PS-Chapter 35 Dong Yu

Lu Chen insisted on going on stage by himself.

Qin Hanyang and Sister Na exchanged glances but, in perfect harmony, refrained from further persuasion.

They had both been young and passionate once, and they had also fiercely resisted when faced with pressure and injustice. Whether the result was success or failure, they had fought with all their strength!

So, they understood Lu Chen's determination. They didn't want to lecture him as seniors, even if it was with good intentions.

After all, youth isn't defined by failure; only through setbacks and defeat can someone truly grow and mature!

Sister Na encouraged him, "Keep it up! We all support you!"

Qin Hanyang nodded as well.

However, the other four members of the Wandering Band exchanged odd looks, casting strange glances at Lu Chen.

In their eyes, Lu Chen was simply too naive. He had turned a blind eye to the well-intentioned advice from Brother Qin and Sister Na. By going on stage alone, he was bound to suffer. They thought he'd most likely be booed off the stage and wouldn't be able to finish his performance.

The atmosphere of the Blue Lotus Flower Music Night was something far beyond that of a regular bar. With two or three thousand people shouting and roaring, the noise alone could shake the roof. Without strong nerves, it was far too easy to freeze up in fear and make a fool of oneself.

If it hadn't been for Qin Hanyang staying silent, they would have tried to make Lu Chen realize the gravity of the situation. Who do you think you are?

Suddenly, Lu Chen smiled and said, "Sister Na, I've prepared a new song for tonight."

Out of everyone present, Sister Na was clearly the one who cared about him the most. Not wanting to keep things hidden anymore, Lu Chen decided to lay all his cards on the table: "I believe it won't embarrass our Daylily."

Sister Na's eyes lit up immediately. "Really? If you're confident, then no problem! I believe in your abilities!"

After all, someone who could write such excellent songs for her surely wouldn't falter if well-prepared.

In a way, Sister Na had become a fan of Lu Chen by now.

Qin Hanyang, however, had more complex thoughts. Initially, he hadn't paid much attention to Lu Chen, even though the latter had worked at Daylily for more than half a year. They had barely exchanged a few words during that time.

It wasn't until Lu Chen helped Sister Na with a composition that he realized there was such a talented young man in his midst.

Still, Qin Hanyang believed that Lu Chen's two folk songs weren't as good as the one he wrote for Sister Na.

Now, hearing that Lu Chen had written yet another new song, he couldn't help but feel deeply moved.

Having been involved in music creation himself, Qin Hanyang knew how difficult it was to produce original work, let alone a good song.

With just these three songs, Lu Chen had already earned the right to be considered a second-tier, if not first-tier, songwriter. And with such a strong creative drive, if Lu Chen could continue to find fresh inspiration, achieving greatness in the future wouldn't be a mere dream.

Hopefully!

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, night had fallen.

All the lights at the performance venue had been turned on, shining brightly over the crowd, creating an atmosphere of warmth and excitement, like being in the heart of summer.

There were still more than 30 minutes until the official start of the Blue Lotus Music Night, but most of the audience had already arrived. Young men and women sat on small plastic stools, chatting and laughing. Some were holding glow sticks and LED signs.

On stage, a giant LED screen flickered with dazzling images, while drum kits, synthesizers, and other heavy equipment had already been set up, waiting for the bands to take the stage.

According to tradition, those larger instruments were provided by Blue Lotus Flower, so some of the drummers and keyboardists from the bands were already on stage, testing the equipment. Their actions occasionally stirred up bursts of chatter from the audience below.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere on the top-floor balcony of the Blue Lotus Flower bar, where the VIP section was located, was noticeably more relaxed.

Well-dressed gentlemen and elegantly dressed ladies stood in small groups, holding champagne or wine, mingling and socializing. Uniformed waiters moved among them with trays of snacks and drinks, maintaining a seamless and orderly service.

Among the crowd, the most eye-catching figure was a tall, graceful woman dressed in a summer Prada outfit. She was surrounded by people, like a moon encircled by stars, clearly the focal point of the gathering.

