Kapitel 21: CONCERT

Concert: public performance.

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The day Shenshi had been waiting for—or maybe had been avoiding for—had finally arrived. Yes, today was the day of the annual school festival. The festival would be held the whole day, and it started at eight o'clock in the morning. The event was officially opened by their Principal.

As in previous years, the school festival had a variety of activities including a book bazaar, scientific exhibition, educational seminars, as well as mini-concert events where the talented students could show off their talent.

Their school was so busy today, and it was no wonder since the event was open to the public. Many students from other schools attended the event. Their school, which was usually not a place for girls, was now filled with the Aphrodite-like creatures from all over Beijing. That was enough to spoil the eyes of bachelors.

The mini-concert event had started a long time ago. The host was already loudly talking on stage, talking nonsense from A to Z.

Shenshi was preparing backstage, waiting for their turn to be called. Of course, Zhou Yongliang accompanied them like a loyal manager beside the artist.

"Ren Weisheng, where is Yuan Boqin? Will he come to save us today?" Zhong Hai asked frantically. The usually calm guy suddenly panicked because Yuan Boqin's figure had not yet shown his nose.

All Shenshi members had terrorized Yuan Boqin last night, but the skinny guy didn't respond at all. The last few days, the small-headed youth seemed to have disappeared into the core of the Earth. He acted like a ghost who was invisible in the school.

"I have been trying to contact him for a long time, but there has been no response, gege. The trial match will be held in the afternoon, so he should be able to come," Ren Weisheng explained in fright.

"All right, we can only wait for now. Maybe he's just late," Chen Guangli responded patiently. Or maybe he just tried to be patient.

Zhong Hai and Ren Weisheng nodded, agreeing to Chen Guangli's suggestion.

"Oh, Lord! I'm nervous! Hwang Jihyuk gege is also unable to come to support me! It's over, guys! It's over!" Huang Bo suddenly screamed as he walked back and forth while biting his nails.

Zhou Yongliang looked up at the blonde guy and asked, "Why can't Hwang Jihyuk gege come, Huang Bo?"

"My brother is busy with activities at his own school, preparing for this and that. He is already in the final year, so he has to focus on his study," Huang Bo answered as he then sat down beside Zhou Yongliang. He was still bitting his nails nervously, though.

The brown-haired student nodded at the explanation. He then looked around backstage. Many students were preparing for the mini-concert. There were other bands, soloists, dancers, rappers, and other types of performers.

Zhou Yongliang also found THE PRODIGY, Shenshi's rival, at the backstage corner. The members were chatting calmly there, but there was one member who didn't join the happy chat. The member looked indifferent as he didn't open his mouth at all.

Minutes passed until finally, two hosts on the stage called THE PRODIGY to go on stage. Oh, it turned out it was time for THE PRODIGY to perform. That meant, Shenshi would be the next performer. That was the order that was stated in the rundown of the event given by the student committee.

Zhou Yongliang unconsciously looked to the right and left, trying to find Yuan Boqin's figure. The additional member of Shenshi had not yet shown his small head until now, which made him nervous. Zhou Yongliang could see how the four Shenshi members looked panicked. It seemed like Yuan Boqin would not come until the end.

"We will perform Accusefive's song first because we don't need a keyboardist for their song. I hope Yuan Boqin will come before we have to perform Jay Chou's song. The role of a keyboardist is very important for his song," Ren Weisheng, the leader, tried to calm down and come up with an idea.

The young boy with a short posture then ran over to one of the committee members to report that they would swap out the order of the songs they would perform later.

Zhou Yongliang just silently examined the hectic situation. He didn't want to disturb his friends' concentration, so he didn't say anything. He wanted to help them, but he didn't know what he should do.

Finally, after thinking for a moment, he took the initiative to find Yuan Boqin. After expressing his intention to his friends, the brown-haired young guy immediately left backstage to find Yuan Boqin's figure elsewhere.

The school area had started to get crowded, especially the mini-concert area, which was starting to get full of spectators. Bands like THE PRODIGY and Shenshi were quite well known among students. That was quite predictable since the two groups were full of good-looking members with amazing talents. So, it was normal to see the spectators brought some posters of THE PRODIGY and Shenshi members. They were definitely the hardcore fans for the two groups.

Zhou Yongliang decided to comb the audience area in front of the stage. There were no seats there, and all the spectators stood in an orderly manner. Yuan Boqin might have been in the audience, right?

While busy searching, Zhou Yongliang's ears caught the sweet voice of Shao Dingxiang, who was currently singing a song that he recognized. Zhou Yongliang's round eyes were now focused on the stage, watching THE PRODIGY performed a song that was familiar to him. Yes, that was his late grandfather's favorite song.

At first, Zhou Yongliang was doped by Shao Dingxiang's melodious voice, but for some reason, his round eyes shifted to the figure of the keyboard player on the edge of the stage.

Zhou Yongliang noticed the boy's expression. The keyboardist usually looked cold and distant, but this time he looked pitiful in Zhou Yongliang's eyes. The boy's eyes radiated deep pain and wounds he couldn't understand. The tall guy pressed the keyboard keys with feeling, producing tones that were also touching.

"Zhi shi yong yuan two dou fang bu kai (it's just that, forever, I won't be able to let go)

Zui hou de wen nuan (the last warmth)

Ni gei de wen nuan (the warmth that you gave)

Cong ci yi hou wo dou bu gan tai tou kan (from then on, I don't dare to raise my head)

Fang fu wo de tian kong shi qu le yan se (it seems that my sky has lost its color)

Cong na yi tian qi (from that day on)

Wo wang ji le hu xi (I forgot how to breathe)

Yan lei a (the tears)

Yong yuan bu zai, bu zai ku qi (forever, I won't cry again)

Wo men de ai (our love)

Guo le jiu bu zai hui lai (once it's gone it won't ever return)"

That was the lyric of F.I.R's song, "Our Love." The song was his late grandfather's favorite song. To be precise, it was his grandparents' favorite song. The lyrics were so sad and dark, and the keyboardist on the stage was pouring that feeling in every press his fingers made on the keyboard keys.

Zhou Yongliang suddenly recalled a quote by David Lanz, "The piano is a divinely inspired instrument, a mirror held up to its player's soul that captures the light and shadow of the performer and reflects them to the listener."

Zhou Yongliang was sure that the quote applied not only to pianos but to keyboards as well. At this time, according to him, an invisible mirror was reflecting the keyboardist's gloomy feelings to the listeners, which made him sad as well.

For a long time, Zhou Yongliang's eyes were fixed at one spot to the point that he didn't realize that THE PRODIGY had finished their first song and now they were performing their second song. Zhou Yongliang chose to step aside from the front of the stage when THE PRODIGY started performing a very loud and strong song.

It would be better if Zhou Yongliang continued his search, which had been delayed for several minutes. Did Yuan Boqin run away for real?