Chapter 131: This Song Has a Great Vibe!

Under the gaze of the masses, Chen Fang lowered his eyes to the guitar in his arms, his demeanor exceptionally relaxed.

He had sung this song, "Big City, Small Love," countless times. Back on Earth, almost every female celebrity who had shared his bed had heard him sing it. It was, without a doubt, the song he performed with the most practiced ease.

However, he had never sung it for Ji Mei. After all, this was a song specifically curated for charming women; in Chen Fang's mind, it felt a bit too cheap to be worthy of her. But for a competition, it was just right.

The simple, light guitar intro began to play. In an instant, the audience ceased their questioning and chatter. From the opening melody, it was clear that this was a sweet love song with a brisk rhythm and an uplifting mood.

At her villa in Kyoto, Ji Mei sat cross-legged on the sofa, dressed in a loose bathrobe. Her beautiful eyes were filled with infatuation, yet touched with a hint of resentment. "He wrote a love song, but he never sang it to me!"

Yet, the resentment vanished as quickly as it had appeared. After all, Chen Fang had written a song specifically for her—the piece titled "Special Person." Ji Mei had originally expected him to release it on major streaming platforms, but he hadn't. He had told her that "Special Person" was meant only for her ears, that it belonged solely to her, and thus there was no need to put it online.

Ji Mei had secretly recorded him singing it. To this day, she still frequently pulled out her phone to listen to it on repeat.

"Go, darling!" she whispered, her face glowing with confidence, as if she were the one standing on that stage. Even though the music scene in China was oversaturated with love songs, Ji Mei believed that the ones Chen Fang created were simply different from all the rest.

Elsewhere, in a larger villa, An Tinghan was also watching the program. Seeing Chen Fang sitting on stage in casual clothes, holding his guitar, her eyes were filled with adoration. In just their seven-day trip to the island, she had fallen for him. Hearing him sing a romantic love song, she subconsciously imagined herself as the subject of his lyrics.

Tong Qin felt a sense of frustration. *You silly girl! This song is definitely not for you.*

Tong Qin had done some light digging into Chen Fang's recent social life and discovered that he had been seeing a woman named Ji Mei quite frequently, even staying overnight at her villa on multiple occasions. There was no such thing as a "pure" friendship between a man and a woman—especially when one was sleeping over at the other's home. If someone claimed nothing had happened, Tong Qin certainly wouldn't buy it.

Without a doubt, this Ji Mei was Chen Fang's lover. Of course, Tong Qin hadn't shared any of this with An Tinghan. She hadn't figured out the best way to break the news, but she knew it had to be done soon. She needed to pull An Tinghan out before she sank any deeper into this cruel reality.

Tong Qin felt a lingering confusion. Honestly, Chen Fang’s habit of staying at Ji Mei’s place wasn't exactly a secret; he hadn't made any effort to hide it from the paparazzi. Why, then, had the usually vultures-like gossip columns failed to dig up any scandals? Why had the clickbait media outlets, who thrived on taking things out of context, not published a single article about it?

Was someone helping him suppress the news? She couldn't figure it out, so she pushed the thought aside and focused back on the television.

Chen Fang had begun to sing. The light, gentle lyrics flowed out like a cool breeze in midsummer, bringing a sense of comfort to the heart.

*Dark hair ends coiled in a ring,*
*Entwining all the longing I hold for you.*
*Behind the translucent curtain,*
*The words I speak are devoid of any deceit.*

The smile on Chen Fang's lips was the perfect interpretation. The theme of a romantic love song was simple: sweetness. The sweeter, the better. After all, life was already bitter enough; music shouldn't add to the burden.

The simple guitar melody might have seemed monotonous, but it perfectly captured the song's essence: the small, unexpected surprises in an ordinary life, like styling a loved one's hair or whispering intimate endearments into their ear. The nature of life is plain, yet not ordinary, and love is much the same. Compared to those soul-tearing, cathartic ballads, this tone—a blend of simple melody and satisfied joy—resonated more deeply with the masses.

Many couldn't help but think of their first love. It seemed everyone held onto the memory of their first love, and it was the first thing they thought of whenever they heard a love song. The feeling of nostalgia was truly beautiful. Gradually, the faces of the audience mirrored the smile on Chen Fang's face.

The joy in the music washed away the body's fatigue, allowing the listeners to become completely immersed, with no need to think of anything else.

*My mind is full of you, my heart is full of you,*
*A small love in a big city, so sweet.*
*I am thinking only of you, all of you,*
*A small love in a big city, my heart is yours alone.*

The chorus remained light and brisk. However, Chen Fang added a rhythmic tap to his guitar playing. Beneath his chair, he tapped his left foot against the floor. Though the sound wasn't loud, the sensitivity of the microphone picked up a faint *tap-tap* sound, providing a percussive accompaniment to his voice.

The lyrics of the chorus were even more direct. *No more pretense! I want to be so sweet it’s almost cloying.*

To be honest, if one looked at the lyrics alone, they were plain, lacking any literary depth. Compared to the songs Chen Fang had previously created—like "Blue and White Porcelain," "East Wind Breaks," or "As You Wish"—"Big City, Small Love" felt entirely superficial, devoid of hidden meaning.

Yet, for some reason, the audience couldn't help but hum along. Chen Fang had sung this song so many times that he understood its meaning and emotion perfectly. In truth, all love songs are the same at their core.

Is it pleasant to the ear? Are the lyrics flowery? Is the arrangement elaborate? None of that matters! The heart of a love song is not the words or the music itself, but the emotion conveyed by the singer—the ability to transport you, in an instant, back to a specific scene, a specific time, and a specific person. If you are a person who has lived for decades without ever having been in love, then no matter how beautifully Chen Fang sings, it is unlikely to move you.

For the audience, the blade that cuts deep into their joy and sorrow is their own memory. Memory is the true blade. For a love song, the lyrics can be straightforward—they could even be nothing but humming. But a high-quality love song must achieve one thing: even if it is just a simple hum, it should be able to make you recall the bitterness, the sweetness, the haze, and the dreams of a specific period of your life.

That was the other reason Chen Fang chose to sing "Big City, Small Love." This song truly had that feeling.