1990: Starting from Baojia Street

"We Are Young" has a fast tempo and is very suitable for outdoor performances.

Zhou Yan compiled a version in advance and added some drums to it, making it more suitable for the current scene.

When the lively violin and rhythmic drum beats sounded, the atmosphere on the scene reached a new level.

Many audience members who had just walked out of the concert hall showed expressions of surprise on their faces when they heard "We Are Young".

They didn't expect that the outdoor programs would be so different from the indoor ones, and they were two completely different experiences.

Outdoors, they don't need to concentrate and appreciate the meaning of music as they do indoors. They just need to follow their feelings and enjoy the intuitive feeling that rhythm and melody bring them.

Zhao Weilun and his friends were standing in the back row, watching Zhou Yan playing the violin with great rhythm on the stage. They also found it magical. They had never seen Zhou Yan perform so briskly on stage.

Zhou Yan made the right decision by choosing "We Are Young" as the opening song for the outdoor encore performance. This song alone aroused the emotions of the audience.

Some passers-by heard how lively it was here and came over curiously to see what was going on.

More and more people came to the square, but everything was in order thanks to the police.

Because there were so many people, after "We Are Young" ended, people from relevant departments came to ask Zhou Yan to play a few more songs tonight, and Zhou Yan gladly agreed.

In fact, even if they did not make such a request, Zhou Yan would have played a few more songs tonight. He also saw that there were indeed a lot of audiences on the scene, and the number was still increasing.

In the end, Zhou Yan played a total of seven pieces outdoors, setting a record for all his concerts. Normally, Zhou Yan would only play three to five pieces outdoors.

The number of extra pieces performed tonight is twice that of a normal show.

However, today's seven songs are all more popular, such as "We Are Young", "How Long Will I Love You", "If Love Has Destiny", etc., because these songs are more suitable for outdoors and suitable for a wider audience.

Not only did he play seven pieces of music, he also interacted with the audience for quite a long time, which made the leaders of local departments very happy. This concert had a positive impact on the publicity of Taipei City that cannot be underestimated.

……

After the seven songs were played, Zhou Yan waved goodbye to the audience, "Good night, everyone. See you tomorrow."

After that, no matter how the audience tried to persuade him to stay, he took the band members back to the backstage.

The audience did not leave. One reason was that they thought Zhou Yan might return, and the other was that the big screen was playing the short film that Zhou Yan had recorded earlier for promotional purposes.

It was not until the short film ended and Zhou Yan did not return that the audience began to leave one after another.

As soon as Zhou Yan returned to the backstage, a Tomson staff member came over and said to him, "Teacher Zhou, the concert hall just gave us the data on the scene. There are more than 14,000 audience members in total outdoors."

Zhou Yan narrowed his eyes and asked curiously, "Is this data an estimate? How did they come up with it? Why is it so fast?"

"Because the lines were drawn in advance, we counted each person who entered, and this was done for several entrances. At the end, we added the data from several entrances together and the total data came out. Although it is not very accurate, the error should not be large. During the performance, I also estimated it visually, and it was roughly this data."

In fact, visual estimation is very simple, because the audience outside the venue today are lined up in squares and standing in rows, so as long as you count how many people are in a row and then count how many rows there are, you can estimate the total number of people. This method has errors, but they are not particularly large.

"The order on the scene was maintained very well today, and the stage was well built."

“The main thing is that there is a big screen, so the effect is very good.”

Zhou Yan nodded. The big screen was indeed the key to today's effect, but such a screen was hard to come by and could not be imitated elsewhere.

It is impossible for other concert halls to set up a large screen specifically for Zhou Yan’s concert. The cost is too high.

Unless outdoor audiences are also charged admission, the cost of the screen cannot be recovered at all. The concert hall also sold water today, but the money from the water sale is probably a drop in the bucket.

The group didn't hang out for long. It was getting late tonight and they had a performance tomorrow, so they had to go back and rest early.

Zhou Yan still did not follow the main group, but went to Wang Zuxian's residence with her.

After returning, he didn't work anymore and went to bed early.

But he got up very early the next morning, at six o'clock, and went to the study to work at half past six.

Zhou Yan worked until 7:30. When he returned to the bedroom and saw that Joey Wong was still sleeping, he changed his clothes and went out to buy breakfast.

The house bought by Joey Wong is surrounded by good living facilities. You can see many breakfast shops just a few steps downstairs. There are many people visiting early in the morning, which makes it quite lively.

