Chapter 133: Even Singing "Life Like Summer Flowers" Can Trend
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The night view of Phoenix Ancient Town was beautiful.
Lights from countless households stretched along both banks of the Tuojiang River, extending all the way into the distance.
After a full day of sightseeing, most of the tourists were exhausted.
After dinner, some strolled along the riverbank, admiring the town’s night scenery.
Others gathered together to sing and dance.
The Miao girls even put on a Miao song-and-dance performance for the tourists.
Some locals played the lusheng, filling the air with a rustic charm.
After the Miao performance ended, the host began inviting tourists to show off their talents.
Most chose to sing, with varying degrees of success.
Still, in an atmosphere like this, even someone hopelessly tone-deaf could bring everyone joy.
After one particularly tone-deaf man finished singing, the host continued inviting others.
“Would any other guest like to sing? If even that gentleman just now wasn’t afraid, what do you have to be afraid of?”
Still a little irritated over the way Fang Xing had teased her on the river that day, Lu Xiang’er stood up and pointed at the top of Fang Xing’s head.
“He can sing. He can sing really, really well.”
“Wow!”
The host came over and picked up the cue.
“We have a friend here who can sing incredibly well. Shall we let him show us what he’s got?”
“One song!”
“One song!”
The tourists all around them began chanting and egging him on.
Fang Xing gave Lu Xiang’er a speechless sidelong glance.
Lu Xiang’er turned her head away, looking thoroughly pleased with herself.
“Don’t be shy. Your girlfriend herself says you’re a great singer. How can you refuse to sing now?” the host continued to provoke him.
“One song! One song!”
The surrounding tourists kept clapping and cheering.
Fang Xing had no choice but to stand up. In a pointedly sarcastic tone, he said, “Then I’ll sing one for my girlfriend.”
He placed particular emphasis on the crucial three words.
Lu Xiang’er covered her mouth to suppress a laugh and pretended not to hear him.
The host walked over to the song-selection machine and asked, “What would you like to sing?”
“Just give me a guitar,” Fang Xing replied.
The host immediately realized that a real expert had arrived and hurriedly sent someone to fetch one.
“Looks like we’re in for a treat tonight. This gentleman might be a professional.”
Fang Xing had kept his mask and cap on the whole time, so no one had recognized him yet.
Before long, a staff member brought over a guitar.
Fang Xing sat down in front of the microphone, played a single arpeggio, and began adjusting the strings.
When he had finished, he clipped a capo onto the second fret.
Once everything was ready, he glanced at Lu Xiang’er, then slowly swept his gaze around the crowd.
His fingers brushed the strings, producing a G chord, and he began humming casually.
The moment the melody emerged, a simple, unadorned folk style seemed to wash over the crowd.
The guitar intro and the humming alone were enough to make everyone prick up their ears.
The quality of a singer’s voice was obvious the moment he opened his mouth.
The tourists who had sung earlier had merely been joining in for fun, giving everyone a little entertainment.
But the moment Fang Xing began, everyone present knew that he was serious. He was not simply fooling around.
Some of the more musically inclined tourists could even tell that he sang better than many street performers.
When the intro ended, Fang Xing began the verse.
“I do not know how long I have slept in the darkness.
“Nor do I know how hard it was to open my eyes.
“I came from afar, and as luck would have it, you were here too.
“Enchanted by this mortal world, I ran wild for her…”
The moment the verse began, the tourists raised their brows and listened intently. The melody was remarkably captivating.
Yet the song was unfamiliar to them.
After hearing only half the verse, some of the tourists began asking those beside them curiously:
“What’s this song called? It’s really good.”
“I don’t know either. I don’t remember ever hearing it.”
“It must be folk music, right? Could he be an obscure folk singer?”
Folk music occupied a rather special place in the music industry.
There were many singers in the genre, and many folk musicians spent years pursuing their dreams without ever having the opportunity to perform on a major stage.
There were successful folk songs, but not many.
That was why it was common to find folk singers performing regularly in bars, singing for years without ever becoming well known.
“But this song is genuinely great. The Internet is so advanced now. If he uploaded it, surely it could become popular.”
