Domination in America, Starting from being a Boxing Champion-Chapter 861 - 618: Singing on the Street

After the meal, the two of them strolled hand in hand through the streets and alleys of Gong and Drum Lane, observing both the Capital City of this era and the nearby housing prices.

In this area within the Second Ring Road, there are not many new properties, with prices ranging from 9,000 to 15,000 per square meter. Anything below 9,000 is mostly outside the Second Ring Road, and commodity house prices are around 6,000 outside the Fourth Ring Road.

Six thousand might not seem like a lot but considering the average salary in the Capital City area is only 1,850 Yuan, ordinary wage-earners would need over a decade's worth of salaries to afford a home here.

In the vicinity, there are also siheyuans and standalone villas for sale, but their prices all exceed 1 million Yuan. Larger properties with historical significance are worth tens of millions, which are beyond his reach for now.

Zhang Zilin suggested that he buy near the university town along the North Fourth Ring Road, firstly because the housing prices there are cheaper, and with his prize money, he could afford a semi-furnished apartment of about 100 square meters. Also, they are sophomores this year with two more years left at school, so it's not convenient to go home if they buy inside the Second Ring Road, nor is it convenient for his training.

Link thought her idea made sense. His main purpose for buying a house right now is for his own living, without the need to consider future appreciation and investment factors. Buying near the school on the north side, which is also within the school district, is a good choice too.

Nothing can stop

Your yearning for freedom

The career that's wild and unrestrained

Your heart carries not a single worry

Passing through the dark years

There are times when you've felt lost

...

"Someone is singing over there."

Zhang Zilin pointed ahead as she spoke.

The two started from Gong and Drum Lane and unknowingly arrived at Shichahai Park. The evening park was bustling with crowds, street food vendors, and makeshift stalls.

On the west side of Shichahai Square, several street musicians were singing with guitars, surrounded by an audience of onlookers, including children running around.

It was full of the feeling of everyday life.

Zhang Zilin pulled Link to a crowd where four male singers in their twenties were performing. The lead singer, a man with dyed blonde hair, sat on a speaker with a guitar, singing Blue Lotus, a new song released by Xu Wei earlier this year.

His voice was distinctive, and he sang well, with many people placing banknotes into the open guitar case as tips.

Zhang Zilin also took out 10 Yuan from her wallet to tip the singer.

"I think these street singers are so cool, even cooler than the singers who perform on stage."

Zhang Zilin said with a slight smile, pulling his hand as she explained.

"It does indeed look pretty cool."

Link nodded, noticing a few performers in the center with Matt haircuts, wearing vests and leather pants, adopting exaggerated styles during their performance; it really was not mainstream.

In the current socio-cultural environment, non-mainstream is a form of individuality and fashion, accepted by some who advocate for it. In a decade or so, non-mainstream will become something considered 'tacky'.

After listening to a song, Link and Zhang Zilin continued walking.

The area was lively with seven or eight spots hosting singing performances within a span of less than 500 meters—some crowded, some less so. Near the lakeside of Shichahai, one young singer with only his guitar was singing Glorious Years by Beyond, with no one around him.

However, one can't blame the audience for not supporting him, as the singer had an ordinary look, was young, and his voice and singing skills were quite mediocre.

"Want to listen to some songs?"

Link stopped and asked.

"What?"

Zhang Zilin stopped and looked at him.

"If you want to listen to songs, I can sing for you."

"You sing? You can sing?"

"A little bit."

"Really? Let's not risk it. I like you even if you can't sing, and you're a boxing champion, no need to compete with them."

Zhang Zilin tugged at his hand, preventing him from going ahead.

Link pinched her nose, and once the young singer finished his song, he walked up to him, dropped a hundred Yuan, and asked to borrow the guitar.

The guy glanced at him, hesitated for a moment, then took off the guitar strap and handed it over.

"Brother, thank you!"

Link took the guitar and examined it, noticing its basic make and construction, probably a basic version costing two to three hundred Yuan, far inferior to Taylor's kind which cost tens of thousands of US Dollars for a custom-made guitar.

Also, this young singer was probably new to the scene, not even having the tuning of the six strings sorted out. Link wanted to help tune it but didn't have the tools, so he had to make do.

"Zilin, what do you want to hear?"

Link asked, holding the guitar and skillfully strumming the strings.

"You really know how?"

Zhang Zilin covered her lips with her hand and laughed.

"Yes, songs in Chinese, English, French, Japanese, Korean, I know a little of all."

Tsk!

The young singer beside them rolled his eyes, thinking he must be boasting, trying to show off in front of this stunning girl as a way to pick her up. Zhao Lei had been in the underground music scene for half a year and had seen such acts many times.

"Alright, let me think. Do you know any Beyond songs? Any song would do."

Zhang Zilin chuckled.

"No problem."

Link stood in front of the microphone, pondered the lyrics of a few songs, and chose Glorious Years, which he was more familiar with. He had collaborated with Wong Ka Kui before during a concert on Hong Kong Island.

"The bell tolls the signal to return home, in his life, it seems with a sigh, the meaning given by his black skin, dedicated to the struggle of racial hues, years convert ownership into loss...

Link initially sang in Cantonese a bit awkwardly with a somewhat stiff voice, but after a few lines, he adjusted and his singing became more fluid. His vocal timbre wasn't much different from his past life, and coupled with his profound singing foundation, years of stage experience, and control over emotional expression in songs,

The difficulty of such a performance was not great.

"Weary eyes carrying hope, today only a residual shell is left, welcoming the Glorious Years, embracing freedom in the storm..."