Chapter 13 She Doesn't Look at Me (Part 2)

During the discussion about the performance, Zhang Hai had suggested that Cen Ye should say a few more words before starting, to curry favor with the judges. For example, where we all came from, how much we loved music, and how difficult and challenging it was to be in the underground music scene... At that time, Cen Ye just listened with a faint smile, as if he took it to heart. But now, he completely ignored Zhang Hai's meaningful glances. He gently strummed the strings, raised his head, and said only eight words: "Heaven-Sent Hairpin," Chaomu Band."

"Fine snow climbs up the old tree

Feet slip, washed down by the rain

Hitting the ground, it turns into a black hairpin

On its back, a QR code that traces past and present lives

It wishes to blossom

Tip-toeing, perches on someone's hair

Listening to baskets and baskets of half-true, half-fake sweet nothings

Still decides to be a hairpin

Not to become the lonely

Flower at the side of one's hair

Sweet nothings, half true and half fake

Fearing interrogation by day and night

Pretending to be the dementia-ridden branch of an old tree

Bygone tales are like white horses drifting in the wind

Words once spoken

Hoofbeats clop-clop

Can't see a figure in sight

Everywhere is the horizon

Up above, scattered about

All are flowers at the side of one's hair

Half blooming

Half are lonesome hairpins

..."

And amid the lights and melody, the judges' faces also gradually become indiscernible. They all sank into another world, the world brought forth by Cen Ye and the Chaomu Band.

The performance concluded.

Cen Ye stopped his guitar, looking up. Every judge was smiling, their eyes unbelievably bright. And behind them, every staff member was fully engaged, their faces filled with surprise. Cen Ye thus understood in his heart that they had secured it.

Indeed, the female judge asked a few more questions, her tone exceedingly gentle, such as when their band was formed and what other original songs they had. Cen Ye and Zhao Tan answered on behalf of the band. The more they were asked, the more appreciative the judges' gazes became.

In the end, the oldest judge said, "Young men, you sang well. Go home and wait for the notification, which could come as early as tonight. The road ahead is long, and we think highly of you. Get ready, and give it your all!"

Cen Ye turned his head, looking at his brothers. On every face was a light of uncontrollable excitement.

So much so that when they left the competition venue and returned to the lounge, a few people looking for a story asked, "How did it go, Chaomu Band? Did you make it?"

Huizi smiled and said, "Whether we made it or not, we don't know. But the judges chatted with us for quite a while. Look, we're just coming out now! Sorry everyone, for the delay!"

Go on and be envious of them!

——

The notification arrived even earlier than the judges had promised. By only 5 p.m., a few hours later, Zhao Tan received the message—Chaomu Band had passed the preliminary round and advanced to next week's rematch, where they would compete for the top ten in the region.

How could they not celebrate such a triumphant initial victory and such a promising future? It wasn't even dark yet, and the group had started feasting and drinking near the house that Zhao Tan and Cen Ye rented.

Eating was no longer the key point, as passion seemed to course through everyone's cells. Even Zhang Hai, who usually preferred women's company to his brothers', spent money to buy two bottles of the rather expensive Jiugui Liquor from the supermarket next door and poured a glass for each person first.

Zhang Hai said, "Xiaoye sang pretty well today, and everyone performed well too. If we can stand out in this competition, what future and life do we have to worry about afterwards?"

His words got everyone even more hyped up. Zhang Tianyao raised his glass, "I'm going to Beijing to compete in the national finals! Fuck, to win the national championship and see if Xu Xunsheng doesn't willingly sit in the passenger seat of my sports car, happily becoming my girl!"

Everyone burst out laughing, the smile on Cen Ye's face faint as well.

After eating for a while and chatting for a bit, Zhang Hai looked at Cen Ye and said, "It's just that Xiaoye, you still don't know how to play the game. Look at how much those judges liked us. If you sweet-talked them a bit, we probably could have passed the rematch directly. The judges, don't they just go for personal taste?"

No one else joined in, but Cen Ye picked up his glass and clinked it against Zhang Hai's, never one to contradict a brother's face in public, and said with a grin, "Brother Hai, I'll try harder next time." Zhang Hai's pride was satisfied, and he no longer cared, drinking the glass cheerfully with him.

"Yaozi, didn't your teacher Xu promise to come? Why didn't she show up today?" Huizi leaned on Zhang Tianyao's shoulder.

