ECG -Chapter 22 Lin Hao’s Farewell Performance and the Black Knights’ Rock Special

Lin Hao sang as he stood up. He reached out and pulled Da Xia, who was sitting on the stage, to her feet.

His lighthearted and playful voice continued singing:

“The little monk got so scared he quickly ran away,

Master! Ah ah ah ah! Bad! Bad! Bad!

The tiger has already broken into my heart, into my heart—”

Under the stage, many girls had already run to the front and started dancing.

Da Xia broke into a smile through her tears. That pretty face, carrying a hint of the world’s hardships, had already had her makeup completely ruined. She stood on the stage, staring at Lin Hao in a daze.

When Lin Hao sang the second verse, he walked down from the stage. As a result, the sound of his guitar and singing became much quieter. After Da Xia stepped off the stage, she joined hands with those girls and danced around him.

Before long, Da Xia placed both hands on Lin Hao’s shoulders from behind.

Then one person after another joined in, forming a long chain. Lin Hao spun around in circles, with a group of young girls and married women trailing behind him.

When the band members came in, they all opened their mouths wide, not understanding what had happened.

A short and thin middle-aged man rushed into the bar in a panic. He spotted Da Xia at once and was about to run over, but Chu Jiu, who was standing at the entrance, grabbed him and shook his head.

When the song ended, Lin Hao was also very happy. He laughed along with everyone.

The lyrics of this song were adapted from Yuan Mei’s Zi Bu Yu: The Little Monk Thinks of the Tiger from the Qing Dynasty. The content was humorous, and the music had a bright, cheerful rhythm, making it perfect for comforting the older sister who had just been made to cry by his singing.

Everyone applauded for him. Lin Hao smiled and bowed in thanks.

The band came on stage. After packing up his guitar, Lin Hao walked off the stage and was about to leave when he saw a short, thin middle-aged man at the bar entrance pulling at the woman who had just gone on stage.

Lin Hao frowned.

He didn’t understand what relationship these people had with the bar, nor did he care. He just needed to sing his own songs well. After all, he would be leaving in less than half a month.

“Lin Hao!”

Seeing Chu Yu calling him, Lin Hao walked over. As he passed several tables, a few girls still greeted him.

“Sister Chu!” he called out.

“Sit for a while.” Chu Yu pointed at the seat opposite her.

He understood. She wanted him to hide here for a while.

Chu Yu lowered her voice and said, “Are you a little confused? Don’t know who that woman is?”

Lin Hao chuckled but didn’t answer.

“Her name is Da Xia.”

Lin Hao nodded.

“She used to be together with Ding Jianguo for a period of time. Ding Jianguo was Dong Bing’s best brother!”

Lin Hao nodded again.

Actually, after hearing a few waiters chatting last time, he had already figured it out.

After he went back, he and Wu Xiaozhou had talked about it. Wu Xiaozhou told him that although Zhou Dongbing was undoubtedly the big boss, his personality was too steady and reserved, so ordinary people didn’t dare stay around him all the time.

But Ding Jianguo had a very straightforward personality. He was generous, loyal, and righteous, so the people who followed him were the most.

Unfortunately, several years ago, his wife and daughter were kidnapped by enemies and taken into a mine at Nanshan. He went alone to save them and ended up dying together with his enemies.

Ding Jianguo’s death dealt a huge blow to Zhou Dongbing, making him even quieter and more withdrawn.

Chu Yu didn’t speak again for quite a while. After some time, the short and thin Chu Jiu walked over and said quietly:

“Sister-in-law, they’ve left.”

Chu Yu nodded.

Lin Hao stood up and said, “Sis, then I’ll head back.”

A few days later, the person on stage replacing Qian Yu was a young man with long hair.

One day, Lin Hao stayed a little later than usual and listened for a while. He felt that although the young man’s skill level was still average, he had more ideas than Qian Yu.

He felt very pleased.

This was pretty good. Being young, having ideas, and being willing to practice hard meant his future would definitely not be bad.

August 26th was Lin Hao’s final day performing at Black Knight.

He brought Wu Xiaozhou with him.

When the two entered the bar hall, they were both stunned.

The hall was decorated with lots of streamers and balloons. On the stage hung a banner that read:

“Lin Hao’s Farewell Performance and Black Knight Rock Special.”

Lin Hao felt a little moved.

The bar was already packed to capacity, and they had even added many extra chairs temporarily.

Chu Yu and Zhou Dongbing were both there. When they saw the two of them, they came over to greet them.

“Xiaowu, you haven’t come here in a long time!” Chu Yu joked with Wu Xiaozhou.

Wu Xiaozhou scratched his head and laughed awkwardly. “Haozi forces me to practice every day and won’t let me go out!”

Zhou Dongbing patted him on the shoulder and said, “Come on, have a drink with me.”

Wu Xiaozhou was a little afraid of him, but he wasn’t going on stage anyway, so he could only follow Zhou Dongbing and Chu Yu away.

The band had arrived early as well, and they all greeted Lin Hao one after another.

“Looks like today is the day you’re officially making your debut!” Lin Hao joked.

Everyone understood what he meant. Liu’er became a little shy.

“Since you’re leaving, we just wanted to let you see the results before you go.”

“Mm!” Lin Hao nodded. “Then I’ll go up first!”

Today was his last day.

Sitting on the stage, Lin Hao felt a little emotional. In the blink of an eye, more than two months had passed. He had earned nearly thirty thousand yuan at this bar, which was a considerable income in this era.

Tomorrow, he and Wu Xiaozhou would be heading to the provincial capital. The train tickets had already been bought. Only the final two songs remained.

The gentle sound of guitar arpeggios unconsciously rang out.

The bar became completely silent, but at this moment, Lin Hao still hadn’t decided what to sing.

Looking at the pairs of warm and familiar eyes below, he suddenly felt a little sad. The next time they met, it might not be until several months later, or even half a year.

His fingers changed along with his thoughts.

G, D, Em… C, D7, G.

He opened his mouth and began singing:

“A long, long time ago,
You had me, and I had you…”

Whispers began to spread among the audience.

“A new song?”

“Yeah! It’s so good!”

“So sad…”

“His voice is really beautiful…”

“…”

Wu Xiaozhou sat by the window in the corner.

Across from him, Zhou Dongbing and Chu Yu both turned their heads to look at Lin Hao on the stage.

Wu Xiaozhou let out a sigh of relief. He had been unwilling to come to Black Knight because he always felt that Zhou Dongbing’s gaze toward him was strange.

Two girls wearing short skirts ran to the bar, each bought a flower basket, and together placed them on the stage.

Lin Hao didn’t notice.

His eyes were slightly closed, and his thoughts drifted farther and farther away.

The instrumental break began.

Not a single person applauded.

The crisp sound of the guitar echoed throughout the bar, and everyone was immersed in the sorrow of farewell.

The bassist, Wang Pangzi, started crying.

The new guitarist leaned over and asked, “Have you heard this before?”

Wang Pangzi shook his head, his nose almost running from the motion. He quickly wiped it away with the back of his hand.

The guitarist murmured, “A genius… he really is a genius! This person is incredible!”

Keyboard player Liu’er softly sighed.

“More than just a genius…”

“Although rain is falling from the sky,
I will still wait for the day you return…”

There was no hoarse shouting, no explosive roar.

The gentle and faint singing carried the bitterness and helplessness in everyone’s hearts.