Chapter 120: "Shouldering Defeat Together"

After Xu Yan finished her stage performance, it was Zhang Yuan’s turn to take the stage. As Xu Yan returned backstage, she deliberately cast a glance at Zhang Yuan, her expression flaunting and full of pride, just for Zhang Yuan to see.

Xu Yan was well aware that in this competition, her only real rivals were Zhang Yuan and Zhou Ran’s group. Apart from them, she didn’t consider anyone else worthy of attention.

Zhang Yuan, noticing Xu Yan’s provocative gaze, responded with a calm expression of her own. Even though she hadn’t performed yet, she was determined to maintain her composure—how could she admit defeat before even taking the stage? Moreover, Zhang Yuan had absolute faith in the quality of Zhou Ran’s song.

“Sis Yuan, you can do it! I believe in you!” Zhou Ran’s encouraging voice sounded behind her. Zhang Yuan turned to see him cheering her on and responded with a gesture of encouragement, indicating she had received his blessing.

Initially, Zhang Yuan felt a touch of nervousness before stepping onto the stage. After all, Xu Yan’s performance had set a formidable precedent, inevitably putting pressure on her. But with Zhou Ran’s encouragement, the burden seemed lighter.

With Zhou Ran’s support, what did she have to fear? Even if her performance didn’t match Xu Yan’s, Zhou Ran would stand with her and face criticism together. The thought instantly eased her mind, as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Besides, with Zhou Ran’s help, if she still couldn’t surpass Xu Yan, the fault would only lie with herself. Once everything became clear in her mind, Zhang Yuan stepped onto the stage, ready to perform.

When the live audience learned that Zhang Yuan was up next, they burst into enthusiastic cheers. This was the moment everyone had been waiting for. The group formed by Zhang Yuan and Zhou Ran had attracted massive attention from the very start—their partnership alone was a highlight of the evening.

Many of the guests present had come specifically because of Zhou Ran’s reputation, making them particularly eager to witness his and Zhang Yuan’s debut collaboration. They were desperate to see if this partnership would spark any chemistry.

Regardless of the outcome, this performance was destined to be a spectacle. If Zhang Yuan and Zhou Ran’s group won, they would become the talk of the town, and their fame would soar even higher. If they lost, that would be even better for some, who would seize the opportunity to analyze the partnership and ride the wave of public attention.

It was worth noting that up until now, Zhou Ran had never lost on this show. Should he taste defeat for the first time, the resulting buzz would be unimaginable, undoubtedly igniting widespread discussion.

Tonight, Zhang Yuan wore an outfit carefully selected for the occasion. She knew that attire was an integral part of a performance. The clothes she wore couldn’t distract the audience or break their immersion, but should instead help them quickly sink into the atmosphere of the song.

That’s why you’d never see someone singing a traditional Chinese-style song dressed in full-on rock attire—it would simply ruin the mood.

As Zhang Yuan stepped onto the stage, the performance was about to officially begin. The audience quieted down, ready to immerse themselves in the first original song from Zhang Yuan and Zhou Ran. Their anticipation was palpable.

After all, with Zhou Ran’s name as a guarantee, every original song he had released since his debut had been exceptional; not a single one had fallen short. Such consistency was exceedingly rare, even among the many original singer-songwriters out there. Few could match Zhou Ran’s achievements, and at his age, no one else had reached such heights.

As the opening notes of “Afterwards” began, the sound of a piano floated from the stage, setting a gentle, soothing rhythm. They hadn’t opted to establish a sorrowful mood right away, but chose to let the audience ease into the emotion of the song.

“Afterwards, I finally learned
How to love
But you were long gone
Vanished in the crowd
Later, I finally understood through tears
That some people
Once missed, are gone forever.”

As Zhang Yuan hummed softly, the audience began to imagine the story the song sought to convey.

To strike a chord with listeners, it wasn’t necessary to belt out the lyrics. Sometimes, a gentle approach was more effective, guiding the audience into the rhythm of the song, step by step.

“Afterwards, I finally learned
How to love
But you were long gone
Vanished in the crowd
Later, I finally understood through tears
That some people
Once missed, are gone forever
The white gardenia petals
Fell on my blue pleated skirt
‘I love you,’ you whispered
I lowered my head
And caught a hint of fragrance
That eternal night
A midsummer at seventeen
The night you kissed me
That moment remained in my memory.”

With Zhang Yuan’s singing, a love story unfolded in the minds of the audience. The protagonists had fallen in love in a summer of their seventeenth or eighteenth year. The scene was beautiful and innocent, tinged with the sweetness of first love. Yet, recalling those days now, they realized how long ago it all was. For various reasons, they had gone their separate ways.

Looking back on that romance, it was filled with regrets, but the beauty of that love remained engraved in their hearts.

Combining her voice with Zhou Ran’s composition, Zhang Yuan quickly drew the audience into the narrative. After all, almost everyone had experienced some emotional story during their school days—whether a secret crush or a mutual affection. The feelings were always similar, making it easy for listeners to relate.

“Whenever I sigh
I remember the starlight of that night
Why was love so simple back then?
And why, in our youth,
Did we have to hurt those we loved most?
In nights like these,
Do you, too,
Sit quietly, filled with regret?
If only we hadn’t been so stubborn,
Perhaps there would be less remorse now.”

While Zhang Yuan sang, Xu Yan’s partner in the lounge glanced at the lyrics written by Zhou Ran and couldn’t help but sigh in admiration, “As expected of Zhou Ran, capturing such a poignant story with such simple, unadorned lyrics.”

Just from this alone, Xu Yan’s partner deeply respected Zhou Ran’s talent—it was truly well-deserved.

Bringing you the fastest updates for “A Sunny Day at the Start of Entertainment,” by the renowned author who goes by “Xiao Mu Doesn’t Eat Cilantro.” Be sure to bookmark this page for the latest chapters!
Chapter 120: “Sharing the Burden of Defeat.”