Chapter 35: The Ecstatic Live Performance-A Lone Hero Song Uncovers a Major Wa State Case(The jug is empty; not a drop of wine remains.)

Su Bai watched as all his friends at the scene began to sing along, and he couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. He sprang up from his stool in an instant, his body swaying to the rhythm.

“Dilililidilililide da
Dilililidilililidada
Dilililidilililidada
Waking up from last night’s drunkenness…”

Su Bai’s enthusiasm ignited the entire venue, setting it ablaze with energy. Countless people screamed wildly, imitating Su Bai’s moves—left arm cradling an invisible guitar, right hand strumming imaginary strings, bending forward as if playing with all their might.

Of course, Su Bai was really playing, while the others were only pretending. But none of that mattered. Even among Xu Mingkun’s fans, who had only been humming along until now, the excitement was contagious. They couldn’t help but join in, singing out loud.

Their singing was like a lit match tossed into a pile of firecrackers; the whole place exploded with energy.

“Dilililidilililide da
Dilililidilililidada
Dilililidilililidada.”

Yang Mengke and Liu Ruotong gripped each other’s hands tightly in their excitement. They knew that Su Bai’s song had become a resounding success! Once again, Su Bai had proven himself with his talent.

Meanwhile, the viewers in the livestream chat had gone utterly wild.

"Am I at a concert right now? This is insane! I feel like I’ve reached the pinnacle of life!"

"Oh no, my mom just asked if I was having a fit, wondering what on earth I’m doing in the field. She said the corn isn’t ripe yet, so I should be patient. No need to wait out here!"

"Wow, the translation above is hilarious!"

"I’m doomed. I belted out a ‘dilililili’ in my dorm, and the girls’ dorm across the way fired back with a king bomb! I bet the whole school heard their ‘dililili’!"

"I’m done for. I gave a ‘dilililili,’ and my donkey broke loose. Maybe it’s off to find its first love!"

"I’m finished. I did a ‘dilililili,’ and my twenty thousand cows started a riot! A year from now, that’ll be forty thousand cows."

...

"You all keep having fun, but I just want to timidly ask—Su Bai, you’re my idol! Can we negotiate? If you’re in the zone, just keep singing, but please, can we skip the dancing? It’s really awkward!"

"Finally, someone said it! I’ve been dying to say it—we really don’t need to dance if we can’t! I’ve been to KTV twice, and I dance better than that! This is just awkward wriggling!"

"Whew, at least this proves my idol is still human. If he were perfect, I’d think he was a god! He can sing anything, but luckily, dancing isn’t his strength!"

"From now on, let’s just focus on singing. Forget about the dancing!"

"Anyone who dares say my idol can’t dance, my twenty thousand cows are all wriggling along with him!"

"Pffft! Hahaha, have your fun, make your jokes, but don’t poke fun at our idol!"

"Su Bai, forever the best!"

"God Su, forever the best!"

...

And then, the barrage of ‘God Su, forever the best!’ completely flooded the chat.

At that moment, Xu Mingkun watched the frenzy outside, his expression shifting from one shade to another. When they’re needed, they can’t find the right moment; when it’s not their turn, they’re out there screaming. Just whose fans are you, really? Whose? Damn it, whoever’s in charge of these fan reinforcements is getting their pay docked. No, fired on the spot!

Meanwhile, Su Bai finished the climax, sat back on his stool, and began strumming his guitar gently. The friends in the livestream let out a collective sigh of relief: finally, the dancing was over!

“Whenever I’m feeling down,
I look out alone at the sea.
I think of friends walking beside me on the road,
How many are waking up now?
Let’s drink this cup together,
A good man’s heart is vast as the sea.
Having weathered all the hardships and warmth of life,
This smile remains warm and pure.”

As the hoarse, heartfelt voice sounded, the crowd, still riding the previous high, fell instantly silent. Such is the charm of Su Bai’s song—it draws people’s hearts back in, making them listen quietly to the story he sings.

Whenever you’re feeling down, just look out at the sea alone—what a true reflection of life! Watching the waves ebb and flow, your tangled thoughts are carried away with the tide, returning to the ocean. And when you come back, you’re ready to set forth anew.

Aren’t we all walking the path of striving? Tired—let’s drink together. Awake—let’s set sail again. Worn out—let’s have another drink. Rested—let’s talk dreams again. A good man’s heart is as vast as the sea. How could it not hold grievances, not hold tears? We run headlong, only because there is someone behind us, only because there is a home.

Have you ever been sad? Ever felt wronged? Ever been angry? Ever been happy? Having tasted all the flavors of life, all we need is to face the future with a smile. Smile at life, and life will return warmth.

When the song ended, everyone was left wanting more, as if still immersed in the story Su Bai told, or perhaps lost in memories of their own. We have been running headlong for so long, but in the end, we must return to reality. Never forget who you were, never forget your dreams, never forget the girl you once loved—that is the best reward for ourselves.

With dreams comes motivation. With dreams comes strength.

Then, thunderous applause erupted at the venue.

The four experts exchanged glances; their meaning was unmistakable. There was really no need to continue comparing—the difference in ability was clear as day.

One performer had tried to attract attention with exaggerated dancing, singing and moving energetically, and while the atmosphere was good, anyone with a discerning eye could see that the song itself held little musical value.

The other, though his dancing was awkward, truly didn’t matter. What mattered was the meaning and depth within his music, which drew people in and left them intoxicated.

Moreover, Su Bai sang while playing guitar. Even though this round was all about instruments, for such an outstanding vocalist, even without playing any instrument, his singing alone would be enough to rank him among the best of the new generation.

Besides, Su Bai’s guitar playing was excellent. Music that can draw people in so completely—could it possibly be lacking? In this, the guitarist Lin Feng had the final say. His constant nodding and unconsciously miming along with his hands showed just how immersed he was. That was recognition for Su Bai.

There was almost no need for further commentary; the result was obvious.

Of course, the instrumental competition was not yet over. After all, that was the purpose of this round. They couldn’t abandon their original intent.