A jobless person is discussing holidays; did they get something wrong? No work means no holiday.
This travelogue recounts experiences from the May Day holiday period between April 24 and May 7. I should have started writing on the 7th, but after not writing for so long, I didn't know where to begin. In desperation, I had to list the bits and pieces that came to mind and then sort them out one by one. I don't know how the final result will turn out; it will probably lean more towards a stream of consciousness, fragmented, and somewhat mixed narrative.
(The story of Star Rail 2.2 is really good. Sunday’s outrageous remarks were truly unbearable to watch 🤣. Alright, thanks to you, I now have a seven-day weekend.)
4.24 Go! RADWIMPS Guangzhou Concert#
RADWIMPS was formed in 2001, and the band's name is composed of "Rad" and "wimps," where "Rad" comes from "radical," meaning "cool, awesome," and "wimps" means "coward." Overall, it can be understood as "a very cool coward, a very useful jerk." The band members have been friends since middle school, and the band was officially formed when they were in their first year of high school.
Let’s start our story from the concert on April 24. It was my first concert experience in life, and because I took leave to attend the concert, my boss let me leave early, moving my last day from the 28th to the 23rd.
On the morning of the 23rd, after completing the resignation procedures, I quickly arranged for a moving service to take all my belongings from my rental place back home that afternoon (the first time I did it so quickly). The house at home is a small apartment, and since I have a lot of stuff, my dad complained that I filled the house up. (But I also have a rental place in Shenzhen, and I have about the same amount of stuff; what should I do?)
Speaking of interesting things, I only realized when I got to the venue that the theme songs for the movies "Your Name," "Weathering with You," and "Suzume's Journey" were all by RADWIMPS. I initially came just because a friend recommended it, with the mindset of "let's rehearse a bit before the Shanchuan Music Festival." I didn't expect it to feel like reuniting with an old friend.
My friend looked at me with a caring gaze, mocking, "You actually bought a ticket without knowing anything!!!" I could only respond, "I believe in you, the you that I believe in" (I later realized I misremembered; it was "Believe in you! Believe in the you that believes in me").
(Everyone can check out this video to experience our current feelings.)
My friend said that attending this concert made him feel young again. He truly felt the passion of youth. The atmosphere at the venue was so lively that I didn't even have time to take out the food I brought before the concert ended. Shouting, waving, and clapping, it was impossible to stop; it felt completely different from listening to it on NetEase Cloud.
As for me, I felt like I was a person living in reality. The world I always thought was out of reach was suddenly right in front of me. I suddenly understood that the authors of the works I watch and listen to every day share the same sky as I do, and we are even in the same venue now.
Those who have seen my TG channel should know that my life is almost surrounded by comics, animations, and games, stagnant and unambitious, filled with fear of the unknown. Before this, I hardly communicated with people in real life. I also realized that because of this, to compensate for the lack of "people around" in real life, I have been looking for "cyber neighbors" online.
However, I still have many more details about that day's concert that I want to share. Unfortunately, it seems I can't find the diary I wrote that day. I remember I wrote a draft of several hundred words that night, intending to continue writing after getting home.
4.25-4.29 Baldur's Gate 3, Start#
I spent four days playing "Baldur's Gate 3." It’s quite suitable for playing alone. When I played with others before, some progress was split between two characters. Moreover, there would definitely be one player who was more familiar with the game, forcing the other player who wasn't as familiar to follow along. The second player's gaming experience would be quite poor.
As of the time I’m writing this, I haven't even reached Chapter 2 in 70 hours; the entire process for 3 chapters is estimated to take about 200 hours. Even if I don't work, it would take me two weeks to clear the first playthrough, and I don't plan to play the second playthrough. This game, even when you search thoroughly, still misses a lot of hidden information. (I missed the chance to build a good relationship with Shadowheart 😭)
This travelogue doesn’t need to take up so much space to write about this. (And it's definitely not because I got lost in Baldur's Gate that I couldn't write my weekly journal.)
