Chapter 114

After that incident, Lin Zhaozhao somehow obtained her contact information and, after several attempts, contacted her again, apologizing to her on Zhang Guilian's behalf time and time again.

She thought that after apologizing, Lin Zhaozhao would take the opportunity to bring up the house again. Even after she had prepared her lines, Lin Zhaozhao said that she hoped she wouldn't be angry and that she wouldn't cause her such trouble again in the future.

However, Guan Nan didn't take these words to heart. After all, based on her understanding of Zhang Guilian, she knew she was unlikely to let the matter rest.

Life is passing by day by day.

With the tour date fast approaching, Jiang Li video-called her the day before the start of the tour, but she had been busy all night and hadn't called back.

When Jiang Li called her again, Guan Nan made an excuse that she was tired and had fallen asleep and did not answer.

Having confirmed that Jiang Li wouldn't be returning, she took advantage of the time to drive back to Hecangyuan overnight to unpack the packages and prepare.

In December, the weather is unpredictable, with sunny days followed by cloudy ones. The good weather could disappear in an instant, which is why the tour performance was held in a coffee shop in the freezing cold.

At first, when Guan Nan entered the room after getting her ticket, she found that the tall, uniquely atmospheric wooden door had been removed, and the heating inside was on full blast, making her feel warm despite being wrapped in layers of clothing.

The familiar little table was gone, as was the glass wine cabinet that had been supporting the screen. The canvas that had always held the screen was lifted to reveal a large, elevated stage, complete with all sorts of musical instruments and microphones.

On the other hand, the space below the stage is just enough for people to stand, with little room in front, behind, left, or right. If you make any big movements, you will inevitably make physical contact with others.

Guan Nan stood among them, listening to the chatter around her, feeling like a newcomer.

Before long, someone eagerly asked her, "Miss, who are you?"

"Huh?" Guan Nan didn't quite understand what she meant, and mumbled, "I just bought it randomly, just to join in the fun."

The girl glanced at the screen, which displayed the e-tickets that she had managed to snag with the help of her friends and family. Then she looked at the paper ticket in her hand and said strangely, "You just bought it randomly?"

Guan Nan, unfamiliar with the subject, simply nodded and said, "Mm."

"You're really lucky," the girl said flatteringly, and then said nothing more.

Standing in the grand crowd, Guan Nan took photos here and there with her phone. Just as she was lucky enough to get two cartoon stickers and clumsily followed everyone else to stick them on her lower left eyelid, her phone buzzed.

She hurriedly stuck it on, unlocked the screen, and entered the banner's notification page.

The message was clearly sent by someone who was busy preparing to go on stage.

Guan Nan looked around, then deliberately lowered the screen brightness before entering the chat window. She quickly tapped a few times on the virtual keyboard, sent the message, and then quickly exited WeChat, casually turning up the screen brightness as if nothing had happened.

Rarely Reasonable: 【Have we arrived yet?】

Rarely so: "I'll have Qiqi pick you up."

Let's be reasonable: [I have some urgent work to do and can't come.]

I wonder how he will react when he sees this.

Thinking of this, Guan Nan touched the canvas bag with her other hand, a faint smile appearing on her face.

The hall was filled with the sounds of laughter and playfulness.

In an instant, the stage lights blazed on, and the previously noisy coffee shop fell silent as everyone's eyes turned to the stage.

Guan Nan also looked up and saw someone holding a microphone waving onto the stage.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the atmosphere heated up again. Amidst everyone's anticipation, he leaned forward, gesturing with his other hand, his voice brimming with excitement as he shouted into the microphone, "Now, please welcome our Spring Awakening Band to the stage! Where are the applause and screams?!"

The coffee shop was instantly surrounded by a wave of applause and screams.

Guan Nan's eyes were filled with the sight of arms raised high in the air, and she couldn't help but join the commotion of the crowd.

The light shone down, bathing the flamboyant and unrestrained young man in a glow that seemed to emanate from him while simultaneously exuding an aloof arrogance. Guan Nan spotted him at first glance.

The person who was sending her WeChat messages just a second ago is now standing on a stage in the spotlight.

Jiang Li's outfit was very American-style, with bright colors that reduced visual fatigue and a simple, relaxed feel. The sequins on her upper and lower eyelids cleverly reduced her aggressiveness.

But it also seems to have a more seductive quality, as if you've fallen into it in the blink of an eye.

He is tall and has long legs, so he had to raise his height when standing in front of the microphone. After completely letting loose and blasting the audience during the performance, he simply took off the microphone and ran around with the cable.

Guan Nan hadn't seen Jiang Li like this in a long time.

Jiang Li, so unrestrained and dashing, attracts much attention and is full of vigor.

At this moment, she stood below the stage, gazing at him intently, unable to look away. The only sounds in her ears were the sound system clapping against the wall and then turning around, lingering in her ears.

