61: Chapter 61 Zhao Yang: No choice but to steal the spotlight

Zhao Yang was taken aback. "Don't panic. What happened? Tell me slowly."

Meimei wiped away her sweat. "I just got a call. There's a problem with the song licensing for our concert. The Flash Company, which licensed the usage rights to us, was sued by the original author, and their copyright is likely to be ruled invalid. If we continue to use them, we might face legal issues later on."

The Flash? Zhao Yang thought the name sounded a bit familiar. Isn't that the scammer from iPartment? He actually debuted this early?

He steadied himself and pulled his thoughts back. "How do you plan to handle it?"

"If we only use the songs we own the rights to, the concert will be too short," Meimei said. "I'm reaching out to my contacts to see if I can call in a few special guests."

Zhao Yang checked the time and frowned. "It's definitely too late to find someone now. By the way, those songs I wrote last time can be added."

"Brother Yang, I've asked Ling Hua and Zeng Yi. They can only guarantee the quality of 'bu wei xia' and 'Mingyue Tianya'; the others aren't up to performance level yet. The biggest problem is that the songs with copyright issues are all classic oldies that were originally meant to be the finale."

Zhao Yang frowned. "How many songs are we short?"

"Three would do! Combined with some interactive segments, we could fill the time. Four would be even better!"

Zhao Yang smiled. "In that case, I'll save the show. However, I won't sing the songs I wrote for Ling Hua and Zeng Yi. Call them over immediately; I'll make the arrangements."

Meimei's face lit up with joy. "Brother Yang, you have new songs! But what about the accompaniment?"

"I'll do it myself. Prepare a piano for me."

"Ah?" Meimei was startled. "Brother Yang, you can play instruments too?"

"I can write lyrics and compose music, so it's normal to know how to play instruments, right?"

Meimei scratched her hair. "I guess that makes sense."

"Go get me a mask, the Zorro type, a baseball cap, and two strips of fake mustache. For the stage outfit, I'll just wear Zeng Yi's spare."

Meimei realized. "Brother Yang, you still want to remain anonymous?"

"Yeah, a mystery guest. Keep the mystery. Oh, and ask around to see who's wearing height-increasing shoes and get me a pair."

"Brother Yang, you're already over 1.8 meters tall. You still want height-increasing shoes?"

"Enough talk, just go! The higher, the better!"

"Understood!" With her mind at ease, Meimei jogged off to make the arrangements.

Watching this scene, Huang Yimei couldn't help but ask, "Brother Yang, you're going on stage to sing?"

"Saving a show is like fighting a fire; there's no other way." Zhao Yang looked her over. "Do you want to go up and have some fun too?"

Huang Yimei quickly shook her head. "No way. I'm no good at singing or dancing. I'm from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, not the Central Academy of Dance."

Zhao Yang thought for a moment and suddenly asked, "Is your nickname Rose?"

Huang Yimei nodded. "Yeah."

Zhao Yang continued, "One of the songs I'm going to sing later is themed around Roses. I didn't know you when I wrote it, and the lyrics are quite direct. I hope you won't feel offended when you hear it."

"Oh?" Huang Yimei's eyes lit up. "What a coincidence. What's the song called?"

"You Are My Rose."

Huang Yimei's face turned red. "That is quite direct. But it's fine."

Suddenly, Zhao Yang let out a long sigh. "It's just that if I do the finale, I'll be stealing the limelight a bit."

"Brother Yang..." Huang Yimei said softly, "Actually, that day I felt like you sang even better than them. It's a pity you aren't a pop star."

Zhao Yang couldn't help but laugh. "With so many professions, how could I manage them all? Besides, I'm obsessed with becoming an official."

"What's so good about being an official?"

"The joy of being an official is something you wouldn't understand."

Huang Yimei curled her lip. "Then you get busy. I'm going outside to find my brother and the others. Hehe, I'm waiting to see your performance!"

After saying that, she skipped away from the backstage.

Zhao Yang watched her retreating figure and couldn't help but smile.

In the show, Huang Yimei went through four relationships, transforming from a pampered, innocent girl into an 'independent' woman. Perhaps this 'independence' looked beautiful, but if there were a reliable man to lean on, which woman wouldn't want to be a protected little bird forever? To be able to maintain that innocence, and the expectation and sincerity for love for a lifetime—that would be a truly happy life.

"Brother Yang!" Zeng Yi and Ling Hua's voices interrupted Zhao Yang's thoughts. "Meimei said you're coming to save the show?"

Zhao Yang nodded. "I'll be the last to go on. Here's how we'll arrange it."

Ling Hua and Zeng Yi listened intently, nodding repeatedly. The nervousness caused by the sudden emergency gradually faded, and their faces brimmed with confidence.

When Zhao Yang finished, he smiled. "Do you have anything to add?"

The two thought for a moment and shook their heads together. "Brother Yang's plan is flawless!"

"Then go get ready! Good luck!"

"Good luck!"

...

The concert began amidst great anticipation.

This duo, who reached the Peak upon their debut, were truly cut out for this profession. The first song set the mood, followed by one hit song after another, pushing the atmosphere to one climax after another.

It was the first time Huang Yimei's family had such an experience. Huang Jianzhi and Wu Yuejiang seemed to forget their age, raising their hands high and shouting along with everyone else.

Huang Yimei was even more excited, jumping and hopping. In her extreme excitement, her hands had nowhere to go, so she gave Huang Zhenhua's arm several hard pinches.

Being biological siblings, she didn't hold back at all.

Huang Zhenhua was often lost in the music when he was interrupted by the sharp pain in his arm. Unfortunately, all the seats in the VIP section were full, so he had nowhere to hide. He could only grit his teeth and endure it, even developing the thought that Zhao Yang should hurry up and take this sister of his away.

Finally reaching his limit, he held his arm and said angrily, "Huang Yimei, I'm warning you, stop pinching me! If you want to pinch someone, go pinch Zhao Yang!"

"That won't do, I can't get to where he is!" Huang Yimei gave a mysterious smile. "I'm telling you, he'll be on stage soon! Almost time!"

"Ah?" Huang Zhenhua looked confused. "Didn't he want to avoid exposure?"

"He's still anonymous, a mystery guest! If I didn't tell you, you definitely wouldn't recognize him!"

At this moment, Ling Hua and Zeng Yi had finished their last song. Zeng Yi held the microphone and said, "Thank you to the fans for your support. Next, let's enter the concert's bonus segment together! Please welcome today's mystery guest—Passerby! To the stage!"

Swish—

All the lights went out.

The whole venue fell silent.

Immediately after, a massive beam of light projected onto the stage.

In the center of the spotlight, a man stood by a piano. He was nearly two meters tall, wearing a black leather jacket, a fedora, and a mask. Beneath his nose was a pair of delicate small mustaches, and his skin tone was a tanned wheat color.

Huang Yimei lowered her voice. "Brother, look, do you recognize him?"

Huang Zhenhua clicked his tongue. "How could I recognize him? The change is too big."

At this time, Zhao Yang didn't waste any words. He sat directly at the piano and spoke into the microphone, his voice deep and magnetic: "Hello everyone, I am Passerby. I'd like to dedicate the song 'You Are My Rose' to all of you."

A ripple of curious murmurs Rose from the audience.

"What song is this? Never heard of it!"

"It seems like a new song!"

...

Huang Zhenhua looked at the blushing Huang Yimei with a strange expression. "Rose, this song... did he write it for you?"