It's truly a sparrow eating a cricket, indeed it is.

Gong Zi gave Lu Youyou a thumbs-up for his coolness.

"You were so cool just now, Youyou. That woman was really annoying."

Gong Zi pouted and complained.

Song Wei teased, "Would you be this mad if she had asked for my WeChat instead?"

Gong Zi's face flushed red. She glanced at Zhou Yi but didn’t deny that she had been acting out of jealousy.

The girl’s captivating eyes swept over Zhou Yi’s handsome face as she took a sip of her drink and said with a smile,

"Wei-ge is surrounded by beauties all the time—what’s one more or less? But our captain isn’t a playboy like you. I’d feel guilty if I brought him to this bar and he got corrupted by those women."

Zhou Yi reminded her, "Your drink’s alcohol content isn’t low. Don’t get drunk."

Gong Zi was clearly delighted by Zhou Yi’s earlier favoritism toward her. Sometimes women were easy to understand—all they wanted was to be treated as special.

She took another happy gulp of her drink and said, "It’s fine. If I get drunk, I still have you, Captain. You’ll take me back to my room, right? Hehe."

The others watched Gong Zi’s unabashed affection for Zhou Yi, each lost in their own thoughts.

Wang Yuyan was actually a little upset because she liked Zhou Yi too.

But unlike Gong Zi, she wasn’t that bold. She also felt that aside from being cute, she didn’t have much else to offer, so she didn’t dare show her feelings in front of Zhou Yi.

She tapped her glass dejectedly, but her ears perked up, eager to hear Zhou Yi’s response.

Zhou Yi and Gong Zi were already in that ambiguous flirting stage, so he naturally played along.

"Go ahead and drink. If it really gets bad, Wei-ge is here—he’ll definitely take good care of you."

Zhou Yi’s reply was clever—it seemed indulgent toward Gong Zi but also brought Song Wei into the picture. Gong Zi instantly felt like she’d been doused with cold water.

Well, that was just Zhou Yi for you. If he liked her that easily, it wouldn’t be any fun.

Gong Zi set down her glass and picked up the electric guitar beside her seat, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Zhou Yi.

"I’m going up to play a song for you—one I picked just for you."

"I’ll listen carefully."

Zhou Yi gave a faint smile, his expression especially charming under the bar’s soft lighting.

Many of the female patrons in the bar were stealing glances at Zhou Yi.

Some recognized him and even took photos, while others were itching to go up and ask for his WeChat.

Before stepping onto the stage, Gong Zi pouted and said coquettishly,

"Captain, promise you won’t add anyone else’s WeChat, okay? Those women all have bad intentions toward you."

"Fine, I won’t add anyone."

Gong Zi immediately beamed. She tossed her hair and confidently carried her electric guitar onto the stage.

Gong Zi looked especially beautiful tonight, and her cool, edgy vibe quickly drew cheers from the audience.

Under the stage lights, her pretty face glowed as she stared straight at Zhou Yi and said,

"This song is dedicated to my captain. I hope you like it."

Song Wei led the applause, then turned to Zhou Yi and asked,

"Have you heard Xiao Zi sing before?"

"No, this is the first time."

"She’s never sung for any guy like this before. You’re the first."

"Then I’m honored."

Zhou Yi raised his glass and clinked it with Song Wei’s before focusing on Gong Zi’s performance.

Gong Zi’s singing voice was completely different from her usual tone—slightly husky, with a smoky quality that was mesmerizing.

[When you whisper, it’s just like in my dreams]

[I’ve been longing for you—do you know?]

[How do I hold you without getting nervous?]

[This song is only for you]

[My love hides in my eyes, like stars falling into the sea—so easy for you to miss]

......

Zhou Yi had to admit, Gong Zi was captivating when she sang.

Her eyes lightly closed, as if lost in her own world, every word of the lyrics pouring out with deep emotion and sweetness.

When she finished, the crowd erupted in applause.

Still on stage, Gong Zi slowly smiled at Zhou Yi and asked, "Captain, do you like it?"

Was she asking if he liked the song—or the person singing it?

Zhou Yi simply replied, "I like it."

