Singer

Translator: Lynn

As darkness fell, the bar started filling up with more customers. Groups of people came and went, while Jian Jie glanced at the lively hall and stepped onto the small stage, guitar in hand.

Under the blue lights, Jian Jie sat on a regular black high chair, casually strumming the guitar strings. After a slow melody, he approached the microphone and began singing a heartfelt love song in a gentle, mid-bass voice that was clear and pleasing to the ear.

Initially, only Wen Sen, the boss, paid attention to Jian Jie’s singing, while most of the bar’s guests chatted among themselves. However, when Jian Jie reached the chorus, “Let’s be strangers, in a strange city; let’s live separately, in a different world. We’re still, we’re still, let’s be strangers, we’re still strangers…” his clean and resonant voice effortlessly captivated the listeners, drawing the attention of numerous guests. Several tables stopped their conversations and focused intently on his performance.

Observing everyone’s reactions, some acquaintances who were also musicians approached Wen Sen and inquired, “Hey, Lao Wen, why did you switch to an unplugged set today? This singer is really good, and he’s a fresh face!” Seeing the positive response, Wen Sen laughed and replied, “This kid is a friend’s younger sibling, still in their teens, and they came to perform with me. Lao Guan, please forgive me.” He continued, “The voice is good, and he’s good-looking. I think the girls who come tonight will be thrilled!”

While the conversations and laughter filled the air, Jian Jie finished singing two songs and took a break, sipping water. At that moment, a young man approached him and said, “Brother, my girlfriend loved your singing. Can you perform a song for her and dedicate it to her?” Jian Jie calmly looked up at the boy and asked, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, is that alright?”

“Huh?” The boy was momentarily taken aback before realizing it was the name of the song. He quickly responded, “Yes, as long as it’s a love song.” As he spoke, he handed Jian Jie a hundred yuan.

It was then that Jian Jie realized he was expected to be paid for song requests. He took the money in a daze and announced into the microphone, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, I’ll dedicate it to this gentleman’s girlfriend.” After the sentence, Jian Jie fell silent and began singing directly, “You’re just too good to be true, can’t take my eyes off you. You’d be like heaven to touch, I wanna hold you so much… Oh, I love you baby, and if it’s quite alright, I need you baby to warm the lonely nights…”

Jian Jie’s rendition of this classic love song was filled with emotion, and his gentle vocals felt like a whispered confession in the world of lovers. The atmosphere turned sweet, and the boy who requested the song took the opportunity to shower his girlfriend with sweet words.

Following that, one after another, people approached Jian Jie to request songs, creating a lively scene. As it approached half-past eight, the replacement band finally arrived. This band was arranged with the help of Li Xiaoqi, who personally brought the young musicians. Li Xiaoqi, now a performance manager at a small company, was well-versed in this field.

As the band took over the stage, Li Xiaoqi approached Wen Sen backstage with a smile and asked, “Lao Wen, Xiao Jie didn’t disappoint you today, did he? I came in and heard him sing quite well, so there’s nothing to be ashamed of.” Li Xiaoqi was aware of Jian Jie’s talent, despite him not being a major artist. Still, since Jian Jie was his referral, Li Xiaoqi humbly downplayed his involvement.

Upon hearing this, Wen Sen smiled and replied, “He did great, even better than expected. When have you ever seen someone you introduced make a mistake? The response from the guests was fantastic. Xiao Jie was a huge help today. Here, take the red envelope we agreed upon for Xiao Jie.” Wen Sen pulled out an envelope containing a thousand dollars and handed it to Jian Jie.

Jian Jie hesitated to accept it and hurriedly said, “It’s enough for me to help you, Uncle Wen. This isn’t necessary.”

Li Xiaoqi chimed in, “Uncle Wen is sincere, so just take it. Otherwise, he won’t feel at ease with his temperament.”

Uncomfortable with the situation, Jian Jie ceased refusing and took the envelope. Politely, he said, “Thank you, Uncle Vin.”

“Thank you, you’re too polite, kid,” Wen Sen replied with a smile. “You’ve been working hard all night. I know you’re not into clubbing, so just go back and rest early.”

Jian Jie nodded, and Li Xiaoqi said to Wen Sen, “This band is also new, so you can follow the usual routine later. I’ll take Jian Jie home.” Wen Sen agreed and didn’t keep them any longer. 

After leaving the bar, Li Xiaoqi asked Jian Jie, “Are you heading straight home, or is there somewhere else you want to go?”

“En, Brother Xiaoqi, just take me home.”

Li Xiaoqi drove Jian Jie back to his residential community. During the ride, Li Xiaoqi shared his thoughts on Jian Jie’s recent performance. He said, “When I entered the bar, I heard you singing ‘Always.’ The song lacked variation and seemed a bit monotonous. Pay more attention to adding changes and avoid repeating certain passages too much. That’s one way to enhance your singing.”

Jian Jie listened attentively and replied, “I understand.”

