This was also the first time Xu Xiuwen had seen Shen Minyao formally singing on stage.
Shen Minyao had an excellent voice; her singing was like drinking a sip of cool spring water on a hot summer day, sweet and refreshing.
With her outstanding performance, Shen Minyao kept the atmosphere continuously high.
Soon, it was time for the finale.
Xu Xiuwen was ready. As the curtain fell, he quickly walked onto the stage.
He took a couple of deep breaths, telling himself not to be nervous.
All the previous performers had done very well, and being the closing act, he couldn't afford to mess up.
When the curtain rose, Xu Xiuwen had already adjusted his emotions.
He stood in the center of the stage, holding a guitar.
Xu Xiuwen planned to sing a song by Jay Chou again.
After all, he had already borrowed one song from Jay Chou, and such a talented person wouldn't mind lending another one or two.
The song was called "Listen to Mother's Words."
Unlike the love song he sang at his school's gala, this time he chose this song as the finale.
Xu Xiuwen still remembered that when he first mentioned the song's name, everyone, including Cheng Lu, had a puzzled expression.
Clearly, no one understood why Xu Xiuwen wanted to sing a song about mothers during the finale.
However, after the first rehearsal, when everyone heard him sing the song,
The backstage instantly fell silent.
They were all freshmen, leaving home for the first time to attend university, far from their hometowns, parents, and old friends.
Many students, whose homes were far away or who wanted to save money, hadn't gone back during the National Day holiday.
It was the first time they had been away from their parents for so long, so how could they not miss them?
A few more sentimental girls even cried on the spot.
Since then, no one questioned why Xu Xiuwen chose to sing a song about mothers.
Xu Xiuwen stood in the center of the stage, his fingers resting on the guitar strings.
The students in the audience knew that Xu Xiuwen, the campus heartthrob of Jiangling College, would be performing today, and many girls came just for him.
Before Xu Xiuwen took the stage, Xu Mingxue introduced him and mentioned the song's name.
The students were surprised but also full of anticipation.
In the midst of everyone's expectations, Xu Xiuwen strummed the guitar.
The music started, and Xu Xiuwen began to sing.
"Little friend, do you have many questions?
Why do others read comics
While I learn to draw and talk to the piano
Others play games
While I lean against the wall reciting my ABCs
I said I wanted a big airplane
But got an old tape recorder instead
Why should I listen to my mother
When you grow up, you will understand this sentence
...
Listen to your mother, don't let her get hurt
You want to grow up quickly so you can protect her."
The students and leaders in the audience were initially stunned, then they began to listen intently.
The lyrics of "Listen to Mother's Words" were simple and easy to understand, the rhythm was light, the style was warm and sincere, without being pretentious, expressing deep feelings for his mother.
Many students couldn't help but shed tears as they listened.
Just as Xu Xiuwen had expected, many freshmen were homesick.
And his song directly awakened the emotions hidden in their hearts.
The atmosphere in the auditorium was not as lively as it was at the beginning, but beneath the calm, many people's true feelings were revealed.
In the front row, the principal of Jiaotong University remarked during the song's interlude to the person next to him, "I didn't expect Xu Xiuwen to be not only brave but also so understanding and filial. He's truly a good student!"
The principal of Jiangling College nodded in agreement.
Next to them, Secretary Li's eyes were already moist.
She was a mother too, but at that moment, she was putting herself in the shoes of a daughter, thinking of her own elderly mother, and she couldn't hold back her emotions.
When the song ended, the applause was thunderous.
Even the school leaders in the front row applauded.
After the curtain fell, Xu Xiuwen quickly walked off stage.
Backstage, all the girls had turned into Su Yanyan, looking at him with admiring eyes and shining with tears.
Cheng Lu was no exception.
Xu Xiuwen noticed her eyes were red.
Over the past few days, Xu Xiuwen had learned a bit about her situation.
She was from Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Her parents were public servants there, but for some reason, she had to leave them and go to Xi'an to attend high school at her uncle's place.
Now, after high school, she had come to university, still far from her parents.
So Cheng Lu had a big emotional reaction to the song.
Xu Xiuwen could understand her.
He wanted to comfort her but didn't know how, so he just silently stayed by her side.
Shen Minyao and Bai Yue'er were also backstage.
Bai Yue'er looked at Xu Xiuwen with a sweet smile, her eyes curved like crescent moons.
Although Xu Xiuwen's words were often annoying, his talent was undeniable and admirable.
Shen Minyao appeared calm on the surface, but her flickering eyes revealed her inner turmoil.
After Xu Xiuwen stepped down, the final performance of the evening was a chorus.
The choir members from the school quietly and quickly took the stage.
As the curtain rose, they began to sing powerfully.
The leaders in the audience were once again stunned.
Just before, it had been a song about mothers, evoking homesickness in many.
Then, immediately after, it was a chorus, and a patriotic song at that.
Many students knew the song and couldn't help but hum along.
The leaders were especially pleased with the final chorus.
They strongly supported and were gratified to see students promoting the main theme.
After the chorus ended, everyone backstage, whether they had performed or not, all walked onto the stage.
Everyone stood on stage for the curtain call, with Xu Xiuwen, Dong Jun, and Yang Baishan leading the chant of "Long live the motherland" over and over.
The audience, too, excitedly echoed, "Long live the motherland."
The welcome gala for the Jiangling College Management and Engineering Department ended here.
The process went smoothly, and the result was good.
The leaders' enthusiastic reactions clearly showed their satisfaction with the event.
Jiangling College would likely continue to host welcome galas in the future.
After the event, as the person in charge, Xu Xiuwen saw off the external performers one by one, then directed the Management and Engineering Department students to clean up.
By the time everything was done, it was 11 PM.
The four members of room 412 were exhausted and headed straight to the dormitory without a word.
Xu Xiuwen was the last to leave.
He exited through the back door of the auditorium and walked to the small path beside it.
Cheng Lu was waiting on the path.
Seeing Xu Xiuwen approach, Cheng Lu asked, "Has everyone left?"
Xu Xiuwen nodded, "Yes, finally done. The results were good. Let's go, I'll walk you back."
Cheng Lu looked at his expression, then turned and walked towards the north gate.
They passed by the building housing the Literary and Art Department's activity room.
Xu Xiuwen, yawning incessantly, couldn't help but say, "I'm exhausted. Is there anyone in your Literary and Art Department's activity room?"
"No, why?" Cheng Lu asked, puzzled.
Xu Xiuwen, barely able to keep his eyes open, said, "Take me there, I'm too tired."
Cheng Lu looked at him, was silent for a moment, then led him towards the activity room building.