Domination in America, Starting from being a Boxing Champion-Chapter 871 - 624: The Bar and The Date

"Here's a CD from the past, listen to our love back then, sometimes I suddenly forget I'm still in love with you, can't sing the songs like before, hearing them all makes me blush and hide...."

"Poplar, sing something else, this song is awfully hard to listen to."

In the music bar owned by Gao Xiaosong and Lao Lang in Houhai, Zhou Xun, who was chatting, paused to shout at Poplar, who was playing the guitar and singing on the stage.

"Change it up, Old Poplar, this song is everywhere these days, I'm sick of hearing it."

Gao Xiaosong winked at Poplar.

Poplar shrugged his shoulders and, with his guitar, began to play "Wind-blown Waves" himself.

Zhou Xun hummed lightly, turned her head back, and glared at Link, complaining in a hoarse voice, "Who asked you to collaborate with Princess? You know I don't get along with her, and yet you still work with her, that's not being a good friend at all."

"What happened between you and Sister Princess? I haven't heard about it."

Link leaned back on the sofa and said.

"Don't call her Sister Princess; she likes to seduce people. Be careful or she'll hook you in."

Zhou Xun said discontentedly.

"Xun'er, Link isn't part of the industry circle. He doesn't know about your ordeal with Li Yaping and Princess. Don't blame him. And getting Princess to sing this song was Zhang Yadong's idea; it has nothing to do with Link."

Gao Xiaosong explained with a smile.

While Gao Xiaosong was speaking, Gao Yuanyuan leaned in and whispered to Link about Zhou Xun and Princess's conflict.

Last year, when Zhou Xun was filming "Heroic Legend of the Condor Heroes," she fell in love with the male lead Li Yaping. They were madly in love and sang the theme song "I Will Never Forget Meeting You" together, sickeningly sweet. In the first half of this year, they rode on the momentum and continued to work together on the second TV drama "Beach."

One was a popular young actor, and the other a popular actress; both had significant fame. Their relationship was widely reported by the media, and there were even rumors of marriage.

However, their relationship lasted less than two years. In July, when Zhou Xun went south to shoot "House of Agents," their romance hit a red light. Li Yaping took the initiative to break up, leaving Zhou Xun crying a mess. Not long after their breakup, the media reported Li Yaping's romance with Princess.

Zhou Xun immediately understood everything. When she was in a relationship with Li Yaping, she was on good terms with Princess and had even taken Li to attend Princess's birthday party.

Now Li Yaping had dumped her for Princess.

There must be someone who had done something to betray a friend.

That's why Brother Xun had a falling out with Princess. They used to share the same circle of friends, but after this incident, people in their social circle would invite either Brother Xun or Princess to gatherings. If they invited both, the atmosphere would become very awkward.

Link wasn't interested in these messy affairs, but out of friendship, he spoke up to comfort Brother Xun, telling her to pull herself together and find a better man.

"A better man?"

Zhou Xun's eyes shifted, landing on Link.

Link was younger, more handsome, stronger, and more talented than Li Yaping, but this guy had a girlfriend.

"Link, you're only 18 years old, just graduated from high school, why get a girlfriend so early? Don't you know puppy love is bad?"

Zhou Xun said, annoyed.

"I think so too, Link you're only 18, dating now can interfere with your studies."

Gao Yuanyuan said with a slight smile.

"Others may be affected by puppy love when it comes to their studies, but Link definitely won't be. Just look at him, he doesn't at all seem like an 18-year-old, sometimes I feel he's even more mature than I am."

Gao Xiaosong teased, pointing at Link.

Lao Lang nodded in agreement at the side.

Link smiled lightly, "I'm someone who matured early."

"Link, you're really well-suited for acting. I've got a script in my hands right now; one of the roles fits you perfectly. Would you like to give it a try?" Zhou Xun eyed Link as she asked.

"Sister Xun, there's no need to persuade him. Director Wang Xiaoshuai has already tried to convince him several times without success. He really doesn't like acting,"

said Gao Yuanyuan.

