Chapter 2075 - 681: The CEO’s Downfall
The crowd around him grew denser.
The complex fingerstyle techniques and chord transitions flowed seamlessly under his hands.
The rhythm gradually became intense, like the surging wheat waves in the wilderness before a storm.
"♪BGM: I have crossed mountains and seas, and also traversed through a sea of people..."
Tang Song’s body swayed gently with the rhythm, his voice clean and clear, yet with a richness and steadiness beyond his years.
The humble guitar and ordinary sound system were still full of infectious power.
He held the guitar, his brows smooth, exuding an artistic aura intertwined with an unintentional free spirit, radiating a charm that tugged at the heartstrings.
Audible gasps and exclamations echoed around him.
Flashlights and phone screens lit up one after another.
Xie Shuyu stood in the crowd, her gaze gradually becoming blurred, her eyes showing traces of wetness.
Her slender fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her coat.
Reason told her to remain calm and composed, but her heart pounded heavily in her chest, rising and falling with the melody.
Youthful memories surged turbulently in her mind.
She had also experienced the tender crushes on campus, the wild nights singing in karaoke bars, and those days in dim rental houses, holding on while listening to songs.
At this moment, Tang Song seemed to be stirring her entire youth, shattering it, and then lighting it up again.
At this moment, she felt she finally experienced love, clearly and deeply.
Her heartbeat had never been so intense.
Love indeed seemed magical.
For instance, she never thought she’d allow a man to pull her behind a tree by the roadside, indulging in unrestrained flirtation.
She also never imagined that at some moment, her desire for someone could outweigh her obsession with career and success.
But now, she was willing.
"♪BGM: The wind blows, the road remains long, where does your story go..."
The song slowly returned to calm.
The final long chord slowly dispersed in the slightly chilly night of Rong City.
After a moment of silence, applause and cheers erupted suddenly.
"Hey, handsome! Another song!"
"Awesome! This is the best live version of ’Ordinary Road’ I’ve ever heard!"
"Little brother is too handsome!"
...
Tang Song smiled faintly, ignoring the surrounding noise.
He returned the guitar to the street musician, who was looking at him with admiration, and gently said, "Thank you."
Then, under everyone’s gaze, he took long strides, passing through the crowd, approaching the still-dazed female CEO.
"How was it? Did you like it?"
"It was lovely..." her voice trembled.
Tang Song gently took her hand and led her outside.
The female CEO looked at his handsome profile, her bright eyes becoming misty.
The sound of the wind, the crowd, and the cheers were all left far behind.
...
They didn’t hail a cab immediately, but simply walked hand in hand aimlessly through the streets of Rong City.
The streetlights’ dim glow stretched their shadows long and overlapping.
Xie Shuyu tucked her hands into her pockets, suddenly becoming silent, occasionally glancing at Tang Song.
Yet, she unconsciously held his hand tightly.
Tang Song didn’t speak either, seemingly enjoying this solitude with the female CEO.
It was very quiet around them.
Only the occasional sound of mahjong tiles clattering from nearby shops and their unhurried footsteps broke the silence.
Just as they were about to walk out of this old street, returning to the bustling lights,
Xie Shuyu suddenly stopped in her tracks.
She looked up, gazing at a quaint whiskey bar by the roadside.
The sign was small, illuminated by a dim yellow lamp, with "The Alchemist" written on it.
"Accompany me... for a drink?" she softly asked.
"Alright."
They pushed open a hefty carved wooden door and went inside.
The bar was very quiet.
Only a few scattered patrons sat in the corners, speaking in low tones.
Xie Shuyu didn’t choose a private booth but led Tang Song to sit side by side on the high stools at the long bar counter.
Behind the bar, a bartender in a white uniform was attentively shaking a cocktail shaker.
She removed her camel coat, revealing her tall and alluring figure.
The elegant line of her neck looked particularly smooth and milky in the dim lighting.
"What would you like to drink?" the female CEO asked.
"You order for me. I trust your taste."
Xie Shuyu smiled and turned to order two cocktails from the bartender.
One "Penicillin," and one "Old Fashioned."
The bartender acknowledged and began a mesmerizing performance.
Watching the cocktail shaker fly under the lights, Xie Shuyu’s gaze softened.
She turned her head, introducing to Tang Song, "Penicillin is made with two different flavored whiskeys as the base spirit, along with fresh lemon juice, honey, and ginger... It has a lot of complexity.
While ’Old Fashioned’ is purer. It’s just whiskey, sugar cube, bitters, and ice, simple and direct, yet it most truly reflects the essence of a drink."
Tang Song curiously said, "I didn’t expect Sister Shuyu to know about this."
Xie Shuyu paused, "During college, I was very fascinated by this and even went to study bartending for a while, though... my skills are quite average."
"Would you like to show me?"
"Forget it, that was more than a decade ago." Xie Shuyu replied with a self-deprecating smile, "My hands no longer remember those fancy moves."
Tang Song looked at her captivating face and chuckled softly, "You could always pick it up again. I think you’d be quite charming when bartending."
A captivating blush emerged on Xie Shuyu’s composed and elegant face.