I was slacking off on a dating reality show when the female guests treated me like a treasure chest.

A short while later, Tang Xi changed into a cartoon pajama set and came to the door.

"Come on, I'll go too. I can't sleep either, let's go get a cup of coffee," Tang Xi said.

Chen Nian was taken aback. "I was feeling a bit sleepy and wanted to get a cup of coffee to perk myself up. You couldn't sleep anyway, and you went to get coffee?"

Tang Xi nodded and replied seriously, "It's the same. I find it easier to calm down and fall asleep when I drink coffee."

Chen Nian's lips twitched slightly, and he secretly marveled at the existence of such a saying, finding it truly eye-opening.

The two then headed towards the coffee shop.

After 10 p.m., most of the lights in the huge resort were turned off, and the surroundings were quiet and peaceful, with only a few streetlights casting a warm glow.

Throughout the area, the cafes along the beach were brightly lit, standing out in the quiet night.

The two walked side by side to the entrance of the coffee shop and found an outdoor spot to sit down.

There was only one barista in the shop, idly scrolling through his phone. When he saw a customer come in, his eyes lit up and he quickly picked up the menu to greet him.

"What would you two like to drink?"

Chen Nian took the menu, glanced at it casually, ordered an iced coffee, and then handed the menu back to Tang Xi, who was standing next to him.

"I'll have an iced coffee too, just like him," Tang Xi casually agreed.

The barista responded and turned to get busy.

Chen Nian looked around. At this time, apart from the slight hum of the coffee machine, there was only the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore in the distance.

Tang Xi turned her gaze to Chen Nian, her expression showing a hint of curiosity, and then said, "I was thinking about something while I was taking a shower just now."

Upon hearing this, Chen Nian looked at her with a puzzled expression.

She paused, then continued, "The line you sang when you recited the lyrics tonight had a particularly good rhythm; it didn't seem like it was just randomly put together. Honestly, did you already have the complete lyrics written, not just that one line?"

She was very perceptive; those vivid and evocative phrases could never have been made up out of thin air.

Chen Nian was slightly surprised by this, and after a moment of silence, he asked in return, "I'm curious, since you're an actor, what kind of dramas do you usually act in?"

Tang Xi was taken aback by his sudden change of topic and replied, "Most of them are web dramas; I don't take on many serious dramas. What, have you seen any of my work?"

"No," Chen Nian shook his head. "I rarely pay attention to entertainment gossip and dramas."

Tang Xi paused for a moment before realizing what he meant, then rolled her eyes at him: "Don't beat around the bush."

Chen Nian's little scheme was exposed. He smiled awkwardly, remained silent for a few seconds, and finally nodded: "Okay, there are indeed complete words."

He thought about this question today.

During the day, Su Xiao had talked to him about the market price for songwriters selling their songs, but the price was lower than he had expected.

If he really has the ability to complete the entire song, he should ask Lin Ran first. Or perhaps he should see how much Tang Xi values ​​his song.

Tang Xi's eyes lit up instantly, full of anticipation: "Then sing it for me? Just from hearing one line, I feel this song has a very good foundation. Is it in the ancient style?"

"It's considered ancient style, but it also has another name, Chinese style pop music," Chen Nian explained casually, not knowing whether this category existed in the music scene of this world, or whether it was different from traditional ancient style music.

"Have you named it yet?" Tang Xi pressed.

Chen Nian paused slightly, then uttered three words calmly: "Chrysanthemum Terrace".

"Chrysanthemum Terrace..." Tang Xi murmured, savoring the phrase with increasing charm, her eyes filled with anticipation. "Sing me a verse now, will you?"

Chen Nian helplessly spread his hands: "Everyone says it's not completely tidied up yet, and besides, there isn't even a guitar here."

"Okay." Upon hearing this, a slight disappointment flashed across Tang Xi's face.

Just then, the barista came over with two cups of iced coffee. He happened to overhear the two talking about guitars and casually chimed in, "Guitar? Do you two need a guitar? I happen to have one that I don't need."