“I searched some of the lyrics just now, but nothing came up. This song probably isn’t online.”
The guitar chords continued to ring out.
Fang Xing’s rich, magnetic voice carried on.
“I am this dazzling instant, this fleeting flame that streaks across the sky.
“I came to see you, heedless of everything. I will burn out and never return.
“I am here, right here.
“As brief as a startled swan, as radiant as a summer flower…”
At that point, the unique emotion woven through his singing drew everyone into a world as resplendent as summer flowers, while allowing them to feel the stillness hidden behind that brilliance.
Lu Xiang’er was completely stunned.
She had originally intended only to play a prank on Fang Xing and make him sing a song in front of everyone.
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She had assumed that Fang Xing would sing one of the songs from the show. She had never expected him to sing something she had never heard before.
The final line of the chorus in particular—“As brief as a startled swan, as radiant as a summer flower”—left her utterly spellbound.
At that moment, a female tourist beside her gently nudged her shoulder and asked in a low voice, “What’s the name of the song your boyfriend is singing? Can it be downloaded online?”
“Huh?”
Lu Xiang’er answered blankly, “I…I don’t know either. I’ve never heard it before.”
Some tourists had already taken out their phones to record.
Once Fang Xing’s voice rang out, even more began filming.
Some tourists even crouched down to get a better look at his face.
When he sang the verse for the second time, a few tourists began to notice something and whispered among themselves.
“I feel like he resembles a singer. He’s wearing a mask, so I can’t see clearly, but his eyes look very familiar.”
“I think so too. He looks like someone from a boy band.”
“Not a boy band, I think. He looks like that champion who never ended up debuting with a group.”
“You mean Fang Xing?”
Some female tourists began gathering around Lu Xiang’er, pressing her for answers.
“Is your boyfriend Fang Xing? He really looks like him.”
Lu Xiang’er hurriedly shook her head.
“I’m not his girlfriend. We’re just classmates.”
Fang Xing also realized that people had recognized him.
After finishing the song, he stood up and said, “This song is called ‘Life as a Summer Flower.’ It’s for all of you.”
Then he waved to Lu Xiang’er and quickly turned around, heading back to the guesthouse.
“Life as a Summer Flower” was written, composed, and performed by Pu Shu.
In fact, its melody was the same as Pu Shu’s 2001 song “Break Out of Your Window.” The lyrics, arrangement, and harmonies were different.
Later, producer Zhang Yadong rerecorded the track using such instruments as Chinese drums, Indian drums, and a twelve-string guitar, creating “Life as a Summer Flower.”
The song’s success was due not only to Pu Shu’s own creative talent, but also to the indispensable contribution of its producer, Zhang Yadong.
Just how formidable was Zhang Yadong?
At the age of twenty-seven, he had already produced Faye Wong’s original album “Restless.”
After Fang Xing finished performing “Life as a Summer Flower,” everyone present was left in a daze.
Even though Fang Xing took the opportunity to slip away, no one remembered to chase after him.
Seeing that the situation was getting out of hand, Lu Xiang’er hurriedly slipped back to the guesthouse as well.
When she returned, she sighed and walked up to Fang Xing.
“I’m sorry. I only wanted to play a prank on you.”
“Why are you apologizing?” Fang Xing asked in surprise.
“I got you recognized. What if the video gets exposed? What if people start thinking we’re…” Lu Xiang’er said, her heart beginning to flutter nervously.
She knew how famous Fang Xing was now. If paparazzi happened to photograph them and some scandal were to break out, the consequences would be serious.
“Relax. No one got a clear shot of my face. As long as you don’t go around foolishly telling everyone, we’ll be fine.” Fang Xing did not seem to care.
Just then, Lu Xiang’er’s phone rang. It was Ning Xiaoyun.
The moment she answered, Ning Xiaoyun asked, “Having fun? When are you coming back? We’re about to leave for the airport.”
“I might…not make it back in time. Could you take my luggage home for me?” Lu Xiang’er stammered.
“What? What do you mean?” Ning Xiaoyun sounded anxious.
