Chapter 141: Christmas Knot!

"Who is it?"

Jiang Lun looked behind him.

He was immediately stunned to see a whole crowd following Liu Nan.

Zhang Weiwei, the SPR4 girl group, and even the Shichahai Shark Band—whom he had only met briefly at the music festival last time—even the Qiao sisters had come!

Seeing some of these people left Jiang Lun dumbfounded. He couldn't help tugging at Liu Nan's sleeve and whispering, "Brother Nan, I can't afford this kind of appearance fee!"

"Hey, no need to pay! We're all friends, just here for fun!"

Liu Nan waved a hand. "We just finished recording the Beijing TV New Year's Eve gala and were planning to go for hot pot, but when we saw your Weibo post, everyone came over without even taking off our stage makeup!"

"How can I ever repay you guys then?"

Jiang Lun looked deeply moved. "This can't be resolved with just one meal of hot pot!"

"It's fine! If one meal doesn't cut it, we'll do two!" Liu Nan laughed heartily.

"Alright, thank you, Brother Nan!" Jiang Lun said. "I'll remember this favor and write another song for you later, free of charge!"

"You said it yourself!" Liu Nan chuckled, turning to the group he brought along. "Did you all hear that? Bear witness, everyone!"

"Mm-hmm!" Everyone nodded. Yi Yi from SPR4 added, "Ah-Lun, you're writing one for Brother Nan, but what about us? Shouldn't you show some appreciation too?"

"Sure!" Jiang Lun didn't hesitate at all. It was just a song, after all; there were plenty of songs from another world, especially those sung by girl groups which he couldn't perform himself. It was better to use them as favors.

The Qiao sisters also walked over.

"Hello, Jiang Lun!" Qiao Keke smiled. "I wasn't around during the last recording, so we didn't get to chat, but your music is fantastic!"

Jiang Lun hurriedly expressed his gratitude and smiled bitterly. "Thank you, Big Sister Qiao. The production team really put me through the wringer last time. I had no idea what was going on, and they even used hidden cameras!"

"But the audience was very satisfied!" Qiao Ranran pouted. "The ratings for that episode broke 2, and even the rerun was around 1.3, which proves our strategy was right!"

Jiang Lun was torn between laughter and tears. "Then I should thank you and the production team! By the way, why are you guys here?"

"Can't we come?" Qiao Ranran tilted her head and smiled. "You threw this event together so last-minute, we just wanted to come and see how you mess it up!"

Good grief...

Jiang Lun was utterly speechless. The two of them in private were completely different from their personas on television.

On the show, Qiao Keke spoke without restraint, setting no boundaries for the guests' questions. Of course, this was related to her situation; having been married once and currently divorced, perhaps due to her marital experience, she was very mature in all aspects and told slightly more adult jokes.

In private, however, Qiao Keke appeared very gentle. She radiated the composure expected of a mature woman, completely unlike her television persona.

Qiao Ranran was different. Not only was she unmarried and without a boyfriend, but whenever her older sister made boundary-less jokes or dirty remarks on the show, she would look distressed, embarrassed, and even blush bright red.

Yet, if you truly understood her personality, you would know how sharp her tongue was. The innocent, pure, cold, and aloof persona on the show was entirely an act; only the private version of her was authentic.

Jiang Lun exchanged a few casual remarks before turning to greet the members of the Shichahai Shark Band.

He only knew the lead singer of this band, Nana. He didn't know the names of the other members, and their music was quite niche—for instance, where normal lyrics might go, "Today is a good day," their lyrics would turn into, "O-a is an oo-a!"

Many of their songs consisted entirely of such English words mixed with Chinese, and English was not a mainstream, universally understood language internationally, let alone domestically. Therefore, while they were very popular within their small circle and among fans, they were not welcomed by the mainstream audience.

"Hello, everyone!"

Jiang Lun shook hands with them one by one. "Thank you for coming. Let's all have fun together at tonight's carnival!"

Female lead singer Nana smiled and said, "We really love those rap songs of yours, especially *My Sky*. It's amazing! We hope we'll have a chance to collaborate!"

Liu Nan suggested, "There's no time like the present. You guys can sing this song in a duet with Jiang Lun later!"

"Can we?" Nana looked at Jiang Lun, asking with hopeful eyes.

"Of course!" Jiang Lun smiled. "Are you familiar with this song?"

"How could I not be?" Nana beamed with excitement. "Let's rehearse it in a bit!"

"Alright!"

As they were chatting, the members of the Jiazi Band arrived.

They were very familiar with the members of the Shichahai Shark Band; they even lived in the same neighborhood.