Chen Nian was stunned, his face full of surprise: "Why would a coffee shop like yours keep a guitar?"

"Yes, I'll take it!" Before the barista could reply, Tang Xi's eyes lit up and she quickly agreed.

The barista smiled, quickly turned around, took out a wooden guitar from the storage room, and handed it to Chen Nian.

Chen Nian took the guitar, feeling both amused and exasperated.

I just made up an excuse on the spot, but I didn't expect to get my comeuppance so quickly.

Tang Xi took a small sip of her iced coffee, gently rested her chin on her hands, her eyes clear and bright, and sat quietly opposite Chen Nian, waiting for him to start.

Chen Nian looked at her expectant expression and sighed inwardly, then searched for a melody in his mind.

Suddenly, a few familiar voices came from behind.

"I knew it would be here!"

"Sneaking out on a date in the middle of the night, and hiding it from us?"

"Huh? Why is Chen Nian holding a guitar? Is he going to confess his love on the spot?"

Tang Xi turned around upon hearing the sound and was somewhat surprised to see Liu Ting, Su Xiao, Xia Yao, and Zhou Yu walking towards her.

The four people walked over, moved chairs from the side, and sat down, looking on with curiosity.

Xia Yao sized up the two of them and said quietly, "Coming out for coffee alone so late at night, are you sure it's not a secret rendezvous?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Nian said, "Knowing it's a date, aren't you going back?"

"Then we absolutely can't go back!" they all said in unison, and then asked Tang Xi.

"Don't interrupt you." Tang Xi said helplessly, quickly bringing the topic back and signaling everyone to be quiet. "Chen Nian is about to sing, that song 'Chrysanthemum Terrace'."

"Huh?" Liu Ting looked surprised. "What's Chrysanthemum Terrace?"

Zhou Yu paused for a moment, then said, "The line from the song he sang today?"

"Yes, it's called Chrysanthemum Terrace," Tang Xi said.

In an instant, Liu Ting and the others all fell silent, their eyes fixed on Chen Nian, filled with anticipation.

The photographer, who had finished tidying up, passed by and witnessed this scene. His eyes lit up, and he immediately picked up his camera and quietly stood in the corner of the coffee shop counter.

The barista stood to the side, smiling awkwardly yet curiously, looking at the room full of handsome men and beautiful women, vaguely feeling like he was watching a variety show.

Surrounded by five beautiful women, Chen Nian couldn't feel excited at all; he felt rather awkward.

He quickly calmed down, thought about it some more, and realized that he had indeed heard the guitar version of "Chrysanthemum Terrace".

He held the guitar firmly, adjusted his grip, and gently plucked the strings with his fingertips.

"Clang~~"

The clear, melodious sound of the zither slowly spread out, and for a moment, Liu Ting and the others became focused.

The somewhat casual melody quickly became orderly.

Chen Nian lowered his eyes slightly, his gaze falling on the guitar strings. Accompanied by the gentle guitar music, he softly began to sing:

"Your tears, so tender yet tinged with sorrow."

"The pale crescent moon hooks onto the past."

"The night is too long, it has frozen into frost, who is in the attic, in cold despair?"

"The raindrops gently patter against the vermilion window."

"My whole life has been on paper, scattered by the wind..."

A deep voice drifted away slowly.

With just a few words, a desolate scene of a lonely building under the moonlight and autumn rain staining the windowpane was instantly sketched in everyone's mind.

Liu Ting, Su Xiao, and Zhou Yu were all deeply moved, instantly recognizing the essence of the song, their eyes filled with awe.

After a short while, Chen Nian took a breath, looked up and met the gazes of the group, then plucked the strings again and began the chorus:

"Chrysanthemums wither, wounds cover the ground, and your smile has faded."

"The falling flowers break my heart, but my thoughts lie dormant in silence."

"The north wind blows wildly, the night is not yet over, and your shadow cannot be cut off."

"Leaving me all alone on the lake... for companions."