MMB Chapter 43 Tang Lei Arrives at Xichuan University of Technology
Chapter 43 Tang Lei Arrives at Xichuan University of Technology
December 17th, Wednesday, one week until Christmas Eve.
Lin Feng dialed Tang Lei's number. After a few rings, the call was answered.
"Lin Feng?" Tang Lei's voice had a Guangxi accent.
"Brother Lei, it's me. I need to book your plane ticket, and I'll need your ID number. When would be a convenient time for you to come? Is the 23rd okay?"
"The 23rd is too rushed. I want to go there earlier, see your school, and spend a few days in Chengdu first," Tang Lei chuckled on the phone.
"Which day would you like to come?"
"Tomorrow, I guess. I don't have much to do here, so I'll head over early." Tang Lei was already looking forward to the hotpot in Chengdu.
Lin Feng glanced at the calendar. "Then I'll book the tickets for you. What time tomorrow?"
"Whatever, just let me know when you've placed your order."
"Okay. I'll pick you up from the airport tomorrow."
After hanging up the phone, Lin Feng lit a cigarette and pondered his next plan.
Tang Lei's early arrival means that many arrangements need to be moved forward.
The following afternoon at 3 p.m., Lin Feng took a taxi to Chengdu International Airport.
In 2003, Chengdu Airport was not as big as it is now; it only had Terminal 1.
The arrival area was packed with people waiting to pick up passengers. Lin Feng stood in the crowd, holding up a sign that read: Tang Lei.
The flight from Shenzhen had just landed. After waiting for about twenty minutes, a tall, thin figure appeared at the exit.
Wearing a black coat and jeans, carrying a wooden guitar, and pulling a small suitcase, Tang Lei spotted Lin Feng's sign immediately and walked over with a smile.
"Have you been waiting long?"
"No, I just arrived." Lin Feng reached out to take the suitcase, but Tang Lei waved his hand: "No need, I can do it myself."
The two walked side by side toward the taxi.
"How are the preparations for the music festival going?" Tang Lei asked.
"Everything is ready, just waiting for your dazzling debut!" The two of them laughed.
The two got into a taxi and drove to Xichuan University of Technology.
Looking out at the street scene of Chengdu, Tang Lei reminisced about his university days: "I studied in Jinan, Shandong. I was in a band and put on small performances on the playground. Not many people came to watch back then, just a few friends, and I sang for myself."
He turned to Lin Feng and said, "You're better than me. You founded a digital music club and even organized a music festival."
"Brother Lei, you're too modest. I can't sing, how can I compare to you?" Lin Feng said modestly.
"So what if you can sing..." Tang Lei recalled the past.
"That day you came to see me, but Zhao Xiaohu and his men blocked you downstairs. I saw it all from the second floor. I thought you would run away in fear. But you didn't run away. You even took down Zhao Xiaohu and pulled me out of the fire."
"Let's not dwell on the past, let's work together to make money!"
Tang Lei was amused by Lin Feng again.
The taxi stopped at the entrance of Xichuan University of Technology.
Tang Lei and Lin Feng walked on the campus road, watching the college students coming and going. Tang Lei was filled with emotion.
"I haven't walked on campus in a long time. When I graduated from university, I thought I was going to make a name for myself, but I ended up working in bars."
Lin Feng recalled his past and sighed, "University is the best time of my life, and I'm reluctant to leave it."
"Come on, let me take you to Mingde Square."
The two walked across Qiushi Square and headed towards Mingde Square.
Along the way, students would frequently turn around to look. Some recognized Tang Lei and then tugged at their companions' sleeves.
"Is that...?"
"It looks a bit like it..."
"That can't be..."
At Mingde Square, the stage frame has been erected, and workers are adjusting the lights. Several tents are being set up nearby, marking the locations of the Walkman Experience Area and the Mobile Ringtone Experience Area.
Tang Lei stood in the center of the square, looking at everything around him, and asked himself: Is this my stage?
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Suddenly, a commotion arose behind him.
The two turned around and saw a group of people rushing towards them.
Leading the way was a student carrying a guitar, followed by a dozen or so onlookers.
"Excuse me, are you Tang Lei, Teacher Tang?" the boy asked excitedly. "I've been asking for 'Lilac Flower' on the forum for half a year! I finally heard the complete version after buying the music festival commemorative edition MP3. What are you doing here?"
Tang Lei greeted his classmates warmly, "I'm here for your digital music festival!"
"Really!" The boy covered his head in disbelief. The surrounding classmates who had been watching the commotion gathered closer and closer, asking questions all at once.
Will you sing "Lilac Flower" at the digital music festival?
Did you write the lyrics for "Lilac Flower"?
"Can we take a picture together?"
……
Tang Lei interacted warmly with these young college students, showing no airs whatsoever.
"You guys are all musicians? Do you have a band?"
The boy holding the guitar nodded vigorously: "A few of us formed the 'Metal Strawberry Band' and have already signed up for a digital music festival."
"Want to play a tune?" Tang Lei pointed to the guitar in his hand.
The students exchanged glances, and the boy with the guitar, unfazed, immediately began to play.
He played a song he wrote himself. The melody was a bit rough, and the lyrics were immature, but he was very serious.
After listening, Tang Lei led the applause.
"That's great. Keep going. For your musical dreams!"
More and more students gathered around.
"Really, Teacher Tang? You're going to sing at the digital music festival?"
"Is it 'Lilac Flower'?"
"Yes, sing 'Lilac Flower'."
"Mr. Tang, I'm a fan! Could you please sign my autograph?"
The crowd surged forward. Tang Lei, however, remained calm, took the notebook and pen offered to him, and quickly signed a few names.
More and more people are gathering here.
After a while, Lin Feng squeezed into the crowd: "Brother Lei, let's go first, there are too many people."
Tang Lei nodded and said to the students around him, "On Christmas Eve, at Mingde Square, I'll be waiting for you all!"
Amid cheers, Lin Feng protected Tang Lei and quickly left Mingde Square.
But the excitement at Xichuan University of Technology has only just begun.
An hour later, the official account of the Digital Music Club on the BBS of Xichuan University of Technology posted a message.
The post, titled "Mystery Singer Revealed at Digital Music Festival: Tang Lei, Original Singer of 'Lilac Flower,'" quickly went viral on the forum within ten minutes of being published.
"It's confirmed! Tang Lei really came! I just saw it with my own eyes!"
"The original singer of 'Lilac Flower' came to our school to participate in the digital music festival."
"Was that him in the black clothes at Mingde Square today? He looks so young."
He said he would sing "Lilac" at a digital music festival on Christmas Eve.
"A picture is worth a thousand words!"
The photo is a bit blurry, but you can clearly recognize that it's Tang Lei. He's carrying a guitar and signing autographs for students, with a stage being set up in the background.
The number of replies instantly exceeded 500.
"The Digital Music Club is awesome!"
"A must-go on Christmas Eve!"
"There are two events on Christmas Eve: a 'Christmas Party' organized by the Student Union and a 'Digital Music Festival' organized by the Digital Music Club. Which one do you all want to attend?"
"Is this a difficult choice? Tang Lei personally supports the digital music festival, that's amazing!"
"Let's go to a digital music festival!"
"Going to a digital music festival! +1"
"Going to a digital music festival! +2"
……
"Going to a digital music festival! +N"