The younger generation, starting from where the wind blows...

Chapter 100 Okay, okay, so this is how you play with nesting dolls, huh?

Faced with the questions from Zheng Wei and the other three women, Xu Kaiyang was the first to raise his hand and swear that he had never lied.

Zhang Kai was a beat slow to react, so he could only lie through his teeth, confidently claiming that he had searched on the school's intranet and confirmed that the name was indeed Zhang Wei.

Seeing that the four women still didn't believe him, Zhang Kai, eager to prove himself, had a sudden inspiration and stood up to shout at the stage.

"Zhang Wei!"

Seeing Yang Muyi looking in their direction, he was so excited that he smiled broadly and waved vigorously.

"See? I wasn't lying to you—"

Before he could finish speaking, a bartender came over.

"Sir, you were looking for me?"

Zhang Kai was stunned.

"I didn't contact you."

The waiter was even more puzzled.

Didn't you call Zhang Wei?

Zhang Kai nodded.

"I was the one who shouted it, but—"

The waiter pointed to the name tag on his clothes.

"I am Zhang Wei."

Zhang Kai was bewildered in the wind.

Zheng Wei and the other three girls burst into laughter.

Xu Kaiyang kept slapping the table with one hand, laughing so hard he was doubled over and couldn't stop.

Enraged, Zhang Kai stepped forward and shoved Xu Kaiyang.

"What the hell are you laughing at!"

Xu Kaiyang laughed while wiping away tears, saying, "Next time, call people's names more quietly, especially not on the street. Zhang Wei's name gets too many stares."

He was angry, but he couldn't refute it.

The only one to blame is Yang Muyi for choosing such a common name. Unlike himself, whose name is so common that you probably couldn't find many people with the same name in the whole country.

After Zheng Wei and the other three girls finished laughing, they looked at Xu Kaiyang and Zhang Kai with a hint of sympathy.

Based on the expression Yang Muyi gave when he looked over from the stage, they were now 100% certain that Xu Kaiyang and Zhang Kai had been deceived.

You can never wake someone who is pretending to be asleep.

Similarly, none of the four women pointed this out.

If those two idiots like to act, then let them keep acting.

Xu Kaiyang raised his hand and called over the waiter named Zhang Wei.

"Sir, what can I do for you?"

Xu Kaiyang counted out five hundred-yuan bills from his wallet and handed them over.

"What's wrong with the band you hired to perform? They're taking so long, still fiddling with their instruments. Are they even going to sing or not? I want to request a song, so tell them to hurry up."

The waiter did not take the money.

"Sir, I'm sorry, the band on stage are friends of the boss. They're just here for fun and don't accept song requests."

Seeing that Xu Kaiyang's attempt to show off had failed, Zhang Kai laughed first, showing no loyalty whatsoever.

Xu Kaiyang took the money back with a displeased look on his face.

Just then, Xia Fenghua and Xie Wanghe, who had gone outside to print sheet music, finally returned.

Three songs, nine sheet music.

Apart from Yang Muyi, the other three members of the band each received three cards.

The three of them soon discovered that while the melodies of the three songs weren't exactly the same, they were at least 70-80% similar.

Of course, the lyrics are different.

After everyone had finished reading, Yang Muyi's first question was: "Don't you think the three songs are all the same? That's right, I was lazy and copied myself. I wrote three songs using one melody. You can guess which one is the original one."

Hu Youyu was the first to raise his hand, but he made a request.

"Can the three of us compare our answers first?"

After considering it for a moment, Yang Muyi decided not to make things difficult for the three of them and started singing directly.

Hu Youyu, being rather cunning, asked, "Which song should we sing first?"

Normally, the song that is sung first is definitely the earliest original.

Unfortunately, Yang Muye did not fall for it.

While the three band members were testing their instruments, Yang Muyi had already adjusted the microphone to a suitable height. At this moment, he put his mouth directly in front of the microphone and looked at the audience below the stage.

"Excuse me for interrupting everyone, but I would like to say a few words before the performance officially begins."

"First of all, I want to thank the owner of Shanshi Liudu Bar for lending us this stage for free. I also want to thank everyone here who became our band's first audience."

"Of course, this is also the first time our band has performed together, and it is also my first time on stage as the lead singer. Please forgive me if I don't sing well."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a discordant voice arose from the audience.

"Everyone comes to the bar to relax and have fun. If you sing well, you get applause, but what if you sing poorly and give us a bad experience? Is there any compensation?"

The speaker was Xu Kaiyang.

On stage, Yang Muye appeared calm and composed.

"You're Xu from the art academy, right? Since you have such high standards for the performance, how about we make a bet?"

