Chapter 200 - 194: Empathy

Chapter 200: Chapter 194: Empathy

"Singin’ my song~"

As the final note faded away, a fashionably dressed woman stood up in excitement, offering her most sincere applause.

CLAP CLAP.

The crowd woke as if from a dream. Cheers and applause instantly echoed throughout the entire bar.

"That was amazing! So beautiful!"

"It gave me chills! This live performance had such an incredible vibe!"

"Yeah! It was absolutely perfect. What a pity I only recorded half of it!"

Everyone praised him in unison, especially the many women in the audience who stared with literal heart-eyes. As the saying goes, sincerity is often overlooked while smooth moves win hearts. But if a man was both handsome and knew how to wield genuine emotion, few women could resist. Coupled with this sensual jazz music and relatable lyrics, it left many of the women present completely smitten.

A tall, beautiful woman clapped her hands and asked her friend sitting next to her, "How come I’ve never seen this handsome guy before?"

The other woman, resting her chin on her hand with a burning gaze, replied, "It’s my first time seeing him too. Should we go buy him a drink later?"

"He’s mine..." the tall woman said.

The other woman licked her lips and countered, "He could be both of ours..."

Not far from the stage, at a table of musicians, the female lead singer’s face was flushed, her gaze lingering on the man’s figure. Her favorite singer was Ray Charles, and this performance had completely captivated her. The man on stage’s control of the song, down to every vocal run, sang right into her heart.

The man beside her held an already empty glass. He loved music, so this "surprise" had shaken him to his core. Pitch, tone, rhythm—it was absolutely on par with top-tier professionals.

The band’s pianist was even more thoroughly impressed. They both played the piano, but he felt like a... never mind. Better not to mention it. What the other guy played was true music, true professionalism.

Soon after, from somewhere in the crowd, someone began to chant. "Encore!"

More and more people stood up and joined in. "Encore! Encore!"

The young man on stage looked incredibly dazzling under the spotlight. His eyes swept over the room, landing on the bar counter before pulling back. Unable to resist the crowd’s enthusiasm, he pressed his hands down in the air, and the entire venue immediately fell silent.

"Alright! This final song, ’Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word,’ is for all of you."

The quiet crowd exploded once more.

"Whoo!"

"Now this is a true classic!"

"We’re in for a treat!"

A moment later, the lights dimmed. All eyes in the venue focused on the man sitting at the piano. His expression was calm, his eyes holding an indescribable affection. As his fingertips glided across the black and white keys, deep, melodious notes rang out. The melody was soothing, yet incredibly infectious.

"What I got to do to make you love me?

What I got to do to make you care?

What do I do when lightning strikes me..."

Su Yunzhou used a warm, mellow tone to murmur the most beautiful sweet nothings. The audience was moved by his singing, each of them falling into their own memories. This was the magic of music—a unique empathy that left people spellbound.

The two women’s faces showed a look of reminiscence, unable to stop themselves from recalling the deepest loves in their hearts. Once upon a time, they had yearned for love, hoping to grow old hand in hand with their respective partners.

But... the most beautiful part of love was only the beginning. Gradually, the mundane reality of daily life set in. The pressures of life made the burdens on everyone’s shoulders increasingly heavy. Just like those emotional lyrics:

"And I wake to find that you’re not there?

What I got to do to make you want me?"

Love was sometimes just this helpless; it rarely bloomed in the humble dust. Tears glistened at the corners of many people’s eyes in the audience. Some raised their glasses, following the music’s narrative, toasting to themselves and to their former lovers.

At the bar, Sister Man’s head was buzzing. She wanted to speak but couldn’t utter a word, her mind churning with memories. When she was young, she was the kind of woman who would risk everything for the one she loved. Back then, for the sake of a man, she defied everyone’s objections to be with him.

People mocked them for being from different worlds. People mocked their love as nothing but a joke. People mocked their feelings, saying it would all end in a messy disaster. But ultimately, this passionate romance achieved a perfect ending. He loved her, and she loved him as always—only, now...

But not everyone’s love story was like this. Most relationships were imperfect. Take Yue in front of her, for example. Sister Man knew exactly why she refused to date. It was because of her parents’ love story.

But the dead were gone. The living should... Sigh!

Jiang Shiyue was lost in thought, silently drinking. Emptying her glass, she said, "Sister Man, get me another glass! I want to drink!"

Sister Man didn’t try to talk her out of it, knowing that sometimes emotions needed an outlet, not suppression. She poured two glasses and said, "I’ll drink with you!"

CLINK.

