Zhou Ji asked, “Which of your songs did he write?”

“None.” Shen Linlin shrugged. “He completely ignored me, didn't even bother to refuse. Back then, I was so angry I vented to my manager about him. He’d just won an award. What was with the big-shot attitude?”

Shen Linlin continued, putting her fists together in a gesture of concession. “But now, I’m convinced. Turns out this is just his personality. And you know what? After looking at it for a while, that arrogant face of his is actually quite pleasant to look at.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

Someone asked, “Sister Linlin, now that you’re on the same show, have you asked him why he ignored you back then?”

“No, I bet he’s long forgotten about it, so I’m not going to go and humiliate myself.” Shen Linlin hugged her arms and pretended to shiver. “Besides, his aura is too intense. I don’t dare.”

Her words immediately drew agreement from the others.

“Even a senior like you doesn't dare, Sister Lin!”

Shen Linlin shook her head. “Seeing him this time, I’m even more scared. I just get the feeling he’s in a really bad mood.”

Lin Qingye didn't choose one of his own original songs today, but a cover.

The Black Locust Band's style had previously leaned toward rock, and Lin Qingye could easily electrify the entire studio, singing while playing the drums.

The stage was dim. A single beam of white light shone down from above, enveloping him.

His gaze was lowered. He had broken out in a sweat from drumming, his short black hair damp. A bead of sweat slid down the contours of his face, dripping from his sharp chin onto the drumhead and splashing with the impact of a strike.

Dry ice filled the stage with a hazy mist.

Viewed from the audience, the scene was as beautiful as something out of a hot-blooded shonen manga.

Except the young man’s expression was cold. His usual casual nonchalance was concealed, allowing a deeper, hidden coldness and detachment to show through.

But it didn’t stop the audience below from desperately suppressing their urge to scream.

As the song ended, everyone in the audience stood up and applauded, and the entire studio erupted.

Lin Qingye walked offstage from the side, running into Zhou Ji who was coming to wait for his turn.

Zhou Ji walked up with a smile, greeted him, and patted him on the back. “Amazing, amazing. You might just win again.”

He happened to touch the spot where Lin Qingye had his tattoo. It was hot under the stage lights, and he was sweating. Soaked by the sweat, the area flared with a sharp pain, and he hissed.

Zhou Ji was taken aback. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Inside the studio, the host had already begun the next introduction, so Zhou Ji didn't have time to ask more questions and could only hurry on.

The recording session lasted a total of five hours. By the time it ended, the sky was completely dark.

Every singer selected for the show was a powerhouse, so for the audience, the five hours were not a trial but a genuine auditory feast.

Lin Qingye had sweated during his earlier performance, and although it had dried by now, the tattoo on his back still ached in waves.

Zhou Ji walked out with him. “How are you getting back?”

“I drove,” Lin Qingye said.

“So jealous, man. I still have to take the subway back to my hotel on Qingfeng Road.”

“I'll give you a ride.”

Zhou Ji was caught completely off guard by this sudden kindness from Lin Qingye. He stared, stunned. “You’re giving me a ride!?”

The moment the words left his mouth, he realized his reaction was a bit over the top. Fortunately, Lin Qingye just gave him a faint glance and added, “It’s on the way.”

As soon as he got in the car, Zhou Ji noticed something was wrong with Lin Qingye’s expression. “What’s the matter?”

Lin Qingye winced as the movement pulled at his back. He frowned and swore. “It might be infected.”

“Where?”

“My back.”

“How could it get infected there?”

“Got a tattoo a while ago.”

Zhou Ji paused, then asked, “How many days has it been hurting?”

Lin Qingye said casually, “Two or three days, I guess.”

Zhou Ji frowned. “Then it’s likely infected. How about this, on the way to Qingfeng Road from here, we pass by a friend’s tattoo shop. I’ll have him take a look for you.”

“It’s fine, I’ll just take some anti-inflammatory pills.”

“That won’t do. You really should get it checked. A tattoo artist will know best. Besides, if it doesn’t heal properly, the color and design of the tattoo will be ruined.”

Only then did Lin Qingye agree.

The tattoo shop Zhou Ji mentioned was very large. Lin Qingye didn’t know much about tattoo shops, but judging by the storefront, it was probably the biggest one in Yan City.

There were several artists inside, some full-time and some resident, and each had their own independent clientele.

Zhou Ji pushed the door open and asked, “Is Lu Xihe here?”

One of the artists shouted toward the back room, “Boss! Someone’s looking for you!”

A burly man walked out, wearing a black tank top and sporting large full sleeves on both arms. Seeing Zhou Ji, he said, “Yo, what brings you to Yan City?”

“I’m here for a show. Not here to get a tattoo from you today.” Zhou Ji pointed to Lin Qingye beside him. “This is my friend. He got a tattoo a while ago, and it seems to be infected now.”

“Infected? Where’d he get it done? Was the artist’s technique inexperienced, causing severe skin damage?”

Lu Xihe put on a pair of sterilized gloves and examined the tattoo on Lin Qingye’s back, joking with a smile, “Oh, is that a person’s name?”

Hearing this, Zhou Ji quickly craned his neck to get a look.

On his back, in a clean, sharp, black cursive script, were the words—Ah Nan.

He was shocked!

Zhou Ji stared at his back for a moment, then looked at Lin Qingye’s face, then back at his back again. He looked back and forth several times, still in disbelief.

Was this motherfucker actually a romantic???

“Brother Ye, is that a girl’s name?” Zhou Ji asked.

“Mhm.”

“Girlfriend?” Zhou Ji took a deep breath and asked familiarly, “How come you’ve never brought her around to introduce her?”

Lin Qingye glanced at him. “She’s too beautiful.”

The moment the words were out, Zhou Ji couldn't help but let out a laugh. But when he looked again at Lin Qingye’s expression, it didn't seem like a joke. He was serious—he thought she was too beautiful and thus didn’t want to show her to everyone.

Zhou Ji: “...”

He was convinced now. Lin Qingye, who always wore a cold expression in public, was truly a devoted romantic.

After checking his back, Lu Xihe said, “Judging by the technique, the artist must be very skilled. The infection is likely because you didn't take good care of it during the healing process. Luckily, it’s not a large tattoo, and since it's solid black, the color won't be affected much. It would be more troublesome if it were something like a totem.”

Lu Xihe took a tube of ointment from a nearby cabinet. “This medicine, apply it every day after you shower.”

“Okay.”

Lin Qingye glanced at the price, then took out his phone to scan the code and pay.

Lu Xihe replied to a client’s message, then laughed again and said idly, “Speaking of the name Ah Nan, I seem to have some fate with it. This afternoon, I went to deal with some stuff for a damn competition and ran into a little kid named Ah Nan, and tonight, I run into you.”

Lin Qingye’s fingertips paused, and he lifted his gaze.

He then heard Lu Xihe continue, “The Ah Nan I met this afternoon even said she was a tattoo artist. Her boyfriend drove her to submit some documents. I doubt she’s even 18 yet.”

Zhou Ji picked up the thread of conversation. “What competition?”

Lin Qingye didn't pay attention to what the two of them discussed afterward. He only caught three specific words.

His expression gradually darkened.

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Lin Qingye: She fucking has a boyfriend???