Chapter 111: A Meeting of Minds

After dinner, Wang Bei returned to her room to sleep, leaving only Bai Renzong and Han Jiayi at home.

"When are we going on that blind date this week? I’ve been so exhausted lately; I really need a break," Han Jiayi said, feigning ignorance of what Wang Bei had discussed with Bai Renzong in the kitchen.

"Whatever works for your schedule," Bai Renzong replied, then paused. "But not tomorrow. I need to edit the next film review and finish the food review article for 'Rainbow'."

"How about the day after? Thursday?" Han Jiayi asked, testing the waters. "It’s best to avoid Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. You know how the restaurant gets..."

"Yes, I know," Bai Renzong nodded. "Let's make it the day after tomorrow, then."

"Okay." Han Jiayi smiled, pursing her lips, then tentatively suggested, "Since you don't want to go to karaoke, maybe we could..."

"Karaoke is fine, but can we just book an hour?" Bai Renzong asked with a frown. "I’m really not good at that sort of thing, and there are only two of us."

"That works!" Han Jiayi replied cheerfully, her heart cheering: Yes!

In truth, she didn't know why she was so fixated on this. Perhaps it was just a cat’s curiosity getting the better of her, or... maybe something else. Regardless, she couldn't wait for Thursday to arrive.

"Great! I’m going to take a shower and get ready to play some games!" Han Jiayi exclaimed.

While gaming, Bai Renzong remained distracted. Wang Bei’s words kept weighing on his mind. The girl was usually so carefree and playful that it was hard to take her seriously, but... he decided to take a gamble.

They played half-heartedly until around eleven o'clock before retiring to their rooms. Lying in bed, Bai Renzong stared at the ceiling, rehearsing what he would say tomorrow. Start normally, then add that one line at the end. That way, if things went south, there would be a graceful exit for both of them, and they could continue working together. Yes, that was feasible.

Meanwhile, in her bed, Han Jiayi was hugging her teddy bear, plotting mischievously. "Hehe! On Thursday, when we go to karaoke, I’ll record Old Bai singing and play it for his fans... They’ll definitely be blown away!"

The next day, Wednesday.

Two people, each harboring their own secret agendas, drifted through the day in a daze. After dinner, neither showed any interest in gaming, hiding away in their rooms to prepare for the "blind date" the following day.

"How’s this dress? Is it too flashy?" Han Jiayi scrutinized herself in the mirror. "What if he thinks I’m trying too hard to look young? Should I go for a more sultry look? Maybe wear stockings? Doesn't he like nice legs?"

After a moment of silence, she shook her head. "Wearing stockings in this thirty-degree heat? I'd get heatstroke. Better wait until it’s cooler." Hummed a tune, she happily checked her outfits, in high spirits.

Upstairs, Bai Renzong was busy rehearsing every possible scenario.

"Shall we try dating for a while?" he muttered to himself, then shook his head. "No, that sounds like a joke, not serious at all. A girl like her must like something more romantic, right? But..."

He collapsed onto his pillow and groaned, "This isn't a soap opera! Where am I supposed to find a meteor shower just because I want to confess? Can the Connoisseur App give me that kind of superpower?"

After a night of restless deliberation, Thursday morning arrived—the moment of truth.

"Old Bai!" Han Jiayi, already dressed, came to wake him, only to find him already up and shaving.

Bai Renzong looked at her with curiosity. She was wearing a goose-yellow, cinched-waist dress that fell to her knees. It wasn't overly revealing, yet it highlighted her slender, graceful curves in a way that was incredibly pleasing to the eye—pure, yet vibrant and sunny.

*How can she be this beautiful...* Bai Renzong thought, suddenly overcome with nerves. *Do I really go through with this?*

"Hoo—!" He took a deep breath, reassuring himself: You can do this.

"I made breakfast. Let's eat and then head out," Han Jiayi said with a smile.

"Right," Bai Renzong nodded. "You go ahead, I'll be down after I wash up."

They sat at the dining table, eating in silence. *I have to hear him sing today,* Han Jiayi thought. *I have to make things clear to her today,* Bai Renzong thought.

After breakfast, they tidied up and headed out shortly after nine.

"Let’s go to karaoke first? Then we can grab lunch right after," Han Jiayi suggested happily. "And we can catch a movie in the afternoon, how about that?"

"Sure," Bai Renzong agreed, his mind not on the singing.

Han Jiayi searched her phone for a karaoke bar, ready to set her plan in motion.

"Let's not order beer; just two sodas," Bai Renzong said, selecting from the tablet. He really didn't know how two people could sing for over an hour, but it was a chance to talk to her, and perhaps a moment to gauge her feelings.

