Crossing the Clouds and Sky to Fall in Love with You - Chapter 48

“I…” I clapped my hand over my mouth when my voice, amplified by the microphone, came out of the rehearsal room speakers! I was so unaccustomed to it! “I can’t do it!”

“Xiao Xiao! You can try singing a song first to get used to it.” Senior Jack said reassuringly, tapping his hands on the drum, quickly forming a continuous and steady beat. “I heard from Saya that you can sing the theme song from Operation Love?”

“Uh! Mmm!”

“Then let’s try that one first? Do you remember the lyrics?”

“Mmm, I remember.” After practicing since the winter break, I knew both the lyrics and the melody by heart.

But…

The Senior Sister (Saya) left me standing alone in front of the microphone and retreated to stand next to Tao Yi’an. He smiled, looking at me with an expectant gaze, as if silently telling me, “Go for it.”

Tao Yi’an’s eyes reminded me of Siqi’s eyes. They were truly brother and sister; putting gender aside, they did share a certain degree of physical resemblance.

My right hand subconsciously went to strum, only realizing afterward that my ukulele wasn’t in my hands. “Something’s missing, right?” Senior Sister quickly fetched my ukulele. “Holding this will make you feel more secure! You don’t have to play it, but if you really want to, then play! Find the way you are most comfortable with. The key is to be at ease, at ease!”

“Why did it turn out like this!” I suddenly felt like I was being forced into doing something!

“Because Jack and I both think you have the potential for this! Come on, you can do it!”

I turned my head. the rest of the members of the Human-Faced Fish band were also ready, seemingly prepared to start the music at any moment. I hugged the ukulele, and my palms began to sweat uncontrollably.

I used adjusting the microphone angle to mask my nervousness. This was only the rehearsal room; no one would laugh even if I sang poorly. Taking a deep breath, I gripped my pick and instantly played the all-too-familiar intro.

It was as if I could concentrate and immerse myself in my own musical world just by closing my eyes, and I sang the song I had practiced for days, word by word.

I opened my eyes, and with a sudden surge of courage, I smiled. I looked towards the white wall far in the rehearsal room and continued singing. I felt every cell in my body come alive. My voice, transmitted through the speakers and microphone, filled the entire space. I swayed with the melody, my steps feeling slightly lighter, and I finished the second verse with a relaxed posture.

The moment the chorus returned—Senior Sister began singing along with me! She clapped her hands to the beat, walked quickly back to my side, a bead of sweat tracing a line down my forehead, yet she returned to me with a bright smile, pointing to the microphone, telling me to keep singing.

Playing the last note, it felt as if all the pressure was completely released, and my legs suddenly felt weak!

“Careful!” Senior Sister rushed to grab me! Thank goodness for her, or I really would have collapsed! “You sang so well! Really well! You truly have the potential for this!” She pointed at me, excitedly looking around at everyone else for confirmation.

I held my breath, noticing that everyone, whether the members of Human-Faced Fish or Tao Yi’an, was giving me a brilliant smile. Even the most reserved member, Senior Monk, lightly applauded!

“You guys…” There were no intensely hot spotlights here, yet I was drenched in sweat from nervousness. I only then realized I was sweating all over!

But… there was an indescribable feeling of relief and exhilaration surging through my body… like, like a rush of passion, an indescribable intensity.

From the moment Senior Sister started singing with me, I truly felt as if I had stepped onto a stage.

“You sang great just now, seriously. For your first time playing with us, you were able to sing so beautifully; and your rhythm was very steady!” Senior Jack pointedly looked at Senior Sister, who immediately rushed over, pretending to kick him! “However, however! I think Xiao Xiao was particularly nervous during the first verse, and her voice sounded a bit tight. That’s the only regrettable part.”

“Let’s practice it again,” Senior Monk suggested, and the others nodded in agreement. “This time, Saya, please completely stand on the side and be an audience member. We need Xiao Xiao to get used to it quickly.”

“Wai- wait a minute!” I was completely confused. “Get used to… what? I thought I only needed to sing once…”

Senior Sister took my arm reassuringly, “Don’t overthink it! They are just simply enjoying collaborating with someone other than me. You keep singing, and I won’t bother you this time.”

“Oh, but… don’t you guys need to rehearse more?”

“We practice our set list almost every week. This is your first time singing, so we can give the remaining time to you for practice.”

Under their semi-coercive invitation, I sang with them three more times until Senior Jack contentedly said, “That’s enough,” and I was finally able to take a break!

I have to admit, having a band accompaniment is truly different. Although the senior members told me to be free and relaxed while singing, just standing there felt like an invisible pressure. My hands were trembling unnaturally, and I only felt the fatigue when I sat down on the sofa!

“Are you okay?” Tao Yi’an came over to ask. “You really sang beautifully.”

“Thank you!” He had been listening intently nearby the whole time. I met his gaze, deciding not to mention that his eyes reminded me of Siqi, which helped me take the first step in singing out loud. “So, you planned this?”

