Chapter 123
"Your turn, Yu'an!" Chen Mo suddenly shoved the microphone from Huang Mao into his face, and the lyrics of "Happy Couple" appeared on the screen.
The moment the song's intro played, it caught both Chen Mo and Huang Mao off guard.
It didn't feel like a standard love song-the melody was strange, but once the singing started, it immediately became very gentle.
Lin Yu'an's Adam's apple bobbed as he began to sing softly and steadily.
"I remember you loved wearing white skirts~ I liked your long braids the most~ You loved watching my silly smile~ Said I was the boy you loved~ Sitting quietly on the bench by the lake~ The first time I held a girl in my arms~ We saved money together to buy a house~ And we'll have a chubby son together......"
Hearing his own hoarse voice blend with the instrumental, Lin Yu'an felt his fingertips clutching the microphone base grow slightly sweaty. But when he glanced at Zhao Yuanyuan resting her chin in her hand and listening intently, and Chen Mo tapping the rhythm on the coffee table with his fingers, his tense shoulders subconsciously began to relax.
The entire song followed a gentle and narrative style, yet it told a heartfelt love story-from meeting and getting to know each other, falling in love, staying together, and finally growing old together.
As Lin Yu'an finished singing the last line, everyone remained immersed in the beautiful love story created by the song.
Su Yuqing even glanced secretly at Chen Mo, her eyes glowing.
This kind of peaceful love-from meeting to staying together and growing old-is truly beautiful.
"Wow, Lin Yu'an, you're full of surprises!" Zhao Yueyue exclaimed.
Lin Yu'an's voice had that clean and bright tone unique to boys whose voices hadn't fully changed, making it very pleasant to listen to.
Especially when paired with this storytelling-style song-it was simply perfect.
It even allowed him to perform at 150% of his usual singing ability.
With both Zhao Yueyue and Lin Yu'an, the first-timers, having sung, Chen Mo and Huang Mao naturally arranged for Zhao Yuanyuan and Su Yuqing next.
The flickering light from the crystal chandelier swept over Zhao Yuanyuan's lowered eyelashes. She curled up in the corner of the sofa, unconsciously rubbing the texture of the maraca with her fingertips.
When the song "Super Star" lit up on the screen, Huang Mao suddenly stuffed another microphone into her hand: "The birthday girl's younger sister has to sing one too!"
Zhao Yuanyuan's hand trembled, and the maraca hit the coffee table with a "thunk."
She waved her hands in a panic, her voice as soft as a mosquito's: "I-I can't sing......"
"Just hum a few lines, that's fine. I'll back you up! Don't you love listening to their songs the most?" Zhao Yueyue grinned and wrapped her arm around her sister's shoulders. Huang Mao also quickly pressed the original vocals button, making it easier for newcomers to follow along.
The moment the rock intro exploded, Zhao Yuanyuan's ear tips turned crimson, and she nearly buried her face in her sister's chest.
"Don't be shy, sing with Older Sister." Zhao Yueyue cheerfully began singing along with the original vocals.
And slowly, she brought Zhao Yuanyuan's emotions along with her.
Before long, Zhao Yuanyuan started singing too.
Though her voice was soft, everyone could tell her pitch was much more accurate than Zhao Yueyue's.
Zhao Yueyue was mostly off-key, so for Zhao Yuanyuan to still focus and hit every lyric correctly under her sister's lead was already quite impressive.
Just as they were hitting their stride, Huang Mao turned off the original vocals at the perfect moment.
At this point, Zhao Yuanyuan no longer needed the original vocals and could sing smoothly on her own.
Without the original vocals mixed in, her lovely voice stood out even more.
By now, Zhao Yueyue had quietly lowered her volume, and it eventually became Zhao Yuanyuan's solo.
When she finished singing the entire song, she suddenly realized she was the only one left singing.
As she looked around in surprise, hoping for some feedback, everyone immediately applauded her supportively.
This gave Zhao Yuanyuan, singing in public for the first time, an immense sense of satisfaction and validation.
"You sang really well, a lot better than your sister," Huang Mao offered a timely comment.
"Damn Huang Mao, what did you just say?" Zhao Yueyue glared angrily with her hands on her hips.
"Don't say things like 'damn' on a birthday. Say more auspicious words," Huang Mao instantly surrendered.
At that moment, the next song's intro had already begun playing.
You could say that singing with Huang Mao and Zhao Yueyue was the perfect match for Chen Mo and Su Yuqing.
They preferred quieter songs, and sometimes those songs were a little sad. That's when Huang Mao and Zhao Yueyue's lively picks were perfect for breaking up the overly quiet and melancholic mood.
Huang Mao's "Worship of Joy" and Zhao Yueyue's pick for her sister, "Super Star," were both upbeat and energizing tracks.
But following "Super Star," the next song, "Don't Cry, My Dearest," had a more melancholic tone.
Chen Mo remembered that while taking the bus earlier, Su Yuqing had mentioned that she liked this song, so he picked it for her.
He turned to Su Yuqing, "Yuqing, want to sing this one?"
Su Yuqing's fingertips, clutching the hem of her skirt, suddenly tightened.
A sour ache surged in her throat, and she instinctively leaned back-only to bump into the warmth of Chen Mo's palm.
The boy leaned down and gently held the microphone up to her, then picked up another one and sat beside her. His breath brushed her trembling lashes as he smiled and said, "Don't be nervous. I'll sing with you."
As the melody of "Don't Cry, My Dearest" began again, and with Chen Mo by her side, Su Yuqing gradually got into the mood.
Soon, under Chen Mo's lead, she began to sing along.
Her clear and cool voice was like moonlight soaked in spring water, starting off with a slight tremble. That was until she felt the warmth on the back of her hand-Chen Mo's fingertips resting gently on her microphone-holding hand. His body heat passed through her skin, bringing a strange sense of calm, and she gradually let go and sang freely.
She had truly experienced the emotions contained in this song.
After all, she had once nearly withered like the ephemerals in the lyrics, "fading in the most beautiful moment."
As Su Yuqing sang this song, her voice was cool and beautiful, but paired with the melody, it evoked a strangely tender sorrow.
Listening to it, Zhao Yueyue unexpectedly found herself on the verge of tears.
When the song finally ended, Zhao Yueyue clapped immediately and said, "Yuqing, you were amazing. I almost cried listening."
Meanwhile, in a corner where no one else noticed, Lin Yu'an had already wiped away the tear that had slipped out by accident with his sleeve.
When Su Yuqing sang this song, the despair from her memories surfaced, and Lin Yu'an could completely empathize.
He had also had many moments of extreme thoughts, but seeing his lonely mother and his adorable younger brother kept him from going further.
Later, he met Chen Mo, who brought a ray of light into his life and gradually led him out of the darkness.
But the moment this song played-especially when Su Yuqing's touching voice brushed across his heart-it stirred up those once-dark emotions, releasing them like flowing water and letting them fade away.
(End of chapter)