Perfect Superstar Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3: SHRIMP IN THE RIVER

 

The backstage of Nepenthes bar is a big room that separates into two smaller

compartments. It is for all the bar singers.In the two small suites, there is a sofa, a TV,

wine cabinets, separate bathroom facilities and so on. When Lu Chen came in, there

were 2 people, a man and a woman.

 

The male singer was playing on his cellphone and the female singer was putting on make-

up, so they ignored Lu Chen. After all, in this small circle, Lu Chen’s position is the lowest.

 

“Ye Ge morning, Hong Jie morning! ”

 

Lu Chen as usual said hello, then sat down at his place. His place is nearest to the

stage. The male singer indifferently said “ Ah ” while the female singer put down her

cotton, smiled and said: “Xiaolu, today you are late, you must have been criticized by the

boss, right? HA HA! ”

 

Hong jie is more than 30 years old. She has already been here for five years. Although

her voice is good, her appearance was lacking. However, in Houhai bars, she has a

little fame. But compared to contracted singers like Madonna, she was not good enough.

 

Nevertheless, she always maintains a condescending attitude towards Lu Chen.

Though it sounds like she asked with concern, hidden there was a hint of derision and

ridicule. (Tl: Not so hidden than that lol )

 

If it was yesterday, Lu Chen would have certainly been depressed, upset and/or angry

but could not fight back.

 

However, after the dream where he had gone through three different lives, his attitude

had changed for the better. As if he did not hear the tone of ridicule, he indifferently

smiled and said: “Thank you, Hong Jie for your concern, I apologized to the boss. ”

 

Hong Jie was stunned and the words she wanted to say got stuck in her throat.

So, she just gently hummed and ignored Lu Chen. Then picked up the cotton that was

dropped.

 

At this time, the door was suddenly opened and a long-haired man wearing a black

jacket entered the room.

 

” Qin Ge! ”

 

Hong Jie and the male singer responded quickly, and immediately rose to theirs feet

to greet the opposite party with a smile.

 

Lu Chen followed up: “Qin Ge is early …”

Qin Han Yang is Nepenthes real driving force. He is the vocals and a guitarist of a band.

He’s the soul and an integral part of his band. Even the boss is polite to him.

The band has a total of five members, other than Qin Han Yang, there is also a lead

guitarist, a bassist, a drummer and a keyboard player.

 

For bars such as Nepenthes, supporting a band is not easy. However, in return for the

loss of the bar, the bar’s fame and popularity could be raised.

 

Qin Han Yang nodded in reponse with no expression on his face.

He picked up a few papers on the dressing table, then went back to his room and shut

the door.

 

Hong Jie and the Ye Ge was a little embarrassed , but they knew that with Qin Han

Yang’s qualifications, the latter’s words could get them kicked out of Nepenthes. They

would not survive in the Houhai circle. Lu Chen laughed, he and Qin Han Yang were

too far. Their social standing were too far and plus Lu Chen did not have interest in

climbing the social ladder .

 

The bar was like a small lake, Lu Chen was just a shrimp in the river.

 

He sat down again and started to brush his messy hair.

 

In Sanlitun bar’s, there were different kinds of people mixed up in the Houhai bars. To

the messy decadence of pop singers who were not popular here, their image was not

very important.

 

Up on stage, the host’s voice is broadcasted and Lu Chen knows it’s almost time.

 

Lu Chen took take time to prepare as soon he would be performing.

He already had an idea about the song he would play this evening.

 

When the director was making jokes to enliven the atmosphere, the previous waiter

who sneered at Lu Chen secretly sneaked to the Sound chamber. ( TL: it could be

Electric Sound Chamber or back room but I thought Sound chamber was more cool so

I used that but if you have a different opinion please let me know! )(ED: lighting room is

a possibility since that’s what its called irl)

 

The room was very small and filled with sound and lighting equipment. There were

various types of electric cables and wires densely packed like a spider web, with red,

green and blue LED lights flashing all the time.

 

The man sitting in the ” Spider web ” weighed more than 200 pounds of fat, with a

huge headphone and from the work table throw another half eaten hamburger into the

pile of hale eaten hamberger behind him.

 

“Fat elder brother, fat elder brother! ”

 

The waiter called twice in a row but the fat man did not hear  and he had to come forward

to push him.

 

The fat man suddenly opened his eyes and saw the waiter, he frowned, took off his

headphones before unhappily saying: “Little Gao, don’t you have anything to do

outside, running here, go out! ”

 

He is the sound technician , in this small room, even Chen Kun-ho had to listen to

him.

