Why didn't you tell me earlier that my little sister is still waiting for me?

Xu Hongdou rolled her eyes at Lin Bufan, annoyed: "You're just making this up. I think if Teacher Hu actually does what you say, she might end up with a mental breakdown."

Lin Bufan waved his hand dismissively, saying, "Don't worry, it's not that serious. Look at those couples in the entertainment industry who are head over heels in love, they break up in the end, but they're all doing just fine, aren't they? If they manage things well, they might even gain both fame and fortune!"

Chen Nanxing narrowed her eyes, staring at Lin Bufan suspiciously, her tone carrying a hint of danger: "Oh? Is that so? You sound so eloquent and logical... Could it be that you're dating just to find inspiration? Are you planning to break up with him at the height of your passion, just to achieve your creative peak?"

As soon as Chen Nanxing said this, Xu Hongdou, Nana, and Da Mai all focused their attention on Lin Bufan's face, their eyes filled with inquiry.

Lin Bufan shuddered, the hairs on the back of his neck almost standing on end. He quickly waved his hands, "Oh my little darling! Don't talk nonsense! This is purely theoretical research and case analysis! I, Lin Bufan, am an upright person. When I'm in a relationship, I'm always aiming for a lifelong commitment. How could I possibly do something so immoral? Besides, I have a proper formal education. My teachers taught us back then to be virtuous and talented, and to follow the right path! Those crooked paths... ah, I mean those special creative methods, my teachers explicitly forbade us from practicing them! How could a good student like me, with such impeccable credentials, possibly touch them?"

Chen Nanxing snorted, clearly not believing it, but the occasion wasn't right, so he didn't press the matter further.

Lin Bufan, on the other hand, was looking to quickly change the subject. He glanced at the small stage in the bar and immediately had an idea. He slapped his thigh and said, "Ah, that's right! It seems like none of you have ever heard me sing live, right? No matter how well those videos are recorded online, it's still not the same as hearing it live! Perfect timing, today's the right day, I'll go up and show you what I'm capable of, and let you see it!"

Before anyone could react, Lin Bufan stood up and walked toward the bar owner who was wiping glasses behind the counter.

Lin Bufan walked to the bar, and before he could even speak, the female owner behind the bar, who looked to be around forty years old and had a capable demeanor, immediately put down her cup and gave him a warm yet slightly nervous smile.

"Mr. Lin! It really is you! I recognized you just now, but I was too shy to go over and say hello for fear of disturbing you and your friends." The boss's voice was filled with obvious excitement and joy: "My name is Wang Fang, I'm the owner here, and I'm also a fan of yours! I especially love the songs you sang, as well as the works of the Nirvana band!"

Lin Bufan wasn't surprised to run into his fans in a bar in a remote town. After all, he was a man with over 100 million fans. One in ten Chinese people was his fan, which was a pretty high probability!

Lin Bufan smiled politely: "Mr. Wang, you're too kind. I just came here to have some fun. The atmosphere seems nice, and I'd like to borrow your stage to sing a song. Is that convenient?"

"Convenient! So convenient!" Wang Fang naturally had no reason to disagree with such a good thing: "It's an honor for our shop that you can sing here! We couldn't be happier! What kind of instrument do you need? We have guitars and keyboards here, but they may not be as professional as the ones you usually use."

“A regular guitar will do,” Lin Bufan said.

"Okay! Okay! I'll go get you the best one right away!" Wang Fang turned and walked towards the back room, her steps much lighter. As she walked, she called out to the waiter next to her, "Xiao Liu, quickly adjust the stage lights and tell the guests that there's a big surprise coming up!"

Soon, Wang Fang returned carrying a well-maintained wooden guitar, which she respectfully handed to Lin Bufan. The music in the bar was turned down, and the dim lights focused on the small stage, attracting the attention of all the customers. Many people had already recognized Lin Bufan, whispering among themselves, their faces filled with excitement and anticipation.

Hu Youyu also saw this scene and quickly slipped back to his booth, his eyes wide open: "Teacher Lin is going to sing? My God, I'm in for a treat today!"

