Chapter 72

Liu Siman and her boyfriend seemed to have some activities and left at nine, inviting Fu Feirong to come to the school more often. The remaining few people chatted a bit more. Fu Feirong talked about the kind of songs and singers she liked, and then An Xin and Qi Qingnuo evaluated them from a more professional perspective. At least Fu Feirong wasn't a blind fan; she had a certain taste in her hobbies.

It was almost ten, and Qi Qingnuo also had to go home. Fu Feirong said she should go back too, as the store was probably busy. Yang Jingxing offered to send her, but Fu Feirong declined. Qi Qingnuo, however, was not so polite: "Let's go together, drop me off at the station first."

The group went downstairs, and Yu Xinting said she wanted to visit Fu Feirong the next day. But Fu Feirong said the store didn't open until the afternoon, as they mainly served dinner and late-night snacks, closing around one or two in the morning.

Yu Xinting still wanted to find an opportunity: "If you're free on the weekend, let's go shopping together."

Qi Qingnuo said: "Take me too... you didn't call me last time, right?"

Yang Jingxing said: "Your style is too different."

Qi Qingnuo retorted: "Style, how hard is it to change?"

Yu Xinting and An Xin returned to the dormitory. At the parking lot, Qi Qingnuo sat in the back with Fu Feirong and chatted about some general topics: "Do you like spicy food... eating spicy food is good for your skin."

Fu Feirong laughed: "Who would believe you if you said my skin is good?"

Qi Qingnuo said seriously: "Yu Xinting is the same... don't look at my pale face, but it's very troublesome, oily here and dry on the sides. I've tried all sorts of methods, but it's still like a test field."

Fu Feirong said: "My sides are a bit dark, but you are so fair and clean... I think you are very beautiful, like a woman in a TV drama I watched before."

Qi Qingnuo was naturally curious: "What TV drama?"

Fu Feirong said: "I watched it when I was very young, I can't remember. The man was ugly, the woman was beautiful, and your face shape is very similar, a bit round and a bit long, and fair... but your short hair looks better."

Qi Qingnuo laughed: "I only started having short hair in high school, it's too troublesome to wash long hair! Your hair is cut well."

Fu Feirong laughed: "I got it cut at a place nearby, I know them well. If you want to go, I have a lot of discount cards."

This time, they really hit it off.

When Qi Qingnuo got out of the car, she exchanged phone numbers with Fu Feirong and said she would invite her to a performance at Room 306 if there was one. On the way back to Liyang Huadu, Yang Jingxing started chatting with Fu Feirong, but not about women's topics.

Yang Jingxing asked: "Have you ever thought about becoming a professional singer?"

Fu Feirong moved her bottom, sat in the middle of the back seat, leaned forward a bit, and shook her head: "No... I don't look good."

Yang Jingxing said: "That's not up to you. If you want to be a singer, I think you should start working hard."

Fu Feirong said: "I don't know... Qi Qingnuo and the others don't want to be."

Yang Jingxing said: "You have your advantages... let's not talk about being a singer for now, do you want to sing better?"

Fu Feirong said: "Who doesn't want to!"

Yang Jingxing then talked about singing. He didn't know much, but he could give Fu Feirong a general direction. To be a good singer, you definitely need to practice breathing and vocal techniques. No matter what style or rhythm, these two are essential. As for more advanced techniques like vibrato and breathy voice, Fu Feirong had never even heard of them.

Fu Feirong laughed: "Do I really sing well? Why do you want me to sing?"

Yang Jingxing said: "Singing well is just one aspect, you have passion and are willing to learn."

Fu Feirong was embarrassed: "I can't learn, I think they all sing better than me, especially Qi Qingnuo..."

Yang Jingxing said: "It's a pity she doesn't want to be a singer."

Fu Feirong asked directly: "Do you look down on singers?" Because in previous conversations, someone had expressed disdain for certain singers.

Yang Jingxing laughed: "For those who don't sing well, there might be less respect, but as long as you sing well, it doesn't matter who looks down on you."

Fu Feirong agreed: "That's true... you guys are all so nice, with no airs. Do you treat everyone who sings well like this?"

Yang Jingxing said: "It's not that easy to meet... I want to write songs in the future and find someone to sing them. I think you are suitable."

Fu Feirong was surprised, looked at Yang Jingxing in the rearview mirror, and asked: "Why not them?"

