Chapter 299: Stage Up 2

Mei Yanfang and Xiang Fei finished performing "The Wind Has Risen," and the audience's cheers lasted without pause.

Mei Yanfang gently wiped the sweat from her brow and said into the microphone: "I have good news to share—Fei has prepared another new song for you all." She paused deliberately, "Do you want to hear it?"

"Yes!!! " The audience erupted in a deafening response, the wave of sound nearly lifting the venue's roof.

Mei Yanfang nodded approvingly: "Good, I'll hand the stage over to Fei—I'll go rest backstage." She turned gracefully, her red skirt tracing a beautiful arc under the stage lights.

Xiang Fei stood at the center of the stage, the spotlight outlining his upright silhouette.

"This song is called 'If Only Then,'" his voice carried through the speakers across the entire venue.

The intro began slowly, tinged with quiet sorrow. Xiang Fei closed his eyes and began to sing:

"Why were you kind to me back then,

and why have you grown cold now?

I know I must leave, no force can stop me,

anyway, what isn't mine, I don't want..."

His voice was deep and magnetic, each word heavy with emotion. The audience fell silent, everyone holding their breath, afraid to miss a single note.

When he reached the chorus, Xiang Fei's voice rose sharply:

"Red rain drifts, stirring memories hidden deep,

your eyes, as beautiful as ever, swirl through my heart,

at the ferry's edge, our final glance ended it all,

had we met only as strangers, why grieve our parting..."

These lyrics struck like a sharp blade, piercing every heart. Many in the audience unconsciously touched their arms—they had broken out in goosebumps. A girl wearing glasses gripped her friend's hand tightly, silent tears sliding down her cheeks.

As the final note faded, the entire venue fell into brief silence. Seconds later, applause exploded like thunder. Near the stage, a couple excitedly discussed:

"No wonder he's called the Guide—he delivers a classic every time!" the boy sighed.

"The lyrics cut right to the bone..." the girl still wiped her tears.

The applause gradually subsided, but cries of "One more!" rose in waves. Xiang Fei raised a hand for quiet; when the crowd calmed slightly, he said: "Alright, but this song has no instrumental yet—it's just a short fragment, unfinished. Do you still want to hear it?"

"Yes!!! " The audience answered in unison.

Xiang Fei adjusted the microphone, took a deep breath, and began to sing a cappella:

"Sometimes fate brings surprising encounters,

like when I met you,

your gentle, translucent eyes,

appeared in my dreams..."

The melody was simple yet catchy, the lyrics direct and moving. Though without accompaniment, Xiang Fei's pure voice made the performance even more touching. After finishing, he smiled apologetically: "So far, only this fragment—I'll finish writing it soon."

At that moment, Mei Yanfang walked out from backstage, a mischievous smile on her face: "Wow, who is this song for?" She stretched the words teasingly, "So heartfelt~"

Before Xiang Fei could answer, the audience shouted in unison: "Amin! Vivian! Zhou Huimin!"

Xiang Fei shook his head with a helpless laugh and said into the microphone: "You guys..." He turned to Mei Yanfang, "I'm leaving."

He waved to the audience and left the stage amid screams.

Backstage, Xiang Fei found the mahjong game had ended. Zhang Guorong leaned back on the sofa, eyes closed; hearing footsteps, he opened them: "Not bad—that new song."

"It's fine," Xiang Fei poured himself a glass of water. "I just felt like singing."

Mei Yanfang returned to backstage too, holding flowers given by fans: "Fei, you just made the whole audience cry." She feigned a stern face, "That's embarrassing for me." Everyone burst into laughter.