Guan Nan stood there for a long time until the announcement came from the stage: "The last song is dedicated to all the friends here" and "A friend who had to miss this tour due to unforeseen circumstances is also our friend who was on our first tour in Fuling."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone around him raised up long banners, and someone next to him bumped into Guan Nan because of his large movements.

Guan Nan then came to her senses; it was already the last song.

Unsurprisingly, it's still that familiar melody.

"Sorry, sister," the girl apologized, "I'm going to make a banner, do you have one? Want to join me?"

Guan Nan recognized her; the two had met briefly at the hospital when she was asking Jiang Li for an autograph.

She held the canvas bag with one hand, smiled and shook her head at the girl, until the opening rhythm started, at which point she stiffened uncomfortably amidst the eager, crowded swaying.

On stage, Jiang Li gripped the microphone tightly, his voice low and resonant as he slowly began to narrate.

"Hey, winter has arrived in the blink of an eye. I can't count how many days you've been gone, but I remember walking along Renmin Branch Road thousands of times. Will you be back tomorrow? The pomegranate flowers in Hecang Garden have finished blooming. Let's go see them together sometime."

The atmosphere, which was boiling just a second ago, fell silent in perfect unison.

Everyone knows this song is dedicated to his "ex-girlfriend".

During the brief interlude, Jiang Li remained immersed in the music.

As the narration continues, his gentle, tender words of advice, filled with reluctance, come through the speakers.

It was as if he already knew this was the crossroads of parting, yet he still couldn't stop worrying about her. Because he couldn't let go of her, and worried that others wouldn't be able to take good care of her, he patiently and repeatedly gave her advice, afraid that she wouldn't be able to take good care of herself.

"Remember to bring Gaosuntang pancakes home after get off work. Oh, and don't forget to buy some liangxia (cold shrimp) when you pass by Shiji Road. Also, don't eat wontons anymore, and if you do, don't eat anything too spicy, it'll upset your stomach."

Just as the atmosphere was somber, Jiang Li raised his voice by two decibels, and said with a smile but also with seriousness, "Now, I want to change the last sentence to, 'Remember to go home early after get off work, and don't forget, I'm still waiting for you at home.'"

Guan Nan quickly extended the retractable pole, put a flag on it, and raised it high, waving it in rhythm with his voice.

The flag fluttered so suddenly that Jiang Li on the stage was stunned for a moment until he saw the words on it and the silver glint on his waving wrist that swayed with the light.

Jiang Li ran his fingers through his hair, his emotions running high and he was having a blast. As the music played, he pulled the necklace off his neck with one hand.

This is a necklace that he wears all the time but never shows to others.

Last time he accidentally wandered into the bathroom, he took off the necklace around his neck, and Guan Nan didn't think much of it. But seeing it now, she was still dumbfounded.

I thought he had changed the pendant a long time ago, but the moment the coin on the necklace caught my eye...

She stared blankly at the people on the stage, still somewhat incredulous.

On and off the stage, separated by a long, human-shaped river, two identical streaks of silver seemed to be engaged in some kind of silent dialogue. They separated in a deserted corner, and then reconciled beneath the vast stage.

The flags waving below the stage, along with the words on them, also became much more lively.

—Jiang Li

—The most handsome man in the world and the universe

Jiang Li.

I will always be your loyal listener, for life.

As long as you're still on stage, I will always wave the flag for you and cheer for you with pride.

From the very beginning of the intro, the entire audience joined in, singing along at the top of their lungs until the very end.

The narration resumed as the song ended, "I'm sorry. I love you."

When the music stopped, it was time for the familiar interactive segment. Someone grabbed the microphone and raised their hand to ask, "Brother, was what you said a while ago true? Have you two made up? If not, would you go back to her?"

Jiang Li took off his headset and answered everyone earnestly, "It's true, we've made up, thank you for your concern."

"Did you two get together in high school? Is that considered puppy love?" asked a girl who took the microphone from another direction.

“No,” Jiang Li changed direction and said frankly to her, “We were high school classmates, but we didn’t date. During our studies, we focused on our studies. However, my plan back then was to confess to her after the college entrance examination. If she didn’t agree, I would pursue her, and if all went well, I would propose to her after graduating from university.”

The young girl seemed very fixated on this question: "If that's the case, why did we break up? Who was responsible?"

“There was a small mishap in the middle, or to be precise, it was my fault. The band was too busy to take care of her and didn’t give her a sense of security,” Jiang Li said without blinking. “But thankfully, everything is still in time.”

"In the 25 years of my life, all my plans have changed again and again, but my commitment to marrying her and growing old with her has never wavered."

"And she is now my girlfriend, and she's here too."

As soon as he finished speaking, gasps and exclamations erupted from the audience, with questions and guesses coming one after another.

Guan Nan, standing in the crowd, also looked around.