Yang Jingxing said: "They have their own majors and directions... anyway, think about it. But being a singer is probably harder than working in the store."

Fu Feirong said: "I grew up in hardship. My father died when I was young, and my mother and brother worked very hard."

Yang Jingxing laughed: "I can see you can endure hardship."

Fu Feirong also laughed: "People like you don't know what hardship is! Why don't you sing yourself? You're so handsome."

Yang Jingxing said: "I get nervous on stage."

Fu Feirong said: "Everyone does. If I don't sing well, you'll definitely blame me... who will I sing with?"

Yang Jingxing said: "Of course, with the audience, not with me."

Fu Feirong laughed: "Even if I want to be a star?"

Yang Jingxing laughed: "Who knows."

Fu Feirong laughed: "I don't look like it."

Yang Jingxing said: "If you don't want to, that's fine, but don't be too modest and deny my judgment."

Fu Feirong quickly said: "I didn't say no, I'm afraid I won't sing well, really, not being modest."

Yang Jingxing asked: "Are you willing to try?"

Fu Feirong thought for a while and nodded: "Okay... but I might not have time."

Yang Jingxing said: "Maybe you'll make money quickly, enough to hire a few helpers for your sister-in-law."

Fu Feirong laughed and covered her mouth: "I'll laugh in my dreams."

When they arrived, Yang Jingxing said: "I'll bring you two CDs tomorrow, listen to them more, and determine your style early."

Fu Feirong was still modest: "I don't even have a style... do you want to eat late-night snacks?"

Yang Jingxing said no, and they said goodbye. Fu Feirong opened the car door a few times.

Yang Jingxing went home and continued listening to music, hoping to learn and appreciate more from each good piece.

Around eleven, Tao Meng called: "Where are you?"

"At home."

Tao Meng praised: "You're early today... I got back around ten and haven't showered yet."

Yang Jingxing asked: "How was the evening? Were there many beautiful women?"

Tao Meng said: "Why don't you ask if there were many men?"

Yang Jingxing said: "I don't care, it's good if you meet more beautiful women to introduce to me."

Tao Meng snorted: "Dream on... but you won't guess who I met today."

Yang Jingxing said: "I won't guess."

Tao Meng said: "I won't tell you either."

Yang Jingxing asked: "Did you meet Shao Lei?"

Tao Meng was unhappy: "Why would you think of him! No! Hint: it's a woman."

Yang Jingxing guessed: "Jiang Qing?"

"It's not... forget it, you probably won't guess—Fan Jiayu!" Tao Meng laughed.

Fan Jiayu! A big star from the 1980s, she must be in her forties now. Yang Jingxing was angry: "I could guess that! She also attends such events?"

Tao Meng mocked: "You're so dumb, she brought her daughter. She's still beautiful, but her daughter doesn't seem to have inherited her genes."

Yang Jingxing said: "I can tell you were happy being highlighted."

Tao Meng snorted: "Do I need to be highlighted?"

Yang Jingxing said: "Whatever makes you happy, I thank it."

Tao Meng snorted: "There were many people, including many from other places. The event was well-organized, no wonder Dad went, they can meet many people."

Yang Jingxing said: "That's good."

Then Tao Meng talked about the evening's activities. Besides eating, drinking, and chatting, there were talent shows. Tao Meng played the piano, performing "Slam Dunk." The organizers gave each of the fifty to sixty young people a number, and each had a small basket at the venue. At the end of the event, shy young people could leave notes in the baskets.

It was called a coming-of-age ceremony, but it included young men and women aged fifteen to twenty, roughly half and half, and some were siblings. Besides leaving notes, the organizers gave each boy a red rose and each girl a white rose. At the end of the event, they could put the rose in the basket of the person they liked the most.

Tao Meng said: "Many people were shy, but the host was good at easing the atmosphere, and it didn't have to be between boys and girls."

Yang Jingxing asked: "Did you have a big harvest?"

Tao Meng stated the facts: "Eight red roses, three notes."

Yang Jingxing said: "No white roses, I guess... who did you give yours to?"

Tao Meng said: "I saw a basket with none, so I put it there, I don't know who it is."

Yang Jingxing said: "Well, that deserves praise."

Tao Meng said disdainfully: "I wouldn't give it to you even if you were there."

