country bumpkin

When Song Ke saw Bai Linlin's disheveled state, he felt a tremor in his heart and a deep discomfort.

It felt as if a precious glass cup I had cherished had cracked open. At the same time, my closed-off heart seemed to be peeled away layer by layer.

He didn't understand what this feeling was; he only felt that Bai Linlin in front of him was very lovely and pitiful.

Suppressing the urge to walk over, I stood still and silently watched them brush past me.

Wang Huihui glared at him when she saw him, muttering as she walked away, "Beauty is a curse, and so are men."

Song Ke overheard everything, but was completely confused. He didn't linger and went to the group activity area.

Their project will be completed in a few days. This will also be the last time he participates in such a group activity.

As the joyful sounds grew closer, we finally arrived at the very center of the event.

Watching the lively and cheerful young men and women, I felt inexplicably lost.

For some reason, I just can't feel happy.

The surrounding area was noisy, and several pretty young girls saw him and fluttered over like butterflies.

Song Ke felt a bit overwhelmed. He used to dislike these kinds of occasions but could still calm down, but now he felt empty inside.

Looking around, I found nothing special; it was just like any other day.

But the image of Bai Linlin, so pitiful and endearing, flashed through my mind. I shook my head, trying to shake off the hazy memory, and forced myself to immerse myself in the lively activity.

In the dormitory, Wang Huihui, like a kind older sister, helped Bai Linlin find her clothes. Bai Linlin was washing her hair in the washroom.

I was splashed with soda all over my head; it felt sticky, cold, and uncomfortable.

After washing and drying my hair, I started changing my clothes.

Wang Huihui kept muttering to herself as she helped her get dressed.

"Linlin, when I'm not around, stay away from Feifei. Don't confront her directly. If you need anything, come to me, okay?"

Bai Linlin hugged Wang Huihui, moved, and said, "Sister Huihui, you are like my own sister. I will definitely listen to you."

Wang Huihui replied happily, "Okay, I'll be your older sister from now on."

She has a younger sister who looks a lot like Bai Linlin; she is lively, cheerful, cute, and kind.

My mother sent me to my maternal grandmother's house in the countryside. I haven't seen her for a long time and I miss her very much.

I only remember when I was little, my younger sister always liked to stick to my maternal grandmother's house in the countryside, like a little bell, always clinging to her.

Now, my younger sister is married. She stayed in the countryside and married a farmer.

Her younger sister is the same age as Bai Linlin, both 18-year-old girls in the prime of their youth, but she got married early.

Since my younger sister got married, the family ties we used to share have completely disappeared. Now, she only has her husband's family to rely on and is very cold towards her own family.

Perhaps she was swayed by others, or perhaps they had too little contact and lacked the care of family, or perhaps her sister had changed.

My mother once said that she was thinking of bringing my younger sister back to the city, but my father didn't bring his second daughter back because he was buying a household registration for my younger brother. So maybe my sister hates her family.

Once her thoughts returned, Wang Huihui held Bai Linlin's small hand and said, "Look how cold your little hands are. Don't you know how to take care of yourself? You'll feel terrible if you catch a cold."

Bai Linlin said coquettishly, "Hehe, isn't it because I have you, my sister? You're here to take care of me!"

Wang Huihui was deeply moved, and she really felt that this was her cute little sister who used to cling to her when she was a child.

After changing her clothes, Bai Linlin wanted to go play at the activity area.

Because there are performances, including singing, dancing, playing guitar, and so on.

Wang Huihui said helplessly, "Okay! I'll go with you if you want, but you can't leave my sight, and you have to stay far away from Feifei, understand?"

Bai Linlin was comforted and grinned, "Okay, okay, I'll definitely stay by your side every step of the way, sister."

The two held hands and went to the event venue together.

When they arrived at the event venue, a little girl was singing on the stage. Her voice was melodious and captivating, and the audience listened with rapt attention.

Bai Linlin excitedly pulled Wang Huihui to squeeze forward, wanting to see more clearly.

