Wandering Gods of Day and Night
Chapter 286 - 195 Space Law_2

Chapter 286: Chapter 195 Space Law_2

Zhou Xuan’s "magnanimity" made Gu Ling feel relieved at heart.

The two chatted for a while longer,

and then Bai Guang and Si Yuer arrived.

Si Yuer was straightforward and greeted Gu Ling upon seeing her: "Sister Ling, has your incense been burning well?"

"It’s burning brightly. With the Young Master here, how could it not?"

Gu Ling glanced at the bashful Bai Guang, sizing her up from head to toe, and said, "Your figure and looks are great, but your personality seems a bit too reserved."

"Personality is indeed an issue, but even with reservations, there’s a style of singing to match," Zhou Xuan said, then asked Gu Ling if there was a place to try out singing.

"Of course there is."

Gu Ling led Zhou Xuan, Si Yuer, and Bai Guang to her lounge.

When it came to trial performances, Gu Ling was a professional—she herself was an exceptional songstress.

Once inside the lounge, Gu Ling asked Bai Guang to sing a song.

Bai Guang sang "Night Fragrance." Ever since being guided by Zhou Xuan during their last encounter, she no longer insisted on fast-paced songs.

Her voice, languid yet carrying a strong undercurrent of rhythm, instantly captivated Gu Ling.

"You sang wonderfully. There’s flavor in it—I like it very much. Young Master, your recommendation is spot on."

"I also think her voice is perfectly suited to the jazz music currently gaining popularity in Mingjiang Prefecture."

Jazz, an imported genre, had been introduced to Mingjiang a few years prior and was increasingly becoming the rage with no sign of waning.

Bai Guang’s voice was naturally tailored for jazz.

"Good thing you brought her over." Gu Ling leaned toward Zhou Xuan’s ear and said, "Bailemen has recently been assembling a jazz band. Once the band is fully formed, the next step will be to have their songstresses try out and see whose voice fits jazz best.

If we were even one step behind, Bai Guang would have been caught in Bailemen’s net and promoted as a star in front of all those wealthy patrons."

"Helping you with something this significant—remember to leave me 51% of Metropolitan’s shares."

"Ugh, you’re eyeing what little fortune I have!" Gu Ling lightly patted Zhou Xuan’s shoulder and continued, "Sister Bai Guang, your singing is good, but... it still needs refinement..."

She stood up and walked to Bai Guang’s side, asking, "Can you sing ’Nanping Late Bell’?"

"It was trendy for a while. I’ve learned it—I can sing it."

"Alright, let’s hear you sing a segment."

At Gu Ling’s prompting, Bai Guang closed her eyes for a moment to find the right mood, then began to sing: "I hurriedly walked into the woods..."

After just two lines,

Gu Ling was left unsatisfied. She gently swayed her soft waist and sang along: "I find no trace of him ~ only see the trees swaying with the wind ~"

Not only was her body swaying, but her vocal tone twisted melodiously with it.

With Gu Ling leading the way,

Bai Guang imitated her, adapting her voice with similar undulating movements.

However, Bai Guang’s movements carried their own flair, distinct from Gu Ling’s sensual swaying.

Where Gu Ling exuded an overwhelming allure, seduction ingrained in her very core—

each additional glance or listen to her song pulled at one’s heartstrings, leaving it trembling incessantly—

Bai Guang’s vibrations infused a subtle strength, more adept at immersing listeners into the atmosphere of the song.

The two became increasingly drawn into the performance, their enchanting voices filling the room,

evoking a "jazzy beauty" that was intoxicating amidst the ambiance of the Ye Ming River.

The duet of the two beauties was like a delicate hand grazing over Zhou Xuan, gently lulling him into a dreamlike state—real yet unreal.

As "Nanping Late Bell" drew to its conclusion,

Gu Ling said to Bai Guang, "Come to the Metropolitan tomorrow to sing. We’ll form a jazz band just for you, elevate you to the star attraction, and ensure your salary matches that of the top singers."

"Thank you, Sister Ling. Thank you, Young Master." Bai Guang was overwhelmed with emotion, repeatedly expressing her gratitude to Zhou Xuan and Gu Ling.

...

Once Bai Guang and Si Yuer had departed,

Gu Ling finally dropped her authoritative façade as the boss of Metropolitan and indulged in her excitement.

"When the band is formed, and Bai Guang takes the stage, our Metropolitan will have the strength to rival Bailemen."

"Take your time with the rivalry. I’m heading out—I’ve got a pile of things to deal with at home."

Zhou Xuan left Gu Ling to bask in her "thrilled" private space, stood up, and exited the lounge.

"Young Master, if Li Chengfeng shows up at the gathering tomorrow, I really will make my move."

"Do it. Don’t mind me."

Zhou Xuan closed the door to the lounge and headed downstairs.

On the first floor, Zhou Xuan decided that he, too, would like a bath. As he made his way to the bathhouse, a painting on the hallway wall caught his attention.

The painting depicted an old man with a pipe in his mouth, wearing a railroad cap.

The old man’s eyes were as bright and pure as a child’s, yet his skin was like a mosaic, segmented into an innumerable number of colored patches.

Contained within those patches were tones of youthful skin, infant skin, and elderly skin...

The chaotic composition looked disorderly at first glance.

But Zhou Xuan understood.

The man in the painting was not an ordinary old man—

he was an embodiment of obsession.

Obsession—most could not perceive it.

Through "Wash Away Injustice Talisman," Zhou Xuan could see it. The Divine Stealer, Liu Qingguang, could perceive it through a "gourd eye."

And evidently, the artist of this painting could also see obsession.

"Young man, do you like this painting?"

An elderly gentleman walked up to Zhou Xuan and asked.

"Oh, this painting has some intrigue," Zhou Xuan replied to the old man.

"What intrigue? To me, it just looks like a jumble." The old man scoffed.

"I feel like the artist was attempting to convey something quite novel," Zhou Xuan said. "He probably took fragments from many individuals and fused them into a single figure."

"Do you know painting?" The old man raised an eyebrow, questioning.

"Just a little," Zhou Xuan replied and continued toward the bathhouse. After a few steps, an uneasy feeling struck him, and he turned back to refocus on the painting, this time releasing his Perception.

Under the gaze of his Perception, Zhou Xuan unexpectedly saw "the old man’s entire life" within the painting.