Chapter 027: The Audience Demands a Change of Scene!

PS: Wishing everyone a joyful Dragon Boat Festival and happiness for your whole family!

The enormous lounge of the Nine Phoenix Music Hall served as the shared resting area for the main hall and the three solo halls. It was primarily designed for audiences attending large-scale musical works, some of which lasted for hours. There were also popular music medleys, ballets, operas, and other performances, all with intermissions.

Now, as the audience poured out from the second solo hall—where Le Xiaotian had just performed—they were in a frenzy.

“My goodness, Teacher Xiaotian is incredible! Every stroke of the bow is powerful without losing finesse.”

“Exactly! How does he practice? I tried to imitate just one of his movements, and even after ten years, I wouldn't reach his level.”

“Brother, you're overestimating yourself! Do you even know who Teacher Xiaotian is?!”

“What? Is he the Xiaotian brother and Ziyang master who sang ‘Peerless Elegance’ on Xiaotian’s Request Show the other day?”

“Heavens, no wonder he’s so amazing—it’s godlike!”

The moment the performance ended, people seemed on the verge of losing their minds. The exquisite artistry, the enchanting melodies, the innovative forms and styles, the legend behind the performer—all of it left them exhilarated. They were already imagining what might come next, and just thinking about it sent waves of excitement through them.

At this moment, the lounge was ablaze with energy. The main hall’s intermission had begun. Two thousand people surged out, filling the vast lounge to capacity; the spectacle was magnificent.

Once outside, people resumed their earlier conversations. Tonight, the main hall featured a chamber orchestra with a single wind section and thirty-three musicians: strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and color instruments. Though small in number, the ensemble boasted a complete array.

“I heard this orchestra performed in the Phoenix Nest Yellow Dance Hall in the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon Kingdom, but honestly, I don’t think they’re that talented.”

“What’s Phoenix Nest? I’ve never heard of it.”

“You know our Fama’s Sparrow Nest, right? Phoenix Nest is ten times larger—five grand dance halls, stages for audiences in the hundreds of thousands. The All-Star Extreme Challenge next year will be held there.”

“I think this conductor is all hype. The brochure says he’s a student of the Blue Bridge Music and Dance Academy in the Dance Kingdom, but he can’t even make it in Fama.”

“Exactly! Ten years of conducting experience and this is what we get? I almost fell asleep. No sense of soul or transcendence. I wasted my money.”

“The brass section is too showy, the strings lack balance—this conductor is truly mediocre.”

As these main hall attendees discussed, they gradually became drawn to the 398 audience members who seemed as if they’d taken stimulants. The main hall was currently playing what could be considered classical music, so most listeners were people with refined tastes. Even with the lowest ticket price at a hundred, they came to experience something different from pop music. Their discussions were more elegant—none of the shouting typical of rock and pop concerts.

But now, they noticed the 398 were different. It was as if they weren’t there for the refined melodies, but for the passionate energy of a pop concert. Classical listeners looked down on epic listeners, epic listeners looked down on pure instrumental, pure instrumental looked down on electronic, electronic looked down on remix, remix looked down on songs. Classical, epic, pure instrumental, electronic, dance music—all looked down on pop song listeners. This was the music world's hierarchy of disdain.

Drawn in, many began to inquire, and the scene became lively.

“Which performing artist? You’re behind the times—this is Teacher Xiaotian’s live show!”

“What genre? Epic, classical, pure instrumental, electronic, pop, rock—you name it. We just can’t keep up! Teacher Xiaotian’s music transcends genres!”

“What piece? I heard it’s ‘Beethoven Virus,’ a fusion of the third movement of a traditional symphony with electronic and other elements.”

“Is it good? Of course! This is the best performance I’ve ever seen!”

“Don’t believe me? I couldn’t care less—get lost!”

“Want to trade tickets? Are you kidding? You think your thousand-dance-currency ticket is impressive? Look—mine is eight thousand, eight thousand! And that’s not even the highest!”

“Trying to buy my ticket for a hundred thousand? Go away! I’m a person of taste, I love music; no amount of money will make me trade!”

Ticket prices for the main hall and the three solo halls at Nine Phoenix were basically the same, regardless of the artists or ensembles—ranging from a hundred to two thousand. Now, the lowest ticket for Le Xiaotian’s show was much higher than the main hall’s top price, and people were unsettled. Driven by curiosity, even high offers failed to secure tickets. None of the 398 were willing to exchange or sell their tickets, and this drove everyone mad.

“My goodness, Le Xiaotian is actually a conductor!”

“I demand a venue switch—I want to hear Teacher Xiaotian’s performance!”

“Exactly! The main hall’s conductor is so mediocre. Where are Nine Phoenix’s staff?”

“What kind of service is this? Where is everyone?”

In an instant, the atmosphere in the lounge reached a fever pitch. Everyone wanted to see Le Xiaotian’s performance.

Soon, Zhang Lei appeared, accompanied by several staff members, holding a megaphone. He hadn’t expected such a situation tonight. Sneaking out of the second solo hall, he switched on his phone and immediately received a call from his superior. The higher-up said the main hall audience was demanding that Le Xiaotian perform there, and since Zhang Lei had discovered the issue, he was to handle it well. If he managed it successfully, a promotion awaited him.

Zhang Lei’s heart raced with excitement. The main hall hosted five times as many people as the second solo hall. If Le Xiaotian’s tickets continued to sell at ten times the price, that meant ten million. Even at the original ticket price, a successful main hall performance would bring fame to Nine Phoenix. Zhang Lei would ascend, becoming a true executive at Nine Phoenix.

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. He jumped onto a table and switched on the megaphone: “Everyone, please calm down. I’ve got a general understanding of the situation. Now, give me a moment to mediate. Once there’s news, I’ll announce it over the PA. For now, please help yourselves to free water and snacks—Nine Phoenix’s little gesture of goodwill. Don’t be shy!”

Hearing this, the crowd who had been ready to complain—“Nine Phoenix got big and now hires mediocre conductors”—were caught off guard. Their intended criticisms died before they were spoken. Quietly, they lined up for water and snacks, waiting calmly.