Rebirth of Chinese Entertainment, the Diary of a 95 Flower

Chapter 130 The Path I Chose, I Will Never Regret
The door is closed.

Jiang Yang picked up a piece of instant noodles and put it in his mouth, then saw Zhao Jinmai stretch out her little hand to him, her face full of bright smiles.

Did she want to hold hands with me after Yang Chaoyue left?

Get rid of the evil thoughts in your mind.

We cannot use adult thinking to speculate about Zhao Jinmai's current behavior.

He asked, "Want to play on your phone?"

Zhao Jinmai nodded vigorously: "Mmm-hmm."

He casually asked, "Yang, it's New Year's Eve, will you stay with me until midnight? I promise I won't linger, I'll kick you out as soon as it's time."

She twisted the hem of her clothes with her fingers and suddenly let go: "Last year, my mom locked me in the study to do practice problems while firecrackers went off outside. I finished several Huanggang practice exams in frustration."

On the surface, he's a well-behaved child who's been strictly controlled.

Deep down, she's a Shenyang girl who's been holding back her energy and just wants to have a blast.

A rebellious person whose mouth tastes like corn stubble!
Zhao Jinmai is from Shenyang and is unfamiliar with the city of Shanghai.

Jiang Yang understood Zhao Jinmai's thoughts.

Children always look forward to various holidays.

Different festivals are given different meanings.

Youthful exuberance.

Unlike me, who has spent so many New Year's Eves that I've become numb to it all.

I can't even muster the energy for the Chinese New Year.

For a fleeting moment, I had the illusion that my aging soul, now in its thirties, found a cure in the vibrant eyes of this rebellious teenager.

Zhao Jinmai looked at Jiang Yang with hopeful eyes.

There is anticipation, but also anxiety.

She had made the same request to her mother two years ago.

But Hu Lin's answer was always the same: "What's so great about New Year's Eve? Studying well is the important thing. Only kids care about New Year's Eve. How old are you?"

But I haven't grown up yet.

Although I really want to grow up quickly and get away from my parents' control.

But I want to experience the holidays that children celebrate too, because I'm afraid that when I grow up, they won't be as interesting as my mother says.

Therefore, Zhao Jinmai couldn't help but feel uneasy.

She was afraid that Jiang Yang's answer would be the same as her mother's.

I'm afraid that every adult has the same expectations for children.

Jiang Yang replied without hesitation, "Okay, I'll spend New Year's Eve with you tonight, and watch you grow a year older, then I'll go back."

Hear the words.

As if on cue, Zhao Jinmai suddenly straightened her back.

His knees bounced slightly, he restrained himself from jumping, his feet stayed on the ground, and his body swayed up and down.

The five words, "Accompanying you as you grow a year older," filled Zhao Jinmai's heart with joy.

Joy is like a compressed spring, finally waiting for the moment to be released.

There were no complicated emotions, just pure joy.

No matter how bright the New Year's Eve lights are, they can't compare to the faint glow of someone telling you, "I'll be there for you as you grow up."

"Will you play whatever I want with me?"

"Mmm, I'll keep you company."

Jiang Yang casually replied.

Despite her rebellious nature in private, Zhao Jinmai is mostly a well-behaved child.

What other tricks can a good kid like you play?

If they want me to keep them company, then I'll keep them company; I can get some stat boosts anyway.

Not a moment later.

Zhao Jinmai lay on the sofa, crossed her legs, and played a match-3 game with her toes dangling back and forth.

Jiang Yang wandered around aimlessly.

Arriving at Zhao Jinmai's desk, five completed test papers were spread out on it, two of which were still blank in English.

There is also a schedule.

The top line, written in black pen, reads: MaiMai's Daily Schedule.

The handwriting is neat and upright, with each stroke ending with a distinct brushstroke.

Hu Lin's handwriting.

Time is precise down to the minute. I get up at 6:30, have half an hour for lunch and half an hour for a nap, and spend the rest of the time studying until 11 p.m.

At the very bottom, there was a sentence written by Hu Lin: "[No pain, no gain. It's okay to be tired now; things will be much easier later. Junior high school is the most crucial time. On your life's journey, Mom will always be there to protect you.]"
"Jiang Yang, Director Wang sent you a WeChat message, it seems to be related to Sister Chaoyue."

Zhao Jinmai jogged over from the living room and returned the phone to Jiang Yang.

Jiang Yang glanced at the message sent by Wang Jun.

He showed Wang Jun a picture of the agreement signed by Yang's father, and this is Wang Jun's response.

They said they could send the contract over tomorrow, sign the agreement, affix the official seal, keep a copy, and archive the contract.

Having reached this point, Yang Chaoyue's role is basically finalized.

"I hate it so much that my mom makes this schedule for me, it's like being in prison!"

Zhao Jinmai noticed that Jiang Yang was looking at the schedule on her desk.

She took it and covered it on the table with her hand.

Not daring to use too much force, as if Hu Lin were watching beside her, she lightly covered it up.

A rebellion that dares not be carried out forcefully.

Zhao Jinmai muttered, "I'll definitely study hard, but can you please stop interfering with what I do every minute of every day? It's like you're monitoring me."

"Yes, I've recorded it. I'll send it to your mom in a bit."

Zhao Jinmai turned around and saw that Jiang Yang's phone screen displayed a recording page. She hurriedly said, "No, Brother Yang, I was wrong, please."

Even his tone of voice wasn't in the Northeastern accent.

He spoke standard Mandarin like a well-behaved child.

Beneath the hidden Northeastern accent lies a rebellious spirit beneath the mask of a well-behaved child.

Jiang Yang released his finger from the screen: "This time it's really recorded."

Click the play button.

Zhao Jinmai's pleading voice came through the phone: "No, Brother Yang, I was wrong, please."

The recording button was a feint; what was actually recorded was her trembling trust.

Realizing that Jiang Yang was teasing her, Zhao Jinmai said irritably, "How come you're even more childish than me... It's annoying, I still have two English papers to finish, and I hate English the most."

When the topic of learning came up, Zhao Jinmai was very resistant: "Why should we Chinese learn English? What's the point of learning all this foreign language?"

Seeing a good opportunity to exploit his character's attributes, Jiang Yang casually asked, "Which question don't you know?"

"I couldn't do the first one, it was a multiple choice."

"The question tests phrasal verbs and prepositional phrases, so the answer is D."

