Tokyo: The story begins with a confession.

Page 211

Well, it seems I'll have to sing one more song. Uesugi Kenichi looked at the densely packed crowd.

Kenichi Uesugi picked up his guitar again and walked to the microphone.

The people around gradually quieted down.

He was currently pondering what song to sing. After all, he didn't have many songs he could sing completely in his head right now.

In a moment, Kenichi Uesugi made up his mind. He wanted to sing a song he really liked, a folk song.

As Uesugi Kenichi stood still, about to play, he glanced ahead and felt a sudden unease at the sight of the dense crowd.

My heart was racing.

...

What should I do? My legs seem to be shaking a little. Uesugi Kenichi cried out in despair.

He gave the crowd an awkward but polite fake smile, and was about to back away.

After all, he had never been stared at so intently by so many people before. He didn't dare to say a word in front of so many people, let alone sing.

I didn't see it because I had my eyes closed, otherwise I probably wouldn't have been able to continue singing.

Another round of applause rang out.

Uesugi Kenshin suddenly felt a headache coming on.

He took a deep breath. "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. They're all idiots. The one in front of me is idiot number one. Count them one by one, they're all idiots. It's okay, I'm an idiot myself."

Kenichi Uesugi took another deep breath, suppressing his rapidly beating heart, and began to move his fingers.

A gentle rhythm began, bringing a sense of peace to the heart.

The onlookers made a bit of a commotion when they heard it wasn't the previous song.

It was at this moment that Uesugi Kenichi spoke: You are the waves of a scorching summer in September.

A deep, magnetic voice came through the microphone, and the crowd fell silent once more.

You are a sudden downpour of longing.

You are a grand dream that soars over mountains and rivers.

You are the roadside covered in snow all night long.

You are the youthful glory of the Southern Hemisphere

You are silent, you are gazing at each other.

You are wings seen through the floor-to-ceiling window

After singing the first line again, Uesugi Kenichi's heart calmed down.

Why are so many people so passionately fascinated by folk music?

Folk songs sound plain and simple, lacking technique and high notes, much like an ordinary person murmuring to themselves.

Folk songs are like a poet whispering a story in your ear, a story about yourself.

It's like a bottle of fine wine; the longer it's stored, the more fragrant and intoxicating it becomes.

Folk music is poor; it only needs a cigarette and a glass of wine, and a guitar to depict the myriad aspects of human life.

It seems to be like a mirror, where everyone can see their own other side.

The song sung by Kenichi Uesugi is about someone you like, and everyone who hears this song will think of that unforgettable person.

You are the refreshing fragrance of a small town under the bright sunshine.

You are an irresistible magnetic field that keeps chasing you.

You are the longing for the afterglow of the setting sun.

You are a fleeting ideal I cannot embrace.

You are the journey, you are the hometown.

Kenichi Uesugi stopped playing, but the guitar in his hand was still playing a captivating melody.

He couldn't quite remember the rest of the song, but it was good enough up to this point.

At this moment, the onlookers gently swayed their heads to the rhythm, immersed in a state of tranquility.

Thank you everyone. After the song ended, Uesugi Kenichi bowed his head and thanked the crowd around him.

A huge round of applause followed Uesugi Kenichi's thanks.

"Wow, are both of these songs your original compositions?" Liu Kai asked Uesugi Ken. His face was filled with disbelief. One such excellent original song was already astonishing, but he never expected there to be a second one.

Uesugi Kenichi paused for a moment before nodding and saying, "Yes, it's an original work."

After the applause ended, the voice of an encore rose from the crowd again.

Uesugi Kenichi apologized to everyone, saying he would not sing it again and returned the guitar to Liu Kai.

Seeing that Uesugi Kenichi seemed to have no intention of singing anymore, the crowd slowly dispersed.

"May I ask the names of these two songs?" A few people ran over from the crowd, and one of the pretty girls asked.

Uesugi Kenichi smiled at the group and said, "The first song is called 'Enduring the Cold Wind for You,' and the second song is called 'Twelve.'"

"Twelve?" the girl asked, puzzled.

Twelve.

The girl, still puzzled, asked, "Why is it called Twelve? Isn't that strange?"

Uesugi Kenichi paused for a moment and said, "Because 'lover' has twelve strokes, 'beloved' has twelve strokes, 'family' has twelve strokes, and 'friends' has twelve strokes. Do you have any other questions?"

The girl gave an embarrassed smile: "There's one more question."

Go ahead and ask.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" the girl asked, suddenly becoming bolder and looking at Uesugi Kenichi.

Upon hearing this, Uesugi Kenichi took a closer look at the girl. She had long hair tied in a high ponytail, willow-leaf eyebrows, a slightly chubby face, and bright eyes that seemed to glow. She was smiling, and her eyes narrowed as she smiled.

