Chapter 24: Chang'an! Chang'an!
Host Lao Wang hurriedly felt around his pockets, pulling out a document handed to him by the production company earlier that morning. He found Garen's information and read it carefully.
As soon as Garen finished singing, Lao Wang strode onto the stage, beaming, “Haha! I didn’t expect so many friends to support us at the end of today’s performance. It seems our singer’s charm is quite something!”
He spoke as he walked to Garen’s side. “First, let me introduce this singer—his name is Garen! Perhaps you’re not very familiar with him, but his songs have been really popular lately!”
The audience began to murmur, exchanging glances. A few recognized Garen, but most had no idea who he was.
Noticing their confusion, Lao Wang chuckled, “Have you heard ‘Gardenia in Bloom’?”
“Ah! Yes, yes! It’s been really popular these days!”
“Isn’t that the theme song for Yao Xiaotong’s new drama ‘The Year We Graduated’?”
A group of girls called out excitedly from the crowd.
Lao Wang quickly responded, “That’s right! It’s the theme song for ‘The Year We Graduated,’ and Garen is the singer!”
A wave of astonished exclamations swept through the audience.
“He’s the singer for ‘Gardenia in Bloom’?”
“That’s a nice song—very fresh and gentle.”
“It’s really popular online now, probably because of the TV show!”
“At our school cafeteria, they play it every lunch and dinner. At first, it was fine, but now I can hardly eat!”
“Same here! Our campus radio has been playing nothing but this song for two days—I’m about to throw up!”
“Throw up? Maybe you’re pregnant…”
Although ‘The Year We Graduated’ hadn’t aired yet, its promotion had already begun nationwide, with trailers released on all the major video platforms.
‘Gardenia in Bloom,’ as the drama’s theme song, benefited from extensive promotion alongside the series.
Young people are always sensitive to new trends; few students in the crowd hadn’t heard the song.
Even those who paid little attention had caught a snippet from the campus radio.
As for the older crowd, whether they’d heard the song didn’t matter—the previous piece, ‘The You of Yesterday,’ had stirred countless memories for them.
Lao Wang, still smiling, continued, “Today, we’re honored to have Garen here to support our show. Please give lots of support to our Wanshi Cola…”
After a spirited product pitch, he added, “Since everyone knows ‘Gardenia in Bloom,’ and the original singer is right here, why don’t we have him perform it for you?”
“Yes!!”
Thunderous applause erupted from the audience.
Without hesitation, Garen picked up his guitar and sang ‘Gardenia in Bloom.’
He performed several songs in succession, and the crowd only grew larger. When he finished his final scheduled song and prepared to leave the stage, someone shouted for an encore!
A few girls even rushed onto the stage, blocking Garen’s path and refusing to let him leave.
Garen, half amused and half exasperated, could only look to the host for help.
The allotted time for the performance had already been exceeded. The production company rented the venue with a strict time limit and clear pricing.
With the crowd clamoring ever louder for one more song, the host had no choice but to turn to Manager Cai for a decision.
Manager Cai, delighted by the scene, decisively announced that Garen could perform another song. He would take responsibility for any consequences of running overtime.
When Garen stepped onto the stage again, the crowd erupted in a thunderous, roaring cheer.
Looking out over the sea of faces, Garen felt no trace of nervousness. Gripping the microphone stand, he spoke, “Thank you, everyone! This is the first time I’ve received so much applause at a live show. Thank you, Chang’an! Thank you to all the passionate students of Chang’an! As a gesture of gratitude, this song is dedicated to you, to Chang’an today! Its name is ‘Chang’an, Chang’an!’”
“‘Chang’an, Chang’an’?”
The crowd was taken aback. Using a city’s name as a song title—how careless could that be?
“Was this prepared in advance?”
Manager Cai was equally surprised and asked Lao Wang, the host, about it.
Lao Wang shook his head, “I don’t know! Maybe it’s just a coincidence!”
The other singers backstage crowded forward, curious to hear what kind of song Garen would sing. Since he said it was for Chang’an, it must be related to the city!
This type of song is actually the hardest to write and perform. It’s not like singing about love—just add a bit of sentimentality and it’s done.
But for a song about a city, if it doesn’t satisfy, won’t the people of that city tear you apart?
Garen gently closed his eyes, strumming his guitar as he sang:
“When life is gone, the soul remains!”