"Link indeed is a good actor. At the end of last year, when we were shooting the music video, Link nailed 90% of his scenes in one take. We brought in several female leads from Central Drama College and Beijing Film Academy, but they often had to reshoot many times, their acting skills were far behind Link's,"

Gao Xiaosong remarked.

"I've seen those music videos of Link's, he really acts very well, very naturally, even better than many first-rate actors."

Zhou Xun praised.

Link shook his head with a smile; it wasn't that he acted well, but rather the quality of those music videos was poor, whether in terms of story structure, scene design or performance. When it came to directing, the demands on the actors were somewhat lower than those seen in Western music industry videos.

For him, someone who had won an Oscar for Best Actor, such a level of performance was easy to grasp.

"Hey, Link, how about singing a song for us up here?"

Pushu shouted while slinging his guitar on stage.

"Sure!"

Link took a sip of pure water, then got up on stage to collaborate with Pushu on "Lake Baikal" from his new album, followed by a duet of the title track from Pushu's new album, "Life is Like a Summer Flower".

"How long have I been in the dark slumber, how difficult must it be before I can open my eyes, I've come from afar, just as you are lingering obsessively here on earth, I am wild for her..."

"Link is truly incredible! To share the stage with a veteran like Pushu and not be outdone at all, amazing!"

Lao Lang watched the two on stage and couldn't help exclaiming in admiration.

"Link is obviously performing much better than Pushu, okay? Pushu just stands there, like a wooden stake and dressed sloppily at that. Then look at Link: not only is he handsome, but he's also particularly fashionable. Plus, when he sings, he's clearly more passionate and engaging, naturally drawing the audience's attention to himself. How can that wooden stake compare?"

Zhou Xun leaned on the sofa, intently fixated on Link as she spoke.

"Link is indeed a born superstar—handsome, can play the guitar, can play the piano, speaks fluent English, and his English songs are top-notch. If Link is willing to spend more time on singing and composing, I dare say he could not only become a top singer domestically, but he would also do very well in the Western music scene,"

said Gao Xiaosong.

Gao Yuanyuan gazed at Link on stage, her beautiful eyes blinking and shining brightly.

When Link and Pushu finished singing and were about to leave, Zhou Xun shouted for one more song and asked Link to play the piano.

The other patrons in the bar also burst into applause, loudly calling for an encore.

"It's so lively; it seems we've arrived late."

Xia Yu and his girlfriend Yuan Quan, dressed in thick down jackets, walked into the bar.

"Don't speak, Link is about to play the piano."

Zhou Xun gestured without turning her head.

Xia Yu shrugged and sat down to listen to the music.

Link and Po Shu collaborated on another of Po Shu's signature pieces, "Baihua Forest." Link played the piano while Po Shu sang. The two harmonized well, and the melancholic and restrained melody brought tears to the eyes of many girls present.

"Link can play the piano too? That's so badass."

Xia Yu, watching Link play on stage, couldn't help but exclaim.

"Link knows a lot, not just piano playing," said Zhou Xun with a smug smile.

Following Xia Yu and Yuan Quan, more batches of celebrities from Capital City's music and film circles arrived at the bar, including Zheng Jun and his wife, Sun Nan, Yang Kun, Huang Zheng, Yu Quan, Li Xiaoran, and others. By the depths of winter, with no work, they often came to the bar to hang out.

"Come, my dear, to this Baihua Forest, where at death's door she murmured, 'I am coming, wait for me in that Baihua Forest.'

Clap clap clap!

When Link finished playing the last note of the song, the audience burst into a round of warm applause and cheers.

Link smiled, stood up, and bowed.

"Link, you're really awesome, it feels great to collaborate with you."

Po Shu gave him a hug as he held onto him.

"Bro Shu, it's because your songs are so good. I like this one a lot," said Link.

"Your songs are great too. How about we collaborate to write one when we have a chance?" Po Shu invited.

Link agreed, waved to the audience, and walked off the stage back to his booth.