After Jiang Yang explained briefly, Zhao Jinmai suddenly realized, "That's right."

Only then did I remember.

Jiang Yang is not only a good actor, but also a top student.

The three questions I couldn't answer at McDonald's were from Jiangyang Church.

[Under your care, Zhao Jinmai's English has improved. You have received feedback that your English level has increased by 1.]

"What about the second question, Yang-ge?"

“A.”

When Zhao Jinmai is playing around, she can be playful, but when she's studying seriously, she can focus immediately.

Sit at your desk with your back straight.

Holding a pen, he remained serious and unsmiling.

He adjusted the angle of the desk lamp, his eyes filled with a desire to improve his academic performance.

Teach all 15 multiple-choice questions.

The system notification sounded in Jiang Yang's mind again.

I've managed to exploit the English attribute again.

After teaching Zhao Jinmai how to write the multiple-choice questions, Zhao Jinmai paused to rest for a while, then switched back to her Northeastern accent: "Brother Yang, where should we go for a stroll after dinner?"

"You haven't finished the homework your mom assigned you yet."

"Wait! If I finish writing all these papers, it will be very late before I go out."

"No, there's a cheat program to teach you how to write it." Jiang Yang moved a chair and sat down next to Zhao Jinmai.

"Hack?"

Upon hearing this word, Zhao Jinmai instantly understood Jiang Yang's meaning: "Brother Yang, would you be willing to teach me?"

"Still calling me Brother Yang?"

"Teacher Yang!"

"What Teacher Yang? My surname is Jiang."

"Teacher Jiang!"

The newly bound Little Flower is getting its attributes extremely quickly.

Unlike Yang Chaoyue, who had been bound for two months, the efficiency of exploiting the same attribute had obviously decreased after several attempts.

This is the pattern Jiang Yang figured out: "Now we'll do the cloze test."

Jiang Yang explains the techniques for completing English cloze tests:
"Skip the blanks and read through the whole text to grasp the theme. Pay special attention to the first paragraph and the first sentence of each paragraph, as they usually contain the core information. Then answer the questions in order. If you encounter a difficult question, mark it and skip it. Finally, substitute all the answers into the whole text to check if the tenses are consistent, if the parts of speech are accurate, and if the meaning is coherent."

Zhao Jinmai carefully solved the problem following the techniques taught by Jiang Yang.

Shoulders slightly forward.

Hold the exam paper down with your left hand and grip the pen properly with your right hand.

One foot rests on the chair's crossbar, swaying slightly with the rhythm of thought.

Jiang Yang didn't disturb Zhao Jinmai. He returned to the living room, ate cream puffs and crispy noodles, and drank bubble tea while waiting for Yang Chaoyue to come back.

Wait for the system prompt.

[Under your care, Zhao Jinmai's English has improved. You have received feedback that your English level has increased by 1.]

I managed to snag some attributes again.

effective!
It has to be said that tutoring Zhao Jinmai yielded far more valuable attributes than tutoring Yang Chaoyue.

It should be related to learning efficiency.

Jiang Yang returned to the living room sofa and took out his phone.

Take a look at the match-3 icon on the screen.

Is this game really that fun?

I wasn't particularly interested in this game in my previous life. It was only when I first met Zhao Jinmai that I played it a little to attract her attention and make it easier to exploit her attributes.

Since meeting Zhao Jinmai, she has always kept the game records.

Zhao Jinmai, who was sitting at the desk, suddenly looked up and asked, "Teacher Jiang, where are you taking me to play later?"

"All you ever do is play. We'll talk after you finish your exam."

"Mmm, mmm."

Zhao Jinmai continued to work diligently on the problem.

He frowns and bites his lower lip when he encounters a problem.

When a difficult problem is solved, the eyebrows briefly rise.

Facial muscles are slightly tense.

Jiang Yang was bored.

Try playing the match-3 game.

The background music of the match-3 game started playing on the phone. Just as he entered the game, Zhao Jinmai, as if she had smelled something, suddenly got up and rushed over, snatching Jiang Yang's phone away: "If I can't play, you can't play either."

"What?"

"You're interfering with my study efficiency, so let's both stop playing and stop showing off."

Zhao Jinmai snatched Jiang Yang's phone and headed towards the desk.

With her head down, she tapped repeatedly on Jiang Yang's phone screen.

There was a knock on the room door.

Yang Chaoyue returned with Sprite.

First, show Yang Chaoyue the message Wang Jun sent, then snatch the phone back from Zhao Jinmai in a bit.

Yang Chaoyue noticed the last sentence in Wang Jun's message and muttered to himself, "Tell Yang Chaoyue to prepare a short audition video of Rose when he comes to the set tomorrow, and send it to the producer and screenwriter."

She blinked a few more times: "Brother Yang, didn't I pass the audition? Do I still have to record a demo tomorrow?"

"It's just a formality, don't worry about it. The producer and screenwriter weren't present during the audition. The main purpose was to let the main creative staff who didn't audition know the situation, ensure that all parties had the same opinion, and also keep the information for future reference."

It's just a formality.

Yang Chaoyue, however, cared more than anyone else.

I lost interest in playing and immediately wanted to go back to prepare for tomorrow's audition demo.

Yang Chaoyue is more dedicated to his career than anyone else.

This was an opportunity that Yang Ge helped me secure.

This is also my only chance.

Not allowing even the slightest mistake: "Yang-ge, there's no need to specially see me off. You play with Mai-mai for a while longer, and I can take the bus back."

"Why take the bus? Take a taxi back, and I'll reimburse you."

"Taking a taxi in Shanghai is too expensive."

"Alright, alright, Yang Chaosheng."

Jiang Yang could sense that Yang Chaoyue was indeed making efforts to cultivate her independence.

I don't want to worry about her at all.

Even the bus routes didn't need to be told to him; Yang Chaoyue wanted to learn how to look them up himself.

Close the door.

Only Jiang Yang and Zhao Jinmai remained in the entire suite.

Zhao Jinmai lowered her head, sat at her desk, and tapped on Jiang Yang's phone screen.

"MaiMai, give me your phone."

"No, unless you stay here and keep me company while I do my homework so I can finish it quickly."

Full-process tutoring?

Jiang Yang didn't have that kind of patience.

Isn't it nice to lie on the sofa, play on your phone, and eat the snacks Zhao Jinmai prepared?

