Chapter 116: “Southern Girl” (Please Vote for Me This Month)

"Southern Girl..."

When Li He spoke the name of the song, everyone was stunned for a moment.

In the small courtyard, the aroma of braised sea bass drifted about. The chirping of crickets in the grass gradually faded, as if everything here knew Li He was about to sing and was clearing the stage for him.

Xie Shun's expression shifted. "Southern Girl... did you really just write this?" He was skeptical, yet a part of him wanted to believe it. Flashes of inspiration—a beautiful melody or a poignant lyric appearing out of thin air—were not uncommon among songwriters. His own signature song, *Cicada*, had been born exactly that way.

Teacher He’s thoughts remained simple and straightforward: "Another new song to listen to." Just like last time, if it sounded good, that was all that mattered.

A new song...

He Luo, who was busy picking vegetables, kept his head down. Old Li writing another new song was just normal. There was nothing to be surprised about. From the first song, *Drowning Sorrows*, to the second, *Bubbles*, He Luo had grown accustomed to his best friend's high efficiency and rapid speed. Old Li was the fastest man—at least when it came to writing songs.

"Southern Girl..."

The person most shocked by the title was Xiang Li, who still hadn't quite grasped what was happening. Why had he started singing out of the blue? And if he was going to sing, why did it have to be an original? She didn't go as far as imagining some melodramatic forty-five-episode TV plot based on the title; she was simply stunned by how impulsive Jiabei was. He started singing the moment he felt like it, without any buildup or foreplay, diving straight into the climax of the narrative.

Xie Shun’s face, glistening with sweat from the heat of the stove, betrayed no emotion. He walked around the stove and approached Li He. "Jiabei, do you need to write down the lyrics and music before you sing?" He looked at Li He, his concern unhidden. The lesson from the first episode’s *Road of the Ordinary* was still fresh in his mind. At that moment, he felt as if he were seeing himself from last week.

"Don't worry, I've got this." Li He spoke, his voice filled with deep confidence.

*You've got this, but I sure as hell don't...* Xie Shun unconsciously gripped his spatula tighter.

"Teacher Jiabei, using the memo on your phone is also fine, it's very convenient," Jiang You couldn't help but chime in. Although he trusted his idol, what if...? He could chase his idol and worship him, but he didn't want to experience the torture of a "severed" version again. Notably, besides Xie Shun, Yang Shu, and Zhang Yang, no one else had seen the full manuscript for *Road of the Ordinary*. This meant Jiang You was still being tortured by the incomplete version. It was inhumane; it was cruel.

"Believe me, it's really no problem." Li He touched a guitar string with his right hand and smiled confidently again. At that moment, he seemed to radiate light—a light of absolute assurance.

Xiang Li nudged He Luo, who was still picking vegetables. "Are all songwriters this... spontaneous?"

"I don't know," He Luo replied. "I'm a singer, not a songwriter."

*That makes way too much sense...* Xiang Li fell silent.

By now, Li He had finished tuning his guitar. All around, the eyes of the production crew and countless cameras were fixed on him, as if he were the main guest of the Mushroom House.

"Teacher Jiabei is about to sing a new song; keep the cameras on him."
"Watch the expressions and actions of the other guests; make sure to capture them."
"Pay attention, pay attention."
"Recording a lifestyle show, and it’s turning into a music program."
"I’m one of the first listeners of Teacher Jiabei’s new song; the perks of recording this show..."
"My kid has been pestering me for Teacher Jiabei’s autograph!"
"I like Teacher Jiabei’s singing, too; it’s very comfortable and relaxed."
"Are you sure you felt 'comfortable' after listening to *Road of the Ordinary*?"

The whispering among the crew ceased entirely after Director Wu Guang shot them a stern glare. The courtyard returned to silence.

Li He’s slender fingers plucked the guitar strings. Master composer Xie Shun’s eyes lit up. *The prelude sounds good. No deliberate showing off, just the purest emotional foundation. Another high-quality song...* Xie Shun evaluated silently. He Luo and Jiang You shared the same sentiment. As for Teacher He, who had no expertise in composition, his thoughts remained simple: *It sounds good.* But this time, he wasn't alone; he had a teammate. Xiang Li, the girl from Fujian, agreed: *It sounds good.* Most of the crew felt the same.

Experts look for the technique, laymen look for the excitement. Needless to say, the mood had been set. The song was titled *Southern Girl*, and the guitar strings were filled with a melodious, winding grace. After twenty-three seconds of guitar solo, Li He finally began to sing under everyone’s gaze.