As soon as they met, everyone crowded together.

"Hey! You guys came too?"

A-Kai extended his fist, and the Shark Band's guitarist came over, bumping fists with him in the same manner. "Just joining the fun. Didn't you guys go rehearse for the Wanshi Annual Gala?"

"Sigh, it's a long story!"

A-Kai forced a bitter smile. "Forget it. Today is a happy day, and we're all here to support Ah-Lun, so nobody hold back!"

"No problem!" Everyone chimed in unison.

"Oh, right!" A-Kai added, "Ah-Lun, I wrote a new song. Can I sing it here today?"

"Of course!" Jiang Lun said. "It's a carnival night, everyone just play whatever you want!"

...

Many students heard the news that a carnival night was being held here and came over to join the fun and watch.

Especially since it was right in front of the female dormitory building, it naturally attracted quite a few girls.

As they walked past and saw the scene, they involuntarily stopped in their tracks.

"There's going to be a carnival event here too? Can we even sleep tonight?"

"Sleep or no sleep! Anyway, the graduate entrance exams are over, it's just right to unwind!"

"Isn't the Student Activity Center holding a carnival too? Why are they hosting one here as well?"

"Who knows, let's wait and see!"

"I heard Jiang Lun organized it himself, and he decided it on a whim a little past seven o'clock!"

"Jiang Lun, that celebrity who's auditing classes at our school?"

"That's him! Sigh, it must be nice to be a celebrity. Just post on Weibo and you get a bunch of sponsors, plus websites coming to livestream. Even Liu Nan and the Qiao sisters showed up!"

"I heard there are celebrities and big figures from the entertainment industry at the Student Activity Center too!"

"Yeah! I saw Jiang Dakun. Are they going to perform crosstalk over there?"

"His crosstalk is terribly boring, he only knows how to suck up to the state!"

"With this system nowadays... Shh!"

...

Nine-twenty.

"Is everything set up?"

Jiang Lun made a final inspection of the venue: the stage lighting, sound system, microphone reception, and the names and logos of the sponsors on the backdrop.

There were no seats at the venue, but before the event even began, it had attracted many students to watch.

Some fans who had rushed over specially were also squeezed into the crowd. Aside from Jiang Lun's fans, there were fans of the Qiao sisters, the SPR4 girl group, and others.

Behind the stage backdrop was a temporary backstage area.

The Jiazi Band's van was parked there, serving as a temporary command post.

Jiang Lun sat inside the van, drafting a temporary program list.

Opening the show was the SPR4 girl group; they could both sing and dance, fully equipped.

As for the hosting, it was naturally handled by the Qiao sisters.

Originally, Jiang Lun intended to let the students host themselves, with the two of them making a guest appearance, saying a few words, and singing a song.

However, the two sisters refused and insisted on hosting.

With no other choice, he had to let them take the stage, accompanied by a student host who had been previously scheduled. This made the student ecstatic. Although the Qiao sisters graduated from the Communication University of China, in the hosting industry, they were seniors. Having the opportunity to follow and learn from them felt like striking gold.

In truth, there weren't many programs, because the acts cut beforehand numbered only around a dozen. Combined with Liu Nan and the others, the whole lineup would run for two hours at most.

This was a carnival night!

How could it end in just two hours?

Thinking it over, Jiang Lun came up with the idea of interactive on-site games.

Yet, what games to play became a headache for him.

"Brother Lun, it's time!"

A directing student temporarily shouldered the responsibility of directing this event.

Meanwhile, Jiang Lun's role was that of the planner.

He checked his watch and said, "Let's start! Follow the scheduled program order, and I'll think about what interactive games to play!"

"What kind of interactive games could there even be?"

Qiao Ranran said from the side, "Nothing more than guessing song titles, or charades to guess words, that's about it!"

"Is that so?"

Jiang Lun smiled, a countermeasure already forming in his mind. He turned and whispered a few instructions to a few students from the stage design department, then said, "Go on. Within an hour, get as much done as you can!"

"Oh, okay!"

Those students turned and left.

Qiao Ranran couldn't help asking with curiosity, "What did you send them off to do?"

"You'll find out in a bit!"
Jiang Lun smiled without leaking any details.

"Hmph, don't tell me then! As if anyone cares!" Qiao Ranran curled her lips.

Jiang Lun gave a bitter smile. "How could I not tell you, our host? Once they return, I'll naturally tell you!"

"Really?" Qiao Ranran was half-convinced, glancing sideways at Jiang Lun.

...

Meanwhile, on the stage in front of the backdrop, SPR4 had already taken the stage.

There was no opening speech from a host, nor any warning; as soon as the music struck, the four girl group members began their performance.

