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Chapter 201 – Naughty Children Encircles To Pet Aggressively
Seeing his daughter's hopeful little eyes, Yang Guo patted her shoulder and said softly, "Go ahead, play with your friends. Since we're all out today, have fun!"
With her father's permission, Yang Luoqi walked towards Xixi and the others alone. This child was really quite reserved, even though she was already excited. She did not bounce around like Lan Xin, indicating that she had an exceptional upbringing.
In the subsequent conversations, Yang Yi learned that Yang Guo was a teacher and also a professor of foreign language literature. Of course, he was not a professor at Jiangcheng Media University. He was teaching at another university in Tingshan University Town.
Yang Yi received several parents one after another, including Chen Shiyun's father, Chen Guoqiang, a boxing coach, whom he had met before, and of course, Chen Shiyun's mother. They came together as a family.
Nan Zhaoyu also came with his father. It was worth mentioning that his father, Mr. Nan Yiyun, was a great calligrapher – no wonder Nan Zhaoyu liked to recite poetry. Mr. Nan Yiyun was almost 50 years old this year and has become a father in his old age. He dotes on Nan Zhaoyu very much.
There were many parents present, most of whom were older than Yang Yi, only Chen Guoqiang was similar in age to Yang Yi. Fortunately, they were all experienced people who could converse with each other despite their age differences. Moreover, they have their children as their common topic, so the scene was quite lively.
While the adults were chatting, the children went wild playing. Today, they didn't have kindergarten teachers watching over them, so they were like birds that have escaped from their cage, chirping and flying around, making the coffee shop lively.
"Xixi." Yang Luoqi still thought about the kittens. She found an opportunity to pull the little girl who was already smiling ear to ear, and said softly, "Can you take me to see Xiao Guai and the others?"
"Yeah, let's go see Xiao Guai! I want to see Xiao Guai too!" Lan Xin shouted loudly when she heard it.
"Okay, okay! I've never seen a blue cat before, even though I'm this old!" Chen Shiyun, who was four and a half years old this year, also shouted in agreement.
"Hmph, you've never seen a blue cat before! I've seen so many of them!" Lan Xin proudly raised her head. She and Chen Shiyun were a bit incompatible, probably because they often competed to see whose voice was louder?
"Hehe, okay then, I'll ask my Papa to take us up!" Xixi smiled and ran toward her father.
But her little friends were also energetic four- or five-year-olds. They couldn't stay put and giggled while running after Xixi. Yang Luoqi also followed along, running behind them. The little lady seemed to be influenced by her friends and gradually loosened up a bit.
"Slow down, you're already sweating!" Yang Yi heard the commotion and quickly turned around to catch the little girl who was rushing toward him. He also crouched down and wiped the fine sweat on her forehead with his hand.
"Papa, can you take us up to see Xiao Guai?" Xixi sweetly smiled. Behind her, there were 7 or 8 little children, some who were not very familiar with Yang Yi and looked at him with a little fear, while others like Lan Xin and Chen Shiyun were already familiar with him and echoed their agreement.
Yang Yi couldn't leave, he couldn't just leave his guests on the first floor, so he asked Ding Xiang, who was not comfortable in the crowd, to take the key and accompany the children upstairs to play.
Ding Xiang was not as attractive as the kittens. As soon as they arrived upstairs, a group of children left her behind and followed Xixi, shouting and rushing towards the kittens lazily playing on their backs in the living room.
"Meow!" Xiao Hui was more alert. Seeing the situation was not good, he quickly rolled over and ran away. In just a few quick moves, he climbed up the cat tree and slipped up to the top shelf.
Duoduo was sleeping with her eyes narrowed! Xiao Guai was a bit slow to react…
The two kittens were immediately surrounded by the naughty children. The boldest Chen Shiyun couldn't wait to catch Duoduo, who had just woken up and was still licking her paws and rubbing her face. Of course, Xiao Guai was still picked up by Xixi.
"Look, this is Xiao Guai, my Xiao Guai!" Xixi happily held up Xiao Guai for everyone to see.
"Meow…" Xiao Guai was lifted high and stared at by a group of children with a "not good intentions" expression in their eyes and he struggled nervously
His tail curled up and tucked between his hind legs, indicating that he was very scared!
The earth is too scary, I want to go back to Meow Planet, meow…
"So cute!" Yang Luoqi's eyes were entranced. The charm of a kitten was not something that two-legged creatures could resist!
Except for Chen Shiyun, who was eagerly studying the struggling Duoduo and playing with its fur. At one moment, she shouted loudly, "Xixi, you're wrong. It's not a blue cat. It's not blue, it's black."
"How can black look like this?" Lan Xin wanted to snatch Duoduo from Chen Shiyun's clutches and, after finishing her examination, Chen Shiyun did not refuse and let go.
"Okay, it's gray!" Chen Shiyun scratched her head and said, "Anyway, it's not blue."
Xixi was carefully handing Xiao Guai to Yang Luoqi, who was already in love with it. Upon hearing Chen Shiyun's words, she quickly explained, "No, it's still blue, just a darker shade. My mom says it's gray-blue."
"Okay then!" Chen Shiyun nodded, but she was a little bored. She felt that the docile kitten was not fun to play with, and that her family's big dog was more impressive, jumping up and down and even catching dishes with its mouth.
The other little ones didn't have Chen Shiyun's strong resistance. Duoduo and Xiao Guai were both whimpering as they were held and kissed. Only Xiao Hui, who escaped up onto the shelf and refused to come down no matter what, survived.
"…My Xiao Guai is the smallest, but he is very powerful! Last time I went to a barbecue with my Papa, he caught a small bug," Xixi was also very excited and told her little friends some stories.
"I envy Xixi so much! I really want a kitten, but my grandma doesn't like cats, so she won't let me have one," Yang Luoqi gently stroked the fur on Xiao Guai's forehead and said regretfully.
After they had been playing for an unknown amount of time, Yang Yi walked up and clapped his hands, and said with a smile, "Children, it's time to go down. Uncle has prepared a lot of delicious food for you. If you don't go down now, your parents will eat all of it!"
Food?
Chen Shiyun was the first to jump up. She couldn't wait any longer.
The second to jump up was Lan Xin. As soon as she heard there was food, and that it was delicious food cooked by Xixi's father, how could the chubby little girl sit still?
"I want to go eat barbecue!" Lan Xin shouted with a drool.
"I also want too…we also want too!" Encouraged by the loud voice, a group of children immediately left the kitten and began shouting like they were in a vegetable market.
Duoduo, who felt as if she had been granted amnesty, jumped onto the cat tree, trembling all over and never wanting to come down again.
Xiao Guai had been held and carried around so much that he was now unsteady on his feet, but he still managed to climb up the cat tree with a stumble, and crawled into the small "mining hole" with lingering fear, only his butt and tail swinging outside.
But the children didn't pay attention to the kittens. Even Xixi couldn't spare any attention. She took Yang Luoke's hand, giggling and wanting to rush down with the big group.
"No, you have to wash your hands first!" Yang Yi helplessly stopped the little ones and pointed to the bathroom and said
After petting the cat, one should wash their hands, especially before eating!
Chapter 202 – Swimming Against The Current
The story has two parts. While Yang Yi was ushering the children downstairs to eat, Mo Fei also officially began recording the program "Music Fast Fast Fast" in Guangzhou.
Obviously, Mo Fei's current status in the music industry was not enough to make her the sole guest on this program, and she was even just a supporting role. The main guest on this program was Li Manman, who has not yet released a platinum album but has been rising rapidly in recent years and has been touted as a queen of the common people by many. 1
Obviously, this program aimed to create a showdown between the former queen and the current rising star. Inviting Mo Fei to participate also suggested ulterior motives.
