Beneath the dazzling stage lights, the roar of countless cheers and applause washed over him like a tidal wave. Shi Gang, lead vocalist of Wednesday Band, felt his chest swell with emotion.
For more than a decade, the band's fate had been nothing short of a roller coaster. They had once risen to fame overnight after a breakthrough performance at 72H, signed with Gem Records, and thought they were set on a straight road to stardom.
But reality had been cruel. Endless conflicts within the band, coupled with disputes among fellow artists under the same label, drained Shi Gang's energy until he had no choice but to lead a few loyal members south, away from the mainstream scene.
And yet, the dream of returning to Capital City had never left his heart.
This time, however, he was determined, when they came back, it would be in glory. He would make sure the name Wednesday Band echoed once again across the pop music world.
Tonight, that dream was already half fulfilled. Their two new original songs had clearly struck a chord with the audience. The thunderous applause was proof enough.
Shi Gang clenched his fists unconsciously, bowed deeply, and led his bandmates off the stage.
But he didn't go far. Instead, he stopped at the stairs below.
Because he knew who was up next: Lu Chen, a rising star who was burning hot in today's music scene.
Shi Gang had first heard the name Lu Chen only last July. Back then, while working as a resident singer in a bar, he'd met a new wandering performer. The man's very first set had opened with a song called 'In Spring'.
Shi Gang could still remember the exact moment he heard it. A shock had run through him, every nerve tingling as blood surged to his head, his chest tight with an urge to cry.
The song was simply too good.
And its creator was none other than Lu Chen, a singer barely past his youth.
Since then, Shi Gang had slowly gotten to know more of Lu Chen's work, including his album 'My Old Classmate'. He had come to deeply admire the young man's creative talent.
So when he learned that Lu Chen would also be performing at 72H, scheduled right after his own set, Shi Gang hadn't felt dread, he'd felt exhilaration.
For a wandering singer, the only way to grow was to constantly challenge oneself, and one's rivals. And Shi Gang believed in his own music. The reborn Wednesday Band would not lose to anyone.
He was even looking forward to Lu Chen's performance, eager to see what new creation the young star would unveil.
Would it be folk? Light rock? Something else entirely?
If he could defeat Lu Chen on this very stage, then the band's comeback would be perfect.
As these thoughts surged through his mind, Lu Chen stepped onto the grand stage with Nirvana Band.
In an instant, all eyes turned to him.
The scheduling of the first night at 72H Music Festival was deliberately calculated: Liao Jia, Wednesday Band, and Lu Chen back-to-back. The setup was designed to build a climax, while naturally inviting the audience to compare the three acts directly.
Liao Jia had delivered a stellar performance, well worthy of his reputation.
Wednesday Band had been the pleasant surprise of the night, their high-quality originals adding a splash of fresh color to the lineup.
So now the question hung in the air: what would Lu Chen bring?
The audience's appetite had already been whetted. Yes, Lu Chen was famous, lauded as a prodigy of music, but that didn't guarantee he would shine tonight.
After all, more than a few big-name stars had stumbled and lost face on the 72H stage.
That silent weight of expectation, tinged with doubt, now pressed heavily onto Lu Chen's shoulders.
Many of the fans here tonight had been born in the '60s and '70s. Quite a few of them weren't fond of Lu Chen at all, dismissing him as no different from the so-called "little fresh meats" flooding the entertainment industry.
That impression, fair or not, was largely shaped by Autumn in My Heart. Even those who hadn't watched the smash-hit TV drama couldn't escape seeing Lu Chen's name plastered across entertainment news and trending online topics.
Rumors of Lu Chen's "sibling romance" with Chen Fei'er had been spreading like wildfire, and as a result, some people began lumping him together with so-called "topic-driven" idol stars, conveniently ignoring the fact that he was the original creator of 'In Spring', Fly Even Higher, and so many other works.
Which was why, if Lu Chen faltered on stage tonight, there would be plenty of people eager to gloat. After all, 72 Hours was the realm of true professionals.
Lu Chen could feel the pressure radiating from both his challengers and the audience, but his heart remained calm and fearless.
He wasn't standing here tonight to prove himself to anyone, nor to show off. He was here to fulfill a dream he had once cherished. He felt no desperate hunger for fame, no need to knock anyone down, truly, there was no pressure.
"Good evening, everyone. I'm Lu Chen." He greeted the audience with a simple introduction, then gestured toward his companions. "Joining me tonight is Nirvana Band."
Wang Jing and the others rose to bow. A smattering of polite applause trickled up from the crowd.
No one had ever heard of this band before. The clapping was purely out of courtesy.
Of course, a few shrill screams pierced the air, his diehard fans unable to hold back.
Lu Chen didn't let it faze him. "For our first piece tonight," he said with a smile, "we'll be performing---"
"Free Like the Wind!"
The words had barely left his mouth when the bass thundered to life, the opening notes blasting through six pairs of high-end outdoor speakers that carried every vibration straight into the audience's ears.
And then, drums. Fierce, pounding, a wave that crashed over the venue and shook every heart. Blood began to race, and spirits soared.
I'm free like the wind,
Just as your tenderness could never hold me back…
You push away the hands I reach toward you,
You leave, and best not look back.
Endless drifting, the hunger for freedom,
Every hardship I'll shoulder alone…
I gave you tenderness, you refused to accept.
I gave you hands, the touch was real.
I gave you freedom, memories everlasting.
I gave you everything, but I could never stay…
I'm free like the wind!
As one of the most closely watched "vagabond singers" of this year's 72 Hours, speculation had been running hot about what Lu Chen would perform. Many believed he would stick to his proven hits.
It was the safest route. After all, inspiration was finite, and no singer could guarantee every new piece would strike gold. If he brought an untested song to the stage and failed to win over the crowd, it could deal a heavy blow to his rising reputation.
There was no shame in singing his old works, especially here, where 72 Hours fans were notoriously discerning.
But tonight, Lu Chen chose differently. With a brand-new song, he shattered the suspense that had been hanging in the air.
Its name: 'Free Like the Wind'.
The lyrics were simple, straightforward, free of cryptic metaphors or overblown wordplay. Even without the screen projecting subtitles, anyone could catch the meaning at once. It was a hallmark of Lu Chen's style in light rock.
And the melody, once again, is dazzling.
Yet the song's style was its own.
It didn't have the weathered depth of 'In Spring'.
It wasn't the fiery, surging passion of Fly Even Higher.
Nor was it the lonely, distant melancholy of Blue Lotus Flower.
No, Free Like the Wind was something else entirely.
A wildness. A defiance.
Reckless, unrestrained, flowing through every note down to the bone.
(End of Chapter)
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