Respawn Entertainment: Days of Glory

Chapter 975 I Believe Your Lies, This Is My First Time Acting Too

Having made up his mind, Bian Lang didn't voice his thoughts directly; he would wait until he had a clear understanding with DGM before saying so.

After all, DGM's profit-driven goals and Bianlang's own spiritual aspirations are quite different. Finding a balance between these two needs to be achieved before any collaborations regarding the international expansion of music festivals can proceed.

After all, it's not as simple as organizing a Rolling Stones concert; the location, scale, band, and so on all need to be calculated by DGM.

The three chatted for a while longer when He Yan called Bian Lang: "Teacher Bian, you and Teacher Luo Lin should get ready, it's almost time." After hanging up, Bian Lang beckoned the two of them downstairs.

The first song was Face's "Harbor," and Luo Lin, who is known for her well-maintained appearance, immediately caused a stir at the venue.

Many people who came to the live stream today, who originally thought there wouldn't be any surprises, are now all looking forward to it again.

Although there wasn't a massive sing-along, the atmosphere here was noticeably more enthusiastic than at other venues broadcasting the show in Kunming. Even many fans watching at LAB complained to Lao Tan, "Lao Tan, that's a bit unfair of you. You didn't even give us any inside information beforehand? Did Bian Lang go there too?"

Faced with this kind of question, Lao Tan's usual approach was to laugh it off: "You've all seen Luo Lin and Bian Lang in person here before, and besides, you all know what Bian Lang's situation is like now. If they were really here, what if someone took a picture and posted it online, and people started making a big deal out of it? That would be a lot of trouble..."

"That's true! By the way, are you going to the Rolling Stones Festival? It's Guo Sichu's festival debut..."

These words were clearly an attempt to gauge Bianlang's intentions, and Lao Tan, of course, couldn't say much: "I haven't decided yet. 'The Big Band' has boosted LAB's business so much. Look how many tourists came specifically yesterday and today? I'd probably be unable to leave even if I wanted to go, and besides, it would be too late to book tickets now!"

Just as Lao Tan said, this year's National Day holiday saw a significant increase in tourists visiting Kunming specifically for the music pilgrimage associated with "The Big Band".

At least a third of the people sitting in the lab watching the broadcast are tourists.

The proportion of tourists in South Asia's first city is even higher. Other CDBs may envy them, but given the relationship between Yunnan Dianhai Group and Rolling Stone, there is a gap that they cannot make up for even if they try to improve their business now.

Dianhai's support for Rock Records began when Rock Records was still in its infancy. Even though Bianlang has been shut down, Rock Records' position as the top independent music label in the entertainment industry remains firmly established and unshakeable. Anything you do now is just icing on the cake; how can it compare to the timely help Dianhai provided back then?

Of course, this is based on the fact that Rolling Stones has a human touch.

Quan Hongtao was also present today, and he and Bian Lang were currently hiding in a room in the mall, smoking and saying, "Little Bian, I really can't believe that in just one year, you and Rolling Stone have changed so much..."

Before Bian Lang could reply, Luo Lin opened the door and came in: "Bian Lang, Chairman Quan... people outside are already predicting that you're going to show up!"

Upon hearing this, Quan Hongtao jokingly said, "Then should I ask the property management to pay more attention to maintaining order at the scene?"

Bian Lang didn't think it was that serious. If it were Guo Sichu coming, then they would need to maintain a certain image, since the nicknames "Queen of Heaven" and "Bian Erlang" sounded quite different.

To his surprise, Ma Yuan had just taken a photo with the two of them and posted it on his WeChat Moments, and then the clever people on the Goose Egg website borrowed it and posted it online.

The all-knowing netizens deduced: "If Luo Lin has already appeared, there's no reason why Bian Lang won't come out. He'll definitely wait until Hedgehog or New Pants sings."

Then, countless tourists and music fans in Kunming, hoping to bump into Bian Lang at various playback points and LAB, started flocking to the first city in South Asia while simultaneously overwhelming the Weibo post.

When the Hedgehog Band appeared on the big screen, the shouts of Bian Lang outside almost drowned out the speakers. He Yan also hurriedly found the small room where the three of them were smoking: "Chairman Quan... Teacher Bian, why don't you go out and meet the fans now? The traffic in the entire South Asia surrounding area is already under great pressure."