The woman's appearance was exquisite and beautiful. Her long, dark hair was styled into a neat bun, and she wore a pair of titanium-framed black glasses that partially concealed her charming almond-shaped eyes. With light makeup on her delicate face, her elegance stood out even more.

"Director Dong, long time no see!"

Though surrounded by many people flattering her, the woman known as Director Dong maintained a polite smile, courteously responding to the greetings and approaches.

However, hidden behind her glasses, there was a fleeting trace of helplessness in her eyes — the only glimpse of her true emotions.

This was Dong Yu, 27 years old, the general manager of Qingyu Media Company, who had only recently returned from abroad earlier this year.

Even with her extraordinary family background, Dong Yu couldn't afford to show a cold face to the men who eyed her with envy, desire, or admiration. After all, in this industry, developing connections is of utmost importance.

Fortunately, Su Qingmei's arrival saved Dong Yu just in time!

The two business partners retreated to a corner for a private conversation, leaving the men who hadn't gotten a chance to speak with her disappointed.

"I shouldn't have come tonight," Dong Yu complained, as she opened her handbag and skillfully pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. She lit a menthol cigarette, took a puff, and then chided Su Qingmei, "You left me here all alone and disappeared!"

Dong Yu had picked up the habit of smoking while studying abroad. Though she wasn't particularly fond of it, lighting a cigarette when she was stressed helped her release some of the tension.

Su Qingmei laughed, "Well, I'm here to rescue you now, aren't I? Besides, making new friends is always a good thing. You can't stay locked up in your office forever, or you'll end up single, turning into a Saintess!"

"Su Qingmei!"

Dong Yu stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray, narrowing her almond-shaped eyes in mock annoyance. "Are you itching for a fight?"

"Not at all," Su Qingmei quickly conceded, pretending to be scared. "Sister Yu, I know I was wrong. I was just off recruiting some new talent for the company."

Her playful, pitiful expression made Dong Yu both angry and amused. At the same time, Dong Yu couldn't help but wonder who might end up being lucky enough to win over such a charming and beautiful woman.

Dong Yu asked, "So, did you find anyone?"

Su Qingmei pouted, "No one really stood out. Maybe I'll take another look later."

Dong Yu's curiosity was piqued, so she asked, "Didn't you discover a promising new talent at Brother Jianhao's place last time? Why haven't I heard anything since?"

Su Qingmei froze for a moment, then asked in surprise, "How do you know about that, Sister Yu?"

After her awkward encounter with Lu Chen, Su Qingmei had been too embarrassed to mention it to Dong Yu. But now that Dong Yu knew, she felt a surge of frustration — she wanted to bite someone!

Dong Yu chuckled softly. "I heard it while you were talking in your sleep. So, was that person not a good fit?"

Qingyu Media, the company co-founded by Dong Yu and Su Qingmei, had focused on nurturing and discovering new talent from the start, rather than aggressively poaching established stars. For example, they had successfully signed Compass, a promising band under Blue Lotus Flower.

Dong Yu had overheard the story of Su Qingmei's difficulties with a certain newcomer, and her curiosity was piqued. What kind of person could make this young lady hit a wall twice?

Teasingly, she brought up the topic to poke at Su Qingmei's sore spot, eager to learn the truth.

Su Qingmei gritted her teeth and replied, "I don't talk in my sleep! But Sister Yu, you'll meet that guy soon enough, and I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."

A sly smile appeared on her face, like a fox that had just stolen a chicken.

"Oh?"

Dong Yu raised an eyebrow. "Is he performing tonight?"

"Yes!"

Su Qingmei nodded vigorously and grabbed Dong Yu's hand. "Let's stop talking about it for now. The performance is about to start, and we should head over to Big Brother Chang's area. He's the protagonist tonight!"

It was already 6:50 PM, and the Blue Lotus Night music festival, co-hosted by Qingyu Media and the Blue Lotus Flower Bar, was about to begin. The first band was just stepping onto the stage.

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(End of the chapter)

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