At ten o'clock the next morning, Lin Shiya sent over a location pin.

Tianfang.

By the time Lu Zhixian arrived, Lin Shiya was already standing at the entrance of the alley.

She was wearing the same gear as yesterday—a bucket hat and a mask—but she had swapped her gray sweatshirt for a light blue thin jacket.

"You arrived quite early."

"Didn't you say no being late?"

Lin Shiya didn't respond; she just turned and walked into the alley.

Lu Zhixian had heard of Tianfang before. It was a creative district converted from old lane houses, with narrow alleys packed with small shops selling handicrafts, coffee, and all sorts of quirky trinkets.

There weren't many people out in the morning, so the two of them strolled slowly down the alley.

Lin Shiya was more familiar with the area than he was, occasionally pointing out a shop and saying a few words.

"The handmade cookies here are pretty good."

"That shop's cat is often lying on the counter."

"There's an art exhibition at the end of this alley. I'm not sure if it's still there."

Lu Zhixian followed her, stopping and starting as they went.

The two of them sat in a café for half an hour before wandering through an even quieter alley. At noon, Lu Zhixian found a noodle shop by the road, and they each had a bowl of scallion oil noodles.

Lin Shiya still ate slowly, one mouthful at a time, but the bottom of her bowl was clean.

After they finished eating, they wandered for another half hour until they reached an old building with a rooftop. Lin Shiya led him up.

The rooftop wasn't large, surrounded by uneven rooftops and clotheslines, with distant skyscrapers on the edge of their vision.

Lu Zhixian leaned against the railing and took a few photos with his phone.

After finishing, he glanced back at Lin Shiya.

"Want me to take one for you? I'm a better photographer than you."

"Don't I know the level of your photography skills?"

"Believe it or not, I can take a photo of you that's good enough to post on Weibo."

Lin Shiya hesitated for a moment, then took off her mask and leaned sideways against the railing.

She didn't strike any particular pose, just stood there as the wind blew her hair to one side.

Lu Zhixian raised his phone and adjusted the angle.

Click.

He glanced at the resulting photo.

The backlighting hit the edges of her hair, and the light and shadow on her face perfectly highlighted her beauty mark against the backdrop of the staggered rooftops.

Not bad.

He handed the phone over.

Lin Shiya looked at the photo and said nothing.

But she transferred the photo to her own phone.

After coming down from the rooftop, they walked a bit further and passed a record store.

Lu Zhixian went in and flipped through the racks; Lin Shiya's lunar eclipse was placed in the most prominent spot.

He picked one up, looked at it, and then put it back.

"Not buying one?" Lin Shiya stood behind him.

"I have it on my phone."

"The feel of a physical copy is different."

"If you sign it, I'll buy it."

"Go queue up for a fan signing yourself."

Lu Zhixian chuckled and ended up buying one anyway. He didn't ask for her signature.

At around three in the afternoon, the two of them walked to a riverbank.

Lu Zhixian glanced at the time. He had booked a high-speed rail ticket for 5:30, so it was about time to leave.

"I should head back."

Lin Shiya nodded.

"Thanks for today, for showing me around so many places."

"You're welcome. Consider it returning the favor for yesterday's fan signing."

"So we're even?"

"Pretty much."

Lu Zhixian hailed a car. Before opening the door, he looked back at her.

"Safe travels on your way back."

Lin Shiya stood by the roadside with her hands in her jacket pockets.

"You too."

Lu Zhixian got into the car. After driving a few dozen meters, he looked back through the rearview mirror; Lin Shiya was still standing there, the brim of her bucket hat fluttering in the wind.

He looked away and told the driver the direction of the high-speed rail station.

On the high-speed rail, Lu Zhixian leaned back in his seat with his headphones on.

His phone was full of messages from Old Zhao.

The live video of the fan signing had been edited, and Shengyue Culture released it this afternoon; it was trending again.

#Lu Zhixian and Lin Shiya Fan Signing Duet#

#the rose in the palm Live Version#

#Three Thousand People Listened in Silence#

Lu Zhixian skimmed through them and scrolled past.

Old Zhao was still nagging: "Several variety show production teams have contacted me, wanting to invite you on their shows. See if there's anything you're interested in."

"No rush. I have other things to do when I get back."

"What things?"

"Making a new song."

Old Zhao didn't press further. During the time he had been working with Lu Zhixian, he had already figured out a pattern.

When this guy said he was going to make a new song, he really meant it, and usually, what he produced would shock everyone.

It was nearly nine in the evening when the high-speed rail arrived at the station.

Lu Zhixian took a taxi home, opened the door, tossed his bag in the entryway, and collapsed onto the sofa.

The TV remote was under his butt; he fished it out and pressed a button at random.

The screen flickered to life, showing a news channel.

"This afternoon, a school bullying incident occurred in a certain location. A junior high student was cornered by several classmates on their way home from school."

The screen cut to a piece of blurry surveillance footage.

"According to the preliminary investigation by the local education department..."

Lu Zhixian didn't change the channel, staring at the screen for a while.