“When the soul drifts away, my song endures!”
“Westward I travel, singing all the way, pouring out the sorrow in my heart!”
“I was born with sadness, but you make me strong!”
“Chang’an! Chang’an!”
At first, everyone thought it was another folk song, but when Garen roared “Chang’an! Chang’an!” the crowd went wild!
He had mixed in rock as well?
That roar was utterly shocking!
Women in the crowd, both girls and ladies, instantly went wild.
This gentle, flowing folk style, combined with the sharp, bone-deep rock vocals, was both free and bold!
It made them truly feel the presence of a man with warmth, a man with passion—a real man!
This was what it meant for a man to sing!
The men in the audience also unleashed their cheers, expressing their excitement without reservation.
At that moment, Garen felt like a brother to them.
He’d chat with you in the dorm about which girls were prettiest, whose legs were longest!
He’d sweat with you on the basketball court under the sun, strive together in games, fighting and conquering as a team!
The other singers in the performance group didn’t pay much attention at first, but after Garen’s powerful, gritty roar, they all got goosebumps.
Especially the rock band invited to perform—they were instantly fired up upon hearing their favorite style.
Their drummer, without hesitation, rushed onto the stage and, during Garen’s instrumental break, added a flourish to the drums, smoothly joining the rhythm.
Garen glanced back at him, nodded slightly, and continued:
“In cold nights, I often dream of you, hair white, face childlike!”
“After thousands of years, who has betrayed you?”
“Mother still waits outside the city gates!”
“Sister stands in the wind and rain, waiting!”
“She was born with sadness, but I make her strong!”
“Chang’an! Chang’an! Chang’an! Oh…”
As Garen sang with increasing passion, the bassist couldn’t resist, joining in with deep, powerful notes.
Finally, Garen led the entire audience in singing “Chang’an! Chang’an!” together.
The boys shouted hoarsely: “Chang’an! Chang’an…”
The girls screamed along: “Chang’an! Chang’an…”
Among them, a short-haired boy shouted, “Haha! Our University of Industry finally has a school song! As the student council president, I’ll make sure ‘Chang’an, Chang’an’ becomes a song everyone at our university can sing!”
“Nonsense! This is the school song of Northwest University!” A boy with slanted bangs turned around, sneering.
“Oh, you want a fight?” The short-haired boy rolled up his sleeves, ready to brawl.
Then, a bald boy jumped in, “Alright, alright, stop arguing! This song isn’t your Industrial University’s anthem, nor is it Northwest University’s!”
“Then whose is it?” asked both the short-haired and slanted-bang boys.
The bald boy laughed, “It’s the anthem of West Capital University!”
The two glared at each other, both furious.
“Come on! A lousy private college dares challenge us in the West District?”
“Your mother! Think the North District has no one?”
“…”
This was just a brief episode in the crowd, hardly affecting others or Garen on stage.
When the music finally stopped, the students were still shouting wildly: “Chang’an! Chang’an!”
Host Lao Wang hurried onto the stage, handed Garen a wet wipe, then addressed the audience with a grin, “Thank you, thank you all! Today’s show really is over now! I know you’re reluctant, but don’t worry—we’ll be back soon, and we’ll invite Garen to Chang’an again! Will you welcome him?”
“Welcome!”
Nearly a thousand voices thundered in unison, shaking the venue!
Taking advantage of Lao Wang’s speech, Garen bowed to the crowd and left the stage.
But as soon as he stepped down, the students surged toward him.
“Garen! Sign an autograph for me!”
“Garen! You must come to Chang’an often in the future!”
“Garen! From now on, I’m your fan!”
“Yes! Starting today, all students in Chang’an University Town are your fans!”
“…”
Hearing their voices, Garen’s heart trembled—so this is what it feels like to be an idol?
Seeing Garen surrounded, Manager Cai grew anxious and had the drummer and bassist help clear the way.
But the crowd swept them aside before they could reach him.
Fortunately, Maile was there, his towering frame parting the crowd like a giant, rescuing Garen as if plucking a chick from a flock.
Even after Garen boarded the company’s coach, the students surrounded the bus, chanting his name.
Though exhausted, seeing their eager faces, Garen leaned out the window, shook hands with several students, and signed a few autographs.
He truly felt a bit like a superstar.