Chapter 8: The Murmuring Brook and the Pirate’s Song

This is the unique charm of the small bars in Dali Ancient Town.

Many obscure folk songs, rarely heard elsewhere, often drift unexpectedly from the doorways of these little taverns. Here, you truly hear music that is unlike anything else.

The smoky-eyed female singer tilted her head, bringing her dark lips close to the microphone as she continued to sing, her hands gently strumming the guitar.

Lin Shenlu took a small sip of his beer. This was his first time tasting this craft brew called Smoked Porter. A rich, smoky malt flavor spread across his palate—a heady taste, layered with the purity brought by ample hops, and a crisp, clean finish. Even after swallowing, the aftertaste lingered, fresh yet tinged with smoke. One could not help but say: this beer was impressively complex.

For a stout from Spain, it was a revelation to Lin Shenlu, who was by no means an expert taster.

The smoky-eyed singer finally finished her song.

"Alright, next I’ll sing a new song for everyone here..."

She said “everyone,” but in the current view of the room, Lin Shenlu was the only one present. So her gaze lingered on him with wry amusement.

“Well, thank you for your applause, handsome. Is there anything you’d like to hear?” Beneath the torn fishnets, her glossy black stockings gleamed.

One had to admit, her fashion sense was distinct. Isn’t it said that a little fullness is the pinnacle of feminine beauty...?

Seeing Lin Shenlu’s hesitation, the singer continued, "Or, you could come up and sing yourself."

She smiled as she spoke, her makeup and expression blending into an irresistible allure. Truth be told, since entering, Lin Shenlu hadn’t seen her smile until now. Before, she had always sat by the window or on a barstool, guitar slung across her lap, panda eyes askew, sickle-shaped brows furrowed, eyeing everything with a cool detachment.

Her black jacket, cropped to reveal her navel, added a touch of mystery. Her makeup was bold, almost domineering.

Lin Shenlu smiled. “I don’t sing well. I prefer to listen.” With a wave of his hand, he gestured for her to continue.

Her long, black lashes fluttered as she fixed him with a rebellious look. “Then, what would you like to hear?”

Lin Shenlu glanced around the bar. The atmosphere was nothing like the world outside the window. With such a setting, what kind of song did he want to hear?

Outside, a small stream meandered past a stone bridge, flowers bloomed in clusters, and streets and houses of old wood and stone stood in contrast to the pirate-themed bar within. It was like two different worlds.

A melody began to flow through Lin Shenlu’s mind—one that seemed perfectly matched to the scene.

“There is a song I just thought of, but I don’t know its name...” Lin Shenlu paused, then added, “I can’t remember the lyrics either…”

He thought for a moment. “But I do recall the tune, it goes like this...” He tried to hum the fragment of melody lingering in his memory.

It was... An Muxi’s phone ringtone—a catchy little tune Lin Shenlu had never heard elsewhere. The sound of the guitar and hand drum in his memory blended beautifully. The lyrics, too, had meaning, though he couldn’t recall them.

“La la... la la... la la la... la...” Lin Shenlu did his best to reproduce the tune.

The singer blinked in confusion, trying to strum along with those few “la la la’s,” but nothing came to her fingers. Was this guy just messing with her?

...

“Handsome, can’t you even recall a single lyric? Or at least a few keywords?” she asked, sounding a little defeated. If she’d known he’d make such an odd request, she would have just sung anything.

“Let me think... I remember something about—stop... turn around... kiss my lips...” Lin Shenlu scratched his head, searching his memory.

He’d only heard An Muxi’s ringtone twice, and these were the fragments he could recall.

“Never mind, don’t force it,” he said, a bit embarrassed. “I’ve only heard it twice. Just sing whatever you like.”

By now, the singer was already searching on her tablet. After a few seconds, she looked up at Lin Shenlu with a deep breath.

“I found it, but I’ve only sung this once... and that was a long time ago. I’ll do my best.” She gently set the tablet on the stand in front of her, trapped the guitar strings with a capo, and began to search for the rhythm.

With a slight nod, the familiar yet elusive melody poured softly from her guitar.

Lin Shenlu was genuinely surprised—he never expected he’d get to hear a live version of this addictive song here.

The singer propped one leg up on the chair, making the shimmer of her black stockings all the more striking through the fishnets. Then she began to sing.

“That night...
Stars hung in the sky
We sat together on the soft sand
You wore a dress with flowers
The evening breeze played with your long hair
That was the most beautiful
I’d ever seen you…”

The gentle rhythm, the soft guitar, and the singer’s husky voice blended together. Her head full of dreadlocks swayed with the music, her eyes closed—she wasn’t perfect, but that raspy tone suited the feel of the song. Every word seemed gifted by the red-and-blue pack of Yuxi cigarettes on the chair beside her.

Watching that pack, Lin Shenlu felt the melody in his mind merging perfectly with the song in this moment.

A hand drum would fit right here, wouldn’t it?

Lin Shenlu set down his beer, picked up the hand drum beside him, and tapped along with the rhythm.

“You cracked open a can of beer...
Gazed at the night sky
I saw your eyes overflowing with stars
And in mine, only the soft outline of you
Sitting by the sea with you
You were gentler than the ocean...”

...

Suddenly, Lin Shenlu sensed the familiar refrain nearing.

“I want to hold your hand...
Take off my shoes
Run along this empty shoreline
We run and run, escape and escape
The waves drench our feet
You stop
Turn around
Gently kiss my lips
Then we disappear together into the night…”

Yes, yes, this was the song. Lin Shenlu’s spirits lifted. The lyrics, the melody, the tune—they all matched.

Now, the song was complete, clear, and echoing in his mind.

What was its name?

At this point, Lin Shenlu stopped playing the drum, simply listening for the final lines.

“That night
Stars hung in the sky
I cracked open a can of beer
Gazed at the night sky
The wind snuffed out the cigarette
I lowered my head
And realized it was all
Nothing but a dream...”

Was it called “Nothing but a Dream”?