### Chapter 6: Singing Audition at the Bar
In 1997, a bar was essentially a large social dance hall. In an era where the internet hadn't yet become widespread, spending time at a bar, having a few drinks, and dancing was the epitome of a refined lifestyle. Casual hookups and the like were practically unheard of; people were still quite innocent. Conversations were purely about chatting and getting to know each other. If people hit it off, they might exchange phone numbers or even become pen pals as a throwback to more nostalgic times.
This particular bar was called "Blue Moon," which might sound like a laundry detergent, highlighting just how unrefined the bars were at that time. Around five or six in the evening, Li Qing stood outside the Blue Moon bar, observing the young people with slicked-back hair, bell-bottom pants, and ripped jeans walking in and out. After hesitating for a while, he finally decided to go in.
What was Li Qing's greatest asset? His good looks. As soon as he approached the bar, he instantly drew the attention of both men and women. In those days, while people were crazy about celebrities, they generally treated attractive strangers with the utmost courtesy and friendliness, almost as if to elevate their own status in comparison.
Li Qing was immune to this kind of attention by now. Without changing his expression, he walked into the bar's lobby. The bar was playing elegant music, and the dim lighting cast a cozy glow over the men and women drinking and chatting in every corner. Besides the bar counter, the most prominent feature was the central stage area with a full set of instruments: drums, bass, guitars, and keyboards. A middle-aged man with a buzz cut was sitting there, cigarette in mouth, tuning his guitar. Next to him, a vinyl record player was spinning, filling the room with the elegant music.
Unlike the smoke-filled, chaotic bars of later years, the Blue Moon bar was quite refined, more like a lifestyle café where strangers gathered to chat. After asking a server, Li Qing walked over to the middle-aged man on the central stage.
"Boss, are you hiring singers?" Li Qing asked straightforwardly.
With two weeks until the next "Music Star" performance, Li Qing was eager to make some money. When he first mentioned his idea of singing at a bar, Han Han had vehemently opposed it, which surprised Li Qing. Although she didn’t explain why, Li Qing slowly figured it out. In Han Han’s eyes, a former and future star like Li Qing singing at a bar was simply beneath him.
However, Li Qing had his own thoughts. If he was going to pursue a career in music, he needed to build his foundational skills, and a bar was the perfect place for that. It was exactly the kind of real-world experience he needed. Singing on a street corner in the cold wind wouldn't earn him much and would be even more humiliating.
The middle-aged man looked up, squinted at Li Qing, then took a deep drag from his cigarette. After exhaling, he stubbed it out and threw it into a nearby trash can. Clapping his hands, he nodded, "I wasn't planning on hiring, but seeing you, I've changed my mind."
Li Qing smiled. This was the first bar he had tried, and he hadn’t expected it to go so smoothly. Being good-looking truly was a lucky charm.
"What do you play?" the middle-aged man asked, strumming his guitar a few times.
Li Qing pointed at the guitar in the man's hands, "I’m pretty good with that. I can play a bit of everything else."
"Do you do rock?" the man asked again.
"Yes," Li Qing replied confidently.
"You have a nice voice," the man smiled, handing the guitar over. "Sing something. I'll accompany you."
Li Qing knew this was a test, but he shook his head repeatedly. No way he could sing to a tune he didn’t know. "I’ll do it myself and sing one of my own songs."
Taking the guitar, Li Qing adjusted the strap around his neck. The bar owner, looking a bit puzzled, laughed, "Alright, go ahead. Just don't scare away the customers."
As Li Qing began tuning the guitar, someone from the bar yelled, "Old Jiang, is that your new hire?"
Old Jiang shook his head and laughed, "Just another rocker!"
The crowd took a closer look at Li Qing. Once they saw his handsome face, they all began to murmur in amazement. It was rare to see such a good-looking young man.
A young woman in the audience joked, "Old Jiang, you better keep him here. If you do, I'll come to your bar every day."
"That's a promise," Old Jiang laughed, his smile widening. He turned to look at Li Qing again, now more determined to keep him. No matter how good or bad he was, Li Qing had to stay—he was a walking goldmine.
After plugging the guitar into the amp and testing the sound, Li Qing began to play a bright and lively tune. The unique melody quickly caught everyone's attention.
"I heard you say,
The sun rises and falls again,
Unpredictable weather,
Footsteps mark the road.
I've gotten used to,
Your sudden self-expression,
Freely and openly,
Seeing through nature."
Old Jiang, who had just lit another cigarette, was stunned. The cigarette fell silently from his fingers as he stared, open-mouthed, at Li Qing. After the first verse, he slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Wow! This kid's got talent!"
If Han Han were here, she would be shocked. Li Qing's voice, which was bright and firm when he sang "Angel Wings," now had a rough, yet tender quality that made people feel carefree and heroic.
"So let's not dwell on it,
Once time passes, it won't return.
The sky you gaze at,
Will have more rainbows.
I will keep your generosity in my heart,
In the cold winter,
I'll remember your warmth."
In the audience, young men and women who had been sipping their drinks turned their heads to look at the handsome figure on stage. Such a young man with such a mature voice?
"Fill my heart with cheerfulness,
Sadness comes with smiling tears.
Endless meetings,
Waiting without end.
If there's only this life,
Why start over?"
As he played, Li Qing stomped the beat and smiled broadly, "Come on, finish this drink, and there's another."
"And after this drink, there's three more!"
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