lcionline Chapter 21 Famous Singer Wang Bo, who is he?
Chapter 21 Famous Singer Wang Bo, who is he?
Zhang Hongyuan finally ended his performance with a high-pitched, off-key "Oh—", wiped the sweat from his forehead, bowed deeply to the audience, and received thunderous applause—mainly for his courage and sincerity.
The host quickly stepped on stage to salvage the situation: "Thank you, senior Zhang Hongyuan, for your heartfelt performance! Let's give him another round of applause!"
Zhang Hongyuan stepped down from the stage with a radiant smile.
The party continued, with a variety of performances including an alumni chorus, professors reciting poetry, and students performing martial arts... a truly lively and diverse event.
But for some reason, many people in the VIP area had already quietly shifted their attention to the latter half of the program.
"Wang Bo...solo?" someone whispered the name. "Who is that? Never heard of him."
"Who knows? But he's quite handsome; I've seen him."
"What's the use of being handsome? Aren't there plenty of good-looking men and women here tonight? The key is to have ability."
These whispers spread slowly like a gentle stream through the VIP area.
Su Xiaoxiao sat upright, her dark green dress resembling a deep pool of water in the dim light.
She could feel those gazes, those discussions, those overt and covert scrutiny.
Su Yiyi gently held her hand and found that her palm was a little cold.
"Don't be nervous," Su Yiyi said softly. "Trust him."
Zhou Yuji changed her sitting posture, crossed her legs, and tapped the ground rhythmically with the toes of her Martin boots.
Her face was expressionless, but those who knew her well could tell that she was actually nervous—her right hand unconsciously twirled a silver bracelet on her left wrist.
Backstage, in a corner of the corridor.
Wang Bo had already stood up, his guitar slung over his shoulder, a pick in his hand, which he gently stroked.
"Those internet celebrities are in the lounge over there," Zhou Yuji said, pursing her lips. "Guan Lin is touching up her makeup, Lin Weiwei is scrolling through her phone, and Xiao Kai is taking selfies... I heard them talking about you when I passed by."
"What are you talking about?" Wang Bo asked.
"What else could it be?" Zhou Yuji mimicked that flippant tone. "He is quite handsome, but I heard he used to be an unknown actor who sang pop songs. He's probably just another pretty boy who got to where he is by relying on his looks."
After she finished speaking, she patted Wang Bo on the shoulder: "Don't take it to heart. You'll prove them wrong later. I'm telling you this because I believe in you."
Wang Bo didn't take it to heart.
He'd heard that kind of talk countless times.
In that world, he started as a bar singer and endured countless scornful looks and disdain along the way, so he was already immune to it.
His only thought right now is to sing the song well.
For himself, and for those who believe in him.
"The next program is a bit special." The host's voice came from the stage and was transmitted backstage via the monitor screen. "The performer is an excellent young singer with a unique voice and profound musical skills. He has created many popular works—"
Wang Bo raised an eyebrow.
This introduction... is a bit over the top.
The other actors waiting backstage also heard it and turned to look.
Guan Lin's dressing room door was open, and she was having her makeup artist touch up her lips. Upon hearing this, she scoffed, "Popular? I've never heard of a single one of them!"
Xiao Kai leaned against the door, playing on his phone without looking up: "They forced him on us, so they had to say a few words."
Lin Weiwei didn't say anything, but glanced through the crack in the door at the white figure carrying a guitar in the corner of the corridor.
On stage, the host was still trying to build up the atmosphere: "Today, he will bring us an original song that tells a story of dreams, growth, and letting go. Let's give a warm round of applause to welcome—the renowned singer, Wang Bo!"
Sparse applause broke out.
Most of the audience looked blank: Wang Bo? Who?
A famous singer? How famous? How come I don't know?
In the VIP area, Chen Mingyuan frowned: "A famous singer? Isn't this introduction a bit...?"
"You're too kind," Lin Wan replied, her tone tinged with sarcasm. "But since she's someone President Su strongly recommended, we should at least give her some face."
Su Xiaoxiao could feel the gazes around her becoming more meaningful.
She pursed her lips, her nails almost digging into her palms.
Su Yiyi gently pressed the back of her hand, signaling her to relax.
Zhou Yuji sneered and said in a voice that was not loud but loud enough for those around to hear, "It's not too late to make sarcastic remarks after you've heard it all."
The stage lights dimmed.
A spotlight shone on the entrance to the stage.
Wang Bo, carrying a guitar, emerged from the darkness.
A white shirt and black pants—the simple outfit, against the backdrop of the dazzling stage, gives off a clean and unpretentious vibe.
He walked to the microphone in the center of the stage, adjusted the height, and then bowed slightly to the audience.
When he looked up, the light shone on his face, making his features clear and his expression calm.
The audience finally got a clear look at his face.
"Wow, so handsome!" a girl exclaimed softly.
"He's quite handsome, but can being handsome be a substitute for singing?"
"I don't know, let's listen and see."
Backstage, Guan Lin finished touching up her makeup, crossed her arms, walked to the curtain, and looked at the stage through the gap.
Xiao Kai chimed in, "Wow, they actually dared to use a live band?"
In the shadows behind the stage, the figures of the musicians could be vaguely seen—drummer, bassist, keyboardist, and a small group of string players.
Lin Weiwei had somehow appeared beside them and said softly, "Quite a show of force."
"It's just a bluff," Xiao Kai said dismissively. "In this kind of situation, a backing track is the safest bet. A live band? If any musician makes a mistake, it's all over."
On stage, Wang Bo nodded in the direction of the band.
Drummer Lao Zhao raised his drumsticks and gently struck them in the air.
"despair."
The crisp sound was transmitted throughout the venue via the microphone.
Immediately afterwards, the sounds of a piano and a guitar began.
The prelude is simple, the piano music has a faint sadness, but also a strange sense of openness, like the opening of a road movie, with wheels rolling over the wilderness and the wind blowing across the plains.
Wang Bo lowered his head to pluck the strings, his profile clearly defined under the light.
His playing technique is skillful; his fingers glide across the strings, and every note is clean and crisp.
After just a dozen seconds of prelude, the noisy discussions from the audience quieted down considerably.
In the VIP area, Chen Mingyuan raised an eyebrow: "You played the guitar quite well."
Lin Wan didn't speak, but leaned forward slightly and focused her gaze.
Su Xiaoxiao stared intently at the stage, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of her chest.
Su Yiyi clasped her hands together on her knees, her fingertips turning white from the force.
Zhou Yuji completely relaxed, leaning back in her chair, revealing a musical clef faintly visible on one side of her collarbone.
That's not a real tattoo; it's just a sticker.
She's the kind of girl who wants to rebel a little and cause some trouble, but doesn't dare to go too far.
She now exudes an aura that says, "Don't mess with me, but you can flirt with me."
As the intro ended, Wang Bo looked up and moved closer to the microphone.
He spoke, his voice flowing through the speakers, carrying a texture honed by time, slightly hoarse, yet full of power.