Dad, Please Try a Little Harder

“Have you ever received, the life you dreamt of, the sound of waves in your dreams, how they slipped through, like the wind blowing in the wilderness…” “Moments of love, fleeting moments, the silent passage of time… Dawn…

dusk… where is my final resting place…”

Qian Quan selected a song called “Orion Constellation”. It wasn’t particularly popular, but many of Pu Shu’s fans ranked it among their favorites.

The melody was gentle, and the lyrics resembled a modern poem filled with imagery yet lacking specific references.

Upon the first listen, one might appreciate the harmonious melody and beautiful lyrics. Yet, understanding their exact meaning might remain elusive.

However, upon a second listen with the lyrics in focus, certain lines might resonate, evoking past memories or emotions.

And if none of that moved you, the harmonica solo in the middle would surely leave a lasting impression.

Qian Quan assumed that such an underrated song wouldn’t attract a duet partner. But he had underestimated Miss Linlin’s professional skills.

Not only could she sing along, but her rendition was also more emotive. “Sometimes you sing, sometimes you’re silent, sometimes you stare at the sky…”

While the two sang passionately, the listeners’ reactions varied.

Xu Congfeng and his group were nearly bursting with curiosity about how Qian Quan acquired that card.

After exchanging over 99 messages in their group chat, with wild speculations aplenty, they still had no conclusion.

One thing was clear, though: they hadn’t intimidated Qian Quan that night. If anything, he had turned the tables on them.

Initially, they were merely wary of his exceptional physical prowess. Now, they pondered over his mysterious background, unsure of his potential affiliations.

In any case, he seemed even more formidable.

“So, Xu, do you still want to persist?” his friend Liangliang asked.

After a moment of hesitation, Xu Congfeng replied, “True love is about enduring all tests.”

After Qian Quan and Miss Bai Linlin finished singing “Hunter’s Constellation”, the next song was “Love in Hiroshima”.

Qian Quan was curious about who had chosen it when he saw Gao Yan silently pick up the microphone.

He intended to duet with Miss Linlin.

Stunned for a moment, Qian Quan then jokingly asked Guo Hongyi, “How much did Gao Yan drink?”

“just two beers,” Guo Hongyi replied, “His true introverted nature is showing.”

Qian Quan laughed.

Soon, it was 8:30, and their reserved room’s time was up.

Everyone stood up to leave, making their way to the elevator on the first floor. As they stepped out of the elevator, Qian Quan spotted a familiar face leading a striking young woman towards the exclusive elevator for the third floor.

The man was Zhao Chunjia’s personal bodyguard, whom Qian Quan remembered as Lu Ao; he had picked him up from the school once.

The young woman, dressed in a white hoodie paired with a black mini skirt and knee-high boots, showcased her long, pale legs. Engrossed in her phone, she seemed in her own world.

As Lu Ao noticed Qian Quan, he hurriedly approached, greeting him with respect, “Hello, Mr. Qian.”

“Hello,” Qian Quan responded politely.

The young woman, initially disinterested, glanced up. Struck by the dashing and youthful appearance of Qian Quan, coupled with Lu Ao’s respectful address, it wasn’t hard for her to deduce his prominent status.

“Lu, aren’t you going to give an introduction?” The transition in her demeanor was swift and natural. From indifferent, she now wore a charming smile that felt anything but forced.

Caught slightly off guard, before Lu Ao could answer, Qian Quan smoothly introduced himself, “I’m Qian Quan. Nice to meet you.”

Following up, Lu Ao added, “Mr. Qian is a friend of our boss’s family.” Emphasizing the word “family,” he subtly hinted at Qian Quan’s unique connection.

“Hello, I’m Bai Yanwan,” the woman responded confidently, extending her hand.

Qian Quan reciprocated the gesture, shaking her hand.

“We should be going. Shall we?” inquired Lu Ao.

“Of course. Take care,” Qian Quan nodded.

“Goodbye.”

“Bye.” With a delightful smile, Bai Yanwan waved at Qian Quan.

Once Lu Ao and Bai Yanwan had left, Guo Hongyi, Shen Fei, and others finally voiced their suppressed admiration, “She’s stunning, like a real-life celebrity.” “She’s the renowned actress Bai Yanwan. Don’t you know her?”

The group, including the ever-surprised Xu Congfeng, astonishingly realized some of them actually knew Bai Yanwan.

“Is she really a star?” Guo Hongyi asked curiously.

“Close to that. She’s the top star from Funing One, the foremost among the ?Four Great Beauties’, with the nickname ‘Film Queen’,” Xu Congfeng’s friend mentioned, glancing ambiguously at Qian Quan.

Lu Ao’s mention of “a friend of the boss’s family” was, amidst their astonishment, the first concrete clue they had about Qian Quan’s identity.

They knew better than to mess with him.

Regardless of who that person referred to as “the boss”, one thing was certain: that boss could access the third floor of Funing One.

And Qian Quan was a friend of his.

That was all they needed to know.

They were relieved nothing worse had transpired earlier.

The one who had previously suggested going Dutch with Qian Quan was now somewhat nervous.

-The Four Great Beauties? Who are the other three?” Guo Hongyi inquired.

“I don’t know their names, just their nicknames. But… let’s not get into that,” the man replied cryptically, suggesting it wasn’t the best topic to pursue further.

As they left the entrance of Funing One, Xu Congfeng and his group headed to their car, while Qian Quan and his friends planned to hail a taxi.

The two parties awkwardly waved goodbye.

“Xu Congfeng, please refrain from disturbing Linlang in the future.” Qian Quan advised kindly as they parted, but his tone hinted at a warning. Confronted with such a candid remark, Xu Congfeng paused, his expression changing rapidly. But he finally clenched his teeth and remained silent. Once in his car, he discreetly sent Qian Quan a message, “Considering I didn’t pass your ‘test’, out of respect for you, I won’t disturb her anymore. Soon after, Qian Quan updated Ding Linlang about their encounter.

She responded, “Well done. I’ll leave such matters to you in the future.”

“You should’ve just told him straight up that you have a boyfriend,” Qian Quan teased.

“Isn’t it the same thing? You’re always my backup,” she retorted.

“Fair point,” he admitted.

Just after returning to the university, Qian Quan received a call from Zhao Chunjia.

“I heard from Lu Ao that you were at Funing One tonight?” Zhao Chunjia began as soon as the call connected.

“Yes, I was there for a get-together and some karaoke,” Qian Quan responded. “I was there too. I would have joined you if I’d known,” Zhao said.

“It was a short meet-up. We sang for just an hour or so.

“I actually wanted to discuss something with you,” Zhao admitted.

“What is it?”

Zhao explained, “There’s a new mall opening by Min Hua, and I’ve rented its top floor to set up a gym and basketball training center. I know you’re great at basketball, so I was wondering if you could spare some time on weekends to coach? Is it feasible for you?”

Aware that this offer was essentially a part-time job and that it was a decent gesture after using Zhao’s card for a show-off, Qian Quan felt compelled to accept.

“Sounds good to me.”

“Great, then it’s settled..”