Chapter 100: The Soul-Stirring Divine Melody

Ma Haojie’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt. He spun around, his face a mixture of shock and disbelief as he stared at Li Sicheng. At that moment, his expression was as if he had seen a ghost.

Those who had previously dismissed Li Sicheng as tone-deaf and incapable of singing were collectively stunned into silence. The song Li Sicheng just sang could no longer be described simply as "pleasant." It pierced straight through to the heart, sending a shiver down the spine the instant it was heard.

Though Li Sicheng sang a cappella, without any instrumental accompaniment, his voice was melodious and flowing, imbued with a uniquely enchanting melody. Many who heard the song felt it was meant to be sung unaccompanied, as any addition of instruments would only diminish its unique charm rather than enhance it.

The room fell into an almost tangible silence. No one spoke; all eyes were fixed on Li Sicheng, listening intently to his performance. The language of the song was unfamiliar—none of the teachers or students in Class 3 of Grade 10 could identify it, or perhaps they had simply never encountered it before.

Despite not understanding the lyrics, they still sensed the song’s vast, melancholic grandeur, and a profound insight into life and nature. Tan Xiaoxiao’s face was frozen in disbelief, but inside, her emotions were tumultuous: “It’s beautiful! This song is absolutely stunning! Compared to the song Xiao Li sang earlier, those so-called soul songs are nothing but child’s play! This is the true soul song! A masterpiece that cuts straight to the heart!”

Zeng Yi was filled with admiration: “Damn it, who said Brother Chen couldn’t sing? If this counts as not being able to sing, then what the hell are we? Idiots?”

More and more people found themselves utterly captivated by this vast, melancholic song imbued with deep reflections on life and nature. They closed their eyes, feeling as though they were journeying alongside the music—climbing towering mountains, crossing endless grasslands, witnessing the shifting winds and clouds of nature, and experiencing the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death.

Though the song was short—only three to five minutes—the depth it conveyed was profound. When Li Sicheng finished, everyone remained immersed in the emotional and spiritual resonance, unable to break free.

Li Sicheng quietly set down the microphone and returned to his corner, not disturbing their reverie.

Time passed moment by moment.

The room retained its heavy silence. Except for Li Sicheng, everyone else remained in a dazed, trance-like state. It was a strange scene, unsettling to witness.

This eerie atmosphere lasted for more than ten minutes until a KTV staff member entered with a fruit platter, breaking the spell. Coming back to their senses, the people paid no attention to the staff, instead bursting into praise.

“Oh my god, that song was incredible!”

“I’ve never heard anything like it. I was completely entranced! Compared to this, all the songs I’ve heard before sound like unbearable noise!”

“Same here. I felt like I’d crossed snowy mountains and walked through grasslands! I’ve been moved by songs before, but never experienced anything this magical. It’s amazing!”

The KTV worker was startled by the sudden change, hurriedly placing the fruit down and retreating nervously from the room. Outside in the hallway, a colleague noticed her reaction and asked with curiosity, “Xiao Liu, what’s wrong?”

Xiao Liu glanced at the room behind her and lowered her voice: “The people in this private room are really strange. When I went in to deliver the fruit platter and pushed the door open, everyone was frozen, sitting there like statues. Just as I was wondering what was going on, they suddenly started shouting about how beautiful the song was. It’s bizarre—I didn’t hear anyone singing when I entered…”

Her colleague replied, “Maybe they’re playing a prank on you? I’ve met some customers who like to mess around… Wait a minute, I’ve been standing here for over ten minutes and didn’t hear any singing from inside. Actually, not even a single sound.”

“No way? That’s creepy,” Xiao Liu said, visibly shaken.

Other KTV staff nearby gathered, joining in the gossip. After some discussion, they unanimously decided to stay away from that private room and avoid approaching unless absolutely necessary.

Meanwhile, the students of Class 3 Grade 10, unaware that the KTV workers had labeled them as “dangerous,” continued to lavish praise on Li Sicheng’s performance.

Honestly, if they hadn’t heard it with their own ears, no one would believe that a boy barely fifteen or sixteen years old could sing with such vast, melancholic power that penetrated straight into the heart and soul.

This was something even many renowned professional singers couldn’t accomplish.

Amid the crowd’s admiration and acclaim, Li Sicheng remained composed and indifferent. But to Ma Haojie, this calm was just an act of arrogance.

“Impossible. This guy, who only knows how to show off, can’t possibly sing that well. Something’s wrong here, definitely something fishy!” he thought.

Suddenly, a spark of inspiration flashed through Ma Haojie’s mind. Without hesitation, he shouted, “Lip-syncing! Li Sicheng, you’re just a high school student—there’s no way you could sing that well! You must have played a recording and secretly mouthed the words! That’s it, it’s got to be!”

The accusation enraged everyone.

“Lip-syncing? Such a ridiculous accusation, how can you say that?”

“Ma Haojie, do you really think we’re as stupid as you? Can’t you tell the difference between live singing and lip-syncing?”

Tan Xiaoxiao raised her eyebrows, suddenly remembering something. She strode over to Ma Haojie.

“Xiaoxiao, what… what are you doing?” Ma Haojie, though a boy, took two steps back, clearly intimidated—a testament to Tan Xiaoxiao’s undisputed authority as the queen of Class 3 Grade 10.

“Look at you, such a coward,” she sneered disdainfully.

“Ma Haojie, I know you’re targeting Li Sicheng because you want to stand up for Zhao Yuan. Actually, it was me who told Zhao Yuan to pick a fight with Li Sicheng. Strictly speaking, I’m the real culprit behind Zhao Yuan’s ankle injury, not Li Sicheng. If you want to seek revenge, come after me. Don’t go after Li Sicheng!”

[Author’s note: Today’s third update is coming—here’s the second one. Please support with donations, votes, and bookmarks! Many thanks! You’re welcome to join my fan group: 168330720!]