My proposal received everyone’s support, and we quickly drove to Zhuomei. On the way, Mi Cai also notified the manager of Zhuomei’s operations department to prepare temporary space and the necessary electricity for the music equipment. By the time we arrived, the operations team had already efficiently set up the venue for us.
Then, Luo Ben, Fang Yuan, and I carried some advertising display stands for the bar from the car into the mall. After a brief setup, we had already created a certain advertising atmosphere.
While waiting for Xiao Wu and the band, Mi Cai, Leyao, Yan Yan, Jian Wei, and others helped distribute promotional flyers. CC, Luo Ben, and I were busy tuning our guitars.
As the flyers were handed out, people gradually gathered around us, but their curiosity wasn’t focused on promoting the bar—it was drawn to the women distributing the flyers. Several times, Leyao was even recognized by sharp-eyed customers. Although her TV show hadn’t officially aired yet, she had already participated in many promotional events with the production team, so she had gained some recognition. Eventually, she couldn’t handle the constant attention and had to put on sunglasses and a mask, stopping her flyer distribution.
A little later, Xiao Wu finally arrived at the scene with the band members. Their uniform rock-and-roll style immediately attracted many curious glances. In short, even before the performance began, a large crowd had gathered around us.
Xiao Wu and the band members quickly and efficiently installed and adjusted the equipment, while the rest of us started discussing who should sing the opening song and what kind of song would fit the bar’s theme.
In the end, we chose the song “Past Times” as the opening number and all turned our eyes toward Mi Cai.
Mi Cai looked at us in confusion and asked, “Are you saying you want me to sing the opening song?”
Luo Ben nodded and said, “Your voice is soft and delicate; you can give this sorrowful song a warm touch.”
I added, “Zhuomei is your territory, so it’s only fitting that you go first.”
Weiran added, “You’re the most beautiful woman here; your performance will draw the most attention!”
As soon as he said this, the atmosphere turned awkward. Although this overseas returnee was speaking the truth, with so many beautiful women present, wasn’t this just asking for trouble?
Mi Cai was clearly embarrassed by Weiran’s words, but fortunately, CC, the master of saving awkward moments, quickly took Mi Cai’s hand and said, “It’s all just for fun, so consider it breaking the ice.”
Luo Ben and I chimed in, saying, “Come on, girl, we’ll back you up with the music.”
Finally, Mi Cai nodded and accepted the guitar that CC handed to her. Luo Ben took the keyboard, I handled the bass, and CC played the accordion. We were all ready, waiting for Mi Cai, who was destined to be the focus of attention.
Mi Cai closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then stood in the center of the temporary small stage. This action excited the Zhuomei staff collectively. After all, Mi Cai was the CEO of Zhuomei, and this performance was a rare sight for them. However, they didn’t dare to get too close, so they all gathered by the railings on the second and third floors, discussing and eagerly waiting for Mi Cai to begin singing.
Just as we were about to start playing, Mi Cai raised her hand to signal us to wait. She took the microphone from the stand, paused briefly, and then addressed the gathered crowd, “Tomorrow is the grand opening of the ‘Fifth Season’ themed music bar. I’m very happy to have this opportunity to introduce this bar to all of you. If this world is a desolate desert, then this bar is a gem shining with colorful light in that desert. Though small, it is enough to comfort our weary souls. If life feels heavy, feel free to stop by this bar—you might have a different experience. This song, ‘Past Times,’ is for all of you!”
After Mi Cai finished speaking, she put the microphone back on the stand, closed her eyes, and gently strummed the guitar strings.
I was momentarily lost in thought. This woman was truly wise and perceptive. While everyone else had forgotten to promote the bar, she hadn’t. Her eloquent description, though brief, had already given people a sense of calm and simplicity, rivaling the best slogans crafted by top advertising agencies.
Mi Cai’s calm and warm voice floated through the mall with the accompaniment. Her voice seemed to have a magical ability to bring peace, so much so that the previously noisy mall quieted down. Even the customers who hadn’t stopped to listen walked by softly, afraid of ruining this naturally serene atmosphere.
During the chorus, CC improvised harmonies for Mi Cai, adding a sense of nostalgic longing to the entire song. It felt as if the listeners were traveling between the warmth of spring and the melancholy of autumn. Everyone became deeply immersed, and even after the music gradually faded, they still looked disappointed that it was over. After a long pause, the first applause came, followed by many more.
As the applause quieted down, I picked up the microphone from the stand and addressed the gathered crowd, “I believe everyone was so engaged not just because of the singer’s beauty. If it were only her beauty, I’m sure she would be upset, because she’s definitely more than just a pretty face…”
The crowd responded with kind laughter, while Mi Cai shot me a glance and softly said, “Even at a moment like this, you can’t help but crack jokes!”
Luo Ben was even more creative, adding a light-hearted keyboard melody at just the right moment, which made the atmosphere livelier again.
Smiling, I continued, “If you enjoyed this song and the peaceful power in the singing, then don’t miss out on the ‘Fifth Season’ themed music bar. It will be a wonderful experience, allowing us to enjoy the beauty of the changing seasons through the charm of music…” I paused briefly before adding, “If any of you here today are interested in the ‘Fifth Season’ themed music bar, please feel free to collect a free discount voucher from our staff. With this voucher, you can not only enjoy a discount but also receive an extra free beer. Don’t miss this opportunity!”
After I finished speaking, several Zhuomei staff members, who had been called over by Mi Cai, began distributing the discount vouchers to the customers. The scene was orderly—there was no rush or chaos, proving that the customers at Zhuomei generally had a high level of quality. Of course, this also matched the characteristics of the bar’s target consumer group, who valued emotional experiences more than material temptations. Therefore, the real value of the discount voucher was simply as a reminder for them to remember the bar.
…
After singing one song, Mi Cai handed the stage over to others. To be honest, I was really grateful to her. As the CEO of Zhuomei, she not only provided such a high-quality venue but also took on the role of a bar staff member. Considering her status, this was truly rare!
Following the principle of ladies first, everyone encouraged Jian Wei to sing the second song, and she didn’t refuse. She stood in the center of the small stage and took the microphone from the stand, saying to us behind her, “It’s a bit of a shame, but I can’t play the guitar, so I’m afraid I’ll have to rely on all of you for the accompaniment!”
I smiled, swapped my bass for a guitar, and said to her, “What song are you going to sing? We’d be more than happy to help!”
Jian Wei gave me a grateful look and fell into thought. After all, this was the second song, so it couldn’t be chosen randomly—it at least needed to fit the bar’s theme. Choosing a very loud or chaotic song would be inappropriate.
I looked forward expectantly to Jian Wei. Compared to Mi Cai, her voice and emotional expression were equally strong; the only difference was in style.
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