Mo Xiaojuan accompanied Mo Fei to the TV station today, only to find out about such arrangement after receiving the script. She almost went berserk on the spot. Fortunately, Mo Fei was quite calm and stopped Mo Xiaojuan from causing a scene.
"Perhaps the TV station deliberately arranged it this way, but what can we do? Do I still have the right to refuse now?" Mo Fei's voice was tinged with sadness, but her face remained calm and serene.
Mo Xiaojuan didn't think this was just a problem with the TV station. She felt there was something fishy within the company as well! However, Mo Xiaojuan lowered her head in frustration. Mo Fei's words were right, they have no right to refuse now. Even if the program's process was not favorable to them, as long as it didn't violate any principles, they could only hold back their grievances and continue recording.
Mo Fei was no longer the popular singer she once was. If she continued to act like a third-rate artist and throw tantrums, she would be criticized by thousands of people. Which TV station would dare to invite her to appear on their show in the future?
Mo Fei looked at Li Manman, who was shining brightly in the crowd, and calmly said to Mo Xiaojuan, "I have already experienced a low point. I have nothing to fear losing now. Since the program arranged for me to compete with her on the same stage, let's give it a try. I don't think I will lose!"
Just as Mo Fei was comforting Mo Xiaojuan, Li Manman, dressed in a shiny silver leather jacket and pants, walked over and said with a smile, "Senior Mo Fei, long time no see! I just learned from the program team that I will be recording with you today. I didn't expect it. I used to be your fan!"
She was really a big shot now. She didn't even show up for the stage rehearsal this morning, but the program team still had to carefully serve her. But her tone now was very humble, so humble that it felt fake.
Mo Xiaojuan noticed a few people looming behind Li Manman. She became wary and reminded Mo Fei in a low voice, "Pay attention to your words, there may be reporters."
Of course, her reminder wasn't really necessary. Mo Fei calmly responded to Li Manman's inexplicable enthusiasm with a casual tone, and soon found an excuse to take Mo Xiaojuan away.
Behind them, Li Manman restrained her smile, and her expression was somewhat uncertain. She snorted softly, "What are you pretending to be aloof?"
After a while, Mo Fei finished her makeup and was notified to prepare to go backstage to record the show. Li Manman was already standing on stage, chatting and laughing happily with the hosts Liu Xinqi and Chen Hang, recording the previous segment of the program.
Li Manman has a strong presence. Not only could she give clever answers when faced with some tricky questions from the host, but also had a feeling of turning the tables, teasing the male host, the handsome Chen Hang, to the point where he almost lost control of the situation.
Obviously, everyone's success was not accidental. Mo Fei's previous success stemmed from years of accumulation since her debut and the explosive success of that album.
Although Li Manman did not have good singing skills, she has a beautiful face, a sweet voice, and was very smooth and adept at handling people and situations. Coupled with the support of the company behind her, it was normal for her to be extremely popular and receive all the attention and praise.
Mo Fei was watching backstage, somewhat admiring Li Manman's ability to adapt2, but she didn't envy her at all. She didn't like to appear so casual, that was not her personality!
"Okay, now let's give a round of applause to welcome Mo Fei, who became famous with the song 'Feel Like Strangers' and is known as the Iceberg Song Queen, as she appears on stage!" Chen Hang loudly called out, interrupting Mo Fei's thoughts.
With the BGM of "Feel Like Strangers" playing, Mo Fei gradually walked out of the backstage. In the camera, she wore a pure white long dress and was still as ethereal as she was five years ago, as if time had not left any traces on her.
Li Manman looked at Mo Fei's tall and beautiful appearance, with a hint of jealousy in her eyes, but she hid it well.
"Wow, it's really an honor for us to have two queen level singers visit our "Music Fast Fast Fast" at the same time. Tonight's audience, you are also very lucky!" Liu Xinqi said with a smile.
"How, how could I be considered a queen of songs? Sister Mo Fei is the queen of songs!" Li Manman covered her mouth and smiled, and began to introduce her own experience of growing up listening to Mo Fei's songs, shifting the audience's attention to herself.
Mo Xiaojuan watched the recording of the show in an inconspicuous corner below the stage and anxiously urged Mo Fei, who had been standing by the side like a pole after coming on stage: "Elder Sister, you have to talk! Your spotlight is going to be stolen by others!"
The host still asked Mo Fei some questions, but the focus was still on Li Manman.
Finally, they moved on to the next segment, which was a live performance by Li Manman. She sang the theme song from her new album released in August after avoiding the limelight with Chen Yijie.
The sales of this album were also quite hot, but unfortunately, it fell just short of reaching the standard for a platinum record.
So when the host asked about this, Li Manman showed a disappointed and apologetic attitude, as if she had let her fans down. After making a passionate remark that made her fans feel touched on stage, she clenched her fists and encouraged herself up. "But it's okay, I'll keep working hard and strive for the next time. I won't make you cry for me again!"
The host finally found an opportunity to ask Mo Fei, who was standing in the background, "As far as we know, Mo Fei is also preparing for her new album, right?"
"Yes." Mo Fei nodded.
"Hasn't it only been a few months since your last album? Why is a new album coming out so soon?" Liu Xinqi asked with feigned surprise.
"Because of a fortuitous opportunity, I received the help of a benefactor who wrote 12 excellent songs for me. As you know, Xinqi, as music artists, when we come across good songs, we want to record them as soon as possible. With the strong support of the company, the new album was put on the schedule." Mo Fei said her prepared lines.
After her discussion with Mo Xiaojuan, Mu Li'ang's identity was no longer just a fan. Mo Fei felt that it was not an exaggeration to recognize him as a benefactor on her music journey!
"Being able to write 12 songs for Mo Fei, this benefactor is really amazing!" Chen Hang exclaim in surprise, "Can you reveal who he is? Is he one of our senior in our music industry?"
"Mu Li'ang." Mo Fei said lightly, her tone and expression unchanged.
But including the two hosts who were informed, the expressions of the others were fascinating.
Chapter 203 – Across The Ocean To See You
"Mu Li'ang?" Chen Hang was surprised.
Liu Xinqi also cooperated very tacitly and asked, "Is it the Teacher Mu Li'ang who wrote 'Better Not To Meet' and 'Long Time No See' for Teacher Chen Yijie?"
As expected, he was the host from Guangdong TV, and it was customary to put the Cantonese song 'Better Not To Meet' in front.
"Um, yes," Mo Fei's answer caused a surprised gasp from the entire audience.
"I've come to your city…" Li Manman hid the surprise and envy in her eyes. She sang a few lines of Chen Yijie's song, diverting attention back to herself. "Ah, I really like this song by Teacher Mu Li'ang. Actually, it would sound great if sung by a female voice too!"
Unfortunately, her attempt to steal the spotlight was unsuccessful this time. After all, the fact that Mu Li'ang wrote 12 songs for Mo Fei made this explosive point still carried more weight!
Liu Xinqi skillfully brought the topic back to Mo Fei, "There is still a somewhat gossipy question. Mu Li'ang can write 12 songs for Mo Fei, and I believe there will be many good songs. Your relationship must be extraordinary, right?"
Mo Fei furrowed her brow. She was a bit repelled by this question and immediately responded directly, "No."
"No? Does that mean there is no special relationship between you two, or has it not started yet?" Chen Hang also started to make trouble, smiling and asking.
"Regarding the first question, Teacher Mu Li'ang, is an excellent creator. He chooses the appropriate singer for his songs, and he thinks my voice and singing skills are suitable, so he chose to collaborate with me." Mo Fei straightforwardly explained the set of excuses that Yang Yi used to deal with her before.
"Oh! So Teacher Mu Li'ang is such a special musician!" Liu Xinqi sighed.