Fortunately, the attention this incident received did not last long. Jiang Liling and her band apologized to all fans for the removal of their songs due to the lawsuit she was involved in with her former company.

"The new song has been delayed due to copyright issues and cannot be released to everyone. Here, please allow me to bow and apologize to all the friends who were looking forward to this song. I'm sorry we have let you down."

"As for this war, it's uncertain how long it will last—one, two, five, or ten years—and whether we can win is also unknown."

"Nevertheless, we will persist in defending our rights at all costs."

This is also why the Spring Awakening band insisted on participating in this tour in Fuling despite the copyright infringement fines, and even tried their best to persuade investors to hold the venue in their territory.

To give themselves an explanation, and also to give their fans an explanation.

After the interactive segment ended, the other bands took the stage. Guan Nan immediately put away the flag, listened to their conversation, smiled, and quietly put the pole into her bag.

However, there seemed to be some kind of premonition in the darkness.

Guan Nan subconsciously raised her head.

After plugging in the microphones, the band stood together under the spotlight and bowed deeply to the audience.

Just then, the person who was about to leave the stage subconsciously turned their head to look down at the audience, their eyes landing squarely on her.

They stood facing each other across the high stage.

Following this were voices saying, "He's looking at me," "He's looking at me," "He's looking this way," and then gazes came from all directions. Guan Nan was stunned for a second before she came to her senses and pretended to look to the side as if she was also craning her neck to find the protagonist in the crowd.

As if that wasn't enough, the man on stage swept his eyes and waved and smiled at them again, which immediately caused the screams and shouts from the audience to become even more enthusiastic.

Guan Nan had never seen such a scene before. Just now she wanted to pretend nothing was wrong and look forward to the next band performance, but now she suddenly had the idea of ​​backing down. However, walking away now would be too obvious.

So she lingered for a while longer.

After two songs, she gradually retreated into the crowd. Perhaps the crowd was too hot and she had drunk too much water, so she just happened to be out of the restroom.

It was at this moment that she saw the stairs leading to the second floor behind the stage frame.

Jiang Li leaned against the railing, lazily propping his elbows up, staring down at the screen.

He seemed very busy, his fingertips constantly tapping on the keyboard.

At that time, people would rush past him on their way up or down the stairs and would always greet him. He would nod slightly and remain in the same position.

Once all the work was arranged, he put away his phone, looked up, and met her gaze, which was separated from his.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, waved his phone in his hand, and gave a half-smile.

Guan Nan picked up her phone and saw the banner reminder.

Rarely Reasonable: [Is it that you can't reason with me?]

Rarely so: [How was your singing?]

Rarely so: [Was the viewing experience acceptable? Did you enjoy listening to it?]

Guan Nan stared at the screen, her fingertips tapping on the virtual keyboard, and replied earnestly: 【Just kidding, I'll definitely be there to cheer you on for your first tour in Fuling.】

Jiang Li looked down at the screen, his furrowed brows relaxing.

The next second, Guan Nan received a reply.

He said: "Really?"

These words made Guan Nan doubt himself for a moment. He pondered the short message sent from above several times to make sure there was no problem.

Guan Nan was still a little insecure: "I don't think I've ever lied to you, have I?"

Why does he seem to have so little trust in her?

Rarely will I reason with you: "Haven't you lied to me enough already?"

After reading this reply, Guan Nan was suddenly speechless.

As if sensing her emotions, Jiang Li on the stairs stopped sending messages and slowly walked down the stairs.

Guan Nan looked up and watched him approach her step by step.

She had just observed that this location was a blind spot, and the restroom was just inside. Despite being a rather unprofessional "restaurant," it did a very good job of protecting privacy.

Jiang Li took her bag and held her hand: "Didn't you say you came to cheer me on?"

"Hmm." Guan Nan paused, then nodded.

“Okay,” Jiang Li looked at her with a slight smile and a slight upturn at the corner of his eyes, “Add it.”

"..." Guan Nan hesitated for a moment, then honestly replied, "It's all added."

Jiang Li: "What, all added?"

"It's oil." Guan Nan didn't think there was anything wrong with what she said, and now she was looking up at him without feeling guilty.

"Yeah?"

"yes."

Jiang Li smirked, leaned closer, and teased her, "That's not enough."

Is that not enough?

"Then what else do you want?" After saying this, Guan Nan suddenly stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the chin. Her cheeks were burning, but she still tried to appear calm and composed. "Is that enough?"

At this moment, she clearly sensed that Jiang Li paused for a moment, and then returned to normal.

He ran his hand through her long, black hair, lifting the back of her head upwards until their noses touched, their long eyelashes kissing in the dim light of the bustling crowd.

The incident was sudden and brief.

Guan Nan didn't have time to react; all he knew was that he had pinched her cheek before retreating.

Then, having gotten the better deal, he feigned innocence and said, "It has to be this way."