*"In a village in the north,*
*Lives a girl from the south.*
*She always likes,*
*To stand by the road in her floral dress..."*

The melodious singing lingered in the courtyard, refusing to fade.

This song was highly renowned in the folk music scene and was widely sung. There was no need to question Zhao Lei’s creative talent. Some might prefer his *Chengdu*, but one had to admit that *Southern Girl* was undoubtedly one of his masterpieces. The camera crew, all experienced professionals, captured the expressions of the guests the moment Li He began to sing.

When the first line came out, Xie Shun nodded in satisfaction. "The lyrics are well-written." He made a serious evaluation and continued to listen intently. Honestly, every song Jiabei had written so far had excellent lyrics, without exception. The look he gave Li He was filled with undisguised appreciation and gratification. This look was naturally caught by the cameras.

As for the little fanboy Jiang You, he had already moved his stool to sit as close to his idol as possible.

The moment the guitar strings rang out, He Luo had tossed the vegetables in his hand into the basin. Between his best friend and the vegetables, the choice was obvious. *Old Li’s songs are just amazing!* He Luo thought. He couldn't help but look at the only "Southern girl" present. He turned his head toward Xiang Li, wanting to see if this girl in the song was as described. To his surprise, he found her completely dazed. To be precise, she was mesmerized; she was utterly focused. Her eyes were locked onto Li He—one could say the boy playing the guitar was all she could see.

*Is the impact of this song on Xiang Li really that strong?* He Luo was startled. He forgot that back in that classroom, when he first heard *Drowning Sorrows*, he had been exactly like Xiang Li.

Xiang Li was indeed dazed, deeply attracted by the girl described in the lyrics.

Teacher He sat with his hands clasped over his knees, listening intently to the ballad drifting through the courtyard. The words "sounds good" were practically written on his face. Xie Shun’s constant nodding, Jiang You’s worshipful gaze, and He Luo’s "I-knew-it" expression—with three people from the music industry confirming it, Director Wu Guang was certain that the quality of this song was once again top-tier. Just how high, he didn't know, but he knew it was definitely high.

Having tasted the success of *Road of the Ordinary* in the first episode, Wu Guang was full of anticipation for *Southern Girl*. And Jiabei did not disappoint him. It was another hit. The highlight of the second episode had arrived. Wu Guang suddenly realized that Jiabei, as the planner, was more like a guest than the guests themselves. Or rather, he knew how to play the game better; he understood what the audience wanted to see. He understood the audience. And his methods of satisfying them were things others couldn't replicate or imitate.

Just kidding. Writing a high-quality new song every episode—who in the entertainment industry could do that? No one. Even the master songwriters had to work in pairs to complete a song. But for Jiabei, one person was enough.

In fact, what surprised everyone most was Li He’s vocal ability. Even though *Road of the Ordinary* had broken the ice in the first episode, a songwriter singing so well still felt astonishing and incredible. Jiabei’s singing wasn't just about technique; there was emotion in his voice. In a sense, folk music was more likely to resonate with people. And to resonate with the audience, the one thing that was essential and crucial in a voice was emotion. Jiabei met this requirement perfectly.

His singing was exceptional. His voice, which pierced the heart, felt like guitar strings vibrating against the soul. One gentle pluck was enough.

Li He considered himself very capable of singing this type of song, especially with the "Pu Shu Vocal Capsule" enhancement. It allowed him to express emotions and control the mood with ease. He didn't need to deliberately control or regulate it. Once the melody and lyrics were there, the emotion came naturally. This was the most natural and infectious way to perform.

*"She doesn't say much,*
*But her smile is so calm and melodious.*
*What is hidden in her delicate eyes?*
*It is the sorrow of longing..."*

When these two lines came out, He Luo shivered. A southern girl in a northern village, her longing eyes gazing into the distance—that was her hometown... He Luo seemed to see that girl, standing by the road, wearing a floral dress, on tiptoes, her gaze never leaving the south. For some reason, Xiang Li’s face superimposed itself onto the girl in the song. Perhaps it was because she was the only Southern girl he knew.

Jiang You’s eyes were filled with star-struck adoration. In his view, these few lines had distilled the essence of the song, and the emotions flowing from them were of a high caliber. An idol would always be an idol.

Xie Shun had been waiting from the very beginning—waiting for the essence of the lyrics, for the dazzling parts. Although he knew this song must have them, he was still waiting. And now, he had undoubtedly waited for it.

