Ren Yueli, Xidan subway singing angel, will continue to sing

FW: How much were your daily living expenses?

Ren: No more than 10 yuan.

FW: As I can tell, you are a shy girl. So when you began to sing at the underpass, did you feel it was embarrassing?

Ren: Yes. On the first day of singing there, I felt really embarrassed. But the embarrassment was gone on the following day. It was like I was destined to go to that place.

FW: How much money did you earn each month?

Ren: I could earn about 1,000 yuan per month, reserving one half for myself and sending the other half to my family. I was frugal, so the money was enough.

She was once taken away by urban management officers.

FW: Did you run into any urban management officers when you were singing at the underpass?

Ren: Yes, quite frequently. Usually, they would drive me away and tell me I was not allowed to sing there.

FW: Were you afraid to run into the officers?

Ren: Yes, I was quite scared. I was afraid they would take me away. They did take me away once, and I was scared to tears.

That happened two years after I started singing in the underground passage. That day, I sang for more than two hours at an underpass several crossings away from Xidan. Then the urban management officers came and took me away.

FW: What was your punishment?

Ren: I was fined 50 yuan. I even saw the urban management officers confiscate another wandering singer's guitar.

Post-"Angel" days

After she returned from the "Angel" singing competition, several record companies contacted her. But she has not signed a contract with any company yet. She said with a smile that if time allowed she would sing songs at Xidan forever.

Going back to Xidan to continue singing after harvesting the corn

FW: Now you are free from the competition. Do you currently have any plans?

Ren: I want to go to Guangdong first to see a netizen surnamed Xu. She sent me many clothes. So far I have never seen her in person, so I want to go to meet her.

FW: What about coming back from Guangdong?

Ren: I will return to Beijing after going back to my hometown first. In my hometown in Hebei, three mu of corn is waiting to be harvested. So I will go back home and help my parents with the harvest. (She said this with a big laugh.)

FW: Will you continue to sing at Xidan when you come back to Beijing?

Ren: Of course I will. Xidan is always my home. As long as nobody drives me away, I am willing to stay there for the rest of my life.

FW: Will you sign a contract with a record company? Even if you do not, singing at a bar is better than singing at Xidan, right?

Ren: Some record companies would like to sign a contract with me. First of all, I want to say "Thanks." I would like to think about it for some time. It is possible that I will sign a contract with a record company. But as long as time allows I will sing at Xidan forever.