Snapping out of her idle gaze, Chu Lian smiled to herself. It seemed that transferring to this school had been the right decision. The system's task to restore lost culture wasn't something she could complete alone. Only by forming a group centered around herself could she truly succeed.
Her test of Cai Ya yesterday had made it clear—these students, though young, were far from naive. They each had their own independent thoughts and wouldn't easily submit to others. Even Li Xiu'er might not have grown so close to her if she weren't already a fan.
They might appear like average students, but deep down, their pride was far stronger than most. That pride was the foundation of their confidence as elite talents. Gathering such individuals into a team with her at the center would be difficult.
But so what if you're all geniuses? I'll still make you respect me…
Her eyes fell on the photocopied sheets in her hand, her thoughts rippling like water. After everything that had happened recently, her confidence and determination were completely different from before.
So when she realized her classmates included so many promising talents, she decided to bring them together.
And now—it's time to make a stunning impression…
Raising her hand, Chu Lian stood up slowly under the surprised gazes of the teacher and classmates. Smiling gently, she said, "Teacher, may I perform the song I wrote?" She stood quietly, her small hands clasped behind her back, tilting her head slightly as she looked at the teacher. The dimples on her cheeks deepened, adding to her cuteness.
"Uh, well, technically it's not necessary, but if you're confident, then of course you may. Chu Lian, do you need an instrument?"
The teacher was stunned for a moment, then pushed up her glasses and smiled. She suddenly became curious—just how much musical talent did this "literary genius girl" possess? Composing and writing lyrics didn't necessarily mean she could sing. If she could do all three… then she truly was a gifted child.
"A guitar will do..." Chu Lian glanced around and then pointed to the guitar case beside Ruriko Nana's desk. "Nana, may I borrow your guitar?"
Ruriko Nana looked at the angelic smile on the girl's face and softly replied, "Yes, it would be an honor to lend my guitar to Chu Lian."
She stood up, stepped out of her seat, opened the guitar case, and took out the wooden acoustic guitar. Then, she walked over and handed it to Chu Lian.
Chu Lian accepted it with a polite nod and thank-you, then walked to the front where the teacher had made space for her. She focused intently on tuning the strings.
She wasn't very skilled with the guitar, but she had already redeemed the full musical arrangement, vocal technique, and guitar performance for "Having You in My Life." She just needed a little time to get into the mood of the song—playing at a level close to the original was no problem.
Her classmates watched with a mixture of curiosity, skepticism, and critical attention, wondering just what kind of song made her confident enough to perform live.
Lyrics and sheet music were one thing, but unless you specialized in music, it was hard to judge a song's quality without hearing it. Since Chu Lian had the courage to perform, they were more than willing to listen.
Her petite figure sat on the chair brought over by the teacher. Hugging the large guitar, the scene was overflowing with cuteness—so much so that even the teacher had the urge to scoop her up in a hug.
But as her slender fingers began to move, everyone became entranced by the music. After a slightly melancholy prelude, Chu Lian slowly closed her eyes. Her lips parted, and a deep, soulful voice emerged:
Because I dreamed of you leaving,
I woke up crying.
Watching the night wind blow past the windowsill,
Can you feel my love…
Do you know that all my life, I'll stay by your side?
Do you know that all my life, I'll stay by your side…
This song that reminisced about the past—about a youthful love for a girl once admired—might not have been the most fitting piece for her voice, which was deliberately subdued yet still a little young and clear. But that didn't change how the song touched people.
It was a good song. Maybe not destined for widespread fame, nor to be sung across the country, but among students—especially college students nearing graduation—it held a resonance few could understand. Ten years from now, one might still be singing it while waving goodbye.
Sensing that everyone was still immersed in the emotion, Chu Lian softly repeated the final lines a few times on her guitar. Only when the last note faded did the students finally awaken from their trance.
Though they might not yet grasp the full depth of that sentiment, it didn't stop them from feeling it. Chu Lian sang, and they listened—touched and moved.
Once someone began clapping, others followed, turning their eyes back to the angelic girl. No more doubt—only approval.
The applause lingered for over a minute before the teacher, hands also clapping, finally stopped, her eyes glowing with undisguised delight. Chu Lian's song had done more than win student approval—it had reignited the teacher's hope.
Once emotions settled, Chu Lian stood and bowed gently. In a soft voice, she said, "Thank you all for listening. This song is the piece I submitted, titled 'Having You in My Life.' It was composed hastily yesterday, and I didn't have time to practice it properly."
"This was my first time performing it with guitar and vocals. If there were any shortcomings, please forgive me. Also, because of the nature of the song, I won't be performing it live on stage."
"So I hope the teacher will choose someone else to sing it. Anyone is fine. I will join the band on stage as the guitarist."
Her humble and unassuming manner only deepened her classmates' admiration. With such a personality, her future achievements would surely be great. Perhaps after this school festival, the title of "genius literary girl" would be joined by that of "genius musical girl."
Among the students, several felt a mix of surprise and pressure from her performance.
Cai Ya was stunned—she hadn't expected the song she mocked yesterday to be this good.
Ruriko Nana was thrilled—she didn't expect the girl who borrowed her guitar to have such musical depth.
Lux Lyle, though composed on the surface, inwardly marveled at the talent in Huaxia. A best-selling author who also had unmatched musical talent?
Wang Tingsi was caught between joy and frustration—yet another thing he didn't know about her.
Li Xiu'er's big eyes were filled with admiration—her idol was not only a brilliant composer, but also a skilled performer.
The rest had their own thoughts.
But no one could deny Chu Lian's brilliance. Those whose works had also made it into the selection round now felt enormous pressure.
Even if they performed now, unless they could surpass Chu Lian, they would merely serve as her backdrop. Given more time, perhaps they could have competed—but with just one day left, it was impossible.
Smiling, Chu Lian handed the guitar back to the equally smiling Ruriko Nana. She softly said thank you, then returned to her seat, propping her chin with one hand and turning to look out the window. As for the selection, she didn't need to watch.
Victory was already hers.
As expected, when the teacher stepped forward to announce the start of voting, no one else came up to perform. Despite their efforts, the results were already clear.
The rest of the class, already won over by Chu Lian's talent, cast their votes overwhelmingly in her favor. Aside from a few, most voted for her song, making "Having You in My Life" the class's performance entry without suspense.
After the vote, the teacher raised the next question. Chu Lian had said she wouldn't sing—only play guitar. So who would perform the vocals?
As soon as she asked, a wave of hands shot up. Clearly, many students wanted the opportunity to perform.
Now that became the teacher's headache. Choosing the right person wasn't a simple matter, because the class's performance in the festival—and their results—would depend on it. She had to take this seriously.