Jiang Shiyue downed more than half of hers in one gulp. Setting down the glass, she looked at the figure on the stage, her eyes growing a bit hazy. She still remembered the love story her mother had told her about that man; perhaps back then, they had been just like this...

[Affinity +7]

Su Yunzhou was startled by the sudden notification. A bit puzzled, he cast his gaze toward Jiang Shiyue, who was tipping her head back to drink, revealing her perfect side profile.

He continued singing, and the emotional resonance at the end earned a resounding standing ovation. Everyone in the bar stood up, clapping excitedly and offering him looks of utmost reverence. Amidst the chorus of praise, Su Yunzhou bowed slightly in acknowledgment, maintaining a gentle and elegant smile on his face as he walked off the stage.

This performance, from any angle, was flawless—absolutely perfect. The musicians from earlier were deeply filled with admiration. People who played music were naturally sensitive, and they had been touched in the softest parts of their hearts.

A tall woman walked over holding a glass of wine. "A toast to you!"

Su Yunzhou was a bit thirsty. He took the glass and replied, "To music!"

After he finished the drink, another woman approached, showering him with compliments, her eyes filled with flirtatious affection. Su Yunzhou managed to politely extract himself from them, but many enthusiastic patrons continuously raised their glasses to him. After downing several drinks in a row, he waved his hands, insisting that he really couldn’t handle much alcohol, and finally retreated to the bar.

Sister Man mixed another drink and handed it over, praising him. "Zhuzhu, you really kept your light hidden! I’ve been running this place for years, and I dare say your live performance tonight is indisputably the best. And with your piano skills and vocals, making an immediate debut as an artist wouldn’t be a problem at all."

Su Yunzhou wore a smile. He paused for a moment and said, "It’s better to just be a normal person!"

Sister Man’s expression froze for a second as she pondered his words. Then, she raised her glass. "Such high enlightenment at such a young age!"

Jiang Shiyue followed suit, lifting her glass. "You sang wonderfully."

This drink was stronger than the previous ones. After setting down his glass, Su Yunzhou looked at Jiang Shiyue, who seemed a bit off. Before he could speak, Sister Man stopped him with a look and gently shook her head.

As he sat at the bar, people kept coming over to offer toasts. Su Yunzhou was starting to feel a buzz. Cocktails were indeed tasty, but their aftereffects were undeniably strong. Before long, he felt slightly tipsy. However, this state was actually quite comfortable.

But Jiang Shiyue, who had drunk an unknown amount, was deteriorating. With hazy, drunken eyes, she slumped on the counter, lost in her memories.

Sister Man sighed and stepped forward, helping Yue up. She turned to Su Yunzhou and said, "Give me a hand. Let’s take her to my office; there’s a sofa where she can nap for a bit."

"Sure!"

Like a true gentleman, Su Yunzhou offered his assistance, following Sister Man to the office in the back. It was furnished simply: an office desk and a black sofa.

Jiang Shiyue was clearly drunk, stumbling as she walked and mumbling something under her breath. After being seated on the sofa, Sister Man comforted her for a moment, and she turned onto her side, closing her eyes. Sister Man found a blanket to drape over her, then grabbed a bottle of mineral water and handed it to Zhuzhu.

Su Yunzhou’s eyes held confusion. "Why... did she drink so much today?"

Sister Man sighed. "Perhaps it’s... sigh..."

Seeing her hesitate to speak, though Su Yunzhou was incredibly curious, he didn’t press the issue.

Sister Man took a deep breath. Her gaze flickered, as if making up her mind, and she said pointedly, "Zhuzhu, are you two really just regular friends?"

Su Yunzhou was taken aback, pondering the underlying meaning in her tone. His relationship with her did seem a bit better than that of regular friends. After all, she was Tong’s bound mature woman target.

His silence seemed more like a tacit admission to Sister Man. With a hint of seriousness in her voice, she continued, "I can actually tell that Yue has feelings for you because you’re the first male friend she’s ever brought here. But given her past, it’s very hard for her to truly fall in love with someone—or rather, she’s been constantly resisting her own emotions!"

Hearing this, Su Yunzhou was somewhat baffled. Considering her 30 points of Affinity, this seemed a bit...

Sister Man read something from his expression and added, "Do you think what I’m saying sounds a bit unrealistic? But she really hasn’t ever dated anyone, and she truly repels romantic relationships... Sigh! Ultimately, she’s just a sensitive and kind-hearted girl."

Su Yunzhou looked at Jiang Shiyue, who resembled a sleeping beauty, then looked up and asked, "If possible, could you tell me? What exactly did she go through?"