Chapter 129: The Peak Concert [Seeking Subscriptions]

The opera house was packed, buzzing with the restless energy of a full crowd. The staff had no time to pause and wipe the sweat from their brows; the prestige of this concert was so immense that they dared not leave the slightest room for error. A flaw would weigh heavily on their conscience, while an unprecedented success would add a glorious entry to their resumes.

"Sound engineer, are you all set on your end?"
"Percussion section is ready."
"The choir is ready."
"Orchestra, standing by."

On stage, the veteran musicians wore expressions of pure enjoyment. After all, this was a concert headlined by a diva and a superstar. Even the rehearsals had been a delight. Now, in the heat of the live atmosphere, influenced by the fluctuating energy of the singers, what unique sparks and collisions would emerge? The thrill, felt deeply only by musicians, teased their nerves.

The stage manager turned off his headset and set it aside. A simple, impromptu melody began, the opera house’s equipment capturing the sound and projecting it with minimal loss of fidelity. Upon hearing this serene symphonic harmony, the audience quickly quieted down. In fact, the concert planners had already taken the stage earlier to emphasize the rules of conduct: maintain silence, stay calm, and in the event of an emergency like an earthquake or fire, do not panic; follow the security personnel’s instructions and evacuate in an orderly fashion.

With those instructions still lingering, the venue grew hushed. This was no open-air village party where anyone could scream at will.

"Very well, the pre-concert sound check is complete. Our spectacular program is about to begin. Please remain quiet and fully immerse yourselves in this feast for the senses."

The producer finally stepped off, and all stage lights were extinguished, leaving only a dim glow over the auditorium.

Ren Qian sat backstage with his girlfriend. "Will you have to hold concerts like this in the future? Won't singing alone for over four hours be too exhausting? And if you go on a world tour, it'll be even worse. Ah, the road is long and the journey is far." She tapped his shoulder, imagining his future life of toil; the life of a performer was indeed cruel. Of course, every profession had its hardships, and she was merely teasing him.

"It’s fine. Making millions for four hours of work doesn't sound like a bad deal at all. Besides, if you’re always there to accompany me, it won't be tiring."

The two chatted idly, discussing wedding dates and finding time to travel. Ren Qian felt that he wanted to visit the places he had never seen in his previous life, to ensure his accomplishments in this one were worth it. Moreover, he hoped to step outside this mundane circle and allow his soul a true sublimation. He also hoped to possess the breadth of spirit to create his own music—music that belonged purely to him.

On stage, the diva stood tall, dressed in Hanfu, singing her signature song, "Neon Raiment." Fans waved their glow sticks, and thousands joined in the chorus. As the song ended, the atmosphere was at a fever pitch.

"This is my tenth year singing at the Wangfujing Opera House. From a popular singer to a super-popular artist, and finally a diva—time has flown by. Every year, familiar fans have been here, silently cheering for me. Thank you, thank you for walking through the wind and rain with me for these ten years..." She bowed deeply to the crowd, her gratitude genuine. "On this wonderful day, I have another piece of good news to share: Lin Ruowan and I are getting married!"

A roar went through the crowd of fifty thousand. Some fans even burst into tears—their goddess was getting married, and they couldn't believe it! But what could they do? They could only offer their silent blessings. Someone started the chant: "Wishing you a long and happy life together! May you be blessed with children soon!"

"Wishing you a long and happy life together!"
"Wishing you a long and happy life together!"

"Thank you all for your heartfelt blessings. We will continue on this path together until our hair turns white, and we will keep singing for you. All future concerts will be held by Lin and me together; they will surely be even more spectacular. Now, we will perform a new song fitting for this occasion: 'Because of Love,' dedicated to you all."

Lin Ruowan walked onto the stage, holding the diva's hand.

Lin: "Giving you a CD from the past, listening to the love we once had. Sometimes I suddenly forget that I am still in love with you."

