Against the Light - Chapter 13
Chapter 13: I Really Can't Sing
Luo Bing couldn't help but glance at Gu Xinran a few more times. A faint smile always hung on Gu Xinran's lips. She looked warm and sunny, yet for some reason, it made Luo Bing's heart pound.
Unease. A profound sense of unease.
In her memory, Gu Xinran had always been an impulsive, reckless, and brainless idiot. Logically, she should have rushed over to mock and insult her by now. Why was she sitting there so calmly with an expectant look on her face?
It was too strange, wasn't it?
"Luo Luo?"
"Hm? Oh, okay. I'll sing 【Miss You】 then."
Luo Bing nodded at Gu Xinran, who immediately sat up straight, looking impossibly well-behaved.
Luo Bing cleared her throat, adjusted her breathing, and began to sing softly, "I still remember the first time I met you, standing quietly by the stream, bathed in the moonlight..."
Her voice was gentle and sweet, with a hint of playfulness. In just a few lines, she painted a picture: a serene and beautiful girl standing quietly by a stream, the white moonlight enveloping her, as if separating her from the world. She was hazy and indistinct, and from a distance, she looked like a fairy from the clouds.
"Thinking of you, your gentle smile; missing you, your sparkling, star-like eyes..."
It had to be said, the song had a melodious tune and a catchy rhythm. From the lyrics to the composition, it perfectly matched Luo Bing's vocal color and singing style. It was clear she was very talented.
Gu Xinran thought to herself what a pity it was. A pity for all that talent.
In her previous life, from the day she entered this industry, she had constantly reminded herself: to be an actress, you must first be a good person. If you can't even be a decent human being, how can you even talk about acting?
When the song ended, some of the staff who weren't aware of the situation finally realized what was going on. This was the original song Luo Bing had sung during the talent show. The girl she loved, the one described in the song, was none other than Gu Xinran's ex-wife, Bai Yilan. And after Luo Bing won the championship and debuted, this song became widely popular.
【Ahhh, my Luo is truly the best!!! She sounds this good even when singing casually without warming up, sob sob sob!!】
【Luo Luo's voice is so healing. The first time I heard this song, I could feel how much she truly, truly loves that girl. Even though Teacher Bai is already married and a little blind, as long as you like her, you two are still a perfect match! Go for it, Luo Luo, charge!!!】
【So what if she sings well? She's coveting someone else's wife, and she's in the right? And you're calling Teacher Bai blind? If Teacher Bai actually fell for Luo Bing, that would be true blindness!】
【Tsk, some people are so bitter. What? Are you getting anxious because your idol can't compare to Luo Luo? Then have your idol sing a song. Can she?】
【Here we go with the stupid comments again. Making an actor and a singer compete in singing ability. Brilliant.】
【Aren't vocal skills, stage presence, physicality, and expression required courses for actors? If you can't do it, you can't do it. Stop pretending!】
【Wait, wait, stop arguing for a second. Haven't you noticed Gu Xinran's expression is really off? She didn't explode, and she even looks entranced? What does this mean? Is this an official endorsement for Luo Bing to pursue Teacher Bai?】
The atmosphere in the cave became extremely awkward for a moment. The staff didn't know what to do.
Zhang Tingting, however, clapped enthusiastically. "That was so good!" she said, glancing at Gu Xinran as she spoke.
Gu Xinran rested her chin on her hand, looking thoughtful. "Did you write these lyrics?"
"Yes," Luo Bing replied, looking at her with confusion.
Gu Xinran pondered for a moment, then broke into a smile. "I can tell you really like the girl in the lyrics. You see her as a fairy in the clouds, the moon reflected in the water. Your secret love must have been very hard. You mentioned in the lyrics that you hope she'll be happy, and that just seeing her happy is a kind of happiness for you. I really admire that mindset."
Luo Bing was slightly taken aback. She had never imagined Gu Xinran would comment on her song with such an appreciative tone!
"However, there's one thing I don't understand," Gu Xinran's tone shifted.
"What is it?"
"Since you wanted to treasure this bittersweet feeling in your heart and watch her be happy from afar, why did you choose to sing this song while she was still very happy? Why push her once-happy family into the eye of a public opinion storm?"
"I... I didn't really plan to sing this song at the time, but when I was standing on that stage, her image was the only thing in my mind."
"Then why, after you finished singing, did you have to tell the public that the person you were confessing to was Bai Yilan? Did you ever think about how that would affect her?"
"I just felt like I couldn't hide this feeling anymore, so..."
"Was it really that you couldn't hide your feelings? Or was it that you knew if you didn't say it out loud, this feeling would have no value?" Gu Xinran interrupted her with a smile.
"What do you mean?"
"If you truly like someone, no matter how bittersweet a secret love is, you will always put them first. The last thing you should do is cause them trouble. I saw that pure emotion in your lyrics, but in your actions, all I see is..."
Gu Xinran paused, her gaze sharp. "A publicity stunt."
"You!"
