Chapter 7: Rotten Songs

In an instant, the live stream flooded with fans of the "Sweetheart Family." A barrage of insults and verbal attacks filled the screen, and the situation spiraled out of control.

Chen Yu, of course, was oblivious to all of this.

He was currently composed, offering a "lesson" to his bewildered daughter.

"Niannian, you must understand that writing a song is just like cooking. A good chef can create a delicacy with the simplest ingredients."

"But a poor chef, even if given top-tier Wagyu, will only turn it into a bland plate of stir-fried meat."

He paused, pointed at the sheet music, and criticized it mercilessly:

"This song is a classic example of the latter. The melodic progression is utterly unoriginal, and the chord composition is lazy to the extreme—it just cycles through the same old cliches from start to finish."

"As for the lyrics... 'A promise under the starlight is just a promise,' 'Take me as your only faith!'—it’s just a collection of tacky, outdated romantic drivel from a decade ago."

"A song like this, calling it an exercise piece for you is being generous."

The entertainment industry in this parallel world had developed in a somewhat distorted way.

Celebrities, especially singing and dancing idols, were held in extremely high regard, and the fan economy was exceptionally developed, but true creative talent had suffered a severe disconnect.

Most of the popular songs on the market were assembly-line pop tracks with simple melodies and hollow lyrics, relying entirely on the singer's looks and carefully crafted personas.

To Chen Yu, who had grown up listening to the legendary masterpieces of his previous life on Earth, these so-called "divine songs" were nothing short of noise pollution.

His words were like a ladle of cold water tossed into a searing wok of oil.

The live stream erupted.

【Who the hell is this brat! I’m going to hunt him down!】

【How dare he insult our idol’s hard work! The Sweetheart Family never admits defeat! Sisters, report him now!】

【I’m so furious! How could the production team invite such scum! @Diary of Raising Kids, come out and apologize!】

In the VIP lounge, the atmosphere turned subtle as well.

A wealthy woman in a Chanel suit covered her mouth and chuckled, "My, this gentleman is certainly... a man of strong opinions. 'Promise Under the Starlight' is the hottest song right now, yet he criticizes it without a shred of mercy."

Another woman, wearing a pigeon-blood diamond ring, stroked her chin thoughtfully: "I actually find it interesting. Do you think he was sent by a rival company?"

"Or perhaps... he is a big-name producer who prefers to stay out of the limelight? Otherwise, how could he dare to offend a top-tier boy band so directly?"

At that moment, in the piano room at the center of the storm, the most wounded person was the tiny figure.

Niannian kept her head down, her long eyelashes casting small shadows over her eyelids.

Her little mouth was pressed tightly shut, her fingers unconsciously picking at the hem of her dress.

This was the first time in her life she had been so bluntly rejected by a family member other than her mother.

She just... she just thought her father played the piano beautifully and wanted to share the music she liked with him.

Why did Daddy have to say her song was bad?

Was it because she didn't play well, so Daddy didn't like it?

Or was it because Daddy... didn't like her at all?

A child's world is simple; liking is liking, and disliking is disliking.

To her, her father's rejection felt like a rejection of herself.

Crystal-clear tears began to well up in her eyes, trembling on the brink of falling.

Chen Yu saw his daughter on the verge of tears, and his heart skipped a beat.

No matter how much of a slacker he was or how sharp his tongue could be, he couldn't bear to see a little girl cry, especially this little girl who called him Daddy.

He’d been too reckless.

He cursed himself inwardly. He had forgotten this was a five-year-old kid, not a cynical friend he could trade snarky remarks with about bad music.

He coughed, softened his tone, and reached out clumsily, intending to pat his daughter's head, but halfway there, he felt awkward and stopped mid-air.

"Ahem... well, don't cry."

Chen Yu's voice carried a rare note of helplessness. "I didn't mean you didn't play well; you played... well, you have potential. I meant the song itself—it isn't worthy of you."

That sounded even more like a backhanded attempt to fix things. Niannian lowered her head further, her small shoulders hitching.

Chen "Steel-Straight-Man" Yu was at a loss for words.

He ruffled his hair in frustration, looking at the fuzzy little head of his daughter, and the trace of impatience in his heart was finally replaced by a sense of pity.

"Alright, alright, you win."

He sighed and said, "It's just a song, isn't it? That trash isn't worth listening to. Daddy will sing you one... a truly good song."

As he spoke, he cleared his throat, rummaging through his memories of his past life's library, searching for a song suited for the moment.

Got it.

He closed his eyes and gathered his emotions. When he opened them again, his entire demeanor had shifted.

"The black sky hangs low,

Accompanied by bright, twinkling stars.

Little bugs fly, little bugs fly,

Who are you missing?"

He sang a Chinese song, a nursery rhyme that had never existed in this world.

The lyrics were simple, poetic, and picturesque, carrying a pure, healing power.

His pronunciation was clear, his voice tinged with an elegant, magnetic quality. Every note sounded like a meticulously polished gem, gently striking the heartstrings.

The melody was simple yet incomparably beautiful.

It wasn't as bold and brash as "Promise Under the Starlight"; instead, it was like a babbling brook under a quiet, moonlit night, flowing silently into the heart and stirring up gentle ripples.

In the live stream, the fans of the "Sweetheart Family," who had been frantically spamming insults, seemed to have been hit by a pause button. The comments noticeably thinned out.

Everyone was captivated by the sudden melody.

【...What song is this?】

【Is it a nursery rhyme? Why have I never heard it before?】

【It's so beautiful... Oh my god, the melody, this voice... I feel like my soul is being cleansed.】

【No wonder those villains were purified after hearing nursery rhymes; I feel like I am, too. I don't feel like a toxic hater anymore!】

【I... I don't think I'm that angry anymore...】

【Sisters, I'm the same... is this song toxic? It's too gentle!】

Chen Yu didn't stop. He looked at his daughter's still-lowered head, his voice growing even gentler.

"The stars in the sky shed tears,

The roses on the ground wither.

The cold wind blows, the cold wind blows,

As long as I have you by my side."

The song was truly simple.

And with the system's current boost, the rendition perfectly captured the tenderness of the lyrics.

Niannian slowly raised her head.

Her eyes were red and still held tears, but they no longer fell.