The next second in reality, Bai Luan returned from the Little Black Room.
The black and white keys on the piano were no longer unfamiliar; they had become quite familiar.
Bai Luan glanced around him again.
It felt a bit unaccustomed without a Herta Puppet sitting there...
In the early stages, he was quite worried about triggering punishments, but his luck was good, and the punishments he triggered were not severe.
Poking himself with a finger, messing up his own hair, ignoring himself for five minutes, flicking his own forehead...
They were all just minor prank-like punishments.
Later, as he gradually became familiar, the number of mistakes he made decreased, and he no longer had the chance to trigger such punishments.
Hmm...
Why did he feel a slight sense of regret?
Bai Luan scratched his head, thinking he must be sick.
However, now that he was back in reality, he couldn't waste time carelessly.
Bai Luan took out his phone and placed it on the piano.
Then he ran his hand across the piano keys from left to right, as a warm-up.
Afterward, he clicked on the recording app on his phone.
"This song is called 'What Can I Use to Keep You?'"
After saying this, Bai Luan paused briefly, gathering his emotions.
Then, the first key was pressed, the piano music suddenly started, and after a short prelude, the lyrics began:
"You forgot
The cold wind that cut across the wound.
You believed
That living a life without pain or itch was enough..."
At the same time, Sunday and Robin stared at the phone screen, waiting for the Qiequ Ren's next message, unsure if it was real or fake.
Then, the phone vibrated, and the other party sent an audio file, its duration neither more nor less, just the length of a song.
Robin and Sunday exchanged glances, then, with a scrutinizing attitude, they clicked on the audio.
And then... they were drawn into the emotion by the first line of lyrics sung by the young man.
...Because you enjoy its brilliance
Because you endure its decay
You say don't love, yet you're reluctant to let go
So life, it is bitter like a song
...Do you want to see the sea of flowers bloom?
Do you want to see the swallows return?
If none can return
Then for whom should I exist?
...So life, it is brilliant like a song."
By the time the two of them came back to their senses, the song had ended, but the memories evoked by the song had not dissipated.
This song touched them in too many ways.
They remembered their mother.
And the childhood hardships that made them afraid and hide in their mother's arms.
They also remembered the joy of playing music together in their childhood.
They remembered many terrible encounters, and also many joyful experiences.
Bitterness and sweetness intertwined, laughter and sorrow mixed, ultimately edited into the lives they continued to live.
The young man's voice and emotion also perfectly interpreted this song; despite the simple piano accompaniment, there was nothing to fault.
Bai Luan, of course, could interpret the emotions well.
Because his life had truly and irreversibly decayed due to cancer.
And it was precisely because of this,
At this moment,
He sincerely praised his current life as brilliant as a song.
"Brother..."
Robin spoke, the emotion in her eyes not yet completely faded, and this time, her tone held a newfound firmness.
"He is the real one."
"I agree on that point; his voice is the same as it was hundreds of years ago, it hasn't changed."
"I feel... a little embarrassed for doubting him just now."
Facing his sister's self-reproach, Sunday smiled and comforted her:
"That was necessary vigilance. Qiequ Ren won't blame you. For now, it's best to reply quickly and finalize this collaboration."
"Mm!"
Robin: Senior, it's hard for me to express my feelings to you right now. This song is truly, truly wonderful...
Robin: Are you sure you want to let me sing this song?
Qiequ Ren: Not just one, three songs.
Robin: ...Thank you.
Qiequ Ren: You're welcome. Send over an e-contract, and we'll sign it.
Qiequ Ren: There's a lot more we need to discuss about these three songs.
Qiequ Ren: Together, we'll perfect these three songs.
Let songs carry emotion, let songs spread emotion, polish songs to perfection, and present them to fans in the best possible way.
This is what a singer is.
The person he was facing now was the purest kind of singer.
Seeing the message from the other party, Robin felt the sense of duty as a singer ignite within her heart.
Robin: It's an honor to collaborate with you.
Qiequ Ren: The feeling is mutual.
Robin: Senior, I should pay you for listening to this song.
Robin: Even if it's just a little bit.
Looking at the message from Robin, Bai Luan smiled, then typed.
Qiequ Ren: Do you know why I chose this name?
Robin: Does it mean 'This song should only exist in heaven, Qiequ Ren gives it to all beings without charge'?
Robin: That's a cheer that circulates among your fans.
Bai Luan's mouth twitched. These fans really had a knack for things.
Qiequ Ren: You're praising me too highly.
Qiequ Ren: Actually, I'm a transmigrator. The songs I sing are the result of others' efforts, stolen from another world, which is why I'm called this name.
Robin saw this message and chuckled.
He even made up such an absurd story just to make her feel at ease accepting this gift.
Robin: Senior is truly humorous.
Qiequ Ren: ...
Qiequ Ren: Whether you believe it or not, I've told you the reason.
Qiequ Ren: Because of these things, I upload these songs to platforms for free, only earning the creation incentive fee given by the platform.
Qiequ Ren: I don't intend to break my principles for you.
Qiequ Ren: So, accept it with a clear conscience.
Robin watched Bai Luan's serious "lie-telling" and laughed again, starting to edit her message.
Robin: If all these songs were brought by you from another world.
Robin: Then, as your fan in this world, I can only say thank you for bringing such works to this world.
Robin: Many people must have drawn strength from these songs you brought.
Robin: This is what I aspire to and strive to achieve.
Looking at Robin's heartwarming message, a warm current flowed through Bai Luan's heart.
What more could he say?
The sweat and effort he put into practicing diligently in the Little Black Room were all worth it!
Qiequ Ren: The pleasure is mine.
Soon, the two signed the e-contract, officially starting their collaboration.
Qiequ Ren: Then I'll go make an announcement first to celebrate this collaboration.
Qiequ Ren: I'll @ you, so reply to me.
Robin: Of course!
Alright then, Bai Luan quickly drew a Q-version cartoon of Robin singing, then posted an update.
Yes, children, I love listening too!
I have officially partnered with @Robin; we will be releasing three songs together in the future. Please look forward to it.
After the update was posted, Robin quickly snagged the first comment.
Robin: I didn't expect Senior to be able to draw too.
What followed was a frenzy of fans.
"Double fandom joy!"
"Dream collaboration!"
"It's New Year's!"
"Good things really do happen when you're alive... Heh, I have to live on."
"Mom! My favorite historical singer and modern singer are collaborating, really! Mom! What do you mean, Mom, you like it too?"
"I can't stop smiling when I think about listening to three great songs in the future! Please, someone stop my wild laughter!"
At the same time, Robin's account also posted an announcement.
However, the comment section there had a somewhat strange vibe.
Unanimously:
"You are my god!!!"
"I declare Miss Robin the best necromancer in the world!
She resurrected the King of Pigeons!!!"
"Thanks for urging the update!"
"Robin got MVP in the update-urging squad! Score 15.0!"
"Give us the resurrection spell!"
"Miss Robin killed the game!"
Robin looked at the flood of fans and felt a little helpless.
Senior Qiequ Ren's fans really had the same style as him...