Zhou Yan has been buying breakfast at a breakfast shop called "Weiyuan Soy Milk" these past two days. The shop is owned by a middle-aged couple. When he arrived, it was the busiest time in the morning and he had to queue up to order food.

But the line wasn't long. There were only three or four people in front of Zhou Yan. When it was Zhou Yan's turn, the proprietress said with a smile, "Still two soy milks, two soup dumplings, and one egg pancake?"

Zhou Yan looked at the proprietress in surprise, then nodded, "Yeah."

The proprietress smiled and said as she packed breakfast for Zhou Yan, "I'll give you a few pot stickers. You can try them. If they're delicious, you can buy some next time. You'll get tired of eating the same kind all the time."

“How much are the pot stickers?”

"No need, I'll give it to you."

Zhou Yan nodded and did not reject the proprietress's kindness.

At the same time, he also felt that this proprietress was really born to do business. He had only been shopping there for two days, but she remembered him and could even clearly remember what he bought.

The key point is that every time Zhou Yan came, the store was very busy. Even in this situation, he could still remember it so clearly, which shows that the proprietress is not simple.

However, from the proprietress's perspective, this is not a difficult thing. It may take some time to remember other customers, but it is very easy to remember Zhou Yan because Zhou Yan is special enough.

Zhou Yan is tall and wears a pair of sunglasses early in the morning. His appearance is very different from that of ordinary customers. Moreover, his accent is not that of a local and he orders the same thing every time he comes.

After getting breakfast, Zhou Yan went to the supermarket again, replenished some "daily necessities", and then leisurely returned.

When he reached the door and was taking out his key to open it, a puzzled voice came from behind.

"Hey, I didn't go wrong."

Hearing the voice, Zhou Yan turned around and saw a slightly plump middle-aged woman standing not far away carrying two bags, looking at him with confusion.

When he saw the other person, Zhou Yan was immediately stunned, because he had recognized that the person in front of him was Wang Zuxian's mother.

She was sitting in the second row last night, relatively close to the stage, so Zhou Yan could see her clearly.

In an instant, many thoughts flashed through Zhou Yan's mind. In the end, he bowed very politely and said hello, "Hello, Auntie."

Mother Wang replied subconsciously, "Hello."

Then she looked confused, "Who are you?"

Zhou Yan was dressed very casually, in a loose white T-shirt with khaki shorts and a pair of two-tone sneakers. He looked like a college student.

Moreover, he was wearing sunglasses, so Mother Wang didn't recognize that the person in front of her was Zhou Yan who had stood on the stage and performed for them last night, and she didn't even think about it that way.

Zhou Yan could only take off his sunglasses and said, "I am Zhou Yan."

"week……"

Mother Wang suddenly felt her brain freeze. Why was Zhou Yan here?
Where is this...Oh, by the way, this is Xiaoxian's residence.

Why did he come to see Xiaoxian so early in the morning?
Seeing Mother Wang standing there, Zhou Yan didn't know what to say. Should he invite her to come in and sit down?

After a long while, Wang's mother finally responded, "You are here to look for Xiaoxian, right?"

"Uh...yeah."

"Let me knock on the door for you."

Mother Wang walked up and knocked on the door.

No one answered, so she knocked a few more times with more force, and at the same time said to Zhou Yan, "Xiaoxian usually gets up very early, maybe he's been busy with work recently."

This time, a response was heard from inside, and then Joey Wong came over in her pajamas and opened the door.

She yawned, "Third brother, you didn't bring ..."

Halfway through her words, she noticed the situation outside the door, and instantly she broke out in a cold sweat, "Mom, why are you here?"

Mother Wang rolled her eyes, "What do you mean, I can't come?"

"No, didn't you tell me in advance that you were coming?"

"I must remember to tell you next time that there are guests at home. Why are you coming out in your pajamas?"

Hearing her mother say this, Joey Wong shrank her neck, turned around and ran into the house.

Mother Wang smiled and invited Zhou Yan into the house again, "Director Zhou, please come in."

As soon as she entered the house, she saw men's slippers placed at the door, but she didn't say anything. After all, she was an experienced person, and Zhou Yan's reaction and her daughter's reaction just now had made her understand what was going on.

Although she guessed what was going on, she didn't say it out loud. She treated Zhou Yan as an ordinary guest, invited him to sit on the sofa, and poured him a cup of tea.

Zhou Yan quickly took the teacup and thanked her, "Auntie, you are so polite."