"Hey, I hope that through this program, Teacher Mu Li'ang can also recognize me. Li Manman's voice is also very cute and sweet!" Li Manman leaned forward and smiled at the camera, acting cute, and said, "Teacher Mu Li'ang, I'm also surnamed Li. We are family! 1 "咱们是本家呢" is a Chinese colloquial expression that means "we are distant relatives." It is often used to express a sense of camaraderie or familiarity with someone who shares the same surname.If I could get your favor and have you tailor a song for me, I would be so grateful!"
"Or, how about we give Manman a chance to sing a complete version of 'Long Time No See,' and see if she can impress Teacher Mu Li'ang?" Chen Hang had already been captivated by Li Manman earlier and he was now also working hard to create opportunities for Li Manman
As a result, the segment that was originally supposed to continue the conversation with Mo Fei was once again compressed.
Moreover, they had Li Manman sing a song originally intended for a male voice. After singing the entire song, Li Manman, who was not well prepared, performed poorly and was a bit out of breath, but fortunately, with her rich on-site experience, she used some cute and dancing techniques to cover up the small mistakes.
Under Li Manman's powerful stage control, these small mistakes became the nodes of interaction between her and the fans below, with screams one after another, and exceptionally enthusiastic.
After waiting for Li Manman to finish singing, Liu Xinqi brought the topic back on track and asked the two guests some questions about music and life. Then she said, "We are actually very fortunate today because Mo Fei not only came to the scene, but also brought a new song created by Teacher Mu Li'ang!"
"Really? Teacher Mu Li'ang's song, I must listen to it attentively today!" Chen Hang said, "This should be Mu Li'ang's first song written for a female singer!"
"Let's give a round of applause and welcome Mo Fei, who will perform 'Across the Ocean to See You'," Liu Xinqi smiled and gestured towards Mo Fei standing in the middle of the stage, and she walked down the stage with Chen Hang and Li Manman, giving the stage to Mo Fei.
"Finally, it's coming! Elder Sister, come on!" Mo Xiaojuan clenched her fists excitedly below the stage.
The piano accompaniment slowly began, and the clean melody made the audience quiet down.
Mo Fei stood in the middle of the stage, calm and composed as always. The dry ice machine on the stage started spewing white fog, and Mo Fei, in her simple white dress, looked like a fairy in the clouds, breathtakingly beautiful!
As if waiting for something, the audience, even Li Manman's fans, couldn't help but hold their breaths.
This was a stage atmosphere that was different from the lively one just now with Li Manman, but it made people suddenly feel that it was no less impressive!
When the intro reached a certain point, Mo Fei raised the microphone and, as if she were in a fairyland, her ethereal voice flowed through the microphone.
"For you, I spent my half a year's saving, across the ocean to see you."
What does it feel like to want to kneel down when someone started singing?
The audience below now felt as if their hearts had been grabbed by a small hand stretched out amidst the melodious singing voice, and they really wanted to kneel down and listen.
"For this reunion, even the breath I will take when we meet has been repeatedly practiced…" 2Although this line doesn't sound natural in English, I needed to write it this way because of the next sentence. It clearly pointed out that the last word was "practice". Also, in the raw (Chinese version), the last word/character in this line is "练习" which is "practice" in English.
The final word "practiced" showcased the value of Mo Fei's voice, which had been honed since childhood. It echoed like a resounding valley, lingering in people's ears.
There was an unmistakable look of jealousy below the stage. Li Manman understood the singing techniques, but there was nothing she could do about it. She didn't have Mo Fei's deep and affectionate voice, and even if she knew everything and even if this song was given to her to sing, she couldn't sing with the same flavor.
Moreover, Mo Fei sang so passionately.
No one else knew, not even Mo Xiaojuan. Only Mo Fei herself knew that at this moment, she poured out her true feelings and emotions into the song, and her mind was full of the image of Yang Yi.
"Even the breath I will take when we meet has been repeatedly practiced…" Didn't this lyric exactly describe how she was now?
She was in the midst of a passionate love, and in preparation for each meeting with Yang Yi, she would carefully choose her clothes, do her makeup, and even speak carefully, afraid of causing harm and unhappiness to each other due to a misunderstanding about their educational backgrounds, just like before!
And it wasn't just this line…
"In this strange city…" The "a" sounded like a mournful sigh, instantly shattering the hearts of the audience below the stage. 3To clarify where the "a" sound came from, the last sound in this line is "a". The pinyin is "mò sheng chéng shì a". I put a link at the end to show what I mean.
Who knew how much bitterness Mo Fei had poured into that "a" sound.
Those were all the bitterness she had endured alone while raising her child in this "strange" city of Jiangcheng, without family or friends. The tears she had held back had turned into that mournful sigh.
However, the strength she showed back then has now brought her the joy of happiness. So, it was evident from the slightly lighter rhythm in the next paragraph, "We comforted each other and also embraced each other with a sigh," that Mo Fei's mood had changed.
"Watching you leave in the blowing sand, I was so sad that I couldn't control myself…" Li Manman watched Mo Fei calmly sang the sad melody on stage, with jealousy already burning in her eyes.
The song was of high quality!
Although it didn't suit Li Manman's sweet voice, Li Manman couldn't help but daydream about what it would be like if this song were included in her previous album. It would definitely be at the level of a hit single, and then she would be able to continue her momentum and reach platinum record, right?
Mo Fei was going to be famous!
Li Manman could tell that, no matter how the other songs perform, with this song alone, Mo Fei was probably going to have a comeback!
So, even though her heart was full of bitterness, reason still told her that this was not the time to compete with Mo Fei…
Chapter 204 – Time To Witness A Miracle
"I could accompany you for my whole life…" In the long fading notes, Mo Fei finally finished singing the song.
However, there was no enthusiastic applause, and the audience below was quiet. However, there were already many emotionally rich audience members rubbing their eyes, unable to help but feel sad.
"What a great 'Across the Ocean to See You'! As expected from Teacher Mu Li'ang, he wrote a classic song that's probably not inferior to 'Long Time No See'!" Chen Hang sighed with emotion as he walked up to the stage.
Liu Xinqi also said with emotion, "Yes, and indeed, Teacher Mu Li'ang has found the most suitable singer for this song. Mo Fei's singing just now vividly portrayed the sadness of the song. What do you think, did Mo Fei sing well?"
Naturally, the audience below almost shouted in unison that she sang beautifully.
Liu Xinqi and Chen Hang's teasing of Mo Fei was not over yet. They said with a smile, "Hey, Mo Fei, don't you need to confirm again? Could this song be specially written for you by Teacher Mu Li'ang? He came all the way across the ocean to Jiangcheng to see you!"
Mo Fei still shook her head firmly and said, "No, Teacher Mu Li'ang is an excellent creator. Perhaps his inspiration for creating songs comes from his own life? But it wouldn't be related to the singer. Otherwise, did Teacher Mu Li'ang also specially write 'Long Time No See' for Mr. Chen Yijie when he went to a coffee shop in Hong Kong?"
Mo Fei just used Yang Yi's example of dealing with her candidly at the time, but unexpectedly, it showed her great sense of humor, making Liu Xinqi and Chen Hang burst into laughter. The audience below also laughed heartily, leaning forward and backward, while only Mo Fei herself looked at the others inexplicably.
"Speaking of which, there were reports saying that the reason why you retired, Mo Fei, for these past few years was because you got married to a wealthy businessman. Is that true?" Liu Xinqi asked gossipingly.
"There's no such thing." Mo Fei shook her head.
"So, has Mo Fei made any progress in her own love life? After all, you have been idle for four or five years, and you should consider your major life events." Chen Hang said with a smile, "Last time there was a rumor about you and an artist from your company!"
"That's all rumors!" Mo Fei said firmly.
However, regarding the issue of her own love life, Mo Fei hesitated for a moment and chose to remain silent.
"Oh, Chen Hang, what do you mean? Do you want to pursue our Sister Mo Fei?" At this moment, Li Manman finally regained her sense of presence and stood up to help Mo Fei out.
