314: Chapter 314 Taking Jiang Nansun to a Bar

Chen Cheng was stunned; he had ended up being the subject of the gossip himself.

He stifled his laughter, wondering what expression Jiang Nansun would have if she recognized him after he went on stage.

Chen Cheng wore a mischievous grin and glanced at Princess Jiang, who was staring at the stage. "Oh, never heard of him. Who is Chen Jianan, and how is he so talented? Tell me about it."

"Ehh~"

Jiang Nansun leaned back tactically and rolled her eyes at him. "Are you really 27? You don't know such a popular singer?"

"Right now, on all the major music platforms, at least six or seven of the top ten songs are his."

"And that's only because most of his songs are folk, which is a niche genre."

"That's not even the best part. The most impressive thing is that all his songs are his own originals—he writes both the lyrics and the music."

"Plus, his female vocal range—if you didn't know, you'd never guess it was sung by a guy. Anyway, he is just super talented."

"Pfft~" Chen Cheng couldn't hold it back anymore.

He was a professional at having a thick skin, but hearing Jiang Nansun praise him like that, he still couldn't hold back.

"What are you laughing at?"

Jiang Nansun immediately became unhappy, opening her big eyes wide to glare at Chen Cheng.

Chen Cheng shook his head. "Pfft, hahahahaha~"

Jiang Nansun frowned. "Did I say something funny?"

Chen Cheng held it in for a long while before finally composing himself.

"No, nothing."

"Hmph~" Jiang Nansun pouted playfully, rolled her eyes, and asked, "Weren't you going to sing?"

"What? The owner won't let you?" As she said this, Jiang Nansun gave Chen Cheng a smug smile.

The owner was a childhood friend of hers; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to get tickets for the show, let alone a booth.

A livehouse isn't like a typical folk bar; they usually don't let customers get on stage.

Unless you are a famous singer who can help boost the venue's popularity.

Chen Cheng smiled helplessly, thinking, "I'll let you be smug for a little while longer."

He took out his phone and checked it; Chen Guosheng had already sent a message saying it was all arranged.

Chen Cheng's lips curled up slightly as he turned to look at Jiang Nansun. "I'm going to the restroom."

"Okay, go ahead," Jiang Nansun replied without blinking, her eyes fixed on the band performing on stage.

Chen Cheng kept a smile on his face, but frowned slightly. He had figured it out—Princess Jiang was actually a literary youth at heart.

On second thought, that made sense; an idealist studying architecture was likely a literary soul.

Chen Cheng walked to the back of the bar and took off his jacket, tossing it to Chen Guosheng.

He took the Halloween ghost mask from her hands and put it on.

Scum Cheng didn't want people to recognize Chen Jianan, nor did he want to be filmed singing well and have it posted online, where his girlfriends—especially Qiao Jingjing—might recognize him.

So, he deliberately chose a cheap mask.

For the singing later, Chen Cheng had decided to use one specific vocal tone from start to finish.

When he released songs before, except for the female vocal parts, he had always used his own natural tone.

He had the "Versatile Magic Voice" ability, so using someone else's vocal tone to sing was easy.

Chen Cheng strapped on the guitar, chatted with the band members for a few moments, and went on stage.

He stood in front of the microphone on stage. "Ahem~"

The two coughs instantly silenced the hundred or so people in the audience.

Chen Cheng cleared his throat and said, "Someone just said she really likes Chen Jianan. I'll sing a few of his songs for this friend, and for everyone else here."

"Boo~"

The audience immediately erupted in boos, and someone shouted, "Hey, buddy, who are you?"

Jiang Nansun stared at the ghost face on stage, her eyes widening.

No way, he just got on stage like that?

She looked at the clothes the person on stage was wearing—the shirt, pants, and shoes were all his.

Jiang Nansun raised an eyebrow, a look of surprise crossing her face. Is it really him?

But the voice didn't seem quite right.

On stage, Chen Cheng strummed the guitar strings. "The cao thief's 'Southern Girl', dedicated to you all."

"The northern village..."

As soon as he started singing, not only was Jiang Nansun stunned, but the audience members who had been shouting for refunds also went quiet.

Huh? No way, buddy, you're actually pretty good.

Chen Cheng, wanting to keep it simple, directly imitated Lei-zi's voice.

With a deep, slightly raspy voice, as soon as he opened his mouth, the imagery of the story came rushing out.

"He sings this well too?" Jiang Nansun muttered, her eyes wide.

Then, a serene smile appeared on her face, and as she watched the ghost mask singing on stage, she was momentarily entranced.

The image of Chen Cheng's handsome face and the ghost mask kept alternating and overlapping in Jiang Nansun's mind.

Chen Cheng finished the song, rested for about ten seconds, and began the next one.

As soon as the intro started, the audience's eyes lit up.

They sang along loudly to the intro, "Da da da da da~"

"The sun overhead burns with the lingering heat of youth."

"It never gives up, shining upon us as we move forward."

"..."

Chen Cheng sang another song, "Take Me to Find Nightlife."

"Time that seems meaningless becomes infinite in your eyes."

"Youth is full of sleepless nights, all to pursue more tomorrows."

"..."

Chen Cheng was on a roll, and Jiang Nansun was enjoying it just as much, sitting in her booth and waving her hands excitedly.

When the song ended, she even joined the other audience members in roaring aloud.

"Whoa~ Whoa~~~~"

Beneath the mask, Chen Cheng's face also wore an excited expression. That's why they say singing is addictive.

With every song, he imagined the character in the lyrics, experiencing a mental high each time.

Chen Cheng's lips curled up, and he said into the microphone, "Anyone still want a refund?"

"Hahahahaha~" It immediately drew a burst of laughter.

Once the laughter in the audience quieted down a bit, Chen Cheng bowed in thanks. "Alright, everyone, have a great time."

Just as he was about to return the stage to the original band, the audience below wasn't having it.

Someone shouted, "Hey, buddy, you sing the cao thief's songs, but you're not going to sing the 'Resignation Trilogy'?"

As soon as these words were spoken, there was an immediate chorus of agreement.

"One more song~"

"One more song~"

Seeing the enthusiastic response from the audience, Chen Cheng paused, looked at Jiang Nansun, and said into the microphone:

"Should I sing it?"

Seeing that he was asking for her opinion, Jiang Nansun became even more excited. She cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone and shouted:

"One more song~"

"One more song~"

"Whoa~~~"

After shouting, she waved at the stage excitedly.

Beneath the mask, Scum Cheng's lips curled up as he turned to look at the band providing the accompaniment behind him.

Before Chen Cheng could even ask, the band's lead singer nodded quickly.

Chen Cheng shrugged, turned back to the microphone, and went along with the request.

"Alright, I'll give you one more."

"Hahahahaha~" The audience burst into laughter.

Chen Cheng turned back to consult with the band members on the order and returned to the microphone.

The intro began, and the audience immediately knew what he was going to sing.

They waved their hands along with the intro.

"I once dreamed of traveling the world with a sword."

"To see the blossoms of the world."

"..."

"That was your dress fluttering, that was your gentleness like water."

Chen Cheng sang through "You in the Past", "Blue Lotus", "Free as the Wind", and "Hometown" in one go.

"Chen Jianan!"

"Chen Jianan!"

While the audience was still shouting his stage name, Chen Cheng had already stepped off the stage, packed up his guitar, and slipped out of the venue.