Anyway, I've already taught Zhao Jinmai the solution, so all we have to do is wait to exploit her attributes.

Jiang Yang sneered, revealing a wicked smile: "A child stealing an adult's phone? Woman, you're playing with fire."

“What woman? I’m not an old woman, I’m a young girl.”

With long strides, he walked a few steps to the desk, grabbed Zhao Jinmai's fluffy pajamas hood, and easily lifted her up.

Like carrying a little chick.

He casually reached into his pocket and snatched the phone back: "Kids can do their homework without phones, but adults would rather be dead without them."

After snatching back the phone and sitting on the living room sofa, she was surprised to find that Zhao Jinmai hadn't chased after her.

Ok.

sensible.

Looking up, he saw Zhao Jinmai sitting at her desk, facing him, covering her mouth and trying not to laugh.

"Laugh, if you laugh any longer, you'll have less time to play later."

[Under your care, Zhao Jinmai's acting skills have improved. You have received feedback, and your acting skills have increased by 1.]

They actually managed to exploit Zhao Jinmai's acting skills.

Is Zhao Jinmai playing herself?
A vague sense of foreboding rose in my heart.

When you turn on your phone screen, a message appears on the PIN pad: [Please try again in 1 hour. You cannot attempt to enter your password before the countdown ends.]
Jiang Yang stiffly raised his head, finally understanding how Yang Chaoyue had once scolded him: "Mai Mai, are you even human?!"

He threw his phone on the sofa and slumped down.

Life is better than death.

"Teacher Jiang, come and give me some tutoring." Zhao Jinmai burst out laughing.

I poured Jiang Yang a Sprite and waited for him to sit down.

Having been reborn, Jiang Yang is not as career-driven as he was in his previous life; in this life, he mainly wants to enjoy life.

But Zhao Jinmai was forcing herself to exploit her attributes.

In half an hour, Zhao Jinmai successfully completed two English test papers with Jiang Yang's guidance, and also gained 3 points in English skills.

It was already 8:30 pm when I went out.

There are 3 and a half hours left until New Year's Eve.

As Jiang Yang was thinking about taking Zhao Jinmai out to play, he suddenly realized a problem.

I haven't really played it in a long time.

In my past life, I worked like a beast of burden, busy making money, and after work I would lie down and play on my phone.

Adults' entertainment methods have ultimately shrunk to a bunch of overheated icons on their phones.

Going to internet cafes to play games with classmates and playing pool at billiard halls were things that happened seven or eight years ago.

I haven't been to a karaoke bar in four or five years.

The faster you scroll through short videos, the more faded the colors of the real world become.

Entertainment options in real life are becoming increasingly scarce.

The main problem is that friends who used to go out shopping and have fun together are getting to see each other less and less after they start working.

Every time I try to ask someone out, the reply I get is always "next time, for sure."

The joy of sitting in a five-person tandem at an internet cafe is only a vague memory from my student days.

Adults use the excuse of not having time to mask their unhappiness.

The child's feigned rebellion is a plea for adults to take a better look at themselves.

Jiang Yang suddenly realized that even if he were reborn, he could not find his former boyish heart and had become the boring adult he used to despise.

So when he drove his Corolla away from the hotel with Zhao Jinmai, he couldn't think of anywhere to take her: "How about I take you to McDonald's?"

"Just finished cooking, I'm so full... Yang-ge, what are they doing over there?"

Zhao Jinmai sat in the passenger seat, pointing to the Bell and Drum Towers outside the window.

This is Thames Town, the new town of Songjiang District.

In the open space of Clock Tower Square and Oxford Street, a group of elderly men and women are playing "Little Apple" on a high-powered speaker, dancing wildly against a backdrop of European and American architecture.

"They're doing square dancing."

"How do you jump? Teach me, I want to jump too."

Jiang Yang was naturally happy to be asked to exploit the attributes again.

After parking the car, we arrived at the square where people were dancing around the Bell and Drum Tower.

At first, Zhao Jinmai was the one imitating the dance quite well, while Jiang Yang watched from the sidelines, not wanting to join in the fun.

But Zhao Jinmai still dragged him into the group: "Come on, Yang-ge, I'm just a little kid and I don't pretend, why are you, a grown man, putting on airs?"

"That's a very different way of putting things. Adults care about face much more than children do."

"You said it yourself, you'd spend New Year's Eve with me today, so you have to come along no matter what I want to do. Don't go back on your word."

What adults say is worthless.

Jiang Yang originally wanted to teach Zhao Jinmai a lesson through his actions, but in the end he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Following the music and the auntie leading the group, we swayed our bodies and slowly learned.

The intro features an apple-lifting gesture.

Hold your hands loosely in front of your chest and sway them from side to side in rhythm, mimicking holding an apple.

Then comes the Yangko dance.

Start with your left foot, taking a cross-step movement while twisting your hips.

The local Shanghai aunties in the group added fan props.

Next comes the hand-rubbing gesture, which corresponds to the lyrics of "planting hope." The hands are rubbed together quickly and then suddenly opened, while the feet jump apart.

One big, one small; one tall, one short; clumsy in their learning.

Zhao Jinmai seemed to have inexhaustible energy; even after Jiang Yang was exhausted from jumping, she still wouldn't stop.

Jiang Yang sat on a bench nearby and sent Yang Chaoyue a QQ message: "Let me know when you get home."
Yang Chaoyue replied: [“What would have happened if I hadn’t sent a message?”]
Jiang Yang typed in the message: ["I'll call the police and go to the wishing tree in front of your old home to tie a red ribbon to it and pray for your well-being."]
If Yang Chaoyue were really lost, I would be more anxious than anyone else.

It's so easy to get her attributes, and she can even be your little nanny, taking care of your daily life. Where can you find such a good girl?

The only downside is that I occasionally buy myself some counterfeit goods.

Yang Chaoyue sent a message: ["What are you and Mai Mai doing?"]
Looking up, I saw Zhao Jinmai mixed in with the group of square dancing aunties, her movements stiff and clumsy.

Recall the embarrassing situation I had just experienced while dancing with Zhao Jinmai.

Suddenly, I understood how I felt when I asked Yang Chaoyue to dance during the interview.

I really can't let go of my inhibitions.

It felt like being hit by a boomerang of fate.