4.30-5.1 Firefly Comic Expo (Pseudo)#
I wasn't doing anything; I just wandered around Guangzhou as usual after arriving here. On the first night, I watched "City of Sadness," which had really abstract and classic fighting scenes. Using hard Qi Gong to block a knife and flying up to the rooftop of the city with a piece of cloth relying on a tornado.
On the second day, I finally didn't go to the "go around and around" Zhengjia Plaza. As for the Firefly event, I couldn't make it either, since I didn't buy tickets in advance this year. The Guangzhou Comic Expo has become a "routine activity" for my friend and me for five consecutive years, either during May Day or National Day.
(I just passed by; scalper tickets were three times the price. After playing "Star Rail" this year, I finally understood what characters everyone was cosplaying, since I hadn't played popular mobile games for many years.)
5.2-5.3 Hangzhou West Lake#
Arriving in Hangzhou#
I arrived on a flight on the 2nd at noon (after quite a delay). We headed straight to the hotel to meet a classmate from Shanghai. After a brief catch-up, we went out for dinner, followed by a stroll around the West Lake area; the city's night had deepened by this time. At night, we talked all night long.
They discussed office politics, this year's performance, how much bonus they received, and similar topics. I felt these topics were like stars I couldn't touch. They seemed to have been galloping in the workplace for many years, while I felt like a student just stepping out of university, still naive and immature about worldly matters. My past work never involved complex interpersonal entanglements; I hadn't even interacted with a formal product manager.
However, this trip made me deeply realize that our worldviews have gradually diverged, each heading towards different life paths.
I feel lonely when alone, yet exhausted when with others.
They all say "for Guangdong people, going out of the province is like going abroad," and I do seem a bit conservative, internally assuming that outside Guangdong is the north. During this trip, I did so many foolish things that I can hardly count. I didn't bring enough long-sleeved clothes, causing our first night after getting off the plane to turn into a shopping trip to Uniqlo. (After all, after staying in Guangdong for so long, I basically default to short sleeves and shorts starting in April.)
On the first night at the hotel, not knowing how to operate the washer-dryer, I simply dried my clothes without realizing I needed to wash them first. It wasn't until the third night that this tragedy was revealed, and by then, my clothes had already been changed several times.
Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak#
On the morning of the 3rd, we went to Fahai Temple, then in the afternoon to Lingyin Temple, and climbed Feilai Peak. There were too many people; I could hardly find a place to light incense. They let me make a wish at the temple, but I couldn't even clearly define what my wish was; I didn't even know what I was doing or what I wanted. (Is this a nihilistic fate?)
That night, the three of us drank a dozen bottles of wine in a folk music bar, where the band agreed to let us request songs. The entire night, there were only three or four tables of customers sharing this tranquility. We also tried learning a dice-throwing game, and I just lost the most. It was the first time I drank so much wine, turning red and feeling stuffed. (By the way, my friend let out two loud farts on the way back)
(This picture was borrowed from a classmate.)
5.4 Shanchuan Music Festival#
It was because of this music festival that I embarked on this journey. At first, I just casually shared it with my friend; I was infatuated with Fuli Lian and discovered that YOASOBI was coming to China, so I shared it without hesitation. By March, after deciding to resign, we discussed this topic and were determined to experience it live.
(On May 4th, I particularly liked the four Japanese bands in the G area; this music festival gave me a new understanding of iri, yama, Queen Bee, and YOASOBI.)
Rain coinciding with the music festival made the combination even more charming (it was quite uncomfortable). Unable to bring folding chairs, we had to use the provided raincoats as cushions. Although there were inflatable sofas and cushions for sale inside, sitting on them still got us wet, which was somewhat unsatisfactory.
(From this photo, you can see that everyone was basically there for the Japanese singers in the G area.)
iri#
Iri is a Japanese singer-songwriter widely recognized for her unique musical style and voice. Her music blends guitar playing, Hip-Hop rhythms, and R&B elements, showcasing her versatile musical talent.
