Chapter 4

Sanlitun is close to the second embassy district of Beijing, and its customers are mostly foreigners. Additionally, with the concentration of foreign enterprises in Dongcheng District, these international friends often enjoy listening to music and having a drink. The Chinese quickly realized the huge business opportunity, and over time, countless bars have sprung up on the streets of Sanlitun.

Gradually, a group of foreigners working in Beijing gathered here, along with a large number of young white-collar workers seeking relaxation. Later, media professionals, entertainment industry figures, and trendsetters also began frequenting the area.

Every day, many foreigners drive or take taxis to this place, especially at night, when they come in groups. Not only do foreigners like to come here, but many Chinese also invite clients or friends, using it as a social venue.

Single Lane is a very famous bar on the streets of Sanlitun. Many stars have emerged from here, such as Yang Kun and Siqin格尔le. The bar has two floors, with only a ring of seats around the edge on the second floor, the center of which is open, allowing guests on the second floor to clearly see the first floor. The design is very ingenious.

In the center of the first floor is a carefully decorated stage, with a microphone in the middle and various music equipment nearby. There is also a live band. In addition to the resident singers, the bar also allows guests to come up and sing, a way to make friends through music. Of course, if someone sings poorly, the boos and jeers from the audience will definitely make them feel embarrassed.

Zhou Zheng often likes to come here when he has nothing to do, to listen to music and chat, finding it very comfortable. Zhang Ran treated him to lunch and dinner, so Zhou Zheng felt he should show his appreciation by inviting Zhang Ran and Li Xinyue to sit here.

When Zhang Ran used to run a movie website, he would also come here to drink with friends when he had free time. Now, as he looked around the bar, he found that it had hardly changed from his memory, giving him a dreamlike feeling.

The male singer on stage was about 1.7 meters tall, slim, wearing a blue suit and a cowboy hat, looking somewhat comical.

Zhang Ran's eyes flickered. This was Huang Bo! He knew Huang Bo used to sing in bars before entering the Beijing Film Academy, but he didn't expect it to be this very bar.

Although the stage at Single Lane is small, it is often visited by people from record companies. Many come here to showcase their singing talents, but Huang Bo's voice and singing skills are average, making it almost impossible for him to be noticed by a record company.

When Huang Bo finished singing two songs and went off stage, the applause was sparse, with only Zhang Ran loudly cheering and clapping. Li Xinyue and Zhou Zheng were quite puzzled; the man clearly sang poorly, so why was Zhang Ran reacting so strongly! Only Zhang Ran knew how famous Huang Bo would become in the future, and ten years later, hearing him sing in a bar would be a luxury.

Watching Huang Bo leave the stage, Zhang Ran wanted to go up to him and say, "Young man, you have no future in singing; acting is the right choice. You should pursue acting!" But he thought better of it. Huang Bo was around 27 or 28, with years of experience in society, knowing what he wanted and not needing advice from others.

Just as Huang Bo went off stage, a familiar face walked up from the audience, it was Hu Weiguo.

Li Xinyue whispered, "Hu Weiguo sings really well, he's the best in our school after Teacher Huang Lei!"

Huang Lei is a well-known talent at the Beijing Film Academy, good at acting and singing, having released two albums, including "Walking and Singing" and "I Think I Am the Sea," which were popular across the country.

Actually, it's not unusual for performance majors to sing well. Voice, stage, form, and acting are required courses for performance majors, and voice refers to vocal music, so graduates from performance majors can sing. Of course, people have different talents and levels of effort, so their singing skills vary. Some may reach the level of "I Think I Am the Sea," some may be at the level of "Nao Tai Tao," and some may be at the level of "Love's Supply."

Hu Weiguo sang "A Lifetime with You" by Shuimu Nianhua. His voice was good, and his technique was excellent, making his performance pleasant to the ear. However, Zhang Ran felt that Hu Weiguo's performance lacked sufficient emotion and failed to touch the heart.

When the song ended, the audience erupted in applause and cheers.

"Great singing!"

"Another one, another one!"

...

Hu Weiguo was quite satisfied with his performance, looking at Zhang Ran with a smug smile, "Today, we have a true expert in our bar, a teacher who has returned from the United States and teaches at the Beijing Film Academy! Please welcome Teacher Zhang Ran from the Beijing Film Academy to sing a song!"

The Beijing Film Academy is a place that cultivates stars, and teachers from the Beijing Film Academy are somewhat mysterious in the eyes of ordinary people, a presence to be looked up to. When the audience heard that a teacher from the Beijing Film Academy was going to sing, they all applauded, inviting him with their claps: "One song, one song!"

"Right, a song from the Beijing Film Academy teacher!"

"Come on, give us an English song!"

...

Zhang Ran was taken aback, his face turning cold as he coldly looked at Hu Weiguo on stage. His voice and technique were not as good as Hu Weiguo's, and if he went up to sing, people might say that the teacher from the Beijing Film Academy was just that level, which would be a huge embarrassment.

Seeing that Zhang Ran didn't move, Hu Weiguo smiled with a sense of triumph, "Teacher Zhang, so many friends are inviting you to the stage, you wouldn't refuse them, would you?"