He sent a message:

[“Don’t even mention it. They were doing square dancing, those tiny kids, and their interests are the same as those of the old ladies. They were dancing to ‘Little Apple,’ the song I performed for you during your interview. It was so awkward. I admit I raised my voice a bit when I spoke to you back then. I apologize. Sorry, Chaoyue.”]
Yang Chaoyue sat on the last row of five seats on the Songjiang No. 9 bus. The other four seats were occupied by high school students in school uniforms.

She suppressed a laugh when she received the message from Jiang Yang.

Yang Ge is doing square dancing?

They're bound to make a complete fool of themselves.

I really want to see it in person.

I missed a chance to make fun of Yang Ge.

It's only been about two months since the interview, but it feels like a very long time has passed.

Time is a truly magical thing. Before, I worked in a textile factory, repeating the same life day after day, and a year would pass in the blink of an eye.

We always feel that time is too long when we are getting through the days, but when we look back, we realize that youth is too short.

Over the past two months, I've followed Brother Yang around, grown as a person, experienced a constant change in identity, learned many skills, and met many people I never thought I would ever meet in my life.

Looking back, those two months felt abrupt and incredibly long.

Time stands still in numbness, and flies by in the pursuit of dreams.

Look up.

The bus stopped at the station, and passengers boarded one after another.

A red plastic pull ring with the words "Rongcheng Bus" printed on it hangs above the window.

A handwritten warning sign is posted next to the coin box: "Please bring your own change; no change will be given."

The rear door pillar is equipped with a yellow exit bell, which makes a ding-dong electronic sound when pressed.

The driver's guardrail was covered with faded stickers welcoming the World Expo.

[“Brother Yang, I want to see it too. Come back and dance for me.”] Yang Chaoyue sent a message to Jiang Yang.

Jiang Yang quickly replied: "Anything can happen in dreams."
I knew Jiang Yang wouldn't agree.

As the vehicle started, Yang Chaoyue put down his phone.

The bus speed is inconsistent, not as smooth as Yang Ge's car, and it's easy to get dizzy looking at my phone.

He turned his head to look out the window.

As you pass through the Zuibaichi Park section, warm yellow lights illuminate the century-old French plane trees.

I'm thinking about the scene I'll be recording for the audition demo in my head for a bit.

I wanted to ask Jiang Yang, but then I thought better of it.

We must rely on ourselves.

Even though Yang said that this audition sample was just a formality, mainly used by the production team to back up the actors' files, I still had to take it seriously.

During the brief pause in the vehicle's movement, Yang Chaoyue took out his phone and browsed his QQ space.

I saw a post from Sister Yan: [Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Our dorm of 12 sisters is having a happy meal tonight.]
The photo was accompanied by a picture of a group having a meal at a roadside food stall.

The gas stoves at the roadside food stalls flickered, and the fried rice chefs tossed the woks, creating bursts of flame.

The two tables, pieced together, were laden with barbecue and drinks.

Twelve female workers dressed in gray-blue textile factory uniforms smiled happily at the camera and made various gestures.

Yang Chaoyue stared at the photo in a daze, his gaze lingering on the person in the picture for a long time, his eyelashes trembling slightly.

Sister Yan is inside.

Yang Chaoyue knew all 11 girls, including Sister Yan.

The remaining young woman, with long hair, an oval face, and wispy bangs, sitting next to Sister Yan, was someone she didn't recognize.

"It must be the new female worker in the dormitory who took my original workstation and is sleeping on my original dormitory bed," Yang Chaoyue murmured.

It was a completely unfamiliar face; I had never seen it before.

Yet it felt strangely familiar.

If I hadn't met Yang Ge and my fate hadn't changed, that unfamiliar girl would have been me.

Yang Chaoyue liked the post and commented: "[Wishing all my sisters a happy New Year.]"
Not a few seconds.

I received a message from Sister Yan: ["Chaoyue, it would be so nice if you were here. It's been almost two months since we last got together."]
"There will be an opportunity," Yang Chaoyue replied.

The bus started moving again.

Yang Chaoyue put his phone back in his pocket.

New Year's Eve dinner... Yang Chaoyue certainly wanted to too.

But there was no time to enjoy it.

Christmas, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve—these are holidays that people in big cities care about, but I don't know when it happened, I've become less and less concerned about them.

She is no longer the carefree factory girl Yang Chaoyue who couldn't see the future.

Instead, it is actor Yang Chaoyue who has a clear goal and is moving towards a brighter future.

Strive to take root, strive to sprout, strive to grow, grow into a towering tree, protect those you love, and ensure that your future children will not repeat your fate.

The chiffon dress I bought from Sister Yan for 300 yuan was torn to shreds at the cuffs when I played a female beggar at Xiangshan Film and Television City, so I couldn't wear it anymore.

Even after washing it clean, it still looks like a tattered beggar's outfit.

Yang Chaoyue was not lost.

It was wrapped in a plastic bag and hung in the closet for safekeeping.

Like an unmarked tombstone.

Hanging next to it is Versace's expensive fur-trimmed coat.

The last time I said goodbye to Sister Yan was the last time I saw her.

I hope Sister Yan will be happy in the future.

But he would never go back to that textile factory, filled with the smell of machine oil and cotton wool, and the rumbling of machines.

I have already escaped that factory, and I have also left behind the person I once resigned myself to my fate.

This is the path I chose myself, and I will never regret it.

[Under your care, Yang Chaoyue's knowledge of bus routes in Songjiang District of Shanghai has improved. You have received feedback and gained corresponding attributes.]

I somehow managed to steal Yang Chaoyue's attributes.

It must have been Yang Chaoyue who found the bus route and boarded the bus back to Fuli Community.

Jiang Yang wanted to experience this attribute.

I discovered that not only the bus routes in Songjiang District of Shanghai, but the entire bus network of Shanghai unfolded in my mind like a blueprint.

Strange and unusual properties.

It's useless.

I never take the bus on a regular basis.

Zhao Jinmai danced the entire routine to the rhythm of the music, ending with a spin on one foot, hooking the other leg up, and making a fan-waving motion with her hands. She then asked Jiang Yang, "Jiang Yang, what do you think?"

"It's just so-so, the overall effect isn't good either." Jiang Yang's eyes swept left and right, scrutinizing him: "From my angle, I can see that the floor tiles there are uneven and have large gaps. When I lay tiles, they don't look like this at all."

"I asked about dancing, not tiling. Are you kidding me? Do you think I'm a bad dancer?"

