Chapter 164 - Red Bean Wild Rice Congee
Chapter 164: Red Bean Wild Rice Congee
“Okie dokie.”
“Okay.”
“Can I not go?”
“I’m not going! I have to squat at the library with Wang Ya Nan today!”
Meng Fan’s frequent karaoke sprees had become a burden to Zhang Zhou Wei, who initially treated it as a copout to slack off. He then began to think of ways to slack off from singing.
Of course, Zhang Zhou Wei wasn’t the only one Meng Fan was asking. Meng Fan couldn’t complete the task with just him, anyway.
Xing Ta Ge and Chen Da Qiang were long gone, hiding from him. Thankfully, there were other students in the class, and they always had a pretty good relationship with each other. They could reject his confession, but they couldn’t refuse to sing!
As for Qu Jing Jing and the others, he was definitely planning to ask them, but he didn’t dare ask too many times.
He also successfully ordered from the human rental APP a few times.
And then there was Da Fei and his squad.
“Fei bro, wanna sing?”
“Fei bro, I’ve asked you so many times to sing. It should be your turn to ask me now!”
“Pao bro…”
In the next few days, Meng Fan asked every potential person at least once. At first, he thought it was strange to be in a KTV every day.
Now, he discovered the human rental APP’s efficiency was not high, and he suddenly realized his classmates didn’t find it weird that he hung out at karaoke all day. Why would it be weird? Even so, was it as weird as running from Hangzhou to Shanghai or suddenly being the holder of a world record?
Only a few of the people he asked many times were annoyed, as most were quite happy. After all, they were being paid to sing, and alcohol and drinks were plenty too.
So, Meng Fan set his mind on them.
During the day and early in the evening, Meng Fan would invite his friends to sing. After eleven pm, however, he would head for a KTV further away and leach songs from other peoples’ rooms.
When he realized they were out of alcohol, Meng Fan would usually replenish the supply.
Of course, this wasn’t the case for all of them.
For example, one night he came across a group of men who were absolute scum. They had tried to take advantage of girls when they were drunk and passed out. Meng Fan not only refrained from ordering them alcohol, he had tripped them several times each. He tripped them very properly too, completely destroying their desires to make a scene.
Over the past few days, Meng Fan averaged 130 songs per day. Some days there were more and some less. He still had classes to attend after all, and several jobs at hand. Counting the experience from before, he had accumulated 870 points by Sunday.
On Sunday, Meng Fan woke up for his morning run. Wu Tong arrived shortly too, but she didn’t run this time. Instead, she did some simple stretches and walked along the side, reciting words from her headphones as she strolled.
Wu Tong studied traditional art, but she also had a passion for language. In addition to reaching a literal translation level in English, she was also studying German and Portuguese. It didn’t mean she intended to apply it, she just wanted to learn the logic hidden in each system and the way it influences her way of thinking. One of the most important things gained from learning a new language was no doubt the logic and the thinking process it could bring.
Meng Fan wasn’t dumb enough to ask Wu Tong why she wasn’t running today, but he also wasn’t dumb enough to run 10 kilometers like he usually did. He slowed down after running for a while to match Wu Tong’s pace. Although he was running, his pace was as if he were walking. Wu Tong saw this and took out her headphones, and seeing Wu Tong make no gesture indicating for him to keep running, his jog naturally slowed down into a stroll.
They walked a few laps and went off to breakfast together.
“Are you still pressing a deadline today?” Meng Fan helped Wu Tong carry her food over and sat down.
Wu Tong smiled and shook her head. “I’m finished. I don’t want to go anywhere. I just want to eat and go back and take a long nap. I want to bundle up and watch some documentaries.”
Meng Fan was a person with many sisters and understood that girls during this certain time of the month did not want to move. He thought about it and asked cautiously, “Then, do you want to come to my place? It’s just that… I have an apartment near the school right behind campus. You can watch a documentary in the living room; it would be much more comfortable than watching in the dorm. It’s also more convenient if you want to eat or grab something to drink.”
Wu Tong raised her head and carefully looked at Meng Fan. “You’re not busy?”
Meng Fan paused. “I’m busy, of course, I’m busy. But I usually work on my deadlines at home, so I won’t disrupt your documentary.”
Wu Tong laughed out loud and then teased him back. “I was asking, are you not busy with your singing?”
Meng Fan rubbed his nose bridge. “How do you know?”
Wu Tong responded, “I have Zhang Zhou Wei, Qu Jing Jing, and Wei Zhi Xue’s on Wechat. These last few days, I’ve seen them post about going to karaoke with you several times.”
Meng Fan bellowed with laughter. “They always make fun of my bad singing, so I think of ways to screw with them.”
