RBCT Chapter 51 Lin Zhou: I can't sing, I'll just hum a little.
Chapter 51 Lin Zhou: I can't sing, I'll just hum a little.
"Shall we demonstrate?"
The moment those four words were uttered, it was like a drop of cold water falling into a scalding hot oil pan, instantly causing a commotion.
The villagers, who had initially just been watching the commotion, couldn't understand C major or musical notation, but they could sense the tension! It was clearly a fight was about to break out, and they clapped excitedly, their shouts rising and falling.
"Good! You're a real man! Don't be a coward!"
"Xiao Lin, show him what you've got! We were all impressed by the way you slaughtered that pig!"
"That's right! Our Peach Blossom Village's son-in-law won't lose face even if he's defeated! Let's sing a song!"
The live stream chat was filled with comments that seemed designed to stir up trouble, with both haters and entertainers flying around:
"Hilarious! Is Lin Zhou trying to humiliate himself? Comparing music with Zhou Lixing? It's like trying to wield a sword like Guan Yu!"
"Commendable courage, but questionable intelligence. He's a Berkeley graduate, what can Lin Zhou do? Chop vegetables?"
"Just waiting for this to backfire! I'm already prepared to record it; this will be another disastrous moment in the 'gold digger's' career!"
Lu Ming stood aside, watching this scene, his mouth practically stretched to his ears in a grin.
He was just worrying about how he couldn't get back the face he'd lost while eating steak, and now, someone had willingly offered themselves up as a sacrifice. He straightened his collar and said loudly and sarcastically:
"Brother Lin, although I admire your courage, this is a completely different field. Music is not like slaughtering pigs, where all you need is strength."
"If you really want to show off, how about giving us a 'kitchen knife freestyle'? Like, slicing vegetables while rapping? I think that suits your style better, hahaha!"
These were extremely sarcastic remarks, and several staff members around couldn't help but cover their mouths and chuckle.
Zhou Lixing smiled too.
He held his guitar, looking at Lin Zhou with disdain, as if he were looking at an ant that dared to challenge a lion.
"Mr. Lin, please. Since you're so confident, then the stage is yours. I'd also like to see what kind of 'heavenly music' comes from someone who doesn't understand sheet music."
As he spoke, he made an extremely gentlemanly "please" gesture, but in reality, he was putting Lin Zhou on the hot seat.
Su Qingge was extremely anxious as she watched this scene.
She knows Lin Zhou too well.
In those seven years, aside from hearing him belt out a few lines of "The Great River Flows East" off-key in the bathroom, she never saw him touch any musical instrument. Comparing him to a professional singer like Zhou Lixing? Wasn't that just asking for trouble?
Seeing that Lin Zhou was really about to walk onto the stage, Su Qingge could no longer sit still.
She grabbed Lin Zhou's wrist, her usually cool face now filled with anxiety, and spoke in a low, urgent voice:
"Lin Zhou, don't be impulsive! This is a live broadcast, not a joke!"
"He's just trying to provoke you, don't fall for it. You... you're not a very good singer, don't embarrass yourself."
At this point, she gritted her teeth, as if making a firm decision, pulled him behind her, and stepped forward to block his path.
"I'll sing this song. I'm a singer, so competing with him isn't bullying. It's okay if I lose, anyway..."
"Anyway what?"
Lin Zhou suddenly interrupted her.
Looking at the slender yet stubborn back that stood in front of him, he felt a sharp jolt to the softest part of his heart.
That silly woman.
Despite being so proud and concerned about her image, she was actually willing to "go to her death" and take on Zhou Lixing's attack in order to protect him.
"Wife."
Lin Zhou grasped her hand in return, the warmth of his palm seeping through her skin. He pulled Su Qingge back behind him with a slight pull, looking down into her eyes, a lazy yet confident smile playing on his lips:
"When did it become the women's turn to be on the front lines in our family?"
"But..." Su Qingge's eyes reddened with anxiety, "You really can't do it! That's Zhou Lixing!"
"A man can't say no."
Lin Zhou leaned close to her ear and teased her in a voice only the two of them could hear, his hot breath hitting her sensitive earlobe, causing Su Qingge to stiffen.
Before she could react, Lin Zhou had already let go of her hand and turned to walk towards the rest area next door.
He didn't pick up the microphone that stood in the center of the stage, symbolizing the protagonist's aura, nor did he accept the professional equipment handed to him by the staff.
Instead, she walked straight up to Chen Kai.
"Brother Chen, can I borrow your guitar?"
Chen Kai hesitated for a moment, looking at Lin Zhou's casual demeanor, and felt a little uneasy. But now he was in a bind, so he readily handed over the guitar, not forgetting to whisper a word of advice:
"Bro, these strings are a bit stiff, take it easy. If you really can't handle it, just pluck them a couple of times, I'll accompany you, let's belt out some rock and roll, we can't lose in terms of momentum!"
"Thanks, Brother Chen, but you don't need to go to that trouble."
Lin Zhou took the guitar and casually slung it over his shoulder.
He did not go on stage, but calmly walked to the stone steps at the edge of the stage.
There were no spotlights there, only dappled afternoon shadows from the trees.
Lin Zhou didn't pay much attention to his posture, his long legs stretched out casually, leaning against the rough stone railing, exuding a lazy and carefree vibe.
He tested the sound, his slender fingers lightly gliding across the strings, producing a crisp "zheng" sound.
Zhou Lixing stood in the center of the stage, looking down at him, and sneered, "Mr. Lin, do you need me to lend you a tuner? Don't end up not being able to find the right pitch later."
"Need not."
Lin Zhou didn't even look up, turning the piano keys as he casually spoke to the camera:
"Don't get your hopes up too high. As Zhou, the great talent, said, I don't know anything about music theory, nor have I studied vocal music."
"I really can't handle those highbrow arts."
"All I can do is hum nonsense. If I don't sing well later, just listen to the noise and don't complain."
These words were spoken with utmost sincerity, even tinged with self-deprecation.
The haters in the live stream immediately went wild:
"Listen to that! He admitted it himself!"
"Just humming and hawing? Is this some kind of preemptive excuse to back down?"
"Let's disperse, let's disperse. I guess it's just at the level of 'Two Tigers'."
Su Qingge stood below the stage, her hands gripping the hem of her dress tightly, so nervous she could hardly breathe. She looked at the man sitting on the steps, the sunlight illuminating his profile and giving him a golden glow.
For some reason, seeing his calm and collected demeanor miraculously calmed the panic in her heart.
Lin Zhou adjusted the sound.
He slowly raised his head, his gaze passing over the crowd, not looking at Zhou Lixing, nor at the camera, but precisely landing on Su Qingge.
Those peach blossom eyes, now devoid of their usual playful smiles, held only a deep tenderness, like a breeze that held the essence of summer.
"This song is dedicated to my wife."
"Although it's a bit late, thankfully... it's not too late."
The moment the words fell.
His fingers gently touched the strings.
There are no unnecessary technical tricks, and no complicated arrangements.
It's that simple, just a gentle flick.
"Thump—thump thump—thump thump thump—"
An extremely simple, yet exceptionally crisp and clean prelude flowed from the strings.
The melody seemed to possess a magical power, instantly piercing through the afternoon heat and the noise of the scene.
The crowd that had been making a fuss and mocking them seemed to be muted the moment those few notes were played.
Even Zhou Lixing, who was ready to laugh at the spectacle, suddenly froze with a cold smile.
A true expert's skill is immediately apparent.
This prelude...
How could it be so catchy?!