Ning Qiaoqian paused, carefully looking Chen Yang up and down, and asked:
"Did you hurt your head? You seem a bit strange today!"
"Whether I'm hurt or not, didn't Sister Qian already give me a full check-up?" Chen Yang said with a mischievous grin, then his expression turned serious as he continued, "I'm serious, Sister Qian! I used to go to karaoke often, and I'm a pretty good singer. I can sing five or six songs, enough for half an hour!"
Ning Qiaoqian tilted her head and looked at Chen Yang intently for a long time before finally nodding and saying:
"Okay! Little Yangzi..." "When she gets serious, I don't think I've ever refused a request. I'll give you a chance and talk to her for you!"
After thinking for a moment, Ning Qiaoqian continued,
"But if you can really sing well, I'll definitely help you get the benefits from Lao Zhou!"
Chen Yang quickly said,
"Then thank you, Sister Qian! As for the benefits! Let Brother Qiang raise my and Su He's salaries by a hundred each!"
Originally, Chen Yang was unwilling to do this kind of public performance. In his previous life, in the eyes of playboys like Chen Yang, even the most popular stars were just actors, not worthy of being considered respectable. But after hearing Ning Qiaoqian's words in the dressing room, Chen Yang felt a sense of admiration and pity for Su He. He thought he would take this opportunity to help the girl, considering it an act of kindness, and also get a raise himself so he could regain his freedom sooner. Hearing Chen Yang's words, Ning Qiaoqian showed a hint of approval. She tapped Chen Yang's forehead with her slender finger, smiled charmingly, and said,
"Little brother, you've finally got it!"
After saying that, she stood up and went to Zhou Weiqiang's side to whisper something to him. Zhou Weiqiang listened while glancing at Chen Yang, his eyes full of doubt.
More and more customers started to jeer, their voices almost drowning out the deafening music. A couple of young people, not wanting to miss out on the fun, even stood on small tables, waving their arms and directing the crowd to shout.
Ning Qiaoqian said something to Zhou Weiqiang again, and finally, Zhou Weiqiang nodded resolutely. Ning Qiaoqian smiled and gave Chen Yang an "OK" sign. Chen Yang nodded in understanding, ran back to the dressing room to change his clothes, and at first glance, he really did look like a down-on-his-luck street performer. Chen Yang squeezed to the front of the stage, and Zhou Weiqiang pulled him aside, asking:
"Xiao Fang, are you really sure you can do this? This isn't a karaoke bar!"
Chen Yang replied calmly:
"Brother Qiang, I should be fine!"
"What songs are you going to sing?" Zhou Weiqiang asked, adding, still uneasy, "Those old songs won't do!"
"Don't worry, Brother Qiang! They're all new songs! I'll take full responsibility if anything goes wrong!" Chen Yang answered confidently. Zhou Weiqiang, smoking a cigarette, thought seriously for over ten seconds before decisively saying,
"Okay! Go ahead! It's good that you're confident! I believe you can do it!"
After saying that, Zhou Weiqiang thought for a moment and added,
"By the way, give Ali a playlist first, I'll have him find the sheet music for you!"
Chen Yang shook his head and said to Zhou Weiqiang,
"Brother Qiang, I don't need any music, just give me a guitar!"
Zhou Weiqiang was stunned. He hadn't expected Chen Yang to dare to sing and play guitar himself. While Zhou Weiqiang wasn't an expert in music, he had a general understanding of the difficulty. Without years of dedicated musical experience, showing off would only be embarrassing.
After hesitating for a moment, Zhou Weiqiang gritted his teeth and agreed. He turned to Ahua and gestured for him to get Chen Yang the guitar. Zhou Weiqiang started working at fifteen and has been navigating the underworld for twenty years. He's reached his current position, carving out a niche for himself in the city's underground entertainment scene, all thanks to loyalty and absolute trust in his brothers. Chen Yang's willingness to step onto the stage to help the bar through its difficulties meant he couldn't afford to doubt Chen Yang and risk alienating him.
Ahua was efficient; he quickly ran over with an electric guitar.
Chen Yang took the guitar and calmly tested a few notes, producing a series of smooth, technically challenging notes. An expert can tell; seeing Chen Yang's professionalism, Zhou Weiqiang's serious expression immediately eased. Having been in the entertainment industry for so many years, even if Zhou Weiqiang wasn't a musical expert, his eye for talent was sharp. He could tell that Chen Yang's guitar skills were absolutely masterful.
At this moment, Chen Yang turned around and smiled brightly at Zhou Weiqiang, revealing two rows of white teeth, and asked:
"Boss, if my singing is popular, could you give Su He and me a raise of two hundred each?"
Zhou Weiqiang laughed:
"Haha! Silly boy, you've finally figured it out tonight! No problem! As long as you perform well, everything's negotiable!"
"Thank you, Brother Qiang!"
Chen Yang casually slung his guitar over his shoulder, then walked straight to the high stool behind the microphone and sat down. Without greeting the audience, he simply strummed the guitar lightly, checking the pitch.
Seeing Chen Yang's nonchalant attitude, the already angry audience became even more dissatisfied, and the boos suddenly grew louder. "Who is this kid?! We want to see 'The Wanderer'!"
"Yeah! We've waited forever, and all they send is some kid who hasn't even grown his first beard yet! That's too much!"
"Get off! We want 'The Wanderer'!"
...
