Chapter 180: Looking Serious Is Very Handsome (4th Update, Congrats to Helmsman [)

Chapter 180: The Look of Earnestness Is Quite Handsome (Fourth update, dedicated to Helmsman [Zai Xia Gou Zi])

As soon as Meng Fan sang the first line, the audience fell into a hush; even those who had been convulsing with laughter quieted their tremors. By the next line, the laughter was cured entirely, as they were swept away by his voice, leaving not a trace of the earlier levity.

Meng Fan’s timbre was uniquely enchanting. Because he sang while gazing intently at Wu Tong, this deep affection was not a deliberate performance, yet it fully unleashed the metaphysical power of his vocal magnetism. Soon, the eyes of the audience grew misty, completely lost in the depth of his song.

The live stream, too, grew far quieter than the chaotic din from moments before; while the chat feed remained, it thinned out significantly.

Even through the screen, one could feel the profound devotion in Meng Fan’s voice.

"The Rest of My Life" was one of the year’s hottest songs, rivaled perhaps only by the brain-washing hit "Meow Meow Meow." It had exploded in popularity via short-video platforms, and while the original singer gained fame, the covers were even more numerous.

Among the many covers, few were truly capable of striking the heart. But with Meng Fan’s +4 vocal magnetism, combined with the fact that he was singing directly to Wu Tong, his rendition was peerless in its sincerity—and it truly moved people.

His ability to touch the soul felt like a small deer suddenly colliding with one’s chest, then galloping within, striking against the ribs. Perhaps because his singing carried the yearning of love, it stirred a sudden, impulsive desire to fall in love.

Of course, there are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand eyes; many surely interpreted different emotions and memories from this depth of feeling.

For some, it was truly tear-jerking.

By the end of the first chorus, dozens in the audience were weeping. Some were surely grieving for a love that promised a lifetime but ended prematurely; others were filled with happiness, holding the hand of the right person sitting beside them; and others still were filled with longing, telling themselves not to panic about the future, for someone would surely come to show them what love truly is.

Many others in the hall had reddened eyes, touched by the resonance of his song.

The thread of emotion—if you never touch it, you never know it exists; but once touched, it must echo.

Before the live stream, even more were moved by the song.

When Meng Fan finished and a smile curled at the corners of his mouth, many in the hall and online smiled back. It was not a boisterous laugh or a silly grin, but a knowing smile born of genuine sweetness or happiness—silent, yet more lethal than any sound.

"Greed, anger, ignorance, pride, and doubt—the five poisons are all here. The world is bitter, but having you makes it sweet."

Meng Fan would never know how many people this line touched, nor how many, inspired by it, felt the urge to love and confessed their feelings to those they cherished.

It happened right there in the hall.

A college student in the back row, face streaming with tears, pulled out her phone to send a confession to the senior she had liked for so long.

The senior, now graduated and working, replied quickly: "I have no car, no house. You’re being naive; I have to be the sensible one."

The girl was resolute: "If you are destitute, I will be your luggage. Please guide me for the rest of my life. My dream is to hold your hand and toast to all our guests."

Then, she stood up, wiped her eyes, offered a grateful smile to Meng Fan on stage, and turned to leave the hall—she was going to find him.

Silly, I’m not being naive; I don’t lack a car or a house, I just lack you.

Of course, many were simply captivated by Meng Fan himself. Now that he was less heavy, people’s first instinct was no longer "this kid is fat," but "this kid is tall," as their impression shifted from horizontal to vertical.

They say a fair complexion hides a hundred flaws, but for a man, height adds three points of handsomeness.

Since he started running, though his weight hadn't dropped drastically, he had lost much fat. His double chin was gone, his face was leaner, and his features were beginning to emerge from the fat, revealing the superior genes of the Meng family. Combined with his +5 charm, he was naturally attractive.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have attracted the Maid Legion, nor caught the eye of the prettiest girl in the group brought by Pao Ge at the KTV.

His soulful singing was not only moving but also made people want to fall in love with him.

Most of the audience couldn't see exactly who Meng Fan was looking at; in fact, they all felt he was looking at them. Especially those watching the stream—with his +8 camera presence, he was practically glowing with a buff.

The camera was fixed on him, and the viewers were convinced he was gazing deeply at them.

"Boss Meng! I like you!"

"Streamer Meng! I love you!"

"I've fallen for you, Streamer!"

"My maiden heart!"

After the song, the chat was flooded with confessions, and the hall echoed with them too.

A girl in the audience stood up abruptly and shouted at the stage: "Meng Fan, I love you!"

Soon, other girls screamed, then a whole chorus, even the boys joined in.

This was no longer just a romantic confession; it was the devotion of fans to a singer. He had truly won them over.

These shouts pulled Meng Fan out of his world of just Wu Tong. Wu Tong blinked, as if snapping out of a trance, then bit her lip and gave Meng Fan a sweet, joyful smile, her eyes sparkling.

Seeing this, Meng Fan clenched his fist in secret, then bowed to the audience and the stream with a heart full of excitement before leaving the stage.

Though the first song had been a disaster, the second one seemed to have salvaged the situation, judging by the audience's reaction.

After stepping off, he ran into Su Qingcen, scratched his head sheepishly, and asked, still worried: "I think I managed to win some back, right? I hope I didn't ruin Sister Bai’s concert."

"The concert was definitely ruined," Su Qingcen teased, then sighed sincerely, "But that song you just sang was truly wonderful. You, when you’re earnest, are very handsome and very charming."