Meanwhile, Leng Ruo Li was busy selecting outfits for the girls. Due to the tight schedule, there was no time for new designs.
Leng Ruo Li chose a set of pale purple, fitted waist, narrow-sleeved midi dresses for each girl, paired with form-fitting trousers underneath and white cloth shoes embroidered with plum blossoms. They all wore their hair in ponytails, a style that looked neat, capable, and energetic.
Even Ling Er joined their performance tonight, proving to be the quickest and best learner among the group.
After a day of diligent practice, the dance was finally taking shape, synchronized with her singing, which was quite impressive.
The most crucial task now was the stage setup. In ancient times, without electricity, modern LED lights were out of the question. Lanterns could be used, but they wouldn't create much stage atmosphere.
Later, Leng Ruo Li thought of making dry ice herself. Dry ice sublimes into white mist at room temperature, which could add a mystical, ethereal effect to the stage, creating an illusion of wonder.
The more Leng Ruo Li considered it, the more feasible the method seemed. She turned and locked herself in her room, then vanished into her system laboratory to produce dry ice.
...
As night fell and lamps were lit.
Tonight, the streets and alleys of the capital were ablaze with lights.
However, Yichun Tower was packed with people, and even the paid private rooms on the second floor were booked at high prices.
"Mama, when will this performance start? Are you tricking us?" the crowd asked the madam.
"Please be patient, everyone. The girls performing are diligently getting ready and will be out soon."
In truth, the madam was also anxious. She had no idea what Leng Ruo Li was doing locked in her room for so long without coming out.
She had knocked on Leng Ruo Li's door several times, but there was no response. If Leng Ruo Li hadn't explicitly stated that no one was to break down the door before she opened it herself, or else she would be responsible for the failure of the performance tonight, the madam would have ordered the door to be broken down long ago.
Another quarter of an hour passed. Suddenly, the stage was enveloped in smoke, resembling a fairyland. Then, from the mist emerged several young maidens, dressed neatly and exuding youthful vigor.
Following this, a clear, resonant song began from behind the stage:
Oh... friend...
My girl is fiery, fiery
With captivating big eyes
Dimples by her mouth corners
Your beauty, oh
Makes me lose my mind
...
Tarzan, Tarzan
I'm the Tarzan next door
Grabbing the vine of love
Listen to me, ooh
...
The song "Tarzan Next Door," accompanied by a unique dance, instantly electrified Yichun Tower. Although the audience didn't understand some of the lyrics, it didn't detract from the dynamic and lively picture the song painted for them. This song easily created an energetic atmosphere for the audience.
In her previous life, she had a particular fondness for singing and dancing, being a rather vivacious girl. The moment she first heard this catchy song, she instantly fell in love with it.
She remembered participating in a joint party during her university days with her classmates. She chose "Tarzan Next Door" and performed it with this dance, winning first prize.
Later, she became a special agent. Her days were filled with training, missions with her teammates, research in the laboratory, or performing surgeries on patients. She was always as busy as a spinning top, utterly exhausted. However, during her downtime, she would still open her phone to listen to music for a while to alleviate her fatigue.
Soon, the song concluded, and thunderous applause erupted from the audience. Yet, the spectators were still not satisfied. Many young lords even followed the girls on stage, imitating them and swaying their bodies. Some even clamored for Leng Ruo Li and the others to perform another song.
This was because they had never seen or heard such explosive dances and songs before, and it instantly stunned the entire venue.
However, Leng Ruo Li and the girls slowly retreated from behind the stage.
In a room on the second floor, after Leng Ruo Li and the girls had finished dancing and returned, the madam approached them with a beaming smile.
"Nightingale, will we be performing again soon?"
The madam said gleefully, knowing that Yichun Tower had earned a lot of money tonight.
"Mama Feng, don't worry. We'll perform once every night. If you wish to see another performance, you'll need to pay in advance."
"Is that really okay?" the madam seemed incredulous.
"Mama Feng, whether it's okay or not, just go out and try."
"Alright." The madam nodded and rushed out.
Then, the madam's voice could be heard interacting with the crowd below.
The madam, with a face full of smiles, shouted, "Our performance for tonight has concluded. However, if you wish to see the next performance, you'll need to pay in advance!"
As soon as the madam finished speaking, the crowd below erupted in boisterous calls.
"Mama Feng, it's just money! I have plenty of money, I'll pay one tael of silver first."
"I'll pay two hundred taels of silver."
"I'll pay five hundred taels of silver."
"I'll pay one thousand taels of silver."
...
An unbelievable scene unfolded among the audience. To see the performance again, everyone eagerly rushed to pay.
