PS-Chapter 12 The First Listener

When Lu Chen took the stage, Xiao Mi was sitting at Table 035, not far from the stage.

She gently nibbled on the straw in her drink, her gaze drifting across the faces of the three other girls at her table, appearing demure and reserved as if she were simply observing in silence.

However, the spark of mischief and playfulness in her lively eyes betrayed her true nature.

Xiao Mi's full name is Mi Xuan, a nickname given by the elder sister in her dorm. She is a first-year student at Capital City Normal University and recently celebrated her 19th birthday.

Tonight, she had originally planned to study at the library but was dragged to Houhai by her dorm sisters, Second Sister, and Third Sister. They insisted that before leaving her first year behind, she should see more handsome guys!

The atmosphere in Daylily Bar was much more pleasant than she expected.

Xiao Mi had been to bars in Sanlitun before, but the chaotic, decadent, and aggressive atmosphere there had frightened her— a girl used to playing the obedient role with a hint of rebelliousness.

Houhai bars were undeniably quieter and more refined, but where were the handsome guys? Where were the handsome guys?

The vagabond singer who had just performed was young and sang reasonably well, but he seemed to enjoy striking poses and winking at customers, probably thinking himself very handsome and charming—ugh!

As she took a small sip of her iced drink, she contemplated how to vent her frustration at the cheerful demeanor of her sisters by metaphorically "boiling them alive."

Just as she was getting absorbed in her thoughts, the song from the stage caught her attention.

"Will you remember tomorrow, the diary you wrote yesterday…"

"Will you still care tomorrow, about the you who used to cry the most…"

She was instantly captivated.

The voice was clear and pure, carrying a hint of sadness, with a melody and lyrics she had never heard before.

But it was truly beautiful!

Xiao Mi instinctively looked up at the stage. She saw a young man in a blue T-shirt and jeans sitting on a stool, passionately strumming his guitar and singing.

What's the name of this song? What's the name of this handsome guy?

Xiao Mi stared, her eyes fixed on him, and suddenly all her previous frustration vanished!

When the performance ended, she jolted back to reality and was the first to start applauding.

"Little Lu, sing it again!"

Amidst the enthusiastic applause, someone loudly called out, "My Old Classmate!"

At this moment, Xiao Mi finally learned the vagabond singer's name and the song's title. Although she wasn't completely sure yet, the suggestion from others was in complete agreement with her feelings—she hadn't had enough yet!

"Little girl, come back to your senses~"

A pale hand suddenly appeared in front of her, swaying back and forth to block her view.

The elder sister at the table laughed mischievously, "Are you taken with this handsome guy? Is your heart fluttering?"

"Elder Sister!"

Xiao Mi's cheeks turned a light shade of red. "What are you talking about!"

Seeing her embarrassed reaction, the elder sister, Second Sister, and Third Sister couldn't help but laugh, almost spilling their drinks.

Fortunately, the atmosphere was lively with applause and cheers, and there were even some playful whistles, or else they might have drawn too much attention, making Xiao Mi feel embarrassed.

The handsome guy on stage didn't disappoint. Smiling, he agreed to sing the song again.

Xiao Mi's heart fluttered. Seizing the moment when everyone's attention was diverted, she quietly took out her phone from her pocket, turned on the camera, and began filming the stage.

Halfway through the recording, she sensed something was off. Instinctively, she turned her head.

A staff member stood beside her, frowning at her phone, and said, "Miss, filming is not allowed in the bar. Please cooperate. Thank you!"

Many regulars at Houhai Bar were professionals and even celebrities from the show business community who valued their privacy. They didn't appreciate being filmed while relaxing.

Therefore, bars like Daylily prominently displayed "No Filming" signs at the entrance.

Xiao Mi stuck out her tongue and quickly put away her phone, saying, "Sorry."

With her pretty and cute appearance and immediate apology, the staff member couldn't say much more. He just nodded and walked away.

"Xiao Mi!"

The elder sister shot her a stern look—"I brought you here to have fun, not to embarrass yourself! You're in for a lecture tonight!"

Xiao Mi lowered her head in shame as if repenting her mistake, but in reality, she still held her phone. Her fingers moved swiftly across the touchscreen, typing out a long message with impressive speed.

