Chapter 23: An Ode of Iron Gates, Iron Beds, and Iron Chains for the Iron-Willed Prisoner

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The moment Xu Qingfeng announced that he was going to sing, the livestream chat exploded:

[Bulletproof comments incoming!]

[Donkey-braying warning!]

[Here comes the lip-syncing!]

[Prepare yourselves to witness the art of the lip-sync artist!]

Everyone knew exactly what level Xu Qingfeng’s singing was at. His lip-syncing was nothing special, but if he sang live, it might well cost him his life.

“Jokes are jokes, but don’t make fun of the streamer’s singing. I’m feeling inspired today, so I’ll give everyone something intense. Let me make this clear in advance: I’m not alluding to anyone. I am absolutely not talking about Old Chen or Old Li. Anyone who sees themselves in this is responsible for the consequences.”

The livestream had already been running for quite some time, and the audience had stabilized. Quite a few people had genuinely come specifically to hear him sing.

They knew perfectly well that his singing was awful, yet they still couldn’t resist listening at least once.

As he spoke, Xu Qingfeng reached beneath the desk and pulled out a guitar, then adjusted the camera angle.

The viewers were stunned.

[Bro, you’re really going to sing?]

[Since when do you know how to play guitar?]

Xu Qingfeng pouted in mock offense. “There’s a lot more this streamer can do than you imagine. Ahem. Enough fooling around. Listen up, everyone.”

With that, he plucked the guitar strings, producing a melodious and pleasing sound.

Lately, he had been busy battling Starbright and Harmony Under Heaven, leaving him no time to record a song. So he simply decided to play it live on guitar.

[The streamer’s got some real skill on the guitar.]

[You believe that? It’s definitely fake.]

[Wind Dog has been a professional actor for years.]

Xu Qingfeng did not bother explaining the accusations that he was only pretending to play. There was no way to explain something like that.

Before long, he began to sing.

“Iron gates, iron windows, iron chains…”

The audience was dumbfounded.

[???]

[Wait a second, Streamer. Something is off about this song. Very off.]

[Stop, Streamer. Stop!]

Xu Qingfeng paused. “Folks, is the song not nice?”

[It sounds nice, but there’s something a little strange about it.]

[Good heavens, is this a prison-themed song?]

[You’re not just killing them—you’re twisting the knife!]

[Old Beast Chen is really blessed. Even after going inside, he still has songs written for him.]

[Old Li: It’s a story about two people, yet only one person’s name is mentioned.]

[Old Li: Feed me peanuts!]

With a look of profound sorrow, Xu Qingfeng continued singing.

“With my hands upon the iron bars, I gaze outside.

How beautiful life beyond these walls is.

When will I return to my homeland?

When will I return to my homeland?”

The livestream had hundreds of thousands of viewers, yet the chat was reduced to a sea of question marks.

When the audience starts sending question marks, that is when you know a livestream has truly succeeded.

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The viewers who had come expecting a bit of entertainment were completely bewildered.

[The first time you hear it, you don’t understand the meaning of the song. By the time you do, you’re already in prison.]

[Bro, seriously—have you actually been inside?]

[Reported, reported! The streamer escaped from prison!]

[Holy crap, the streamer has perfectly captured how I feel about going to work.]

[I have a friend who just got emotionally destroyed.]

Someone began frantically spamming:

[Send 1 to reduce your sentence.]

In an instant, the entire screen was flooded with ones.

Xu Qingfeng frowned, stopped singing, and lowered the guitar. “What’s going on? Why have I discovered that there are still evil people hiding among the masses?”

[Evil? You’re the biggest villain here, Streamer.]

[What the hell, blaming us after starting it yourself?]

[I’m watching a livestream and somehow getting falsely accused!]

“Chen the Beast is getting on in years. All he has left is a body as stiff as a coffin lid, and he can’t even taste the flavor of meat anymore. Finally, he gets to sit in prison and chew cornbread. He has good food, a nice place to sleep, and morning exercise every day. What a wonderful job! A secure government position, do you understand? And you people insist on making him come out. What kind of grudge do you have against him?”

