Chapter 14: Li Hang's Singing Voice

Evening training was much easier than the daytime session: standing at attention and practicing at-ease positions. Even Instructor Wu’s voice dropped several notches, perhaps because he was tired after a full day.

The exemption area was more relaxed still. Instructor Wang had everyone sit on mats in a semicircle. Clapping his hands in the middle, he announced, “Let’s do something light tonight. Starting now, everyone will perform a talent. If it’s not your turn tonight, don’t worry; we’ll take turns over the next few days. I’ll choose the best performer to compete against the other classes and bring honor to our exemption group.”

The forty-odd students exchanged glances. The only sound was distant commands from the field. Nobody spoke or raised a hand; everyone lowered their heads and pretended to read their handbooks.

Wang waited three seconds and grinned. “Good, since you’ve all agreed so readily, let’s begin. You first,” he said to a girl.

Her face flushed. She slowly made her way to the center and stood awkwardly for a long moment. “I’ll… sing a song.”

She did. The tune wandered, the rhythm fell apart, the high notes were out of reach and the low notes too low. She hummed her way through. Around her, students picked at their fingers or pretended to study the sky. Li Hang silently judged: admirable courage, but please don’t sing again.

Everyone applauded politely. She covered her face and ran back to her place. Two or three more followed: one told jokes so bad they froze the room, and another recited a classical poem but got stuck after two lines. The atmosphere grew painfully awkward.

Li Hang decided it couldn’t continue. At this rate, by the time his turn came nobody would dare perform. More importantly, he wanted to earn some Shock Points.

“Instructor Wang, I’ll give it a try.”

Every head turned. Wang happily beckoned him over. “Come on, Li Hang. Show us what you’ve got.”

Li Hang pushed himself up slowly and walked into the center. He searched a popular playlist on his phone and chose a current hit whose introduction everyone recognized. He cleared his throat and began to sing of wandering along a snowy road, and of whether love could make Mount Fuji one’s own.

At the first line, the group fell quiet. During the second, someone slowly lowered a phone. By the third, even Wang had unconsciously straightened in his chair.

Li Hang’s voice was clear and bright, his pitch as steady as if it had been tuned, his breath long, and the end of each phrase handled just right. With Beginner Music Skill, he could already hold his own against some second- or third-tier singers.

Wind rustled the plane-tree leaves. The distant calls from the training field seemed to fade. All forty-plus students listened in silence, and several girls began swaying gently to the rhythm without realizing it.

When the last note ended, Wang clapped first, vigorously. Everyone followed, scattered applause quickly becoming cheers.

“Damn, that’s beautiful!”

“Can fat guys really sing like that?”

“I’m 200 jin and can’t carry a tune. This guy’s 300 jin and sounds like a walking CD!”

“Another one! Li Hang, sing another!”

[Shock Points +18]
[Shock Points +6]
[Shock Points +12]
[Shock Points +8]
[Shock Points +15]

The system alerts rattled off one after another. Li Hang felt as delighted as if it were New Year. He’d only planned to sing a little for points, never expecting such a response. But with the mood this high, another song wouldn’t hurt.

“All right, one more.” Smiling, he chose another track. He remembered many songs from his previous life, but mostly the choruses; getting stuck after a few lines would be embarrassing. Better to sing songs from this world, readily available on his phone.

The second was a cheerful folk song. He tapped the beat lightly at his side and sang more comfortably than before. This time he noticed a bespectacled young man humming along; during the chorus, the student even joined in quietly for a couple of lines.

The applause afterward was louder still.

“Li Hang, did you grow up eating CDs?”

“I’m convinced. The guy in our dorm who brags about dominating karaoke doesn’t compare.”

“Your pitch and breath control are so steady. Did you train?”

The bespectacled student pushed forward, excited. “I’m a vocal major at the music college. Your high notes in that song were steadier than mine. Did you study singing?”

Li Hang scratched his head and smiled. “Not formally. I just sing for fun.”

“At your ‘for fun’ level, you’d place in the top three of the campus singing contest.” The student patted his shoulder sincerely.

Wang came over, smiling more broadly than he had all day. “Well done! I didn’t know you had that talent. You get my vote for tonight’s best performance. We’ll send you to compete against the other classes.”

Li Hang waved his hands. “No, no, I’m not that good. I should practice more.”

“Don’t be modest. It’s settled.”

The students cheered again. Some called, “Go, Li Hang!” Others dubbed him “the pride of the exemption group.” He returned to his place smiling, calculating how many Shock Points he’d just earned.