Am I really hallucinating?

Chapter 389 The Pressure of Pursuit
“Let me think about it. It’s a bit difficult to decipher the information in the music in this state. Little Sheep, have you memorized the music?” Zheng Fan pondered.

Doris nodded slightly, understanding the meaning behind Zheng Fan's question: "I've remembered. I can play it after I spend some time arranging it into sheet music."

“Very well, let’s see what we can get out of this.” Zheng Fan got up to leave, but he did remember to help clean up the two corpses in the bathroom.

Give the earthworms an extra meal.

Jermel was still somewhat dazed. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but all the words got stuck in his throat. In the end, he could only open and close his mouth repeatedly and let out a few heavy breaths.

Doris stood by the window, observing Jeremiah's state, and said, "I have a different opinion regarding some of the things you said earlier, Mr. Jeremiah."

Jeremiah looked up.

“You’ve included my playing ability in my musical talents, haven’t you?” Doris said.

Jermaine nodded solemnly: "Your playing has the flair of a master. Specializing in classical music is far more promising than diving into the mainstream of popular music. That's why I initially had my doubts about you."

There's a suspicion that she's misjudged the music scene. Putting aside issues like social hierarchies, pop music has a low barrier to entry and a wide audience, but musically speaking, Doris's comfort zone is clearly outside of it. Jermaine Leigh doesn't doubt the influence Doris's playing can have in the classical music world, yet she's trying to make pop music with her violin.

Even with the most malicious assumption, she's just a nouveau riche who doesn't know her own worth and only wants to make a fortune in this trendy place.

“I originally planned to participate in classical music competitions, but the earthquake disrupted my plans. And because of what I saw and heard during the earthquake, I am now more focused on using music to bring something to the general public. I have no plans for classical music for the time being,” Doris explained briefly.

"Oh, that's amazing. I misunderstood," Jeremiah said weakly.

"And, Mr. Jeromelo, why did you also abandon your own singing skills?" Doris asked.

Jeremiah was taken aback.

“Music alone can’t make someone a top star, at least not in the capital. Besides, when you first started building your career, the speed at which you released new music was astonishing. You wrote lyrics for every song your sister gave you that were at least as appropriate as her lyrics, and your several Gram Awards are proof of that,” Doris said.

"But……"

"Little Lamb, let's go." Zheng Fan came out of the restroom, said this, and then suddenly disappeared.

In reality, they simply put away the outer shell of the Egg Robot; the robot itself was still in the same spot, but Jermelo could no longer see Zheng Fan.

Upon hearing this, Doris immediately stepped outside: "Mr. Jermelo, you should really restrain yourself these days. This near failure proves that what you've been doing is no longer feasible."

Jeremiah didn't say anything, but that was probably a tacit agreement.

"I'll give you a copy after your sister's music is organized."

After leaving those words, Doris left the room.

Walking down the corridor, Zheng Fan said, "Little Sheep, you're so gentle."

“Because I really like his songs,” Doris said frankly. “His sister wasn’t solely responsible for the composition; many parts were more like a collaboration between the two of them. He experimented quite a bit in his early years. Besides, it’s difficult to quantify and compare the level of his lyrics and composition in most cases. And the outside world has never been critical of his lyrics.”

Zheng Fan laughed and said, "For some people, the hardest thing to get over is their own hurdle. He only has eyes for his sister and can't accommodate much else."

“I hope he can pull himself together. Losing such a great musician is a huge loss for me, no matter how it affects the rest of the world,” Doris said.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Fan became a little curious: "Let me hear his work?" "Actually, the song that was played in the square outside the hotel earlier was his song. Given the popularity of Mr. Jemerloh's songs, Mr. Music probably heard it somewhere a long time ago, but he just didn't pay attention and didn't know where it came from."

"This description, rather than how many awards he has won, gives me a more intuitive impression of how amazing he is," Zheng Fan said.

The two returned to the hotel where the monastery band was staying.

They didn't choose to stay at a hotel in the White City, but instead opted for a well-reviewed hotel on Nolan Street. Seeing the security guards at the entrance, who exuded an aura of fantasy, Zheng Fan knew that the hotel's reviews were indeed quite accurate.

"Huh? Why are you back so early?" On her way back to her room, she saw Gao Song wearing a bathrobe and carrying a cup of hot tea. Gao Song asked in surprise when he saw Doris.

Doris glanced at the wall clock in the hallway: "It's already two in the morning."

"I thought you wouldn't come home at night," Gao Song said casually.

"I also want to stay out all night, but I have other things to do now."

"That's a real shame. This hotel has hot springs where you can soak in the baths, and the main street has everything you could want. You should give it a try," Gao Song nodded and recommended.

"Where are Mora and Tozhi?"

"They're probably already resting. I was going to wake Tao Zhi up, but there's this sign hanging on his door." Gao Song pointed to Tao Zhi's door, where a sign that read "Resting, Do Not Disturb" was hanging.

Gao Song went up and flipped the sign over. The back read: Especially you, Gao Song!

He's full of resentment; it seems Gao Song has been tormenting Tao Zhi quite a bit.

"Okay, you should get some rest too." Doris nodded.

After Gao Song responded, he was about to return to his room when Doris suddenly turned to him and asked, "Gao Song, do you feel any pressure in your current life?"

"No, it's too easy, so easy that I feel like I'm dreaming," Gao Song replied without hesitation, his voice calm.

"Everyone around you now probably didn't dare to imagine they would survive that day. Those who stand by you are all resisting the internal strife of being manipulated. I was prepared to hand everything over to Kuroki and make a mess of everything. It feels so good to be alive now."

"Mmm," Doris responded softly.

“I did consider giving myself to you so you could leave the monastery and escape that torment sooner. I just wasn’t sure if my status as the perennial second-in-command was enough.” Gao Song said calmly, “But in the end I gave up, because offering myself to you for you to kill would be a form of torture for you in itself. Of course, it’s also possible that in the end I was afraid of dying.”

"Thank you."

“No need to thank me, I didn’t even give it to you in the end. I’m the one who should be thanking you now. Besides, living as a human being is much harder than dying as a human being. My life is already complete. If I had any wishes, I would really hope that this band can continue to thrive together, whether we become famous worldwide or end up performing on the streets in destitution.” Gao Song took a sip of tea and exhaled the hot air. “I also have to thank your music gentleman. He changed you, allowing you to leave the monastery and changing our lives.”

Doris said, "Gao Song, you're actually quite sentimental too."

"I'll take it as a compliment." Gao Song shrugged, not really caring about the evaluation. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and turned back, saying, "By the way, is it okay if I get a rabbit?"

“Yes, of course.” Doris paused for a moment, then nodded.

"Thanks." Gao Song waved, returned to his room, opened the door, went inside, and gently closed the door.

(End of this chapter)