Perfect Superstar.

"On a rainy day, I walk down the empty, desolate street".

After finishing a brief intro, Lu Chen began singing with the accompaniment of his guitar: "Watching the flowers, blooming and withering."

Fans familiar with Tan Hong's music considered "Flying Pigeons" to be one of his most outstanding works. The song's lyrics are not particularly profound; it tells the story of a young man yearning for freedom and dreaming of love, with the ideal represented by the pigeons flying in the sky.

It is also a lyrical folk song, well suited to young people, and has been loved by many and sung continuously for over a decade. It's often heard in the bars of Houhai.

However, the song is notoriously difficult to sing and play, and it's widely accepted that a vagabond singer without sufficient skills will only humiliate himself by attempting it.

Given Lu Chen's previous level, choosing 'Flying Pigeons' as his opening song seemed to be overestimating his own abilities!

However, as he lightly strummed the guitar strings and began his performance, the Daylily Bar quickly fell silent. Guests who had been chatting stopped talking, the bartender behind the bar stopped shaking his cocktail shaker, and even the waiters moved quietly for fear of disturbing others.

Lu Chen's clear, pure voice was transmitted crisply through the speakers placed around the bar, touching the hearts of the audience and making their emotions ebb and flow with the music.

"I stand in front of you,"

"Dreaming of becoming a pigeon flying in the sky,"

"Lalalala~ Flying Pigeon!"

Because the song was familiar and loved, the audience was both appreciative and critical. Many of the regulars at the Daylily had a good ear for music and could pick out any off-note or missed pitch. Especially with a classic like "Flying Pigeons", it was a significant test for the vagabond singer.

Lu Chen's performance was almost perfect. His instrument handling, aura, vocal tone and emotions were all spot on. If one were to be picky, one could say that he was still a bit green compared to the original singer Tan Hong.

(Green- Inexperienced)

But is a young man who is not green still a young man?

The song ended after five minutes.

The room fell silent, and after a moment someone began to clap, and soon the whole bar erupted in applause.

A good performance deserves real applause.

A loud whistle followed, bringing more laughter and admiration.

"Little Lu, you sang so beautifully today. I'm in love with you. Here's a dozen beers for you!"

It was a warm greeting from a regular who was either a real flirt or a pseudo-intellectual!

"Thank you."

Lu Chen smiled and waved to express his thanks— that was a regular customer known for their sense of humor.

Customer support for vagabond singers is often shown through tips— men might send beers, and women might send flowers. A dozen beers cost 240 yuan, with each beer costing 20 yuan.

Lu Chen didn't have to drink the beer, but he would get a 50% cut, which came to 120 yuan!

In Houhai bars, this was a substantial tip. Unlike the extravagant spenders in Sanlitun, Houhai's customers were different - they were not rich second-generation spenders, nor mindless kids fighting for attention.

A dozen beers as a tip was a considerable gesture here.

It wasn't the first time this regular customer, Sister Shan, had given Lu Chen beer, but it was the first time she had given him a dozen, indicating that she truly enjoyed and appreciated his performance.

Choosing Flying Pigeons as the opening song was undoubtedly the right decision.

Holding his guitar, Lu Chen felt a wonderful sensation in his heart.

Meanwhile, behind the bar, the charming woman's mood was also very special.

She slightly parted her lips, looking incredulously at the bar owner Chen Jianhao, and said, "Jianhao-ge, if you're unwilling to let him go, just say so. Is it fun to play me like this?"

Chen Jianhao could only smile wryly: "Su Qingmei, I'm not playing you!"

This woman was not to be trifled with, and she was certainly not someone Chen Jianhao could afford to offend.

"Don't even think about making excuses."

Su Qingmei said through gritted teeth, "Little Lu's voice has some character, but his level is too amateur. He's only filling in here, and he relies on the sound engineering in the back. Do you really want to sign him?"

She repeated Chen Jianhao's earlier comments about Lu Chen word for word, without missing a single detail!

Chen Jianhao was speechless.

He himself found it very strange. Despite Lu Chen's amateur level, his performance today was like a miracle, and it was as if he had undergone a transformation!

Just before Lu Chen started to sing, Chen Jianhao had been unhappy with Lu Chen's choice of 'Flying Pigeons' as his opening song.

He thought the song was too difficult and that Lu Chen wouldn't be able to handle it.

Now, Su Qingmei's sarcastic remarks only left Chen Jianhao with no way to refute them, and he could only say, "This youngster, huh!"