His gravelly, mature baritone, low and mesmerizing, cut through the intoxicating intro, leading the audience into the heart of the song. Some couples had come together because of music; once, they had listened to that same song, walking through their green youth, slowly drifting apart... Years later, hearing it again, they might be moved to tears or flushed with excitement; in any case, they would not be calm. Because a song carries the sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy years of one's life. This lyric was simple, yet it held so much that touched the heart.

Feifei: "Can no longer sing that song; hearing it makes me blush and hide away. Although I often forget, I am still in love with you."

Her voice was pure and ethereal, like music from the heavens, yet now it carried the depth of maturity. There is nothing more fulfilling in life than looking back and finding the person you once loved still by your side. Even if they were an old married couple, they still maintained that original spark.

This short chorus alone convinced the audience that the ticket price had been worth it! It was clear how brilliant their performance was; they didn't even need to manufacture emotions—a simple glance between them was enough. Truth and sincerity are the most moving things of all.

A piano solo followed, separating the chorus from the bridge, giving the audience a moment of blank space for imagination. The tinkling piano notes brought a feast for the ears—seas of flowers, beaches, and romantic scenes shifted one after another. Why did such sweetness rise from the bottom of their hearts?

The two 'model couple' of the entertainment industry provided the answer.

Feifei: "Because of love, we won't easily feel sorrow~"

The diva’s answer was simple and deeply moving. Because of love, life is always optimistic and sweet. Because it's you, no matter how hard or tiring it is, it is sweet. This was a view of love that refused to waver. If you do not abandon me, I will be with you through life and death. How many men crave such support from a woman? If one truly has it, what is there to fear in the struggle of life?

Lin smiled, touching Feifei’s face. "So everything is the image of happiness~" This was satisfaction, and pride. To have such a virtuous wife, what more could a man ask for?

Feifei: "Because of love, it grows simply~" Love and marriage need not be complex; nurture them with care, let them enjoy the rain and sun, and they will stay forever young. This line sang of a virtuous wife’s thoughtfulness. She would not deliberately demand success, but let it come naturally; as long as you are there, the years are peaceful, and every day is sunny.

Lin: "Still, I can go crazy for you at any time~" This was a man’s romance. Even as time passes, even if our bodies are no longer young, I can still prepare a surprise one day to let you relive the sweetness of our first love...

Chorus: "Because of love, how could there be vicissitudes? So we are still in our youth~ Because of love, in that place~ There are still people wandering, people coming and going..."

Every line was a classic. The audience was stunned. They hadn't expected the second song to be so powerful—high quality, high class, high performance! Those without partners suddenly wanted to find one immediately. It was not hard to predict that for a long time to come, this song would be a staple for couples and drift through the broadcasts of every campus. Because it was simply too beautiful; as expected from the joint performance of a king and queen of the industry, the feeling was indescribable.

When the song ended, ten thousand people stood up, applauding for three minutes. The applause was endless.

"Thank you all. Next, I will bring you a new song from my album, 'Missing You in the Wind and Rain'."

Feifei and Lin exchanged another affectionate look, smiling in tacit understanding. This concert would surely be remembered by everyone. Their setlist had to be brilliant, as it was being broadcast live by Jiangnan Satellite TV.

At the Jiangnan Broadcasting Building, a technician was stunned. "The live ratings for the diva and Lin Ruowan’s concert have already topped 13%, and this is only the second song! If the rest is even more spectacular, will the ratings break 20%?" He turned to ask his team leader.

"Isn't that normal? Are high ratings so novel these days? 'I Am a Singer' broke them three times!" The team leader was also shocked, but after reflecting on recent events, he felt relieved. It was obvious that "Because of Love" was written and composed by Ren Qian... Otherwise, why would the king and queen of the industry be so enamored with it? He was truly a freak of nature—not only was his output high, but the quality was as well...

"It’s rising again!" The team leader heard the exclamation and knew the king and queen were singing again.