[Under your care, Zhao Jinmai's square dancing skills have improved, and you have received feedback and gained corresponding attributes.]

"Who said you danced badly? You danced wonderfully."

Hearing Jiang Yang's praise, Zhao Jinmai raised her eyebrows.

She sat back down next to Jiang Yang, panting, and took his arm with a bright smile.

Not that forced smile that's all about showing your upper teeth in front of the camera.

Instead, he showed his teeth and laughed from the bottom of his heart.

"MaiMai, you must be tired from dancing. How about I take you back to your hotel to rest?" Jiang Yang felt a little strange after saying this.

It makes you look like a bad person with evil thoughts.

"Not tired at all, let's go somewhere else."

Zhao Jinmai stood up and pulled Jiang Yang toward the parking lot, as if afraid that Jiang Yang would abandon her and run away.

The Corolla continued to drive.

Zhao Jinmai opened her eyes wide and scanned the view outside the window.

Driving onto Jiufeng Road, he pointed to a silver-gray rectangular building and asked, "Jiang Yang, what's that place for?"

Jiang Yang turned his head and looked: "Songjiang Sports Center Table Tennis Hall, a place to play table tennis."

"Let's go play there, I can play ping pong."

"At this time, there might not be a venue available for us to play; other people might be playing matches."

"If you can't beat me, then so be it. Why are you dawdling?"

Jiang Yang immediately turned the steering wheel and drove towards the parking lot of the table tennis hall at the sports center: "My table tennis skills are so good that I can make it into the national team. How could I not beat you?"

"If you can make it into the national team, then so can I."

Park the car.

Enter from the east entrance, which has a cantilevered canopy.

The table tennis hall is a 1200-square-meter space with dark blue rubber flooring and rows of LED panel lights hanging from the ceiling.

A faded, yellowed "Quiet" warning sign hangs on the wall.

On every Double Happiness ping-pong table, there were players wearing team uniforms competing.

There weren't many people sitting in the audience; they were scattered around.

very quiet.

There was no ear-piercing, piercing noise.

Everyone was focused on the game, and the victory was met with normal cheers.

"These players are really fierce." Zhao Jinmai sat in the stands, showing no intention of going on the court to play a few rounds.

His gaze was fixed intently on the pool table in the middle where a match was taking place.

The player stands with his feet wider than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and weight on the balls of his feet. Before the ball is even released, his eyes are already locked onto the opponent's wrist.

Forehand attack.

Pull the ball back.

spike.

The racket scraped and swished intensely.

The audience cheered continuously.

“That’s called professionalism.”

Jiang Yang shook his head and sighed, "It seems that I really can't make it into the national team."

Zhao Jinmai nodded seriously: "If you can't get in, then I won't go to the national team either."

After watching a game with complete absorption, Zhao Jinmai suddenly realized something.

Take a look at the time.

It's already 9:30.

Jiang Yang only had two and a half hours left to play with him: "Brother Yang, hurry up, let's go."

"Why don't you go down and play a couple of rounds? Look at that pool table, it's almost empty, you can play for an hour for 30 yuan."

"Let's stop here and go somewhere else to have fun."

I was originally thinking of trying to get Zhao Jinmai to play ping-pong, but seeing that she wasn't interested, I gave up.

I got back into the Corolla.

I accompanied Zhao Jinmai on a aimless stroll.

Jiang Yang admired Zhao Jinmai's energy. If it were his own younger sister, he would have ignored her long ago if she kept pestering him like this.

"Brother Yang, what's that car up ahead? It's pretty special, with the character 'Qin' on the back." Zhao Jinmai asked, pointing to the car in front.

"The BYD Qin is a very powerful, authoritative, and reputable car."

"What's going on?" Zhao Jinmai didn't know anything about cars.

"Qin was able to unify the six kingdoms back then, and it can also unify ride-hailing services later on. That's amazing."

Jiang Yang said seriously, "Everyone has to look at the license plate as soon as this car pulls into the station. This is an official requirement."

What about reputation?

“I once heard a BYD Qin owner say that when her husband saw her get out of my car, he didn’t suspect anything at all and even said thank you. That’s what word-of-mouth is all about,” Jiang Yang said with a smile.

Zhao Jinmai didn't understand, but she was deeply shocked:

"When I'm an adult, get my driver's license, have my own bank card, and can break free from my mom's control, my first car will be a BYD Qin."

What are you going to do with it?

"I'm driving for Didi!"

Jiang Yang's smile froze.

He was bored and was joking around with Zhao Jinmai, who seemed to take it seriously.

The idea of ​​a child star growing up to drive for a ride-hailing service is just ridiculous.

Too lazy to correct it.

Zhao Jinmai is still a junior high school student and has several years to go before she becomes an adult. By then, she will probably have forgotten what she said.

Just like he can't remember what his dream was during his student days.

Get a pentakill?

Did you win first place in the long-distance race at the sports meet?
Can I kiss my first love?
I tried hard to think, but I couldn't remember anything at all.

Those goals that once ignited passion are now barely visible.

Even if I think about it now, I'd probably find it all very childish and laughable.

A glance in the rearview mirror made it seem as if a shadow in a school uniform was desperately chasing after something, then disappearing.

Jiang Yang glanced again at Zhao Jinmai in the passenger seat, who was staring wide-eyed, full of curiosity and energy, searching for the next fun place. Suddenly, he felt no envy.

I envy that purity that I can never find again.

Now, having been immersed in the corrupting influence of society, I am greedy for money and lustful, only considering pros and cons, and utterly vulgar.

"Jiang Yang, can you sing?" Zhao Jin suddenly asked.

"You don't mean you want me to take you to a karaoke bar, do you?"

Jiang Yang kept shaking his head: "No, no, no, I won't go."

"What?"

"I'm tone-deaf, so opening a private room and singing with a microphone would be torture for me. You'd laugh at me to death if I went there."

“We absolutely have to go, and hurry up!” Zhao Jinmai grinned, showing her teeth.

"Ancestors, please spare my life!"

Zhao Jinmai suddenly became very interested, straightened her back, and pointed to the Golden Cabinet KTV near Songjiang Sports Center: "You said it yourself, you'll play with me however you want before 12 o'clock, a grown man has to keep his word."

Jiang Yang really wanted to teach Zhao Jinmai a lesson through his actions.

