Hearing some of the lyrics, Shen Momo frowned but held her tongue, knowing they were out to relax and that Tang Guo was in a bad mood. She glanced at Ye Qiu and found his surprised expression quite amusing. This boy from the countryside still had a simple, pure mindset.
When the song ended, Tang Guo and Lin Bao'er were panting heavily on the sofa. Zhang Zhenyue's "I Love Taiwanese Girls" had fast-paced lyrics, making it challenging for the two girls to keep up.
Tang Guo sipped her red wine and called out to Ye Qiu, "Ye Qiu, why don't you sing a song?"
"I can't sing," Ye Qiu replied flatly.
"How can you not sing? If you don't know pop songs, you must know some folk songs, right? Last time at Wolf Mountain, I heard you sing 'There's a Girl in the Village Called Er Ya'—who is Er Ya to you?" Tang Guo asked.
"---" Ye Qiu was shocked that she remembered the name Er Ya.
"Yes, Ye Qiu, I love hearing you sing—even though I haven't heard you sing yet. But I know it must be good," Lin Bao'er chimed in with a smile. She wondered if he'd sing children's songs. What good songs could people from the countryside sing?
"Ye Qiu, come on. You've heard Bao'er and me sing; it's only fair you sing a song for us," Tang Guo insisted, handing the microphone to Ye Qiu.
"Exactly. And the next time you sneak a peek at my chest, I'll pretend I didn't see," Lin Bao'er teased.
Pfft!
"Cough, cough—" Ye Qiu choked on his drink, coughing uncontrollably.
"Bao'er, how can you say that?" Shen Momo scolded, glaring at her.
Lin Bao'er stuck her tongue out at Shen Momo and then turned back to Ye Qiu, saying, "It's not like you haven't looked. Stop pretending. Sing us a song, or I won't wear a tank top anymore."
Ye Qiu wanted to bang his head against the wall. Hadn't she been wearing tank tops since the day he arrived? What difference did it make to him?
Knowing that if he didn't comply, who knew what methods these two girls would use to force him, Ye Qiu put down his cup and said, "Fine, I'll sing a song."
"Yay! I'll pick a song for you," Lin Bao'er jumped up, ran to the song selection station, and turned to ask, "What song do you want to sing?"
"'The Earth,'" Ye Qiu replied.
"What?"
"Beyond's 'The Earth.' Haven't you heard of it?" Ye Qiu's lips curled into a subtle smile.
"Of course, I've heard of it. But it's a Cantonese song. Can you, a guy from the countryside, sing it?" Lin Bao'er huffed, not pleased with Ye Qiu's attitude.
"If you've never been to England, how can you speak English? Don't underestimate us farmers," Ye Qiu retorted.
Lin Bao'er had hoped to see Ye Qiu make a fool of himself, but his comeback left her feeling like biting him. No wonder Tang Guo always got annoyed with him; he was truly annoying.
Grumbling, Lin Bao'er selected Beyond's "The Earth" for Ye Qiu. "Sing it properly. We all speak Cantonese, so don't try to fake it."
Ye Qiu smiled and didn't argue. As the familiar melody played, the speakers emitted the raspy, melancholic voice of the late genius singer. Ye Qiu cleared his throat softly, lifted the microphone, and sang along:
On those verdant paths
How many scars have we endured?
On that aged face
The traces of wind and frost remain
Autumn winds and rains mark our youthful days
---
A true performer is evident as soon as they start. Tang Guo and Lin Bao'er listened with a critical attitude, prepared to critique Ye Qiu. But as soon as Ye Qiu started singing, they knew their prepared criticisms would be unnecessary.
Imitating Huang Jiaju's powerful voice with precise Cantonese pronunciation, his expression filled with sorrow, and his eyes brimming with solitude, Ye Qiu's performance left an impression of isolated beauty.
Tang Guo, Shen Momo, and Lin Bao'er became his most loyal audience, putting away their dismissive attitudes to quietly savor each note he sang, immersing themselves in his thoughts and sadness, gently touching his past and future.
"I always thought I understood him, but I never do," Tang Guo murmured softly.
"Maybe we should see him differently. Perhaps we've been wrong," Shen Momo sighed, watching Ye Qiu sing with seriousness.
"He's just a pervert, nothing special," Lin Bao'er pouted.
As the song ended, the room fell silent again. The TV screen showed the next song's preview, but no one paid attention. It was unclear if they were lost in the poignant lyrics or contemplating the enigmatic Ye Qiu.
Were all farmers like this? Was rural education better than urban education?
After a long silence, Tang Guo broke it. "The room feels stuffy. Let's go out and dance."
"Guo Guo, it's late. We should go back. You have class tomorrow," Shen Momo said, checking her watch.
"Sis, it's only ten thirty. Why go back so early? The bar is just getting lively," Tang Guo protested.
"Yes, we usually sleep at eleven anyway. Let's just have fun for half an hour, please?" Lin Bao'er pleaded, holding Shen Momo's hand.
"But it's chaotic outside, and Guo Guo's matter hasn't been resolved. If something happens, how will I explain it to your dad?" Shen Momo worried.
"We have a bodyguard," Tang Guo pointed to Ye Qiu.
"But—" Shen Momo was still uneasy. She had seen how crowded it was outside, with no barriers, exposing them to everyone's view. She didn't know how skilled Ye Qiu was, but even a strong man couldn't handle a crowd.
"It's okay. Let them have fun. Nothing will happen," Ye Qiu assured her, his face full of confidence.
Seeing this confident expression on Ye Qiu for the first time, Shen Momo was slightly taken aback.
To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link https://youtu.be/GnU613H6xm8