Chapter 19: Time for Lunch
Tong Luo's successful performance changed many people's impressions of her.
That was because compared to Tong Fei's arrogant attitude, Tong Luo garnered more approval for using her own skills to prove her worth.
Most of the contestants present would rather be eliminated by someone who used their skills to do so, not through having a rich family.
When Tong Luo returned to her seat, she remembered how Jiang Xuxu had rushed straight back to Qi Wu's side to tell Qi Wu all about her time on the stage. She subconsciously turned to look at Qi Wu.
They locked eyes.
Embarrassed and feeling awkward she had been caught staring, Tong Luo swiftly looked away. However, just as she did so, she heard Qi Wu call out to her, "Congratulations."
Although Tong Luo did not turn back around, she could not help but curl up the corners of her mouth.
Many outstanding contestants performed after Tong Luo. While Song Qi was a man of few words, he would occasionally chime in with a comment of his own.
However, one comment was enough to make most of the contestants go into a stupor out of shock.
Qi Wu would be performing rather late near the end of the showcase. When it was her turn to perform, everyone looked visibly fatigued.
She calmly walked up to the stage with Jiang Xuxu's cheers of encouragement in her ears.
The moment she appeared in front of the audience, whispers broke out all across the hall.
"That face… It's exquisite."
"She must be from a talent agency, right?"
"From the looks of it, she must be putting on an air of cold superiority. I wonder how talented she really is."
Qi Wu was dressed in a plain white dress and had no other accessories. However, her beauty shone brightly even without the aid of makeup, and it was enough to capture everyone's gaze.
Meanwhile, Song Qi was on the brink of destroying his radio due to all of Hu Mofei's tormenting chatter.
Song Qi picked up his microphone and sternly asked, "Are you sure you don't need any accompanying music?"
"Yes."
Qi Wu's reply was gentle and warm.
She may not have trained professionally in singing, but every morning, the temple's courtyard would be filled with the songs she sang for the birds and the flowers around her.
They would always linger around her for a very long time. They were a rare joy in her monotonous life.
Song Qi did not ask any more questions after that.
Qi Wu picked up the microphone and began to hum into it. The melody drifted through the air like the sweet calls of birds waking up in the morning. The melody carried with it a carefree lilt that instantly made everyone listening relax.
There was not a single word sung. The entire song consisted of strange yet rhythmic notes.
Her clear voice was as sweet as the morning dew. She seemed like a goddess hiding within the mountains tenderly singing her blessings to be brought to her believers as a merciful and gentle light shone in her eyes.
The song soon ended, but no one was able to wake up from the gentle dream they had been lured into.
They only snapped back to their senses when Qi Wu walked off the stage.
Unlike the excited and shocked tension that had filled the air previously during the showcase, Qi Wu's song had been a silent melody that slithered its way around the listeners.
When they eventually woke up, all they felt was a sense of melancholy from a dream they once had.
The song did not invoke intense passion within them, but it still made the emotions heavy to bear.
Song Qi snapped out of his daze with a conflicted look on his face. "What's the name of that song?"
At that moment, he could feel the warmth of the morning sun in spring through her voice.
It felt so real, yet it was all just a melody someone sang.
He had not expected the young woman he had been furious at for her lack of ambition would have such a hypnotic singing voice.
Song Qi had to admit that he had been blind to her strengths before.
Qi Wu shook her head in response. "It has no name."
Just as Song Qi was about to continue questioning her, Qi Wu elaborated on her response.
"Everyone experiences the song differently. There is no need to limit it with a name," she said.
Stunned, Song Qi actually found himself unable to argue against that.
Qi Wu then returned to Jiang Xuxu's side.
"Sweetie… Your voice is absolutely amazing. It's way better than any melody found in nature."
Jiang Xuxu instantly pounced and wrapped Qi Wu in a hug.
She knew Qi Wu's voice was pleasant to listen to, but she had not expected Qi Wu's voice to sound even better when Qi Wu sang.
"Did you know? Your song brought me back to when I was back home. Early in the mornings, I would watch as the sun shone brightly outside my window… It was so nostalgic," Jiang Xuxu chattered.
Qi Wu smiled. "You are very lucky."
"Indeed, I am! I must be to have met you, sweetie."
Jiang Xuxu really was an expert at corny pickup lines. She always had a line up her sleeves, ready to be deployed.
Their affectionate interactions had resulted in many of the other contestants staring at Jiang Xuxu with envy in their eyes. They wanted to hug Qi Wu as well!
The morning's talent showcase ended with many of the outstanding contestants receiving comments from Song Qi. The showcase also ignited the nervous tension in the air.
"You may now head off to lunch. After the break, we'll be gathering at the field next to the lake."
After Song Qi was done giving out the instructions, he left the hall.
When everyone else in the hall saw that the great villain who had filled the hall with his oppressive air was gone, they all let out a cheer. Soon, people started chattering to each other about getting lunch together.
Naturally, Jiang Xuxu grabbed Qi Wu's hand and led her to the doors as well. When they passed by Tong Luo, she hesitated for a moment before quickly asking, "Do you want to join us?"
Tong Luo was stunned. There was a lost look on her face as she did not seem to have fully registered Jiang Xuxu's invitation.
She did not snap out of her daze until Qi Wu nudged her.
"It's time for lunch."
Jin Si told her to eat at regular times.
"Okay."
As Tong Luo responded, she felt her eyes stinging.
She could also sense that the hostile glares directed her way had significantly decreased in number.
*
Lunch was a lavish affair that included a wide variety of dishes.
However, Qi Wu still missed Jin Si's cooking.
When she thought about how she could not taste Jin Si's cooking for three whole months, Qi Wu could not help but heave a melancholic sigh.
Jiang Xuxu, who had been focused on her food, looked up with a questioning gaze when she heard the sigh. "What is it, sweetie? Is the food not good?"
Qi Wu shook her head. "I miss food from home."
"I see." Jiang Xuxu nodded in understanding. "I've been living by myself for over a year now, but I still miss my parents' cooking."
A series of loud coughs echoed through the air.
Tong Luo, who was sitting across from them, had choked on her food.
That was because she suddenly remembered that Qi Wu was referring to the cooking of her "debtholder"!
As Jiang Xuxu did not know anything about that, she merely shot Tong Luo a weirded-out look. "Did you just choke on your food?"
"I'm fine…"
Tong Luo, who knew that the matter was not as simple as Jiang Xuxu thought, decided to keep her mouth shut until she knew exactly what was going on so that Qi Wu would not be embroiled in a scandal.
She knew full well what kind of damage baseless rumors could do to a person.
Qi Wu merely mumbled something in response before falling silent about the subject. Hence, Jiang Xuxu did not continue on about it.
After lunch, the three of them decided to head back to their rooms for a nap.
However, just as they stood up, Qi Wu spotted Tong Fei and her followers walking over to them.
Well, to be more accurate, they were walking toward Tong Luo.