Seeing Xiu look somewhat "bashful" after being teased by achord, Xia Yu said through gritted teeth, "Alright, Dad, we're almost done here anyway."
"Oh right, right! There's still one important matter." Ye Siren finally snapped back to reality and looked at Xiu beside him. "Xiu, do you have that electric one?"
Xiu endured his embarrassment, nodded at Ye Siren, and then turned to take an electric guitar from the guitar case he had prepared earlier, handing it over to Xia Tian.
"This electric guitar is Leader Deadman's gift to his beloved son—that's you, Xia Tian." Achord pointed at the somewhat dazed Xia Tian standing nearby.
Xia Tian opened his eyes wide in disbelief and looked at Ye Siren. "Dad, is this really for me?"
Ye Siren cupped his hands in front of his chest and looked at Xia Tian. "Did you really think I wouldn't know why you're working part-time here? You're my son, after all! But you've certainly got a lot of nerve, sneaking around behind Xiong Ge's back to learn rock and roll from your old man."
Xia Tian looked nervous for a split second. "It's fine, Dad. I'm just playing it in secret; I won't let Mom find out."
Ye Siren raised an eyebrow. "Alright, alright, enough talk. Since today is such a great day, why don't you also perform a piece to wrap up our good times?"
"Ah? I don't know if that's a good idea," Xia Tian said, his tone uncertain.
Watching the hesitant Xia Tian, Xia Yu began to encourage him. "Why wouldn't it be a good idea on such a great day? Besides, haven't you been practicing for a long time? Just perform something so we can see the results of your practice!"
Xia Yan and Xia Mei also nodded and chimed in from the side. "Yeah, yeah! Little Bro, just play something for us."
The others nearby joined in, chanting, "Perform! Perform!"
Left with no choice, Xia Tian put on the guitar and walked up to the stage. "Well, alright then. Since you insist, I'll play everyone a piece I'm best at."
Everyone looked at Xia Tian with hopeful expressions.
Then Xia Tian began...
"Green, green mountains, clear, clear waters...
Walking along, quiet and still..."
Everyone looked as if they had been struck by lightning. Xia Yan's eyes shrank to tiny dots as she stared at Xia Tian, who had supposedly been "practicing" all this time, barely able to keep a straight face.
Startled, Xia Yu nudged Ye Siren on the shoulder. "Quick, Dad! Hurry up and get him down from there!"
With a look of sheer agony on his face, Ye Siren hurried onto the stage. "Alright, alright, let's give him a hand!"
He shot Xia Tian a terrified look, while the crowd cooperated by clapping—after all, absolutely no one could have anticipated that Xia Tian's guitar skills would be this atrocious.
At that moment, the clueless Xia Tian looked troubled. "But Dad, I still have an even better piece I haven't played yet!"
Ye Siren choked back a gasp. "Well, you know, in life you always have to leave a bit of suspense for next time! And aren't there still many minors here who aren't of age yet? It's getting very late, so everyone hurry up and pack your things to go home!"
With that, he urged everyone to start packing up. Only Xia Tian remained standing there foolishly, flashing a rocker hand sign to the crowd.
Xia Yan looked at the clueless Xia Tian with a helpless sigh. "Alright, Little Bro, it's time for us to go home too."
Xia Tian beamed a goofy smile. "You guys go on and sit for a while—Little Sis, Meimei, Big Bro. As soon as I finish cleaning up the remaining trash, I can head home."
Xia Mei said impatiently, "Forget it, let's just go home first, Little Sis. Didn't you just finish a mission with your master today and rush over here in a hurry for the concert? You must be exhausted. Let's hurry back and get some rest."
Xia Yan looked at Xia Tian, looking torn. "But..."
It was only then that Xia Tian realized. "Oh right! It's fine, Little Sis. Ren Chenwen and I will head home together later, so you guys hurry back and get some rest."
Xia Yu also walked over and threw an arm around Xia Yan's shoulders. "That's right, Little Sis, just hurry back and get a good night's rest."
Xia Yan looked back and forth between Xia Tian and Ren Chenwen, who was currently trying to hustle free drinks, and irritably rubbed her temples. "He looks completely unreliable. I'm a bit worried."
Xia Mei sighed in exasperation. "Little Sis, did you forget that Little Bro is a guy? Besides, if Ren Chenwen doesn't get him home safely, I'll shock him until he's pissing his pants."
With that, Xia Mei shouted toward Ren Chenwen, "Ren Chenwen, get your ass over here!"
Ren Chenwen shivered. "What is it, my dear Meimei-jie? Is there anything Ren Chenwen can do for you?" He then began massaging Xia Mei's shoulders with obsequious flattery.
"Me, Little Sis, and Big Bro are heading back to rest first. Your mission tonight is to escort my Little Bro home safely, you hear me? If you don't get him home in one piece..." She gave a threatening touch to her Dragon Sealing Patch.
Ren Chenwen forced an awkward laugh. "Haha, don't you worry, Meimei-jie, I guarantee I'll finish the mission!"
Thinking that at this hour nothing dangerous was likely to happen, Xia Yan nodded. "Alright then, let's get going."
Just as she wanted to say goodbye to East Chord, Xia Yu swiftly pushed her toward the door before she could move.
"Hey..." Xia Yan protested a little.
Acting as if he hadn't noticed her struggle, Xia Yu pushed her forward with a grin. "Come on, come on, let's go!"
He then called out to Xia Mei behind them, "Let's go, Delusional Mei!"
Hearing this nickname, Xia Mei brandished her fist threateningly at Xia Yu. "Keep talking nonsense and I'll beat you up!"
Xia Yan found the two of them quite amusing, but obediently followed along anyway.