In the twenty-plus years since Yichun Tower opened, the madam had never witnessed such a scene. It was truly astonishing, leaving her stunned for a long time, her mouth almost splitting from smiling.
She inwardly rejoiced: Haha... I'm rich, I'm rich...
She never expected that little girl to be a treasure trove.
Mama Feng resolved that from now on, she would cling tightly to Nightingale's leg.
In private room number one on the second floor, a man dressed in a dark, waist-cinching brocade robe, with features as exquisitely sculpted as if carved by a knife, and his long hair tied up, frowned. His pair of narrow, amethyst eyes were fixed on the direction where Leng Ruo Li had just disappeared.
"This ugly woman is never at peace. Last night she eavesdropped on Prince Qing's private matters, and tonight she's become the top performer at Yichun Tower."
After all, she was the eldest daughter of a general's mansion. Instead of staying in the mansion to learn needlework or cultivate her skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, she came to a place filled with men to sing and dance. How unseemly! Wasn't she afraid that Prince Qing would discover this and break off their engagement?
It was rumored that Prince Qing was quite displeased with his future consort.
Beside him, Ye Ying heard his lord's words and rubbed his nose. He actually felt that a woman like Leng Ruo Li was quite good, unlike the other pampered young ladies from the capital. Instead, she was exceptionally free-spirited.
"Your Highness, shall we continue watching?"
"Watch! I want to see what else this Leng Ruo Li plans to stir up. Go out and pay."
"Your subordinate obeys!" Ye Ying turned and walked out.
At the same time, in private room number six on the second floor, a man dressed in a vibrant red robe, with fair skin and chiseled features like a carving, possessing unparalleled handsomeness, his ink-black hair cascading over his body, and a pair of alluring peach blossom eyes. He looked down at the crowd below with a devilish smile, causing the woman beside him to become infatuated.
"Ah Xiao Ge Ge, what is this singing and dancing? And it's so popular, I can dance better than this." the woman said with jealousy, clearly not impressed by the performance below.
Unfortunately, the handsome man paid her no mind.
"Lin Feng, go down and pay. I want to see the next performance," the man instructed another subordinate beside him.
"Yes! Honored Master."
He then left the private room.
Meanwhile, the madam, still beaming, bustled into Leng Ruo Li's room to urge her, "Nightingale, are you ready?"
"Ready, ready, coming out right away."
This time, in less than half a cup of tea's time, Leng Ruo Li, her face veiled, appeared on stage again with several girls dressed elegantly and exuding an ethereal aura.
Since she hadn't prepared thoroughly for this performance, she used the dances the madam usually had them practice. Only the songs were taught to the girls by Leng Ruo Li on the spot. This time, it had to be an impromptu performance.
At this moment, under the expectant gazes of the crowd, a sweet melody once again filled the air.
Sweet, sweet, you smile so sweet
As if flowers bloom in the spring breeze
Blooming in the spring breeze
Where, oh where have I seen you
Your smile is so familiar
I can't recall for a moment
Ah, in a dream
...
After Leng Ruo Li and the girls finished singing "Tian Mi Mi," the stage below erupted in renewed excitement.
As Leng Ruo Li walked back to the dressing room and turned a corner in the corridor, she nearly bumped into a wall of flesh. She looked up to see a handsome man dressed in a red robe, with unparalleled beauty. As the man walked past her, he gave a devilish smile, winked at Leng Ruo Li, and turned to descend.
Leng Ruo Li was left utterly bewildered. Who was this man?
Half an hour later, in a private room on the second floor.
The madam, with a smile, carried a small box into Leng Ruo Li's room and placed it on the table. She opened it and took out a piece of paper.
"Nightingale, this is Ling Er's deed of sale. I'll hand it over to you now."
Leng Ruo Li took it, glanced at the name, and tucked it into her sleeve.
Then, the madam took out a thick stack of silver notes from the box and handed them to Leng Ruo Li.
"Nightingale, these one hundred and thirty-two thousand two hundred taels of silver notes are your share of the profits from tonight's performance," the madam said with a smile.
Leng Ruo Li looked at the silver notes handed to her by the madam, a bit surprised. She hadn't expected the greedy madam to calculate the profit sharing so quickly.
"Nightingale, thanks to you tonight, our Yichun Tower has earned a substantial sum. You must continue to grace Yichun Tower with your presence and guidance in the future. We'll maintain a three-seven split."
"Haha... Mama Feng, certainly, certainly. I won't miss this path to wealth either."
Leng Ruo Li graciously accepted the money from the madam, saying with a smile.
Furthermore, she offered the madam many suggestions for improving Yichun Tower.
The madam gratefully accepted her advice and even set aside a private room for her at Yichun Tower.