Almost at the same moment Lin Bufan stepped onto the stage, Sang Biao, who had been quietly licking the low-alcohol fruit wine in the corner of the booth, suddenly stopped. It raised its head, glanced at the familiar figure on the stage, then very human-like and full of disdain, pursed its lips, and without hesitation turned its head away, covering its ear canals with its two large, furry ears with a "snap," burying its face in its front paws, striking a resolute "I won't listen, I won't listen, you bastard chanting scriptures" pose.

Xu Hongdou, sitting in the booth, witnessed Sang Biao's series of smooth, resistant movements. She paused slightly, then asked softly with amusement, "Brother Biao, what are you doing? Don't you want to hear your master sing?"

Sang Biao didn't look up. He just used his claws to pull the phone next to him over, nimbly poked the screen a few times, and then pushed it towards Xu Hongdou.

The phone screen displayed several large words: "Here's a piece of advice for you; it's best to follow my lead."

Xu Hongdou found the words even more intriguing and asked, "Why?"

Sang Biao's paw twitched again, and the phone screen refreshed: [Because there's a cheater.]

Just as Xu Hongdou was about to ask something else, Lin Bufan on stage had already adjusted the microphone.

"Ahem, good evening, everyone." His voice came through the speakers, carrying a lazy yet charming magnetism that instantly attracted the attention of the entire audience: "I'd like to bother you for a few minutes tonight. Please allow me to sing a song, 'Encounter,' hoping... to encounter a moment in your hearts."

After a brief introduction, Lin Bufan's fingers gently plucked the guitar strings. The prelude was soothing and clean, like raindrops gently tapping on a windowpane, carrying a touch of sadness and a hint of hope.

"Hearing winter depart,

I woke up in a certain month of a certain year.

I think, I wait, I look forward to it.

The future cannot be arranged because of this…

The moment Lin Bufan opened his mouth, the entire bar seemed to be muted. His "god-level singing voice," enhanced by the system, sang every word clearly and with great texture. His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a warm spring, silently flowing into everyone's ears and into their hearts.

His masterful ability to evoke emotion allows him to do more than just sing; it's as if he's using his voice to tell a story about waiting, fate, and the intertwining of destinies. The delicate emotions contained in his singing are like invisible tentacles, gently plucking the softest strings of the listener's heart.

"Overcast at dusk, outside the car window,"

There is someone waiting in the future.

Look left, look right, look forward.

Love takes several detours to arrive…

Xu Hongdou's smiling eyes faltered slightly the moment the song began. She looked at the man on stage, bathed in light and shadow, his expression focused, and listened to his clear yet story-laden voice. The lyrics—the anticipation of the unknown, the longing for encounters, and the faint melancholy about the capriciousness of fate—inexplicably struck a chord deep within her. The busyness and confusion before arriving in Yunmiao Village, the relaxation and serendipitous encounters after arriving, and those inexplicable stirrings of emotion… all these intertwined, leaving her momentarily lost in thought.

Chen Nanxing also dropped her joking expression, resting her chin on her hand and staring intently at Lin Bufan. She recalled her noisy yet intimate daily life with Lin Bufan, and his seemingly unreliable yet always reassuring demeanor. This song... seemed to express a feeling she hadn't thought about in detail, yet which quietly existed within her.

Nana lowered her head slightly, her fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of her wine glass. The song reminded her of the "encounters" she had had online, the support and doubts, the peace and unease she felt after escaping here. After these "encounters," how should she face them? Her mind was in turmoil.

Damai was completely engrossed. Her big eyes, which always held a hint of timidity and curiosity, were wide open now, clearly reflecting Lin Bufan's image. To her, it wasn't just pleasant to listen to; it was as if a window had opened outside the world of words she had created, a window equally moving, depicted through melody and emotion.

Hu Youyu was already filled with adoration and rapture. He desperately suppressed the urge to scream and applaud, afraid of disturbing the wonderful atmosphere. As he listened, he shouted wildly in his heart, "This is the feeling! This is the flavor! The ultimate emotional investment! Teacher Lin was right after all. I must hurry up and have a love affair that's earth-shattering, unwavering until death, and where you can break up at any time!"

