The host on stage announced Fu Tianci's name.
Bai Xiaonian leaned against the wall with her hands crossed. She lowered her voice and said to Lin Nuan, "Fu Tianci showed surprising talent in singing and writing. He's not the type of heir that is completely reckless and stupid."
Lin Nuan saw him carry a guitar on stage. Contrary to his usual cocky looks, he bowed to the judges and sat on the wooden chair with his legs folded. He placed his guitar on his legs and moved the mic towards him.
His tender, fair face showed no flaws under the lights. He even looked a bit too fair, more so than most girls.
The trendy "boyish" fever nowadays was probably referring to guys like Fu Tianci.
He was slightly nervous since this was the first time he was performing a whole song after the audition.
Lin Nuan rarely saw Fu Tianci acting so seriously. He plucked on his guitar then nodded at the backup players behind him. He looked down at his guitar and began playing.
His young, poignant voice traveled through the whole studio.
Fu Tianci started playing the guitar. "The track under the sunset was once our battlefield…"
Lin Nuan stood there and listened to his tender yet slightly hoarse voice. It sounded magical and reminded her of her high school days, when she would run alone on the track after school at sunset when nobody was around, running until the sky turned into a honey-like haze and shone on her sweaty skin.
Lin Nuan hadn't expected that seemingly arrogant Fu Tianci to have such a moving, soft, and vulnerable voice.
He used his most sincere voice to tell the story of that afternoon after the sports meet, instead of showing off his skills.
The audience was quiet until he finished singing, as if they were indulging in his voice.
All three judges stood up and clapped for Fu Tianci.
His ears flushed. He stood up and bowed to the judges and audience with the guitar in his hands. He noticed Lin Nuan and Bai Xiaonian standing outside the door from the corner of his eye.
He clutched his guitar tightly and saw their smiles from afar. His heart began to race out of nowhere.
Perhaps in his heart, he had unconsciously seen them as close friends, so when he saw them here, he got nervous for no reason.
"I brought Fu Tianci from the first auditions here. What do you think… he sure didn't let you down!" famous singer Xu Hai said excitedly.
Fu Tianci bowed towards him with great gratitude and said, "I'm especially thankful to Teacher Xu. When I entered the audition in a band, he was the one that let me proceed as an individual contestant. For real… I was against the idea at that time!"
"This kid is quite decent!" Female singer Peng Miaoimao cut him off halfway.
Fu Tianci smiled and continued, "But Teacher Xu, the song I sang today, 'Campus memories,' was composed by all the members of the band. Hence I ask you sincerely, can you let them on stage to share this moment with me? I know you're doing this for me, but I still think the band should remain a team! Without them… I would have a lot less motivation to keep going."
Lin Nuan saw how Fu Tianci spoke to the judges calmly and sincerely. She couldn't tell at all he was a reckless heir.
He was polite and reasonable.
Bai Xiaonian smiled at Lin Nuan. "I'm becoming a fan of this person!"
"So you're not mad at him for bumping into your car before?" Lin Nuan asked.
"Talented people all have some kind of temper. It's understandable!" Bai Xiaonian said dreamily as she nodded.
"Let's go!" Lin Nuan gazed at Fu Tianci and then grabbed Bai Xiaonian and dragged her out of the recording studio.
"I bet Fu Tianci is going to become famous once this airs Friday night!" Bai Xiaonian said as they walked down the corridor.
Lin Nuan was still hesitating about whether she should tell Bai Xiaonian that Fu Tianci was the one who scratched her car door…
They walked towards the elevator and waited. It was then that Lin Nuan heard someone calling them from behind.
"Lin Nuan! Bai Xiaonian!"
They looked back and saw Fu Tianci, who was holding a guitar.
Lin Nuan turned around and saw Fu Tianci running towards them. Bai Xiaonian said, "Oof, what if he's here to cause trouble? If he is, then I won't be a fan anymore!"
Fu Tianci ran in front of them and whipped out a card from his pocket to return to Lin Nuan. He put on a straight face on purpose and said, "This is the card you gave to me last time. I didn't touch the money inside. Take it as payback for your friend!"
Ten thousand dollars wasn't a small amount of money. Lin Nuan turned and asked Bai Xiaonian, "How much did it cost to repair the mark on your car door?"
"Around four thousand dollars…" Bai Xiaonian said. She suddenly seemed to realize something and turned towards Fu Tianci. "You were responsible for the mark on my car door? Fu Tianci… do I owe you something or what? Why are you always targeting my car?"
Fu Tianci slid the card into Bai Xiaonian's hands with a tense expression. His ears were slightly red. "So what if I have a problem with your car?"
Just as he was going to leave, he turned around and said to Lin Nuan, "I don't know your intentions for treating Tuan Tuan so well, but I can tell he genuinely likes you. No matter how you and Fu Huai'an end up, I hope you don't hurt Tuan Tuan!"
Fu Tianci had never seemed to care about Tuan Tuan at all, yet what he said surprised Lin Nuan this time.
Fu Tianci then set off without looking back as he clutched his guitar tightly in his hand.
Bai Xiaonian laughed. "Little Tuan Tuan's grandpa isn't bad at all—he actually knows how to care for him! But does Fu Tianci still not know about you and Fu Huai'an getting married?"
"Yes! We haven't told that many people yet!" Lin Nuan smiled faintly.
"Fu Huai'an hasn't spoken a word about it after getting the marriage certificate… What if he's planning to marry you in secret?"
Lin Nuan went inside when the elevator arrived. Since nobody was inside, she said to Bai Xiaonian, "Fu Huai'an's not the one who wants to marry me in secret, I'm the one who proposed us getting married in secret!"
Before Bai Xiaonian could say anything, and before Lin Nuan finished speaking, she heard the phone vibrate in her bag.
"Is it a stranger's number?" Bai Xiaonian extended her neck and asked.
She answered the call and put the phone near her ear. Lin Nuan said politely, "Hello, who is this?"