191: Chapter 191 Rong Shuwan's Talent Show

Chi Zhao shouted it out without hesitation. What is integrity? Can it be eaten?

Can it let him continue to make music?

"See, I shouted it. The bet is canceled!"

"Pfft!!!" This time, even He Yunshen couldn't hold back and almost spat out his water.

Shen Yanzhou was already laughing, slumped on the sofa and pounding the cushion: "Chi Zhao, oh Chi Zhao, where is your lower limit? Was it eaten by a dog?"

"I ate it myself!" Chi Zhao threw caution to the wind.

"For music, I can do anything!"

"Music says it doesn't want to take the fall for this," He Yunshen added a sharp remark, shaking his phone as he continued to poke fun:

"Even if you write it, no one really listens. It's all bad reviews. Do you want me to read some to you?"

Chi Zhao: "..."

Misfortunes truly never come singly.

Huaxia's Good Roommate!

Specifically here to pull the rug out!

Despicable guy!

Chi Zhao lunged forward with a howl: "He Yunshen! Our friendship is over! Right now! Immediately! Delete that 'Unpleasant but Confident' playlist of mine!"

He Yunshen nimbly dodged behind Shen Yanzhou and continued reading with a laugh: "User 'Ears Suffered' said: After listening to this song, my dog chewed up three pairs of my slippers in anxiety... Does this count as performance art?"

"Ahhh! Stop reading!" Chi Zhao felt like evaporating on the spot.

Chen Yu watched the chaotic scene and rubbed his temples helplessly.

"Everyone shut up." Chen Yu's voice wasn't loud, but it had a calming effect.

The two rowdy guys instantly froze.

Chi Zhao remained in his mid-lunge pose, while He Yunshen poked half his head out from behind Shen Yanzhou.

Chi Zhao looked at Chen Yu resentfully, making one last struggle: "Really... is there absolutely no chance left?"

Chen Yu looked at his pitiful appearance and finally couldn't help laughing; he had actually softened his heart long ago.

It wasn't a big deal anyway.

He, Chen Yu, was a magnanimous person, so he could consider this his good deed for the day.

"Fine." Chen Yu put down his water glass, his tone softening.

"The bet can be forgotten..."

Chi Zhao's eyes instantly lit up!

"But..." Chen Yu's tone shifted.

"You are spared the death penalty, but not the punishment."

"In the future, you must write songs seriously, songs with meaning. You might not want your dignity, but the listeners want their ears. If the next song is poorly received, you'll still have to quit the industry."

Chi Zhao immediately nodded like a woodpecker: "Yes, yes, yes! I will definitely write songs well!"

As long as he wasn't forced to leave music, anything was fine.

Chi Zhao was suddenly moved; Chen Yu was someone who truly hoped he could write good music.

Chen Yu got goosebumps from the way he was being looked at.

Actually, besides a bunch of bad habits, Chi Zhao didn't have many flaws.

He Yunshen raised an eyebrow: "Tsk, lucky you."

Chen Yu's gaze fell on Chi Zhao, containing scrutiny and a hidden trace of expectation: "I've given you the chance. It's not for you to keep messing around. Show some real skill, and don't let down... your music."

Chi Zhao dropped his playful grin and became unusually solemn.

He took a deep breath and nodded heavily: "I know. This time... I'll give it my all."

Shen Yanzhou finally sat up straight from the sofa, laughing to smooth things over: "Alright, alright, a happy ending for everyone. To celebrate Chi Zhao's 'narrow escape,' tonight's expenses are on him!"

"Why me? I have no money!" Chi Zhao instantly broke character and screamed.

"Because your musical dream was saved! Isn't that worth a heavy 'bloodletting'?" He Yunshen chimed in immediately, delivering the perfect blow.

Some things should just be let go.

Meeting is a matter of fate; there's no need to be petty at the end, as that would be quite awkward.

Chen Yu watched the three of them messing around again, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.

The bullet chat was also flying at this moment—

[Hahaha, help, what kind of divine (insane) dorm friendship is this!]

[Chi Zhao: Moved for less than three seconds!]

[Chen Yu looks disgusted on the surface, but he's actually soft-hearted! What a parental style!]

[Brother Yunshen, stop reading! Leave the kid some dignity!]

[Betting fifty cents that if Chi Zhao's next song still sucks, Chen Yu will personally pack him up and throw him out of the entertainment industry!]

[Chen Yu: I feel like I'm raising three stupid sons... tired but happy?]

[These are real friends! They'll poke your sore spots, but they'll also give you chances!]

[Go Chi Zhao! Write good songs so you don't let Chen Yu down!]

[Chen Yu's magnanimity and vision are huge!]

Many passersby were won over by Chen Yu's character.

...

Night.

The sea breeze carried a salty, damp chill, blowing away the last wisp of smoke from the grill.

The moonlight was no longer shattered silver foil but had melted into a hazy mist of light, gently enveloping the small beach.

Ten people sat scattered on the sand in various poses.

"Everyone, eat and drink your fill!"

"Eat well, drink well!"

"It's so delicious, I've eaten so much!" Xia Ningle, the little glutton, already had oil around her mouth.

The bonfire used coarse deadwood, crackling with tiny, orange-red sparks like countless brief shooting stars, rising and then vanishing into the deep blue night.

Chen Yu took off the apron stained with oil smoke, wearing only a simple white T-shirt. A few strands of his hair were damp with sweat, sticking casually to his forehead.

He tilted his head back slightly, his Adam's apple moving as he downed half a bottle of cold beer.

Shen Yanzhou and the other "temporary waiters" had also long since finished their work, slumping in folding chairs with their soles half-buried in the fine sand.

"Chen Yu's cooking is indeed good. It's just a pity that it'll be hard to eat it in the future," Shen Yanzhou lamented.

They had grown accustomed to the time spent together.

Today, there were no audience members invited by the Production Team, only a few late-returning passersby attracted by the firelight, standing far off to watch for a while before quietly merging back into the night and the sound of the sea.

The world seemed to have shrunk, leaving only this circle of light and the people within it who were about to go their separate ways.

The atmosphere of Parting, like the tide washing over the beach, was silent but soaked through every grain of sand.

Emotions were like the first domino being pushed over.

Rong Shuwan stood up silently and took her nanmu Guzheng out of its case.

She knelt on a piece of dark velvet fabric, placing the Guzheng steadily across her knees.

"I arrived quite late and always regretted not being part of that beach party before. I want to give everyone a song as a final gift."

Her slender fingers lightly brushed over the strings, testing a few notes. The clear, cold sound instantly drowned out the noisy waves.

She played a song called "Parting."

Her fingertips seemed light, but they were infused with strength—pressing, kneading, vibrating, sliding—every note was full and rich with emotion.

The music was sometimes high-pitched like a crane's cry, sometimes low and lingering like a sob.

After a rapid tremolo, a vibrato carried obvious hesitation and struggle, finally slowly returning to peace.

The lingering charm drifted away into the sea breeze.

She didn't look up for a long time, just staring at the vibrating strings.

The applause was late but sincere and forceful.

"That was beautiful!"

Shen Yanzhou stood up next. He forced his usual smile, trying to lighten the atmosphere.