"No, no, I'm just worried about Mo Fei!" Chen Hang said with a smile.
"Why worry? Our Sister Mo Fei is still young! We don't have to hurry to find happiness from you men. We can still enjoy the happiness of being single and music. Mo Fei, am I right?" Li Manman also took the initiative to show her kindness.
Mo Fei gave a faint smile and nodded.
Although she could still see Li Manman's true nature, since they were recording a program, a little interaction was still necessary. Moreover, what Li Manman said was true!
Who said a 30-year-old woman is old?
Who said a 30-year-old woman should hurry up and find a partner?
This Chen Hang was causing trouble!
…
Back in Jiangcheng, Yang Yi led a group of scout downstairs in a grand manner.
Downstairs, Guo Ziyi entertained the parents very well. He was already in front of the piano, singing in unison with a few parents, while the one sitting on the stool was actually Lan Zhoukai!
Among these parents, there were also hidden talents. Just now, Guo Ziyi volunteered to play the piano, but his level was laughed off by the parents. Then Nan Zhaoyu's father, the great calligrapher Nan Yiyun, unexpectedly went up and showed off his skills.
Nan Yiyun played even better than Guo Ziyi, with a top-notch amateur skill. He played a classical piece and won a round of applause!
Now Lan Zhoukai, the big boss, was also itching to play.
"When I was young, I studied abroad in the United States, and I was also a piano prince!" Lan Zhoukai boasted. He then started playing, and his chubby fingers were surprisingly nimble, moving like dancing elves. The coherent rhythm and beautiful melody almost healed people's ears.
Although Lan Xin's mother was covering her mouth and laughing, the pride for her husband was already written on her face.
When Yang Yi brought the children down, Lan Zhoukai was being encouraged by Guo Ziyi to play a song similar to "Farewell"1, which had a nostalgic feel. However, it happened to evoke memories for this group of parents of a certain age, and they all began to sing along.
The parents were having a great time, but the children didn't pay attention, as they were chattering and calling out.
"Xixi's dad, where is the delicious food you talked about?" Lan Xin's loud voice was particularly prominent, and she couldn't wait to eat.
"Children, can you stand here and close your eyes?" Yang Yi smiled gently and directed them, "Xixi, Chen Shiyun, you have to be good examples!"
Xixi was the most obedient. She was the first to close her eyes and whispered to Yang Luoqi, who was holding her hand, "Qiqi, close your eyes too. There should be a surprise!"
When Chen Shiyun heard Yang Yi called her, her sense of responsibility suddenly burst out, and she immediately came out to help maintain order. "Close your eyes, everyone. If Xixi's dad doesn't say it's okay, you are not allowed to open your eyes."
The adults had finished singing and happened to see this interesting scene. They watched with interest and smiles on their faces.
Yang Yi and Ding Xiang were busy bringing out the already prepared food from the refrigerator and plates from the tables in the coffee shop, and placed them on the table that had been arranged earlier.
Guo Ziyi went over to help, but it took a little longer than expected, and some of the children couldn't resist any longer.
For example, Lan Xin…
The little foodie who smelled a hint of meaty aroma couldn't help but open one eye and peek through the gaps between her fingers.
However, she was immediately caught by the discipline inspector, Comrade Chen Shiyun, "Lan Xin, you can't open your eyes."
Chen Shiyun not only worked hard to help Yang Yi maintain order, but also enforced strict self-discipline, and didn't even look back!
"They're so cute!" Said a mother with a chuckle.
At this moment, Yang Yi has finished setting up. He walked over and said in a tempting voice, "Now, Uncle is ready. Are you ready, children?"
"Ready!" The answers were uneven, but all were powerful, especially Lan Xin's.
"Then it's time to witness a miracle. Children, open your eyes!" Yang Yi smiled and stepped aside, letting the children see the colorful food arranged in front of them.
"Wow!" Cries of amazement and cheers filled the air, but the loudest voice was missing. Lan Xin was too busy looking at the plates of grilled chicken wings, grilled squid, and grilled corn. She was drooling and had no time to yell!
"What are all these?" The shy little Nan Zhaoyu also came over. He was dazzled and didn't know what to choose!
"These are all desserts. In front of you are pudding, including milk pudding, strawberry pudding, caramel pudding, as well as this special dragon fruit pudding and mango flow pudding!" Yang Yi smiled and introduced the desserts to the children.
The dragon fruit pudding was the most beautiful, alternating red and white, like flames layered on top of each other. This was clearly the favorite of the children, as they clamored for it one by one.
However, the most delicious was the mango flow pudding. Although it didn't look like much on the outside, the inside was full of surprises!
Yang Yi didn't tell them. It would be more interesting for them to discover it themselves!"
Chapter 205 – Only Regretting That The Golden Cudgel Is Not The Qinglong Yanyue Blade
Yang Yi didn't just prepare pudding and barbecue for the children, he also meticulously made pastries such as pea puree cake, pumpkin cake, mango mille-feuille, and egg tarts with added blueberries and cranberries. There were also sweet treats such as mango sago and double skin milk custard.
It could be said that they were both beautiful and delicious, and not only the children but also the adults were drooling over them.
However, children's appetite was small after all. Even the chubby little girl, Lan Xin, was full after eating a few pieces of barbecue and drinking some sago pudding.
Just as Yang Yi was introducing cooking tips to some mothers, Xixi, along with the full and well-fed little ones, noisily ran upstairs to play. She said she wanted to show them her toys.
Lan Xin didn't wipe her greasy mouth and giggled as she followed along. Lan Xin's mother quickly called Ding Xiang, who was going to be the little nanny for the day, to ask her to help her daughter wash her hands and wipe her face.
The children have their own fun, and the adults have their own topics. Except for some worried mothers who went upstairs to check on their children, the other adults chatted downstairs.
Just as Yang Yi was mingling among the crowd, real estate tycoon Lan Zhoukai was eating grilled chicken leg in a rather ungraceful manner, while looking around Yang Yi's shop with great interest.
"Brother Yang, is this coffee shop your current industry? This location isn't very good!" Lan Zhoukai suddenly stopped Yang Yi, who was passing by, and smiled, "I don't mean anything else. Your shop is very tastefully decorated, but from a businessman's perspective, opening a shop at Jiangcheng Media University isn't the best choice."
"What advice does Big Brother Lan have?" Yang Yi asked.
"If you want to open a coffee shop, especially if you want to create a brand with your personal style, you need to consider the issue of your customer base. Currently, there are two problems with the customer base of the coffee shop. First, the foot traffic at this back door is low, which greatly limits your sales from the very beginning."
"Secondly!" Lan Zhoukai finally looked like a businessman and said methodically, "Students' purchasing power is much lower after all. Unless you sell cheap coffee and win by quantity, but you are selling handmade coffee now, and the price cannot be set too low. So, you should consider white-collar workers with higher incomes and quality of life requirements."
Lan Zhoukai has a good impression of Yang Yi. He not only gave him advice on business, but also promised Yang Yi that if he wanted, he could provide him with a storefront in the Binhai commercial area at cost price anytime.
However, Yang Yi politely declined. He briefly revealed his main business of writing novels and said with a smile, "Opening a coffee shop is just my personal hobby. Opening it here at the university allows me to enjoy the tranquility and artistic atmosphere of Jiangcheng, not to make money."
Lan Zhoukai wasn't very interested in literature and didn't ask any further, but he still expressed his admiration for Yang Yi's simple heart and asked for a cup of coffee from him.
"Not bad, not bad! Your skills are much better than my secretary's. I think I should have him come over and learn from you." Lan Zhoukai tasted the Blue Mountain coffee specially brewed by Yang Yi for him and laughed heartily.
