Chapter 59

This was an English song called “Stronger”, played with a hearty electric guitar solo, then drums, bass and other musical instruments slowly came in, so the pace moved faster and faster, and more and more intense. Zhou Yun Sheng closed his eyes again, dancing to the beat, then he opened them. In the smoky light his dark eyes appeared particularly deep, and they burned in angry flames. He deliberately depressed his voice with a metallic texture, and poured out all his disgust and contempt.

Even the people who didn’t understand English could feel the outbreak of his sharpness and ridicule, their blood boiled, their whole body trembled. For those who could understand, they were stunned.

You know the bed feels warmer

Sleeping here alone

You know I dream in color

And do the things I want

You think you got the best of me

Think you had the last laugh

Bet you think that everything good is gone

Think you left me broken down

Think that I’d come running back

Baby you don’t know me, ’cause you’re dead wrong

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger

Stand a little taller

Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone

What doesn’t kill you makes a fighter

Footsteps even lighter

Doesn’t mean I’m over ’cause you’re gone

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, stronger

Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone

…

…

The handsome man’s voice was penetrating and angry. The flames burning bright in his eyes told the audience that, even without Lin Siqing, he would become more powerful, stronger, until no one could beat him.

This song was a declaration of war against Lin Siqing, he was telling him – I’m better than you, compared to me, you’re nothing.

Most of the audience were Lin Siqing fans, but no one could find the motivation to defend their idol. They were fans second and music enthusiasts first, they could naturally hear that this song had potential popularity, with wide appeal. And in Ou Zinan’s voice, the song’s message was loud and clear.

They wanted to listen with their ears, but cover their eyes, to resist. But the man’s charm was everywhere, they couldn’t escape, except for staring at him wide eyes, they couldn’t do anything.

The song was reaching the climax, the young man’s metallic cold voice showed a hint of huskiness, like a drop of water falling into boiling hot oil, so the audience felt a strong, intense, volatile heat.

The audience members closest to the stage were almost burned to ashes by the youth’s charm. They were covered in sweat, their hair sticking to their foreheads and their cheeks flushed. It was very awkward, their faces showed clear resistance, but their eyes were glowing and trembling with the waves.

They wanted to follow the young man and dance, shout, scream, ‘Strong and Stronger’, until their voices broke. But they couldn’t betray their idols, so they reminded themselves over and over again not to enjoy it.

Their souls were pierced by the man’s voice, clamoring, stabbing, tearing … … eventually being crushed into dust … …

Some people clenched their teeth, some endured till tears, some were trembling fiercely. One person wanted to do something to calm themself and accidentally clenched the light stick. The previously dark audience suddenly had a weak light, then it started spreading out, until the audience was lit up like a spotlight.

The man singing on the stage was too powerful, like the most intense drug, addictive. The people fell in and followed him into the madness. When the song finished, he was sweating and puffing, the audience was even worse off than him, the resistant yet eager eyes all focused on him, like a beam of light.

“Here’s a song called ‘Rolling In The Deep’, dedicated to you.” He said without pause.

Rolling in the deep, couldn’t just hearing the name boil the blood? Your butt wants to wiggle? Your head wants to bob? Everyone looked around, feeling a bit embarrassed, but soon, they couldn’t make the effort to worry about the other people around them. The young man’s captivating voice dragged them into the endless pain of love and hate.

There’s a fire starting in my heart

Reaching a fever pitch, it’s bringing me out the dark

Finally, I can see you crystal clear

Go ‘head and sell me out and I’ll lay your ship bare

See how I leave with every piece of you

Don’t underestimate the things that I will do

There’s a fire starting in my heart

Reaching a fever pitch

And it’s bringing me out the dark

…

Baby, I have no story to be told

But I’ve heard one on you

And I’m gonna make your head burn

Think of me in the depths of your despair

(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)

…

This was a song of revenge, the young man casually sang while revealing a fierce and contemptuous smile, as if this was an announcement to the world- he will not easily let go of those who betrayed him, as the song says, he would let them burn, in ruins, and from the depths of despair, they’ll have no choice but to look up at his glory.

In the face of such clear, looming maliciousness, Lin Siqing’s fans were completely unable to feel outraged for their idol. They were already crazy, swinging and screaming to the rhythm of the music. They souls were invaded by the hatred in the song, restless and dizzy.

The song finished and everyone felt a burst of fatigue, they thought the young man would take a break to change clothes and rest, or sing a song with a slower rhythm to lower the intensity in the room. But they were shocked, he just wiped the sweat of his forehead and breathed out, “Here’s ‘Rock’ for you, please follow my dancing.”

What? After Rolling in the deep, shouldn’t your body be tired? Why are you excited like you just injected chicken blood?

