Chapters 47 & 48 part 1
Night had fallen, and the lights in the City Center Plaza were soft and warm, illuminating every corner.
The four members of “Dazzling Star” were dressed in performance outfits rented specifically for this occasion, exuding the elegance of youth.
Bai Sinian had run his legs off to rent these sets. They were expensive, but the moment he saw the boys wearing them, he had only one thought: It was worth it.
If only we have the money to buy our own performance costumes in the future, that would be even better.
As the first note rang out, the music enveloped the entire plaza. People gathered from all directions, sitting on the steps surrounding the band, immersing themselves in the world of music.
“Look The puppy barks, the leaves smile The wind whispers Why not take a second to enjoy This hazy romance As long as when I wake up, the sheets are sprinkled With the warmth of sunshine Don’t think, no need to think”
Bian Rui’s clear voice flowed through the microphone, instantly attracting the attention of countless passersby. Many of them began to sing along to the familiar tune.
People sitting on the steps waved their hands and swayed their heads, lost in the warmth of the music.
Shen Bei wore a baseball cap and a black mask, standing diagonally behind Bian Rui. He kept his head lowered the entire time, so most people couldn’t even see his eyes. Only his slender, fair fingers plucking the guitar strings hinted that he was likely a handsome young man.
Fan Hongyi wore only a hat, which just managed to cover his buzz cut. It added a touch of softness to his rugged aura, while his bass lines remained steady and powerful.
The tune of this song was relatively gentle, and Cui Yeyi drummed lazily in the back to keep the rhythm.
At the start, Bai Sinian had been squatting right in front of them, taking photos and videos. But halfway through the song, Bian Rui couldn’t see him anymore.
As he sang, he scanned the area with his eyes, searching for Bai Sinian. Unfortunately, there were too many spectators in front of him, and he couldn’t spot where he had gone.
At that moment, Bai Sinian was holding his phone, running frantically toward the roadside.
“Auntie! Over here!”
Bai Sinian ran and skipped, waving at Zhou Yingzi, who had just gotten out of a car.
Zhou Yingzi was wearing a pink tracksuit, still sporting a hat and mask. She watched the small black dot in the distance grow larger until he bounded right up to her.
“You can recognize me even like this?” Zhou Yingzi looked down at herself.
Bai Sinian was brimming with enthusiasm. “I’m familiar with you now! Auntie, this way! They’re performing right now!”
Zhou Yingzi shoved her car keys into her pocket and kept her hands buried there. She followed Bai Sinian toward the City Center Plaza, the faint, familiar sound of Bian Rui’s singing drifting over from the distance.
Zhou Yingzi said, “Even if I see it, so what? I still won’t agree to him applying to the music academy.”
Bai Sinian led the way, walking very fast, terrified she would miss the best moments. He turned back with a smile as he walked. “Auntie, Bian Rui is only eighteen. You will see the light shining from him. Trust me, the future him will be even more dazzling than today!”
Soon, rounding a corner by a flowerbed, Zhou Yingzi saw her son in the center of the plaza.
He stood right in the middle. The lights of the plaza seemed born for him, striking his figure and making him so breathtaking it was hard to look away.
She silently sat down among a group of people at the very top of the steps. Bai Sinian sat beside her, accompanying her as she quietly appreciated the heavenly sound.
“For a destination I realized quickly when I knew I should That the world was Made up of this brotherhood of man For whatever that means And so I cry sometimes when I’m lying in bed Just to get it all out What’s in my head”
It was already the second song. Most of the audience didn’t know how to sing it, so the whole square listened quietly. Many people turned on their phone flashlights, turning them into glow sticks to accompany him.
Instantly, the place transformed into a starry sky, with countless twinkling stars floating in the sea of people.
“Auntie…” Bai Sinian turned his head and suddenly saw the glimmer of tears in Zhou Yingzi’s eyes.
Zhou Yingzi was completely immersed in the concert. She had never seen this side of her son before; she hadn’t realized a live performance could be this moving.
Back when she saw those viral videos, she had indeed been proud of her son. But she understood better than ordinary parents that in the entertainment industry, these things were just a flash in the pan. To go far, relying on a single video was far from enough.
That was why she had always tried her best to oppose her son entering this circle.
But now, at a small, insignificant free concert, she saw more possibilities in her son.
Just as the second song ended, someone in the audience shouted, “It’s ‘Dazzling Star’! That high school band that was popular two years ago!”
A commotion erupted in the crowd. Quite a few people still remembered them, and several rushed forward, wanting to take photos with them.
Seeing more and more people standing up, Bai Sinian screamed internally, This is bad.
He shot up, practically leaping down several steps at a time, and rushed in front of Bian Rui. Before the crowd could surround them, he spread his arms and blocked the way.
“Can we get autographs? Can we take a photo for the memories?!”
“I liked you guys so much back then!”
Bai Sinian shouted loudly, “Yes, yes! Please line up! Line up!”
Seeing the situation, nearby security guards hurried over to help maintain order. Since most of the crowd were adults, they quickly formed a long line.
Bai Sinian ran behind the drum kit, found his bag, took out a pen and a notebook, and ran back.
There was no helping it—the current “Dazzling Star” had no albums and no merchandise. If fans wanted autographs, he could only tear out a sheet of blank paper for them.
Bai Sinian arranged the four of them into position: Fan Hongyi on the far left, Bian Rui second from the left, a space left in the middle specifically for fans to clock in for photos, Shen Bei second from the right, and Cui Yeyi on the far right.
The four statues stood there and began their assembly line work.
A fan would walk to the middle spot, take a photo first, and then the notebook would be passed from Shen Bei to Fan Hongyi. Once all four had signed, Bai Sinian would tear off the paper and give it to the fan.
“You guys are lucky. In the future, this autograph will be priceless!” Bai Sinian cheerfully handed the signed paper to the fan.
The fan walked away cheering.
Then came the next one.
Fortunately, there weren’t many people. Including those who joined the line just to follow the trend, there were only about twenty people.
Standing at the very edge, Bai Sinian inevitably overheard some whispered complaints from the fans.
“That Cui-whatever’s handwriting is so ugly!”
“Yeah, his name is already a bit obscure, and he writes so uglily. I can’t even tell what his name is.”
“And the one wearing the mask and hat, is he having facial allergies?”
“Or maybe he’s just too ugly.”
Bai Sinian: …
There really is so much to worry about. When we get back, I have to make him practice his signature and strengthen the band’s management.
Ten minutes later, the photos and signatures were done. Cui Yeyi could finally complain. “Oh my god, being a star is too painful! My face is stiff from smiling.”
“This is nothing, and you call yourself a star!”
Bai Sinian didn’t have time to entertain them. He gazed into the distance and found that Zhou Yingzi’s spot was empty. He didn’t know when she had left.
He also didn’t know if she had changed her perspective slightly or if she would have a good talk with Bian Rui when she got home.
“Why the long face?” Bian Rui packed up the microphone and walked over to Bai Sinian.
Bai Sinian immediately flashed a brilliant smile. “I’m not. I’m happy! How did you feel today?”
Bian Rui said indifferently, “It was okay. Just the usual.”
Bai Sinian: “Right, after all, you didn’t do it to enjoy the feeling of being worshipped.”
They moved the equipment to the back seat of a rented van. Bian Rui asked again, “How are you so skilled at this?”
Bai Sinian: “It’s called quick thinking in an emergency.”
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