At this moment, the children ran down in a swarm again. Xixi, with an excited face, bounced up to her father and pulled his hand, eagerly saying, "Papa, Papa, can you show us the Golden Cudgel like Sun Wukong does with his staff, please?"
The little girl also puckered her lips and imitated the sound of the stick with a "wuwu" sound, swinging her hand as if holding a stick, gesturing to her father.
Yang Yi was too overwhelmed to resist and could only make a gesture of apology to Lan Zhoukai.
"Go ahead, go ahead. You don't have to entertain us. Just serve these little ancestors well!" Lan Zhoukai laughed heartily.
The shop was too crowded, so Yang Yi, surrounded by the children, went to the open lawn area outside the shop, holding a "Golden Cudgel" in his hand.
That's right!
It was no longer the poor broomstick he used before. Since Yang Yi performed it once, Xixi has been particularly fond of it. Sometimes at night when listening to the story of Journey to the West, she eagerly asks Yang Yi to perform it again.
So, Yang Yi had someone specially customize such a "Golden Cudgel", which was created according to his figure, corresponding proportions, and his own design. It had flowing cloud patterns on it, and was also colored, making it particularly beautiful!
"I want to play too." Chen Shiyun, who had a bit of a violent tendency, enviously said.
"This is especially heavy. You can't lift it!" Xixi waved her hand and explained to her, "My Papa doesn't even let me move it, saying it would hurt if it hit my foot."
The children crowded together, giggling as they watched Yang Yi. Yang Yi didn't have stage fright either and posed as if he was going on stage to perform, first holding the stick and then bowing with a fist to the young audience.
"Hehe, it's so much fun!" The children laughed happily, everything was so new and exciting for them!
Yang Yi took his stance and began his performance without any prelude. He immediately caught the attention of the children by performing the coolest stick-spinning tricks.
"Wow!" When Yang Yi spun the stick with both hands, the spinning stick shadows resembling windmills made Lan Xin and the others exclaim in amazement. They had never seen such cool tricks before.
And when Yang Yi began to spin the stick with one hand and twist his body, completing the rotation with his right hand before passing it on to his left hand, the whistling wind and powerful momentum directly dazzled the little ones.
Chen Shiyun screamed the loudest, and she was most excited of them all. She wished she could take the stage and do such cool moves instead of Xixi's father!
If she did, she would definitely become the most popular kid at the Chuntian Kindergarten!
However, as Yang Yi was dancing with the stick, the smile on his face started to fade.
He saw the only two boys among the group of kids, Nan Zhaoyu and another little boy. They were standing in a bad spot, right next to Xixi, one on the left and one on the back!
What made Yang Yi's eyes really burn was that Xixi was holding the hands of both Yang Luoqi and Nan Zhaoyu at the same time!
How old is he? Does he still need someone to hold his hand? Isn't it childish?!
Alert! Level One Alert! Red Alert!
At this moment, Yang Yi only regretted that the golden cudgel in his hand was not the Qinglong Yanyue Blade…
"Ahem!" Yang Yi stopped and pretended nothing had happened. He walked over to the children and directed them, "Uncle is going to perform a big show later. Please stand back a bit and leave a path in the middle. Yes, Zhaoyu and that little boy, you stand over here. Xixi, you and Qiqi stand over there…"
In order to keep Xixi away from the source of danger, Yang Yi also asked his loyal fan, Chen Shiyun, to hold Xixi's free hand.
This looked much better!
Yang Yi calmly began his performance again, sometimes with a "Black Dragon around the Pole" and sometimes with a "Thunder Strike from Heaven", holding the golden cudgel and smashing it on the ground.
The children watched with great interest, but they didn't notice the tricks Yang Yi had just played.
Of course, Yang Yi took advantage of the path that had just been cleared. He performed a "Tiger Jump and Pounce", did a small somersault on the grass, then grabbed the awning and did the classic looking-back-at-the-moon pose.
The posture was quite impressive, even the parents who gathered around the shop entrance applauded.
"Youth is really something!" Nan Yiyun, who was already 50 years old, sighed.
"I just think he's jumping around like a monkey, it's nothing serious!" One parent couldn't help but mutter.
Yang Guo, who was standing next on the side, retorted, "How can you say it's nothing serious? This is monkey play, an art form that was gradually developed by the monkey performers that originated in the Han dynasty and has been passed down through history."
There were similar things in this world too! Author's note: (Don't take it too seriously)
Lan Zhoukai also chuckled and said, "Regardless of whether it's an art form or not, I envy Yang Yi for having such good skills. Look, he is so popular among the children! This is an achievement that we parents dream of achieving, right?"
Chapter 206 – Take A Different Approach
"…I made such an excuse, so that the little rascal couldn't hold Xixi's hand, and he didn't even notice it. Later on, during the performance, he still happily applauded me." At night, Yang Yi proudly showed off his little cleverness to Mo Fei on the phone.
"pfft! You're too much, do you really need to be so cautious? They're just four or five years old, they don't even know the difference between boys and girls!" Mo Fei was amused by him and said reproachfully.
"Well, you know, now that Xixi has started going to kindergarten, we have to be a bit more careful. There are so many wicked people in this world. I think when you come back, we should discuss how to educate Xixi about children's sex education! I'm planning to buy some books to study." Yang Yi said seriously.
Mo Fei has been influenced by Western education since she was young, so she agreed with Yang Yi's idea.
The two also talked about Mo Fei's program recording today. Mo Fei told Yang Yi in detail about her performance and happily mentioned how she received recognition from the audience for singing "Across the Ocean to See You".
"When will the program be broadcasted? I want to see your performance." Yang Yi's interest was piqued. Although he had heard Mo Fei sing before, he had never heard the live version of this song.
"It should be on Friday night two weeks later. But when you watch it, you can't make fun of me for looking silly during the program. I don't even know what to say when I'm up there." Mo Fei said anxiously.
"How could I? Your silly look is the cutest thing in my eyes!" Yang Yi said affectionately.
After chatting for a while, Mo Fei remembered something and said, "Yang Yi, there's something I can't figure out. Can you give me some advice…"
It turned out that after the program recording, Li Manman, who had been trying to curry favor with Mo Fei, approached her and sweetly called her "Sister Mo Fei".
"…She asked me for Mu Li'ang's contact information. She wants to invite him to write a song for her." Listening to Mo Fei's voice, Yang Yi could tell that she was pouting like a little girl who felt her toy had been taken away by someone else.
Yang Yi smiled secretly and asked, "How did you respond to her?"
"I wanted to refuse directly. I think Li Manman is too hypocritical!" Mo Fei's intuition was very correct this time, and she said, "But she was so enthusiastic that I didn't know how to say no."
"So, did you give Mu Li'ang's email address to her?"
"No, I was worried that Mr. Mu Li'ang would get angry. So, I told Li Manman that I would go back and ask Mu Li'ang." Mo Fei said to Yang Yi, "But I'm also worried that Mu Li'ang will be too embarrassed to refuse because of my recommendation, and that it might affect his judgement."
"Just give her the email address, it's fine! Mu Li'ang won't mind, anyway the email address has long been known by people in your company!" Yang Yi said, "Mu Li'ang will have his own judgement, you don't have to worry too much, he will make the right choice."
Yang Yi wanted Mo Fei to focus on her music without any distractions. As for Li Manman, he would handle everything. A rejection email would solve the problem easily, without Mo Fei having to worry about it.
"Is this really okay?" Mo Fei asked worriedly.
"It's fine, just tell Li Manman that you've asked Mu Li'ang and he doesn't mind sharing his email address, but whether or not she can get Mu Li'ang's approval, it's up to her own effort." Yang Yi instructed Mo Fei.
What kind of effort was needed? All that was required was one email to handle all those sweet-talking bullets1, without having to eat any of the sugar coating!
...
However, Yang Yi did eat someone's sugar coating.
