Chapter Ten: Reach New Heights! "The Guardian of Blossoms"-God of Song in a Flourishing Age(The Lazy Book Devoured by Tigers)

Undoubtedly, "The Flower Guardian" was a perfect song to ignite the atmosphere. With just the opening chords, the excitement in the venue soared. Standing on stage, Ren Qian faced an audience of thirty thousand, their energy palpable, the lights wild and uninhibited. In that moment, it already felt like a true star's concert.

“This old body of mine wants to get up and dance, but I’m afraid I’d embarrass myself. Ah, I’m not young anymore, not young at all,” Principal Fang Qianshui remarked with a smile, his gaze fixed on the center of the stage. Suddenly, a tide of emotions washed over him, and he couldn’t help but sigh.

Flowers may bloom again, but youth never returns. Back in his university days, he too was a charming, upright young man—frequenting bars, attending campus parties and social gatherings. But now, such things no longer belonged to him; age had caught up, and as a public figure, he had to maintain his image.

“Principal, you must be joking. As long as the heart stays young, one is forever young,” the dean replied, his face flushed with excitement. A moment later, he was surprised at his own words—wise and golden, indeed! Amidst the noise, he glanced at Principal Fang’s profile, his heart unable to settle.

The principal nodded in agreement, then watched in silence as the dazzling lights flickered and the energized crowd cheered. For a brief instant, he too felt a surge of vitality.

Bang! Ren Qian gave the microphone a light tap. The sudden sound melded seamlessly with the rhythm, so the audience didn’t feel jarred; instead, their hearts tightened, bodies leaning forward, almost rising from their seats.

…

“Last night, on the street, I chanced upon the girl in my heart,
My feet decided for me—I followed her home!
The midnight breeze,
Must not blow her away!
Her gentle, lingering gaze is about to speak to me,
That slender figure, floating, quietly drawing near,
Is she about to tell me, ‘Romantic lover, do you love me?’”

Ren Qian’s singing was raw and forceful, as if a string of explosives had been set off halfway up Mount Hua—all detonated at once. Each line crashed down like a massive boulder, tumbling perilously from above, no pause between his words. It felt as though one stood at the mountain’s base, heavy stones falling relentlessly overhead—a breathtaking experience.

The rhythm was urgent, making it almost impossible to breathe, like torrential rain pounding a cloak—overwhelming and majestic.

Whether a song possesses soul depends on the performer. A great singer seizes the listener’s heart with the smallest details, skillfully using the friction of their vocal cords to evoke resonant emotion.

Because of the song’s unique tempo, Ren Qian had decided from the start to sing the entire chorus in a single breath, ensuring both continuity and a surge of power.

Consequently, as soon as Ren Qian began, the audience held their breath, faces flushed as they suppressed even a sigh, only exhaling when he finished the final word.

Thunderous applause erupted.

The women in the audience were especially conspicuous—standing, leaning forward, shouting, “Love you! Love you! Love you!”

On the giant screen, the lyrics “Romantic lover, do you love me?” rolled by…

Such ambiguous lines set their hearts aflutter, and the electrifying atmosphere stripped away any reserve. Who could sit quietly through a song that soared so high?

Absolutely impossible!

Ren Qian’s dazzling talent, his mesmerizing voice, his sunny, handsome looks—he was a walking fan magnet.

Even in China, an all-rounder like this could easily amass hundreds of millions of fans.

And there would certainly be die-hard supporters who cared only for allegiance, not right or wrong: “If you insult my Ren Qian, you’re at fault, no matter the facts. You must apologize.”

“Even if Wu Jing says the wrong thing, Putin should apologize.”

Such was their fierce devotion.

Ren Qian felt humbled, almost overwhelmed by the scene. Glow sticks whirled, applause thundered like a tidal wave. The only escape was to pour his entire being into the song, shutting out everything else.

After a brief pause, Ren Qian’s voice soared again, the rhythm even more intense, pounding into the chests of the audience—so stifling it made them want to gasp, to move, to sing along.

But this song was so demanding that few could catch the beat. The audience could only stand by, stunned, as Ren Qian dominated the stage.