In the footage, a pixelated teenager was curled up in a corner, with the figures of several others moving around him.

The surveillance had no sound, but the images themselves were uncomfortable enough to watch.

The news continued.

"Several recent school-related incidents have sparked social concern. Some education experts pointed out that adolescent mental health issues..."

It was another interview; a middle-aged man with glasses was saying things on camera that were correct but powerless.

Lu Zhixian picked up the remote and changed the channel.

Another channel was broadcasting similar content. The angle was different, but the core was the same: the world of minors is not as simple as adults imagine.

He turned off the TV.

The room fell silent.

Lu Zhixian leaned back on the sofa, hands clasped behind his head, staring blankly at the ceiling for two minutes.

Then he closed his eyes, and his consciousness sank into the system space.

The mall interface unfolded before his eyes.

He didn't browse the popular recommendations, instead typing a name directly into the search bar.

"fragrance of rice."

When the search results popped up, Lu Zhixian's gaze lingered on the description for two seconds.

"Genre: Healing Pop. Lyrics and Music Style: Warm and bright, rural pastoral imagery. Core Expression: Returning to the original beauty."

The price wasn't low.

He glanced at his remaining popularity points balance.

Enough.

"Confirm exchange."

The system notification sounded.

A complete melody flooded into his mind.

The lyrics, the arrangement, the position of every note—everything was etched clearly into his consciousness, as familiar as if he had written it a hundred times himself.

Lu Zhixian opened his eyes, unconsciously humming the melody of the intro.

He sat up straight on the sofa, took out his phone, opened the notes app, and quickly jotted down the framework of the arrangement in his mind.

Lu Zhixian scrolled through his contacts and found a name.

Zhou Yang.

The phone was picked up after three rings.

"Old Lu?" Zhou Yang's voice carried a hint of surprise.

"Busy?"

"Just finished rehearsal and getting ready to head back. What's up?"

"I have a new song and want to do a live recording. Call up all your brothers."

Silence on the other end for a second.

"What style?"

"Lighthearted, with a bit of a pastoral feel. I'll need guitar, bass, drums, and ideally a harmonica."

"Harmonica?" Zhou Yang's tone showed interest.

"Yes, harmonica."

"I know a harmonica player; we collaborated at a live house before. He's quite good."

"Then him it is. Ask him if he's free."

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

Zhou Yang chuckled on the other end. "Old Lu, it's always 'tomorrow' with you."

"Is it very urgent?"

"No, I just think your pace is quite exhilarating. Alright, I'll get in touch tonight and give you an answer tomorrow."

"Thanks for the hard work."

"Don't mention it. Recording a song with you gives me bragging rights. Do you know how many people have been looking for me since the last concert? They're all asking about you."

"Asking what about me?"

"Asking if you're still looking for musicians."

Lu Zhixian smiled. "I'm not. Having you guys is enough."

After hanging up, he sent another message to Old Zhao.

"Help me book a recording studio, starting the day after tomorrow."

Old Zhao replied instantly: "Another new song?"

"Yeah."

"What kind?"

"A warm one."

Old Zhao didn't ask further and immediately started handling the studio booking for him.

Lu Zhixian put down his phone.

He walked to the window and pushed it open.

The night wind poured in, carrying the dryness unique to northern cities.

It was completely different from the humid feeling of Magic City.

The distant streetlights stretched out in a long string of warm yellow dots.

He hummed the melody once more.

"If you have too many complaints about this world..."

His voice was very soft, blending into the sound of the wind.

The phone rang.

Zhou Yang sent a message: "Brother Xian, it's all set. I'll do the guitar, I found Old Fang for the bass, A-Jian is on drums, and the harmonica guy is free too. Head over to your place tomorrow afternoon?"

Lu Zhixian replied with three words: "No problem."

Zhou Yang sent another: "Can I ask what this song is like? Just to get an idea beforehand so I'm not going in blind."

Lu Zhixian thought for a moment and typed out a line.

"It's the kind of song that, after you hear it, makes you want to call your family."

It took a while for Zhou Yang to reply.

"Got it, I think I understand."

Lu Zhixian closed the window and walked to the bedroom.

Passing the desk, he caught sight of the physical copy of lunar eclipse sitting on it.

He had bought it in Tianfang that afternoon and had kept it stuffed in his bag until now.

He stood the album up on the desk, and his phone chimed again.

Lin Shiya: "Home yet?"

"I'm home."

"Got a direction for the new song?"

"I do."

"What kind of song?"

Lu Zhixian thought for a moment.

"You'll know when you hear it."

Lin Shiya sent a "?" emoji but didn't press further.

Lu Zhixian put his phone on the nightstand to charge and lay down.

Before closing his eyes, he went over tomorrow's schedule in his head.

Musicians ready, studio ready, and the song is in my head.

Just one thing left.

To sing this song in its entirety.

He rolled over, the news footage flashing through his mind again—the pixelated boy curled up in the corner.

There are too many voices in this world crying out in pain, but most people just sigh in front of their screens and then swipe away.

He couldn't do much.

But at least he could sing a song.