Chapter 225: Concert 8

Xiang Fei returned to the backstage lounge. The moment he pushed open the door, he saw Anita Mui, Leslie Cheung, Sam Hui, and others gathered around a mahjong table, while Zhou Huimin sat on a nearby sofa, gazing at him tenderly.

Leslie Cheung stretched and said with a smile to Sam Hui: "Sam, it's my turn soon — you take over this hand for me."

Sam Hui took the seat with a grin: "Sure thing. If I lose this one, it's on you."

Zhou Huimin looked at Xiang Fei, her eyes brimming with sweetness. Kelly Chen beside her dramatically covered her eyes: "Hey, you two, watch the influence! There are still this many people here — go get all lovey-dovey at home!"

Zhou Huimin blushed instantly, while Xiang Fei walked over with a mischievous grin and draped an arm around her shoulder: "What, jealous?"

Everyone burst into laughter; the backstage atmosphere was relaxed and cheerful.

After a short break, Xiang Fei returned to the stage once more. Jackie Chan had just finished his performance, and the two exchanged a high-five in the backstage corridor.

Xiang Fei stood beneath the spotlight, looked out at the tens of thousands of spectators below, and said with a smile: "Everyone, how did Brother Long sing just now?"

The audience shouted in unison: "Awesome!!!"

Xiang Fei nodded: "Next, I want to bring you something a little different." He paused. "I've recently written two new songs — I wonder if you'll like them..."

He deliberately played coy: "But after Sister Mei and the others heard them, they've been pestering me for the rights to these two songs."

The venue instantly erupted — Xiang Fei's new songs? Songs that even Anita Mui was scrambling to claim? The audience's curiosity was thoroughly ignited!

As the piano prelude of "Wind Rises" began to play softly, the stage lights shifted to a gentle blue.

Xiang Fei stood before the microphone, his voice clear and tender:

"This road along the way, I stop and go, following the drifting traces of youth..."

The moment the first line fell, the audience below fell silent at once. The melody and lyrics of this song were like a key, unlocking some journey buried deep in every listener's memory.

Backstage, Anita Mui and the others also stopped what they were doing and looked toward the stage in surprise — they hadn't known Xiang Fei had prepared new songs, thinking he would be covering their classic numbers instead.

When he sang "I once found it hard to pull myself free from the vastness of the world, and was also lost in the fairy tales within...", some in the audience were already reddening around the eyes.

Sam Hui couldn't help sighing backstage: "Ah Fei's creative ability — truly not diminished at all from back then."

Leslie Cheung nodded: "This song... it's about everyone's life."

"In the name of love, would you still be willing?"

The final note fell, and the entire venue fell into a brief silence — then erupted into three full minutes of applause!

Xiang Fei looked at the audience below, clapping wildly, and asked with a smile: "Do you like it?"

The audience section instantly exploded:

"Love it!!!"

"Guide, sing it again!"

"These lyrics are written about me!"

Xiang Fei broke into a satisfied smile: "Alright, then for the next song..."

The prelude of "Drowning Sorrows" began, carrying a faint melancholy and release.

Xiang Fei's voice was low and magnetic:

"When you step into this place of joy, carrying all your dreams and aspirations on your back..."

The lyrics were like a sharp blade, slicing open the confusion and loneliness beneath modern people's glossy exteriors. The audience fell silent once more; many lowered their heads in thought, as if seeing their own reflection in the words.

When he sang "A toast to freedom, a toast to death...", some in the audience had already begun quietly wiping away tears.

Backstage, Anita Mui lit a cigarette and took a deep drag: "Ah Fei... what he's written is everyone's life."

Zhou Huimin gazed at her husband on stage, her eyes full of pride.

The song's final line — "The sober one is the most absurd" — fell, and the entire Hong Kong Coliseum sank into a peculiar silence — no one clapped, no one cheered, only the rising and falling sounds of sobbing and sighs.

After a long while, applause slowly began, then grew ever more fervent, until it was deafening!

Reactions from the audience below:

"This song... it's too real."

"Did Guide install a monitor in my heart?"

"Every line hits right in the heart..."

Even the business tycoons seated in the VIP section rose one after another to applaud — they were rarely moved by performances, but tonight, Xiang Fei had breached everyone's psychological defenses with two songs.

Leslie Cheung spoke first: "Ah Fei, these two songs..." He paused. "Beautifully written.

Kelly Chen sighed beside him: "Well, that's that — tomorrow all of Xiangjiang will be talking about these two songs.