Han Yutong was bewildered as she followed Su Lin to a nearby KTV, only snapping back to reality once they were inside a private room.
So, that's what he meant.
She rubbed her face in annoyance, ashamed of her earlier thoughts.
Su Lin, upon entering, immediately began testing the equipment, oblivious to Han Yutong's state. "The equipment is a bit basic! But it won't affect my performance."
Su Lin sat at the far end of the sofa and casually picked a few songs from his own albums.
By now, Han Yutong had regained her composure, her gaze slowly shifting to him.
Today, Su Lin was dressed in casual wear: a white knit sweater paired with black casual pants. It was a departure from his usual punk style, giving him a clean, boy-next-door aura.
It was a peculiar feeling.
At twenty-five, Su Lin had already established his own studio and assembled his music team, his career steadily maturing. After so many years in the industry, the clean aura he possessed should have long been eroded. Yet, Han Yutong could still see the shadow of his debut days in him, and at times, he was even particularly... childish.
Just like now.
When he said he wanted to sing for her, he actually brought her to a KTV.
While Han Yutong was lost in thought, the accompaniment music started. It was a melody she was familiar with. Then, Su Lin's distinctive voice, transmitted through the microphone, echoed in her ears.
It was the first single he released when he debuted.
The melody was so familiar, she knew all the lyrics.
Su Lin sang with great concentration, not phoning it in just because she was his only audience. He sat half-perched on a high stool, holding the microphone with genuine sincerity.
Han Yutong's thoughts were completely captivated, leaving no room for anything else.
His singing voice was charming, especially when he sang with such earnestness, each word delivered with conviction, and every expression perfectly on point.
Han Yutong unconsciously began to hum along, gently clapping her hands to the beat.
During a brief pause, Su Lin adjusted his posture, placed the microphone stand, and picked up the guitar beside him, strumming it with practiced ease. When it came to anything related to music, he was always exceptionally focused.
Han Yutong listened, enraptured, feeling immensely happy.
She was finally at a live concert!
And it was a private concert just for her!
She covered her mouth, restraining herself from screaming, her eyes glistening with excitement.
After finishing the song, Su Lin slowly stood up and walked over to Han Yutong. "May I invite you to sing along?"
Han Yutong pointed to herself. "Me?"
"Didn't you say you've been my fan for a long time? You should know how to sing, right?" Su Lin asked with a confident smile.
Han Yutong pursed her lips, a little embarrassed. "I can, but... I don't sing very well..."
She hadn't undergone professional training, nor did she have much natural talent for singing. At best, she could say she wasn't terrible.
She wouldn't dare to embarrass herself in front of her idol.
"Give it a try," Su Lin said, picking up another microphone and handing it to her.
Han Yutong waved her hands frantically. "I, I really can't!"
Su Lin insisted, placing the microphone in her hand and making an inviting gesture. The next song immediately began, its intro ringing out – a cheerful tune with catchy lyrics that most people would know.
Han Yutong met his expectant gaze and couldn't bear to disappoint her idol.
She quickly adjusted her state of mind and focused intently on the lyrics displayed on the screen. At first, she was quite nervous and missed the beat. But once she started singing, it became much easier, and her performance gradually improved.
Su Lin nodded approvingly and joined in for the next verse.
Their voices blended surprisingly well, and a sense of synergy gradually emerged.
This was also quite a surprise for Su Lin.
"You sing very well!" he said, giving her a thumbs-up after the song ended.
Han Yutong's lips curved into a happy smile, having received praise from her idol.
Just then, a server knocked on the door, delivering snacks and drinks.
"We didn't order these," Han Yutong said after a moment of confusion.
"I ordered them," Su Lin replied, twisting open a bottle of mineral water and taking a sip to moisten his throat. "I overlooked it earlier, forgetting you hadn't had lunch."
They were supposed to have a vegetarian meal, but the plan was canceled due to a last-minute change.
By the time he remembered, they were already in the KTV. There were no proper meals here, only snacks and small bites. While Han Yutong was singing, he had quickly ordered a few items using a QR code.
"I'll treat you to dinner after we finish singing."
Han Yutong repeatedly shook her head. "Let me treat you instead."
He had traveled a long way to be here; it wasn't right to let a guest pay.
"I delayed your meal, so I should be the one to treat," Su Lin said, not allowing her to refuse. Besides, as a gentleman, how could he let a girl pay?
They stayed at the KTV for about two hours, singing almost all of his popular songs before they finally stopped.
After two hours, Han Yutong's voice was hoarse and she could barely speak.
She had a great time, but she was also very tired.
Su Lin thoughtfully handed her a box of throat lozenges. "You probably haven't sung much recently, so you must feel uncomfortable. Sucking on a few will help you recover."
Han Yutong reached out and took it, thanking him. The square box still carried his warmth, and her fingers unconsciously grew warm.
She lowered her gaze, tucking the box into her pocket. "Where are we going next?"
Having spent nearly an entire afternoon alone together, they had become more familiar with each other and their interactions were more natural.
Su Lin remembered his earlier promise and asked if there were any restaurants nearby with good privacy.
Han Yutong hadn't been back in many years and wasn't entirely sure. So, she took out her phone and browsed through an app, selecting a highly-rated restaurant and showing it to him. "How about this one? I don't know if it suits your taste."
She had chosen a Cantonese restaurant.
Su Lin looked at her for a moment. "I'm treating you, so pick whatever you like. No need to consider my taste."
Han Yutong looked up in surprise, not expecting him to say that.
Had he seen through her intentions? Did he know she was considering his throat?
"I, I'm fine with anything," she said.
Su Lin shrugged and they eventually went to the restaurant she had chosen. However, when ordering, he only picked two dishes he liked, leaving the rest to her.
Han Yutong flipped through the menu and selected two dishes that were not spicy and looked relatively healthy.
"You don't eat meat?" Su Lin asked, raising an eyebrow when he saw she had only ordered vegetarian options.
"I have a public service announcement to film in a couple of days," she explained briefly.
A female celebrity needs to be conscious of her appearance!
Gaining weight would look bad on camera!
Su Lin had also been strictly required to control his weight by his agency in the past, often feeling dizzy from hunger. It was only later that he learned to eat foods with protein that wouldn't cause weight gain.
"You could try chicken breast."
"You're too thin!" he added afterward.
Han Yutong had been complimented before, but hearing those words from Su Lin felt different. While it made her secretly delighted, it also touched her deeply.
Others only cared about seeing her beautiful side, but he was concerned about her well-being.
This long-lost feeling of being cared for felt wonderful!