"He must have had some expert guidance in the past two days, he just performed above his usual level," Chen Jianhao thought up what he thought was a reasonable explanation.

"Two days?"

Su Qingmei scoffed, "In just two days, someone can provide such guidance? What expert is so incredible? I'll offer a million for their annual salary! And don't tell me you can't hear that his voice hasn't been adjusted by the sponsor!"

Chen Jianhao felt like his face was about to swell.

He understood music; after all, he was part of the show business community and owned the bar himself. How could he not tell if a live vagabond singer's performance had been adjusted?

It was clear that something had gone wrong in the sound room!

This further highlighted Lu Chen's skill— pure, unaltered sound!

Faced with the aggressive Su Qingmei, Chen Jianhao could only respond gloomily and helplessly, "Then you go talk to Little Lu yourself. As long as he agrees, I'll definitely let him go!"

In fact, Lu Chen hadn't signed a formal contract with Daylily Bar; he could leave whenever he wanted.

Su Qingmei displayed a victorious smile and said, "Let's hear two more songs. Maybe this will truly be an exceptional performance."

At this moment, Lu Chen, sitting on the stage with his guitar, had already received 37 beers as tips.

The additional 370 Yuan made his spirits almost soar. He barely managed to suppress his excitement and said into the microphone, "Thank you very much for your support, everyone. The next song, well, it's very special."

He stumbled over his words, paused, and continued, "It's a song I wrote myself. Today is the first time I'm performing it. Its name is…"

"My Old Classmate!"

"My Old Classmate" was the first song Lu Chen obtained from the dream world. He composed and wrote the lyrics for it and successfully registered it along with another song in the "Greater China Music Library."

Therefore, legally, "My Old Classmate" was an original song with all rights owned by Lu Chen.

But Lu Chen could not deceive himself into thinking this wasn't considered plagiarism. However, when he thought about the massive debt at home, his burden felt light.

The familiar yet strange dream world, the memories of the 3 lives, seemed to be a gift from heaven to change his fate!lifes

Taking a deep breath, Lu Chen's confused eyes became determined once again, and his fingers pressed down on the strings.

An original song performed for the first time at Daylily Bar?

Lu Chen's announcement inevitably stirred a small commotion in the bar. Many patrons were surprised and some doubted whether he was just trying to show off.

Especially the regulars who knew Lu Chen. They were already astonished by his performance of "Flying Pigeons," and now, hearing that he would perform an original song, they were in disbelief.

Creating original music isn't easy!

Since the advent of modern pop music, there have been countless classics from the continent, Hong Kong and Taiwan, Europe, America, Japan, and South Korea. However, now, good original works are becoming rarer, with some even claiming that outstanding melodies have already been written.

While melodies can't be entirely exhausted, such statements prove the difficulty of originality.

Many popular vagabond singers claim their works are original, but their songs often end up being patchwork or mediocre. Such singers often rely on a single song to gain fame, only to end up as a joke.

Was Lu Chen also getting carried away?

It's normal for young people to be impulsive; everyone has their passionate moments, and that's understandable.

But it doesn't mean they believe Lu Chen can deliver a good original piece.

The song title sounds interesting—"My Old Classmate."

Many people thought of their former classmates from their youth and smiled.

"Original, huh?"

Su Qingmei said with a smile, "Jianhao, your young man really is a hidden gem. I'm glad I came today!"

The already disheartened bar owner replied wearily, "Just listen, listen…"

Original? It's simply nonsense. How much talent does Lu Chen really have?

When Chen Jianhao asked Lu Chen to perform, it was based on his decent appearance and acceptable voice. It was fine for a vagabond singer performing as a filler; whether he sang well or poorly didn't matter much.

As for musical proficiency, did Lu Chen even have that?

But after previous lessons, Chen Jianhao chose not to say more. What if he got slapped in the face again?

Where would he put his old face then?

On stage, the guitar prelude began, and the soothing melody floated into everyone's ears.

"Will you remember tomorrow,

The diary you wrote yesterday,

Will you still think about it tomorrow,

The you who used to cry the most?

The teachers can't remember,

The you who couldn't solve the problems,

I only accidentally looked through old photos,

And remembered My Old Classmate!

Who married the sentimental you,

Who read your diary,

Who put up your long hair,

Who made your wedding dress."

The patrons were stunned, and so were the servers.

Chen Jianhao was stunned, and Su Qingmei was equally stunned.

It was breathtaking!

A classic folk song from another world suddenly opened the hearts of those who listened to Lu Chen's performance!

Touching everyone's soul.

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(End of Chapter)