The other patrons in the bar reacted even more directly. Some stopped talking, their eyes glazed over, as if lost in memories; some nodded gently to the melody, their eyes slightly red; in a corner, a middle-aged man drinking alone quietly took off his glasses and wiped the corner of his eye with the back of his hand; several young girls at another table were already holding hands and quietly sniffling.

"...Who will I meet, and what kind of dialogue will we have?"

The person I'm waiting for, how far into the future is he?

I hear the wind coming from the subway and the sea of ​​people.

I stood in line, holding my love number…

During the chorus, Lin Bufan's voice rose slightly, conveying even more emotion. He perfectly captured the complex emotions of searching, waiting, and hoping amidst uncertainty in a vast sea of ​​people. Many patrons couldn't contain their emotions; soft sobs and sniffles could be faintly heard in the quiet bar. Even Wang Fang, the owner behind the bar, couldn't help but turn around and quietly wipe away her moist eyes.

Lying in the corner, Sang Biao looked at Xu Hongdou and the others around him, their eyes red with tears, and couldn't help but feel smug: [Luckily, I had the foresight, otherwise I would definitely have fallen for it too. But speaking of which, with such blatant cheating, isn't anyone going to do anything about it?]

As the song ended, the lingering notes of the guitar faded away.

A brief, impenetrable silence fell over the bar.

After a brief silence, applause erupted like a tidal wave, mixed with sniffling, wiping away tears, and excited whispers of approval. Many people clapped with red eyes, their faces still bearing the marks of being moved by the song.

Lin Bufan smiled and bowed in acknowledgment, then took the guitar and walked off the stage, returning it to Wang Fang, whose eyes were also red-rimmed behind the bar.

"Mr. Lin, you sang...it was absolutely wonderful." Wang Fang took the guitar, her voice still a little choked up: "I've been running a bar for so many years and I've heard a lot of people sing, but someone like you...who can sing right to the heart, is truly a first. It's so moving, really."

Lin Bufan waved his hand, his face showing his usual casualness: "Mr. Wang, you flatter me. I was in average condition today, so my performance was just so-so."

Wang Fang was taken aback by Lin Bufan's nonchalant "ordinary," opening her mouth but unsure how to respond. Seeing Lin Bufan turn to leave, she quickly said, "Um... Mr. Lin, there's something else I'd like to ask for your opinion on." She pointed to the inconspicuous camera in the corner of the ceiling: "We have security cameras in our shop, and they recorded your singing just now... Do you think... we could use this recording to promote our shop a little? Of course, if you find it inconvenient, we definitely won't use it!"

Lin Bufan didn't even turn his head, just casually waved his hand: "It's okay, use it as you like. After all, being handsome is for others to see."

"Oh! Thank you so much, Mr. Lin! You're so kind of me!" Wang Fang quickly expressed her gratitude.

Lin Bufan returned to the booth, plopped down, and wore an undisguised smug look on his face. His gaze swept over the four ladies: "How was it? Weren't you completely captivated by the charm of my singing? Did you feel a sense of awe, as if this music could only exist in heaven and rarely heard on earth?"

Xu Hongdou, Chen Nanxing, Nana, and Damai were still immersed in the emotions from earlier, their eyes somewhat unfocused, as if they hadn't completely detached themselves from the situation, and none of them immediately responded.

At that moment, Hu Youyu suddenly rushed over from the side, his face flushed with excitement, his hands clenched into fists, his voice trembling slightly with excitement: "President Lin! Teacher Lin! You are my god! You are more than just charming! Just now on stage, you were shining! Holy! Dazzling! Full of the divine radiance of an artist! I feel that my soul has been cleansed and purified by your singing! I... I'm about to fall in love with you! No, no! Not just about to fall in love, I'm already in love! I love you to death! You are my guiding light, the lighthouse on my musical journey! I..."

Lin Bufan's smug expression froze instantly. He slowly turned his head and looked at Hu Youyu, whose eyes were shining, who was talking non-stop, and who seemed to want to pounce on him to express his admiration. His lips twitched uncontrollably.

"puff--"

"Hahaha……"

Seeing Lin Bufan's blank expression, as if he'd swallowed a fly, Xu Hongdou, Chen Nanxing, and Nana couldn't help but burst out laughing. Even Da Mai next to them pursed her lips and secretly smiled.