We entered the venue around 2:30 PM, and it wasn't long before iri was on stage. I hadn't heard her songs before and didn't do any homework in advance (which I somewhat regretted, as I arrived in a state of "knowing nothing about the band performing"). "War. War never changes." iri's voice has a unique charm—hoarse yet magnetic. My friend thought her voice was similar to Mika Nakashima's; I didn't react immediately and had to look it up to realize it was from "NANA," surprised by their similarities.
(This photo was borrowed from a friend in the front row.)
yama#
Yama's musical style is described as neutral, emotional, and slightly melancholic. Her singing is fast-paced and has a rhythmic rise and fall, conveying emotions through narrative music. Her music often presents a sense of urgency in Japanese Electropop style while containing delicate observations and portrayals of the real world.
She is also an artist I had hardly heard of, with the only connection being the insert song "Oz." from the anime "Ranking of Kings." However, I ended up chasing the manga after watching just two episodes, so I didn't watch much of the anime. From my limited experience watching band anime, yama reminds me a bit of Akari from MyGO.
Notably, Yama chooses not to disclose her age, place of origin, appearance, and other personal information because she lacks confidence and does not want her personal identity to affect the reception of her work. She hopes to allow listeners to focus more on her artistic creations through this approach.
The venue clearly requested no video or photo recording, and while yama was performing, I was sitting quite far away, even near the restroom. Below are the official photos released by yama.
(A large-scale preaching scene; I should have squeezed to the front during yama's performance, but it was just standing for four hours.)
Queen Bee#
Queen Bee's musical style is flamboyant and unique, rooted in punk music while incorporating elements of Japanese folk songs, trap, funk, folk, and disco. They are known for their mysterious image and distinctive musical style, with the true identities and personal details of the band members never disclosed, adding to their mystique and allure.
I started squeezing into the middle for this performance. My friend had already become listless due to the rain today and the exhaustion from the previous days. I had to squeeze in alone; I really wanted to ask the people around if anyone was here for the music festival.
I first encountered Queen Bee through the theme songs of "Dororo" and "Bungo Stray Dogs." In fact, I initially attended this music festival for Queen Bee and YOASOBI, while iri and yama were delightful surprises that captivated me live.
As I immersed myself in the crowd to listen to Queen Bee's performance, the big screen clearly displayed the singer's expressions. As I entered the singing area, the atmosphere became increasingly immersive; even if I hadn't heard their songs before, I could feel their passion. The audience screamed and shouted, and I almost forgot I was standing in the drizzling rain.
Starting from this performance, the rain seemed to gradually stop, and it wasn't until the end of the show that I realized the hood of my raincoat made it hard to hear clearly. The audience praised Queen Bee's live performance as truly stunning.
(I can hardly believe this was taken that day.)
YOASOBI - Like a Miracle at Night#
YOASOBI is a Japanese music duo composed of songwriter Ayase and vocalist ikura (Rira Kida). They were formed in 2019, proposed by staff from the novel and illustration submission site "monogatary.com," operated by Sony Music, aiming to musicalize novels. The name YOASOBI means "playing at night" in Japanese, reflecting their view that their original personal work is considered "morning activities," while YOASOBI represents "evening activities."
Everyone says that 80% of the people attending this music festival came for YOASOBI. I only truly realized this band quite late. The live performance was incredibly exciting. After returning, I kept looping the videos from Bilibili that day.
Musicalizing novels is really interesting; it reminds me of when a netizen recently put the instructions for Lianhua Qingwen capsules into SUNO to create something.
(This is a video I recorded live; feel the atmosphere at that moment.)
(Someone else's recording quality is amazing!!!)
