After feeding the baby, Zhang Yichen finally settled down to play the role of a proper audience member.
And what's a good audience without snacks?
He reached under the stroller, pulled out a few packets of chips and candy, and handed them to Chen Xiaoxi and Li Yue.
"I almost forgot you even bought these."
Xiaoxi accepted the snacks with a shy smile, feeling a little childish.
Li Yue raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in her eyes. "No wonder Xiaoxi keeps saying you're so thoughtful."
"Isn't this just basic procedure?" Yichen replied casually, tearing open a bag of chips.
The lights on stage shifted. A new performer stepped into the spotlight.
Yichen leaned back in his seat, crunching on chips as his eyes swept lazily across the stage.
It was a girl in a flowing white dress, holding a guitar. She began to play and sing softly. Judging by the audience's reaction, she was doing quite well.
Even Yichen gave her a second glance. "Hmm. Not bad. Try to sign her to our label."
He spoke quietly to Yue, his tone more analytical than impressed.
Xiaoxi glanced from the stage to Yichen, lips curling into a smile. "Are you always this harsh on people?"
"Harsh? I'm just being honest." Yichen raised a brow and handed her a chip. "Facts don't care about feelings."
"I think she sings beautifully," Xiaoxi said softly, taking a small bite. "Her voice is clear, with a hint of sweetness."
"Lacks emotion," Yichen replied flatly. "Singing isn't just about having a good voice. You need skill—and soul. Without that, you won't last in this industry."
Yue snorted. "Listen to you, talking like some music god already."
"I'm not a god," he said with a shrug, eyes still fixed on the stage. "Just a listener with standards."
Xiaoxi chuckled, patting his shoulder. "You really are too picky."
Yichen turned his head toward her, his lips curving with quiet mischief. "Can't help it. Once you've seen a diamond, everything else looks like gravel."
Her cheeks flushed pink. She ducked her head, pretending to focus on her snack. "You and your smooth tongue…"
Even though she didn't fully understand the idiom, she knew exactly what he meant—he was calling her the diamond.
Yue caught on too and rolled her eyes. "Where do you even come up with lines like that?"
"I write songs," he said lightly. "Words just flow naturally." His gaze softened as it lingered on Xiaoxi.
"Right, right. Mr. Lyric Genius," Yue sighed. "With that mouth, why not join a debate team?"
Yichen chuckled, leaning closer to Xiaoxi. "And bully poor amateurs? I'd rather spend my time with my wife."
Her blush deepened. "Stop joking around. Just watch the show."
But he wasn't done yet. He leaned even closer, his voice brushing against her ear. "I'm serious, you know. You never believe me."
The warmth of his breath made her heart skip. She instinctively tightened her fingers. "Okay, okay, I believe you. Now sit up before someone sees!"
Yichen leaned back with a grin, looking smugly satisfied—like he'd just won a battle no one else knew existed.
Yue let out a long sigh. "Can you two not flirt for five minutes? This is a school event, not your living room."
Yichen shrugged. "Everyone's watching the stage. Who's looking at us?"
Xiaoxi kept her head down, trying to hide her blush. A quick glance around confirmed no one had noticed them, and she finally relaxed.
The ceremony was about a third through. The stage lights shifted again—back to another singing act.
This time, a short guy with a flashy hairstyle and an energetic grin took the stage.
He jumped around as he sang, his performance ending to sparse but polite applause. After bowing, he stepped down.
His voice and stage energy reminded Yichen of an Earth rock band frontman.
"How was that one?" he asked Xiaoxi.
She thought for a moment. "Pretty good. His voice is clean, and his technique solid."
"Hmm." Yichen nodded, then looked at Yue. "You heard the boss lady. Get him signed."
Yue groaned dramatically. "Boss, are we watching a ceremony or recruiting on the spot?"
Yichen smirked. "Am I interrupting your entertainment?"
"No."
"Stopping your work?"
"…No."
"Then you have any complaints?"
"…None at all, boss."
"Good. Enjoy the show."
The next performer started singing, but the moment Yichen heard the first verse, his interest died.
He turned away and started teasing the baby instead.
"You're not listening anymore?" Yue asked.
"She's got decent technique," he said, waving a hand dismissively, "but zero potential."
"What? Come on, she sings really well!" Yue protested. "The last girl just had a nice voice and you wanted to sign her!"
Yichen looked unimpressed. "A good voice is a gift. Technique and emotion can be trained. But if all you've got is technique? You're just a machine."
Yue stared at him. "Your standards are way too high."
"It's not me being picky," Yichen said, gently tickling the baby's cheek. "It's the industry being cruel. Not everyone's built to shine."
She crossed her arms. "Oh really? And you plan to become Music King in six months? That doesn't sound cruel to you."
Yichen froze. Touché.
He couldn't argue with that—and he knew better than to sound arrogant by comparing himself.
Luckily, Xiaoxi stepped in with a small smile. "Yue, let it go. He's right. Not everyone makes it. This industry's brutal."
She spoke from experience.
After years in the music scene, she'd met countless people with better voices and sharper skills. But most of them had faded into the crowd.
Because in the end, it wasn't just about talent or looks.
It was about soul.
And that, she had in abundance.