Iris left the piano at some point, grabbed the mic from the stand, and finally displayed the full might of her extraordinary stage presence. She sang and danced along with the audience.
When she performed the now famous vocal acrobatics of her version of the song, everyone went wild. Then she did something even more amazing. The extremely high notes she reached when she guested at DJ Song's radio show before already left many in awe. This time, she went beyond her previous performance, reaching the shocking whistle register. She sustained the whistle notes for so long that everyone's jaws fell down and eyes almost popped out.
Even the band musicians, the backup singers, and the symphony orchestra were all shocked. This wasn't in the rehearsals! Still they were professionals, and continued playing as if everything was as expected and nothing was amiss.
Tang Yiyi's mind went blank.
The representative from JJ's record label clutched his chest and staggered back, while the representative from Bright Summit covered his gaping mouth with his hands.
Dom burst into tears and sobbed happily like a proud mama, recording everything on video to send to his sir boss, Jin Liwei, later.
Everyone else was staring at the performing Iris, their eyes and mouth wide open, looking at her as if she was a mythical creature.
T-this…
"I will survive!!!"
Iris snapped her hand holding the mic up in the air when the music stopped. Her shoulders and chest heaved as she panted. An exhilarated expression was on her face.
"Boss, I love you! I love you so much!"
"Uwah! So amazing!"
"Wow! She's so wow…I don't think she's human…just wow."
"I'll follow you for the rest of my life, boss!"
"This young master has fallen even more deeply in love with you, oh my lady boss!"
"My mighty slippers will fight exclusively for you, boss!"
"Boss!"
"Kyaaaah! Boss, please take me in as your concubine! I want to bear your babies!"
"Ladies, hold me up. I'm going to faint."
Iris returned to the piano and covered a couple of classic Mandarin songs afterwards. Then finally, it was time for the finale performance.
"This final song is, for me, the most special in the album." Her lovely voice was low and gentle, yet full of emotion. She swept her eyes across everyone. "It is also the hardest to compose and write. I struggled so much that it hurt. I almost gave up to write another song. But I persisted because this song was desperately crying within me, begging me to give birth to it so that the whole world can listen."
Everyone became curious hearing what she said.
"This is the first time that you'll hear this song," she continued. "I asked Mr. JJ not to release any previews of it because it's too special for me. I wanted to personally be the one whom you'll hear it from today. So now I'm going to perform the titular song of my album, "Rebirth".
The audience clapped but quickly hushed themselves. They were eager to listen to the song, to figure out why it was so special.
Iris closed her eyes.
A lone violin played a melancholic melody. It was sad but not dark, gently making hearts ache. Then the other string instruments followed before gradually transitioning into a lone flute. This time, the melody was sweet but sounded much sadder. Then the other wood-wind instruments followed before transitioning again into the piano.
Iris still had her eyes closed, her body swaying, as her fingers flowed softly like sea waves on the piano keys.
Then she sang in a gentle voice, so gentle that everyone's chests twinged in pain.
Wondering what it's like outside
A little bird imprisoned by love
Dying little by little inside
I want to be free
Free as a bird
But where are my wings
I cannot fly"
There was no outward emotion on her face. Iris looked calm, serene even. Her singing, however, conveyed heartache and longing. The audience's eyes watered, but they tried to be as quiet as possible. They didn't want to miss any note or lyrics.
"I sing a song inside my cage
While shadows destroy my tiny world
Break my bones a thousand times
Go ahead, I will not cry
These red roses smell so sweet
At last, I'm free
Will I ever fly?"
The full symphony orchestra finally played, the harmony so full yet light. The audience felt like their bodies were rising with the melody. Goosebumps were all over their skin. Iris' voice also rose, effortlessly reaching high notes.
"From the ashes, I rise like a phoenix
A little bird no more
I spread my wings, so big and wide
Now I am free
Now I can fly
Oh, I can fly up in the sky
While tears flow down my joyful eyes
Up I fly, up I soar
Until I brush against the clouds
I'll stay up here and touch the stars
I'll reach as high that I can"
Everyone nodded. Many of them had their hands clasped together like they were praying. They looked at Iris on the stage, as if they were seeing her as a tiny, delicate bird transform into a majestic phoenix.
Iris' voice became fuller and more powerful. The symphony orchestra reached crescendo.
"This rebirth of a tiny bird
Into a rising phoenix
Power courses through my veins
To break the chains
To spread my wings
So this is freedom
I am free"
The melody erupted into a beautiful medley of triumph, longing, and sadness. Now it was only the piano and Iris singing the last notes of the song.
"Oh yes, I am free~"