Along the way, he encountered quite a few fans asking for autographs, including a few familiar faces like Bai Baihe, Tong Yao, and Tang Yan. Tang Yan had played the leading lady in his new album, so she was an acquaintance.

After signing more than ten cards, Link returned to his booth. Under the introduction of Gao Xiaosong and Zhou Xun, he met Xia Yu and his wife, Sun Nan, Zheng Jun, Li Xiaoran, and others, and they exchanged pleasantries.

A group of people sat in the booth drinking, chatting, boasting, and shooting the breeze, which was lively indeed. However, since he was not familiar with many of them, he couldn't really join the conversation. By 4 in the afternoon, as the sky darkened, Link mentioned he needed to leave.

Outside the bar, Capital City's sky began to fill with large goose-feather snowflakes. The pagodas by the lakeside, the green belts, streets, and nearby buildings were all covered in white snow, creating a vast expanse of white.

Link walked across the crunching snowy ground to the parking lot, and before he could get in his car, he heard Zhou Xun and Gao Yuanyuan calling out behind him, wanting a lift from him.

Zhou Xun and Gao Yuanyuan had both been drinking and weren't in a condition to drive.

Link started the car and drove to the curb to pick them up.

After Zhou Xun and Gao Yuanyuan got in, they complained about Yu Quan and Yang Kun for being all talk with no substance, stating that chatting with them was pointless.

Link asked who he should drop off first.

Zhou Xun said she wasn't done drinking and suggested going to her place to sit a while, since she had some nice bottles of red wine at home.

Link said it was too late and suggested another day.

Zhou Xun countered that it was snowing today and there was nothing to do at home. The three of them would have more fun together. She even joked whether he was scared of being "eaten" by her and Yuanyuan? freeweɓnovel.cѳm

Link just shook his head with a smile.

When the car arrived at Zhou Xun's residential area in Chaoyang District, not far from Gao Yuanyuan's home, Zhou Xun dragged him to come in, and Gao Yuanyuan also winked at him.

Link no longer refused.

Zhou Xun's place was nice—a three-bedroom apartment with two halls and two large balconies, tastefully decorated, with Turkish handmade carpets on the floor and all kinds of appliances, though it was a bit messy.

Upon arriving home, Zhou Xun and Gao Yuanyuan took off their thick down jackets, went to the kitchen to make a few dishes, and the three sat at the small dining table in the living room, drinking wine and chatting.

Zhou Xun had a few extra drinks, her petite face flushed red, and she began to talk about her romance with Li Yaping, eventually breaking into tears and seeking comfort in Link's embrace.

Link half-hugged her, gently patting her back.

Zhou Xun looked up and asked him what he thought about her and if she was pretty?

Link complimented her, saying that she was very nice, pretty, fun, and loyal—a great friend. Although his words were partly perfunctory, he didn't say them carelessly. Zhou Xun was petite, with a charming face, and coupled with the aura of an actress and celebrity, she was indeed a beautiful woman.

Zhou Xun pursed her moist lips and asked him if he dared to kiss her, alleging that if he didn't, he was a coward.

Link said she was drunk and he didn't want to take advantage of her.

But Zhou Xun insisted, tilting her face up for a kiss.

Link could only give her a peck.

Zhou Xun, however, held onto him and leaned in.

Link didn't push her away, and taking advantage of the slight buzz from the alcohol, he had his way with her right there in the living room.

Gao Yuanyuan blushed and cursed him as a lecher.

In the end, she too couldn't escape his clutches.

By 9 o'clock at night, Link looked at the two of them fast asleep, got dressed, and left downstairs to avoid any trouble when they awoke.

--

Back home, Zhang Zilin wasn't there. She had relatives getting married back in her hometown and her whole family went back for the wedding, so they were not around for a few days.

After taking a hot shower, Link heated a cup of milk and sat on the balcony, watching the heavy snow fall over Capital City at night, feeling quite content.

The next day, after the snow stopped, Capital City was beautifully cloaked in silky white, with the sky a clear azure. The air quality was excellent. Link got up early, running through the snowy streets, from Qiu Zhi Road to Olympic Park, then headed for Sports University to train.