Brother, you must be taking drugs!

Quickly bring me a bottle of water, I’ve been roaring for so long I can’t feel my throat!

Where are the staff, do they have anything better than these fluorescent sticks? This one is broken, it feels very bumpy ah! Do you guys have a more flexible light? Where are the signboards? No streamers? Don’t they usually sell longer light rods and star sticks at concerts? Oh, aren’t you one of the staff here? So unprofessional!

The audience were drinking, taking pictures, stopping passing staff for more items, etc. The previously dark audience had brightened.

Zhou Yun Sheng put the microphone on the stand and took out an electric guitar. His fingers strummed out some random notes and the noisy audience immediately quieted down in anticipation. He nodded in satisfaction at their reaction and smiled to the nearest camera.

His beautiful face appeared on the big screen, showing a very intoxicating smile. Before the audience could calm their frenzied hearts, he focused on his instrument, his fingers speedily fiddling on the strings. One after another, notes collided in the air, bursting, converging, resulting in a hallucinogenic, wonderful chemical reaction.

Their cheeks burned, eyes blurred, and they involuntarily swayed to the rhythm. The banners, star sticks, and soft lights were lifted up, waving in uniform.

The youth on the stage was furious and hoarse. Behind him, fireworks sprayed out to form a waterfall, opposite him, the lights fluctuated and converged in a wave, brightening up the stage. As he’d promised before, he had the power to light up the whole stage. While the stars burned in the sky, he was the earth’s most dazzling presence.

The audience had already forgotten their original intentions, they wholeheartedly sank into his concert. His every song was so passionate, rising up and down, he didn’t give them a chance to breathe. He brought you up into the clouds, then ruthlessly pushed you into the abyss, so you were repeatedly exhausted and laboriously breathing – trapped, yet there was no desire for escape.

Time swiftly passed, and then the young man slowly walked up to the piano and breathed out, “This is the last one, ‘Because Of You’, I hope you can listen quietly.”

…..How can it be the last song?! Didn’t the concert just start?! The audience was shocked, they looked at their watches and found that it was eleven o’clock.

Someone howled, “Nooo don’t stop, keep singing! We support you!”

“Zinan, keep going!”

“Ou Zinan, you’re the best! We support you!”

“Sing until morning! No, sing forever! We will always listen to you!”

The shouts came and went, gradually converging into a thunderous applause. They had been completely conquered by his talent.

“Thank you, but unfortunately, we have a contract with Star Pavilion. If we go overtime, we’ll face a huge fine.” Zhou Yun Sheng gave a cheerful smile to the camera and continued, “This song is the original ‘Because Of You’. Hush, please be quiet.”

He placed his slender finger against his pink lips, his handsome expression was dizzying. The audience was fully high, but they eventually quieted down. This was the song that pushed Ou Zinan into hell and Ge Mengshu into heaven. Who was right and who was wrong, they all wanted to know.

The piano tune flowed slowly from his fingers, Ou Zinan’s performance level was amazing, his was voice addicting. The same excellent tune they always heard was suddenly heavier and more profound.

I will not make the same mistakes that you did

I will not let myself

Cause my heart so much misery

I will not break the way you did,

You fell so hard

I’ve learned the hard way

To never let it get that far

Because of you

I never stray too far from the sidewalk

Because of you

I learned to play on the safe side so I don’t get hurt

Because of you

I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me

Because of you

I am afraid

I lose my way

And it’s not too long before you point it out

I cannot cry

Because I know that’s weakness in your eyes

I’m forced to fake

A smile, a laugh every day of my life

My heart can’t possibly break

When it wasn’t even whole to start with

Because of you

I never stray too far from the sidewalk

Because of you

I learned to play on the safe side so I don’t get hurt

Because of you

I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me

Because of you

I am afraid

I watched you die

I heard you cry every night in your sleep

I was so young

You should have known better than to lean on me

You never thought of anyone else

You just saw your pain

And now I cry in the middle of the night

For the same damn thing

Because of you

I never stray too far from the sidewalk

Because of you

I learned to play on the safe side so I don’t get hurt

Because of you

I try my hardest just to forget everything

Because of you

I don’t know how to let anyone else in

Because of you

I’m ashamed of my life because it’s empty

Because of you

I am afraid

Because of you

Because of you….

————————————————————————–

T/N:

Injected chicken blood – Hmm…Wikipedia “Chicken-blood therapy (鸡血疗法) was a form of pseudo-medical therapy popular in China during the Cultural Revolution…. Claimed benefits included making the patient highly aggressive and strong.”

It was really hard imagining those popular songs in a different voice. I keep hearing Adelle and Kelly Clarkson in my head. Also, Kelly freakin’ Clarkson