Chapter 126: Fell Asleep

Upon arriving at the company and reaching the door of the lounge, I could hear intermittent singing and coughing from within. Needless to say, Xia Tian and Chu Fei were inside rehearsing. Ever since they learned they would be sharing the stage with Lin Chuan for this commercial performance, they had been practicing with immense dedication, often staying up late and arriving at the company early in the morning. It was undeniable that their passion for music went far beyond anything I had imagined.

Xia Tian was a natural; his musical talent was high, his foundation was solid, and the way he sang "First Snow" was a sheer delight for any listener. As for Chu Fei... well, let’s just say he was a rare, one-of-a-kind goofball. While he also possessed great musical talent—specifically a depth of understanding that Xia Tian lacked—he was prone to being overly sentimental. Take "First Snow," for example: he was responsible for the rap section, but he was far too soft-hearted. His tear ducts were alarmingly sensitive; almost every time he reached his part during rehearsals, he couldn't help but let the tears flow.

You might say, "So he cries, maybe the story is just that moving." And perhaps it was. But every time he cried, he would incessantly complain about how foolish the girl in the song was, or how pitiful her situation was. In short, he was a total clown.

I stood at the door for a moment before pushing it open and walking in. Xia Tian was sitting on the sofa with an electric guitar, tuning it, while Chu Fei stood in the corner with red-rimmed eyes.

"What, is he crying again?" I asked with a helpless smile.

Xia Tian stood up, shrugged his shoulders in resignation, and said, "Nothing I can do. He’s just too emotionally invested."

At that, we both burst into laughter. Hearing us, Chu Fei finally snapped back to reality. Seeing me, he hurried over and asked, "Brother Chuan, when do we leave?"

"After lunch. The show isn't until the evening, so there's no point in going too early. Why? Nervous?" I stopped smiling and asked.

"Nervous? How could I be? At most, I’m just... a little excited. After all, it’s my first time participating in such a major commercial event," Chu Fei said, feigning composure.

Xia Tian didn't say anything, just offered a nonchalant smile.

"Alright, we have the rest of the morning. Let’s tighten up our rehearsal. Chu Fei, I don't care what you're like otherwise, but today, you must hold it together. Absolutely no more tears," I said, my smile vanishing and replaced by an unprecedented seriousness.

Chu Fei was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously nodded.

The music started, and the rehearsal began.

"Ice and snow brush across the silent night, freezing the smiling angel. The love I anticipated, yet you closed your eyes. Slowly holding on tight, warming your cold palms, the frozen past of the first snow..."

Xia Tian’s voice was filled with the warmth of sunshine; it was deeply touching. It couldn't have been more perfect for "First Snow."

The first verse ended, and it was my turn.

"Once playing in the world of dust, until the meeting in the fairy tale. The perfect story ends in tears. The cold air cannot freeze the sorrow, the cruel beauty of memories."

As the second verse faded, both Xia Tian and I fixed our gaze on Chu Fei. It was time for the rap section. Chu Fei appeared calm, his face full of confidence. Though his eyes were still slightly red, he wasn't as dramatic as before.

"When snowflakes fall one by one onto the you that has vanished into memory, closing my eyes, I can still see your beautiful smile. I picked fresh flowers for you, letting the nectar stain my fingernails. I wanted to taste the meals you made for me, wanted to paint for you. The scattered dandelions, I wished for time to stand still, not letting it heartlessly and cruelly wither the flower of life... before I could fulfill the promises I made to you."

...

And so, the song echoed through the lounge, over and over. There were the boys' laughter and occasional coughs. If one stood outside the door long enough, they might even hear me raising my voice in frustration.

Time passed quickly, and before we knew it, it was noon. The three of us grabbed a quick bite before leaving the company, heading toward the venue. This commercial performance was different from the small-scale ones we were used to; the biggest difference was that it would be broadcast live, essentially functioning as a grand gala.

In reality, this gala was co-hosted by several major conglomerates in the capital as a year-end appreciation event. Few such annual meetings existed in the country. To say nothing else, the sheer number of first and second-tier stars invited was a massive statement. This event had been held for four consecutive years, and netizens often remarked that working for a company like this was a dream come true for any employee. Every year around this time, the internet would be flooded with posts from people complaining about how stingy their own companies were by comparison.

Before long, the car pulled up in front of a luxurious building. As soon as we stepped out, a crowd of reporters swarmed toward us. Fortunately, security guards intervened, sparing me from being besieged by the press.

Led by staff members, we were taken to a lounge. It was described as a lounge, but the decor and design were on par with the luxury suites of high-end hotels, and it was quite spacious.

"Holy cow, this is so opulent! What kind of company holds its annual meeting in a place like this? Tsk, tsk, incredible," Chu Fei muttered incessantly as he surveyed the room. Xia Tian remained indifferent, seemingly unfazed by the luxury, sitting quietly in a chair and continuing to fiddle with his guitar.

I paced around the room. To be honest, I was stunned by the sheer scale of these companies. If the lounge was this luxurious, the main stage must be truly magnificent. I couldn't help but feel a growing sense of anticipation.

However, just then, a deafening—no, rather, a very loud—noise began to emanate from the inner room.

Xia Tian and I exchanged a glance and hurried inside. What we saw nearly made us choke.

That big goofball, Chu Fei, was actually lying on the bed, fast asleep.