After Ju Jie learned that his remittance had been withdrawn, he hurriedly approached his trusted advisor Du Lun and said, "The money has been spent, and that Mu Li'ang has also sent me the score and lyrics through a new email address!"
"How's the song?" Du Lun asked curiously.
"Take a look." Ju Jie didn't know how to evaluate it.
After reading the lyrics, Du Lun's face suddenly turned strange. How should he put it? The song title was very special, "Sidechick"!
"This song, this song…" Du Lun also smiled bitterly, unsure of how to evaluate it.
"Du Lun, do you think this Mu Li'ang is deliberately trying to cheat me out of my money? He wrote me such a song!" Ju Jie said somewhat depressed, 'Finally, you become someone's other woman', is this the kind of lyrics people sing?"
"Cough cough, Ajie, wait a minute, I think the lyrics of this song are well matched and easy to sing, let me take a look at the score." Du Lun comforted.
Du Lun was not like Mo Xiaojuan, who became an agent through his relationship with Mo Fei and learned about the entertainment industry through brute force. Du Lun, on the other hand, was a complete insider. He had dreams of making a debut before, but unfortunately, when he was a trainee, his talent was mediocre and he couldn't reach the level required to debut, so he turned to becoming an agent.
However, he still has the music knowledge that he should have had, and looking at the score, he could completely sing it.
After a while, Du Lun stumbled and sang a few sentences: "Although I didn't say it, I actually had a premonition…"
After carefully evaluating the quality2, Du Lun said to Ju Jie: "From a melodic perspective, there is no problem. This is a catchy song3, easy to sing, and also very pleasant to listen to."
"So, a song about being a third party can also sound good? Du Lun, have you also been cheated on by someone?" Ju Jie spewed nonsense, speaking without restraint even to his own people.
A sense of helpless anger flashed in Du Lun's eyes, but he managed to hold it down and said to Ju Jie with a playful smile, "Don't say that, A'jie. Why don't I play this song for you to hear?"
After Du Lun's performance, Ju Jie had some recognition, but he was still dissatisfied: "Is this Mu Li'ang getting old and senile? The songs he wrote for Chen Yijie and Mo Fei were so good, but the one he wrote for me is so bad?"
"It's not that it's bad, it's just that the lyrics are a bit special," Du Lun advised. "It's not bad to be able to buy out such a song for three million. If he gave you a song like 'Long Time No See', I wouldn't even dare let you use it. That song can earn Mu Li'ang at least 10 million in copyright royalties over the next few years, so he wouldn't be willing to sell it to us. Giving us this kind of song shows that he hasn't plan to use it himself, so we don't have to worry about him changing his mind and suing us later!"
"You have a point." Ju Jie nodded thoughtfully. "But how can I sing a song like this?"
"Hehe, A'jie, you don't understand, do you? You can't improve your popularity through normal means right now, but if we change to a different style of song and a different way of promoting it, and deliberately hype it up through the media, packaging you as the prince of sad love songs. You see, you don't even have any competition. You'll definitely become popular right away!" Du Lun's mind was turning quickly.
"Can it really become popular?" Ju Jie was a bit moved. He longed to become a big star! This was the motivation for him to leave behind his young master's identity, work hard to learn the craft, and make his debut!
"Really!" Du Lun also felt that his opportunity had come and was encouraging him with all his might.
Yang Yi was really free now.
The diligent Miao girl Ding Xiang has been learning handcrafted coffee from him since her first day at work. Over the course of a week, Ding Xiang's progress exceeded Yang Yi's expectations. She not only became proficient in brewing coffee, but she can also recognize various types of coffee beans. She could tell the origin and history of the beans just by looking at their appearance and smelling their aroma.
Therefore, without hesitation, Yang Yi promoted Ding Xiang to the position of shop manager, fully replacing him to manage and operate the coffee shop. As for himself, he placed himself in the position of honorary shop manager, and leisurely opened and closed the shop. Whenever Ding Xiang came to help, he would sit in his exclusive booth, enjoying coffee and reading novels.
To the extent that after becoming accustomed to being a hands-off owner, Yang Yi considered closing the shop and not receiving customers when Ding Xiang had to attend classes…
Of course, Yang Yi would not mistreat Ding Xiang in terms of money. For the first month's salary, he direcrly paid her the full amount of 6000 and even pre-paid her salary on the day she was "promoted".
This was not Yang Yi deliberately breaking the rules, but rather because Guo Zi quietly told him that Ding Xiang currently has no money and could only eat bread and pickles. They didn't want Ding Xiang to feel that they were pitying her and hurt the strong girl's self-esteem, so they used this as an excuse to pay her salary in advance.
Of course, after receiving the money, Ding Xiang did not spend it recklessly. She saved most of it and was reluctant to buy new clothes. She only slightly improved the quality of her daily meals.
And Yang Yi's kindness was also rewarded. Ding Xiang worked even harder and tried her best to earn more money for Yang Yi. For example, she recently learned how to make desserts from Yang Yi. The last time Xixi and her friends had a party, it gave Ding Xiang inspiration. Perhaps adding desserts would attract more customers!
Yang Yi used to be too lazy to bother, and now he was also too lazy to participate. He casually let Ding Xiang handle everything and he sat in his booth to write and draw.
He had previously discussed with Mo Fei about the issue of sex education for their daughter, but Yang Yi found it difficult to discuss it himself. After discussing it again, they decided to have Mo Fei give the lecture, and Yang Yi would create rich and interesting content.
Now that he has used colored pencils. Yang Yi certainly wanted to create a textbook with illustrations and text.
However, when Ding Xiang walked over and saw the cartoon body portrait on Yang Yi's drawing paper, she immediately blushed and said, "Uh, this… that, I'm sorry, Big Brother Yang, I didn't see anything."
Ding Xiang turned around and wanted to flee.
Yang Yi had a holy expression on his face. He didn't think that the cartoon he was drawing was anything explicit. Seeing Ding Xiang's appearance, he was a bit puzzled. He stopped Ding Xiang and asked, "What's the matter? Is there something you need me for?"
Ding Xiang didn't actually want to come back, but when she saw Yang Yi putting away his drafts, she blushed and moved back. She first bowed, and then said to Yang Yi hesitantly, "Big Brother Yang… I, I want to…"
"What do you want?"
"It's like this. During the day, I often have classes and can't work properly, right? So, I want to come over at night and continue to help out."
Yang Yi smiled and said, "Didn't I say that the coffee shop doesn't open at night?"
"Yes, but that's because you didn't have time, Big Brother Yang. Now I can help you run the coffee shop at night. You can still pick up Xixi and take care of her at home like usual, it's no problem. I'll help manage the shop and we can earn more money at night!" Ding Xiang explained.
"Money is not a problem, can you keep up with your studies if you work at night? If your part-time job affects your studies, I won't be able to take that responsibility." Yang Yi said with a smile.
Ding Xiang quickly waved her hands and said, "There's no problem. I usually make the most of my time to study, and you allow me to bring my books to work, so I haven't fallen behind in my studies."
"Actually, I'm already very grateful to Big Brother Yang. When I used to work part-time outside of school, I often had to take a long bus ride, which sometimes caused me to miss classes. I had to review with the teacher and attend classes with other classes to catch up. Now, this part-time job is like a dream come true for me…" Ding Xiang became emotional and even choked up.
Actually, Ding Xiang is a top student…just like Guo Ziyi! Even though she spent all of last school year running around doing part-time jobs, she still managed to get the top spot in her class and even received a full national scholarship!
How terrifying of an existence was this?
Seeing that Ding Xiang was so determined, Yang Yi nodded and allowed her to manage the coffee shop at night alone.
"Regardless, you must close the shop and go home before 8:30 pm. It's too late and not safe," Yang Yi handed Ding Xiang a key and warned, "If I see you working too late or if I find out your grades have declined, we won't open the shop at night anymore!"