“We’re in Phoenix Ancient Town. It takes six hours to get back, so we won’t make the flight,” Lu Xiang’er explained.
“Oh, I thought something had happened…Wait! Does that mean you and Fang Xing are spending the night together?” Ning Xiaoyun suddenly realized what mattered.
“What are you talking about? We’re staying in a guesthouse with two rooms. Two rooms!” Lu Xiang’er repeated, putting particular emphasis on the number.
“Even if there were only one room, it wouldn’t matter,” Ning Xiaoyun said, accepting the situation almost immediately.
“Stop talking nonsense.” Lu Xiang’er was completely helpless when it came to her childhood friend.
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle things with your aunt. You’ve got this!” Ning Xiaoyun said, then broke into a string of mischievous giggles.
“Go encourage someone else!”
After hanging up, Lu Xiang’er sat in a chair on the balcony, resting her chin in her hands as she stared blankly at the ancient town’s night view.
She was looking at the scenery outside the window.
The person watching the scenery was watching her.
Her profile blended into the night view of the ancient town, adding even more radiance to the dark sky.
Lu Xiang’er was nervous.
Although she had traveled before, she had always been with her family, classmates, or childhood friends. She had never stayed away from home by herself.
Calling it being alone was not entirely accurate, but Fang Xing was different from Ning Xiaoyun.
Her feelings were complicated.
In truth, she had enjoyed herself immensely that day. Even when Fang Xing had teased her, her anger had been fleeting.
Looking back now, she found the whole thing rather amusing and could not help laughing.
But the thought of actually spending the night here still made her uneasy.
Just then, Fang Xing walked up behind her.
“What’s wrong? You don’t seem to be in very high spirits.”
Lu Xiang’er answered dejectedly, “I’ve never spent a night away from home by myself.”
“Are you afraid?”
“Not exactly. I just feel a little unsettled.”
“Then let’s go,” Fang Xing said with a smile.
“Where?” Lu Xiang’er turned around, her face filled with confusion.
“To catch our flight.”
Lu Xiang’er’s expression fell again.
“Stop teasing me. It takes six hours to get back to Xiangjiang City.”
“I’m not teasing you. It does take six hours to get back to Xiangjiang City, but the nearest airport is only half an hour away.” Fang Xing smiled.
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Lu Xiang’er froze for a moment, unable to process it.
“The nearest airport is only half an hour away?”
“Of course. Phoenix Airport. It’s a thirty-minute drive,” Fang Xing said.
Lu Xiang’er immediately brightened and picked up her backpack to start packing.
Halfway through, she suddenly felt that something was wrong. She turned around, planted both hands on her hips, and asked indignantly, “Did you know from the beginning that there was an airport here?”
“What do you think?” Fang Xing replied.
He found her genuinely amusing. One moment she seemed clever, and the next she was adorably clueless.
Lu Xiang’er snorted.
“If I’d known, I would have come out with you from the start.”
“Let’s go. If we hurry to the airport now, we might even land before Ning Xiaoyun,” Fang Xing urged.
“Have you already booked the tickets?” Lu Xiang’er asked. She was worried that they might arrive at the airport only to discover that no seats were available, turning the whole thing into a colossal misunderstanding.
“They’re already booked. I’m not going to abandon you here.” Fang Xing watched her finish packing.
Lu Xiang’er looked around to make sure she had not forgotten anything. Then she took one last look outside the window and sighed.
“We’re really leaving. This place is so beautiful.”
The two of them left Phoenix Ancient Town, hailed a car, and headed for Phoenix Airport.
In the car, Lu Xiang’er suddenly became inexplicably cheerful. She swayed her head from side to side, humming the melody of “Life as a Summer Flower.”
She could not remember the lyrics, but she hummed the few lines of the chorus perfectly.
“Why are you suddenly so happy?” Fang Xing studied her with an odd expression.
Lu Xiang’er thought for a moment, then asked in return, “Are you disappointed that we aren’t spending the night in Phoenix Ancient Town?”
Fang Xing merely smiled and did not answer.
In truth, they had already held hands quite naturally as they crossed the stepping stones over the Tuojiang River that day.
