Chapter 136: Fancy a Scrub, Handsome?

"Stopping and starting along this journey."
"Tracing the footsteps of a drifting youth."
"Just before stepping out of the station."
"I found myself hesitating."

The rhythm of this song was light and brisk. As people drifted in their thoughts, they expected it to be about pushing forward on the path of youth, but suddenly, looking back, they heard...

"I couldn't help but laugh at this homesickness."
"Still, it was unavoidable."
"And the sky in Nagano is still so warm."
"The wind stirs up the past."

The songwriters in the lounge were momentarily stunned.
What beautiful, beautiful lyrics.

"Once, I first knew this world, lingering on everything."
"Looking at the horizon, it seemed within reach."
"I was willing to brave any fire or water just to walk that path once."
"Now, having walked through this world, I still linger on everything."
"Turning over the different faces of the passing years."
"I unexpectedly stumbled into your smile."

Lin Ze's singing voice kept rising, pulling everyone's emotions to a peak. But at that very moment, Lin Ze suddenly paused, stopping his guitar and his voice.

The audience's thoughts were momentarily severed, and they immediately looked up at Lin Ze in the center. Lin Ze took a deep breath, slightly lifted his chin, and gazed at the sky outside the recording studio.

"I once couldn't pull myself away from the vastness of the world."
"I drowned in its dream-like whispers."
"Not knowing what was real or false, making no struggle, fearing no mockery."
"I once turned my youth into her."
"I once plucked the peak of summer from my fingertips."
"Whatever moves the heart, let it be..."

Lin Ze's clear voice made even Elder Shi in the lounge close his eyes slightly to listen to the melody. Some audience members stood up at this moment, holding glow sticks they had prepared at some point. As Lin Ze sang, the blood in their veins rushed to their heads. One by one, they stood up, those without glow sticks waving their hands instead. The audience seating was truly a mix of light and shadow.

It was like midsummer, when sunlight filters through dense leaves, leaving mottled patterns of light. Su Zitan held her glow stick high, following the crowd and shouting Lin Ze's name.

"This young man..." Zhou Qiao murmured, looking at the figure on the screen.
Xu Shenshen swallowed hard.
Is this person... really someone I can beat?

"The evening breeze stirs the graying hair at your temples."
"Smoothing away the scars left by memories."
"In your eyes, light and shadow mingle, a smile blooms like a flower."
"The twilight covers your faltering steps."
"Walking into the painting hidden by the bedside."
"In the painting, you are there, head bowed, speaking."

A song, "The Wind Rises," sparked a massive craze within hours of the show's release. Lin Ze's song completely overshadowed the other six; after hearing his, any of the other six felt like they were lacking something. The losers of this program were not just one, but all six of them!

The scene today was truly overwhelming. Lin Ze took first, while the others tied for second.

"Brother Lin, this song of yours is too powerful. When I listen to it while driving, I can't help but step on the gas."
Lin Ze had the audio playing on speakers, so Tian Haoran in the front seat naturally heard it. This made Lin Ze's heart skip a beat, and he quickly turned off the sound on his phone. This kid is dangerous; he's trying to get me into trouble.

When he arrived home that night, it was quite late. Su Zitan had ordered takeout and was sprawled on the sofa. She was still wearing a nightgown, her smooth calves swinging back and forth.

"I'm back!" Lin Ze opened the door.
"Hurry, hurry! The takeout has been here for half an hour; it's cold now." Su Zitan sat up quickly to unpack the food. "Should I go heat it up for you?"
"Is that necessary?" Lin Ze rubbed his hands and sat down.
"Better heat it up; it won't taste good if it's cold." Su Zitan touched the takeout container. "You go take a shower first; it'll be ready by the time you're out."

Su Zitan left with the food. Lin Ze felt a bit helpless; with no food to eat, he might as well take a shower. He grabbed his change of clothes and walked into the bathroom. He took off his shirt and turned on the faucet to adjust the water temperature when a knocking sound came from the bathroom door.

"What's wrong, Sister Zitan?" Lin Ze asked.
The bathroom door was frosted glass, showing only a faint shadow outside.

Su Zitan leaned against the glass, the silhouette of her features barely visible.
"Need a back scrub, handsome?"
Lin Ze found it amusing. He tiptoed to the door and cracked it open just a sliver.
"Come on in, scrub me to death! Hehehe..."
"Pfft! Pervert!"
Su Zitan blushed, turned around, and ran back to the kitchen.

When the food was heated and Su Zitan returned to the dining room, Lin Ze walked out, rubbing his hair with a towel.
"You're still not wearing a shirt!" Su Zitan stared at Lin Ze's abs.
Lin Ze touched his stomach. "We've been eating too well lately; the outline of my abs isn't even visible anymore."
"It's better that way, so you don't end up like those bad men who take off their shirts on stage while singing and throw them away, exposing their flabby bellies." Su Zitan shoved the chopsticks into his hand. "How was the show today? What did you perform? You didn't film any kissing scenes, did you?" Su Zitan asked casually.

Lin Ze turned his head and stared at her. Su Zitan pretended not to notice, picking at her food. This woman was putting on an act, her expression completely unchanged. Lin Ze leaned in little by little, his face getting closer and closer to her eyes. The corners of Su Zitan's mouth began to twitch uncontrollably. But Lin Ze's face was right there, blocking her hand as she tried to pick up food. Her eyes finally darted over, seeing Lin Ze's goofy face, and she couldn't help but laugh.

"What are you doing!"
"Where would I even film a kissing scene?" Lin Ze glanced at her. "There were only two actresses in that piece, and one of them was Zhang Ya."
"They were all ostracizing me today; nobody wanted to be my partner, so I ended up performing alone," Lin Ze sighed.
"Huh? Why would they do that?" Su Zitan bit her chopsticks gently, frowning slightly.

Lin Ze took a few bites of food before answering.
"A singer like me running over to steal their rice bowl? It's a miracle they didn't beat me up."
"So what happened then?" Su Zitan put down her bowl. "If you're being wronged, we won't stay on that show. Our family has money; if it comes down to it, we'll just invest in one ourselves..."
Lin Ze smiled smugly. "My side has promised that unless it's a dire emergency, we won't involve my godfather."
"I watched the segment, walked out of the lounge, and with one glare, I scared Zhang Ya half to death."
"And then, I conquered them with my powerful charismatic personality..."

Su Zitan looked at Lin Ze and was silent for a moment.
"Eat your dinner. After you're done, let's go to the hospital..."