"It's my duty, it's my duty." Mother Wang sat down opposite Zhou Yan and looked him up and down with a smile.

Zhou Yan felt Mother Wang's burning gaze and could only pretend to lower his head and drink tea to hide his embarrassment.

After a long while, Zhou Yan couldn't hold back his temper and spoke first, "I originally wanted to visit you and your uncle, but I'm really pressed for time recently and can't spare the time."

Mother Wang waved her hands. "It's okay, it's okay. I know you're busy. Didn't we meet yesterday? Is this tea delicious?"

"Yeah, that's good." Zhou Yan nodded.

"As long as it tastes good." Mother Wang said with a half-smile, "Xiaoxian doesn't usually like to drink tea. I was just worried about what to treat you, but I didn't expect to find this tea on the table. It's just opened and looks like it should be this year's new tea. This should be Houkui. I don't know much about tea."

This is very interesting. Joey Wong doesn’t usually drink tea, but now there is such good new tea at home, which should be prepared for those who like to drink it.

Zhou Yan didn't hide it, and nodded with a smile, "It's this year's Houkui, I brought it here. Auntie, if you like it, I'll prepare some for you later."

"I'm fine. Grandpa Xiaoxian really likes drinking tea."

"Understood. I'll prepare more for Grandpa later."

Mother Wang smiled, stood up, opened one of the bags she had just brought over, and asked Zhou Yan, "Have you had breakfast?"

"Not yet, but I just bought some outside." Zhou Yan also opened the bag he brought up and took out the breakfast inside.

"That's good. I originally only prepared one for Xiaoxian. But if I come again tomorrow, I can prepare two."

The meaning of this statement is even more obvious, as it is asking whether Zhou Yan will still be here tomorrow.

At this time, Wang Zuxian came out of the room and said, "Mom, you came here just to bring me breakfast."

"I came here to see you and bring you some breakfast. From the sound of your voice, you don't think I'd like to come?"

Wang Zuxian sat next to her mother, hugged her arm, and said coquettishly, "No, I'm afraid you'll be tired."

"It better be. I thought you didn't want me to come over."

"No way." Wang Zuxian looked at Zhou Yan with a guilty look, then mustered up the courage to introduce him to her mother, "Mom, let me introduce you, this is Zhou Yan."

After she finished her introduction, Mother Wang kept looking at her. After a while, she said, "That's all?"

Wang Zuxian was stunned and asked, "What else?"

At this time Zhou Yan took over the conversation, "Auntie, I'm Xiaoxian's boyfriend."

Mother Wang nodded in satisfaction. This was the answer she wanted. Then she continued, "Xiaoxian, you are so ignorant. Why didn't you tell your family that you had a boyfriend? Zhou Yan has already arrived in Taipei City, and you don't even bring him home to visit."

Wang Zuxian quickly explained, "I want to wait until our relationship is more stable before telling you."

"Is your relationship unstable now?"

Wang Zuxian lowered her head and said, "It's quite stable."

"That won't work?" Mother Wang looked at Zhou Yan again, "Zhou Yan, are you free this afternoon? If you are free, come to my house and have a chat."

Before Zhou Yan could say anything, Joey Wong said, "It's not possible at noon today. He has a performance in the evening."

"We have to perform in the evening and eat at noon."

"When you go home, you have to drink. Otherwise, it's not good to just eat."

The key point is that Zhou Yan didn't prepare any gifts, so it was not a good idea to rush there like that.

Mother Wang thought about it and felt that her daughter was right. It was Zhou Yan’s first visit to their home, so they must be more formal.

"Then let's have lunch here today. I'll cook and you, Zhou Yan, can stay and have a quick meal."

Then, without waiting for Zhou Yan and the others to speak, she supported her knees and stood up, "It's settled. I'll go buy some groceries."

When Wang's mother walked out of the door, Wang Zuxian grabbed her hair and said, "Third brother, I'm sorry, I didn't expect mom to come today."

Zhou Yan smiled and said, "It's nothing. We will meet sooner or later. This is fine."

Wang Zuxian ran to the sofa and sat down, resting her head on Zhou Yan's shoulder, and said blankly, "I actually imagined many scenarios of introducing you to my family, but I didn't expect it to be like this. It disrupted my plan in an instant."

Zhou Yan touched her head and smiled, "It's okay, at least I got up early. If your mother caught me in bed..."

Joey Wong shrank her neck, somewhat afraid to think about the situation Zhou Yan described.

Although they are all adults and this situation is normal, it is still awkward. (End of this chapter)