"Tonight at Houhai Bar, I discovered a handsome guy and a really great song!"

This was the title of her new post. Xiao Mi attached the video she had just filmed and posted it to the Beihai City forum she frequently visited.

The Beihai City Forum, also known as the Beihai University Town Forum, is well-known among students in Capital City. It receives a high volume of daily visits and page views, and it gathers many students from capital universities. Any minor event in the university world can quickly be reported on the corresponding sections of the forum.

Xiao Mi's intention was purely for fun, to share her enjoyment of the song.

Typically, such posts on the Beihai City forum have a very short lifespan. They quickly get pushed down by a flood of new posts and eventually disappear from view.

They might be stumbled upon occasionally, but they generally go unnoticed.

But Xiao Mi didn't mind. She just wanted to express her love for the song, and as for the singer… Well, a little bit, too!

At that moment, Lu Chen was unaware that he had gained a new fan.

He earnestly finished singing "My Old Classmate" for the second time and received several beer tips.

Among the evening's patrons, there were many student couples. Compared to the white-collar professionals, their financial means were limited, so they generally didn't tip the vagabond singer much. At most, they would buy a drink or two.

However, tonight was different. After singing "My Old Classmate" twice, Lu Chen received over 100 tips. With the 70% share for the resident vagabond singer, this amounted to around 1500 Yuan in earnings!

Unfortunately, such good fortune didn't come every day. It was mostly due to the higher number of customers and their greater generosity on weekends. 

Otherwise, with such generous tips, Lu Chen could have lived more comfortably without constantly worrying about his family's massive debt.

Among the tips, many were contributed by student couples, with many of the girls urging their boyfriends to pay.

Some boyfriends were reluctant, but none escaped the reproach from their girlfriends.

The spoiled type: "Do you love me or not?"

The aloof type: "Forget it, I'll pay myself."

The black-belly type: "Hehe, are you jealous? Don't overthink it. I just really like this song!"

The spoiled type: "One drink is not enough! Buy two more!"

…

Any guy with a bit of emotional intelligence, if he didn't want to remain single, had no choice but to obediently pay.

Even if it meant eating pickles and steamed buns the next day.

This made Lu Chen not only earn tips but also gather some resentment from his classmates.

Is being handsome that amazing?!

Their resentment was so strong that even Lu Chen on stage could feel it.

After some thought, he spoke into the microphone, "Thank you all for your support. The next song I'll be performing is also an original work of mine and, for the first time, will be performed here at Daylily. So, everyone present will be the first listeners of this song!"

Wow!

A small stir erupted in the bar. Many guests straightened up, their expressions became more serious, and many showed excited and thrilled looks.

The term "first listener" originally referred to an NPC character in a certain online game. Any player who sang loudly to it using a microphone could receive different rewards.

Later, it was widely adopted to refer to the first person or group to appreciate an original piece of music or song.

"First listener."

In the back room, Ye Zhenyang sneered, glancing disdainfully at the closed door of the small suite. He whispered, "Even Brother Qin wouldn't dare say that!"

If "first listener" is considered a title, it's not something that can be casually bestowed upon someone, as it also adds to one's own honor.

There are many amateur vagabond singers who create music. Without enough confidence and assurance, no one would dare claim that the first listeners of their original works are "first listeners," because this title is reserved for truly exceptional works. Otherwise, it would be ridiculed!

What makes Lu Chen so confident to boast so shamelessly?

Even Qin Hanyang, the true Big Brother of the Daylily vagabond singer scene, has never mentioned such a title during his many performances of original songs!

Li Hong and Wang Little Shu present showed agreement, but Sister Na smiled faintly and said, "Little Lu is very talented. The song 'My Old Classmate' has the potential to become popular. I believe his new song won't disappoint."

Ye Zhenyang's face turned a bit awkward but didn't dare refute it.

Although Sister Na and the Wandering Band had their own separate lounges, she preferred to stay in the larger common area to chat with other vagabond singers and listen to their performances, and the bar's ambiance.

If Lu Chen hadn't proven his talent with "My Old Classmate," Sister Na might have been indifferent. But now she had high expectations for Lu Chen's new song!

She didn't even realize that her anticipation held more significance.

On the stage outside, Lu Chen struck the prelude of the new song.

The bar fell silent once again. 

(End of Chapter)