The intro was so beautiful it made people want to cry! That was the unanimous feeling of the audience! How could there be such a beautiful and expansive intro? Before the audience could react, the two began to sing.

"Hard to solve a hundred sorrows, knowing each other, our love is deep."
"The sea of love turns desolate, infatuation meets the cold wind."

A duet, line by line. Even though it was in Cantonese and they couldn't understand it, it didn't stop them from being intoxicated. The king’s naturally weathered, precious voice and the diva’s clear, fairy-like tone blended to create a sense of poignant separation between the immortal and the mortal.

"Parting to the ends of the earth, will we meet again?"
"The whistling wind cries in the rain..."

This part told of their low-point history. Back then, Lin was driven away, like an misunderstood lone hero, step by step disappearing from the music scene. And the diva, unable to persuade him, could only hope that one day the hero in her heart would stand up again. So, she resolutely decided to carry his burden and wait for his return... This wait lasted ten years until they met again.

"Floating in the sea of people, turning and turning, it is but a dream."
"Deep love is passed on forever, floating in the eternal void."

Floating and sinking, ups and downs, all were but a dream. The only thing that didn't change was the love from back then. Singing this song now was undoubtedly filled with nostalgia.

Chorus: "When the frost and snow fall, I only wish the flowers will still be bright red, not fearing the mist and rain on the road..."
Lin: "Ah... Sending my longing into the wind and rain..."
Feifei: "Ah... Sending my infatuation into the wind and rain..."

That aria-like "Ah~" was like a piece of ice falling directly into the heart, making one's pulse stop and blood rush to the center. It was suffocating, stunning. Too perfect! Too beautiful! This was another classic!

Tonight’s concert was truly a feast for the senses. It had the mature man Lin Ruowan, the maiden diva Li Feifei, and later, the incredibly handsome Ren Qian! This family of superstars performing together was the biggest highlight. Perhaps later, Ren Qian’s girlfriend would sing a deep duet with him—the image... tsk, tsk... As for his gentle singing skills, was there any need to doubt?

The audience felt their hearts pounding. By now, the ratings on Jiangnan Satellite TV had reached 16%.

"The previous song was to commemorate the wind and rain Lin and I have walked through over the past ten years. Next..."

Following this were solo songs performed as duets. Lin sang "Scoundrel," Feifei countered with "Never Leave, Never Abandon," Lin sang "Lin Ruowan’s Love Letter," and Li Feifei replied with "Fei’er’s Reply"... it was sickeningly sweet.

"Alright, only one song remains in the first segment. This song is included in my new album, titled 'Crossing the Ocean to See You.' It is dedicated to all long-distance couples. If you love each other deeply, do not let go because of the distance! I wish for you to persist until you reach the altar of marriage. When you look back, you will find that this love was so precious, so worth cherishing, and you will surely be immersed in the river of love for a lifetime..."

As she spoke, the diva choked up. Lin immediately pulled her into his arms.

The piano was the ultimate accompaniment, each ethereal note striking a faint sadness...

"For you, I used six months of savings, crossing the ocean to see you~ For this reunion, I even practiced my breathing for when we would meet... Words have never been able to express even a ten-thousandth of my feelings..."

Just this section made one’s skin crawl. Line after line of lyrics captured the psychological state of a devoted long-distance lover with bone-deep clarity. Anyone who had truly experienced long-distance love might have burst into tears on the spot.

"For this regret, I lay awake in the night, refusing to sleep... Memories accumulate slowly, unable to be wiped from my heart. For your promise, in my most desperate moments, I held back my tears~"

This was the taste of longing—a piercing pain that you could smile through, even finding it sweet. Painful, yet happy.

"The strange city, in a familiar corner..."

Tonight’s concert was sweet, it was heartbreaking, and it would soon become frantic. All kinds of emotions, uncontrollable... it was destined to be a sleepless night.