Although the words had already been said to this extent, Bian Lang felt that this was a common deceptive tactic used by real estate people like He Yan who frequently engaged in promotional activities: "Mr. He, South Asia is not a place between mountains and seas. Even if a group of 10,000 or 20,000 people were put in, it might not necessarily cause congestion, right?"

Bian Lang is right, but that's under normal circumstances. It's the National Day holiday now, so there are naturally more people than usual. As the central CBD of the South District, and with this event happening, the crowds are definitely not as large as usual. While there might only be a thousand or two thousand people specifically coming to see Bian Lang, the fact that they bring their families, plus those just following the trend, makes the South Asia area incredibly crowded.

Seeing that Bian Lang didn't believe him, Quan Hongtao, who knew his subordinate quite well, spoke up: "Why don't you go out and peek out to take a look and you'll know?"

Bian Lang didn't believe it, but when he opened the door and went outside, he was startled by the sound of people calling his name: "This... how can I go out like this?"

If it were a music festival or a live performance, there wouldn't be a problem with more people and more crowds, but this is an event with little organization, and many of the participants are just there for the spectacle. If it gets chaotic and turns into a public safety incident, then the consequences would be dire.

Back in the "safe house," Bian Lang checked the time and then asked Luo Lin, "Shall we play one later?"

"Sure, but we don't have the equipment?"

“I have a guitar in my car…” Bian Lang said, then looked at He Yan and asked, “Do you guys have a big drum? The kind that supermarkets play during promotions?”

At this point, Luo Lin basically knew what Bian Lang wanted to do, so he thought for a moment and said, "I'll play the drums for you later. I can play 'Summer Finale'!"

Hearing that both of them had said so, He Yan was determined to find the drum, even if it meant going through fire and water: "No problem, I'll arrange for someone to go to the supermarket right away. As for equipment, we have events these days, so we can use the sound system for the small stage. I can borrow the instruments..."

"That won't be necessary, there's no time..."

After saying that, the group split up and began their work. Luo Lin was forced to go back to the front to maintain the atmosphere, Bian Lang went to the parking lot to get his instrument, and Ma Yuan was also forcibly dragged to the mixing console to work.

Listening to Xia Yuxi's version of "Hedgehog," Ma Yuan felt quite moved. Xia Yuxi's move to play rock music had a significant impact on the industry, especially since he has now established himself and even attracted some of his former fans to the path of liking rock music.

This alone makes many people in the pop culture industry feel it's a bit unbelievable!

"Time, Years, Summer Love" is Xia Yuxi's debut song, and Bian Lang has never sung it! Without any comparison, Ma Yuan felt that this song should be sung by Xia Yuxi.

It wasn't just Ma Yuan; most of the Rock Records fans watching "The Big Band" during their team-building activity at a hotel in Haikou shared the same thought. This edited version was the first time everyone had seen it, and after listening, Guo Sichu immediately said to Xia Yuxi, "You guys should hurry up and record the other songs too. Mixing the 'Wave' version together, we could release a Hedgehog album."

Upon hearing this, Liu Ziyang nodded and said, "Indeed, this format must be unique in the industry, with versions by both lead singers... just thinking about it is exhilarating..."

"It's going to be a huge hit! Let's talk to Bian Lang about this and get it done quickly..."

While they were chatting enthusiastically, at the Spring City South Asia venue, a large drum had already been pushed out from the supermarket. Immediately, some fans in the crowd who had been at the "The Big Band" show exclaimed, "Oh my god, is Bian Lang really going to show up? What, what do we do?" Rock fans all knew about Bian Lang's ban, so while they were looking forward to it, they were also worried that if Bian Lang really did show up and acted recklessly, would he face even more severe punishment?

But some rational music fans thought: "This shouldn't be considered a commercial performance, right? At most, it's just an event; there's no promotion or anything. It just depends on whether the higher-ups take it seriously..."

It was only at this point that Ma Yuan and Luo Lin remembered this matter.

Ma Yuan immediately contacted Bian Lang via walkie-talkie: "Bian Lang, are there any problems on your end? This should be considered a performance in public, right?"