Gong Zi didn’t press him to clarify. Overjoyed, she dashed off the stage and, fueled by alcohol, did the first thing that came to mind—she kissed Zhou Yi.

Of course, Zhou Yi didn’t dodge. If he’d wanted to, he could have.

Gong Zi’s kiss sent the atmosphere in the bar into overdrive.

Cheers and whistles filled the air.

Gong Zi’s face flushed, though whether from the alcohol or embarrassment was unclear.

"Xiao Zi, you’re drunk," Song Wei said helplessly.

Zhou Yi glanced down at the guitar in her hands and asked,

"Mind if I go up and sing a couple of songs?"

Gong Zi gasped in delight. "Captain, you can sing?!"

Zhou Yi nodded.

Gong Zi immediately handed him her electric guitar. "Go for it! I’d love to hear how you sound."

Zhou Yi smiled, took the guitar, and stepped onto the stage.

Every woman in the room was curious.

A guy this handsome, who could also sing love songs? How many hearts would he break tonight?

Some who recognized Zhou Yi from trending topics even started live-streaming.

Zhou Yi had previously spent attribute points in the system shop to unlock singing and instrument skills—tonight, he was going to blow everyone away.

The stage lights bathed him like a shower of starlight.

[I watch, my naive self]

[Appearing in stories where I don’t belong]

[Waiting, for my own response]

......

The moment Zhou Yi started singing, his low, magnetic voice filled the room—a slightly rough texture giving it a uniquely lost, wandering quality.

"What song is this? I’ve never heard it before."

"Indie music? It’s really good, though."

"Zhou Yi can sing like this?! Damn, I’m gonna die from how hot he looks right now, wuwuwu."

The audience buzzed, both stunned by Zhou Yi’s talent and scrambling to search for the song’s name.

Just when everyone thought it was a slow ballad, Zhou Yi’s voice suddenly shifted—the climax hit.

Zhou Yi opened his eyes and tilted his head back, his voice soaring as he strummed the guitar with intensity.

The light caught his hair, and the sharp line of his jaw was breathtaking.

[He knows, he knows, I can’t give it]

[So he turns and walks into the mountains]

......

[I hear the voice of that young man]

[In the past where there was still a future]

[Longing for a happy ending]

[But failing to become myself]

[He knows, he knows, I can’t give it]

[So he turns and walks into the mountains]

......

The song started slow, but the sudden explosive climax left the audience wide-eyed.

"Holy sht..."

"That was insanely cool—it’s rock?!"

"What even is this song? How have I never heard something this good before?"

"Bro, I’m a guy, and even I think he’s handsome as hell. Like a sparrow eating a cricket—damn straight he’s fine."

Gong Zi stood frozen, staring at Zhou Yi in a daze.

Not only could Zhou Yi sing—he was amazing at it.

Gong Zi was completely, utterly smitten.

She couldn’t even imagine how many female fans Zhou Yi would have if he ever joined the rock scene.

"‘Shan Hai’ (‘Mountains and Seas’), for all of you," Zhou Yi said with a faint smile as the song ended.

After a brief moment of silence, the room erupted into thunderous applause, with some girls even tossing flowers onto the stage.

Many guests crowded around the platform, waving their phones at Zhou Yi in excitement.

His system notified him that his "likability points" had skyrocketed—likely because someone was livestreaming the performance.

One of the streamers happened to be a minor internet celebrity, and their audience was frantically asking who the singer was, unable to find the song "Shan Hai" (Mountain and Sea) no matter how hard they searched.

Someone in the crowd shouted, "Whose song is this? Why can’t we find it, handsome?"

Zhou Yi smirked and replied with effortless cool, "It’s my own song. This is the first time I’ve performed it live."

"No way, you wrote and composed it yourself?"

"Damn, he’s actually a musical genius!"

"Do you have any other songs? Sing another one!"

"Encore!"

"Encore!"

The crowd chanted for more, and Zhou Yi pretended to hesitate before relenting.

"Alright, fine. One more, then."

How would they react if he followed up with "Blue Lotus"?

With just those two songs, Zhou Yi blew up overnight.