Chapter 133 [Ninth Installment]

Night fell, and District 6, a region steeped in cultural heritage, was once again about to be swallowed by darkness. Yet, at Xixiang Lake, a popular tourist destination in the northern part of the district, it was bright as day. Hundreds of large red lanterns illuminated the lake, evoking the enchanting atmosphere of an ancient water town at night.

Along the long corridor spanning Xixiang Lake, dozens of round tables had been set, covered in grey-blue tablecloths and adorned with creative vintage candlesticks and silver-grey tableware. Such arrangements, set against the faint moonlight, exuded a sense of noble elegance—a rare sight in today's world, where such serene and leisurely places are becoming hard to find. To add a touch of luxury and prestige to the birthday banquet, the Liu family had arranged a lantern-floating ceremony for the guests before they entered the main venue.

Fang Nian and Xia Moyan, a striking pair, drew attention wherever they went. Following the custom, they handed over their gifts and crouched by the water’s edge to set their own river lanterns adrift.

As Xia Moyan watched her lantern float away, she turned to ask Fang Nian, who had just released his.

"Hey, what did you write on your lantern?"

Fang Nian smiled faintly. "You tell me first."

Xia Moyan shook her head. "No, you go first."

Seeing he couldn't win the argument, Fang Nian made something up. "I wished for world peace."

Xia Moyan burst into laughter upon hearing this. "Oh, give it a rest. I truly don't believe you have that kind of perspective."

Fang Nian feigned hurt. "Hey, what’s that supposed to mean? This is a manifestation of great love, something you small-minded people could never understand. Anyway, it’s your turn. What did you write?"

Xia Moyan was unusually calm today. Having cast aside all the unpleasantness of her daily life, she felt genuinely relaxed. In truth, she had only written two words on her lantern: "Let it be." But she kept this to herself.

"I’m not telling you."

With that, Xia Moyan headed toward the guest area. Fang Nian knew the girl was being playful, but he didn't press her, as he had already caught a glimpse of what she had written earlier.

*"Let it be? Is she talking about us?"*

At the center of the lake, thousands of lanterns bearing the guests' wishes drifted across the surface, adding a romantic tranquility to the already pleasant corridor.

The Xixiang Lake Pavilion, located in the middle of the lake, had been decorated into a creative "boat house." Five tables were arranged inside, distinct from those outside, with different tableware made of silver—clearly reserved for the most distinguished guests.

Beyond these designs, at the highest point in the center of the boat house, the Liu family had constructed a square stage. Over a dozen female musicians were playing traditional-style music. Though Fang Nian wasn't particularly fond of these melodies, the atmosphere was wonderful, and it was clear that the Liu family had put a great deal of heart into the arrangements.

As honored guests, Fang Nian and Xia Moyan were seated at one of the five tables in the boat house. Looking up at the stage, Fang Nian noticed that all the musicians were women.

They were playing a new piece, dressed in diverse costumes and playing a variety of instruments. Despite the eclectic mix of instruments, the performance was surprisingly harmonious, with a strong rhythmic pulse that made one want to sway along.

To be honest, Fang Nian thought the concept was good, but this band was nowhere near the caliber of the "Twelve Girls Band" from his own world. Those were professional,出道 artists whose synergy and technical precision were far beyond what these musicians could match.

An idea struck him. Having nothing better to do, he asked a server for paper and a pen, sketched out a musical score, annotated it for the different instruments, and then walked onto the stage to distribute the notes to the musicians.

Because of Fang Nian’s intervention, the music suddenly stopped, and the venue fell into a strange, expectant silence.

Liu Huan, the eldest son of the Liu family, who was greeting guests at the entrance, noticed the music had ceased and grew annoyed. He sent someone to investigate. He had spent a fortune to hire this female ensemble, as there were very few people left in this world who played such traditional instruments.

However, the music soon started up again. At first, it was jarring—a discordant mess of sounds that was incredibly unpleasant to the ear. Liu Huan was furious and nearly stormed over to confront them. What on earth were they playing?

But after two or three minutes of adjustment, the musicians suddenly fell into harmony. Everyone pricked up their ears, listening intently. At that moment, many guests across the lake stopped in their tracks, captivated by the beautiful melody.

The piece Fang Nian had written for them was the signature song, "Miracle," from the famous traditional Chinese instrumental group, the "Twelve Girls Band," from his world.

The Twelve Girls Band was a group that performed traditional Chinese music in a pop style. Their performance format differed from traditional folk music, offering the audience a fresh, highly entertaining audiovisual experience. "Miracle" was a masterpiece that blended the essence of various instruments, with a performance that was as dramatic and flowing as clouds and water, leaving everyone refreshed and impressed.

Seeing the band shift their style to something so stunning and exceptional, Liu Huan’s initial irritation vanished, replaced by excitement. He hurriedly gave orders to double the band’s performance fee for the night.

He returned to the entrance, feeling even more triumphant as guests praised his impeccable arrangements, drawn in by the sea of lanterns and the soaring melody.

Fang Nian returned to his seat, and Xia Moyan looked at him in astonishment. "Are you really Fang Nian?"

Fang Nian paused, looking at her with a helpless smile. "What? Don't I look like myself?"

Xia Moyan nodded earnestly. "No, you don't. Everyone says you're a good-for-nothing, someone who only knows how to bury his head in a grocery store helping your grandfather sort inventory. But how is it that you seem to know how to do everything? You can hunt, you can build things, and now you even play music? How am I supposed to reconcile you with the 'good-for-nothing' legend?"

Fang Nian hadn't expected Xia Moyan to observe him so closely, so he asked, "Then do you prefer the 'good-for-nothing' version of me, or the version you see now?"

Caught off guard by the question, Xia Moyan’s face flushed a deep crimson, a heat spreading across her entire body.

"Vain! I don't like either one."

Watching her shy, flustered expression, Fang Nian felt his heart melt completely.