【Well said! The logic is sound and the reasoning is clear. I don't see anything wrong with it. Next!】
【The key point is that Teacher Bai wasn't happy with her!! Luo Luo loves Teacher Bai so much, of course she couldn't stand by and watch!】
【How do you know if they were happy or not? Having an argument means they're not happy? I see you and your partner don't seem to be very happy either. Please keep a better eye on your own partner.】
【No lies detected. No matter how much she and Teacher Bai argued, it was their business as a couple. Luo Bing sticking her nose in it is just shameless!】
【I really feel like Gu Xinran has changed so much. I love her like this now, and I feel so bad for her. Luo Bing interfered, she lost her family, and Luo Bing's brainless fans trashed her online, causing her career to hit rock bottom. If it were me, I would have broken down long ago. But she was able to stay strong and move on. That's so difficult!】
【So true. Luo Bing won entirely because of the hype. When this song came out, how much popularity did she leech off of Xinran and Teacher Bai? Are you Bing fans really going to pretend you don't know?】
【Damn, so Gu Xinran does have a brain! Then why did she do so many brainless things before, basically digging her own grave!】
【Honestly, seeing her confront Luo Bing with the issue laid bare like this is so much more satisfying to watch. It's more satisfying than watching her beat Luo Bing a hundred times!】
【Publicity stunt my ass. You didn't cherish your own wife, and now that you see Luo Luo is famous, you want to drag her down with you? Have some shame, will you? I think you're the one creating hype!】
【Why do I see Luo Bing as more and more of a white lotus now?】
【Sisters, don't forget, the guests don't know they're still being live-streamed. Maybe this is the real Gu Xinran? Was everything we saw on screen before just a facade? A brainless persona she put on??】
"Gu Xinran, what do you mean! Take a look at what you've done yourself, and you still have the nerve to criticize others? You're just jealous that Luo Luo is more talented than you." Zhang Tingting exploded.
Gu Xinran was startled by the sudden shouting.
Me? Jealous of her?
"What? Am I wrong? Luo Luo writes good lyrics, composes good music, sings well, and is popular. What about you? Besides stirring up trouble, what else are you good for? You drama queen!" Zhang Tingting glared at her fiercely.
Gu Xinran was stunned again. Are all young people this hot-tempered nowadays?
A little scary.
"Sister Ran, you should sing a song for her too," Fang Jinghai suggested, leaning in close to her.
She spoke softly, but the cave was so quiet that everyone around them heard at least some of it.
Zhang Tingting nearly burst out laughing. "Her? She can sing? Are you trying to make me laugh? The whole world knows she sings like a crow!"
"..."
"Sister Ran, sing. I believe in you!" Fang Jinghai made a fist to encourage her, then glanced at Zhang Tingting. She wished she could punch that ugly expression right off Zhang Tingting's face!
The expressions on the faces of the onlooking staff members gradually became more and more interesting. This drama was so juicy!
【Maybe she shouldn't sing... On this point, Zhang Tingting isn't exaggerating. Her singing really is like a crow's caw. It's horribly bad.】
【Hehe, where are all the Ran fans who were so active just now? Get out here and take the heat!】
【Come on, come on, let's hear your idol's crow caw. Let me see how you're going to awkwardly praise her this time.】
【? Where are Ran's fans? Why'd you stop? Keep yapping, huh?】
【Sisters, cover your ears. I'm afraid I'll go deaf after hearing her sing.】
Seeing that she had been pushed into the spotlight, Gu Xinran gave a helpless smile. "Well, I'll make a fool of myself then. If I don't sing well, please bear with me."
"It's okay, it's okay!" The crowd quickly applauded and cheered, encouraging her.
Gu Xinran calmed her heart, closed her eyes, and thought back to the song she sang most often in her previous life.
After a moment, she took a breath and slowly began to sing.
"When you are old and gray, warming yourself by the fire, reminiscing about your youth..."
As the beautiful melody flowed from her lips, everyone except Fang Jinghai was dumbfounded!
Her voice was ethereal and clear, and you couldn't hear her take a breath between phrases. Her tone was gentle, like a confession or a soft murmur, warm and touching the heart, every word full of emotion. Her exquisite face reflected the dancing flames, making her seem to glow, and her deep eyes shone brightly!
"Only one person still loves your pious soul, loves the wrinkles on your aging face..."
She slowly closed her eyes, as if she had returned to her past life, to their love nest. She and Yilan were sitting side-by-side on the swing, rocking gently. She held their little princess, singing this song in the softest voice to lull her to sleep.
"When I am old, I want to sing for you, this song from my heart..."
Her mind was filled with images of Yilan and their child. The more she sang, the more emotional she became, and by the last line, her voice held a slight choke.
She finished the song and took a moment to compose herself before opening her eyes, which were slightly red-rimmed.
The crowd was still immersed in her singing, unable to pull themselves away. After the initial shock, there was only enjoyment.
A long while later, someone finally let out a long breath. "That was way too beautiful, wasn't it? Was that really her voice??" someone asked in a low voice.
"Exactly! Didn't they say she couldn't sing? You call this not being able to sing?"
"Her singing almost made me cry. If only we had a signal. Otherwise, even if you told people she could sing, no one would believe it."
With Luo Bing nearby, the staff only dared to discuss it in whispers.
"You-you-you, you call this not being able to sing??" Shen Can swallowed, a hint of admiration in her eyes as she looked at Gu Xinran!
"Fang Jinghai, did you know all along?" Shen Can then looked at the proud little camerawoman beside Gu Xinran.
"Heh, I heard Sister Ran humming a bit when I was filming her during the day. Her voice was so clean and beautiful, I figured she must be able to sing, just that she's low-key and doesn't show off," Fang Jinghai chuckled, giving Gu Xinran a big thumbs-up!
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