Suddenly, Li Xiaoqi asked, “Xiao Jie, have you considered what I mentioned to you last time? I believe you have great potential to become a professional singer. It’s a shame if you don’t pursue it. If you decide to become a singer, Brother Xiaoqi will support you wholeheartedly.” Li Xiaoqi himself lacked the talent to be a singer but held onto the dream through Jian Jie. He believed that Jian Jie’s exceptional qualities made him a perfect candidate. Li Xiaoqi had previously suggested this to Jian Jie, but he had been hesitant.

Jian Jie pondered for a moment and responded, “I really enjoy singing, but can I really do it? Besides, my brother would never agree. He always says that the entertainment industry is messy, and he won’t support me in pursuing that path.”

“Your brother has prejudices! Can we claim that society isn’t chaotic? Shadiness and unspoken rules exist everywhere; it’s all about how you handle them. I won’t say the industry is completely clean, but it’s no worse than any other field. I want you to be a professional singer because you have the talent for it. The key is to make good music, not necessarily becoming an idol or seeking fame,” argued Li Xiaoqi, knowing Jian Jie’s natural affinity for music. Ever since Jian Jie learned singing and songwriting from Li Xiaoqi, he had developed a deep love for expressing himself through music. However, Jian Jie still lacked confidence in pursuing a professional singing career. He replied, “I’ll think about it, Brother Xiaoqi.”

Li Xiaoqi chuckled, “I can already picture your brother getting angry enough to kill me. That Jian Bin loves you so much; he wants to keep you protected. By the way, I visited Leiting Records today. They’ve already accepted two of your songs, ‘Restart’ and ‘Paradise.’ It’s remarkable that both songs got chosen for the first time. The payment will be settled at the end of the month and will be directly sent to your bank account.” Leiting Records was a prominent record company. Some time ago, Li Xiaoqi submitted a few of Jian Jie’s songs to evaluate his creative level. Unexpectedly, two of the songs were selected, which was quite impressive.

Jian Jie couldn’t help but feel delighted and said, “Thank you, Brother Xiaoqi.”

When they arrived at Jian Jie’s home, Li Xiaoqi didn’t go upstairs and bid farewell after dropping him off.

Upon entering his house, Jian Jie received a warm welcome from Amu, his dog, who wagged its tail and circled around him. Seeing the adorable sight of Amu sticking out its tongue, Jian Jie couldn’t help but laugh. He first fed Amu and then grabbed a change of clothes before heading for a shower.

After refreshing himself, Jian Jie sat on the sofa, sipping juice, when his phone buzzed and displayed his brother’s name on the caller ID. Jian Jie answered the call and asked, “Brother, what’s up?”

“Just checking if you’re home. Are you working tonight?” Jian Bin’s work had just ended, and he remembered that Jian Jie had a shift that night, so he called to inquire about it.

Jian Jie replied, “Yes, I’m home. Brother, I want to discuss something with you.”

“What is it?”

“I want to be a singer and release a music album. Can I?” Jian Jie’s voice was hopeful.

Jian Bin was taken aback and responded, “What? Are you influenced by that Li Xiaoqi? Jiejie, don’t listen to him. Look at those celebrities who seem perfect on the surface; who knows what’s really going on behind the scenes? Those big stars are always surrounded by people. Can you handle that?”

Jian Jie’s voice turned low as he said, “Brother, I want to be a singer and release music, not become a celebrity. I genuinely love singing…”

Hearing his younger brother’s distressed tone, Jian Bin’s heart softened instantly, and he quickly said, “Jiejie, don’t be sad. I didn’t mean that. If you truly enjoy it, then it’s not impossible.” 

“Does that mean you agree?” Jian Jie couldn’t contain his happiness.

Embarrassed, Jian Bin asked, “What did Xiao Qi tell you?”

“Brother Xiaoqi noticed my passion for singing and offered to help me become a singer. However, he also suggested waiting until after I finish university before considering it as a career path,” Jian Jie explained.

Jian Bin found Li Xiaoqi’s suggestion considerate and said, “Yes, you should focus on your studies first. Singing can be a hobby for now, and you can continue learning from Xiaoqi. After you graduate in two years, I’ll help you find a suitable company and finance your album release.”

“No need to spend money. Even if I can’t release an album, I can still sing anywhere,” Jian Jie replied with an open mindset.

Jian Bin immediately retorted, “How much will it cost? If you’re passionate about it, your brother will definitely support you.”

Knowing his brother’s stubbornness, Jian Jie could only respond with a reluctant “Mm.” However, deep down, he thought that if no company wanted to release his album, it must be because he wasn’t strong enough. Therefore, he didn’t see the point in asking his brother to spend money on it.

Author notesThe songs mentioned in this chapter are “Let’s Be Strangers” by Keane, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” (covered by various artists, but the author prefers the Muse version), and “All This Time” by OneRepublic. The Chinese translations of the titles and lyrics were derived from internet sources and dictionaries, so the meaning may vary slightly.

Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.

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