 

Gao knows this, of course, but he quickly smiled and give a pack of beer.

The fat man gratefully accepted the beer and then glances at him with one eye and

asked, “Say,  are you courting a boy ,no matter, I warn you they are no big

favor ! ”

 

“It’s small …”

 

Gao leaned over at the fat man’s ears and whispered a few words.

The fat man’s face become strange, “This is small? ”

Gao laughs: “It’s small, I see Lu Chen that kid is uncomfortable, a newbie,

defiant, we will give him some lessons and let him know in Nepenthes cicle, face is not

enough! ”

 

“En…”

 

The fat man nodded thoughtfully, a hand rubbing his thick chin and said: “There is also

something else, you say there is not only a handsome face fo singing, why don’t you

go don’t go to SanLiTun [1] as waiters, why be at Houhai with young artists, and I have

to wipe his ass, this … It’s not putting the cart before you? ”

 

Gao said with smile: “Yes, yes, punchinello ⌊2⌋ you’re too good for him …”

Suddenly Gao’s expression changed, pointing to the room through the glass window

saying: “Lu Chen took a seat! ”

 

On the walls of the Studio and the stage they are separated by a single glass, one

can see the whole scene of the stage, while outside is invisible to them.

 

The one  holding a guitar who is moving to center stage, if it’s not Lu Chen then

who?

 

“Punchinello [2], faster! ”

 

Gao tightly pegged to the Lu Chen, his mouth anxiously hustled.

The fat man stared at Gao expression and said: “I know, you don’t have to teach me

how to do it! ”

 

With that said, he reached for a button closes to the audio console, and the LED

lights indicator on the platform immediately extinguished.

 

Houhai bar singers are really singing on accompaniment, with no talent to be here

is tough, but the singer’s voice can be adjusted in the music room to sound good,

and the computer has the ability to turn corruption into magic.

 

There are no real professional tuner in the bar, that Nepenthes can not afford, so

the background music is done by a with semi-professional audio tube, with

para-professional digital equipment, can blind fold amateur with no problem.

 

With bar customers, there are some knowledgeable insiders , but not many, so

nobody know.

 

Lu Chen playing is normal, he had the opportunity to debut on stage to get

extra income, in addition to others advantages.

 

Let the fat man suffers from, Lu Chen has never sent him good, big than an

ensemble of singers!

 

So now is a because of Gao, the mixer is temporarily turned off .

In this way, Lu Chen elastic singing voice will be on the stage, there will be no

optimization,directly through the amplifier in the JBL speakers worth hundreds of

thousands.

 

His true colours will be out!

 

Fat man smile, and then wink to the Gao: “You’re waiting for mayhem right! ”

Gao nodded and tightly clenched his fists in excitement – Lu Chen next time see

what face do you have to go in Nepenthes circle!

 

And Lu Chen, poor him, do not know they is a person calculating for his downfall

behind his back.

 

Lu Chen sat on the bench, his right hand holding the arms of the guitar, the left adjusting

the angle of the microphone.

 

At 8 o’clock in the evening and every day on the weekend, they were more and

more guests at the bar, now almost two-thirds of chairs are occupied, and many of

them are regular customers.

 

After getting ready, Lu Chen says into the microphone: “Thank you Nepenthes, to

start let me sing for you today, << Flight of pigeons >>, I hope you enjoy it! ”

 

There was scattered applause in the bar, with Lu Chen female rogue guest blowing

a loud whistle.

 

“Xiaolu come on! ”

 

Many people laughed, the atmosphere became lively and active.

Lu Chen  waved and was ready to begin his performance.

 

” Kun-ho Ge…”

Behind the bar, the charming woman looking at the stage of Lu Chen, eyes flashing

dots of light: “Your little guys is good, let him play and come to my company. ”

 

“He? ”

 

Chen Jianhao smiled, shook his head and said: “Xiaolu charisma is fine, but playing

is amateur level, it is because of the sound that he’s okay, do you really want to sign him? ”

 

“Well …”

 

The charming woman decisively said “No, my small company canot afford it. ”

 

In the capital there are wealthy people, there are a lot hotties, excellent appearance are

everywhere.

 

For music alone, the capital has three major schools of music, plus a variety of

music training institution,  do not know how many each year there are fresh

people, why bother with effort to train a guy without a foundation?

 

The charming girl said, serious.

 

At this time, Lu Chen touched the guitar strings.

Chapter end