I compiled a playlist of my favorite songs from that day; perhaps I can use these lyrics as texts to memorize while learning Japanese～～
5.5 Shanghai Bailian ZX#
We took the high-speed train to Shanghai early, planning to explore this city known for its high density. The itinerary was completely unplanned, relying on a local friend (who isn't into anime) to guide us to Bailian ZX Mall. The six-story mall space far surpassed Guangzhou's Animation Star City, giving a pleasantly familiar feeling. There, my friend patiently explained the displayed Kamen Riders to us. Next time, and the time after that, when I go to Shanghai, I will likely visit here again.
(I saw Ichikawa Haruko and bought it directly; I felt depressed after returning.)
(This photo was also organized by a classmate.)
Writing to this point, I'm starting to struggle a bit.
5.6-5.7 Meeting Friends#
On May 6 and 7, it was the days I parted ways with my friend and returned to Hangzhou. My friend left Shanghai directly for a business trip, while I went to visit a friend I met online, pseudoyu.
This was my first time meeting an online friend in real life. Meeting friends online is like opening a blind box. I was really nervous. I should have listened to his podcast first, at least to hear his voice. The first thing pseudoyu said when we met was, "I see you're not socially anxious at all; you're quite outgoing." Little did he know that on the high-speed train, I had already listed 20 possible conversation topics as preparation. Yes, I'm the type of person who needs to prepare a draft in advance for conversations.
As for what we talked about, it felt a bit like chatting with a newly acquainted friend, discussing some daily life matters.
Perhaps due to frequently conversing with NPCs in games, I unconsciously treat people in real life as NPCs. For example, when talking to a Didi driver or landlord, I always limit myself to necessary exchanges and rarely engage in other small talk. Therefore, meaningful conversations between friends are very rare for me.
On the 7th, I ended my short stay in Hangzhou, grateful for pseudoyu's warm hospitality, including the food and small gifts, which made his image in my mind more concrete and vivid.
Thank You All#
This trip was my first journey after graduating for four years, passing through three first-tier cities and meeting three friends. I don't know when my next trip will be; during the seven days with my friend, we shared meals, accommodation, and sleep, and spent three days traveling in Hangzhou and Shanghai with classmates. Finally, the gathering with pseudoyu left a deep impression on me.
Since I started working in Shenzhen in my first year, I have hardly lived in big cities. This trip made me deeply feel like a guest from the countryside, which strengthened my determination to work in a big city.
I haven't started to think about what my next step should be. My classmates told me that I am more suited for remote work online. Because if I get involved in the various intrigues of big companies, I would almost certainly lose. Remote work might suit me better, but I feel it's necessary for me to gain some experience. To fill in this part of my shortcomings, which is interacting with people.
Next, my plan is to take a good rest for a while before setting off again, get a haircut, finish "Baldur's Gate," and go to the gym.
As for why I call my friend a "friend," it's because at this stage, I can't provide him with any substantial value; our friendship transcends interests. When I proposed to travel after resigning, he joined without hesitation, which moved me greatly. Almost all the arrangements for flights, accommodation, meals, and travel plans were made by him in advance, allowing me to enjoy a relaxed travel experience.
Postscript#
Having lost my job, I find that my sense of existence seems to have disappeared, as if I have returned to the starting point of being a blank sheet of paper. I am still that me who knows nothing.
Music has always accompanied me, but I only listen mechanically, never delving into the creators behind those melodies. The same goes for playing games and watching works before this. Personally, I rarely listen to music, and what I do listen to is almost all music from the animations I've watched. How should I put it? The busyness of work leaves me no time to enjoy music; any distraction could affect my efficiency. However, this music festival deeply touched me, making me realize that I should pay more attention to the stories behind music and works.
I also feel that the articles I write are largely just me talking to myself. I haven't read any books about writing; I basically write without any structure, resulting in spending a huge amount of time each time I write, and the effect isn't very good either. To be honest, I barely passed my Chinese exam during the college entrance examination.
That feeling of trying my best yet finding it hard to describe my emotions. Moreover, I've discovered that some feelings, once the current emotion passes, are truly forgotten. Once they fade, they disperse like smoke, making them difficult to capture again.