Learning martial arts was out of the question. After Yang Yi laid out some training conditions, the chubby kid quickly backed out—how could he endure such grueling hardship?
"Can I learn some simple martial arts without doing horse stance, running, or dieting?" the chubby kid asked, unwilling to give up.
"No," Yang Yi shook his head.
"Alright then..." The chubby kid drooped his head in disappointment.
But without that goal, the chubby kid continued to show off his chatterbox nature, and the two quickly became familiar with each other.
It turned out the chubby kid was named Guo Ziyi, a prodigy.
Of course, that was his own self-proclaimed, chest-thumping claim. But at sixteen, skipping grades to reach senior year of high school, topping the school in grades—his IQ was definitely not low!
However, Yang Yi felt it was too early to judge whether this guy was a genius or not, but he was absolutely a goofball!
A chubby kid who was a top student found the college entrance exam too unchallenging, changed his goal, and signed up for this month's art exam at Jiangchuan.
"I'm going to be a big star!" Guo Ziyi said childishly.
Yang Yi didn't comment, but he was very curious to know how his parents and teachers would react to this decision—probably furious!
"My parents don't care about me, but my teachers are almost losing their minds!" Guo Ziyi grinned. "But I just won't take the exams for Jingbei or Qingnan, I won't give them that achievement! Jiangchuan is great, lots of pretty girls..."
"..." Yang Yi was speechless.
Only sixteen, and already so restless?
Anyway, this guy was using the excuse of preparing for the exam to wander around campus all day, which was why he ended up on Tingshan early in the morning, chased by a wild boar.
"Coming here out of the blue for an art exam—can you even pass?" Yang Yi expressed doubt.
Guo Ziyi patted his chubby chest indignantly and said, "Brother Yang, how can you doubt me like that? I've been learning vocal music since I was a kid."
Words were empty. Yang Yi took down the guitar the old man had given him from the wall and handed it to Guo Ziyi. "Perform a song you're good at. Let me hear it."
"Wow, Brother Yang, you have such a nice guitar? A Brown B!" Guo Ziyi knew his stuff, exclaiming in surprise as he took it, caressing it with fondness.
Yang Yi didn't explain, just gestured for Guo Ziyi to start his performance.
Once he had the guitar, Guo Ziyi's expression turned serious. He gently plucked the strings, thought for a moment, and said, "Brother Yang, I'll sing you a song I really like, Cao Fang's 'Southern Small Town.'"
(PS: This song exists in reality; let's classify it in this world for now. Interested readers can search for it—a light jazz, slow folk tune, perfect for a lazy afternoon.)
Yang Yi wasn't very familiar with this world's music yet. He'd been busy with the coffee shop renovation lately and hadn't had time to set up a high-end sound system at home. When he got the chance, he planned to thoroughly "savor" this world's musical feast.
The guitar strings were gently plucked, and a very slow, very slow prelude flowed out.
Yang Yi couldn't help closing his eyes. The melody was simple, but it brought a rare peace to the soul. He quickly judged that this song was likely folk music.
The same melody repeated a few times, and then Guo Ziyi began to hum softly.
"Southern small town, no dazzling brilliance..."
Yang Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, glancing at Guo Ziyi with a bit of surprise. The kid hadn't exaggerated; he did have a solid foundation in vocal music. But what surprised Yang Yi more was his voice!
In his past life, Yang Yi felt that every fat person in the music industry was a hidden gem—like Han Hong, Sun Nan, Liu Huan domestically, or Adele abroad. Though they were heavy, they had unique voices that could hit high keys and span many ranges.
Guo Ziyi, this chubby kid, was clearly the same. Although the song he sang wasn't particularly high-pitched, it was a female vocal piece. To sing it at a slightly higher pitch with this rhythm, Yang Yi knew he couldn't do it himself, but Guo Ziyi sang it effortlessly!
"Every time I return here, I feel peace."
"The sun is blazing, people walk slowly..."
True to a sixteen-year-old, his voice was clear, free of impurities, and a boy singing such a beautiful tune.
"Scattered straw hats, the flowers I planted..." Finally, at this line, Guo Ziyi showcased his impressive singing skills.
The word "flowers" transitioned subtly, with several pitch changes, bringing out the lazy vibe perfectly.
"Rock and roll, rock and roll, rock and roll, rock and roll"
"I'm here alone singing this song, people just smile, oh, smile..."
"I'm here alone singing this song, you won't know, oh, know..."
...
Yang Yi truly closed his eyes and listened quietly to the entire song. The song itself was average; its value lay in its purity and simplicity. People who loved slow folk music would enjoy it, but that group would be small, making it hard to gain popularity in the market.
However, Guo Ziyi sang well—both his voice and skill were, in Yang Yi's opinion, far better than some mediocre singers in his past life's music scene.
But as soon as he put down the guitar, the guy's goofy nature resurfaced. He looked at Yang Yi with eager anticipation and asked, "Hehe, Brother Yang, how do you think I did?"
His expression was just like Xixi's when she eagerly sought praise from her dad.
"Yeah, you should have no problem going for music," Yang Yi said flatly.
"Huh?" Guo Ziyi was surprised, scratching his head. "But I'm applying for the acting department!"
"..."
This time, Yang Yi couldn't hold back. He took off his slipper and threw it at him. "You're applying for acting, and you tell me you're learning vocal music?"
Guo Ziyi ducked and ran, covering his head. "The acting exam also requires a specialty! If I just do what I'm good at, where's the fun? Ah, ah, I'm wrong, Brother Yang, stop hitting..."
This goofball—not only was he a goof, but he also had a face as thick as a city wall.
He spent the whole day at Yang Yi's place, got hooked on his cooking after two meals, and shamelessly asked to stay over. "Brother Yang, look at your house—it's so big, so luxurious, and it's empty anyway. How about I cancel my hotel and stay here?"
When Yang Yi shot him a cold glare, he quickly put up his hands in defense, afraid Yang Yi would hit him again.
"Just a few days, I'll leave after the art exam. I still have to go back to school. I'll pay rent, lots of rent," Guo Ziyi said with a flattering smile.
This guy! Yang Yi actually knew that Guo Ziyi's family wasn't ordinary. The clothes he wore and the watch he had were high-end items that ordinary families couldn't afford. And when Guo Ziyi held that guitar, though surprised, he didn't seem overly impressed, meaning he'd used one before, maybe even better ones!
Guo Ziyi wanted to mooch meals, and Yang Yi's instinct was to refuse!
But then he remembered his upcoming renovation work—wasn't he short a helper?
"Staying a few days isn't out of the question," Yang Yi said, looking at Guo Ziyi with a sly glint. "I won't charge you rent, but you have to help me with something..."
Guo Ziyi was overjoyed, patting his chest and agreeing. "No problem, Brother Yang! I, Guo Ziyi, with all my hundred-plus pounds, am at your command!"
Heh, let's see if you're still smiling tomorrow!