"Yes! Thank you, Big Brother Yang!" Ding Xiang smiled brightly.
Just as Ding Xiang turned around and was about to return to the counter, Yang Yi's gaze fell on her and casually stopped her, "Ding Xiang, wait!"
Faced with Ding Xiang's puzzled look, Yang Yi pointed to the blouse and skirt she was wearing and expressed some surprise: "That outfit, why do I feel like I saw it yesterday? No, I've seen it for several days now."
He hasn't noticed it yet, but this sentence of his has uncovered some scar…
Ding Xiang bit her lip and lowered her head to say to Yang Yi, "I'm sorry, Big Brother Yang. I'll go back and buy two sets of clothes for work."
The girl adjusted herself and even looked for reasons within herself, wondering if she was too hesitant to spend money. She was about to start working the night shift and couldn't just wear the same uniform during day, wash and dry it at night, and wear it again the next day…
She really needed to buy an extra 12 sets of uniforms!
Seeing Ding Xiang's embarrassment, Yang Yi finally understood. He quickly waved his hand and said with a smile, "That's not what I meant. I suddenly remembered that since you work at the coffee shop, I should provide some uniforms! This is for the coffee shop."
"There are uniforms too?" Ding Xiang was surprised.
"Of course, there are uniforms!" Yang Yi said naturally. He has already thought of the style of the uniforms, which were particularly good-looking.
"But I've never seen you wearing a uniform…"
"Uh…" Yang Yi was at a loss for words for a moment and said, "That's because I'm the big boss and don't have to wear uniforms, but you workers need to wear them!"
"Okay… how much do I need to pay for a custom-made uniform?" Ding Xiang yielded and asked weakly. Just now, she was still thinking about buying a cheaper uniform!
"Money? You don't have to pay. It's a benefit from the shop." Yang Yi smiled and waved his hand. "Just tell me your size, and I'll have it made and sent to you. And if we recruit new people in the future, we'll use this style too!"
Before, when Yang Yi had custom-made practice clothes for himself and Xixi, he met a skilled old tailor who specialized tailoring clothes in the wealthy district. The materials were better than those on the market, but of course, the price was also high.
The problem was that they were comfortable to wear! Money was not a problem for Yang Yi.
Since he wanted to create a uniform, Yang Yi decided to personally design the style and then hand it over to the old tailor for custom making.
hapter 208 – Ding Xiang In Uniform
"What's the use of me supporting you guys? Can't you even do proper promotion?"
"Boss, it's really not that we're not working hard. This chain bookstore doesn't cooperate, and state-owned bookstores doesn't allow us. We can't get this promotion done!"
Just as the planners at the Sahara Publishing House were worried about the low sales figures of "Xixi's Fairy Tales," a book review quietly appeared in the literary section of Guangdong Evening News.
Parents and teenagers who have been following the "Intimate Elder Sister" column created for Yu Qian were surprised to find that in this issue, Yu Qian no longer used examples to discuss the naive emotional problems between teenagers. Instead, she extended the discussion to the current state of children's literature through the evaluation of a fairy tale book.
"Fairy tales are written for children under the age of ten. They don't require mature writing, adult-like psychological portrayal, or very realistic storylines. A little bit of fantasy story construction can stimulate children's imagination and leave them with beautiful memories of their childhood. I think this can be considered a storybook worth buying for children to read!"
"Mr. Yang Yi's book 'Xixi's Bedtime Story' has such characteristics. The characters inside are rich and colorful, including princesses and princes that children all want to become, as well as cute characters personified by animals, which greatly enriches children's imagination."
"In this book, I particularly admire one of the stories, 'The Three Little Pigs'. The author uses a humorous writing style to depict the story of the little pigs and the big bad wolf using their wits and courage to fight. Interestingly, in this story, we not only gain joy but also teach children some lessons, such as not to believe strangers' words easily and that we must not procrastinate when doing things, and only through hard work, diligence, and cleverness can we achieve success…"
While Yu Qian expressed her regret and hope for the current state of children's literature, she also strongly praised Yang Yi's book "Xixi's Bedtime Story".
Whether or not one was a fan of Yu Qian, upon seeing her introduction, any parent with children at home would be tempted to go to the bookstore and see if this book was really as good as Yu Qian says it was!
Unknowingly, the sales of "Xixi's Bedtime Story" showed a slight increase, but the time was too short, and the data was not significant. Even the employees of Sahara Publishing House in Guangdong did not notice this change.
By the time they did notice, this is something to be talked about later!
...
Two days later, Guo Ziyi ran over to the coffee shop and gave Yang Yi admission ticket, inviting him to go with Xixi to see his performance at the freshman party. At that moment, Yang Yi had just picked up the uniform that he had ordered for Ding Xiang.
"Are you not going to invite me to go see it?" Ding Xiang asked Guo Ziyi with a smile, "I was the one who came up with this idea, you know!"
"Fine, you can go if you want to! Who would stop you? Big Brother Yang is not a student and cannot enter without such family and friend group admission tickets!" Guo Ziyi waved his hand and said, "Besides, Senior Sister, do you even have time to go to the party? Aren't you still going to work at Big Brother Yang's shop at night?"
"Oh yeah."
Yang Yi looked at the roughly made admission ticket with interest. When he heard Guo Ziyi and Ding Xiang's conversation, he waved his hand and said, "Let's go together. Why bother with work? I'll give you a night off that day."
They happily decided in this way!
Guo Ziyi picked up the uniform with great interest, turning it over and over again, and said somewhat regretfully, "Ah, Big Brother Yang, it's not very interesting. I thought you would design it as a sailor suit or a student uniform!"
"Why are you touching it? You've wrinkled it!" Ding Xiang snatched it away with a blush on her face. But her skin was a bit dark, so even if she blushed, it wasn't noticeable. "Big Brother Yang, don't listen to him. If it were really those kinds of clothes, I wouldn't dare to wear them."
Yang Yi smiled and thought to himself, "I wouldn't dare to make them for you either!"
Yang Yi had told Mo Fei that he had hired a female shop assistant. After seeing Ding Xiang's photo, Mo Fei didn't feel threatened by this thin and dark-skinned girl. She didn't say anything, but she told Yang Yi that she wanted to find a chance to meet this independent and strong Miao girl.
Now Ding Xiang was also working at night. The next time Mo Fei came, the two were bound to meet. It didn't matter much, but if Yang Yi had customized those clothes that would make men's imaginations run wild for Ding Xiang, Mo Fei might have some wild thoughts too, right?
Then Yang Yi would have to sleep on the couch at night…
"Try it on. Since it's already made, why be shy? Hurry up and try it on!" Guo Ziyi urged Ding Xiang."
Ding Xiang was also pestered by him and had no choice. With a red face, she walked to the restroom behind the coffee shop holding a set of uniforms to change into.
Yang Yi ordered a total of three sets for her, and there were also two sets of winter coats with cashmere lining that felt very comfortable to the touch.
It has always been Guo Ziyi and Ding Xiang bickering and playing around, and Yang Yi didn't participate. He quietly read a famous mystery novel in this world.
But after a while, Guo Ziyi's shouting and yelling still interrupted his attention.
Ding Xiang walked out, but she was no longer the inconspicuous girl in the crowd with her dark and skinny appearance. The coffee shop uniform, which was black and red, gave her a slightly different feeling!
The uniform was a tight-fitting short-sleeved shirt with a stand-up collar, paired with a waist-hugging skirt that barely reached her knees. But unlike ordinary formal wear, the shirt was made of smooth and high-end black fabric, lined with four red buttons arranged vertically, the skirt was also exquisitely tailored to create an apron-like feel, one side black and one side red, with a sharp contrast!
Interestingly, the skirt also had two pockets where she could put her hands, notebook, or small change, which was very practical and convenient!
