Marriage Concerto (Small Thing Called Love) Chapter 36

Translator: pwip

Chapter 36: Gu Xin, put your clothes back on right now!

The Popular Cla.s.sics Commemoration Concert was set to take place at the end of September. Tickets at every price level were completely sold out a month prior.

As the concert approached, the artists performing weren't the only ones who became more active. The ticket scalpers were also becoming more lively. In an effort to prevent people from buying scalped tickets, the organizers denounced it on Weibo everyday. They had even added additional security and staff personnel on the day of the concert to patrol the venue.

This concert's lineup was unprecedentedly grand. Since the tickets were so hard to get a hold of, the organizers made special arrangements and partnered with a video streaming website to broadcast the concert online such that people could live stream as long as they were registered VIP members.

The order of the performances had long been distributed to each singers. Gu Xin was the opening act while Mo Zhen was the closing act. Sima Xiaoxiao was placed right at the concert's halfway mark. By that time, the majority of the spectators would begin to get tired. Therefore, her arrival on stage would be able to enliven the crowd's spirit.

When Ding Meng received the lineup order, naturally, the first thing she did was to look for her own position. Very unfortunately, she was scheduled to be right after Sima Xiaoxiao.

She figured that this was probably the timeslot the organizers had set aside to let the audience use the restroom.

If this had happened when she was still a student, she definitely would've been depressed. However, now that she was older, her state of mind had become more level-headed. Even though she still felt undervalued, like Jiang Man had previously said, having the opportunity to appear in this concert was already very fortunate. Afterall, she was the only newcomer in the group of partic.i.p.ants.

Qiao Yichen wanted her to consider this opportunity as a learning experience, but she also believed in what he had said before. If you want to have a say, use your voice to make everyone remember you.

As long as she was able to sing You Wanted to Break Up Today to the best of her abilities, many more people were bound to remember her.

The confidence she had felt before the concert began slowly transformed into anxiety when she heard the screams from the audience become more and more excited. The fact that this concert venue held several tens of thousands of spectators and the lineup of popular performers had no lack of emperors and empresses caused Ding Meng to feel something she hadn't felt in a long time. Inadvertently, a wave of stage fright suddenly washed over her.

She sat in front of her dressing station, looked at the fully dressed up person in the mirror, and tried to remain calm. Since she was singing a Ruan Lingyun song, her outfit had many elements specific to that decade. Her retro-looking qipao and makeup made her look even more like a blast from the past.

Despite taking several deep breaths, she was still unable to calm herself down. The audience's screams felt like they were right next to her ears.

When Qiao Yichen came over to confirm the final details, he noticed Ding Meng sitting all by herself off to the side. He chatted with the staff members for a bit before walking over towards her. "What's wrong? You nervous?"

Ding Meng lifted her eyes from the mirror to look at him. The more nervous she felt inside, the calmer she appeared outside. How did he know that she was nervous with just one look? Was this a tacit understanding between old deskmates?

Qiao Yichen saw that she didn't respond, which confirmed his suspicions. "Don't be nervous. Even though there are several tens of thousands of people out there, not a single one came for you."

Ding Meng, "&h.e.l.lip;"

Seriously, thanks for the comforting words ahhahaha.

A staff worker ran over and spoke to Qiao Yichen in a rather fl.u.s.tered manner, "Director Qiao, Kenny hasn't arrived yet."

Ding Meng looked over at the staff worker. Kenny was her accompanying guitarist! If he didn't show up, what would she do later?

Qiao Yichen frowned and asked, "Have you contacted him yet?"

"Yes, I've contacted him. He said he's still stuck in traffic. The driver plans on taking a local route to get here as quickly as possible."

"Okay." Qiao Yichen acknowledged. Then, he turned his head to speak to Ding Meng, "Don't worry. If he doesn't arrive by the time Sima Xiaoxiao performs, I'll move your performance back.

"Sure." Ding Meng nodded. After that, Qiao Yichen left with his subordinate.

The concert officially began soon after. When the screams of the audience outside approached the point of exploding, Ding Meng knew that Gu Xin had walked on stage. Free spirited rock 'n' roll music swept across the entire venue. When Gu Xin began to sing, the entire audience immediately burst with excitement.

He sang a total of two songs. One was the song that made him a star, Wild Sound. The other was the signature song of an extremely popular 70's rock group called BONES.

Ding Meng sympathized with the singer who had to follow him. The audience was so riled up from the very start of the concert. When the second performer's turn came, there would certainly be a drop in enthusiasm.

