Chapter 31
It's no surprise that Aheng likes visual rock.
Because she knew clearly that this young man had a sensitive yet broad heart, enough to bear the most dazzling changes in music and accept the most unpredictable scale in terms of form.
Decadent, decadent, and noisy—these are all the words she could use to describe music with a metallic quality.
Yan hope was a clever man, so he always imitated the subtle movements and expressions of those who could be called beauties when they sang, and even the quality of their voices, except that they were off-key.
Yan hope is also a loyal person. For many years, he has only listened to the music of one band: the most traditional and conservative, yet arrogant and flamboyant Japanese band, SLEEPLESS, and Sleepless Night. The group consists of four members, the other three of whom are just average, but the lead singer, ICE, is a sophisticated black-haired man as captivating as the night.
ICE likes to stand in the corner of the stage, in the dim light, wearing the most gorgeous makeup, and using his repressed and violent soul to perform his life.
For reasons that cannot be explained, Yan hope was passionately infatuated with this band, or rather, with ICE as a person.
Ah Heng had seen Yan Xilu's ICE concert live, but couldn't muster any enthusiasm for it. Because this man named ICE had such ethereal and pure eyes; when detached from emotion, he always carried an inexplicable contempt for the world; when passionate, however, his eyes burned with a fiery intensity, as if he wanted to incinerate everyone.
She stared at the man on the stage, her heart pounding with fear. Then, she was horrified to discover that Yan hope had perfectly mimicked the man's gaze.
This gave her the illusion that if Yan hope were given a chance, he would indulge himself in repeating the similar experiences hidden behind those eyes when he walked towards ICE. And even though she didn't know the details, she was willing to bet that these experiences were not something a long-lived and peaceful person would have.
Therefore, when Chen Juan smiled and handed a flyer to Yan hope, A Heng frowned slightly.
"What?" Yan hope was somewhat stunned.
Chen Juan smiled and said, "I heard Siwan say before that you really like visual rock. Today on my way to school, someone was handing out flyers; it seemed to be from Company C."
We're preparing to launch a new visual bank and are currently auditioning for a lead vocalist. You could give it a try, Yan hope.
Company C is a nationally renowned talent agency. Many of the country's well-known bands were created by Company C.
Yan hope was stunned for a moment, then started to chuckle to himself—"Oh dear, if I get selected to enter the entertainment industry, will I finally get to see my idol?"
Chen Juan raised the corner of his eye, concealing his smile, and said seriously, "Yan hope, I'm not joking with you."
Yan hope yelled – “Who’s joking with you? Even if I were joking, would I use my idol to joke with you? Pfft!”
“Yan hope, I remember you’ve been talking about going to Japan to see your idol for the past two years,” Xin Dayi interjected.
"There's nothing I can do. My old man said that if I dare to set foot in Japan, he'll immediately sever all ties with me, especially financial ties." Yan hope spread his hands, shook his head, and sighed.
"Stop talking about that. I happen to know a few people who play in bands. Yanxi, if you'd like to go, I can ask them to practice with you." Chen Juan interrupted the boy's off-topic remarks.
“Go, why wouldn’t I go?” Yan hope laughed.
Ah Heng sat to the side, remaining silent, but a vague sense of unease lingered within him.
She had hoped that Yan hope would treat it as a joke and forget about it afterward. However, after school, he locked himself in his room, turned off the lights, and quietly watched ICE's concert recordings over and over again.
When he came out, he only said one sentence to her—"Aheng, I want to try."
Ah Heng didn't speak, but simply nodded silently.
She didn't know why Rosemary was so concerned about Yan Xi's affairs, but the people Mary had found were all students at the art university and were very knowledgeable about rock music.
"Is this for real?" Xin Dayi clicked his tongue at Aheng.
It has everything: drum set, guitar, keyboard.
"Yes, Yanxi signed up yesterday," Aheng said, her gaze fixed on Rosemary.
He was meticulously scrutinizing Yan hope's singing and vocal delivery from a completely professional perspective.
Ah Heng hadn't forgotten what Si Wan had said about how outstanding Chen Juan's musical talent was.
Of course, his mother also said that when Yan hope was young, it took him a whole year to learn to play a little dance piece, albeit haltingly.
He was born with hands that could play the piano, but his sensitivity to music was surprisingly poor.
So why Yan hope? Rosemary clearly had it all planned out long ago, choosing Yan hope, or perhaps Yan hope was his initial target. Aheng even had the illusion that he was going to great lengths to pull Yan Xi down this path. That whole set of excuses—Yan hope's interests, his friendships with classmates—felt far too perfunctory.
Given Yan Xi's usual keen perception, he should have noticed, but the boy, engrossed in the poppy of the mind and even soul, had already lost control. Rosemary, clearly, was aware of this weakness in Yan hope's character.
He knew Yan hope very well. This was far beyond Aheng's expectations, and terrifying indeed.
Because she never understood the strange boy's purpose from the beginning. From his disguised return to the country, his silence about the past, and Siwan's strong rejection of his approach to Yanxi, everything was shrouded in an inescapable fog.
“This phrase is in 8/6 time, in A major, with an opening and closing note. It’s sung incorrectly,” Rosemary frowned, pointing to the sheet music.
"How did you get it wrong again?" Yan hope whispered, her eyes wide as she stared at the sheet music as if trying to see a hole in it, her expression one of adorable bewilderment.
Ah Heng snapped out of her reverie, smiled, and went to the kitchen to prepare a few glasses of juice.
"Chen Juan, thank you." Aheng handed the juice to the alluring man dressed in women's clothing, smiling as she interrupted his reprimand of Yan hope.
Yan hope looked at A Heng with watery eyes, pitifully reaching out her hand for juice, just like a hungry braised pork rice.
