Chapter 15: The Concert

Although the bronze mirror was blurry, Liu Liwa could still roughly see his own face in it. He was stunned as he looked at his reflection. It was a fair and clean face, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, red lips and white teeth—a real handsome man! He could totally audition for the male lead in “Endlessly Watching Meteor Showers”!

Liu Liwa finally understood why the girls looked at him with such fiery gazes, and why a beauty like Qin Wan’er was his fiancée. It turned out he had great natural features! Actually, Liu Liwa hadn’t been bad-looking in his past life either. It was just that, after being around Sister Feng and Furong for so long, he had unconsciously adopted a gloomy expression to match them, which ruined his overall handsomeness.

In a short while, more and more girls gathered in the room. Most were warm and enthusiastic, while a few just greeted him politely out of courtesy. It was clear they looked down on brothel servants like Yang Xiaosi. Most of the girls had already had their dignity worn away by harsh reality, but a few still held onto theirs. However, Liu Liwa didn’t agree with that approach. If you couldn’t fight fate, why torture yourself both mentally and physically? As the saying goes, go with the flow and deal with things as they come!

Outside, the crowd gradually grew. Liu Liwa and Yang Xiaosi went out several times to greet wealthy merchants from the city. Although Liu Liwa didn’t receive any tips, he managed to become a familiar face. A few of the older girls who were on good terms with Yang Xiaosi were sent out to entertain guests, earning money in the world of romance and pleasure. Meanwhile, those who clung to their last shreds of dignity and looked down on Yang Xiaosi remained on standby, awaiting the harsh reality that only the lowest-class customers, seeking mere thrills, would come their way. To survive, they had no choice but to endure.

These women were both worthy and unworthy of sympathy. They were worthy of sympathy because of their strong will, but unworthy because they failed to assess the situation and were too stubborn. They could learn from the girls of later generations—many of whom weren’t forced into this life but willingly stepped into the red-light district, driven by their desire for material comforts and an easy life. How open-minded and broad-minded those girls were!

Before long, the outside area was packed. Fine wine and delicious dishes flowed onto the tables like water. The girls chattered and laughed sweetly, while the men drank heartily, lost in a world of luxury and extravagance.

Liu Liwa knew these were regular customers who came every day. Sometimes they didn’t stay overnight, but they always showed up to support Miss Liuyun. Miss Liuyun was a superstar not only in the Intoxication Pavilion but throughout Linyu County. She performed only four times a month, with two consecutive shows on these particular days, letting her fans get their fill. No wonder so many were obsessed with her. Last night, Liu Liwa had only caught a brief glimpse of her, but her elegant beauty and ethereal charm had captivated him.

Liu Liwa followed Yang Xiaosi to the front, greeting guests and soaking in the lively, intoxicating atmosphere of men and women mingling. Upstairs, four girls slowly descended. Dressed in long dresses of red, yellow, blue, and green, each held a musical instrument: a bamboo flute, a zither, a sheng, and a cloud gong. They moved gracefully, like celestial maidens descending from the clouds, sparking enthusiastic cheers from the entire crowd.

The girls took their seats, and the music began—a cheerful opening piece to capture the guests’ attention. Yang Xiaosi placed a tray in Liu Liwa’s hands, meant for collecting tips. Of course, Liu Liwa wasn’t entitled to a share of this money.

The four girls, in their colorful attire of red, yellow, blue, and green, bloomed like a garden of flowers. Liu Liwa thought he saw a beam of white light descending from above. He quickly looked up and saw a woman gliding down the wooden staircase amid celestial music. She wore a pure white silk dress as pristine as snow, with emerald sleeves exquisitely tailored, lightly draped like auspicious snow. Beneath the hem of her dress, her delicate feet peeked out. Her graceful form was like a fairy from the heavens descending to the mortal world.

Compared to her, the four elegant girls turned into mere green leaves—proof that comparisons could be deadly.

Miss Liuyun drifted down like a falling snowflake, her cool demeanor matching her aloof temperament. She slowly seated herself among the four girls, behind the qin table, without any introduction—as if speaking an extra word would be a gift to mere mortals. When her delicate hands touched the Ya Qin, the noisy hall fell silent instantly, like a single bird entering the forest and silencing all others. However, a man in front of Liu Liwa, gazing at the fairy-like Miss Liuyun, felt a strong urge to fantasize. He abruptly placed his hand on the Summit of the Maiden of the girl beside him. The girl let out a habitual, professional cry, like a kitten’s soft mewl, but in the silent hall, it sounded piercingly sharp.

Compared to the classical music of this era, Liu Liwa preferred the sound of that “kitten’s meow.” But at that moment, the noise disrupted Miss Liuyun’s inspiration and disturbed the other guests’ enjoyment of the elegant art.

The crowd glared angrily. The girl quickly covered her mouth, and the customer beside her awkwardly withdrew his hand—though he still mischievously compared the Summit of the Maiden of the girl beside him to that of Miss Liuyun.

It couldn’t be helped. When girls appeared in public, it was inevitable that they’d be visually harassed. In later times, performers would dare to wear see-through outfits or bandage dresses, afraid that people wouldn’t look enough.

After regaining her composure, Miss Liuyun remained silent. The guests below knew her habits and waited quietly for the performance. Miss Liuyun slightly bowed her head, her slender, jade-like fingers flitting over the strings. Beautiful music flowed out like water, and the other four girls immediately joined in harmony. A melodious tune, now fast, now slow, wafted through the air.

Liu Liwa watched carefully. The focused performers on stage, the entranced audience below—this scene, this atmosphere, was just like a concert! And most guests seemed uninterested in the music itself; they were more focused on Miss Liuyun’s face and figure. It was the same in later times—how many people truly enjoyed performances at music halls or classical concerts? Weren’t they just there to see short skirts and high slits? The seats on the left and right sides always sold out last, with everyone waiting to catch a glimpse of those beautiful legs!

Just then, Miss Liuyun parted her vermilion lips. Her voice was like water dripping onto green stone in a deep, empty valley, clear and flowing, ethereal and lovely, like heavenly music cleansing the soul. However, though her voice was beautiful, she sang in classical Chinese, which Liu Liwa couldn’t understand. But according to international practice, a woman of her status likely sang songs of self-pity—the central theme being the tears of a dancing girl!

The audience below listened, enchanted, swaying their heads. One guest, big and burly, clearly a butcher, still had unsold pork kidneys hanging from his waist. His greasy hands occasionally wiped on his clothes. Liu Liwa wondered, “Does this uncle even understand what she’s singing?”

At the same time, Liu Liwa noticed that although the song was well-sung and the pitch was accurate, the transitions between high and low notes felt somewhat awkward. Miss Liuyun’s expression also seemed strained. Though she wasn’t belting out rock-style with veins popping, she showed signs of oxygen deprivation. This indicated that her vocal fundamentals weren’t solid—she hadn’t undergone systematic vocal training, and her natural range wasn’t broad enough. However, Miss Liuyun’s skill with the qin was extraordinary. Even a novice like Xiao Bai felt his heart sway…