chapter 13
Chapter 13
Viewing a painting up close feels even more blurred than from afar.
It’s as if it’s tempting you, making you want to deeply explore secrets that belong only to it. You know it’s an illusion, yet you willingly choose to believe.
“How about… Daydream?”
The boss was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.
He patted Wu Ai on the shoulder. “Excellent, I really like this name. Thank you for giving this painting life.”
“I don’t want the painting. Leave it for more people to explore.”
Wu Ai waved his hand and handed the painting back.
“Gubei Water Town often hosts music festivals, right? Does our bar have similar events?”
“Of course.”
The boss re-hung the painting on the wall as he pointed to the stage.
“You’ve come at just the right time. Tonight, there’s a Rock Band performing. The Lead Singer is professionally trained.”
Wu Ai nodded, quietly noting this information.
Back at his booth, Wu Ai ordered some more beer and skewers, observing everyone in the bar while savoring the beauty of freedom.
The lights in the bar flickered, warm yellow tones adding a touch of mystery to the narrow space.
Guests gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing.
Suddenly, the entire bar fell silent, and all the lights focused on the stage.
A seductive muted electric guitar riff began, paired with a simple jazz drum rhythm, teasing the drinkers.
“After the rain over the ancient city, Renmin Road brings me good moods…”
On stage, they were singing Tongyang’s “Goodbye Jack.”
The lighthearted melody and roguish lyrics fit perfectly in this ancient city.
After the warm-up song, the atmosphere in the bar was lifted, but Wu Ai, who could play guitar himself, had already noticed something.
The Lead Singer, who was also the Lead Guitarist, had decent vocals-a smoky voice well-suited for rock-but his guitar playing was amateurish.
Wu Ai sighed, thinking he had a mission to complete, so he’d better not nitpick and just enjoy the music for now.
“You keep staring at the Lead Singer’s guitar. Do you want to go up and sing a song yourself?”
Hearing the voice, Wu Ai turned around, startled.
He hadn’t noticed when a girl had appeared beside him, as if she’d suddenly popped up.
“Who are you?”
“Mu Feng Qianqian, Yun Ran Feifei-I’m Mu Yunfei.”
She reached out her hand, fingertips adorned with long black nails.
“And you?”
“Wu Ai.” He shook her hand, his gaze involuntarily sweeping over her.
The woman wore a white T-shirt on top, a black pleated skirt below, long black hair draped over her shoulders, and a circular lip ring on her rosy lips.
Such a cool and sassy girl was hard to associate with the gentle name Mu Yunfei.
“You really don’t want to go up and sing? Just sing… Southern Girl!” Mu Yunfei raised her eyebrows.
Wu Ai was surprised. “How did you know I can play that song?”
She laughed, looking playful.
“Because back then, you were on the boat, and I was on the shore.”
With that, she stood up.
“If you want to sing, I’ll go talk to them. I’ve been here a few times and I know them pretty well.”
Wu Ai nodded, tacitly agreeing.
How could he miss such a perfect chance to show off?
Mu Yunfei bounced up to the stage and started chatting with the band members, completely at ease.
She was short, only 159 centimeters, and looked so petite standing among the people on stage.
But her figure was exceptional; that outfit on her made her look like she was 175 centimeters tall.
After chatting for a while, she walked back to Wu Ai’s side and sat down, lighting a cigarette.
“It’s settled. You’re up for the next song.”
She picked up Wu Ai’s beer bottle, poured herself a glass, and downed it in one gulp.
“Helping you out this much, having a bit of your beer isn’t too much to ask, right?”
Up close, Mu Yunfei was indeed quite beautiful. Her delicate features were like a rose with thorns-coldly alluring, yet brimming with charm.
“Wouldn’t it be better to be honest? Why give a fake name?”
“Fake name?”
She raised her eyebrows, pressing the cigarette butt into the ashtray.
“Do you think a name like Mu Yunfei should belong to a gentle girl?”
The cigarette Mu Yunfei smoked was called ESSE, known domestically as Aixi-a foreign brand. Its pop-ball and slender shape made it popular among female smokers.
Wu Ai waved his hand, drained his glass in one go, and got up to jump onto the stage, taking the electric guitar from the Lead Singer.
“Guys, how about ‘Dreaming Back to the Tang Dynasty’?”
Everyone nodded. The drums kicked off, followed by the other instruments, and the bar buzzed with excitement again.
Wu Ai switched the electric guitar to distortion mode, the tipsy feeling blending with the guitar’s shriek. He cleared his throat.
“Tonight I wake from wine, dreamless, following fate into confusion, in dreams returning to the Tang Dynasty!”
Wu Ai sang wildly on stage, while Mu Yunfei nodded along to the beat below. Even the bar owner came out from behind the counter, leaning against a pillar to listen.
Finally, after a burst of noise from the pick scraping the strings, the performance ended perfectly, and the whole place fell silent again.
Mu Yunfei was the first to applaud, and then the applause exploded like thunder.
She screamed from below, “Wu Ai! One more song!”
Wu Ai was fired up by the cheers and was about to strum the guitar when a hand pressed down on it.
The Lead Singer had somehow appeared beside him, wearing a polite social smile.
“Bro, one song for fun is enough. Let’s leave the stage to the professionals.”
“Professional?”
Wu Ai raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over the hand pressing the strings.
“You mean I’m not professional?”
The Lead Singer snorted, full of the pride of someone with formal training. “Let me introduce myself-Hebei Communication College, major in Pop Singing!”
Wu Ai paused, surprised to meet a graduate from Hebei Communication here. The college had been rising in fame lately, and he did have that confidence.
But…
Wu Ai didn’t respond. He slowly took out his phone and pulled up a photo, holding the screen up to the Lead Singer.
It was a Media University entrance exam certificate, with a glaring note in the top left corner: “Composition Major, National First Place.”
The Lead Singer’s pupils contracted sharply, his face draining of color, and he stammered.
“The one in the news lately… That Media University top scorer, that’s… that’s you?!”
Wu Ai put away his phone, looking at him playfully. “So, who do you think is more professional now?”
The man froze, his face alternating between red and white.
Even though Hebei Communication was developing well, it would still take a long time to reach Media University’s level.
That’s the fundamental gap between the nation’s top media school and the up-and-coming ones.
Wu Ai didn’t look at him again. He gently set the guitar on the stand and patted his shoulder.
“The stage is yours, after all…”
He paused, then leaned in and whispered in his ear.
“Credentials aren’t everything, but talent really is a matter of fate.”