"Ahem." Han Jiayi cleared her throat. "I'll go first."

She took a deep breath and began to sing, "Hoping you haven't wept in secret for me again. I don't want to leave your heart empty. Hoping you don't make me carry such a heavy sin..."

*Beyond's "Lover"...* Bai Renzong thought. *She really likes Beyond.* But to be honest, the song didn't suit her. Her voice was sweet and lively; it was better suited for upbeat songs. This sad ballad sounded a bit strange coming from her.

"Alright, your turn," Han Jiayi said, handing him the microphone with a smile.

*Sigh.* Bai Renzong took it with a resigned look.

*Hehe, finally going to see your true colors,* Han Jiayi thought triumphantly, secretly hitting the record button on her phone. *Trying to pretend you can't sing? I'll record this and let your fans hear it...*

Bai Renzong selected a song, grabbed the mic, cleared his throat, and began.

"Our gates are always open, waiting for you to embrace... once we embrace, we have an understanding, you will fall in love with this place..." As soon as the first line left his lips, Han Jiayi nearly spat out her drink.

This was Bai Renzong's trump card: no matter how tone-deaf you were, you could stay on pitch with this song. The melody was simple, and it was a chorus-heavy anthem; it didn't matter if you were off-key. He had researched it specifically for occasions like class reunions so he wouldn't embarrass himself.

Watching him sing with such solemn seriousness, Han Jiayi rolled her eyes so hard they almost hit the back of her head. *Is he serious? Singing "Beijing Welcomes You" on a date? So much for this recording!*

She shook her head. *No! Han Jiayi, you went through all this trouble to trick him here, you can't let him off the hook!*

When the song finished, she clapped. "Nice job. Keep going?"

"That's enough. I really am not good at singing," Bai Renzong sighed, putting down the mic.

"Just sing! I won't laugh at you!" she urged, frustrated. "If nothing else, I'll sing another one!"

Unable to resist her pestering, Bai Renzong sang a normal song, but it immediately exposed him. The high notes were too high, the low notes were too low, and he ended up shifting keys three or four times. His face turned bright red.

"Happy now!?" he snapped, tossing the mic aside.

"Pfft..." Han Jiayi covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. Bai Renzong rolled his eyes. "What did you say?"

"Nothing, I'm not mocking you," she said, smiling. "It's just... you're too honest. You can't keep up with the original, so just turn off the vocal track and sing your own way." She grabbed the tablet. "Here, let me pick one for us to sing together."

She handed it to him. "Do you know this one?"

"Hmm..." Bai Renzong nodded. Han Jiayi beamed. "Then this one. It's a duet."

The music started, and Han Jiayi began: "Still, remember yesterday, that summer, the moment the breeze blew past. It seemed to turn everything over, leaving only loneliness to settle..."

She turned to Bai Renzong, looking at him with an encouraging smile.

Watching her sweet expression and the encouragement in her eyes, Bai Renzong sighed and braved it. "Nowadays, the wind still blows, the autumn rain follows. The heat in my heart doesn't fade. As if, even with my eyes closed, that familiar face would appear before me again..."

Hearing his voice, Han Jiayi felt a shiver down her spine. It was like a warm breeze brushing against her, and her heart skipped a beat. *This is amazing! He's a natural singer, doesn't he realize it!?*

Unable to help herself, she joined him in the duet: "Blue longing, suddenly evolved into a sunny summer. The warmth in the air won't be far away, oh~ winter, seems no longer worth lingering over..."

Bai Renzong felt a balloon of emotion expanding in his chest. It was indescribable: "Green longing, looking back to say to me, the four seasons remain the same. It's only been a season, and I've returned to that summer, blown by the wind..."

Perhaps it wasn't an illusion, but for a moment, he felt surrounded by sunlight, green leaves, and blue skies within the tiny booth.

At that moment, they saw only each other.

"Look at you!" Han Jiayi said, beaming. "You're so good! You just never found the right song. I'm telling you, if you went on a music show, you could debut as a singer!"

"It's... not that exaggerated," Bai Renzong said, scratching his head awkwardly.

Recalling the duet, that sense of connection made them both blush.

"T-that's enough for today!" Han Jiayi turned away. "I didn't eat much this morning, I'm hungry. Let's go get something to eat, then catch a movie later."

"Sure, I'm hungry too." Bai Renzong breathed a sigh of relief. Karaoke really wasn't his thing.

They had barely sung for an hour before fleeing the KTV together.

*Oh no!* As they got into the car, Han Jiayi checked her phone and smacked her forehead in frustration. *I forgot to record!*