After Gu Xin's performance ended, the audience's pa.s.sionate screams slowly died down. Since all the singers needed to perform a song together during the concert's finale, he didn't leave right away. Instead of returning to his private lounge, he went to the common lounge to look around.

Ding Meng was still staring blankly into the mirror. Gu Xin laughed as he walked over and knocked on her desk. "Have you been captivated by your own good looks?"

Gu Xin's appearance in the lounge had caused a small disturbance. When Ding Meng recovered her wits, she immediately stood up from her chair, "Why did you come here?"

Gu Xin laughed in response, "I came to see you."

His words were spoken with a very normal tone, but when they entered the ears of people nearby, they immediately became ambiguous. Ding Meng also felt a little awkward. Suddenly, Gu Xin leaned towards her and whispered by her ear, "Didn't you want to see my tattoo? There are too many people watching here. Come to my lounge."

He hinted for Ding Meng to leave with him, but Ding Meng hesitated for a moment. Then, she had noticed the expressions of the people nearby had become more and more ambiguous. Hurriedly, she lifted the hem of her skirt and walked out with Gu Xin.

Gu Xin's personal lounge was small, but inside was a couch of much better quality compared to the ones in the common lounge.

He poured out two gla.s.ses of warm water and pa.s.sed one to Ding Meng, "Are you feeling very nervous?

"Ah?" Ding Meng clasped the gla.s.s of water and looked rather embarra.s.sed. Then, she looked at him firmly and spoke, "I believe in your moral character!"

Gu Xin was stunned for a moment. Then, he placed the gla.s.s of water he had sipped from back down and began to chuckle, "I was referring to the concert. Where have your thoughts gone off to?"

Ding Meng, "&h.e.l.lip;"

This was the first time she had realized how overly complicated her thoughts were.

Gu Xin rested both of his hands on the table and slightly bent down as he looked at her with interest, "So it turns out that staying in the same room with me makes you nervous?"

Ding Meng, "&h.e.l.lip;"

G.o.d, could she go back a minute in time?! She was about to die of embarra.s.sment.

Gu Xin saw that her ears had practically become red so he refrained from teasing her, "Don't worry. The audience members are all simply potatoes."

Ding Meng couldn't help but laugh, "Do you really like to eat potatoes?"

Gu Xin shook his head, "My Baike says that my favorite food is mapo tofu."

T/N: Baike is the Chinese Wikipedia

"Then what about in reality?"

"In reality&h.e.l.lip;" Gu Xin spoke up to there and deliberately lowered his charming voice and spoke with charisma, "I'd like anything if it was made by the person that I like."

Ding Meng, "&h.e.l.lip;"

This level&h.e.l.lip; he couldn't even be measured on the same scale as Qiao Yichen. No wonder one was an Adonis and the other was a Goudan.

Gu Xin increased the distance between him and Ding Meng and lowered his head slightly to look at her, "Still want to see my tattoo?"

Ding Meng nodded her head bravely, "Okay." After she missed the opportunity to see it last time, she had searched online and surely enough, there were pictures of Gu Xin where the tattoo was visible. However, the pictures were 2-D. How could they possibly be more satisfying than the real person?

Gu Xin smiled at her. Then, he lifted his arms and took off his jacket.

Ding Meng, "&h.e.l.lip;"

Gu Xin preferred wearing fewer articles of clothing, so at this moment&h.e.l.lip;his entire upper body was already bare.

Ding Meng had already become stupefied. She didn't know if everyone who sang rock 'n' roll was this open, but in short she saw everything: his abs, his v-cut, and the tattoo which extended from his waist all the way to his back.

She didn't have the nerve to look at the most important place, but at this time she was still rather impressed with herself. Even under such formidable visual stimulation, she was still able to hold herself up and refrain from fainting.

Now, let's go back five minutes in time.

Qiao Yichen had gone to the common lounge, but Ding Meng was nowhere to be seen. When he asked a staff worker inside, that person unexpectedly told him bashfully, "She was taken by Gu Xin to his personal lounge. Goodness, the atmosphere between those two was so ambiguous. I almost blushed. I saw previously that Gu Xin reposted Ding Meng's Weibo. Do you think they're really going out?"

Going out my a.s.s!

Qiao Yichen couldn't help but explode inwardly with curses. Without saying a word, he turned around and left. As he walked toward Gu Xin's lounge, he went over Gu Xin's dark past.

After debuting so long ago, besides one article about him getting into a bar fight, there was no other negative gossip about him. Even the number of s.e.x scandals was pathetically low.

Did this mean that he was actually seeking out Ding Meng because he was interested in her?

Qiao Yichen wrinkled his eyebrows and quickened his pace. When he arrived at Gu Xin's lounge door, he didn't even bother knocking. He went straight ahead and turned the doork.n.o.b.