Let her know that adults can make promises as easily as farting.

The idea that a promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold only exists in novels.

But looking at the smile Zhao Jinmai gave me, it wasn't a fake smile she was putting on for the camera.

Instead, it was a carefree, sincere, and trusting laugh.

After being cheated out of overtime pay by his boss, he tried to outmaneuver him.

After being betrayed by a colleague, I became extremely wary of them.

They are used to pointing out their weaknesses at the world, but they surrender to their children's trust.

When I was a child, I also longed to be treated gently by adults.

Jiang Yang finally turned the steering wheel and drove towards the Golden Cabinet KTV.

Several electric bikes were parked under the canopy at the entrance of the KTV, chained up by security guards.

The revolving glass door has faded stickers indicating an anniversary student discount.

Plastic money trees were placed on both sides of the steps.

"Is this your first time at a KTV?" Jiang Yang asked as he stepped onto the stairs and noticed Zhao Jinmai looking around.

“I’ve never been here before. My mom says this place is full of hooligans and doesn’t want me to hang around here,” Zhao Jinmai replied.

Unlike Yang Chaoyue, she didn't act reserved when she went to an unfamiliar place.

He's acted in enough plays.

There are many scenes I've witnessed.

Unlike her peers, she doesn't show any shyness.

She also knew that Jiang Yang would protect her.

Upon arriving at the inner lobby, while Jiang Yang and the receptionist were opening a private room, Zhao Jinmai couldn't sit still on the maroon leather sofa in the waiting area.

I picked up the 2014 edition of "Shanghai TV Weekly" from the coffee table and flipped through it.

Feeling bored, I went to the Street Fighter game machine in the corner and studied it for a while.

Out of curiosity, I took a coin out of my pocket and dropped it in.

The coin was swallowed; the arcade machine is broken.

Not interesting.

Jiang Yang opened the package in no time.

In room 308, Zhao Jinmai pushed open the door and found a small bag.

The space is only 8 square meters, enough for two people to sing. You have to turn sideways to walk around the karaoke station when you enter.

You'll sink into the leather sofa when you sit on it.

A fruit platter, brought by a waiter, was placed on top of the glass tea.

“Sing, MaiMai.” Jiang Yang sat on the sofa, eating watermelon.

Aren't you going to sing?

"Don't I have any pride? My singing is really awful."

“Then teach me how to select a song. I want to sing Xu Liang’s song, ‘Exams, To Hell.’”

Jiang Yang remembered this song: "I remember this song, it was popular for a while back then."

"They're really popular now; all my classmates can belt out a few songs."

Jiang Yang hummed in agreement.

What he meant by "back then" is actually what Zhao Jinmai means by "now".

It's a very rebellious song, quite different from Zhao Jinmai's image on camera, and it was included in Xu Liang's album "Bad Boys".

The karaoke machine screen has a scratch, but it does not affect the touchscreen function.

Teach Zhao Jinmai some good songs.

He handed the microphone, which was covered by a pink sanitary napkin, to Zhao Jinmai.

Zhao Jinmai continued to coax him: "Brother Yang, I've never sung this before, what should I do? Can you teach me?"

I'm so annoyed I can't stand it anymore.

Jiang Yang couldn't see through this little scheme?

They just wanted to hear him sing and make fun of him.

Never mind, I'll play with Zhao Jinmai for a while.

I haven't sung at a karaoke bar in a long time.

Jiang Yang picked up another microphone, tapped it twice to make sure it was powered, and began his on-the-spot instruction: "When singing high notes, you should hold the microphone far away to prevent popping sounds, and when singing low notes, you should hold the microphone close to your lips to increase resonance. Also, when you take a deep breath before the chorus, you should naturally tilt your head to the side."

If I were to sing, I wouldn't be able to sing very well.

Theoretical knowledge is not something you can easily grasp.

Zhao Jinmai listened intently until the song's intro ended and Jiang Yang sang the first line: "Exams can all go to hell..."

Jiang Yang couldn't continue singing the rest.

Because the entire small bag was filled with Zhao Jinmai's laughter.

"If you're going to laugh, then laugh. But can you please stop laughing into the microphone? MaiMai, you're a celebrity, it's embarrassing to be recognized."

That works.

Zhao Jinmai immediately moved the microphone away.

The smile on her face remained unstoppable.

Jiang Yang sang off-key, way off-key. His singing had no rhythm, no cadence, and no pitch.

It's not singing, it's more like reciting a song.

He's quite handsome, tall, and has such good acting skills that he could be my teacher. You could say he's a real talent, but the moment he opens his mouth to sing, it sounds like a ghost is choking him.

"Brother Yang, I really didn't mean to make fun of you, but I just couldn't hold it in."

Zhao Jinmai laughed so hard she clutched her stomach. She took a sip of water, choked, and coughed repeatedly. Finally, she wiped away her tears and said, "I really didn't expect that you have such a handsome face, but such a dog-like voice."

Jiang Yang pursed his lips helplessly: "I shouldn't have taught you to sing... You can sing yours, I'm not going to sing it again."

"Stop laughing, stop laughing, I was just kidding. My gums are just hot, so I'm letting them air out."

Seeing that Jiang Yang wouldn't say a word, Zhao Jinmai picked up the microphone and continued singing the song she had requested.

Sit up straight, knees together, and look at the lyrics on the screen.

His expression was focused and serious:
"Exams can go to hell! I want to go home and pursue my dreams. Even if the winds are strong and the waves are high, I have the strength. The school doesn't allow long hair, it's so unfashionable. They even told my parents, 'Your child is too bad, we can't control her anymore, go home and farm...'"

Jiang Yang listened for a while.

It's sometimes accurate and sometimes off-key. The verses are okay, but the chorus suddenly loses control by a note or two.

I can basically keep up.

Straightforward with no technique, high notes are forced and strained.

The average person's singing level.

Zhao Jinmai didn't know how well she sang, but her confidence was extremely high because she sang much better than Jiang Yang.

Then she coaxed Jiang Yang into singing a song.

Jiang Yang refused to fall for it.

Zhao Jinmai decided to sing it herself.

My mom said that KTVs are smoky and dangerous, and not a place for decent people.

Is it dangerous?
It's not dangerous at all.

Jiang Yang has come here, does that mean he's not a decent person?

Jiang Yang is clearly very serious and a top student; his academic performance must be exceptionally good.