“The greedy evening wind,
How dare it kiss her!
Letting her soft hair fall gently, strand by strand.
The base wind,
Should not comfort her!
I have decided to protect the girl in my heart for life!”

With no other outlet, the crowd began to mimic Ren Qian’s headbanging from the opening, releasing their energy. Principal Fang Qianshui, sweating profusely, feared he might have gone too far—what if the media reported that tens of thousands at Jiangnan University were collectively on party drugs?

Ren Qian sang with abandon, and suddenly, the crowd joined in with a chorus of “la la la la la,” thirty thousand voices rising together, even drowning out Ren Qian himself.

Overjoyed, Ren Qian simply pointed the microphone at the audience, letting them unleash their enthusiasm.

“Brother Qian, do you have to be so incredible? After this New Year’s gala, is there any point in watching the rest? Isn’t this basically his solo concert?”

Liu Han was at a loss, half amused and half exasperated. Ren Qian had just raised the bar for all the acts that followed, draining the audience’s energy in advance—no matter how impressive the subsequent performances, they’d be met with indifference.

Chen Yiran swallowed hard. He hadn’t expected Brother Qian to whip up the atmosphere to such a level. Clearly, this was far beyond the organizing committee’s expectations.

But… the arrow had already left the bow; there was no turning back.

“Let it be. The audience is satisfied—whatever comes next is just a bonus,” someone backstage remarked as they discussed Ren Qian. The same conversation buzzed in the VIP section, while the audience chattered excitedly.

Ren Qian bowed in thanks, preparing to leave the stage.

But the hall erupted.

“Don’t go! Don’t go! One more song! Sing one more!”

“One more! One more!”

“Sing when you’re told! Don’t be shy!”

The calls rang out, the crowd insatiable.

The freshmen, barely out of military training, even began chanting their training slogans, pleading for more. The leaders couldn’t help but laugh—this was the vigor of youth, the very spirit of a lively university!

Ren Qian spread his hands modestly: “Ahem… please, everyone, calm down. The evening’s program is wonderful—I guarantee you’ll be too excited to sleep. I’m just a supporting act.”

“Wow—so handsome, that voice is to die for, Brother Qian—I want to have your babies!”

“No, no, Brother Qian, don’t kiss me. Ah, don’t touch me there!”

Ren Qian: “…”

Couldn’t their daydreams have some boundaries?

At this point, Principal Fang Qianshui could no longer remain in the background. Rising from the VIP seats, he waved Ren Qian over, and Ren Qian hurried to hand him the microphone.

“Such energy is a good thing. Since that’s the case, as principal, I authorize Ren Qian to perform one more song for everyone’s enjoyment.”

Jiangnan University was renowned for its progressive ideas and open academic spirit. Its refusal to be bound by rigid traditions had earned it an international reputation; many important scholarly works were born here, and the faculty embraced life—many were musicians, philosophers, gourmets as well as educators.

So it was no surprise that Principal Fang would make such a gesture.

With such hospitality, one could hardly refuse.

“The principal has spoken, so please rest assured. When the program ends, I’ll return to the stage and dedicate another song to you all.”

Ren Qian agreed and retreated backstage to rest.

However, it was an undeniable fact that the later acts of the New Year’s gala paled in comparison after Ren Qian’s performance.

The audience watched every subsequent act with the same expression, even the comedic debate drew only half-hearted laughter and mechanical applause, leaving the leaders awkward and embarrassed.

Just moments ago, they’d praised the students’ energy and vitality!

Clearly, they’d need Ren Qian to return—the leaders were already impatient for him to take the stage again, longing for that passionate atmosphere.

Three hours crawled by. At last, when the host announced the end of the program, the audience leapt from their seats, electrified, the girls’ screams and applause so shrill they sent shivers down your spine.

Smiling and shaking his head, Ren Qian took up the microphone, walked to the center of the stage, and began softly,

“Well, since you insist, I’ll sing one more song for everyone. But to keep you from getting too worked up tonight, I won’t perform another high-energy piece. This time… please listen quietly, no talking. Shh—a song called ‘Lingering Regret’ just for you.”