novelslam Chapter 27 Bar Singing
Chapter 27 Bar Singing
Stepping out of the "Deep Alley" bar, Lin Feng and his two companions were invigorated; they had finally found a clue!
Following the directions given by the young man, they quickly found "True Colors Bar".
The huge signboard is very eye-catching, and the storefront decoration has a rugged industrial style.
"This is it." Lin Feng looked at the sign; the door was tightly closed.
Lin Xiaoqiang went up and knocked on the door, but no one answered.
"There's probably no one here during the day; the singers and staff aren't at work yet." Lin Feng checked the time; it was a little past four in the afternoon. "Let's come back tonight. Let's find a place to rest and get something to eat first."
The three of them found a tea restaurant on Dongyuan Road, ordered some porridge and dim sum, and ate while they waited.
Lin Xiaowen was a little excited, taking small bites of shrimp dumplings: "Brother Feng, will we be able to meet the singer you're looking for tonight?"
Lin Feng took a sip of tea: "It's not certain yet. But I believe we'll find him eventually."
The waiting time seemed to drag on. The customers in the tea restaurant changed constantly, while the number of pedestrians on the street increased.
As dusk settles, the neon lights at the entrance of "True Colors Bar" illuminate. The wooden door opens from the inside, and the signboard outside lights up, displaying announcements of tonight's performances.
When Lin Feng and his two companions arrived at the bar entrance, they saw the performance notice for "Lilac Flower" and Lin Xiaowen was overjoyed.
Pushing open the bar's wooden door, a wave of sound and light washes over you. Completely different from the cool autumn night outside, it's another world inside.
The lights were dim, and purple spots of light swirled slowly in the smoke, with only the stage area illuminated by a few warm yellow spotlights.
The space was deeper than I had imagined, and it was packed with a sea of people. The central stage was not large, and a jazz band was playing blues, with the long, drawn-out sound of the saxophone.
Lin Feng and his two companions made their way through the crowd and sat down in a booth near the side of the stage.
Soon, a waiter in a vest came over, and Lin Feng ordered two bottles of beer, a soft drink, and a plate of peanuts.
Lin Xiaowen was not used to the noisy environment and looked a little nervous. Lin Xiaoqiang's eyes habitually scanned the security personnel wearing black T-shirts and earpieces in the crowd at the entrance and exit.
Lin Feng, on the other hand, relaxed and leisurely drank his beer while enjoying the music.
After the jazz band left the stage, a female singer wearing a sequined dress took over, singing the currently popular song "Next Stop, Superstar." Some people in the audience hummed along, creating a lively atmosphere.
After singing three songs, the female singer left the stage amidst applause.
Another half hour passed, around 9 p.m.
The stage lights came on.
A figure carrying a wooden guitar walked to the center of the stage.
He looked to be around 25 or 26 years old, tall and thin, wearing black-rimmed glasses, and had somewhat long hair.
He walked to the standing microphone in the center of the stage, lowered his head to adjust the microphone height, and then turned the guitar on his back to face him.
After he was ready, he gently plucked the strings.
"I'll be singing a song I wrote myself, 'Lilac Flower.' I hope you all like it!"
Lin Xiaowen suddenly turned to look at Lin Feng: "Is it him?"
Lin Feng didn't answer, focusing on listening to the music.
The intro's few chords flowed slowly, carrying a faint sadness, like the autumn wind blowing through an empty street.
"You said you love lilacs the most because your name is related to them..."
Tang Lei's voice was slightly hoarse. Every word seemed to come from his heart, unhurried and steady, landing firmly on your heart.
"What a melancholy flower, what a sentimental person..."
Lin Feng leaned back in his chair, recalling how he had heard this song countless times in his past life—on his computer, in shopping malls, and in front of music stores on the street. He had always thought of it as just another pop song.
But hearing Tang Lei sing live at this moment felt completely different.
What truly touches people's hearts is never singing technique, but genuine emotion. Tang Lei is telling a moving story.
He closed his eyes briefly, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. The pain that was revealed in that instant was so real.
"The grave is covered in flowers, the beauty you so longed for. Look, they're blooming all over the mountains and fields. Do you still feel lonely...?"
Lin Xiaowen didn't know the story behind the song, but she understood the sadness it conveyed. The sadness of losing something and never being able to get it back.
The song ended in just a few minutes.
Tang Lei thanked the audience.
Then, he hurriedly turned around and walked off the stage, disappearing quickly behind the backstage curtain amidst applause and cheers.