Zhao Jinmai felt a little sorry for Jiang Yang because she was laughing at herself and was sitting on the sofa playing on her phone with a long face.

But the thought of Jiang Yang's off-key singing still makes me want to laugh.

Then sing a few more songs.

They also sang Xu Liang's "Guest, You Can't", Wang Sulong's "No Future Meeting", and Xu Song's "Plain Face".

Zhao Jinmai got more and more into singing, and gradually showed signs of becoming a karaoke queen.

Jiang Yang felt extremely bored and glanced at the time.

10:.

In another hour and a half, I'll be free.

Playing with kids is so boring.

With a ding, my phone received a QQ message from Yang Chaoyue: ["Brother Yang, I've arrived at Fuli Residential Area."]
Jiang Yang replied with an "Mm".

Yang Chaoyue sent another message: ["What are you doing?"]
Jiang Yang replied: [“I'm singing karaoke with Zhao Jinmai.”]
"[“MaiMai can sing?”] Yang Chaoyue sent a message.

Jiang Yang glanced at Zhao Jinmai, who was kneeling on the sofa singing "Conquer" with watermelon juice dripping from the corner of her mouth.

He typed in a message: ["He sang so enthusiastically, I don't know how much energy he was holding back. He's going to drive for ride-hailing services when he grows up. I'm not even going to call him Mai Mai anymore."]
"What should we call her?"
"Call her the karaoke queen."
Jiang Yang didn't mention a word about how bad his singing was and how Zhao Jinmai had mocked him.

So embarrassing.

It damages the high-class image of the boss in the eyes of employees.

We need to discuss giving Zhao Jinmai some hush money so she won't tell anyone about this.

Kids are easy to bribe; a couple of packs of instant noodles, a few egg tarts, or a few packets of Doritos will suffice.

Unlike himself, an adult who is insatiable and only wants to endlessly exploit attributes: ["If only you were here, you could take her microphone."]
Yang Chaoyue replied: [“No, I have a reputation to maintain. I sing terribly.”]
correct.

Yang Chaoyue's singing ability is comparable to his own.

Thankfully, they didn't come.

Otherwise, everyone in the company would be laughed at by a little kid.

After sending a message to Jiang Yang, Yang Chaoyue put away his phone and walked out of the elevator lobby of the Fuli residential complex.

Reaching the door, he took out his key, opened the door, and habitually called out, "Brother Yang, I'm back."

No one responded.

Outside the balcony was a pitch-black night sky.

The living room was empty and quiet.

Jiang Yang's tablet was charging on the sofa.

Yang Chaoyue was the only person in the entire house.

The greeting shouted into the air echoed against the wall.

Then it dawned on her that Jiang Yang was singing karaoke with Mai Mai and wasn't in the rented apartment at all.

I feel inexplicably out of sorts.

I remember when I first found out I was going to live with Jiang Yang in this rented room, I was wary of him for a long time.

Now I can't even remember the feeling of having to guard against Jiang Yang before.

Turn on the air conditioner.

The roar of the air conditioner's outdoor unit came from the balcony.

He took a bottle of Levitra from the refrigerator, took a sip to perk himself up, and texted Jiang Yang: "[Brother Yang, when are you coming back?]"
Jiang Yang replied: [I'll stay up with Mai Mai until midnight, then come back after New Year's Eve. Don't lock the door.]
I'll be back after the New Year.

I stared at those six words, lost in thought for a long time.

Actually, I don't feel anything about the ritual of New Year's Eve anymore.

The thought of Jiang Yang spending New Year's Eve with Zhao Jinmai still made her a little envious.

It's not the holidays that matter, it's the people who are by my side.

She typed a message and sent it to Jiang Yang: "Come back quickly."
The message was not sent.

deleted.

Change to: ["Okay, have fun, and be careful on your way back."]
After washing his face in the bathroom to clear his head, Yang Chaoyue went to his side bedroom.

Try to write the plot and record character demos on your own without Jiang Yang's help.

Once the recording is complete, you can start studying high school courses.

Even without Yang Ge supervising me, I can't slack off.

Consider it a chance to get used to life without Yang Ge around.

[Under your care, Zhao Jinmai's singing skills have improved, and you have received feedback and gained corresponding attributes.]

Jiang Yang's sullen face instantly brightened.

He straightened his back, his whole body stiffened, and he squinted at Zhao Jinmai, who was looking a little tired from singing.

After Zhao Jinmai finished singing Xue Zhiqian's "The Actor," the outro of the song was fading out from the speakers. She took a sip of water to moisten her throat.

She noticed Jiang Yang glancing at her: "You're envious of my singing, aren't you, Brother Yang?"

"In the chorus of your song just now, the high notes were sung a bit too low, the long notes ended with a slight downward slop, and the transitions were handled too simply," Jiang Yang commented.

"With your lousy voice, you still have the nerve to talk to me? Here, take the mic, you can have it."

Zhao Jinmai shoved the microphone into Jiang Yang's hand.

Jiang Yang shook his head and refused: "No, no, no, you're in such high spirits right now, I'm afraid you'll find it boring as soon as I start talking."

"No, Yang-ge, I only feel good when you sing."

"So I sang it for real?"

"Sing, quick!"

Realizing she had convinced Jiang Yang, Zhao Jinmai pressed her lips together, trying hard to control her smile, but the corners of her mouth still couldn't help but turn up.

Slap your thigh a few times.

Observe Jiangyang out of the corner of my eye.

Just thinking about what will happen next makes me want to laugh.

My shoulders were shaking from trying to hold back my laughter.

Even knowing that Jiang Yang sings terribly, they still felt that Jiang Yang was shining with a certain light.

He's clearly an adult, yet he doesn't look down on her childishness.

The hearty dishes she likes to eat are considered junk food by adults, but Jiang Yang says they are delicacies and is willing to eat them with her.

Understand her, be tolerant of her, be willing to listen to her inner thoughts, and be willing to play some childish games with her.

Even if she mocks Jiang Yang for singing badly, Jiang Yang will just have a long face and won't lecture her or get angry.

Adults who are willing to kneel down and accompany you to see the world are shining with light.

The next song, "A Little Happiness," appeared on the big screen.

After a short intro that establishes the song's tone, Jiang Yang begins to sing in time with the beat: "I hear raindrops falling on the green grass, I hear the distant school bell ringing..."