“Is that why you didn’t invite me to go?” Wu Tong took a napkin and wiped her mouth and looked at Meng Fan who was still wolfing down his food. “I’m going to go home and take a nap first; I’ll see how I feel when I wake up.” She paused for a moment. “You’re not going to tell me you have several rooms over there, right?”
Meng Fan shut his mouth tight.
They went their separate ways, and Meng Fan hummed a tune as he happily left the school. He then strolled around and brought back some jujubes, white fungus, red beans, purple rice, ginger, brown sugar, rose tea and other ingredients to bring back, as well as several fruits that were suitable to be heated.
Meng Fan didn’t know if Wu Tong would come, but it was good to have this kind of stuff prepared. What if she came? It would be useful eventually.
Although he wasn’t sweaty, he took a shower anyway when he got home and changed his clothes. He soaked the red beans and wild rice first. Even if Wu Tong didn’t come, he could eat it himself.
Before 8:00, Meng Fan completed the nineteenth chapter of “Guide To Campus RoMANce”, and the seventh chapter for “There’s A Spirit Underground”, and uploaded them respectively.
Xing Ta Ge had completed the script for “Guide To Campus RoMANce”, so it would end in a dozen or so more chapters. Xing Ta Ge did not plan to extend the storyline since it was a short story. Meng Fan also had next to zero foundations on how to flirt with girls, so he naturally did not continue the story.
Presently, the light novel’s collections had reached 400,000.
As for “There’s A Spirit Underground”, it was presently sitting at 450,000 collectors. Although it only had seven chapters published in total, the novel could be considered to “bring its own traffic” because Penguin Animation Network continued to recommend it after they signed their contract.
Next, Meng Fan began to work on his manga, checking his phone every few minutes. His efficiency was extremely low this morning.
Buzz.
His phone vibrated and Meng Fan immediately picked it up. It was from Wu Tong. “I’m up. I’m too lazy to move and don’t want to go anywhere.”
He couldn’t tell if this expression was because she was actually too lazy to move or couldn’t get to him.
After having his hopes shattered, Meng Fan was naturally upset. It was hard to ask about this kind of stuff no matter how one phrased it.
But Meng Fan occasionally had some wits about him. He ran to the kitchen and took a photo of his soaking red bean and wild rice and sent it over, finding a poor excuse. “I was just preparing congee for lunch. Want me to bring you some?”
There were some things that one did for others that didn’t have to be told but some things did.
Wu Tong sent a shifty eye emoji. “Conveniently? Red bean and wild rice?”
Meng Fan feebly explained, “I’m trying to lose weight and be healthy, so I’ve been drinking congee a lot. Today just happened to be the day I tried red bean and wild rice congee.”
“Wow, that is a coincidence! But what if I only want to eat ice cream in the next few days? (Stubborn Emoji)”
“That’s okay! What brand and flavor do you want? I’ll buy it. I’ll heat it up and bring it over for you.”
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COMMENT FIRSTRate this chapterVote with Power StoneChapter 165: Mic Hog Completed
After delivering the congee, Meng Fan was bored out of his mind. It was the weekend, and Zhang Zhou Wei and the others were all out on dates when he asked them to go out. When he asked Da Fei, they were all busy as well. Meng Fan did not know where to go by himself.
[Mic Hog] only had 130 songs left, and he felt uncomfortable leaving the task when it was so close to completion. Smack! He suddenly slapped his head. How could he forget the fickle netizens!
The Shi Zhan Youth!
Meng Fan remembered he had his WeChat and immediately sent him a voice chat invite that was answered not long after.
“Are you busy this afternoon?”
“Nope! Meng host do you need a car? I’ll head over now!”
“No no no. I don’t need a car.” Meng Fan interrupted him and continued. “Out of all our netizens, how many do you know of that are in Hangzhou?”
“Several! Didn’t we run into a bunch in Song Cheng last time? Us Hangzhou folk have created a chat group, and aside from watching your stream, we’ve hung out together too.”
“That’s incredible. I’ll treat you guys to karaoke this afternoon. Wanna come?”
“Of course! Where are you, I’ll come right now!”
“… Uhm, can you keep the headcount below ten people though? I’ll send you the address now.”
“I understand, I’ll call them now!”
Twenty minutes later, Meng Fan welcomed the Shi Zhan youth and his two friends into his booth. Next, a new person arrived every few minutes until there were nine. Four guys and five girls, so including Meng Fan, it was perfect to couple up. This Shi Zhan Youth had some next-level organizational abilities.
Since there were only 130 songs left, and he was with a group of internet friends, Meng Fan was too embarrassed to directly hog the mic. He let go and enjoyed his time, singing, eating and drinking.
Although the ten of them were meeting for the first time, their ages were similar and had similar interests and passions. It wasn’t difficult to hang out together, and the atmosphere was harmonious as well.
In the afternoon, Meng Fan ended up only getting forty or so experience points. After karaoke, they went off and shared a meal together before dispersing.
