Chapter 94: I Want to Sing

The Student Union's requirements are always bizarre; for instance, this year's Welcome Gala actually requires a larger audience, encouraging students who come to bring along their roommates and anyone they know.

Ying Ziyun is a member of the school's Student Union, and as a member, she certainly has to attend the Welcome Gala; as for asking Dan Yuyue and the others to join, it was just a casual remark.

Dong Xinxin and the others were not originally interested in this kind of freshman social gathering.

But when Wang Yi mentioned on the side that they should go see what Xu Heng would actually perform, Dong Xinxin felt she had a point, so she agreed, and then dragged Dan Yuyue along too.

Dan Yuyue curled her lip and said there was nothing worth going to in a place where a bunch of brats were huddled together; she wasn't bored enough to stay there for two or three hours watching brats perform.

But Dong Xinxin acted spoiled and clingy, and after much persuasion, she finally managed to convince her.

"Everyone is going to watch the freshman performances tomorrow night, how boring would it be for you to stay in the dorm alone? Just think of it as joining in the fun; at worst, we can bring a deck of cards and play Fight the Landlord there! Good sister, just say yes to me!"

Dan Yuyue had no way to deal with Dong Xinxin's pestering, and in the end, she nodded in agreement, albeit reluctantly.

……

On Wednesday afternoon, Xu Heng arrived at the school auditorium empty-handed. Outside the auditorium, he saw a few senior students with rather provocative dressing styles gathered together chatting; they were likely performers of song and dance programs organized by the Dance Club, complaining about how their clothes had even less fabric this year, or how the sizes were ill-fitting and the material uncomfortable.

He walked past these provocative senior students, and none of them recognized him.

This shows that the popularity of "Cover Brother" on campus has indeed dropped quite a bit. Everyone's attitude toward internet celebrities is like a gust of wind—once it blows past, it's gone, and they won't remember what he looks like, at most knowing that their school once had a minor celebrity nicknamed "Cover Brother."

Walking into the interior of the auditorium, the crowd gradually increased, mainly consisting of freshmen and sophomores in various outfits; after all, it was a Welcome Gala, so the programs were naturally mostly freshman performances.

Then there were the Student Union members and staff maintaining order. This afternoon was the final rehearsal for the Welcome Gala; costumes and props had to be fully prepared, operating strictly according to the mode of the official performance.

By the time the Welcome Gala starts in the evening, they won't have to go through the trouble of helping these performers with makeup and costume changes.

Xu Heng continued walking inside and encountered the core members of the Student Union, who were also the Student Union cadres organizing the Welcome Gala.

Two of them looked quite familiar, appearing to be the judges from the previous program selection; oh, and there was Li Shanshan, who was sweet and clingy with that junior from the Student Union's Literature and Art Department.

Seeing him enter, the Student Union cadres couldn't help but perk up.

"Junior Xu Heng, you've finally arrived; we've been waiting for you so bitterly!"

Xu Heng recognized the boy who came up to greet him first.

Ding Wen, one of the Vice Presidents of the Student Union, a junior. When he first participated in a Welcome Gala performance, this guy was only a sophomore, still a small fry, the kind who served tea and water for the cadres. Later, relying on his excellent performance as a "simp," he won the heart of the former president, and this year he successfully obtained the position of Vice President through the student vote.

If Xu Heng guessed correctly, he should be the overall student person-in-charge for this gala.

"Senior Ding is too modest. The Welcome Gala can be held perfectly well without me; it is I who am flattered that you specifically invited me to perform," Xu Heng said indifferently.

Hearing this, Ding Wen awkwardly scratched his head. He heard the dissatisfaction in Xu Heng's words. As a Vice President of the Student Union, he also knew about some of the shady operations below, but he basically turned a blind eye; as long as it wasn't too excessive, he wouldn't intervene.

Before Xu Heng became famous, he was replaced by the girlfriend of one of his subordinates, so there must be resentment in his heart. At such a time, they should be more tolerant and give Xu Heng more understanding.

That was what Ding Wen thought.

In fact, Xu Heng had no resentment at all; he really just said a polite remark in a very normal way, completely unaware that Ding Wen would associate so many random things with it.

At this time, Li Shanshan's boyfriend also walked over and said, "Junior Xu Heng, I'm really sorry about before. It's all my girlfriend's fault for being too utilitarian and wanting to be in the spotlight. Women, you know, we men just have to give in a little; you should understand, Junior."

"I understand," Xu Heng smiled as he looked at the "simp" (number unknown) in front of him, calculating in his heart how long it would take for Li Shanshan to get bored and dump him.

"It's good that you understand, Junior," the simp senior patted him on the shoulder. "What song do you plan to sing today, Junior? I will definitely arrange for the Logistics Department to prepare enough lighting and sound effects for you."

"Decency."

"Decency? Tell me what version it is, and I'll have them prepare it later and get the accompaniment audio for this song ready." The simp senior muttered to himself while speaking, wondering what kind of song "Decency" was, as he had never heard of it.

Xu Heng waved his hand and said, "No need, Senior. 'Decency' is an original song of mine; there is no accompaniment online."

"What? Or... original?" The Literature and Art Department senior was stunned.

Ding Wen on the side also couldn't help but frown: "Junior Xu Heng, this Welcome Gala is very important. It's better not to bring such a bold innovation as an original song onto the stage. If you have personal creative hobbies, you can privately communicate with those people in the Music Club. The Welcome Gala is a collective activity; we must put the collective first."

The subtext of his words was that if you mess up, all of us will have to suffer with you, especially given that several major school leaders will be coming to watch this Welcome Gala, so there cannot be even the slightest mistake.

This afternoon was their final rehearsal, so they definitely had to handle it in the most secure way.

"That's right, Junior. Didn't you sing 'Ten Years' quite well during the selection? We also trust the standard of that song of yours. Why not just stick with 'Ten Years' and not do an original?" the Literature and Art Department senior echoed.

Xu Heng smiled and said, "If you don't trust me, Senior, I can sing it once first. If you are all unsatisfied, then we can switch to 'Ten Years,' how about that?"

"This..." Ding Wen hesitated for a few seconds.

He could indeed use his Student Union position to pressure Xu Heng, but on one hand, Xu Heng was a performer personally appointed by the leadership, and on the other hand, Xu Heng gave a lot of room for concession; if they didn't accept, it would seem very unreasonable.

"I can accept your condition, but I'll say the ugly words first: if we are not satisfied with your original song, Junior, you must give up the idea of singing an original song."

After thinking for a moment, Ding Wen decided to concede. At worst, after listening, he would have the other Student Union subordinates vote against it; the control would still be in his hands.

Xu Heng nodded slightly and asked again, "Is there a piano here?"

"Yes, there is. For this Welcome Gala, a freshman from the Art Academy is performing 'For Elise,' so we specifically moved a piano over from the Art Academy."

After Ding Wen finished speaking, he looked at Xu Heng very suspiciously: "Can you play the piano too, Junior?"

"I know a little bit; I learned it when I was a child."