Chapter 4: A Quiet Life? Not So Fast (2)

The days that followed that night at the karaoke bar felt almost too quiet, a return to the normalcy Lu Xuan had craved. He settled into his routine at *Whispers of the Past*, shelving books, helping customers, and enjoying the serenity of his life. The neighborhood remained just as peaceful as before—children playing in the streets, neighbors exchanging casual greetings, the occasional chirp of birds and rustle of trees in the wind. It was exactly what he had wanted, a far cry from the intensity of his past.

But even in a life carefully crafted to avoid attention, fate had a way of pulling him back into its grasp.

It started innocuously enough. A few days after the karaoke night, Lu Xuan's voice began to echo through social media, though he had no idea how. Lili, ever the social butterfly, had posted a short clip of him singing on her personal account, captioned *"New guy in the store has a voice that could melt hearts."* It was a passing comment, nothing more than a friendly joke among coworkers. Lu Xuan, not particularly fond of attention, didn't give it a second thought.

But the world, it seemed, had a different idea.

Within hours, the clip was shared across various platforms. People from all over the city began commenting on it, tagging their friends, reposting it on every possible social media site. It wasn't long before someone noticed—someone with a lot of influence in the entertainment industry.

Lu Xuan didn't notice the shift right away. He went about his days, shelving books, organizing the store, helping customers, all the while blissfully unaware of the storm brewing on the other side of the screen. His coworkers were the first to notice the change. Lili, always checking her phone, was the first to bring it up one morning as she walked into the store, her expression a mix of excitement and disbelief.

"Lu Xuan, I think we need to talk," she said, her eyes wide as she showed him her phone.

He peered over her shoulder, half-heartedly glancing at the screen. It was a video—his video. From that night at the karaoke bar. His voice filled the room, smooth and clear, as he effortlessly hit each note. He had thought it was a harmless bit of fun, something to laugh about with his coworkers. But judging by the comments flooding in, it was anything but.

"What is all this?" he asked, frowning as he scrolled through the posts. His heart skipped a beat when he saw a familiar name among the comments—one of the top talent agents in the city, a woman known for scouting the next big thing.

"This," Lili said, tapping the screen enthusiastically, "is going viral. You're all over the place! People are saying you have the voice of an angel, and now the entertainment industry is buzzing."

Lu Xuan sighed, feeling a weight settle in his chest. Of course. No matter how hard he tried to disappear, it seemed that the world was still waiting for a reason to pull him back in.

"I didn't even know this was posted," he muttered, shaking his head.

"I know, right? But you're a natural!" Lili grinned. "People are loving it. I mean, look at these views! You've got hundreds of thousands of people commenting, tagging their friends, sharing your voice with everyone. It's incredible!"

As much as he tried to ignore it, the reality was undeniable. The video had taken on a life of its own. Every platform had picked it up—the likes, the shares, the comments. Some people called him "The Mysterious Karaoke Singer," others marveled at the "Hidden Gem." It was all happening so quickly. He couldn't escape it, not even in his own quiet corner of the world.

---

The following days were a blur of messages, calls, and emails from various entertainment agencies. It seemed like the moment his voice went viral, everyone in the business wanted a piece of him. Agents reached out, talent scouts sent inquiries, and record labels began offering contracts. It was overwhelming, to say the least. They all wanted to know who this mysterious singer was—this person who had appeared out of nowhere, singing as though he had been born to perform.

But Lu Xuan had no intention of indulging any of it. He had made his rules. No standing out, no business ventures, no unnecessary trouble. He wasn't about to throw away his peaceful life for the clamor of fame. So, he ignored the emails, let the calls go unanswered, and turned down every offer that came his way.

But the industry wasn't so easily dissuaded.

One afternoon, just as he was finishing his shift at the bookstore, a familiar face appeared at the door. Mei, who had always been quiet but observant, looked nervous as she entered the shop.

"You might want to sit down," she said, her eyes flicking nervously toward the counter.

Lu Xuan raised an eyebrow, confused. "What's going on?"

"There's someone here to see you," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "A talent agent."

Before he could respond, the door opened, and a sharply dressed woman in her late thirties stepped inside, her heels clicking against the wooden floor. Her expression was serious, focused, but there was a flicker of excitement in her eyes. Lu Xuan didn't recognize her, but the aura of power she carried was undeniable.

"Are you Lu Xuan?" she asked, her voice professional yet warm.

"Yes, that's me," he replied, a little wary.

"I'm Veronica Song," she said, extending a hand. "I'm with Skyline Entertainment. We've been following your progress online, and we think you have exceptional potential. Your voice, it's... unique. We'd like to offer you a chance to join us. To help you make your debut."

Lu Xuan stared at her hand, then back at her face. He could sense the weight of her words, the significance of the offer. He could feel the tug of fate, the same pull that had drawn him into so many entanglements in his past lives. But this time, it was different. This time, he had no desire to play the part.

"I'm not interested," he said, his voice calm but firm. "I'm not looking for fame, or a career in entertainment."

Veronica's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. "I understand. But this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. People are calling you the 'Mysterious Singer.' You've already captured the public's attention. This is your chance to make an impact, to reach millions. We can help you do that. It would be a shame to let that kind of talent go to waste."

Lu Xuan shook his head. "I've made my choice. I want a quiet life. I don't need all of that."

Veronica studied him for a moment, her eyes sharp and calculating, before nodding curtly. "If you change your mind, we'll be here." With that, she turned and left, leaving Lu Xuan alone in the bookstore once again.

As the door closed behind her, Lu Xuan let out a long, slow breath. The temptation, the pull of a career in entertainment—he knew it was powerful. But no matter how many offers came his way, no matter how many times the world tried to drag him back into the spotlight, he was resolute.

This time, he would resist.

He glanced out the window, the quiet street before him a reminder of the life he had chosen. It was a simple life, an ordinary life. And for the first time, that was enough.