I wouldn’t call myself an expert, but Su Can simply could never forget that one encounter with Chu Youwei ten years in the future.
She had been wearing a black dress, her hair styled in large, soft waves—a look that had instantly mesmerized everyone in the room.
Su Can didn't know much about hair design, but he was certain of one thing: if he could recreate the Chu Youwei he had seen back then—even if it wasn't a perfect replica, just seventy or eighty percent of the original—it would be enough to captivate the entire school.
Chu Youwei was still feeling a bit nervous. She tugged at the corner of Su Can's shirt and asked, "Do I really have to cut my bangs? Will I look ugly with my forehead exposed?"
Before Su Can could answer, the hairstylist—the self-proclaimed "Tony"—spoke up with conviction: "Don't worry, miss! Trust your boyfriend's taste. Once you cut those bangs, you'll look ten times better than you do right now!"
Seeing the barber agree so firmly, Chu Youwei finally felt a little more at ease and let him begin the makeover.
Waiting is always tedious, and with most of the students still in class, business at the barbershop was dismal. Not a single customer had walked in for half a day.
Su Can began to think. A change of image wasn't enough; he had to give this girl a chance to show herself to the world. And what was the best way to do that? Naturally, by going on stage to perform.
As he thought about this, he realized he had never actually heard Chu Youwei sing. But he knew she loved music; he remembered her small MP3 player and how she would always wear her earbuds, immersing herself in her own world.
On a whim, he asked, "Chu Youwei, can you sing?"
Taken aback by the sudden question, she hesitated before replying somewhat bashfully, "I... I can sing a little, I suppose?"
In reality, she could do much more than just "a little." Back in high school, her exceptional voice had led her music teacher to strongly urge her to apply to the top art academies in the Magic City or the Capital. The only reason she had chosen this university instead was to ensure she would meet Su Can there. In terms of singing, Chu Youwei was essentially a professional among ordinary people.
Hearing that she could sing, Su Can felt relieved. That would work perfectly! He could sign her up for a singing act. But once the type of performance was settled, the choice of song became a problem.
The year was 2013, an era of fierce competition in the music industry. It had to be said that Lin Shanshan had excellent taste in music; if Su Can recalled correctly, "Because of Love" was the number one song on the charts in 2012. It would be difficult to outperform a track like that with an ordinary song.
After mulling it over, Su Can decided to pull out a classic that would be universally recognized, even if it hadn't technically been released yet. That was when he thought of "The Wind Rises," the hit song that would take the country by storm in 2018.
Just then, he noticed a guitar hanging in Tony’s shop and asked curiously, "Boss, is that your guitar?"
At the mention of the instrument, Tony’s eyes grew slightly red. After a long silence, he said softly, "It’s mine. I once had a dream of being a musician, but I couldn't make it work, so I ended up opening this barbershop."
Su Can couldn't help but pat the boss on the shoulder to comfort him. "Could I borrow it? I want to play and sing an original song. If you think it’s good, Chu Youwei, would you be willing to perform it on stage with me tonight?"
Chu Youwei gasped, frozen in place. Performing on stage in front of the entire student body was something she wouldn't have dared to imagine before. But when she saw the resolute look in Su Can’s eyes, she couldn't bring herself to refuse.
As the barber took the guitar down from the wall, Su Can began. An elegant melody rang out, and his unique voice echoed through the small shop.
"Strolling and pausing along this journey, following the traces of a wandering youth..."
"...In the name of love, are you still willing?"
As the song ended, Su Can noticed that both of them were completely mesmerized. It made sense; both were people with an ear for music. The original version of "The Wind Rises" had been written by a professional Japanese producer, and the version that swept the country was merely a localized adaptation.
When he finished, the two burst into applause.
"Incredible!" Tony exclaimed. "Young man, is this really an original? You’re so talented!"
The barber was stunned. He couldn't believe that this young man, who hadn't even graduated from college, could write such a brilliant song. It seemed he had been right to give up his musical dreams; the gap in talent between people was something effort simply couldn't bridge.
Chu Youwei, who had been suffering from stage fright, felt her heart flutter after hearing Su Can sing. "Su Can, you mean we’ll perform this song on stage tonight? I... I’ll give it a try!"
She was moved by the emotions in the song, especially the lines about not worrying whether things are true or false, not struggling, and not fearing mockery. *Yes,* she thought, *what is there to fear?* With Su Can by her side, why not give it a shot?
Seeing that Chu Youwei had finally found her courage, Su Can smiled. "Good! Once your hair is done, we’ll go pick out some clothes. We’ll need to do some light makeup, too. Once everything is ready, we’ll just wait to stun everyone on stage tonight!"
The barber chimed in immediately, "Don't you worry! I guarantee I'll give it 120 percent effort to give you the most perfect hairstyle. And for you, young man, I'll style your hair for free! Consider it a thank you for letting me hear such a beautiful song. Tonight, you two are going to be the most dazzling couple at that party!"