Chapter 3 - Encounter With A Strange Man

Translator: Lynn

After discussing his life goals with his brother, Jian Jie felt a newfound clarity in his heart and a sense of purpose. Despite having ambitious ideals, his day-to-day life remained largely unchanged. He spent most of his time at home or took leisurely walks in the park, occasionally meeting up with friends. However, his involvement at the bar had increased. Besides his regular piano performances, Vincent had requested him to sing every other week. Jian Jie had gained popularity at the bar, attracting regular fans who would specifically come to see him.

August had arrived, and the weather remained hot. Early in the morning, Jian Jie dressed in a tracksuit and took Amu for a jog in the park as part of his morning exercise routine. He hadn’t been much of an exercise enthusiast before, but Li Xiaoqi had taught him that physical exercise could improve lung capacity, benefiting his singing. Jian Jie had been running every morning for over a year now, and he could feel the positive impact on his overall fitness.

It was a little past six in the morning, and the weather was pleasant, neither too hot nor too cold. The park was already bustling with middle-aged and elderly people practicing square dancing. The loud music blared with tunes like “Yo Yo Yo, check it out” and “Move times, beat times.” Jian Jie preferred to find a secluded spot away from the crowd.

He jogged around the park perimeter a few times, breaking a light sweat. After wiping his face with a towel and stretching his arms, he stood in a quiet grove and began practicing his singing. Diligently, he performed the repetitive vocal exercises with focused determination, while Amu played nearby. After a substantial practice session, as he was about to resume his jog, Jian Jie noticed a bearded man with unkempt hair squatting about ten meters away, observing him.

The man had a cheerful expression as he looked at Jian Jie. When their eyes met, the scruffy man smiled and raised his head, saying, “I often see you singing here. Are you from the Anping Conservatory of Music?” The Anping Conservatory of Music was one of the country’s most prestigious music schools.

Jian Jie was surprised that someone had discovered his hiding place. The man’s tone indicated that this wasn’t their first encounter, which made him feel a bit embarrassed. He quickly denied, “No, I’m not. I’m sorry, sir. I should be going.” Jian Jie then pulled Amu, intending to leave.

However, the scruffy man laughed behind him and exclaimed loudly, “Hey, handsome lad, why are you in such a hurry? I’m quite accomplished in music. I want to teach you because you seem to have a deep passion for singing. You won’t find anyone better to learn from!”

Jian Jie couldn’t help but stop and glanced back at the man several times. Although the man didn’t appear to be very old, perhaps under 30, there was a hint of artistic charm despite his disheveled appearance. Intrigued, Jian Jie asked the man skeptically, “Hello, do you have any suggestions for improvement?”

“Where do you not need improvement? The question should be, what doesn’t need improvement!” The scruffy man maintained a smile on his face, but his words were rather blunt.

Jian Jie had always excelled in his performances. He was the darling of his teachers and the apple of his brother’s eye. Even if his singing wasn’t flawless, he had never received criticism like this. Although he felt a tinge of anger, he managed to maintain his composure and asked politely, “Then, may I ask for your advice?”

The scruffy man chuckled and suggested, “Well, why don’t we find a place to sit down and talk? There’s a tea restaurant nearby. Let’s go there.” He spoke as if he was granting Jian Jie a great favor. Jian Jie hesitated, unsure whether it was a good idea.

Jian Jie wasn’t naive, and despite not being well-versed in the ways of the world, he could sense that this person wasn’t trustworthy. Proposing to go to a restaurant seemed like a ploy to get a free meal. Jian Jie immediately declined, “That’s very kind of you, but I should return home. I’ll seek your advice another time.”