Yang Jingxing said: "I would have been the one with none anyway!"

Tao Meng comforted: "Not really. A boy who speaks good English, his father is a university vice president, and his mother is a teacher, received several white roses."

Yang Jingxing asked: "What's his last name?"

"Zhang."

Yang Jingxing said: "Wow, you remember so clearly!"

Tao Meng giggled: "I remember several! And I even got their phone numbers."

Yang Jingxing asked: "How many calls have you received so far?"

Tao Meng said: "They gave me their numbers, I didn't give mine. Someone chatted with me, I don't know where they're from, it made me laugh."

Yang Jingxing suspected: "Did they do it on purpose?"

Tao Meng said: "Do you think everyone is like you, trying to attract attention!"

Yang Jingxing denied: "I'm not trying to attract attention, and I didn't get any."

Tao Meng snorted: "Anyway, the overall feeling was good today, most people were friendly, and it seems two pairs have formed."

Yang Jingxing exclaimed: "So fast?"

Tao Meng said: "Yes, and when we came back, Dad said I could have a boyfriend now."

Yang Jingxing laughed: "You really had a good harvest."

Tao Meng blamed: "It's all because you're annoying, making me lose confidence sometimes."

Yang Jingxing blamed himself: "I'm sorry, have you regained your confidence?"

"Of course!" Tao Meng said proudly.

Yang Jingxing said: "It seems that more people mean more strength, I salute them."

Tao Meng giggled and asked: "Aren't you upset?"

Yang Jingxing said: "Why would I be upset? They made you happy, and you share your happiness with me, I should thank them."

Tao Meng denied: "No one shares with you... it's not that someone made me happy, it's self-regulation, and there's not much to be happy about anyway."

Yang Jingxing said: "No, I still want to share."

Tao Meng suggested: "You can make yourself happy."

Yang Jingxing asked: "Do you have time next weekend?"

Tao Meng was uncertain: "Maybe."

Yang Jingxing said: "I'm ready, waiting for your message."

Tao Meng asked: "Saturday or Sunday?"

Yang Jingxing said: "Whichever day you're free."

"What if I'm free both days?"

Yang Jingxing said: "Don't let me get my hopes up."

Tao Meng laughed: "I'll try... you haven't logged into the alumni site in a while, last time was November 13th!"

Yang Jingxing asked: "Any news?"

Tao Meng said: "Not really, just some boring stuff... last time you and New York collaborated, I wanted to post the news, but then I thought it might seem like I was meddling."

Yang Jingxing said: "Then I won't post your news today either."

Tao Meng complained: "What news! Do you usually read the news?"

Yang Jingxing said: "No, I'll hear about big news eventually."

Tao Meng envied: "You don't need to read, you can just work in isolation..."

The call lasted a while, and at 11:30, Yang Jingxing urged Tao Meng to take a shower and rest.

On Sunday morning, Yang Jingxing continued to pick up Yu Xinting. At noon, they went to Fu's barbecue, the front door was half open, and it hadn't started business yet. The boss saw Yang Jingxing's car and ran over to greet him, preparing to call Fu Feirong. Yang Jingxing said it wasn't necessary and gave the boss two CDs to pass on.

Yu Xinting asked Yang Jingxing: "Do you also like listening to Pupu speak Yidu dialect?"

Yang Jingxing shook his head: "No, you speak it better."

Yu Xinting said: "Anyway, you're also very nice to her."

Yang Jingxing said: "Not really, I have my own motives."

Yu Xinting was shocked: "Ah... what?"

Yang Jingxing said: "I want her to be my singer."

Yu Xinting sighed in relief: "How can that be a motive... she sings well anyway."

Yang Jingxing said: "No matter what, I just want to use her."

Yu Xinting was unhappy: "How can you say that? If she sings well, it's good for her too."

Yang Jingxing laughed: "That doesn't neutralize my motives."

Yu Xinting thought: "People are inherently selfish, as long as it doesn't harm others, and you're doing it for her good, it might help her achieve her dreams... like you did for me before."

Yang Jingxing denied: "I didn't have any motives back then."

Yu Xinting giggled: "I know, you've always been like that."

Yang Jingxing smiled mischievously: "Not necessarily."

Yu Xinting was a bit embarrassed, then changed the topic: "What do you want to eat later?"

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