"It's starting, it's starting!"

"Wow! SPR4 is performing first, I'm so hyped!"

"Quick, record this, record this! Go back tonight and enjoy it properly!"

"A blessing for the guys!"

"Look at those figures, those faces—they're no worse than the chicks in our school's acting department!"

"Did they get plastic surgery? Which celebrity nowadays doesn't get work done?"

"Horseshit! They were born looking like this!"

"What are you doing with your hand? In broad daylight, why are you reaching into your pants?"

"I was pinching you! Slander me again and I'll throw hands!"

"..."

The program proceeded in an orderly fashion.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere over at the Student Activity Center appeared somewhat dull.

A young male bel canto singer was currently performing on stage.

Although the Central Academy of Drama was also a top national arts institution, today was Christmas Eve after all, and this wasn't a professional music conservatory like the Central Conservatory of Music or the China Conservatory of Music. Many students didn't care much for bel canto songs.

Furthermore, the music was slow and gentle, filled entirely with arias—at times abruptly shocking, at times lulling people to sleep.

"Achoo—no, a yawn!"

Some students involuntarily nodded off. The singer on stage finally finished singing, and everyone offered a symbolic round of applause.

The host stepped onto the stage, beaming brightly. "Tonight, we sing and dance for Christmas; tonight, we wish Teacher Yao a happy birthday! To celebrate Teacher Yao's birthday, many seniors from the cultural and artistic circles have rushed over. Some are alumni of our school, while others are close friends of Teacher Yao. The next guests we are going to invite onto the stage are Teacher Yao's close friends of over twenty years, the renowned crosstalk masters—Jiang Dakun and Gong Feng! Let's welcome them to bring us their piece, *Ah! You Are Such a Teacher!*"

"Clap, clap, clap!"

A wave of applause erupted from below. Jiang Dakun and Gong Feng walked onto the stage with radiant smiles.

"Dear audience members, I've missed you all!" Gong Feng said cheerfully the moment he arrived.

Jiang Dakun also cupped his hands and said, "Students, teachers, Merry Christmas! Today, the two of us are going to perform a crosstalk piece for you..."

Down below, the students sat with their mouths open, shedding tears of boredom and yawning—these were acting students who had no choice but to sit inside.

Students from other departments weren't under such restrictions and had long since left.

On one side of the stage, members of the student union were watching the commotion.

Seeing this scene, Tang Jin frowned. "What's going on? Such a great program and nobody's laughing?"

"Exactly!" Others nearby chimed in insincerely.

"This is bad!"

At that moment, an errand-runner came over and said to Tang Jin, "President, Jiang Lun and his group are really making a fuss!"

"What do you mean, making a fuss?"

Tang Jin was startled, assuming they were protesting or causing trouble outside, and asked, "Where are the school guards? Is no one managing them?"

"No! No!"

The errand-runner waved his hands. "They built a stage on the small plaza in front of the female dormitory building and are having their own party!"

"Oh!"

Hearing it wasn't trouble, Tang Jin let out a sigh of relief. "Let them entertain themselves. The school never said students couldn't spontaneously organize activities!"

"But..."

The errand-runner gritted his teeth and said it anyway, "Their audience is too large!"

"Large? How large?" The vice president nearby immediately asked.

"Uh... I don't know the exact number, but there really are a lot of viewers!"

"Let's go take a look!" Tang Jin waved his hand, leaving the venue in charge of a few directing department students, and led the student union members out of the activity center.

On the small plaza in front of the female dormitory building.

The program had been running for over half an hour, and the surrounding students were growing increasingly numerous.

Performing on stage right now was Lu Yuhan and their musical short play.

From freshman year to graduation, the male lead had two romantic relationships in total on campus. Each romance followed the same trajectory: from holding hands to passionate love, then cooling down and breaking up, with different songs accompanying each stage.

Interspersed in the middle were a girl he couldn't win over and a girl who chased him but whom he rejected, represented by two additional songs.

After graduation, the boy returned to his hometown alone and remained single.

At the end of the short play, on Christmas night, he looked out the window and sighed to himself.

On one side of the stage, a beam of light shone on Jiang Lun. He sat at the keyboard, playing and simultaneously singing the closing track, *Christmas Knot*.

"The city where I live never snows,
Yet my memory is piled high with a cold sensation.
During peak nostalgia, the neon lights sweep across the bustling street,
Chasing happiness far away...
...
Oh-oh-oh-yeah!
Oh-oh-oh-yeah!
Wanting to send blessings, I don't know who to give them to;
Love has been tied into a dead knot by us..." *(To be continued.)*