Chapter 3: Crabapple Blossoms

@HeartbreakOfficial: Statement Regarding Lead Singer Jiang Hu’s Departure.

It is with regret and sorrow that we inform our fans:

Lead singer Jiang Hu was recently diagnosed with…

Out of consideration for Mr. Jiang Hu’s health, and following amicable discussions, he has ceased all work and been admitted for treatment. Heartbreak Studio will also provide unconditional support and assistance until Mr. Jiang Hu recovers his health.

Hereby, we thank him for everything he has given to Heartbreak, and we are grateful for the affection of our fans.

We hope everyone joins Heartbreak in wishing Mr. Jiang Hu a speedy recovery!

April 15, 202X.

Jiang Hu’s departure statement was posted at 9 a.m. on a workday. By 10 a.m., the hashtag #JiangHuLeavesBand had only slowly crawled its way onto the tail end of the Hot Search Ranking. Gradually, netizens began posting well-wishes, hoping for the day Jiang Hu would return. This showed Heartbreak’s general public fanbase was limited, but it existed.

By the noon minor traffic peak, the slower music fans discovered the second important issue: Heartbreak’s name was still on the T City Music Festival’s official poster, but now that the lead singer had withdrawn due to illness, who would take his place on stage?

“The no-show in Z City was also because he was sick… so who’s singing in T City?”

“It’s so sudden. Does anyone know if the cure rate for XX cancer is high?”

“Nooo, my Heartbreak! I bought tickets for the T City Music Festival…”

“@HeartbreakOfficial You announced the lead singer’s departure but not the new lead singer?”

“They won’t make Mao Maoyu sing, will they? I’m scared he’ll crack his voice under pressure.”

“Heartbreak, you better have secretly raised a super strong newcomer (holding back tears”

“Can you promote that guitarist from last year? He’s so arrogant, I love it!”

Liu Lusi brought in the outsourced PR team to closely monitor developments, controlling the narrative across all platforms. The bad news was that Jiang Hu’s departure for treatment indeed caused panic within the fanbase; the good news was, while praying to the Bodhisattva for Jiang Hu’s speedy recovery, fans also didn’t forget to beg for a heaven-sent new lead singer, preferably one with maxed-out professional skills and a live ability that crushed all active lead singers in the band scene.

Hmm, it had to be said, the fans’ career aspirations were unexpectedly strong. Even though Heartbreak couldn’t afford a standalone tour these years, could only play livehouses, running commercial shows everywhere; even though the band hadn’t released a studio album in over two years, just placating fans with one single after another; even though Heartbreak was limping along, showing no signs of becoming massively popular, but not obscure enough that no one cared…

Heartbreak’s fans were, from start to finish, incredibly optimistic.

The owner of the outsourced PR studio was Qu Yanni, an early colleague of Liu Lusi’s. Seeing the standard photo of Li Tingzhou taken a few days prior on the screen, she froze for several seconds, then suddenly slapped Liu Lusi’s arm—

“If you’d told me earlier you had someone like this under you!”

With an appearance radiating such authority, as long as he wasn’t tone-deaf or a plain white voice, even with only a fraction of singing skill, Qu Yanni had the confidence to make him completely famous! Everyone knew that now, there was no barrier between the band circle and the singer circle. If skill was lacking, there was plenty of marketing to make up for it. With a face like that, honestly, he’d already won 90% of the battle.

Liu Lusi also had her difficulties. “He himself had no willingness to be on camera. Could I force him? If Jiang Hu hadn’t gotten sick…” Knowing Li Tingzhou’s personality, he didn’t even want to show his face. Ideally, he’d stay tucked away in the studio writing songs and composing forever.

“Jiang Hu’s departure statement is out. When were you planning the official announcement?”

“Li Tingzhou himself doesn’t want a special announcement. After the T City Music Festival performance, just have the editor attach a brief introduction after the live video.”

Qu Yanni made an expression akin to “how perfunctory.”

“If he gets famous, the band’s popularity will follow!”

“Don’t you think I know that?” Liu Lusi patted her friend’s arm and continued. “It’s true he’s taking over from Jiang Hu as the new lead singer, but he’s also Heartbreak’s producer. Honestly, I can’t control Mengmeng. He knows his limits well enough himself.”

The power of a producer’s say—was there even a need to elaborate? Now that he’d agreed to step up, there was no need for her to ask too many questions. Better to quit while she was ahead. Besides, she actually preferred Li Tingzhou’s disclosure plan.

Instead of a grand, official announcement, racking their brains to avoid sensitive points and come up with gimmicks, it was better to hold back a bit and then dazzle them with ability first. Two consecutive songs at the music festival, with a solo segment reserved in between. The live audience and online viewers would hear the live performance and naturally know if the new lead singer had the chops or not. Showing real, solid professional skill was a hundred times more effective than Heartbreak’s official Weibo praising itself a hundred times! Spark that curiosity, and fans would have the motivation to actively dig up info about the new lead singer. Heartbreak wouldn’t even need to do much—just subtly control the flow of information. Satisfy, but not completely satisfy. Push and pull, keep them wanting more…

Qu Yanni finished listening and smiled in understanding. “Alright then.”

