Chapter 25: Unexpected Joy

"My friends, we have an impromptu encore today," Gu said, standing on the stage.

"The singer is a friend who wishes to remain anonymous.

"He said he isn't very good at singing, but he still wants to take this opportunity to dedicate a song to someone.

"To make up for it, he is treating everyone in the audience to a glass of Adonis Empire Coffee Stout."

As soon as Gu finished speaking, the entire venue erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

"Wow!"

"This guy is way too generous!"

"Adonis Empire is 168 yuan a glass."

"I don't know if the singer is a man or a woman, but if he's a man, I'll definitely make him bow down to my hot pants," a gorgeously dressed woman in a low-cut dress revealing an expanse of pale skin declared.

Beside her, an older female companion raised a pinky finger and said coyly, "Hmph. Man or woman, someone this generous is definitely worth getting to know for an in-depth exchange."

Other patrons eagerly anticipated the upcoming performance, fixing their gazes on the stage. Seeing that the atmosphere was lively enough, Gu shot a look at the band beside him.

"Everyone, the stage is his now. Please give him a big round of applause to show your support."

The band members had been informed earlier that they were to back up this rich kid. Though a bit reluctant, making a living was tough. Money was money, and they had to earn it. They just hoped his singing wouldn't be too unbearable!

CLAP CLAP CLAP...

After a burst of thunderous applause, the stage lights went out entirely. A second later, a spotlight hit the microphone stand. A tall, handsome man stood there, gripping the mic with both hands. It was obvious he was nervous, but his eyes were filled with unwavering determination.

Sitting in the second-floor VIP section, Liu Yiyi stared at the figure on the stage, completely stunned.

She had wondered why he was taking so long in the restroom. But to think... he was actually...

And this song dedicated to someone? The implication was self-evident. She never expected him to be so bold. Yet, it was exactly this boldness that pierced through her heart like a ray of light. A long-lost warmth instantly dispelled the gloom hovering over her mind. Fueled by alcohol, a strong, uncontrollable urge surged within her.

"Since the rumors are already out there, what is there to be afraid of? Let the rumors become reality!" she thought.

Resting her slender fingers on the railing, Liu Yiyi leaned forward, her ink-black hair cascading down. Her twinkling eyes met those clear, nervous ones perfectly.

[Affinity +12]

[Liu Yiyi's Affinity has risen to 80 points]

[Reward: Skill Points 3]

[System Mall unlocked (No surreal items)]

[Redeemable Items]

[Basic Singing Techniques: Skill Points 1]

[Basic Rock Climbing Skills: Skill Points 2]

[Kato's Eagle Finger: Skill Points 3]

[...]

The rapid succession of system notifications and the grid of items appearing in his mind caused Su Yunzhou's expression to shift in shock. He hadn't expected Tong to give him such a surprise.

When he first obtained the system, Tong had merely told him to "figure everything out yourself" and provided no further hints. Who would have thought he'd receive such an unexpected bonus today?

Before he could examine it in detail, voices of urging rose from the audience. Snapping back to reality, the corners of Su Yunzhou's lips curved upward slightly.

Rock climbing was completely useless right now! As for that damned Kato's Eagle Finger, with his healthy body, he didn't need it at all. Plus, it cost three Skill Points, so he ignored it entirely. As for the rest, he really had no time to study them now.

"Tong! Redeem Basic Singing Techniques," he ordered inwardly.

In the next second, foundational singing skills flooded his mind. The system grid from earlier also changed accordingly.

[Redeemable Items]

[Intermediate Singing Techniques: Skill Points 1]

"It works like this?" he thought.

Su Yunzhou hesitated for a moment before making a decision. Since he had the chance, he needed to deliver a perfect performance.

"Continue redeeming!" he commanded.

The item in that column shifted once more.

[Advanced Singing Techniques: Skill Points 1]

"Huh? So cheap? Redeem!"

[Master Level Singing Techniques: Skill Points 5]

"Uh... This price jump is insane!" he noted.

Smacking his lips, he ceased his redemptions. At the same time, Advanced Singing Techniques were crammed into his brain. The volume of information was immense—vocalizing methods, pitch accuracy, rhythm control, timbre manipulation, vibrato, portamento, and more. Without realizing it, Su Yunzhou's body began to tremble.

All of this felt like a long time but actually transpired in the blink of an eye. However, to the audience below, watching the rich kid go from standing perfectly still to shivering uncontrollably made the goodwill they felt from the free drinks slowly fade.

"Handsome! Are you going to sing or not?"

"Don't be nervous, cutie! I support you!"

"Did this rich kid chicken out?"

"Duh! Look at his legs shaking!"

The guitarist on stage harbored a deep hatred for these wealthy types, as his childhood sweetheart had been stolen away by a rich kid. However, listening to the audience's chatter, he felt compelled to give a reminder.

COUGH COUGH.

The heavy coughing snapped Su Yunzhou out of his immersion in his new skills.

"So a single song involves this many techniques," he marveled inwardly. His grip on the microphone was no longer tense, and his expression grew confident.

"Apologies! Was just thinking about something," he announced into the mic. "This song is called 'Song of Troubles'. I hope none of you have any troubles in this moment."

As his voice fell, the band members exchanged glances. The guitarist was the first to strum his strings. A relaxed, cheerful chord echoed throughout the space. The keyboardist and drummer joined in, clapping to the beat.

He reluctantly began to lead the intro.

"La~ ah la~"

"Da la da da la da~"

As they approached the first verse, the guitarist threw the rich kid a glance, only to find that the guy had closed his eyes at some point.

"We're doomed! This performance is definitely going to crash and burn!" the guitarist thought with a sense of dread.

But just as the next eight-beat measure kicked in, Su Yunzhou opened his mouth. His voice was deep and profound, carrying a unique, captivating charm.

[Those you don't love keep interrupting,

The one you love isn't in your embrace.

What you've obtained, you don't need,

What you long for, you cannot attain.

Such distress.

You might as well just laugh it off.]

A master's touch was instantly recognizable. The band members were collectively dumbfounded, almost failing to keep up with the accompaniment. The guitarist even played a wrong chord but quickly corrected himself, screaming internally.

"This is what he calls 'not very good at singing'? Sounding bad? This pitch accuracy! This vocal texture! He could easily rival a professional singer!"

[Life doesn't need too much cash,

Too much will only bring you distress.

An overly heavy backpack,

An excessive amount of rage,

Just leave it all behind.]

Singing this line, Su Yunzhou opened his eyes. Holding the mic in one hand, he began waving his other hand to the rhythm.

[Let's shout together,

No more troubles.

Aside from breathing, nothing else matters,

Aside from right now, just forget everything.

Worries are like feathers, drifting freer and freer.]

At this moment, the audience snapped out of their previous shock. Many stood up excitedly, waving their hands to the rhythm of the song and singing along in low voices. This impromptu livehouse encore had turned into a massive chorus.

The atmosphere of the entire Pharmaceutical Factory reached its climax in this instant.

"La~ la la~ la la~"

"Let's shout together, no more troubles, aside from breathing, nothing else matters~"