yuxi, you must introduce us later. I really regret not meeting them earlier. This is way better than those love songs! No wonder this bar is so popular. It would be a shame if it weren't!"

Su Yuxi smiled and replied, "It's not hard to meet them. Your sister Qinling is close to him. They've even had dinner together."

Then Li Ling'er and Tang Wenqian started to laugh and tease Xu Qinling, asking her what was going on.

Xu Qinling couldn't resist the two "little devils" and said, "Let's listen to the song first, and I'll tell you later."

Huang Xiaqi, sitting on the side, scratched his head, wanting to get closer to Su Yuxi but couldn't find a way to join the conversation. He could only listen to the four girls laughing and chatting. He hadn't really paid attention to the song, just secretly watching Su Yuxi.

After the applause, everyone's attention was on Xia Shamo, who had become even more beautiful. However, Su Yuxi and Xu Qinling were looking at Cheng Xiaoyu, who was behind the keyboard.

Cheng Xiaoyu was also looking at the audience, trying to find his target, but there were too many people, and the lighting in the hall was dim and ambiguous, giving him no chance to find anyone. Cheng Xiaoyu had to give up.

After thanking the audience for the roses, the band Crown of Sin began their second song, "Brave" (BGM: Li Jiawei's "Brave" from I Am a Singer).

In the darkness, hands reach out silently

The cold air, like fire, pulls back in fear

The road is too long, who can see forever

Forgot how to walk with you, how to understand

In memory, love should always be gentle

With all this, there's no fear of the night

I've been weak for too long, decided to live bravely alone

Can't say it, it's so tormenting

Bravely let go, the city is full of fleeting fireworks

Nowhere to hide, illuminating the silence, understanding loneliness

Who said love makes you feel trapped

So I won't wait, let go and pursue

Too many happiness and joy as excuses

Who made me finally own the pain

I've been weak for too long, decided to live bravely alone

Can't say it, it's so tormenting

Bravely let go, the city is full of fleeting fireworks

Nowhere to hide, illuminating the silence, love is loneliness

The night is too dark, can't see you by my side

Heart aches, tears lose their guard, OH~

I've been weak for too long, decided to live bravely alone

Can't say it, it's so tormenting

Bravely let go, the city is full of fleeting fireworks

Nowhere to hide, illuminating the silence, love is loneliness

Cheng Xiaoyu had changed some of the lyrics, giving the song a different meaning. For him, it expressed the pain of moving on from the sadness caused by his mother's passing and the process of bravely starting a new life.

Su Yuxi could vaguely understand Cheng Xiaoyu's inner torment, but the others were deeply immersed in Xia Shamo's struggling high notes. The applause and flowers were all for Xia Shamo. Cheng Xiaoyu's humble figure behind the keyboard went unnoticed, but Su Yuxi saw his calm smile.

After listening to the song, Xu Qinling was truly impressed. Cheng Xiaoyu's compositions had beautiful melodies and touching lyrics, with complex and magnificent arrangements that were harmonious and beautiful. Combined with Xia Shamo's flawless singing, the impact was overwhelming.

Xu Qinling pulled Su Yuxi's arm and said, "These are complete and mature works. When our group debuts, we must have your brother write a few songs for us! They are much better than the current hits like 'True Water Without Fragrance' and 'Falling in Love with Loneliness.' Your brother's works are truly addictive. Once you listen, you can't let go or forget. I really want to put it on repeat!"

Su Yuxi also deeply appreciated Cheng Xiaoyu's works. His creations were on a different level from the current popular songs, transcending the constraints of contemporary pop music and rising to the level of art. She especially disliked the low standards of current pop music, which often had vulgar content and narrow themes, focusing only on sweet or sad love.

Cheng Xiaoyu's work, "Flowers in Full Bloom," could be savored endlessly. The meaning of "full bloom" is the end, also known as the flower of the other shore. After the full bloom, no flowers open again. Ancient literati often believed that the full bloom of the flower marked the end of the year's flowering season.

In "Dream of the Red Chamber," there is a line: "When the flowers are in full bloom, the flower season ends." "Flowers in Full Bloom" is more like a statement of nihilistic mentality, negating the entire society.

Even Su Yuxi, who didn't like pop music, found "Flowers in Full Bloom" hard to put down. She nodded in agreement with Xu Qinling's thoughts and decided that when they released their album, it must include Cheng Xiaoyu's works.

Speaking of Su Yuxi and Xu Qinling training at Shanghe International, preparing to debut as a group, Xu Qinling joined purely for fun and to spend more time with Su Yuxi, who had transferred to a different school. Su Yuxi, however, had more than just Xu Qinling's persistence in mind. She wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the music industry and prepare for her future role in Shanghe. When they joined the idol project, Cheng Xiaoyu hadn't appeared yet, so Su Yuxi naturally wanted to prepare for her future in Shanghe. There was no better way to understand the music industry than this.

After Cheng Xiaoyu's band performed "Snail," "Hypnosis," "Huangpu River," and "Sword Pulling" (which Su Yuxi privately loved), Xu Qinling and Su Yuxi were thoroughly impressed by Cheng Xiaoyu's musical talent. They had initially thought he had only a few tricks up his sleeve, but today they discovered that his pocket was full of diamonds, all of the African star level. They were speechless.

Su Yuxi knew that Cheng Xiaoyu spent his days at home working on music. She appreciated his talent but disliked his carefree attitude and the way he squandered his gifts. For example, she couldn't understand why he was playing as a resident musician in this small bar, which she saw as a meaningless endeavor.

Cheng Xiaoyu checked the time after getting off the stage; he had about thirty minutes left before his meeting with Tang Wenqian. He searched the crowded bar but found nothing. The unexpected popularity of the Forest of Lights made his task nearly impossible.

Cheng Xiaoyu decided to give a rose to any girl to avoid losing a bet. With plenty of time left, he sent meaningless texts to Tang Wenqian and looked around for any girls checking their phones. Unbeknownst to him, Xu Qinling in the booth was watching everything.

Su Yuxi and Xu Qinling switched places, sitting in the corner of the booth, and asked Huang Xiaqi to stand in front to block the view. Cheng Xiaoyu's gaze swept over the area, but his focus was on the two girls, so the booth wasn't his main target; the scattered tables were.

In the center of the bar, Cheng Xiaoyu saw two girls who looked like students, and one of them was checking her phone. Without hesitation, he decided that even if he was wrong, it was better to end the bet quickly. He squeezed through the crowd toward the girl.