Her voice was soft and gentle, like a whisper in my ear.

The pitch is accurate and in tune.

The rhythm of each word lies entirely in the beat.

His expression was natural and relaxed.

Zhao Jinmai's lips suddenly froze, and her eyes widened slightly.

Can't laugh anymore.

His throat bobbed, and he touched the back of his neck. His first thought was whether Jiang Yang had released the original version.

I went to take a look at the karaoke machine.

I discovered that the original singer of this song was Tien Fu-chen, a female singer.

In other words, Jiang Yang was singing live!
"So you can sing, huh? Fine, Jiang Yang, you win. You got fooled by the adults."

Zhao Jinmai pouted unhappily, wanting to interrupt Jiang Yang and scold him, but then she felt that Jiang Yang was singing so enthusiastically that it would be impolite to do so.

Let's wait for Jiang Yang to finish singing.

As I listened, my lips unconsciously relaxed and my brow unfurrowed.

"Youth is a journey full of stumbles and falls."

"It turns out that you are the luck I want to hold onto the most, and our love was once so close."

Zhao Jinmai couldn't understand the meaning of the lyrics.

I don't understand what love is.

I don't understand what youth is.

I don't understand why some songs can only be understood after youth has passed.

It is impossible for a person to simultaneously possess youth and the feeling of youth.

People don't understand the goodness of their hometown or feel nostalgic for it when they are in their hometown.

Only through loss can one understand what is truly important.

Zhao Jinmai felt very comfortable and enjoyable listening to Jiang Yang sing.

There's a lyric in it that I understood: "Meeting you is such a lucky thing."

Fortunately, I walked into the McDonald's in Wanda Mall that day.

Luckily, I was sitting in that spot.

Luckily, I played with Jiang Yang's phone.

Zhao Jinmai tilted her head slightly, a bright smile on her face, gazing at Jiang Yang.

I'm so lucky to have met you.

After the chorus finished and the outro started, Jiang Yang put down the microphone and said, "Give me your opinion, how was your singing?"

"She sang so well, I almost wanted to switch songs. She was pretending she couldn't sing before, trying to fool a kid."

"The next song will be even better!"

"Really? What song is it?"

Five words appeared on the big screen: "My Skateboard Shoes".

The unfamiliar name made Zhao Jinmai look forward to it.

I just sang seven or eight songs, and my throat is a little itchy. I'll let Jiang Yang sing for a while and then drink some water to soothe my throat.

The melody of the song's intro is quite nice.

As soon as the lyrics appeared on the screen and Jiang Yang started speaking, Zhao Jinmai suddenly spat out a mouthful of water.

Jiang Yang's singing skills have returned to what they used to be!
"Jiang Yang, stop pretending and sing properly," Zhao Jinmai shouted.

"I'm singing properly."

Sing seriously, don't sing off-key.

"He didn't sing off-key; every word was in tune."

Zhao Jinmai was deeply shocked: "No way, there are songs like this."

……

An hour later, after leaving the Golden Cabinet KTV and getting back into the Corolla, both of them had hoarse voices.

Zhao Jinmai closed the passenger door, fastened her seatbelt, and started talking about what had just happened in the KTV room: "Yang-ge, in the last song's music video, there was a girl in a bikini strolling on the beach, and you were staring at her like crazy. Are bikinis really that hot?"

"It has nothing to do with bikinis, it's mainly because I'm a sucker for good looks."

"A person obsessed with looks?" Zhao Jinmai asked, somewhat confused. "What does 'obsessed with looks' mean?"

"I just like people who are good-looking."

Jiang Yang explained, "Actually, I can't say I'm a looks-obsessed person. Later I realized I'm a body-obsessed person, and then I realized I'm a skin-obsessed person, a voice-obsessed person, a hand-obsessed person, a long-legged person..."

Zhao Jinmai suddenly realized, and said in a hoarse voice, "You're just a lecherous person who can't control yourself!"

Jiang Yang asked, "When you grow up, will you wear a bikini to the beach?"

Zhao Jinmai's voice suddenly softened: "It depends on whether I grow hair in the future. If I have too much hair, I won't dare to wear it like this."

The two laughed.

His laughter was hoarse.

As the car started moving, Zhao Jinmai was initially very talkative, but gradually quieted down as they chatted.

Because they realized that this was the way back to the hotel.

Jiang Yang accompanied me to square dancing, watched a table tennis match, and sang songs. It was almost midnight, and Jiang Yang was about to take me home.

My rebellious phase is coming to an end.

The Corolla was parked in front of the hotel, and Zhao Jinmai leaned back in the passenger seat.

With his left hand gripping the seatbelt buckle and his right hand on the door handle, he pulled it inward.

With the tip of his tongue pressed against his cheek and his heels against the car floor mat, he showed no intention of getting out of the car.

Once you experience the joy of having someone accompany you, understand you, listen to your innermost thoughts, guide you in your studies, and take you out to play, you'll be even less inclined to return to that restrictive and stressful environment.

Seatbelts not only fasten your body, but also give you the freedom that's about to slip away.

The honking of other vehicles behind them could be heard.

Jiang Yang's hoarse voice recovered slightly: "Mai Mai, we've arrived at the hotel, let's get out of the car."

Zhao Jinmai rubbed the seatbelt button a few times with her thumb, then let out a soft hum at the end of her sentence:
"So be it."

It's like giving yourself a way out.

The lights in the hotel lobby couldn't illuminate my current sense of loss.

As soon as he got out of the car and closed the door, Jiang Yang started the car.

Zhao Jinmai ran a few steps to catch up, her throat bobbing, and shouted loudly, "Jiang Yang..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Yang saw the chasing figure in the rearview mirror and braked in time.

Zhao Jinmai caught up, resting her elbow on the passenger window of Jiang Yang's car, her eyes slightly red.

They no longer speak with a Northeastern accent, but in standard Mandarin:

"Brother Yang, it's 11:40 now, and there are still 20 minutes until midnight. Are you leaving? Is something urgent?"

"It's nothing urgent, I'll just park the car and be right back. I always keep my word to you," Jiang Yang said with a smile.

Of all the promises, only children take them seriously.

Therefore, he had to take it seriously.

Jiang Yang gazed into Zhao Jinmai's eyes and reassured her, "You have too many worries on your mind. I won't pry, but you can always trust me."
-
Ps:

Ask for monthly ticket
(End of this chapter)