Song Ke inadvertently spotted Bai Linlin in the crowd, and his eyes immediately softened.

He found himself walking towards Bai Linlin without even realizing it.

At this point, the song on stage finished, and the host came on stage and said, "Next, we would like to invite the audience to participate in an interactive segment. Is there anyone brave enough to come up on stage and show off their singing voice or other talents?"

Bai Linlin's eyes lit up, and she broke free from Wang Huihui's hand, raising her hand high.

Everyone looked at her in surprise, and the host invited her to come on stage. Bai Linlin walked confidently onto the stage and sang a folk song from her hometown.

The singing, imbued with a rustic charm, had a unique flavor, and Song Ke was deeply attracted to it, his peculiar feeling growing stronger.

Meanwhile, Wang Huihui, sitting in the audience, clenched her fists nervously, worried that someone might harm Bai Linlin again.

As the song ended, enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience. Bai Linlin bowed shyly as she stepped off the stage and walked straight to Wang Huihui, her face beaming with a happy smile.

The host then invited several more people to come on stage to perform.

Song Ke was also invited onto the stage, and the moment he took the microphone, applause surged forth like a tidal wave.

He chose a new Cantonese song called "Really Love You".

On stage, Song Ke stood tall and straight, dressed in a simple black Zhongshan suit.

When he stood in front of the microphone, he closed his eyes slightly, as if having a silent conversation with this space.

As the prelude began, the familiar melody flowed out like a gentle stream, instantly captivating everyone's hearts.

Song Ke opened his eyes, which sparkled with light. He parted his lips slightly, and the Cantonese lyrics floated out like lively musical notes: "A pair of hands that cannot be decorated, bringing warmth that is always behind you..." His voice was clear and mellow, and every note was performed just right, even and full of tension.

At the high notes, it's like a bird soaring through the clouds, soaring and awe-inspiring; at the low notes, it's like a steady wave gently lapping the beach, tender and affectionate.

The melodious singing, like a gentle breeze, seeped through the cracks of time and into people's hearts.

The girls in the audience had eyes full of fascination and adoration.

They rested their chins on their hands, their eyes fixed on Song Ke on the stage, as if the whole world had stood still at that moment, with only his moving singing voice echoing in their ears.

Their cheeks flushed slightly, either from being moved by the deep emotion in the song or from being captivated by Song Ke's charming stage presence.

As the song reached its climax, Song Ke leaned back slightly, fully releasing his emotions.

His singing grew increasingly passionate, as if he wanted to convey his love and gratitude for his mother to everyone through the melody.

The atmosphere reached its peak, and the audience was immersed in this auditory feast. Some hummed along softly, while others were completely captivated, their faces beaming with happiness and emotion.

As the last note faded, its lingering echo reverberated in the air. Song Ke bowed slightly, and thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the audience.

The girls snapped out of their reverie, stood up, and clapped enthusiastically, their eyes still sparkling with excitement. They seemed to be savoring the shock and emotion brought by the song "Really Love You," and were reluctant to let this beautiful moment end.

Bai Linlin stood there dumbfounded, staring intently at Song Ke as he walked off the stage.

At that moment, Song Ke stepped off the stage and into the hearts of the girls.

Qi Feifei ran towards Song Ke, but was blocked by several girls behind her.

Several girls took out pens and asked Song Ke to sign them.

Song Ke smiled and declined, saying, "I'm very grateful that everyone enjoys listening to me sing, but I don't sign autographs. I'm not a celebrity, so how would I sign autographs!"

Seeing so many girls surrounding Song Ke, Bai Linlin felt inferior, thinking that she was not good enough for him, only because he was too dazzling.

Song Ke noticed the disappointment in Bai Linlin's eyes and felt a little flustered. Did she not care about him?

Is it because she's so popular that everyone is jealous?

Song Ke was imagining all sorts of random things when Bai Linlin had already left, holding Wang Huihui's hand.