Teacher He had unclasped his hands from his knees, and Wu Guang was no longer signaling the camera crew to reposition. No one could stay calm; no one could keep a straight face. Even Xie Shun, the master composer who had cultivated kings and queens of song, had his emotions swayed by the melodious tune.

Southern girl. A southern girl living in a northern town.

Li He held the guitar in his arms; the stars in the night sky began to twinkle, and a cool night breeze blew through the courtyard.

*"The southern town,*
*The rainy winter is not as cold as the north.*
*She doesn't need a bulky cotton coat,*
*To cover her water-like face.*
*She leaves shadows in the streets,*
*The fragrance remains in the hearts of those who look back.*
*In the blink of an eye, the fragrance has drifted away,*
*The shadow is gone..."*

The concise lyrics were full of power. Li He’s unique voice resonated with the guitar strings. His voice seemed to possess a magic, circling and echoing in everyone’s heart.

The crew was dumbfounded. *What kind of lyrics are these? It’s like watching a painting unfold. The accompaniment is only a monotonous guitar solo, yet it makes people want to cry involuntarily.*

*Southern Girl* didn't just sing about a Southern girl; it sang about the girl in your own heart.

Xie Shun couldn't stand still. *Damn it, if anyone says Jiabei is just a songwriter again, I’ll fight them.* No songwriter could sing this well. The emotional delivery was absolute.

*She leaves shadows in the streets...*

When Li He’s unique voice combined with the guitar strings, accompanied by the starlight, even though there was no Southern girl actually living in the North, the entire scene felt as if such a person existed, watching her hometown from the roadside.

Everyone felt dazzled; their ears were teased by the melodious singing until they felt lightheaded. They felt as if they could truly see the girl’s backward glance, the shadow that hadn't yet faded.

They were stunned! Everyone was stunned! Some had reddened eyes. Everyone’s emotions were like a monkey reaching the peak of a mountain in the dark, stretching out its hand to touch the bright moon. Some didn't even know what to do; the recording was purely a matter of muscle memory. Their bodies were working, but their souls had followed that girl to parts unknown.

It was longing! But was it the Southern girl in the northern town longing for her home, or the longing of a lover for their hometown? The longing was like waves in the ocean, one after another, each stronger and more profound than the last.

Jiang You couldn't sit still; he stood up uncontrollably. He Luo had his mouth agape, filled with disbelief. Amidst the mix of singing and guitar, Xie Shun’s expression shifted from serious to shocked. A chain reaction. This face of shock was captured by the cameras one by one.

Wu Guang, who was eavesdropping at the gate, couldn't help but slap his thigh. "Awesome! Jiabei is just awesome!" He was excited—even more so than the three professionals in the music industry. Xie Shun, He Luo, and Jiang You were excited about the song, but Wu Guang was excited about the effect it would bring. The impact on the show was clear—it was going to trigger a ratings explosion.

Wu Guang had already begun to worry for the second episode of *Slow-Paced Life*. *Longing for Life* had started with a bang; could they keep up? In the first episode, *Slow-Paced Life* was caught off guard by a half-finished song and failed to catch the momentum. But the second episode? He felt they probably still wouldn't. Because the other side didn't have Jiabei!

"So terrifying!" Xiang Li’s breathing became rapid as she snapped out of the song’s trance. She had heard many popular songs and had been to many concerts with high-energy performances. But none of them had made her sink into a trance like *Southern Girl*. This song had "soaked" her; it was a killer. It wasn't just the music—the singing was fantastic, and the person singing was super handsome. It was hard to imagine that the boy singing was just a songwriter.

Amazing! Explosive! She had listened to *Road of the Ordinary* on the internet countless times; it was very moving. But a live performance was different from a digital version.

Teacher He couldn't speak. He just stared at the figure playing the guitar in the center of the courtyard, suddenly feeling fortunate that he was in the hosting circle. The music scene in the future was going to be very interesting.

No one expected that a song created on the spot by Jiabei could have such high quality. From the guitar solo to the end, it was smooth, without pause or hesitation, as if it were a song he had written days ago. But everyone knew it wasn't. It was newly written. No... he hadn't even written it down.

Li He suddenly began to pace around the not-so-large courtyard. In the yard, only the cameras scattered around followed him, constantly shifting. Li He held the guitar, walking slowly and casually, until he came to Xiang Li’s side.

Facing this Southern girl, he sang, "Southern girl..."