Reborn as a comedic artist

Gu Xiao's piano music flowed like water, unassuming yet omnipresent.

Zhao Yufeng's drumbeats steadily supported each rhythm, which was the frequency of his heartbeat.

Lin Yiyi's bass resonated from the depths, like the pulse of the earth.

The guitar in Cheng Ming's hands sounded like a wind chime gently ringing in his ears, or like fragments of memory shimmering in the sunlight.

The atmosphere was gradually building.

Suppressed, accumulating, waiting to explode.

Immediately afterwards, Wang Shuo, holding the microphone, continued singing:

"And the heavens of Shu music"

"Still so warm"

"The wind has stirred up memories of the past."

He suddenly opened his eyes, which were now burning with two flames.

That's ambition.

It's a dream.

It is a roar of defiance against mediocrity.

"When I first encountered this world."

"Lingering in vain"

"The horizon seems so close at hand."

"I'm willing to go through fire and water to experience it."

The high notes were explosive!

Without any warning, Wang Shuo's voice came out like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

The transition between true and falsetto voices was so smooth it sent chills down my spine; the power it conveyed pierced through the heavy, gloomy clouds overhead and struck straight to the depths of my soul.

"hiss--"

Li Qiang felt a dense layer of goosebumps rise all over his body. The electric current surged from the soles of his feet all the way to the top of his head, making his scalp tingle.

He stared blankly at the fat man standing in the wind.

At that moment, Wang Shuo's broad back seemed to grow infinitely larger in his eyes.

This guy is hardly a comedian.

This is clearly a shining superstar!

That light was so bright it hurt your eyes, yet it also made you want to cry.

.............

"Now that I've walked through this world..."

"Lingering in vain"

"Turning the page on different facets of time"

"Your smile appeared out of nowhere."

Sizzle—!

The electric guitar in Cheng Ming's hands let out a high-pitched roar.

He and Wang Shuo stood back to back.

One played the piano and harmonized, while the other tilted his head back and sang loudly.

That kind of tacit understanding doesn't require eye contact or verbal communication; it comes naturally.

The wind is getting stronger.

The strong wind tousled everyone's hair, and made the hem of Wang Shuo's Zhongshan suit flutter like a flag.

But he stood ramrod straight.

It is like a mountain, like an old pine tree rooted in the cracks of rocks.

Let the winds blow from any direction.

I was once overwhelmed by the vastness of the world.

"Also indulging in sleep-talking."

"Unable to distinguish truth from falsehood, I will not struggle, nor fear ridicule."

Every word was like a heavy hammer blow, striking the hearts of everyone present.

Huang Yu-Xi forgot to check the monitor.

She held the walkie-talkie in her hand, and her usually fiery eyes were now somewhat moist.

She stared blankly at the five people in the room.

Is this the "grand show" that Cheng Ming was talking about?

This is indeed a grand spectacle.

A grand drama about youth, dreams, and farewell.

She looked at Cheng Ming's focused profile in the camera lens.

The man who was usually so unserious, talked nonsense, and even a bit "abstract" was now so earnest that it was heartbreaking.

His eyes no longer held the mockery of the past, but only the most devout reverence for music.

In this way, he drew the most arrogant yet romantic conclusion to his four years of university life and to his group of friends who were about to go their separate ways.

.......

And Wang Shuo.

This chubby man, who was once willing to play a supporting role and be the straight man, is now burning himself out.

He used his voice to tell everyone: Fat people can have their day, funny guys can have deep feelings, and ordinary people can have big dreams!

"I once poured my youth into her."

"I once played out the height of summer with my fingertips."

Let your heart guide you as it comes.

The last sentence fell.

Cheng Ming's harmonies gently supported Wang Shuo's final note.

Their voices complemented each other, swirling in the wind, carrying a sigh of relief and a hint of anticipation for the future.

The piano music slowly faded away, like a tranquil lake after the wind has stopped.

Everything fell silent.

Only that last note of the piano trembled in the air, lingering for a long time.

A deathly silence fell over the playground.

Only the wind was still blowing, rustling the withered leaves.

Li Qiang's mouth was open, and he couldn't close it for a long time.

As a tough guy in the gym, someone who bleeds and sweats but doesn't cry, I suddenly felt a sharp sting in my nose.

Among the burly men behind him who usually bossed people around, one of them was so emotional that his eyes even reddened. He turned his back and secretly wiped the corner of his eye with the back of his calloused hand.

It sounds so damn good.

That's so damn heartbreaking.

Isn't this song about them?

That person who was once arrogant and thought he could change the world, but in the end had to bow to life and toil for a pittance.

The person who once had a sparkle in their eyes is now just a weary version of themselves.

"good……"

Someone, with a hoarse voice, wanted to shout "Good!" but couldn't make a sound.

Everyone was immersed in that enormous torrent of emotions, unable to extricate themselves.

Cheng Ming slowly put down his guitar, his bangs obscuring his eyes and making his expression unreadable.

Wang Shuo maintained his microphone grip, his chest heaving violently—a sign of both oxygen deprivation and intense emotions.

Gu Xiao's fingers stopped on the piano keys. She turned her head slightly to look at that figure from behind, a barely perceptible soft light flashing in her eyes.

Zhao Yufeng threw down his drumsticks, panting heavily. His wild face was covered in sweat, yet he laughed wildly and unrestrainedly.

Lin Yiyi hugged the bass, her eyes red-rimmed, but she stubbornly pursed her lips.

"Card!"

Huang Yuxi finally broke the silence with a trembling voice.

That "cut" sound seemed to have used up all her strength.

She abruptly ripped off her headphones, abandoning all pretense of being a counselor, and yelled at the audience:

"Perfect! Absolutely perfect!"

At this moment, the complete cycle of Shu music art was finished.

........

"call……"

Upon hearing the sound card, Cheng Ming's tense shoulders finally relaxed.

He turned around, looked at the group of "musicians" behind him who were still in a daze, and a signature wicked smile appeared on his lips, instantly bringing back that "abstract" aura.

"How was it, Fatty? Are you satisfied with my arrangement? If you don't become famous after this, then it will truly be an injustice!"

Wang Shuo was about to answer when he realized his voice was terribly hoarse.

He coughed twice, pulled a tissue from his pocket, and hastily wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Whether I become famous or not is another matter, damn! This live performance was absolutely thrilling, it almost made my lungs explode, but at least I didn't let my godfather down and everyone's support....!"

"Phew, yeah, thanks to everyone's help, these past few dozen days of hard work weren't in vain, it's finally done...!"

With a sigh of relief, Cheng Ming couldn't help but swear; only now did he truly feel secure.

Li Qiang finally came to his senses and led his group of brothers to surround them.

At this moment, his face no longer showed any of the ferocity and arrogance he had displayed during the performance; instead, it was filled with a fanatical devotion.

"Director Cheng...no, Brother Cheng...!"

Li Qiang gave a thumbs up, his voice booming so loud it made Cheng Ming's ears ring.

"I, Li Qiang, have never admired anyone in my life, but today I truly admire you! This song... this song makes me feel sad, but at the same time, it feels incredibly satisfying!"

"Yeah, Brother Cheng, what's the name of this song? Can I find it online? I want to listen to it on repeat a hundred times..."

The "stick guy" next to him also came over, looking expectant.

Cheng Ming raised an eyebrow, handed the guitar to the staff member next to him, straightened his wind-blown collar, and uttered three words calmly:

"The wind is picking up."

"The wind is picking up...!"

Li Qiang pondered these three words, looked up at the gloomy sky, then at the still howling wind, and suddenly slapped his thigh.

"Amazing! So damn fitting!"

............