Wearing a pitiful expression, the scruffy man replied, “Oh, young man, you’re so wary! Well, I haven’t eaten all day, but I genuinely understand music. There won’t be another flagship store like mine after we pass this park! Or how about this, treat me to a fried dough stick and a bowl of soy milk? It won’t cost you much. Don’t be so stingy.” Jian Jie had never encountered such a brazen person before, and it was no wonder they were begging so persistently. Jian Jie thought to himself that it wouldn’t hurt to invite someone to a meal, and a scammer was a scammer. He agreed, saying, “Alright, let’s go to the tea restaurant.”

The scruffy man gleefully accepted the invitation, and together they made their way to the tea restaurant. Jian Jie tied Amu to a nearby lamppost, asking the restaurant staff to keep an eye on her, and entered the ground-floor dining area with the scruffy man. The man was quite impolite, ordering clay pot rice, two plates of shrimp dumplings, and four egg tarts. He drank the coffee provided by the restaurant and ate without any semblance of manners. He resembled a famished ghost who hadn’t eaten for days.

Jian Jie hadn’t eaten breakfast either, so he ordered porridge and a beef bun. He sat next to the scruffy man, eating slowly. The man’s audacious eating habits and his rather disheveled appearance attracted the attention of nearby patrons, making Jian Jie feel uneasy. However, the man seemed completely unfazed by the attention.

After satisfying his hunger, Long Zichen, the unkempt man, leaned back in his seat and introduced himself with a smile. “I haven’t told you my name yet. It’s Long Zichen. I used to work in the music industry, but I recently parted ways with my boss and decided to pursue a solo career. I live near the park, and I’ve seen you singing here a few times. You have a knack for it. So, what do you do? How old are you?”

Jian Jie, still a student, replied, “I’m still studying, and I’m nineteen years old.”

Impressed, Long Zichen exclaimed, “Not bad at all! You’re still a student, and you’re not even from a conservatory?”

Jian Jie modestly responded, “Well, singing is just a hobby.”

Long Zichen grinned, displaying his white teeth. “You know, the first time I saw you, I thought you were a star in the making. I’ve listened to you for a while, and I believe your voice is excellent. With some training, you could definitely start posting videos. How about it? Are you interested in making music with me?”

Jian Jie was taken aback by the sudden change in topic. He hesitated for a moment and then replied, “I’m sorry, but for now, I want to focus on finishing my studies. I’m not ready to think about these things.” Although he had aspirations of becoming a singer, he wasn’t willing to follow someone as unreliable as Long Zichen. Jian Jie continued, “Have you finished eating? I’ll go and settle the bill.”

As they left the tea restaurant, Long Zichen persisted in trying to convince Jian Jie. “Hey, don’t judge me based on how I look right now. I’m not in a good state today!”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Long, but I really want to prioritize finishing college, so I can’t make any promises,” Jian Jie firmly responded.

Regardless of Long Zichen’s rascal-like persistence, Jian Jie made it clear that he couldn’t be swayed. Eventually, Long Zichen gave up and handed Jian Jie his business card. “Okay, I have things to do later, so here’s my business card. If you change your mind, feel free to contact me.” Jian Jie accepted the card, which simply had “Long Zichen” written in a flowing script, along with a mobile phone number at the bottom. Jian Jie nodded to Long Zichen and headed home with Amu.

Soon, Jian Jie forgot about the encounter. That evening, he attended a performance by the Chinese National Orchestra at the Anping Grand Theater. The concert, titled “A Tribute to the Master – Debussy’s Night,” was the last show of their tour. Jian Jie’s friend had given him a ticket, and he thoroughly enjoyed the night at the theater.

September arrived, and school resumed, keeping Jian Jie busy. Although his studies came easily to him, taking up most of his time, he still dedicated his spare moments to music. On Tuesday afternoons, he learned guitar and singing from Li Xiaoqi. During the rest of his free time, he practiced at home alone and occasionally tried his hand at songwriting. He didn’t neglect his part-time job on weekends either. The experience of singing in public was incomparable to practicing alone. It allowed him to directly receive the audience’s reactions, including cheers and joy—emotions he could never experience while singing in an empty room. Jian Jie cherished this feeling.

Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.

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