Xu Kaiyang held up one finger and waved it.

NO NO!

He's just rich, no... he's stupid.

“My parents taught me from a young age that I must never gamble or do drugs, so I never gamble with anyone, especially when it involves money.”

Upon hearing this, even the air suddenly fell silent.

To be precise, it was awkward.

Zheng Wei, Ruan Wan, and the other three women all buried their heads in their hands, like ostriches burying their heads in the sand, afraid that others would see them sitting at the same table with Xu Kaiyang.

After noticing that something was wrong with the people around him, Xu Kaiyang looked at Zhang Kai beside him with a puzzled tone and asked:

"What, did I say something wrong?"

Even now, Xu Kaiyang still thinks that what he just said was quite witty and humorous.

He opened his mouth and moved it, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Although his academic performance in the college entrance examination was not very good, he could still distinguish between betting and gambling.

Just as they were struggling with how to start the conversation, Yang Muye's voice came from the stage.

"Xu's joke was indeed a bit lame. Okay, let me answer your question first. If we sing three songs and everyone thinks we sang badly, then I'll pay for everyone's food."

A burst of enthusiastic applause and cheers immediately erupted at the scene.

It wasn't that everyone was greedy for Yang Muyi's treat, but rather that they admired Yang Muyi's confidence.

In comparison, Xu Kaiyang's behavior just now seems both foolish and petty.

Seeing Xu Kaiyang's face gradually darken, Zhang Kai had a sudden inspiration and joined the others in cheering.

"Well said! Since you've been so generous, we can't refuse your kindness. After you finish singing, if everyone thinks it was good, please don't applaud, so you don't get arrogant. Everyone agrees, right?"

He thought that someone would be willing to pay the bill, and that his suggestion would be met with a large following. However, apart from Zhang Kai himself grinning foolishly, the other guests at the other tables looked at him with a kind of disgust that they wanted to avoid him at all costs.

Zhang Kai quickly realized this as well, and looked at Xu Kaiyang expectantly.

Did I just say something wrong?
Xu Kaiyang felt embarrassed by Zhang Kai and didn't want to talk to him anymore.

The atmosphere had already been set up by this fool Zhang Kai, and even though Xu Kaiyang knew that Yang Muye's bet was a trap, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and jump in for the sake of his pride.

"Alright, I'll bet with you... no, it's a deal between the two of us men. As the old saying goes, a good performance deserves a reward. If your three songs really satisfy everyone here, I'll pay for everyone's bill in this store tonight!"

Fortunately, Xu Kaiyang wasn't completely stupid. Even if it was a forced attempt to save face, his words were quite well-said. On stage, Yang Muyi was the first to lead the applause for Xu Kaiyang.

The patrons in the bar were very accommodating, clapping along. With a great performance and a sucker helping to pay the bill, everyone was naturally happy.

Xu Kaiyang felt he had regained some face, and like a victorious rooster, he proudly waved to the surroundings.

Seeing Xu Kaiyang's smug expression, Zhang Kai immediately became unhappy.

So in the end, he's the only one who's the clown, right?
"Old Xu, have you brought enough money?"

Xu Kaiyang stared at Zhang Kai like a country bumpkin, then took a card out of his wallet and threw it on the table.

Zhang Kai picked up the card, glanced at it, and even started to look down on it.

"Credit card?"

"A credit limit of 500,000, can you process one for me to see?"

"Then there's no problem!" Zhang Kai immediately put on a disrespectful look and handed the card back to Xu Kaiyang with both hands.

Xu Kaiyang, having shown off for a while, put away the card with satisfaction and turned his gaze to Yang Muye on the stage.

"Can the show begin now?"

Yang Muye shrugged and said into the microphone with some regret, "I originally wanted to invite everyone here to play a little game, because the three songs we are going to sing next are like nesting dolls, the tunes all sound similar. I wanted everyone to guess which song is the original nesting doll. There would be a prize for guessing, and I would pay for everyone's meals tonight if they guessed correctly. But now it seems that there is no need for that."

Xu Kaiyang snorted coldly.

You're talking as if you're guaranteed to win.

Just as I was thinking this, I saw Zheng Wei put her hands on either side of her cheeks and shout at the stage:
"Is necessary!"

Ruan Wan also shouted towards the stage:

"Yes, we want to play this game. If we guess correctly, we can save the reward for next time we come back to spend it."

When the other customers in the bar saw that it was two beautiful women arguing, they joined in the teasing.

"Alright, since everyone wants to play this game, let's select three tables of guests. We happen to have three sets of sheet music here. After you look at them, you can compete to answer the questions. Once someone has chosen a song, you can't choose it again for the next one."

