Chapter 106: Winter Vacation and the Villa
The arrival of winter vacation was a joyous occasion for most students. They were finally free from studies and could properly relax. Originally, the third-year high school students were supposed to have supplementary lessons this year, but due to an order from the Education Bureau, they couldn’t have overly long lessons. Therefore, the third-year students got to start their vacation early; this was good news.
Yu Linna had no particular plans for this winter vacation, so she was just idle. It just so happened that Ye Zhiyun didn’t seem to have much work this winter vacation either. Considering the upcoming New Year, she didn’t actively look for too much work, wanting to relax and unwind as well.
But this winter vacation seemed destined to be eventful. Dai Wenqian invited Yu Linna and a few others to hang out, saying she would take them to a villa – barbecue, hot pot, karaoke, mahjong. Those invited included Yu Linna, Ye Zhiyun, and Fang Jianing. Huo Ningning didn’t go because she had to visit her grandmother’s home.
Dai Wenqian, this girl who couldn’t stand not causing trouble for even a day, thought that since it was winter vacation, she might as well go out and stir up some fun. She happened to have a villa in the suburbs that they could use. She also tried inviting her junior classmates, but they all had prior engagements, so there were only four people on this villa trip.
“Welcome, my friends! Come, come inside and play! Tonight we party till we drop!”
Troublemaker Dai Wenqian, together with the other girls, started making a scene the moment they got out of the car. That tone and momentum seemed determined to bring up the atmosphere. Ye Zhiyun was used to it, paid her no mind. She was always like this at school. It was precisely because of her craziness that few boys dared to pursue her. Whoever tries to hit on her gets messed with.
Speaking of which, Dai Wenqian came from a wealthy family, even having a villa in the city’s suburbs. This type of person was either rich or noble. And judging from the surroundings, this villa was located in the countryside, with forests all around. The exterior of the villa looked luxurious, tastefully decorated, with a fish pond in the garden, and the meticulously maintained lawn gave off a feeling of comfort. Entering the villa, the spacious hall looked even more luxurious, the furniture meticulously placed. Just stepping on the floor revealed its premium quality.
So, Dai Wenqian is a rich ojou-sama after all, just like Ye Zhiyun. Could someone with this villa be poor?
“This place is huge.”
This was the first time Fang Jianing had been to such a large villa; she was mesmerized. Such a luxurious villa, how much money would she have to earn to be able to afford it? Based on her current income, wanting to buy this villa would take at least ten years.
Unintentionally holding onto the thigh of someone with a future, Yu Linna couldn’t help but think this way.
“Tycoon, are you short of friends? I can be your friend. Just take me out to have fun every day~”
Yu Linna felt the urge to be cheeky again.
Ye Zhiyun was quite displeased and flicked her on the forehead. Yu Linna cried out, clutching her forehead, looking very aggrieved.
“Hmph, biting the hand that feeds you.”
Ye Zhiyun glared at her with annoyance. Yu Linna instantly didn’t dare say anything more.
“Since you’re here, we are all friends. Come on, let’s sing karaoke! My dream is to be a singer, you know!”
The Troublemaker opened the karaoke room, dragging the three in for karaoke. Yu Linna initially refused. Because she couldn’t sing well; she was eliminated during the qualifying round in the singing competition before. She had no talent in singing.
“It’s okay, let’s all sing! My favorite songs to sing are love songs, especially Andy Lau’s!”
“That’s why I said I can’t sing…”
“Waves surging, waves flowing, endless waves of endless rain…” (Note: This is a famous line from the theme song of “Shanghai Bund”.)
“You’re singing Chow Yun-fat’s song!” (Note: Should be the theme song of Shanghai Beach, performed by Frances Yip though often attributed to Chow Yun-fat)
A troublemaker is a troublemaker; if she doesn’t cause trouble for a day, her entire body itches, seemingly unable to rest, always trying to find fun. Even setting up her own club was like this, deliberately stealing two words from Wenqing Club and adding the word ‘manga’ to form the new name. Although she did like cosplay, events that got hyped up could attract her interest even more.
If there was anything else that could attract her, besides anime, it was singing.
“A sea of bitterness, stirring up love and hate, in the world…”
And it was the kind that once she started singing, she couldn’t stop.
Although it was a good thing for a girl to be lively, being too lively was also a headache. It was hard to imagine if she ever got married, whether her husband could endure her.
But they clearly overlooked one point. It was still uncertain whether Dai Wenqian would even get married…
“Next, I want to sing an anime song…”
“Alright, alright, Wenqian, stop singing. It’s been you the whole time, let Jianing and them sing.”
Ye Zhiyun snatched the microphone, pressed down on her head, and handed the microphone to Fang Jianing. Fang Jianing smiled wryly. She rarely sang. What should she sing?
Oh right, she had also sung during a live stream before. It was an anime song. Why not sing that this time to have some fun? Thinking this, she cleared her throat and opened her mouth.