The! Door! Was! Actually! Locked!

Qiao Yichen took a deep breath and he smiled wryly.

Very good. Even locking the door now.

He took a step back and threw a kick at the door.

Under this thunderous a.s.sault, the door was forced open with a bang.

Now, the two timelines have matched up.

Ding Meng had already been startled by Gu Xin's actions. Now that another unforeseen event had arisen abruptly, she was immediately scared silly.

Gu Xin's complexion also changed slightly. However, when compared to Ding Meng, he could be considered very cool and collected. Especially noteworthy was the fact that even though he was completely naked up top, he still maintained an air of calm and poise.

Qiao Yichen was just as shocked. The scene was simply too blinding. He felt his inner rage spread across his chest and erupt from his mouth, "What are you two doing? Pretending this is your own house? Gu Xin, put on your clothes back on right now!"

Gu Xin put the clothing that he was holding back on and glanced at the door that had been forcibly kicked open. Then, he turned back to look at Qiao Yichen, "Great Producer Qiao, why are you so angry? Aren't you scared that you'll come in and see something you shouldn't see?"

Ding Meng, "&h.e.l.lip;"

Qiao Yichen's complexion became even more unsightly, "Gu Xin, this will be the last time I warn you. This is the backstage of a concert, not somewhere for you to act like an animal in heat!"

Gu Xin laughed and also seemed to get a little angry, "Don't speak so unpleasantly. I still have some propriety. I only invited her here to relieve her nervousness."

Qiao Yichen looked at him as he laughed coldly, "You relieve her with a method like this? And even lock the door?

"This is my lounge. I always lock the door when I return to my lounge. You could have knocked."

Qiao Yichen didn't continue to speak, but based on Ding Meng's understanding of him, she knew that he was definitely very, very angry right now. If this had happened back when he was still a student, he surely would have already thrown out a punch. When she felt Qiao Yichen's eyes fall on her, she couldn't help but tremble.

Before she figured out what to say, a staff worker fl.u.s.teredly came over, "Director Qiao, it's not good. Kenny got in a car accident!"

Qiao Yichen wrinkled his eyebrows and turned around to ask, "What happened?"

"Ah, you know how I told you his driver took him on a local route? In the end, they accidentally got into an accident!"

"Is it serious?"

"I heard that Kenny's arm and head were both injured. Right now he's on the way to the hospital. His manager figured that he wouldn't be able to make it and told us that we'd best find another person."

Qiao Yichen frowned but didn't speak. Finding another guitarist right now was not impossible. However, without having previously rehea.r.s.ed with Ding Meng, they wouldn't be able to coordinate well. In addition, even a small mistake during a live performance could result in a critical situation.

Gu Xin thought for a moment before speaking, "Let me do it. I've listened to Ding Meng rehea.r.s.e before. It'll be easy to play."

Ding Meng was stunned. Having Gu Xin be her accompaniment seemed like a bit of a waste.

Qiao Yichen didn't want to agree to this proposal, but it was without a doubt the best solution at present. Not only that, by performing with Gu Xin, both her set and Ding Meng herself would gain a lot more attention.

He was still weighing the possibility when Ding Meng suddenly spoke, "I can do it myself."

Everyone else was stunned and looked at her rather doubtfully. Ding Meng pursed her lips and spoke seriously, "Actually, I have my own plans for this song. I can play the guitar myself."

Looking as though he was making a decision, Qiao Yichen remained silent. Gu Xin asked, "You can play the guitar?"

Ding Meng nodded, "I've been learning for the past four months, and I practice everyday."

"Playing the guitar and playing while singing aren't the same."

"Let her try." Qiao Yichen interrupted Gu Xin with his final decision.

"Thank you. Even though I'm not sure how this will turn out, I will give it my all!" Since she was going to sing You Wanted to Break Up Today at the concert, she always played this song during her guitar lessons. While Qiao Yichen had said that it could help her find a better feel for the song, she hadn't expected it would be become so useful at this crucial moment.

Qiao Yichen looked at her and spoke again, "You said you had your own plans for the song?"

"Mhm." Ding Meng nodded. Her idea arose as a result of her countless rehearsals, but she didn't think her way of thinking was better than Qiao Yichen's so she had stayed silent this entire time. However, now that she had the opportunity to sing and play the guitar herself, she wanted to give it a try.

She looked at Qiao Yichen and asked, "Could you help me find a shorter dress? This one is a bit long."