All eyes were on Zhang Ran, and the applause became even more enthusiastic. The audience was inviting him to the stage with their claps and cheers.

Zhang Ran couldn't just sit there. He had two choices: either leave or go up to sing. Zhang Ran knew his voice and technique were not as good as Hu Weiguo's, but he had a stubborn personality and wouldn't just leave. Taking a deep breath, he walked towards the stage.

If it came to voice and technique, students from the Central Conservatory of Music would be the best, but how many of the truly popular singers in China are from the Central Conservatory? Singing isn't just about voice and technique.

On stage, Zhang Ran ignored Hu Weiguo and went straight to the band, borrowing an electric guitar. The song he could sing well hadn't been created yet, so the band couldn't accompany him, and he had to do it himself.

Standing in front of the microphone, Zhang Ran looked at the audience and smiled, "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm the type who charges money for singing, but singing is a matter of life and death for me! If you find it hard to listen, and you're planning to run away, make sure to pay for your drinks first, or the boss will come after me, and I'll be the one who loses out!"

The audience burst into laughter, forming a good impression of Zhang Ran. This teacher from the Beijing Film Academy was quite funny and had no airs.

After laughing, the audience began to discuss. Zhang Ran had a very prominent image and aura, with a straight nose, star-like eyebrows, and a pair of bright, clear eyes that exuded a strong sense of determination. A faint smile on his lips gave off a sunny vibe.

In a corner of the bar, two girls in their late teens, both students, were sitting. One had a round face, was slightly short, and looked like a porcelain doll; the other was tall and graceful, with a confident look in her eyes.

The round-faced girl looked at Zhang Ran on stage and exclaimed, "Wow, this teacher from the Beijing Film Academy is so handsome, even more handsome than Huang Lei!"

The tall girl nodded in agreement, "He's really handsome. If he were my teacher, it would be so happy to have him teach me every day!"

The round-faced girl laughed, "Xinyi, didn't you pass the professional course at the Beijing Film Academy? If you go there, he might really teach you!"

"Right! I won't go to the Central Academy of Drama, I'll go to the Beijing Film Academy!" Zhang Xinyi patted her head, smiling broadly. She had passed the professional courses at both the Central Academy of Drama and the Beijing Film Academy, unsure which to choose. Her mother suggested drawing lots, and she drew the Central Academy of Drama, but now she felt that going to the Beijing Film Academy might be better.

At that moment, Zhang Ran took a deep breath and began to sing with emotion: "Where is the world full of flowers? If it really exists, I will go there.

I want to stand on the highest peak, regardless of whether it is a cliff or a precipice.

I have never chosen to give up on my ideals, even on the days when I am covered in dust and dirt."

In a corner of the second floor of the bar, a woman and two men were sitting. Anyone familiar with Chinese music would recognize them: Na Yin, Sun Nan, and Yang Kun.

Na Yin's head was gently swaying, tapping the rhythm with her hand, "This song is good, very pleasant to listen to, but I haven't heard it before. It must be an original song."

Sun Nan took a sip of his drink, "I haven't heard it either, it must be an original song."

Yang Kun smiled, "The song sounds good, but this teacher from the Beijing Film Academy has an average voice and sings quite poorly."

Na Yin nodded, "That's true, and he started with a high pitch, he might not be able to hit the high notes later!"

Sun Nan, known for his high notes, agreed with Na Yin, "He'll probably use falsetto, otherwise, he'll break his voice."

Zhang Ran, unaware of the negative comments from these three music industry giants, was immersed in his own emotions and continued to sing: "Maybe I don't have talent, but I have the innocence of a dream,

I will prove it with my life.

Maybe my hands are clumsier than my feet, but I will keep exploring.

I will dedicate all my youth without any regrets!"

When Zhang Ran sang "without any regrets," his voice began to rise and burst out, like a hurricane that had gathered enough strength, overwhelming and unstoppable, spreading in all directions.

"Run forward, facing cold eyes and ridicule!

How can one feel the vastness of life without experiencing hardships!

Fate cannot make us kneel and beg!

Even if our arms are covered in blood!"

As Sun Nan had predicted, Zhang Ran's voice broke, and it broke quite badly. But it was precisely this broken, hoarse shout that gave a strong impact!

It was as if he wasn't singing but shouting from the depths of his soul, a man's shout for his dreams!

The audience in the bar seemed to see a brave warrior, transformed into a flame, using his entire life to collide fiercely with fate. They saw a man's dedication to his dreams and saw hope, their blood boiling!

"Even if our arms are covered in blood!"

Continue running, with the pride of a child!

How can one see the brilliance of life without persisting to the end!

Rather than lingering in despair, it's better to burn passionately!

One day, it will sprout again!"

Zhang Ran's voice was like a cannonball, carrying a powerful force that pierced through the years, rushing into the hearts of every listener, shattering the reality that enveloped them, and breaking open the long-forgotten dreams deep in their hearts!

The audience felt a warm current flowing through their bodies, turning into flames that ignited their blood. Unable to contain their excitement, they all stood up, eagerly applauding this young man who still burned with dreams!

(Thank you to "Reader Who Loves Novels" for the support!)

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