Getting back to Li Tingzhou, his task these days was rehearsal. Even though the band was thoroughly sick of the setlist songs, able to play and sing them with their eyes closed, everyone still treated practice seriously, like doing their homework. Dai Jier, during breaks, would check the online fan comments. Whether they were praise or insults, he kept his emotions level. “Mao Maoyu, they say they’re very afraid of you opening your mouth to sing. Any thoughts on why?”

“I messed up one performance, and now I’m nailed to the pillar of shame for life!” While saying this, Mao Maoyu actually took it quite well.

Ever since his study abroad days, he’d despaired of his singing skills, which never improved year after year. Switching schools didn’t help. He knew his talent was limited, so being mocked didn’t upset him much. Besides, with Li Tingzhou here now, Mao Maoyu felt a strong sense of safety. “Doesn’t matter. Mengmeng will help me save face.”

Li Tingzhou was about to smile and respond when his phone started vibrating. “I’ll take this call.”

Watching Li Tingzhou’s retreating figure, Dai Jier intuitively sensed a familiar feeling. He glanced at Mao Maoyu and asked, “There’s a situation, isn’t there?”

Mao Maoyu was as protective as ever. “He’s been single for a year, so what?”

“…” Dai Jier sighed, explaining, “I mean, Mengmeng isn’t behind the scenes anymore. How will people view his dating life now? He’s not the type to easily give in just because fans protest.”

“Of course, what Mengmeng likes is more important.” Mao Maoyu’s eyes darted, thinking of something unknown, then added, “Brother Jier, don’t worry. When the fans see this face, they’ll find excuses to forgive him on their own.”

After mid-April, the spring rains ceased, and J City finally cleared up. This season, crabapple blossoms arrived right on time.

No matter how hard the rehearsals were, the band always had rest time. After discussing with the members to rest for half a day on the weekend, Li Tingzhou confirmed his meeting with Xi He and reserved a table at a restaurant not too far from Xiangling Road. Before heading out, he didn’t forget to swing by the studio to check everyone’s progress.

As luck would have it, everyone was there. Liu Lusi quickly scanned Li Tingzhou’s outfit for the day. She wanted to say something, but ultimately swallowed her words. Waving him goodbye, she simply said, “Be careful on the road.”

Once he was gone, she immediately asked, “What’s the deal this time?”

Dai Jier looked at Mao Maoyu, who kept his mouth shut. “I promised Mengmeng I wouldn’t tell.”

Actually, even if he didn’t say anything, they could deduce a bit. Because Li Tingzhou’s preferences were quite consistent: an older sister type, gentle and caring, didn’t need an overwhelmingly stunning beauty—as long as the feeling was right, he’d invest his feelings.

And indeed, Xi He perfectly matched those criteria. Coincidentally, on the day they ate, they encountered a star filming an outdoor segment on the same street. But Li Tingzhou’s knowledge of Inner Entertainment was limited. Unless someone was exceptionally famous, it was hard for him to match faces to names. At the time, he only saw a hustling crowd squeezed near the landmark buildings on Xiangling Road. Even with staff maintaining order, fans and curious passersby still showed extraordinary enthusiasm and excitement; some even climbed the crabapple trees.

This kind of thing happening in J City wasn’t strange at all. For one second, Li Tingzhou was curious. But staff on both sides hoisted two enormous reflector boards, and a corner of the crabapple tree’s flowering branches covered a man’s face. Along with the flashing lights inside the circle, the proxy photographers’ flashes from outside were going off too. He couldn’t see anything, couldn’t hear anything.

Forget it, don’t know him…

Returning from dinner, Li Tingzhou felt a spark. He told the others to keep practicing first. Then, he immediately went into his personal “training” time.

Dai Jier gave an “I knew it” look and let out a long sigh. “Ah, when will my inspiration come as easily as Mengmeng’s?”

Liu Lusi was still checking matters related to the T City Music Festival. She’d only looked up the moment Li Tingzhou walked in, her gaze immediately glued back to her laptop screen. She casually remarked, “Looks like things are going smoothly.”

Mao Maoyu quickly glanced over. “You’re not mad?”

“I’m not mad. I really am not mad. I don’t even have time to be mad right now. We fly to T City the day after tomorrow. I’ve had the assistant handle your flights and accommodation. Although this isn’t Mengmeng’s first business trip, you guys still look out for him.” Saying this, Liu Lusi looked up at the two. “By ‘look out for,’ I mean you need to watch out and not let random people get near Mengmeng. Nothing can happen to him.”

“What could happen?” Mao Maoyu didn’t take it seriously.

Liu Lusi didn’t even bother glancing at him, shifting her gaze to Dai Jier. Having been blocked by an “enthusiastic fan” before, Dai Jier understood immediately and agreed on the spot. “Alright, I’ll keep an eye out!”

Sending Mengmeng to the music festival was like sending Tang Sanzang into a monster’s cave. Whether female monsters or male, if something happened at this crucial debut moment, it would be catastrophic. Heartbreak had already temporarily lost Jiang Hu; they couldn’t afford to lose Mengmeng too. Otherwise, everyone would really have to divide the luggage and go their separate ways—you to your Gao Lao Zhuang, me back to my Flower-Fruit Mountain…