Chapter 100: 100 Hopes From Overimagination
In the mini private room of the KTV, both young girls were holding microphones, but neither was singing. The playlist screen was paused, and the room was quiet.
After a moment of silence, Han Yixuan probed, “Aren’t you a student?”
Strictly speaking, she shouldn’t reveal too much real information in front of the enemy, but Pei Ningle had no confidence in her lying skill.
So she answered, “Not anymore. I didn’t go to university.”
Han Yixuan: “So are you a professional singer?”
Pei Ningle: “I suppose you could call me a professional singer. Besides resident singing at the bar, I don’t have anything else…”
Hearing this, Han Yixuan finally confirmed completely that her previous estimate of the enemy situation was probably way off—assuming, of course, that this ‘Xiao Le’ wasn’t lying. But thinking about it carefully, she didn’t seem to have any reason to pretend to be poor, did she?
Actually, Han Yixuan had more questions that needed answers, but she knew she couldn’t seem too eager, or it would arouse the enemy’s vigilance, which would be bad.
So after Pei Ningle sang another song, Han Yixuan asked casually, “Which bar do you sing at? Can I go watch?”
Pei Ningle hesitated, then stammered, “It’s right by Wang… uh, no, next to Technology University…”
Han Yixuan’s expression didn’t change, but she sneered inwardly—without a doubt, what ‘Xiao Le’ had almost said was something like ‘right by Wang Heng’s school,’ but she caught herself just before saying his name. At least on the surface, their ‘friendship’ was formed from that chance encounter in the Finance University classroom, and it shouldn’t have anything to do with some boy.
After a pause, Pei Ningle continued, “But today might not work. Are you free next weekend? Next weekend should be fine…”
Han Yixuan happily replied, “Sure, I’m really looking forward to Xiao Le’s performance!”
On the word ‘performance,’ she unconsciously emphasized it just a tiny bit.
Pei Ningle scratched the back of her head and pointed at the playlist screen. “Xiao Xuan, it’s your turn to sing the next song.”
“Sure… but I sing way worse than you.”
The song Han Yixuan picked was a classic 《New Love Can’t Be Forgotten》. And when she started singing, Pei Ningle finally realized that her ‘way worse’ really wasn’t humility.
The opening low notes couldn’t go low enough, the chorus high notes couldn’t reach high enough, and it was off-key almost the whole way, creating its own unique style.
After the song ended, Pei Ningle couldn’t help saying, “Xiao Xuan, you can’t force your voice when singing; you have to use your dantian.”
“Dantian?” Han Yixuan paused it and turned to look at her, a bit puzzled. “Where exactly is the dantian?”
Pei Ningle touched her own little belly. “Right here… eh, it’s hard to explain, but breath control is a very important basic skill. If your breath isn’t right or your vocalization method is wrong, it really hurts your throat.”
Han Yixuan asked curiously, “Xiao Le, have you studied this?”
Pei Ningle thought for a moment and explained, “I couldn’t afford vocal classes, but there used to be a vocal teacher next door to my house. She was really nice and taught me some basics without charging tuition…”
The music in the private room stopped again, and the two young girls started chatting.
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In the evening, after dinner, the pleasant shopping trip between the ‘best friends’ came to an end. The two young girls parted at the shopping mall doorway; one returned to the Finance University dormitory, the other to the bar.
Pei Ningle’s work time was almost here.
The young girl found the bar owner in the lounge next to the back kitchen and said directly, “Brother Tao, can we end that deceptive plan of ours?”
Yan Zitao was stunned for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. “I’ve told you how many times—this isn’t deception, it’s just a normal commercial marketing strategy…”
Pei Ningle shook her head. “Whatever you call it, we’ve attracted plenty of students from school these past few days, right? I think that’s enough.”
Yan Zitao observed the young girl’s expression and asked, “Did something happen?”
Pei Ningle: “Earning money this way makes me a bit uneasy, and my friend is coming soon. I don’t want her to see…”
Yan Zitao immediately understood; the issue was with the girl’s ‘friend.’ He thought for a moment and tried to lay out the benefits to persuade her:
“Just these past few days, the revenue share you and your brother got is already three or four times your resident singing salary. If we end this marketing plan, that money’s gone.”
Pei Ningle nodded without hesitation. “No problem, the resident singing salary is enough.”
Seeing how resolute she was, Yan Zitao couldn’t help but feel some hesitation.
Thinking carefully, the students coming in with those flyers seemed fewer than before these past few days, and dozens of those university students had gotten membership cards. From the perspective of freeing up regular customers, the effect seemed sufficient…
So Yan Zitao said helplessly, “Alright, as you say, we’ll end the event. No more flyers starting tomorrow. But tonight’s customers are waiting for you—get ready to go on stage.”
Pei Ningle smiled. “Okay, thanks, Brother Tao.”
Walking out of the lounge, the young girl suddenly realized she seemed more decisive than she’d imagined—ending the ‘finding older brother’ marketing plan without consulting Wang Heng, deciding it herself. But thinking that way, it seemed a bit too rash?
After all, half of that remuneration belonged to Wang Heng, and she hadn’t sought his opinion before ending it.
Pei Ningle suddenly felt a bit uneasy. She went to a corner, took out her mobile phone, and made a call.
“Hello, um… I just talked to Brother Tao at the bar, and we’re not doing that deceptive promotion anymore, so our income… uh, is that okay?”
After a while, the call ended, and the young girl breathed a sigh of relief.
Wang Heng on the other end didn’t blame her at all, just saying “it’s just a little money, no problem.” But after breathing a sigh of relief, Pei Ningle couldn’t help feeling a bit puzzled.
From Wang Heng’s tone, a few thousand yuan was pocket change—as long as she made a name for herself online, there’d be plenty of money. But why was he so confident in her? Why was he so certain she’d become famous later?
Or was it not confidence, but because… he likes me?
Thinking of this, Pei Ningle inexplicably felt happy.
Her probing of Han Yixuan these past few days, and her observations of Wang Heng, made her very sure that the ‘girlfriend’ Wang Heng mentioned was just a shield. She didn’t quite understand why Wang Heng used that excuse to block romantic luck, but as long as he had feelings for her, it meant the road ahead was bright and she had a winning chance.
The young girl thought happily and went behind the counter, saying to the waiter responsible for accompaniment, “I’d like to change today’s playlist. Switch to… honey, Curved Eyelashes, When You, Aurora, Big City Small Love.”
Waiter: “All sweet songs? Don’t you dislike this kind?”
The young girl smiled brightly. “Changing style once in a while is nice.”
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Thanks everyone for the recommendation tickets, and thanks to classmates like Bring Handsome Guy, Naihe Zhiyin, Linxian Ge, Hanmo Shuwen, Book Friend 20200219091241956, and others for the rewards!
By the way, yesterday was a steady two-chapter update too, just a bit earlier than usual…