“Everything that gives me hope, I offer to you now. I’m yours…”
Once Fang Jianing started singing, the private room became quiet. Even Dai Wenqian stopped causing trouble, listening carefully. Fang Jianing sang a Japanese song. Although not as good as the original version, she had her own unique style. Her voice was soft and delicate, unlike the original singer’s passionate tone.
The song she sang came from an anime with huge controversy in the industry. Some praised it as a masterpiece, some criticized it as a rushed ending. But it was undeniable that its songs were very catchy.
“Woah, not bad, not bad, didn’t expect you, Ningning, to be quite good at singing. Pretty good.”
“This… I sang this song during a live stream before, so it’s somewhat familiar.”
Scratching her cheek, Fang Jianing spoke slightly embarrassedly.
Her being a Bilibili uploader wasn’t a secret. Everyone knew, but they still thought her voice was good. Even if she weren’t a streamer, it seemed she had other potential.
When the microphone reached Ye Zhiyun’s hand, she appeared composed, casually selecting a Mandarin song to sing. Although her singing skills weren’t particularly solid, fortunately, she rarely went off-key. Her voice wasn’t bad either, and she managed to finish a song.
But when it was Yu Linna’s turn, her face was the picture of anguish. She wasn’t suited for singing, asking her to sing? What could she sing? A person who couldn’t even pass the qualifying round of a city singing competition, what could she possibly sing well?
“Ten years since I prostituted myself, I have become lost and disconnected in Guangdong… Pah!! Sang the wrong lyrics. Again! Ten years since I drifted, I have become lost and disconnected in Guangdong…” *(Note: This is a classic mondegreen/misheard lyrics scenario based on a song about being away from home for ten years)
And as she sang, she kept messing up the lyrics, making everyone roar with laughter.
Yu Linna’s face flushed red. She really wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into. It was all because she usually browsed too much QQ News and Tieba (online forums), making her think of those ridiculously mangled lyrics as soon as she started singing this song. She sang them subconsciously, truly embarrassing.
Dai Wenqian was laughing so hard her ribs were about to break. This incident was enough to make her laugh for several years. She didn’t expect Yu Linna to be so cute, even messing up the lyrics like this. Oh my god, too funny!
“Wuwu, I will never sing again, not even if you kill me…”
After Yu Linna finished singing, she immediately covered her face and sat back down. She truly wanted to disappear! As a girl, she actually sang such a shameless song. She had no face left to show the world! Better die.
And looking at everyone’s knowing smiles, her face turned even redder. She truly felt like she had dug her own grave and jumped in.
Ye Zhiyun patted her shoulder and gave a mischievous smile.
“This room has a camera, you know. Although I didn’t record it, it’s on the system.”
Are you a devil?!
Oh no, now they have something to hold over her! Yu Linna’s future had been taken away!
She was so upset!
If it weren’t for the wrong lyrics, she wouldn’t have been caught. Now it’s great; she couldn’t escape in the coming days.
And Ye Zhiyun was extremely satisfied. With such good material, why waste it?
For the remaining time, Yu Linna collapsed on the sofa like a lifeless thing, completely losing hope, almost ready to meet Buddha.
“Maybe the joke went a bit too far…”
Ye Zhiyun looked at this lifeless Yu Linna and smiled.
After singing karaoke, it was about time to make dinner. Dai Wenqian had already prepared the induction cooker in the dining room, and the ingredients were placed in the kitchen. She clapped her hands and revealed a mischievous smile.
“Okay, everyone, let’s get the food ready. We can bring it up and cook as soon as the ingredients are washed. This winter, how can you get through winter without hot pot? Come, Little Linna, let’s go to the kitchen. Zhiyun and Jianing are in charge of washing the dishes later.”
Dai Wenqian pulled Yu Linna’s hand and entered the kitchen. Ye Zhiyun sat there watching TV, unmoved. She was used to this kind of Dai Wenqian. If Dai Wenqian was quiet, that would be strange.
“So, Classmate Wenqian…”
“Just call me Wenqian. Come on, let’s wash the vegetables. Everyone is waiting for us. Little Sister Linna, you often cook at home, right? Just looking at your posture and movements shows you are very skilled.”
Rolling up her sleeves, Yu Linna took the prepared meatballs to wash them clean, while Dai Wenqian also actively approached her to chat while washing vegetables.
“Cooking is something I’m very used to. But well, this is my first time preparing food myself for hot pot. I was always taken to hot pot restaurants by others before.”
“Is it your parents who took you?”
“…No.”
A trace of sadness flickered in her eyes, but it was quickly masked. Yu Linna pretended nothing happened and continued washing vegetables.
“When I was young, my parents would often take me to eat at high-end restaurants. I can tell the quality of ingredients. How about next time I take you to eat Western food? My treat, of course.”
“No, thank you.”
“Hehe, no need to be shy. As long as you say you want to go, I can take you anywhere.”
Dai Wenqian’s personality was too lively, simply unable to settle down. Yu Linna was exhausted from responding to her.
However, her being overly familiar with people, in a sense, was also a good thing. If she was a more reserved type, Yu Linna wouldn’t know what to do.
Quickly, after preparing the ingredients, the two carried everything to the dining room, and the induction cooker was turned on.
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