Volume One, ChapterI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.

“Pay attention! At this moment, the fingers of your left hand should be quite relaxed. Feel this sense of relaxation and unify it with the sensation of pressing the strings firmly. This way, the feeling of pressing the strings will gradually approach that of a light touch, becoming more relaxed.”

“Then, practice alternating half-step scales between pressing the strings firmly and muting them lightly with each finger of the left hand, and transfer this exercise across all strings and frets.”

“The first problem is solvable!”

After finishing, Shen Qi even nodded slightly.

“Yes! It’s solvable!”

Shen Xiaokun’s expression was adorably convinced, feeling that Shen Qi was absolutely right.

[What? My mind’s gone blank, he really knows what he’s talking about!]

[Wait... I’m kind of confused. Isn’t Shen Qi a freeloader? How does he seem so versatile?]

[Love it, love it. This calm, steady, and confident aura is downright intoxicating.]

[I’m defeated; my wife keeps calling me useless.]

“And the second problem?” Shen Xiaokun couldn’t help but ask.

Shen Qi nodded and said calmly, “Second, your finger technique for vibrato is incorrect. You’re moving perpendicular to the strings, but the proper vibrato motion is—your wrist and fingers should be extremely relaxed, pressing down firmly at one point without moving, while the fingers sway left and right along the string’s direction...”

After a brief pause, Shen Qi continued, “Have you ever played with a roly-poly toy? The whole movement is just like that!”

“You can try starting with single notes, then double and triple stops for vibrato. Practice with your left hand fingers upright resting on your right wrist, then on the strings...”

“If you do that... the second problem is solved!”

Shen Xiaokun was stunned.

Before leaving, Li Huange had warned Shen Xiaokun that this man might be hiding tremendous talent, though she wasn’t sure.

If that were true, Li Huange hoped Shen Xiaokun would bring out Shen Qi’s abilities.

First the piano, now the guitar...

As a prodigy, Shen Xiaokun could immediately recognize the professionalism in Shen Qi’s diagnosis and solutions.

Now there was only one thing left...

He had to get him to play!

Suppressing his surprise, Shen Xiaokun deliberately curled his lips.

“Tch... You talk a good game, but can you actually play?”

Shen Qi smiled and spread his hands, neither confirming nor denying.

Shen Xiaokun rolled his eyes instantly.

Good grief, that attitude again?

“You just talk without practicing, that’s all talk. Play something for me. If you can play better than me, I’ll admit it.”

Shen Qi shook his head with a smile.

“Sorry, I really don’t care whether you admit it or not. I just have a bit of perfectionist OCD...”

Shen Xiaokun grew impatient and grabbed Shen Qi’s shoulders.

“You have to prove it to me!”

But he couldn’t pull him.

“Hey, hey, hey? Why now? It’s not that I don’t want to play, it’s just because...”

“Because why?” Shen Qi suddenly said something shocking.

“Because this song is just too awful to listen to...”

Shen Xiaokun froze on the spot.

“Aw... awful?”

[Does he know what he’s saying? ‘Chasing the Moon’ was co-written by Li Huange and Lin Duo, performed by Su Yu, and it’s currently third on the new songs chart!]

[The song is so popular, and he says it’s awful?]

[Damn it, he actually said Su Yu’s song is awful? That’s just asking for trouble!]

...

Li Huange suddenly realized she was standing and hurriedly sat down, meeting the eyes of Bai Qinghe and Lin Xiaolu.

The three foxes all smiled faintly, each with their own thoughts.

Not exposing the matter was the rule, but all three knew what was really going on.

“This... how can Shen Qi say ‘Chasing the Moon’ is awful?” Zhuo Yiyi said indignantly, looking at Li Huange. “Doesn’t he like Queen Huange? How could he say that?”

Li Huange chuckled softly. “Not every song can please everyone, right?”

Bai Qinghe and Lin Xiaolu looked righteously indignant.

“Shen Qi is really so rude.”

“Even if he knows guitar, that doesn't mean he understands songs. What right does he have to say this song is awful?”

Li Huange glanced at Bai Qinghe and Lin Xiaolu.

“So, you mean ordinary people aren’t allowed to say a work isn’t good?”

“Or that your songs and films can’t be criticized by a regular worker?”

“Or do you think I’m so petty-minded that I can’t accept anyone saying anything bad about my company’s songs?”

Her tone was calm and her expression gentle.

Since you all know, I don’t need to worry so much.

Bai Qinghe and Lin Xiaolu’s expressions flickered briefly before quickly changing.

“Of course not, I was just defending Queen Huange.”

“Yeah, yeah, no such meaning.”

Li Huange said no more and turned her gaze back to the screen.

...

“Aw... awful?”

Shen Xiaokun was furious.

This was one of his favorite songs, with lyrics by Li Huange and her involvement in production.

Yet Shen Qi nodded again.

“It really is awful. In my view, the vast majority of pop music in this world is unpleasant to the ear, completely outdated...”

“You...” Shen Xiaokun’s face flushed red with anger. “Stop talking nonsense here! You don’t even dare to play guitar, and yet you blabber that ‘Chasing the Moon’ is bad? I don’t think you understand anything.”

Shen Qi shrugged. “Yes, I really don’t understand. Just pretend I said nothing.”

“That won’t do!” Shen Xiaokun grabbed Shen Qi’s arm. “You have to play and sing for me! If it’s not better than ‘Chasing the Moon,’ I’ll tell my mom!”

Shen Qi looked helpless.

Blame that damned perfectionism and OCD.

Some things can’t be said, some abilities can’t be shown.

If Li Huange found out, how could he keep living off her?

Wouldn’t he be dragged off to work as a grunt at Huange Entertainment?

“No, no, no, I was just joking earlier. I really can’t play guitar, and I can’t write songs either.”

“Heh...” Shen Xiaokun gave a sly adult smile. “Then I’m calling my mom right now.”

“Don’t!” Shen Qi hurriedly stopped him.

Shen Xiaokun noticed Shen Qi’s nervousness and stared at him knowingly, waiting for a response.

Shen Qi looked troubled, struggling.

“Xiaokun, are you a man or not?”

“Stop talking nonsense!” Shen Xiaokun snapped.

Shen Qi said solemnly, “Then let’s make a man’s pact! I can play and sing a song, but you absolutely can’t tell your mom!”

“Why?” Shen Xiaokun was puzzled. “Isn’t it something to be proud of, a man showing some skills in front of his wife?”

Shen Qi shook his head.

“You’re too young to understand some things.”

“Then tell me. If what you say makes sense, I’ll agree,” Shen Xiaokun said.

Shen Qi sighed and said seriously:

“In every healthy family, there’s a division of labor. If mom is career-driven, then dad lets mom work outside and prove her worth!”

“But all those tedious, troublesome family matters still need someone to handle them. Dad willingly steps back into the shadows, working like an old ox for the family...”

Shen Xiaokun blinked, his bright eyes trying to absorb it all.

[Whoa! This guy actually framed freeloading in such a fresh, elegant way? I’m impressed.]

[No matter how you dress it up, freeloading is freeloading.]

[Looks like Xiaokun refuses to admit Shen Qi is his dad. Maybe because Shen Qi often pulls the wool over his eyes?]

[I don’t buy a word from Shen Qi!]

Shen Qi sighed again.

“In our family, only one person needs to shine brilliantly. Dad chooses to watch mom become the brightest star in China from the darkness.”