“Aheng…”
"Take it yourself." Ah Heng smiled, turned around gently, and pulled Xin Dayi toward the entrance.
She gave him complete space.
Don't have regrets, don't have any regrets...
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The selection process was scheduled for mid-July, with the final exams in early July. Siwan would absolutely not allow Yanxi to waste his first year of high school again. As soon as Si'er finished her middle school entrance exams, he stayed at the Yan family home, taking the initiative to help Yanxi with her studies every day.
Rosemary had a half-smile at Siwan's behavior, as if she had known he would do this all along, and so she tactfully agreed that he would practice his vocalization again after the final exams.
“Aheng, you…” Siwan hesitated before speaking to Aheng.
Ah Heng smiled faintly; she knew what Si Wan wanted to say.
Why didn't you stop Yan hope?
Everyone felt this was inappropriate. Everyone thought Yan Xi was living too comfortably and was just bored, so why did he have to play in a band? What was even more ridiculous was that he wanted to be an artist. With his status, power, and position, he could have easily achieved any of these things. Why did he have to do this?
Or, Siwan thought, Yanxi could only be so elegant that he was untouched by the dust of the world, pure and refined, and cherished by others.
Although, she had always held onto this hope...
However, Yan hope is independent, a free Yan hope, Yan hope's Yan Xi, neither Si Wan's Yan hope nor A Heng's Yan hope.
Only when he willingly belongs to someone can he still be happy despite being bound by constraints.
However, given her inherently foolish and pedantic nature, how could she guarantee the boy's safety and happiness before such a person appeared?
Not a bit more, not a bit less.
This is really a headache.
The final exams were finally over, and summer vacation officially began. The Yan family became their base of operations, and Da Yisiwan spent all her time there, eating and drinking, completely free from the discipline of her elders.
Rosemary quickly returned and launched a second wave of horrific attacks on Yan hope.
Yan hope tortured everyone's ears every day. Si Wan, being well-mannered, simply hid upstairs and didn't come out. Da Yi, however, didn't care about such things. The moment Yan Xi opened his mouth, she would inevitably cover her ears and groan in pain. The chorus of "Braised Pork Rice" echoed around the host's head, "Braised pork, braised pork, incomprehensible, incomprehensible!"
Enraged, Yan hope threw the man and the bird out together.
The day before the selection competition, even Ah Heng felt that Rou Si Mei Li was almost exhausted and barely breathing. On the other hand, Yan hope had just found the right tone and, with his posture and movements, was so captivating that it was hard to look away.
"Aheng." Yan hoped for Aheng, seeking her affirmation.
Ah Heng licked her dry lips, not looking at Yan Xi—"Tomorrow, we need to prepare water and throat lozenges."
Yan hope breathed softly, her big eyes gazing at Aheng.
Xin Dayi looked at the two of them and sensed the awkward atmosphere, so she wisely kept quiet. Rosemary just smiled, the phoenix tails of her eyes gleaming sharply.
Siwan stood on the second floor, leaning her elbow against the railing, and said with a smile, "Aheng, prepare some more spare ribs."
Ah Heng smiled and nodded, agreeing.
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At six o'clock the next morning, Rosemary took Yan hope away, saying she was taking him to get his hair and makeup done, and told Aheng and the others to go directly to the selection venue.
Group C booked out the Municipal Theater and launched a massive publicity campaign, determined to perpetuate their overnight fame myth.
When Aheng Dayisan arrived, he did not find Yan hope, but only saw a huge crowd of people, all of whom were seated. Even the aisles were set up with plastic chairs.
Listening to the conversations around me, it seemed that the candidates had already been lined up and given number plates, and everyone was now preparing backstage.
Ah Heng and the others figured that with so many people, they might not even see Yan hope backstage, and it would only add unnecessary pressure to him. So they found seats in the front aisle to wait.
To be honest, Ah Heng doesn't like men wearing excessive makeup. If their appearance isn't outstanding, the effect can be shockingly terrifying, like the men in front of her.
The expressions of everyone in the arena, apart from the contestants' relatives and friends who jumped up and shouted, were all unpredictable, with everyone else looking pale and bruised.
Aheng started to get a headache. She knew Yan Xi was handsome, but she was also worried that, given the boy's arrogant and unruly nature, he might come up with some avant-garde designs.
The rock music inside was deafening. The group sat in the front row. Siwan Dayi couldn't stand the noise and had to cover his ears, while Aheng just looked at the colorful lights inside the venue with a calm and gentle expression.
Later, a few people with good looks and singing skills came out and received a round of applause.
But compared to Yan hope...
Ah Heng sighed softly and closed her eyes slightly.
The outcome is already clear.
Is this all she can do?
It's truly...frustrating.
When I opened my eyes again, the boy was already standing on the stage.
Amidst the cheers and uproar from the audience, she clasped her hands tightly against her knees, ignoring the clamor, her ears clear and focused.
Yan hope stood in a quiet corner, her eyebrows and eyes no longer the same as usual, painted with a bewitching and gorgeous style.
It was exactly how Ah Heng remembered ICE at the concert—familiar, clear, and breathtaking.
A fiery red cloak, a slender figure, a pure white shirt with three buttons undone, and crystal-clear, fair skin.
Strands of hair combed back, fiery red ribbons, jet-black hair, and clean, clear eyes.
Even the curve of the shirt hem when a breeze blows... is the same.
Ah Heng had some stomach cramps, and his palms were already soaked with sweat.
She remembered Yan hope telling her that ICE had committed suicide by jumping from the thirteenth-floor apartment in early 1998 due to excessive pressure. It wasn't that she didn't want to go.
I went to see his concert in Japan, but that beauty had long since vanished with the wind, her soul and dreams scattered.