She wore a white short-sleeved shirt, the letters on it bulging up as if by some unknown force. Below, she wore knee-length jeans, a slightly breezy summer outfit that perfectly showcased her great figure.

"She's a very cute and charming girl," was Uesugi Kenichi's first thought. Even though he was surrounded by all kinds of beautiful women online every day, he couldn't help but be amazed by the girl's smile.

Uesugi Kenichi paused for a moment, then said, "Uh, no."

A glint of light flashed in the girl's eyes.

She extended her hand to Uesugi Kenichi: "My name is Zhou Yuqing. I am currently a sophomore at Jiangcheng Dance Academy, majoring in folk dance. I am 20 years old and do not have a boyfriend!"

Zhou Yuqing's rapid-fire self-introduction stunned Uesugi Kenichi.

Hello, my name is Uesugi Kenichi. Uesugi Kenichi was stunned for a moment and gently shook her hand, a warm feeling spreading through him.

"Could you please give me your contact information? I think you have a high level of musical talent, and I'd like to ask you for some advice." Zhou Yuqing brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and whispered.

Wow! Several people next to Zhou Yuqing cheered.

Hearing their teasing, Zhou Yuqing pushed them away, feeling embarrassed.

Hey handsome, you're so lucky! My Yuqing is incredibly popular at school.

Yes, the line of people chasing after Yuqing stretched from the school cafeteria all the way to the dormitory.

Several girls next to Zhou Yuqing spoke up.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Uesugi Kenichi found it hard to say no. Of course, he wouldn't admit that he gave her his contact information because Zhou Yuqing was really beautiful.

After adding each other on WeChat, Zhou Yuqing fled as if she were escaping. The girls beside her laughed and chased after her, leaving behind only a chorus of silvery laughter.

After Zhou Yuqing left, her roommate Wang Weiwei asked, "...Yuqing, did you really fall for that guy named Uesugi Kenichi? Although he's very handsome and sings well, asking for his contact information doesn't seem like your style."

"Yeah, I was really surprised when Yuqing asked for his contact information. So many handsome guys at school want him but Yuqing won't give him hers, and today she actually asked someone else for his contact information. Tell me, what do you like about him?" Another roommate, Sun Ling, asked with a smile.

Zhou Yuqing lowered her head and smiled shyly: "I don't know why I went up there on a whim. Please don't laugh at me. I just thought he sang very well and played the guitar very well. I didn't mean anything else."

Besides, those two songs seemed to be his original compositions. Aren't we about to rehearse a dance? Wouldn't it be great if we asked him to compose a piece for us? Don't you think so? Zhou Yuqing seemed pleased with herself for her cleverness, a smug look on her face.

Wang Weiwei chuckled and said, "Okay, you have a point. If you don't like it, I'll go after you."

After hearing Wang Weiwei's words, Zhou Yuqing hurriedly said, "No!"

"If you don't like it, why can't you?" Wang Weiwei continued to press.

Anyway, it just won't work. Zhou Yuqing pouted as she spoke, making her already chubby face (Qian Lihao's) rounder face appear even rounder.

Haha, Sun Ling watched as Zhou Yuqing poked her face with her finger while pouting, which made her laugh out loud.

"Ouch, you poked my face again." Zhou Yuqing said, feigning anger.

Sun Ling said, "Who told you to be so cute? Even I, a girl, can't help but want to pinch you."

Zhou Yuqing stomped her foot: "Hmph, I'm ignoring you."

She tossed her hair and walked forward.

Hey, Yuqing, slow down! Wait for us!

After Zhou Yuqing and the others left, Li Yang and his group surrounded them, their faces full of mockery.

"That girl was pretty good, and she looked so cute. I bet she's really good at 'whimpering,' just your type," Li Yang said, walking over and putting an arm around Uesugi Kenichi's shoulder.

Chen Wen immediately chimed in, "To be honest, that girl is really pretty, and she seems to be a little interested in you. Why don't you consider it?"

Kenichi Uesugi smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "No way, don't talk nonsense."

"Get lost, get lost! Look at that smug look on his face!" Shen Hong glanced sideways at Uesugi Kenichi and cursed.

Uesugi Kenichi: "So, what do you mean, are we going back now or what?"

"What time is it?" Li Yang asked.

"It's almost ten o'clock, isn't it?" Chen Wen replied.

Li Yang asked, "How about we go play a few rounds?"

Okay, let's go, Jie.

The four of them then took a taxi back to the building where Uesugi Ken's family lived.

"It's time to buy a car," Uesugi Kenichi thought to himself.