Bian Lang had thought it through very clearly, and he had also analyzed all the possibilities with the two agents. The conclusion they reached was: "TV shows are definitely out of the question. Offline shows that generate income are also not allowed, even if it's just an impromptu performance at someone else's venue. But free shows and private gatherings are fine, since there will definitely be some buzz. It just depends on what the higher-ups say."

The idea that his achievements overshadowed his master is simply out of the question, because Bian Lang has already suffered a great injustice in this matter. If we just let it go, it would be a bit...

"It's nothing, it's just an event. I didn't take a single penny from Dianhai, it's nothing."

Despite Bian Lang's words, Quan Hongtao still advised him again: "Bian Lang, why don't we just forget about it? We appreciate the sentiment, but if it affects your future plans, how am I supposed to explain it to your fans?"

"It's nothing..." Since it was something he had already thought through, Bian Lang didn't want to make any changes.

Just as the sound of New Pants being invited came from the speakers outside, Bian Lang put on sunglasses and ran up to the small stage amidst the cheers of the fans who didn't know if there would be a result!

At this moment, the South Asia Plaza was truly a scene of utter chaos, with even the adjacent internal traffic lanes temporarily closed. In reality, even if they weren't closed, no dangerous driver could possibly get in. An SUV, already stuck in the crowd, pulled the handbrake, opened the sunroof, and started livestreaming: "Guys, guys, this traffic jam was totally worth it! Look who's over there?"

Bian Lang stood casually on the small stage, accepting the deafening roar of the fans below. It had a bit of a "general's return" feel to it...

However, as soon as the prelude began, Bian Lang held up a finger to his lips!
With just this one move, the audience immediately fell silent within seconds, giving the single-note electric guitar rhythm absolute space.

Bian Lang recalls that Li Peng played this part in the original Earth version of "The Big Band," while Ouyang Zhong played it on the Water Blue Star version.

Bian Lang hadn't had a chance to see the final version yet, so he turned around and looked at the screen behind him.

Having completely adjusted his state, the goat seemed to unleash all the pent-up frustration from the unpleasant period ahead onto the stage:

Unexpected heavy rain

Trapped together

You sing a melody of worries.

It has deeply attracted me…

Although it wasn't raining at the venue, many rock fans were already experiencing artificial rain on their faces. Note that this wasn't sweat, but tears. Some, understanding the situation, began to conjure up images from the very first episode of The Big Band to the present...

It's hard to say what the heavy rain was, but "The Big Band" truly brought these bands together and united the hearts of rock music fans.

Many former rock band members who had lost touch rekindled their relationships through this program. Of course, this program also included those unfulfilled romances.

Yang Kai and Liu Zhizhi are in a similar situation. They dated in college, listening to rock music and attending music festivals together. After graduation, they went their separate ways, working day and night, and gradually lost contact.

At that moment, Liu Zhizhi was nestled in Yang Kai's arms. The two of them stood at the window of a second-floor restaurant by the square, laughing foolishly as they looked at the big screen.

The drumming of Rowling and the original version began simultaneously, and the goat's song continued:
I believe your lies

This is also my first time acting.

On a crowded stage

You are breathing my scent…

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhizhi turned around and gently pecked Yang Kai's chin.

As the resounding drumbeats began to wash over the hearts and minds of the entire audience, Yang Kai joined Xia Yuxi in singing:
"Each light hug"
Music danced in the darkness
Tears are all for the past.

Love will eventually separate us...

Then, without the microphone, Bian Lang finally turned to face the fans below the stage, leading everyone in clapping and keeping the rhythm while also screaming:
Don't laugh at us

Our love is insignificant.

I want to be with you

Let's sing this summer's final song together...

Not many people started singing along, after all, there weren't many lucky ones like Yang Kai and Liu Zhizhi who were able to participate in the recording of "The Big Band" at the moment.

But when it came to the later part: "Na na na na, na na na..." no rehearsal was needed, and the whole audience started singing along in the second section!
During the interlude, Liu Zhizhi said with a sigh, "Tell me, why did we think about the future of the two of us so complicatedly back then?"

Yang Kai pulled her closer and sang in her ear, "I believe your lies, this is my first time acting too..."

(End of this chapter)