"Let's go." Lin Feng put down his wine glass and led Lin Xiaoqiang and his sister quickly across the lounge area, heading towards the dark curtain behind the stage.
Just as he reached the vicinity of the curtain, before he could even reach out to lift it, a burly figure suddenly sprang out from the shadows beside him, blocking Lin Feng's path.
There was a man with a shaved head, neck tattoos extending to behind his ears, wearing a tight black T-shirt, and bulging muscles.
"No access allowed to the backstage area!"
The bald man's eyes swept over Lin Feng and his companions like knives, his tone carrying a warning.
Lin Feng stopped in his tracks and looked up to meet the other person's gaze: "Excuse me, I'm looking for Teacher Tang who sang earlier."
"It's no use talking to anyone," the bald man said in a rough voice. "They won't let us in backstage. Can't you understand human language?"
Just then, two more burly men dressed similarly and with unfriendly expressions stood up from the booth next to them and quickly surrounded them.
One of them was also playing with a metal Zippo lighter, which made a particularly jarring "click" sound when it was opened and closed.
Lin Xiaoqiang immediately stepped forward and shielded the somewhat frightened Lin Xiaowen behind him.
The street-smart aura emanating from the other person and the sharp, soldierly aura emanating from Lin Xiaoqiang were different, but both were incredibly intimidating.
"We liked that song and would like to make friends with the singer." Lin Feng gestured for Lin Xiaoqiang to calm down, putting on an innocent smile.
"Brother, could you please make an exception? I just want to say a few words."
The bald man sneered, "Kid, this isn't the place for you to make friends. If you want to listen to music, sit outside. If you want drinks, I'll open one for you. If you come any closer, don't blame me for being impolite."
Before he could finish speaking, the man next to him who had been playing with a lighter snapped the cap shut, stepped forward, and glared menacingly at Lin Feng.
"Fine, if I don't want to go in, I don't want to go in. But could you at least pass on a message for me? Say that someone outside wants to get to know him and leave their contact information."
The bald man laughed. "Pass on a message? Who the hell are you? You want me to pass on a message for you?"
As they were talking, three more people gathered around. They were all wearing the same black T-shirts, and one of them was chewing gum, glancing sideways at Lin Feng.
"What are you doing?"
The bald man tilted his head: "These guys insisted on barging backstage, saying they were looking for Tang Lei."
The man chewing gum glanced at Lin Xiaowen and blew a bubble.
With a "pop," the bubble burst.
"Little sister, are you a fan of celebrities?" he asked Lin Xiaowen with a grin.
Lin Xiaowen shrank back, her hand unconsciously clutching Lin Feng's clothes, trembling slightly.
Lin Feng turned around and looked at the person chewing gum: "We just want to get to know Tang Lei, that's all."
"If you want to see Tang Lei, you have to ask our boss first. That's the rule!"
"I see you're a student, so let me give you some pointers. If you really want to find Tang Lei, sit in the front, drink more, and support him. Maybe one day our boss will be in a good mood and let you meet him."
The person chewing gum waved dismissively.
"Alright, get out of here. Don't get in the way."
The bald man took a step forward, his chest almost colliding with Lin Feng.
"Aren't you leaving yet?"
Lin Xiaoqiang finally couldn't hold back any longer. He stepped forward and stood in front of Lin Feng, staring at the bald man.
The two stared at each other, their expressions tense and ready to draw their swords.
The person chewing gum blew another bubble, and "pop!"
"Oh, you even brought bodyguards? That's interesting." Several men laughed.
Lin Feng grabbed Lin Xiaoqiang's arm and whispered, "Brother Qiang, let's go."
He turned and walked out. Lin Xiaoqiang stared at the person chewing gum for two seconds, then pulled his sister along and followed behind.
After taking a few steps, I heard a burst of laughter behind me.
The three returned to their booth.
Lin Xiaowen patted her chest in lingering fear and took a few quick breaths. Lin Xiaoqiang, on the other hand, had a livid face.
"Brother Lin, just now..." Lin Xiaoqiang gritted his teeth. When had he ever suffered such humiliation in the army?
Lin Feng picked up his beer and took a big gulp. Although there was regret on his face, he remained calm.
"There are too many of them; it's not advisable to make a move. It looks like these guys are thugs hired by the bar owner. Tang Lei might be under their control."
Lin Xiaoqiang suppressed his anger: "So what do we do now? These people are watching so closely, we can't get close to Tang Lei at all."