Although the audience below was getting increasingly boisterous, Zhou Weiqiang felt much more relaxed, especially when Chen Yang came on stage to talk about a raise. Zhou Weiqiang could feel the strong confidence emanating from him. This confidence infected Zhou Weiqiang, who had been in the underworld for many years and was not easily influenced by others. He suddenly felt full of confidence in Chen Yang.
Ning Qiaoqian felt the same way. Watching from a distance at the bar, Ning Qiaoqian had a thoughtful expression, her beautiful eyes blinking. From the moment Chen Yang walked in today, she felt he was very different from before. Whether it was speaking, acting, or now going on stage, he always had an air of leisurely ease, completely unmoved by his surroundings—a manifestation of extreme confidence.
After tuning his instrument, Chen Yang didn't even glance at the audience. He gently adjusted the microphone, strummed his guitar, and a simple yet beautiful melody flowed out. In his previous life, everyone would have been familiar with this intro, but now it was May 2010, and the song wouldn't be released for at least another five months.
However, even just the intro showcased Chen Yang's skill. The previously noisy bar suddenly quieted down.
After the intro, Chen Yang began to sing:
"That's the person I think of day and night, the one I love deeply
How should I express myself?
Will she accept me?
Perhaps I'll never say those words to her
I'm destined to wander the world
How can I have any attachments?
..."
Chen Yang's voice was somewhat languid, carrying a hint of vicissitude and helplessness. This voice, combined with the melody and lyrics of "Old Boy," inevitably evoked a sense of sadness in the listener. "Have my initial wishes come true?
Now, is all I can do is mourn them?
Let time dry up my ideals,
I can never find my true self again…"
Chen Yang's voice rose higher and higher, infecting everyone in the bar. Their emotions were stirred, and some seemed to empathize, even shedding tears. After all, everyone has their own story about youth, nostalgia, dreams, friendship, and love.
Ning Qiaoqian leaned against the bar, her eyes fixed on Chen Yang singing passionately on stage. For the first time, she sensed the melancholy of a mature man in this innocent young man. His voice seemed to possess a magical power, captivating her emotions and making her rise and fall with the music. Chen Yang's confidence and charisma intoxicated and captivated Ning Qiaoqian.
The more she listened, the more excited she became. Ning Qiaoqian couldn't help but stand up, grab the bartending tools, and begin performing flair bartending. Ning Qiaoqian's movements were light and beautiful, the cocktail bottle flying through her hands. Her stunning figure naturally exuded a mesmerizing allure as she mixed drinks, instantly eliciting cheers from the audience. Coupled with Chen Yang's weathered voice, the atmosphere in the bar instantly soared.
"Life is like a ruthless carving knife
Changing our appearance
Must we wither before we even bloom?
I had dreams
Youth is like a rushing river
Gone, never to return, no time for farewell
Leaving only a numb me
The passion of yesteryear is gone
..."
Chen Yang was also immersed in his own song, unable to pull himself away. He had decided to sing this song before going on stage, dedicating "Old Boy" to himself, a tribute to his lost youth in another parallel world.
Like everyone else hearing "Old Boy" for the first time, the bar's patrons were deeply captivated. Looking at the still-youthful young man on stage, whose voice revealed a maturity beyond his years, they couldn't help but cast surprised glances. In a corner of the bar, several waitresses were whispering among themselves.
"Who knew Chen Yang, usually so quiet, could sing so well!"
"Yeah! He's like a big star on TV, so handsome!"
"Hehe! Look at you, all lovestruck! You're not seeing me with a crush, are you?"
"Get lost..."
Another waitress with a ponytail was checking the drinks and food on the menu, glancing curiously at the stage every now and then. She turned around and almost bumped into her colleague who was taking orders, quickly apologizing.
The colleague teased with a laugh:
"Su He! Even though he sings really well, it's not enough to make you so distracted!"
Su He blushed and retorted:
"No way! I just think his voice is a little special..."
While the two were bickering, Chen Yang's performance was nearing its end.
He gently plucked the strings, a faint sadness in his voice, and softly sang:
"Do you still remember the story here?
If there's a tomorrow, I bless you, my dear..."
With the final strum, Chen Yang's voice abruptly stopped, but the lingering notes of the chord still echoed in the quiet hall. A brief silence fell, followed by thunderous applause and whistles, the atmosphere incredibly enthusiastic.
"One more song! One more song!"
Someone started it, and gradually, a unified chant rose from the audience. With just one song, the audience had completely forgotten about the "Wanderer."
Chen Yang glanced back at his boss, Zhou Weiqiang, backstage. Zhou Weiqiang's face also showed a hint of excitement. Chen Yang's performance had completely exceeded his expectations. He had only sent Chen Yang as a last resort, out of desperation, but Chen Yang had unexpectedly ignited the atmosphere. Seeing Chen Yang looking at him, Zhou Weiqiang gestured for him to strike while the iron was hot and continue performing. The "Wanderers" group hadn't arrived yet, and subconsciously, he wasn't that concerned about Xue Chen and the others anymore. With Chen Yang's performance, he could easily make Flame Bar a top nightclub in Rongcheng.
At this moment, Zhou Weiqiang was already thinking about how to persuade Chen Yang to become a resident singer at his bar.
Chen Yang thought for a moment, remembering his new song from before his rebirth, "Goodbye Youth," which perfectly captured his current mood. So he strummed the strings again and began to sing:
"The last midnight train
quietly took away youth
the dearest people, the most beautiful times
gradually piercing the memories
nothing can be kept, nothing can be exchanged
youth will eventually end
what did I gain, what did I lose
life will eventually say goodbye
and so far away
..."