Chapter 26: This Song

CLAP CLAP CLAP.

After the song ended, the crowd boiled over. Applause and cheers echoed endlessly as the patrons below the stage turned into fanatic fans.

They kept shouting.

"Handsome, you can't leave! Play another one!"

"The Jacky Cheung of Rongcheng! One more!"

"Encore! Encore!"

The band members on stage hadn't felt such an enthusiastic audience in a long time. They were a somewhat famous band that often gigged around, and they had played backup for similar performances many times before. But they had never encountered a situation like tonight's.

This gentleman's singing technique felt like it was on par with their teachers at the Music Academy. The guitarist even thought it might be better. The man's performance skills had shocked him beyond measure. His detailed handling of vibrato and vocal runs had reached absolute perfection.

Seeing this, Gu snapped out of his shock and immediately stepped forward to take control of the stage. He had originally thought he would need to salvage the situation because the performance bombed. He never expected it to be the exact opposite.

He was actually still dazed. Ten minutes ago, Su Yunzhou had come to him, asking to sing a song on stage. Gu had been about to agree, but before he could even open his mouth, the man had added that money was no object. Confronted with such a generous client, how could he not satisfy this tiny request? He had even prepared himself for how to save the day if the client sang horribly.

Who knew this rich kid could sing so well? He even suspected that Mr. Su was some trainee from Korea or a top student from the Berklee College of Music.

Looking at the incredibly passionate audience, Gu spoke up. "Everyone, I am truly sorry, but this was a one-time performance.

"I completely understand your enthusiasm, and even I want to hear another song. However, this performer is a guest of our Pharmaceutical Factory. If there's a chance in the future, maybe he'll take the stage again.

"I just checked with management, and to thank you all for your passion, all drinks will be twenty percent off for the rest of the night! Please, enjoy this trouble-free evening to the fullest!"

Thanks to Gu's silver tongue, Su Yunzhou finally left the stage under the respectful escort of the band.

At the same time, he felt secretly delighted. He thought, "As expected of a product from the system, the effects are incredible. My Affinity went up by so much all at once, and there's also this System Mall..."

Just as Su Yunzhou pushed through the crowded floor, passing countless raised thumbs, a beautiful woman in a low-cut dress blocked his path. Her voice was a soft, cloying baby voice.

"A drink from a fan!" she said. "You sang so well!"

Not only was her voice forced, but her cleavage was also aggressively pushed together. How did the saying go? When you gaze into the deep ravine, the deep ravine gazes back at you.

But this kind of coquettish woman—who was clearly a club regular—could no longer catch Su Yunzhou's eye.

"I don't drink!" he replied casually.

The beautiful woman naturally heard the rejection in his words. She felt a bit of regret, but as a veteran of the nightlife scene, she didn't pester him. She turned and left, maintaining the poise expected of a beauty.

As Su Yunzhou reached the corner of the stairs leading to the second floor, a burly man acting like a flamboyant diva—whose movements were even more seductive than the previous woman's—popped out from who knew where.

"Hand~some~" he cooed. "I've been waiting for you for so long! That song you just sang was simply amazing. I absolutely loved it. Can I buy you a drink? I promise to wash all your troubles away tonight..."

Hearing this voice, Su Yunzhou instantly broke out in goosebumps and barely resisted the urge to slap him. The only reason he held back wasn't out of fear of causing a scene, but because he was afraid of dirtying his hands.

This flamboyant guy was simply too disgusting!

Gritting his teeth, Su Yunzhou said, "I'm only going to say this once! Get lost!"

The flamboyant diva, who had exerted all of his charm, looked in disbelief at the unmoved handsome man before him.

SIGH.

He let out a faint, mournful sigh. Veterans of the nightlife scene never clung on or dragged things out. The handsome man was simply missing out on an excellent catch like him.

Many patrons witnessed this scene and smiled knowingly. Of course, there were even more restless women waiting for their chance.

They thought, "Just because they failed doesn't mean I will."

Whether it was a lounge or any other kind of club, everyone who came to the nightlife scene harbored a little desire to go hunting for romance. It was just that these seasoned Hunters were still biding their time. They never fought battles they weren't sure of winning.

When Su Yunzhou walked up to the second floor, many Hunters were overjoyed. VIP. Those three letters needed no explanation. This man had talent, looks, and money. They thought, "I absolutely have to take him down tonight."

In an instant, the women's restroom at the Pharmaceutical Factory was packed with girls touching up their makeup, adjusting their battle-outfits, and intentionally ripping their black pantyhose.

Su Yunzhou had no idea that because of this single song, he had become the top choice in the hearts of all the women present.

Liu Yiyi's eyes sparkled as she watched the man stroll over to her. His rendition of "Song of Troubles" tonight was forever etched into her heart. She really liked the original singer of this song and had even been to his concert. But Su Yunzhou's version tonight was the best she had ever heard, second only to the original.

Yet, precisely because he was so outstanding, a sliver of worry bloomed within her excited heart. A divorced woman like herself. A treasure of a younger man like him. How was this supposed to work...

Seeing Liu Yiyi's somewhat conflicted expression, Su Yunzhou spoke up. "Sister Liu, didn't we agree to 'call out together and have no troubles' tonight? Don't overthink it. Live in the moment and enjoy it while it lasts."

His words flashed like a bolt of lightning through Liu Yiyi's bewildered mind.

She thought, "That's right! Why overthink it? Why worry about things that haven't even happened yet? Besides! Even if something does happen, it's not like I'm losing out... right?!"

Su Yunzhou had no idea she had thought so much from just a single sentence, but her expression had clearly changed.

She raised her glass. "To you! When you enter The Voice next year, I'll rally votes and boost your rankings!"

"Haha!" Su Yunzhou tipped his head back and took a large gulp.

The two of them talked and laughed, unknowingly sitting closer and closer together.

But happy times were always interrupted.

Liu Yiyi set down her glass and looked at a woman approaching from nearby. The woman swayed her hips with every step, boasting a hot figure and a face that clearly cost a fortune.

Liu Yiyi thought, "Sigh. Is this the sixth one, or the seventh?"

It completely ruined the mood for chatting! Although Su Yunzhou rejected them every time, these pretentious girls were seriously so annoying. They had zero situational awareness.

Liu Yiyi, who was already slightly tipsy, directly wrapped her arms around one of Su Yunzhou's arms the moment the hip-swaying girl opened her mouth. The corners of her lips curled up slightly. Adopting the posture of a victor, she turned her head and gave the girl a slight nod.

But even so, the girl refused to give up, revealing a charming smile that she believed could captivate anyone.

"Hey handsome, I'm Coco..."

Feeling the softness pressing against his arm, Su Yunzhou's mind wandered a bit. After all, it had been far too long since he last had a taste...

"Sorry," Su Yunzhou said. "If you want to buy me a drink, you'll have to ask my girlfriend if she agrees first."

Coco fell silent.