On this matter, Zhang Tianyao indeed felt a bit embarrassed and was somewhat resentful of Xu Xunsheng's broken promise. Sitting next to him was Cen Ye, he casually asked, "Yeah, Xiaoye, you heard it today too, right? She promised to come."

Cen Ye glanced at him and said, "She's not someone who doesn't keep her word. If she said she was coming to watch our show, she would come. Unless something important came up."

Zhang Tianyao was still holding his glass, laughed, and whispered so that only the two of them could hear, "You seem to know her quite well."

Upon hearing this, Cen Ye didn't respond.

It had grown dark, and the chill of the night pervaded the surroundings. The orange light of the small restaurant enveloped them, and a charcoal brazier under the table provided warmth and quiet. But what dominated the young people's emotions was more than just happiness and pride. There were many unnameable feelings, such as emptiness, love, loneliness, warmth, and arrogance. So, they let loose and drank today, more and more. After finishing two bottles of liquor, they switched to beer, case by case. As they drank, they began to sing wildly.

Cen Ye slightly widened his eyes, looking at the table full of dishes. Spicy stir-fried clams, grilled fish, pig tails, cold cucumber salad... They all leaned sloppily, including the old hand Zhang Hai. Cen Ye, however, hadn't quite filled his belly, steadily picking up food with his chopsticks. He always seemed more alert the more he drank, but even as a tough lad from Dongbei, he couldn't keep going like this. After a while, he was the only one left upright, propping himself up with his hand on the table, pouring himself a cup of tea and gulping it down. Then he took out his wallet from his pocket, and handed all his cash to the waiter.

The waiter seemed to say it wasn't enough, and Cen Ye politely said, "Wait a moment, please." He fished out a wallet like robbing a corpse from Zhao Tan's body, pulling out a few more bills.

This time it was enough, and the surroundings quieted down. It wasn't even eight or nine o'clock yet, and the TV on the wall was still broadcasting entertainment news. Cen Ye looked up and suddenly saw on the screen the footage of today's competition, with their faces appearing in the video edits for a few seconds before swiftly passing by.

Cen Ye smiled vaguely, took out a cigarette, and slowly started to smoke. Zhang Hai was actually right; he just hoped for a rosy future, longing to seize this difficult and bright opportunity.

In the afternoon, after their performance, another band appeared in the video, occupying more screen time—Heige Paradox. Cen Ye nudged the few people next to him, "Hey, take a look at Heige, the famous Heige." But no one woke up.

He could faintly hear the TV introducing: Heige Paradox, the most famous band in the Xiangcheng area, had won runner-up and third place in various competitions... and were considered the hottest favorites for the Xiangcheng region this time. The lead singer, Daxiong, had a hundred thousand followers on Weibo... Today, their performance even had some fans who braved the cold to cheer them on at the venue...

If Chaomu wanted to advance to the national finals, Heige Paradox would be their most formidable competitor.

The TV showed many girls holding support signs, standing outside the theater shouting "Heige, Heige!" Cen Ye, already drained of energy to watch, was about to lay down and sleep when suddenly the camera lingered on one face.

Perhaps because her face was so refined and beautiful, and her presence so unique, the camera intentionally lingered on this "fan" for a moment.

Cen Ye didn't expect to see her in this crowd at this time; his mind went blank for a moment.

Xu Xunsheng was still dressed in the same clothes from the morning, only her scarf had been unwound, revealing a clean face. Delicately standing on the edge of the group of fans, she seemed to blend in with them, yet also stood apart. Catching the camera pointing directly at her, she was taken aback for a moment, then appeared relieved, smiled, and turned to follow those fans into the theater.

Cen Ye slumped entirely in his chair, slowly coming back to reality.

Heige Paradox, such an established band, did she know them? Did she like them? Was that why she ditched them, to go support those old men?

Would Teacher Xu do such a thing?

Suddenly, Cen Ye felt an overwhelming sadness, a sense of utter hopelessness, difficult to escape from.

At that moment, Zhao Tan seemed to sober up a bit, lifted his head, and asked him, "Is the bill settled?" He wasn't completely drunk yet. Cen Ye answered, "It's settled. TanzI, you take care of getting them back later."

Zhao Tan was still dazed, not catching on, "Me? Take care? All of them?"

But Cen Ye had already grabbed his jacket and stumbled out the door.