Finding a shorter dress wasn't hard, but finding one that matched with her current look and song wasn't so easy. The same problem flashed through both Qiao Yichen and Gu Xin's minds. Gu Xin sized Ding Meng up and laughed as he responded, "There's no need to find another one. The dress you're wearing will work after some alterations."

"Alterations?" Ding Meng looked at him a little doubtfully.

Gu Xin found a pair of small scissors in his lounge and winked at her, "Relax, just leave it to me. I have quite a bit of skill in terms of working with clothing."

As he spoke, he walked in front of Ding Meng, preparing to lift up her skirt.

"Stop!" Qiao Yichen suddenly shouted. "I also have quite a bit of skill in terms of working with clothing. Let me do it."

He walked over and s.n.a.t.c.hed away the scissors in Gu Xin's hand. Then he squat down by Ding Meng's skirt. After sizing it up a couple times, he brazenly cut it.

Gu Xin grinned and stood at the side watching. From time to time he would give his two cents. Ding Meng stiffly stood in her original spot, lowering her head to look at the person crouching in front of her.

This position&h.e.l.lip;was really weird. When she unnaturally shifted her waist a bit, Qiao Yichen muttered, "Don't move recklessly or I might accidentally cut you."

Ding Meng, "&h.e.l.lip;"

She didn't dare move recklessly, but this was really awkward. Since this dress was so long, she hadn't worn spandex shorts underneath. Would he see something&h.e.l.lip;

As she thought this, she couldn't help but want to clamp her legs together to better conceal herself down there. Qiao Yichen's voice sounded from below again, "Didn't I ask you to stop moving?"

Ding Meng, "&h.e.l.lip;"

QAQ

Qiao Yichen worked for over ten minutes before the alterations were completed. After getting shortened, the dress reached just above her knee. The fringe was cut in a very unruly way and Ding Meng couldn't figure what sort of style he had fashioned, but generally speaking it still looked alright.

Qiao Yichen took a sc.r.a.p cloth he had just cut off and tied it into a bow around Ding Meng's waist. Ding Meng was still studying it when Gu Xin spoke again, "Your hairstyle also needs to change."

Ding Meng's hair was currently tied up in a bun that was reminiscent of that decade. Gu Xin helped her remove each of her bobby pins, allowing her black hair fall down.

Gu Xin sized her up and down a bit and then used his hand to fluff her hair out a bit, "This will do. It looks voluminous and matches well with your dress."

Ding Meng looked at herself in the mirror. Even though she had only made a few small alterations, the impression she gave off had immediately changed. She looked at the scattered cloth sc.r.a.ps on the ground and asked rather worriedly, "About that&h.e.l.lip;was this dress expensive?"

Qiao Yichen, "&h.e.l.lip;"

"I cut it so I'll take the responsibility." As he spoke, he walked towards the door, "I'm going to find you a guitar so you can practice a bit. As for the dancers, I'll give them a heads up beforehand to ask them to coordinate with you as much as possible."

"Okay, thank you."

When he arrived at the door, Qiao Yichen stopped abruptly. He turned around and looked at her, "Come with me."

After Ding Meng recalled the door that had been forced open with a kick, she thanked Gu Xin and followed Qiao Yichen out of the room. Gu Xin walked to the doorway and waved, "Good luck in your performance later. I'm looking forward to it."

Qiao Yichen's pace accelerated so Ding Meng had no choice but to quicken her steps as well.

Qiao Yichen brought her to his own lounge. "Wait for me in the lounge. I'll be back very soon."

"Ok&h.e.l.lip;"

Qiao Yichen gave her another glance before striding away.

Not after long, he returned with a guitar and gave it to Ding Meng. Ding Meng felt like he seemed angry, but time was of the essence. She couldn't bother with that right now.

After Qiao Yichen gave her the guitar, he took off once again. Since the concert was still underway, he, as the music director, didn't even have time to take a breath.

Ding Meng picked up the guitar and practiced several times before she heard a staff worker call Sima Xiaoxiao to the waiting area. Ding Meng's heart began to pound. Sima Xiaoxiao going on stage was a sign that her turn was fast approaching.

The lounge door was pushed open, and Qiao Yichen stood at the doorway looking at her, "Sima Xiaoxiao's turn is coming up soon. You should also make your way to the waiting area."

"Al-alright." Ding Meng held her guitar and walked over with him.

On their way there, Qiao Yichen didn't say a single word. Finally, Ding Meng couldn't help but ask, "Are you still angry?"

Qiao Yichen's steps paused for a moment before he continued walking forward, "Let's not talk about that right now. Focus on singing well in a moment."

"Okay&h.e.l.lip;"

After she arrived at the waiting area, she saw Sima Xiaoxiao. Sima Xiaoxiao had already finished preparing and was just waiting to go on stage.

