Chapter 4: Shock

In the interstellar era, there are no pianos; music is synthesized via software without the need for traditional instruments. Consequently, no one present recognized the object as a musical instrument.

Jiang Qin had never received formal training in using spiritual power for soothing, but after leaving the Jiang family in her previous life, she had gained some understanding of the process. Simply put, it was a matter of diffusing one's spiritual power while becoming deeply immersed in the act. For her, entering this state was remarkably simple.

If there was anything that brought her joy during that short first life, it was the myriad of lessons arranged by her agent. While others found them exhausting, she felt only happiness, learning with all her might. Dance, vocal training, painting, calligraphy, flower arrangement, etiquette—to her, these courses that crafted her perfect persona were all just knowledge. Knowledge does not distinguish between high and low status. Thus, whenever she engaged in these lessons, she was fully committed, often forgetting to eat or sleep, thirsting to absorb everything.

To ensure her work went smoothly and that she could reliably enter that state of immersion to radiate her spiritual power, Jiang Qin chose the cumbersome method of playing and singing herself. She did not know how females were taught in interstellar academies, so she had to grope for what worked best for her. The bar owner was very cooperative; after all, it was not easy to hire a female employee. When Jiang Qin requested several instruments, he agreed immediately. Although he knew nothing of instruments himself, he simply had someone manufacture them based on the blueprints Jiang Qin provided. It cost a large sum to rush out a piano, while the other instruments were still in production.

In a corner of the bar, the head of security, Zhu Yongkang, asked in a low voice, "She's just a C-rank female. Isn't this investment a bit too much?"

Standing next to him was Yu Wei, the owner of the Moonlight Bar, a young-looking beastman of fifty. Hearing his subordinate's doubt, he was not angry, merely replying, "You will understand. I, Yu Wei, never do business at a loss." He still remembered the surprisingly impressive performance of this female on the day of her interview.

Zhu Yongkang remained skeptical. It wasn't that he looked down on C-rank females, but their spiritual power was truly meager. Especially for A-rank males like himself and the boss, her soothing ability was effectively zero. He remained baffled by Yu Wei's decision to assign him to protect this little female.

***

Once ready, Jiang Qin played a short test piece and began her shift. Since it was her first day, she needed to introduce herself.

"Hello everyone, I am Jiang Qin, a C-rank female. Starting today, I will be working at the Moonlight Bar every night. My method of soothing is through singing, so I will now perform a song titled 'As You Wish'."

Jiang Qin loved this song because it carried beautiful blessings. Gentle melodies flowed from the piano. The males, who had been preparing to chatter, instantly fell silent.

"As You Wish" (Lyrics: Tang Tian, Composer: Qian Lei, Performer: Wang Fei)

*You are the distant road,*
*The lamp in the mountain mist.*
*I am a child walking in your eyes.*
*You are the bright moon and the clear breeze,*
*I am the dream you watch over...*

As her voice, gentle yet ethereal, emerged, everyone was stunned. For some reason, looking at the female on the high platform and listening to the melody, they felt their moods calming down. Their restless spiritual power seemed to soothe instantly.

*You are the long river of time,*
*The sky ignited by sparks.*
*I am the one looking up, turning you into a song...*

An Zeyu, who was currently livestreaming, was also stunned. He had come to the Moonlight Bar after hearing that a new female had arrived, hoping to find a topic for his stream. He never expected to encounter a female who soothed through song. This unheard-of method had silenced him and his viewers before they could even begin to criticize it; they were captivated the moment she opened her mouth. He didn't even notice that his livestream was attracting a steady stream of viewers, with the audience count already reaching ten million.

*And I will dream the reunion you dream,*
*Wish the eternity you wish,*
*Walk the long road you have walked.*
*Loving you this way,*
*I will also see the world you have yet to see...*

On stage, Jiang Qin was completely immersed in her own world. She thought of everything on Earth: the peers who ostracized her, the frail and pale Anxin, the greedy orphanage director, the cold and rational manager, Ms. Zhang... and those who loved her—the fans who called her their "daughter." Her first life might have been miserable, but it hadn't been entirely bad.

*A promise of a lifetime of clarity with you,*
*Like your youthful face...*

Yu Wei noticed the spiritual power radiating throughout the bar and smiled with satisfaction. He had not bet on the wrong person! Although this little female's spiritual power was weak, she possessed a powerful magnetism capable of leading everyone into a peaceful world.

When Jiang Qin finished playing and retreated to the backstage, the people in the bar finally snapped out of their trance.

"My god, the little female sings so beautifully. What is this song? It makes my heart ache; I actually want to cry."
"Me too, me too! And look, the little female's eyes were getting a bit red just now."
"Wooo—what do I do? I think I've fallen in love with her."
"Will she perform another soothing session later? I'm going to call all my friends to come and boost her numbers!"

An Zeyu also pulled himself out of that bittersweet emotion. "Family, I'm so strange, I really want to cry. This little female's voice is just too infectious."

The comments in the livestream were echoing his sentiments.
*Little Wolf: [Crying too. Moonlight Bar, right? I'm on my way!]*
*Shy Grass: [Ahhhhh, I'm not on Azure Planet, I can't be there in person, so sad (┯_┯).]*
*[Is this a new song? Why have I never heard it? Did the little female write it herself?]*
*[Brother Yu, go ask if she does two sessions a night!]*

*[Are you all crazy? It's just singing, who knows if this 'singing-style' soothing is actually useful?]*
*[Exactly. The interstellar isn't short of singers; what's missing are females who can soothe males. People spend Star Coins at bars to feel some measure of soothing, not to listen to songs. If it were me, I'd demand a refund!]*
*[She's only a C-rank female anyway, and this is a large-scale soothing session. She's not doing it properly, just showing off and wasting everyone's time and money. Disgusting.]*
*[I know this female; she's from a barren planet and has never even been to school!]*

Seeing the increasing number of comments questioning Jiang Qin, An Zeyu frowned. However, he was not the type to take sides, so he said impartially, "Whether it's useful or not, we'll know after a test."