SWNOVELXO Chapter 10
Chu Qingchan’s name was already widely known even before he crossed over. In her previous life, she was the most popular singer in the country, second to none.
With a versatile voice, an ever-changing style, and completely original lyrics and compositions, she could be considered a truly versatile and talented singer.
Although not officially recognised by some, most had already started calling her the Ice Queen, despite her only being 31 that year.
But more miraculous than her age was that just a few years ago, she was a wildly criticised actress, known solely for playing either the icy beauty or the stern CEO.
After being criticized for two years, she chose to step back from the entertainment industry. After a three-year hiatus, she reappeared as a singer on a show and, against the odds, earned the title of queen.
He wasn’t a fan of hers, nor did he particularly enjoy watching variety shows, but he liked her songs. After all, he considered himself a half-musician, the kind who would casually post a cover video online when bored.
At this point in time, she had probably just faced criticism and decided to take a break from the industry. No wonder her overall mood seemed so low.
However, he didn’t directly ask about it. Instead, he pretended not to know, sat down, poured her some tea, and prepared some snacks.
“Have some food first. Old man, go cook.”
“Okay.” The old man stood up and walked towards the backyard. Xu Lin also stood up, ready to help, but was stopped by his grandmother.“What’s wrong?”
“Do your parents know about this?”
“Grandma, what do my parents need to know?”
The old lady gave him a blank look, warmly patting Chu Qingchan’s hand. In an instant, he understood the misunderstanding!
“She’s not my girlfriend, Grandma. You’ve got it all wrong.”
“Not your girlfriend?”
The old lady was also taken aback. Initially, she didn’t want her grandson to find a partner too early. However, seeing the other person’s appearance, like a fairy, she suddenly felt a bit moved.
Although she looks a few years older than her grandson, with such a beautiful appearance and seemingly good family background, if they get along well, age wouldn’t be a barrier.
After chatting for a while, her manners and personality seemed good, and she instantly confirmed her as the chosen one for her granddaughter-in-law.
But just as she was getting happy, her grandson directly told her it wasn’t his girlfriend. The old lady suddenly found it a bit hard to accept.
“Grandma, you misunderstood. I really am not his girlfriend. We just met on the road. Honestly, I don’t even know his name yet.”
At this point, Chu Qingchan, who realized the situation, added, and the smile on the old lady’s face faded a bit.
“Oh, it’s okay. I was just saying, You’re so outstanding; being his girlfriend is beneath you. Sit down; I’ll go prepare some dishes. Any dietary restrictions?”
“I don’t have any restrictions, but there’s no need to bother. Just a bite is fine.”
“They’re just home-cooked dishes.” After saying this, the old lady gave Xu Lin a stern look and went quickly to the kitchen.
“Miss Chu, you must have noticed that my grandma misunderstood, right?”
“I was just chatting with your grandma; you’re still in high school, aren’t you?”
“Whether I am or not, why do you care? You’re just trying to fool the old lady; what’s the deal with that?”
“Am I really compensating you as your girlfriend?” She joked like a little girl, but still had that indifferent expression.
“Forget it; having a celebrity as my girlfriend would be too much pressure.”
“You actually recognised me?”
“You’re too beautiful; it gives off an unreal feeling. If I couldn’t recognise you, then my eyes are useless.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Xu.”
“A thank you devoid of emotion. Maybe you should still wear a mask.”
“Oh.”
“I was just joking.”
“So was I.”
Xu Lin looked at her cold goddess-like face. With this expression of yours, who could tell you were joking!?
“Actually, Mr. Xu, I just feel your grandmother is too enthusiastic. I couldn’t bear to disappoint her.”
“It’s okay; despite my grandma’s age, she’s obsessed with beauty. When she sees someone pretty, she’ll consider them as a potential daughter-in-law. My mom was also lured in by the old lady’s enthusiasm back in the day.”
“Is that so? It’s better to be an ordinary person then.” She seemed to realise something and murmured a sentence.
“You’re still just an ordinary person,” Xu Lin didn’t pretend not to hear. “If you weren’t ordinary, like in TV dramas, you wouldn’t have these painful emotions.”
“Although they all criticise me for just being able to recite lines with a straight face, sometimes I do envy the’me’ in TV dramas, so strong, so capable.”
“Are you planning to take a rest?”
Seeing the other person furrow their brows again, Xu Lin changed the subject.
“Yeah, I’m retiring. After coming out of the hospital, I didn’t notify anyone to come here, and everything with the company has been settled.”
“No one disturbs me here, and the environment is nice; it’s a good place for recuperation.”
“Do you have any other plans? Or are you just going to stay in this small village in this small town?”
“What’s wrong with that? I used to live in a big city, but I was just a struggler and couldn’t afford to buy a house.
“But here, I can buy a house of my own. I like the tranquility. I can renovate an old house and be an ordinary person. Maybe it’s really not bad.”
“But have you ever thought, even though your acting career hit a snag, you could try singing? It might suit you.”
“I really like singing, but I’m far from professional.”
“How do you know if you don’t try? I have a song here; want to give it a try?”
“Mr. Xu is clearly a high school student and indeed quite talented.”
Xu Lin suddenly understood why she called him Mr. Xu in an instant. Generally, “Mr.” is a way of addressing adults. She’s older than me and deliberately using this title—isn’t it just a way of saying I’m a little kid? She looks like Xiao Longnu, but could she be Li Mochou?
“You’re right. Sometimes, I do feel like I’m too talented. I haven’t acted before, but maybe I’m even a bit better than Miss Chu in acting.”
“ChChu Qincheng was also stunned. ‘Indeed, I can’t simply regard him as a little brat; his mouth is quite sharp; fortunately, I’m used to being scolded.’
“The tea will cool down soon. Drink up first. I’ll take your luggage to the room. After lunch, I’ll arrange for someone to clean up, and according to the weather forecast, it should stop raining in the afternoon.”
“Okay, but about that song, can I take a look?”
“I haven’t written it down, but I can sing it. Luckily, there’s a guitar in my hometown.”
After saying that, Xu Lin took two steps into the room. Chu Qingchan sipped her tea, contemplating how to console him if he sang poorly. No, wait, how to praise him.
While she was thinking, gentle guitar sounds filled the air, calming her restless heart. Simultaneously, he strolled out of the room, smiled at her, and softly opened his lips, a clear and slightly deep voice slowly drifting out.
“If I embraced the world that day, would you still choose to part?”
She was completely stunned. This song is beautiful, not just because of his voice but also because of the song itself. However, Xu Lin didn’t stop due to her surprise; he continued to sing, step by step, approaching her.
The lyrics were simple, but accompanied by the melody, they were far from ordinary, evoking a slight resonance within her.
Though the lyrics seemed like a song about lovers parting and a sad love song, it felt like there was more to it.
As the song slowly faded, leaving only the guitar playing, Xu Lin finally crouched beside her, gazing gently at her. The song came to an end.
“It’s quite short.”
“I sang the part I sang well.”
“What’s the name of this song?”
“If I Didn’t Embrace the World.”
“A love song?”
“Not a love song, just a song expressing one’s inner thoughts, nothing more.”
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