Of course, it wasn't just these two pieces, the whole set also included a red beret, with a style somewhere between a beret and a chef's hat. It wasn't too cute, but it also has a special charm that complements the person wearing it!
What surprised Guo Ziyi was not just the clothes, but Ding Xiang wearing the uniform!
Ding Xiang, who originally had dark complexion, looked somewhat fairer in the black uniform. The tight-fitting shirt and waist-hugging skirt were particularly suited to her slender figure, instantly adding a few points of charm!
Although she still had a slightly ordinary face and slightly rough skin due to lack of care, Ding Xiang in her new outfit had a hint of shyness and truly had a different kind of beauty and charm!
"Tsk tsk! Big Brother Yang's talent is truly remarkable!" After expressing his surprise, Guo Ziyi walked up to Ding Xiang and looked her up and down, grinning, "But, Senior Sister, I suggest you curl the ends of your hair a bit, leave a few curls on both sides of your cheeks, then wear the hat. I guarantee someone will give you flowers and confess their love to you tomorrow!"
"Get out of here! I don't want to curl my hair! Do you know how much damage it can do to your hair? And it's so expensive…" Ding Xiang shooed Guo Ziyi away, "Don't bother me, I have to work now!"
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Chapter 209 – Decisive Director Du
Although the latest episode of "Music Fast Fast Fast" has not yet been aired, the news of Mo Fei's performance of Mu Li'ang's new song on the show had already spread, and many entertainment media had also reported that Mu Li'ang had written 12 songs for Mo Fei.
This was quite shocking!
Some enthusiastic entertainment tabloid reporters even went to Chen Yijie's house to ask him about the matter. Chen Yijie, a good man wearing big shorts and a loose t-shirt and was preparing to go shopping with his wife, was a little confused.
"The songwriter who you worked with before, Mu Li'ang, has now written songs for Mo Fei? How do you feel about it?" This question was asked in a way that was similar to asking a wronged wife with evidence of her husband's infidelity.
Fortunately, Chen Yijie was used to dealing with these reporters and immediately responded with a smile, "Of course, it's a good thing! If this rumor is true, I'm happy for Mo Fei. Mr. Mu Li'ang's songs are excellent, and Mo Fei is also a very talented singer. I like her a lot and I'm looking forward to their collaboration."
"Mu Li'ang wrote 12 songs for Mo Fei, but only wrote two songs, or rather one and a half songs, for you. Chen Yijie, don't you feel betrayed?" The tabloid reporter continued to press on.
Chen Yijie has a good temper, and he said with a smile, "Why would I? Songwriters don't just serve one singer, let alone Mr. Mu Li'ang. He's such an outstanding creator and naturally receives many invitations! Of course, I still want to tell Mr. Mu Li'ang that if he has any good male vocal songs, he should save some for me! I don't need 12, I'll be very happy with just one! Although I don't have plans for a new album yet, it never hurts to be prepared!"
Chen Yijie's involvement caused a stir around Mo Fei's new song. Many fans of Mu Li'ang and Chen Yijie, as well as some fans of Mo Fei, who had previously given up on her, began to pay attention to this series of news and were all looking forward to the broadcast of this show.
What kind of "spark" will the cooperation between Mo Fei and Mu Li'ang create?
...
In Shanghai, Li Manman had her agent review her self-introduction email to Mu Li'ang countless times, carefully considering every word, before finally sending it.
The email was filled with sincerity, not only introducing herself and expressing her admiration for Mu Li'ang, but also attaching some of her more representative songs. Of course, the audio files were not of studio quality and were even more exaggerated than her released album. Behind the scenes, they underwent exquisite post-production…
"Sister Yi, do you think this will work?" Li Manman asked her agent with some concern.
Yi Qi was her sixth agent and the golden agent assigned to her by the company after she began to rise. She pushed her gold-rimmed glasses and smiled faintly, "Of course it will work. The road needs to be taken step by step, and a meal needs to be taken one bite at a time. You don't have to worry, just build a relationship with Mu Li'ang first and then slowly ask him to collaborate on a song with you!"
That's right. With the guidance of Yi Qi, Li Manman's email was edited to remove her intention of asking Mu Li'ang to write songs for her. She only sent her audio and asked Mu Li'ang to give her some advice, without any additional requests!
Yi Qi analyzed from the current news about Mu Li'ang, and she believed that Mu Li'ang wasn't a person who was greedy for money and honor. If Li Manman was too impatient, it would only cause Mu Li'ang to dislike her.
"Manman, you should understand without me saying it. It's the same principle as fishing for rich men. We women can't just cling to them desperately. If we're too anxious, it will backfire. Even if we succeed, men won't know how to cherish it."
Yi Qi held Li Manman's enchanting face in her hand and smiled, "On the contrary, being a bit reserved and giving him subtle hints satisfy a man's vanity, and he will chase after you like a cat that smells a fish. Then, you can have him do whatever you want."
Li Manman showed a sweet smile. She didn't know whether to be disdainful or grateful in her heart, but at this moment, she was like a naive girl being guided, blushing and smiling happily.
"That's right, that's how it is! Those men who haven't seen the world will definitely be fascinated by you…" Yi Qi said with a smile.
...
In a large conference room at the Student Activity Center of Jiangcheng Media University, a group of students were actively discussing the program arrangement for the freshman party.
"The number of singing programs reported is 40% higher than that of dance and instrumental performances, and there are only three sketch programs. This is not good. All of them are singing programs, and the content of our party will appear to be very homogeneous."
After a clear and somewhat imposing voice sounded, the buzzing discussion in the conference room stopped.
If Guo Ziyi had been present, he would definitely recognize that the girl speaking was his dream girl, Senior Sister Du Yuanlei!
"Director Du, but after all, this is a party organized by the students themselves. Apart from those majoring in instrumental music and performing arts who have professional backgrounds, the rest of the students tend to sing, which is normal. As for the sketch performances, having three is already pretty good compared to the previous year when we only had one," said a male student beside her.
Director Du, that's right, Du Yuanlei was the overall director of this freshman party. Although she was also a freshman, after all, she has already studied directing at Jiangcheng Media for four years. She has directed many evening parties and student films before, and even directed a small documentary series that aired on a certain satellite TV channel!
It could be said that no one would question her qualifications!
"Only by striving for excellence in our programs can we achieve breakthrough results. If we compare ourselves to our past achievements every time, and relax our standards, we will only become worse and worse!" Du Yuanlei said coldly. She usually just like to observe and rarely spoke, but when directing, she was tough and the others were immediately silenced.
"Hua Tuo, go talk to the people in charge of these three programs and see if they can merge their performers to sing together. Xiaoyan, you go find a teacher from the drama department to help select a few talented students and rehearse a play. And Liao Chaoyi, aren't you skilled in magic? You come up with a program!" Du Yuanlei made arrangements without hesitation.
Hua Tuo and Xiaoyan quickly nodded, but Liao Chaoyi hesitated for a moment.
"What's the problem?" Du Yuanlei looked over.
Liao Chaoyi was stared at by her almond eyes, and suddenly felt suffocated. He quickly waved his hand and said, "No, no problem."
"Okay then. Xiaoyan, while you're at it, go to the piano department and ask for a piano student to accompany Liao Chaoyi. Just doing magic performances can be too monotonous…"
"Yes!" everyone answered in unison.
"As for the suggestion just now to have Thousand Miles Chuan-Shu1 do a warm-up performance, who made that proposal?" Du Yuanlei looked around.
A girl weakly raised her hand and said softly, "Actually, it's okay not to invite them. After all, they're not new students, and they only know how to sing…"
"No, we should invite them! I know about the Thousand Miles Chuan-Shu group. Let's have them come and sing their representative works!" Du Yuanlei smiled slightly. "As a student group that was recently signed by an entertainment company, everyone's expectations of them should be high!"