[What the hell? I almost got sent there myself.]

[That is one hell of a “good job.”]

[A secure job, silver bracelets, striped streetwear, and a stylish haircut every so often.]

[That’s criminal. Truly criminal.]

Chen and His Father sent the streamer 10 Rockets.

“Thank you, Chen and His Father. See? Even his father has to thank me. That shows just how much this old bastard is hated.”

“But it’s fine. Eighty is the perfect age to go out and make a name for yourself. Since Chen the Beast is so unfilial, his father can always have another child.”

[Holy crap, going out to make a name for yourself at eighty? Is he Jiang Ziya?]

[This streamer is beyond outrageous.]

[Keep singing, Streamer. That last song was pretty interesting.]

Inmate sent the streamer 3 Airplanes.

Secure Job sent the streamer 99 Flowers.

Zhang Hongbo sent the streamer 99 Fist Bumps.

Gifts flooded the entire screen.

“Thank you for all the gifts, everyone. Please don’t overdo it. The streamer isn’t short of money.”

Xu Qingfeng cleared his throat. “The song isn’t over yet. I’ll continue singing for everyone.”

“Chains upon chains have bound me tight.

My friend, listen as I sing this song.

My voice carries regret and hate,

And with this song, together they fly.

And with this song, together they fly…”

[Oh no, I’m starting to feel it.]

[I’m already behind bars.]

[I just got out, and thanks to the streamer, I’ve been sent right back in.]

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[My mother asked whether I had committed a crime and whether I needed to turn myself in.]

[This is incredible. My dad says the song sounds great.]

[Suspected leaked recording of Chen and Li’s prison performance.]

[Brothers, after this song ends, I’m going in.]

[You’ve shattered my mind with this.]

[Question: Do Chen the Beast and Li the Beast have to pay royalties if they sing this song in prison?]

Xu Qingfeng was beginning to lose his composure. “I’d like to collect them, but I’m afraid the police wouldn’t approve.”

“Forget it, forget it. Let’s just call it a good deed. We can’t talk about money all the time.”

[What’s this song called, Streamer?]

“This song? It’s called Tears Behind Iron Bars.”

After finishing the song, Xu Qingfeng chatted with the viewers.

“Today, I’m dedicating this song to everyone here.”

[???]

“Who are you dedicating it to? Streamer, be clear!”

[Holy crap, is the streamer finally coming for us?]

[I’m trembling in fear.]

Xu Qingfeng put away his guitar. “Don’t be afraid, everyone. This song is actually dedicated to the entertainment industry.”

[You scared me to death. So it’s for the entertainment industry? Then it’s fine.]

[Entertainment industry? No—the Prison Retraining Program!]

[Wind God, who did you steal this song from?]

“What are you saying? Do I look like that kind of person? I used to be quite a talented songwriter myself. Back then, I could write ten songs in a week.”

[You’re really bragging now?]

“Then where are your songs?”

Xu Qingfeng tilted his head back forty-five degrees and gazed mournfully at the ceiling.

“In Starbright’s trash can.”

[Pfft, hahaha!]

[Are you trying to laugh me to death so you can inherit my loans?]

[What the hell do you mean, they’re in a trash can?]

Xu Qingfeng sighed wistfully. “When I was young, I thought I was a genius. I wrote songs at lightning speed. To be honest, I thought the title of ‘genius singer-songwriter’ suited me perfectly. But in the end, all my songs were thrown into the trash. Looking back now, it still feels like such a shame.”

[I knew it. The streamer was held back by Starbright.]

[Damn Starbright.]

[Those bastards are barely even human!]

[After hearing Tears Behind Iron Bars, I believe what Wind God is saying.]

Xu Qingfeng waved goodbye to the viewers. He had been streaming for a little over two hours, and it was about time to stop.

“Everyone, I’m going to end the stream now. Thank you for keeping me company. I still have things to do, and tomorrow I have to record another song. The premiere of Tears Behind Iron Bars will be on Flashlight Video, so look forward to it.”

Amid the countless gifts and pleas flooding the chat, Xu Qingfeng decisively ended the livestream.

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