“Planned what?” He smiled and feigned ignorance!

“That you drove me here and happened to listen to me sing!”

“Oh! Don’t you think that’s logical? I consider that a perk of being the driver, you know?”

“A very logical perk indeed!”

The Human-Faced Fish members stayed in place, drinking water and chatting. Even the younger male member was laughing and talking with the veteran members.

Just like before, the harmonious and inclusive Human-Faced Fish.

Just as I was soaking in this atmosphere, the rehearsal room door was abruptly pushed open. “Hey! Half an hour left… Oh! There are a few extra people…”

I met the eyes of the newcomer. The beautiful face lost its already scarce smile the moment she saw me. “Who did I think it was? I really didn’t expect to see you here again!” Her eyes tilted up at the corners, and her words were laced with thinly veiled contempt.

I calmly stood up from the sofa, “Long time no see, Ivy.”

I didn’t smile or show any sign of timidity. I knew I had come here today as a fan of Human-Faced Fish, to enjoy the music, not to argue with anyone.

“What is that? A ukulele?” Ivy seemed surprised that I spoke to her. “Yes! Long time no see. Did you come to listen to your ex-boyfriend sing? I thought you were already sick of what happened here! Could it be… the lesson wasn’t painful enough?”

I chose to ignore her malicious sarcasm. “The feeling is mutual between us, isn’t it? I saw it, the photo.”

“Ha! Lu Hanjun would be surprised you care about him so much. Don’t you think that girl looks a lot like someone?” she said with a forced smile.

I deliberately pretended not to know. “Really? I don’t think so. Who do you think she looks like?”

Senior Sister Saya quietly came to my side. Ivy chose to stop talking to me and instead called out Senior Sister’s name. “Feng Zhifang! Are all your fans this good at playing dumb? Also, you violated the rules. The boss said no one outside the relevant personnel is allowed into the rehearsal room anymore.”

In response to her deliberate provocation, Senior Sister chuckled, “That’s true! But I remember that anyone who is a performer preparing to go on stage is allowed into the rehearsal room!”

P-performer?

Ivy’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell me she’s going to take that shabby ukulele onto our Plato stage!”

“This is a carefully arranged program by our Human-Faced Fish. No need for the lead singer of ‘Banilla’ to worry about it!”

“A fine arrangement! Humph! No matter how much you try, your Human-Faced Fish band is already on its last legs…” she said through gritted teeth. “Just her? I absolutely have to witness this!” Before leaving, she did not forget to glare fiercely at me.

“Senior Sister…” I turned to her. “What exactly is going on!”

“Xiao Xiao, don’t worry. We’ve already made arrangements. If you are willing, you can perform with us on stage tonight, using this ukulele and your voice.”

That wasn’t comforting at all! “I-I didn’t say I wanted to go on stage!”

“I know, but this is the real reason we asked you to come here today.” Senior Sister firmly held my hand. “Did you hear what Ivy just said?”

“Ivy… she said Human-Faced Fish was on its last legs?”

“Our performance slots this semester have been significantly reduced because the person surnamed Lu (Lu Hanjun) released a new album. Now, besides ‘Banilla,’ the boss plans to form a new band… The person surnamed Lu will switch to be their lead singer, and Plato will use the new band and ‘Banilla’ as their new main attractions.”

I looked at Senior Sister in disbelief, finding it hard to believe… the boss actually burned the bridge! Kicking out the Human-Faced Fish band, who had been resident performers here for so long!

“You don’t need to feel sorry for us!”

Senior Sister said this, revealing a beautiful and confident smile. “Jack and the manager have already found us another Pub, and we are also actively negotiating a record contract. This place is already too small for us; leaving is not a loss! But…” She squeezed my hand tightly. “We have to give an account to the fans who have supported us for so long… Although tonight won’t be the last time, we’ve decided to give the fans who came tonight a surprise! And you are our secret weapon.”

“Me?”

Senior Sister nodded forcefully. “Your voice is clean and clear, very different from mine. Jack and I are both sure you have the ability to perform on stage, so… just think of it as singing for our Human-Faced Fish band, please join us on stage! Can you?”

“This… it’s too sudden…” My mind instantly went blank. “And what if I mess up? Wouldn’t that bring negative consequences to you all? I have never performed in front of so many people…”

“You still have time to prepare! Moreover, you won’t be on stage alone.”

Senior Sister pointed at the Human-Faced Fish members. They were all holding their instruments or sitting in their seats resting, the only common point was that they were all looking at me, showing firm and warm smiles.

“Besides, you have a reason worth singing on stage for—for yourself.”

“What reason?” Why couldn’t I think of one?

Senior Sister put her hand on my shoulder, speaking earnestly and seriously: “Let him know that you are doing better and are braver than before after leaving him. This ukulele is the best witness to that.”