There were only a few people at the scene who recognized Darnell, so after a brief moment of curious silence, the students present immediately vented their displeasure by shouting, “Who is this? Get off the stage! We want Caleb.”
“We’ve been waiting for Yaretzi for two days.”
“Exactly, the program team is too perfunctory, always bringing in random people. We want to see celebrities.”
“Get off the stage, get off the stage!”
Lisa stomped her feet in frustration, her stockings-clad thighs trembling. “What’s he doing up there? Causing trouble? If he sings badly, we’re doomed.”
“He thinks he’s at karaoke? If he messes up and ruins tonight’s show. I won’t let him off!”
Several girls also looked disdainful. They didn’t dare to step in and deal with the situation. Darnell’s bravado was self-deception and could drag them down.
The boos continued to assault the stage. The school administration in the front row looked displeased. If not for the alumni present, they would have left.
Darnell ignored the angry shouts and quietly sat on a high stool, plucking his fingers on the guitar strings.
A few notes immediately sounded, teasing everyone’s ears.
The night breeze blew, leaves swirled up, and the soft stage lights poured over him, making him appear even more gentle and elegant.
This instantly reduced some of the crowd’s anger, causing many girls to glance over. Regardless of whether Darnell was a star or not, or whether he sang well or not, at this moment he was handsome and dazzling.
Girls who were attracted to looks immediately became interested, wanting to see what amazing performance Darnell would deliver next.
They then scolded the other boys to quiet down.
At that moment, Darnell lightly plucked the guitar strings again, producing an elegant and clear note.
In an instant, it was like a clear and clean stream rushing forth, refreshing everyone’s ears and making them look forward with great anticipation.
The noise from the audience quieted down a bit more.
“Well you only need the light when it’s burning low.”
“Only miss the sun when it starts to snow.”
“Only know you love her when you let her go…”
At this moment, Darnell slightly opened his mouth and a string of melancholic words leaped from his lips.
“Only know you’ve been high when you’re feeling low.”
“Only hate the road when you’re missing home.”
“Only know you love her when you let her go.”
“And you let her go…”
Many people originally intended to jeer after Darnell sang a few lines but were stunned into silence by his voice and guitar playing.
No one expected him to play so well and sing so beautifully.
They were dumbfounded as if what he played and sang wasn’t just a song but an enchanting melody that completely captivated their hearts!
“Staring at the bottom of your glass.”
“Hoping one day you’ll make a dream last.”
“But dreams come slow and they go so fast…”
All three thousand people including Karlee straightened up, their eyes fixed on Darnell sitting quietly in the light with expressions of admiration and excitement.
Darnell’s singing made them feel as if their hearts were filled with emotions or pulled by something inexplicable.
They focused on him alone, drawn to every pluck of his guitar strings.
Darnell’s deep voice seemed to tell a tale of love that seemed to resonate with everyone present. In an instant, he transported his audience back to their own youthful days of passion and longing, stirring gentle emotions that wound around their hearts.
They closed their eyes, listening intently, completely captivated by his melodic storytelling. The atmosphere was thick with nostalgia, and many found themselves moved to tears by the raw beauty of the performance.
“And you let her go…”
As Darnell sang the final line of his performance, the room fell into a silence so profound that one could hear a pin drop.
Everyone held their breath, trying not to disturb the lingering echoes of his voice. At that moment, the world was quiet for Darnell, yet at the same time, it was alive with excitement.
The silence lasted for a full thirty seconds, and then, like a tidal wave, applause erupted. The front row of alumni stood up, cheering him on.
Jefferson straightened up, raising both hands in fervent applause while announcing to everyone, “This is my boss! My boss!”
His face shone with pride and exuberance as he shouted, “Bravo, bravo! Fantastic singing!”
Karlee couldn’t help but beam with pride for her man’s outstanding performance.
Lisa and the others stood frozen, completely taken aback by Darnell’s remarkable display.
“Thank you, everyone!” Darnell said with a charming smile, bowing elegantly with his guitar in hand. His demeanor was polite and graceful, leaving a lasting impression on everyone.
Darnell was in his flowing white attire, with leaves swirling around him.
“Who is this guy?”
“Which college is this talented guy from?”
“What an incredibly talented and handsome person!”
As the applause subsided, whispers filled the air, and many girls gazed curiously at Darnell, their eyes sparkling with admiration.
Their expressions were a mix of shyness and fiery enthusiasm as they smiled at Darnell.
Seeing this, Karlee felt a mix of pride and a touch of jealousy. She was determined to keep Darnell close.
In a corner of the venue, a girl in a blue dress also wore a look of fervor, her eyes filled with unspoken tenderness as she repeatedly murmured, “Darnell, Darnell.”
Next to her, an arrogant young man turned his head. “Raelynn, what are you mumbling about?”
Snapping back to reality, Raelynn managed a smile. “Oh, it’s nothing. I was just saying he sings really well.”
“Tsk! What’s so great about that?” the arrogant young man scoffed. “Give me a year, and I could be a star too.”
At first, he didn’t recognize the person on stage was Darnell. He continued to scoff, “What woman would ever like a man who is so vain and flashy? It’s truly embarrassing.”
The arrogant young man was Saul.
Raelynn fell silent, watching the fallen leaves, reflecting her own heart.
At that moment, Alexander, who had rushed back to salvage the situation and caught Darnell’s performance, saw the crowd applauding for him. His expression darkened.
Instead of feeling grateful, he was filled with jealousy, fully aware of how much that song solidified Darnell’s position in Karlee’s heart.
“Bastard, if I can’t have her, neither can you,” he muttered bitterly, pulling out his phone to message Shawn and the others.
“Caleb, Caleb!”
“Yaretzi, Yaretzi!”
“We want to see the big stars! We want to see the big stars!”
Just as the crowd was still reveling in Darnell’s stunning performance, calls from the corners rang out again. Though they were much quieter than before, they felt jarringly out of place.
This soon prompted some eager individuals to join in, chanting, “Caleb! Yaretzi!”
“Caleb! Yaretzi!”
The uproar that had just settled began to swell once more.