In the evening, Meng Fan did not continue to invite people to go out and went to another KTV wearing his hat. From 7:00 pm, he sang until 12:30, completing the last 90 songs.
“Ding! You’ve sung 1000 songs by hogging the mic at KTV. You’ve completed the task [Mic Hog]; Reward: Points +1000.”
“Ding! You’ve completed the task [Mic Hog], gaining the title [Mic Hog] (Singing skills +5, voice appeal +3)”
At this time, Meng Fan was in the third booth of the night.
He didn’t enter this booth because it was all girls inside; it was because they seemed to be having a good time. These six girls completely entered the zone when Meng Fan entered, drunkenly singing and having a good time. They had no perception of the extra voice and the extra person in the room.
At this point, they couldn’t even sing what was meant to be sung.
When the song “Give me a Reason to Forget” came up, Meng Fan was about to leave but hesitated for a moment. He picked up the microphone once again.
He wanted to test his newly added attributes.
“The rain has stopped…”
After singing the first line, Meng Fan was stunned. When his singing skills increased, it came with improved vocal performance, added pitch, range, tone, and sound quality. Meng Fan didn’t even have to think about it, it just sounded so good!”
“… but why is the sky still Gray? I remember you said we have to be happy.”
Meng Fan sang and unconsciously entered an emotional state.
Suddenly, the girls in the room who had been crazily singing suddenly quieted down. Their expressions were shocked as if they just heard some heart-wrenching voice. But it didn’t sound like that. However, the corners of their mouths slowly lifted into a smile.
“… I feel like I’m alone. Every time I smile, my heart is bitterly crying.”
At the moment, Meng Fan was curious to see what his voice sounded like with both his new voice and the added validation. He was worried the hat would mask its effects and had taken the hat off in the spur of the moment.
“Give me a reason to forget, the you that loved me so much.”
As Meng Fan took off his hat, the six girls were stunned when they saw him. They didn’t scream but were carried away by Meng Fan’s voice.
One of the girls began to break down, sobbing heavily.
“Some love seems more clear when you are far away…”
When Meng Fan finished singing, the five girls, including the one who was crying the loudest, were all stricken with tears.
This was a song about heartbreak and the disappearance of love. It was easy enough to provoke tears on its own, not to mention these girls were already long gone. Plus, with Meng Fan’s +4 vocal skills…
After the song, Meng Fan put on his hat to leave but paused at the door. Suddenly, he couldn’t help but remove the hat and erupted into laughter.
His laughter was filled with happiness and vocal appeal plus his added smile appeal… The girls who had just been overwhelmed with tears suddenly began to laugh with tears in their eyes.
“This… this is taking it too far!”
Meng Fan grimaced but didn’t know how to explain. He could only put on his hat and slip away. He bought some food and drink from the counter and brought it to the booth as if it were some form of compensation.
When he left the KTV, Meng Fan could confirm the +6 singing skill and +4 voice appeal from his tasks, and the black magic microphone was a terrifying trait. His singing skills weren’t on a professional level, but with the voice appeal, he was way more attractive than professional singers were.
He wasn’t sure about anything else, but at least he could make a crowd cry. If he included his smile appeal, it was even easier to make them laugh.
He stepped outside the KTV and passed a convenient store. Meng fan took off his hat and entered. “Boss, do you guys have wa hahahahahaha?”
The boss heaved with laughter. “You guys hahaha are all poison hahahaha you’re the fourth one today hahahaha!”
Meng Fan was a bit embarrassed. He managed an “early blessing for the new year” and slipped away.
He was just outside the store when his phone rang.
It was almost 1:00 am, who could be calling at this hour? He assumed it was Meng Cai Wei, but he was stunned when he answered the phone.
Su Qing Cen!
He had exchanged Wechat information with Su Qing Cen before, but they had never contacted each other. His idol was calling him late at night, and Meng Fan was both excited and nervous.
He took a deep breath and picked it up. “Hello.”
“Sorry to bother you so late. I didn’t disturb your sleep, did I?” Su Qing Cen said apologetically.
“No, of course not. I haven’t slept yet.”
“It’s like this. I had some work today in Hangzhou, and I just finished. I’ve been in a bad mood for various reasons and wanted to talk to someone about it. I didn’t want to find someone in the industry and remembered you were in Hangzhou, so I gave you a call. It sounds like a stretch, but I really want to see you laugh. Your smile is kind of… magical. Seeing it seems to make people happy.”
Meng Fan froze. Could it be his presence was so great after taking off his hat that it had drawn Su Qing Cen who was in a talkative mood toward himself?
He then smiled. “What do you mean magic? You can just say it’s poison. Then how about I send you a video?”
Although he had already seen Su Qing Cen, his heart skipped at the thought of video chatting with his idol.