She was just about as tall as Ding Meng and was currently wearing a pair of stilettos. Ding Meng immediately estimated that she was at least 180 cm. The most noticeable aspect about her was that she naturally emitted the aura of an empress, which was even more intense than the dress rehearsals. Ding Meng was a bit shaken.

However, she continued holding onto her guitar and took the initiative to say h.e.l.lo. Sima Xiaoxiao glanced over at her and recognized her, "I heard your guitarist got into an accident?"

"Yeah. In a moment I'll have to play the guitar myself."

Sima Xiaoxiao took two glances at the guitar in her hands and withdrew her glance. "I see, good luck."

Ding Meng was stunned for a moment. She had always thought that Sima Xiaoxiao disliked her a lot. However, now it seemed like that was not the case? Should she take advantage of this moment and ask why Sima Xiaoxiao had followed her?"

Before she had a chance to ask, the presenter on stage had already shouted out Sima Xiaoxiao's name. The shouts of the audience immediately became ear-splittingly loud.

Sima Xiaoxiao turned back to glance at her and fiddled with her earbuds as she prepared to go on stage. "Pay attention to my singing later."

Before Ding Meng had time to react, Sima Xiaoxiao had already walked out.

The first song she sang was a cla.s.sic love song. The second song was the one Ding Meng sang in the finals, First Flower of February.

When Sima Xiaoxiao's resounding voice rang out, Ding Meng perceived how large the gap between the two of them was. Not only was this based on their performance skills but also on their control over the stage. Even if Sima Xiaoxiao stood on stage without doing a thing, she would still be able to rile up the tens of thousands of spectators.

The previous rumor that Sima Xiaoxiao didn't dare sing First Flower of February in public was thoroughly disproven. Her live performance of this song far surpa.s.sed Ding Meng's performance during the finals.

Was this what she meant when she had told Ding Meng to pay attention to her singing?

Now Ding Meng believed Qiao Yichen when he said that the empress was provoking her.

After Sima Xiaoxiao finished performing, the audience's enthusiasm had burned to a new high. Ding Meng, who was next up on stage, suddenly felt pressured.

Qiao Yichen was still standing at the waiting area. He glanced at Ding Meng and walked by her side, "Relax, singing is your forte."

Ding Meng stared blankly for a moment before she recovered and nodded at him, "Okay!"

Sima Xiaoxiao had already exited the stage. When the stage lights turned off, the director motioned for her to go out. Ding Meng took a deep breath and carried her guitar on stage.

Just like every other time previously, when she actually stood on stage, she oddly calmed down.

She figured that she must be a stage fiend.

In the middle of the stage was a stool which had been prepared especially for her. When she walked over and adjusted her seat, a staff worker gestured that the guitar had already been hooked up.

The stage lights turned back on. Even though the spectators had no idea who was up next, they still cheered enthusiastically.

This little bit of cheering encouraged Ding Meng. Previously, Jiang Nanqing had said that she would rally the Little Lemons to come and watch, but there were simply too many spectators. She had no idea where they were.

However, that wasn't a problem. She wanted to sing for everyone to hear.

She smiled to the audience and softly strummed the strings.

"You wanted to break up today,

For such a ridiculous reason, I couldn't even speak,

I didn't ask whether or not you ever loved me, or if I had made some mistake,

Since your love wasn't enough, I'd rather turn around and leave with grace&h.e.l.lip;"

Compared to Qiao Yichen's original arrangement, she had sped up the tempo by a third. The originally emotional and sorrowful song had immediately become lively. Since Ding Meng's voice was so bright and the elegant image of her playing and singing at the same time gave her a youthful confidence, the song was less melancholic and more relaxed, as if the sun had finally burst out of the clouds.

This was Ding Meng's way of thinking all along. Breaking up wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Ruan Lingyun was able to see the true colors of that a.s.shole guy before she married him. Wasn't that a blessing and relief? It was a pity that in the end, she died an untimely death.

Ding Meng's new interpretation of the song You Wanted to Break Up Today definitely gave the audience a refreshing feeling. A feeling of gentle warmth trickled in the midst of the graceful stream of music, yet there was a sense of unwillingness and sadness that was hard to detect.

So this song could also be sung like this.

The spectators began to cheer again, but this time it was for her, Ding Meng.

【Little Skit】

Curious Chestnut-nut: Goudan-dan, did you actually see anything?

Slightly Red Eared Goudan-dan: It was pink.

Embarra.s.sed to Death Ding Meng-meng: &h.e.l.lip; Go die! (╯｀□′)╯︵┴═┴