As the prelude began, the sorrowful notes seemed to come alive all at once, as if someone were whispering softly into one's ear, gently recounting a story.
"Because I dreamed of you leaving, I woke up crying..." Bai Tiange lowered his head, brought the microphone to his lips, and gently began to sing. His deep voice carried a hint of huskiness, making people instinctively want to listen more closely.
"Watching the night breeze brush past the window sill, can you feel my love?" Still soft and tender, his voice was like a stone dropping into a lake, stirring ripples in the hearts of listeners.
"When we grow old one day, will you still be by my side..." Cai Ya's clear and resonant voice followed Bai Tiange's, ringing out.
If Bai Tiange's singing felt like a lone soul speaking in the dark, then Cai Ya's voice was like a gentle breeze caressing the ear—not intense, but slowly seeping into the heart.
"Watching those vows and lies slowly drift away with the past." Cai Ya lowered her head slightly, her long hair covering her cheeks. No one could see her expression, but her voice carried a tone that felt both questioning and detached, lingering in the air.
"Many once admired your youthful beauty, but who would endure the ruthless passing of time? Many came and went in your life, but know that having you in my life, I would always be by your side..." When the two voices joined in duet, the emotions in the song reached their peak. The lyrics, filled with meaning, stirred deep reflection.
This wasn't just a question for "her," but also an interpretation of modern young people's views on love—it's just too hard to grow old together.
By this point, no one felt there was anything wrong with Cai Ya being the second vocalist—the song clearly suited a male lead.
The emotions in the lyrics, whether reminiscing about the past or uncertain about the future, fit perfectly with the theme of the school anniversary. The melody was simple yet profound, and the youthful view on love it expressed made many begin to reminisce about their own youth.
After the first verse, a brief instrumental section followed. Both vocalists fell silent, leaving space for the rest of the band to shine.
Chu Lian stood quietly to Cai Ya's left, calmly playing her guitar the entire time. She knew this time, the stars of the performance were not herself—despite being the most anticipated when they first came out—but the two singers standing at the front, softly singing.
So, she suppressed most of her charm and simply existed as a guitarist.
When she closed her eyes and poured her entire focus into playing, she failed to notice a faint, pale glow radiating from within her. A white rose-shaped halo spread from where she stood, gradually expanding and enveloping the rest of the band.
As the instrumental section ended, those truly immersed in the performance noticed something: the band members, who had earlier seemed a bit out of sync, suddenly played like one cohesive unit. The coordination between instruments became flawless, and even the singers, fully merging with the accompaniment, performed better than before.
However, those engrossed in the song did not notice this change, as if it had gone completely unnoticed by the performers themselves.
Naturally, the band's sudden improvement didn't raise much suspicion. It was common to struggle with nerves at first. Most simply assumed the performers had regained their confidence and were now showcasing their true talent.
As the song continued to unfold, more and more people found themselves reminiscing about their wild, youthful days, unable to help but smile.
Some recalled the girl they secretly loved for years but never had the courage to confess to; others thought of the boy who once vowed to stay with them but went separate ways after graduation; and still others remembered two people who loved each other deeply, yet couldn't be together due to countless reasons.
Sighs? Lament? Nostalgia? Reminiscence? Perhaps all of them. The charm of this song didn't lie in how beautiful it was, but in its ability to convey that beauty to others—making listeners involuntarily recall their past.
As the final note rang out under Chu Lian's fingertips, the four-minute-long song finally came to an end. The members of Seven Rain Band stood silently on stage for a moment before the applause began. Many in the audience stood up, cheering and clapping with joy.
Clearly, this song had won many hearts. After all, songs that truly stir the soul were becoming increasingly rare. Who would have thought they'd hear one during a school anniversary celebration? It was a reminder that this elite school, among the best in both the nation and the world, was indeed full of hidden talents.
Of course, the beneficiaries of this performance were not just the school or the two singers. That little girl in a pure white dress with an innocent smile had also caught many people's attention.
It was inevitable. She was the composer, lyricist, and original singer of the song. It was impossible not to notice her.
Many began to feel that coming today had been worthwhile. After watching so many excellent performances, to encounter such an outstanding original song at the end—it was a rare treat.
More importantly, those who brought this song to the world—both its creator and its singers—were so young. It was reminiscent of those legendary bands abroad that rose to fame in their youth.
As mentioned before, this world was different from the previous one. Here, with strong cultural support, cultural literacy was very high globally. An open environment for creativity and growth had led to an increasing number of young prodigies gaining fame early.
Many now-famous bands abroad had started performing publicly before they turned ten. But within Huaxia, where written culture far outpaced the popularity of visual and auditory media like film and music, such instances were rare.
The last time something like this happened was five years ago. That band's members gradually disbanded two years ago, each going their separate ways. So when people saw a band like Seven Rain emerge, they were naturally excited.
It wasn't just about their performance or the song—they were excited that a new genius band had emerged in their own country.
Some had already uploaded videos of Seven Rain Band online, capturing everything from Wang Tingsi's entrance to Chu Lian's final bow—nothing was missed.
Though the footage was a bit shaky due to being recorded by phone, the high resolution still made it easy to clearly see each member's appearance.
In a video titled "The Rise of a New Generation Youth Band? Literary Prodigy or Musical Genius?", the uploader Electromagnetic Muscleman wrote:
"It seems like some people have been attacking Chu Lian (BlackNeko) recently. I can't imagine what kind of person would say such malicious things about such an outstanding and adorable girl. And worse, some actually support them. How laughable. Please watch this video. Afterward, tell me honestly if you can still speak against her."
"PS: Next is the solo performance. I'll be following BlackNeko and recording all her scenes! Don't worry, I got someone to bring a proper camera this time—no more shaky footage!"
"Alright, that's enough from me. Everyone, please enjoy the video! Lastly, please like and follow! For more on BlackNeko, check my next video!"
Yep, this guy was clearly a fan of Chu Lian. His bio and all his posts screamed his love for her. A grown man who adored a girl not yet out of her loli phase—no need to spell it out. Another upstanding gentleman (hentai).
The conclusion of this song left the audience buzzing with emotion. So much so that the performances from the following classes received barely any applause, creating some truly awkward moments.
Backstage, the band members had just stepped down and let out sighs of relief. It seemed their performance hadn't faltered. They had given it their all—if they had still failed, then nothing more could be said.
Only Chu Lian furrowed her delicate brows and spaced out slightly. Because right after entering backstage, the system had issued a prompt that left her both surprised and uncertain.