Their relationship had drawn much closer. There was no need for him to appear too eager.
If he pushed too hard, he might only scare her away.
After arriving at the airport and passing through security, they sat in the departure hall and waited to board.
Lu Xiang’er hummed softly as she took out her phone and scrolled through it.
“Was the song you sang at the guesthouse called ‘Life as a Summer Flower’? Is it the song you’re planning to sing on the next episode of the show?”
“No.” Fang Xing shook his head.
“Oh no! Something’s happened.”
Lu Xiang’er suddenly cried out.
“What is it?” Fang Xing asked, puzzled.
Lu Xiang’er held up her phone and waved it in front of him, showing him a trending topic.
“The video of you singing just now is trending. Someone uploaded it online.”
Fang Xing glanced at it.
“It’s only at the bottom of the trending list. Nothing to worry about.”
However, things were not quite that simple.
The video of “Life as a Summer Flower,” performed with nothing but Fang Xing’s voice and guitar, began spreading across Weibo.
Countless users gathered to comment.
[This song is great. Whose is it? How come it never became popular?]
[A song this good isn’t popular? That makes no sense. Push it to the top.]
[The audio quality is absolutely wrecked, yet it still sounds so good.]
[This singer, this voice…Why does he seem so familiar?]
Tourists from Phoenix Ancient Town began leaving comments.
[I was there in person. This was filmed on a phone, and the live performance sounded even better than the video. The singer looks a little like Fang Xing, but he was wearing a mask, so I can’t be sure. More importantly, he wasn’t alone!]
[Not alone? Who was he with? A man? A woman?]
[If it was a woman, that would be exciting.]
[Wouldn’t it be even more exciting if it was a man?]
[Is the biggest star about to be caught up in a scandal? Is he finally going to fade away? I’ve been waiting for this day for ages.]
Some users began commenting on Fang Xing’s Weibo account and tagging Pine Stone Records.
[Say it! Is the singer in the video you?]
[The video was filmed in Phoenix Ancient Town. Was Fang Xing in Phoenix Ancient Town?]
[Ahem! Sherlock Holmes here. According to the rumors from earlier, Fang Xing should be recording “The Voice.” The second episode was being recorded yesterday. The location was Xiangjiang City, and Phoenix Ancient Town isn’t far away, so…]
Once users discovered that the singer in the video might be Fang Xing, the number of reposts began surging.
At first, the video had only been at the bottom of the trending list. Then, at a terrifying speed, it shot toward the top.
Although there was no direct evidence, the users had already turned their speculation into fact.
[A song this good, and he doesn’t even release it as a single. Instead, he makes us listen to this horribly damaged recording. What’s worse is that even the damaged recording sounds amazing.]
[When is this song being released? I’ll buy it, all right?]
[He refuses to release music and runs off traveling instead. I’ve never seen such an unprofessional top star.]
[No need to think about it. He was definitely eliminated from “The Voice” and went traveling to clear his head.]
[The person above has hit the truth. He was definitely eliminated.]
[Could he have been eliminated for singing “Life as a Summer Flower”?]
[That seems impossible. “The Voice” has a confidentiality agreement. If this was the song he sang on “The Voice,” he couldn’t possibly perform it elsewhere before the episode aired.]
[Then what song was he eliminated for? If he sang “Life as a Summer Flower,” he might not have won, but a top-three finish would have been guaranteed.]
[So he really went on “The Voice” just to be cannon fodder. Eliminated in the first round.]
While internet spectators gleefully reposted “Life as a Summer Flower” all over Weibo, Fang Xing boarded a flight back to Donghai.
A little after two in the morning, the two of them said goodbye on the stone path at Tianlan Wenyuan.
Lu Xiang’er waved and said sincerely, “Thank you.”
“Go on home. I’ll watch until you get there.”
Fang Xing handed her the backpack and remained where he was, watching as she walked home, turning back every few steps.
Lu Xiang’er turned around once more and stood beneath the moonlight. A gentle breeze lifted her hair, which shimmered with a faint golden glow beneath the streetlamp.
She was beautiful, like a fairy who had fallen into the mortal world.