As soon as she finished speaking, Zheng Wei was the first to raise her hand.

Then two more guests raised their hands.

Yang Muye handed the sheet music to Xia Fenghua and asked her to distribute it.

Zheng Wei immediately chose one sheet of music as soon as she received it, and gave the other two to Ruan Wan and Li Weijuan.

Because of his bet with Yang Muyi, Xu Kaiyang was too embarrassed to ask to see the sheet music.

Zhang Kai leaned closer to take a look, but Zhu Xiaobei stopped him.

After the three musical scores were passed around among Zheng Wei and her two daughters, some disagreements arose.

Before they could come to a conclusion, a group of guests at another table had already jumped in with their answers.

"We choose 'You Are Young'."

This was also what Zheng Wei wanted to choose, and she was so anxious that she stomped her feet.

Seeing this, Ruan Wan reacted quickly and immediately raised her hand to grab the second chance to answer.

"We choose 'Our Time'."

The last table of guests had no choice but to order "The Light of the Way Home".

Xia Fenghua took the sheet music back.

As everything was ready on stage, the bar quieted down.

Yang Muyi turned to Ma Siyi, Hu Youyu, and Xiao He to confirm that everyone was ready, and then put his mouth to the microphone.

"We will sing in the order in which everyone answered. The first song is 'You When You Were Young,' which, as the name suggests, is a song written for my younger self."

offstage.

Xu Kaiyang muttered under his breath, "Childish!"

Although this move drew protests from Zheng Wei, Ruan Wan, and the other three women, Zhang Kai firmly stood by Xu Kaiyang's side this time.

"It's just childish. He's about the same age as you, eighteen or nineteen, writing songs for his teenage self. It's just forcing himself to be melancholic."

Before the words were even finished, the intro to the song, played by a drum kit and bass, began.

Ma Siyi's guitar playing also joined in.

Finally, Yang Muyi's deep voice, slightly hoarse, rang out.

"The bus of youth crosses wilderness and hillsides."

"Chase the dreams of youth and be the freest light."

"The ideal image is one dressed in simple clothes."

"Climb over the city gates and high walls to take the freest journey."

Xu Kaiyang and Zhang Kai were both stunned.

Although I initially mocked Yang Muye for being naive, I couldn't help but be moved when I heard these lyrics.

Who didn't dream of pursuing freedom when they were young?

Although most of the bar's customers are young people, there are also a few people like the bar owner who are in their thirties and feel even more deeply about these lyrics.

Not only the audience, but also the performers Hu Youyu, Ma Siyi, and Xiao He were reminded of the past by the song.

At this moment, Hu Youyu recalled the scene when he turned against his family in pursuit of his music dream.

Xiaohe recalled being ostracized and isolated at school when she was a child.

Ma Siyi then recalled the moments she spent with her friends on Flower Street.

However, these thoughts were only fleeting, before Yang Muyi's uninterrupted singing pulled them back to reality.

"You must cross the strait with the wind, and you will have to go through all the hardships along the way."

"We crossed the mountain to meet the sunset, and went to find a flower that no one knew about."

"No matter how dark it is, don't be afraid, fireflies and moonlight are your guiding light."

"We ride the wind and dream on horseback, chasing and welcoming the most passionate years of our lives."

As the interlude began, everyone remained immersed in the beautiful mood created by the chorus, unwilling to come back to their senses for a long time.

"These lyrics are really well written!"

Zhu Xiaobei couldn't help but praise him.

She developed a boyish personality from a young age in order to support her mother's hopes.

Just now, Zhu Xiaobei, who hadn't cried in years, quietly had tears welling up in her eyes.

Zhu Xiaobei felt greatly encouraged by the song.

Zheng Wei pursed her lips, feeling extremely annoyed.

She is now increasingly convinced that "You When You Were Young" is the original song among the three.

Unfortunately, I reacted too slowly, and the opportunity was snatched away by someone else.

On the other hand, Ruan Wan's feelings were also complicated.

She didn't actually read the lyrics of "Our Time" carefully; she just felt that of the three songs, this one had the richest lyrics.

After listening to only half of "You in Your Youth," Ruan Wan's originally firm resolve has already begun to waver.

Of course, the biggest reaction came from opening up.

"Old Xu, my stomach suddenly feels a little uncomfortable, I need to go to the restroom."

Just as he was about to get up, Xu Kaiyang's voice rang out.

"stop!"

"I can't hold it in any longer!"

Zhang Kai silently apologized and got up to walk towards the bar entrance.

Driven to desperation, Xu Kaiyang abandoned all restraint and began to hurl insults:
"Open up, you son of a bitch! The restroom is over there!"

(End of this chapter)