Chapter 25

The ancient town had no KTV lounges, mostly just artsy, literary bars.

Xi Mi always loved going to those. A singer on stage would strum and croon, and every so often she’d climb up and belt out a couple of tunes herself. Travelers from all over would listen to her hum and think this slip of a girl somehow held an immense energy inside her tiny frame. She could nail the ancient town’s folk songs just as easily as she could deliver an authentic American ballad.

She still remembered her first time singing in a bar. Old Man Xi happened to be passing by and caught her red-handed. The old man strode in steadily, raised his cane, and brought it down on her backside without a shred of mercy.

She went tearing through the streets of the ancient town like a lunatic, rubbing her butt as she ran and screaming, “Old Man Xi’s committing murder! Old Man Xi’s committing murder!”

Once she got home, she couldn’t escape another round of kneeling. Kneeling in the courtyard, no dinner. Her First Senior Brother and youngest martial brother would sneak over and slip her steamed buns.

Xi Mi leaned back against the car seat, turning her head to watch the neon-drenched city outside the window. She was starting to miss the slow pace of the ancient town a little. An after-dinner stroll, the golden evening light spilling down from the dark-tiled eaves. The lush, wild bamboo groves. After a rain, you could dig up enough bamboo shoots to feed the entire town’s population.

Waiting at a red light at the intersection, Ying Quhe turned to see her spacing out. He reached over and flicked her forehead with a finger. “What are you daydreaming about?”

“Ah, just homesick.” Xi Mi clutched the seatbelt across her chest, gazing wistfully at a family of three strolling outside. “Back in the ancient town, I used to walk the dog with friends too. Their little Teddy would zip ahead at top speed while we ambled along behind. The evening breeze, so pleasant.”

Ying Quhe kept driving, eyes fixed straight ahead. “Are you saying you don’t want to go to KTV, you want to go back and walk the dog?”

“I didn’t say that. I haven’t sung in ages, my throat’s getting itchy.” She flashed a brilliant smile. “You know what? A music producer who came traveling through the ancient town once wanted to launch me into show business.”

Ying Quhe’s voice turned teasing. “So that producer was deaf, was he?”

“…”

Xi Mi kind of wanted to throttle someone.

The KTV private room held not only Ying Shengnan and his wife, but also Qiao Shan and Zuo Yi. A year ago, Xi Mi had met them in Tangxi Ancient Town. Back then, Ying Shengnan had schemed tirelessly to push those two together.

Xi Mi greeted them a bit awkwardly. “Hey, Sister Qiao.” She sat down and pointed at the tip of her own nose. “Do you still remember me? A year ago, Xijiao Inn in the ancient town.”

How could Qiao Shan possibly not remember her? She grabbed the girl’s hand and patted her head. “Oh my, little one, you’ve grown so much! Your hair’s getting shorter and shorter.”

Zuo Yi, quiet by nature, just smiled and nodded at the girl. He peeled a grape and brought it to Qiao Shan’s lips.

Xi Mi marveled at the passage of time. Back when she’d first known Qiao Shan and Zuo Yi, the two of them had been at each other’s throats.

Tian Jian’s warm, clear singing voice rose beside them. A song called 《Time Is Just Right》 hushed the room. Tian Jian gripped the microphone, singing every word by the book, eyes fixed on the screen one moment, glancing nervously at Ying Shengnan the next.

Ying Shengnan seemed to understand what she needed. He gave her a thumbs-up. Tian Jian was someone who thrived on encouragement. Buoyed by it, she sang better and better.

The private room held two couples. Ying Quhe sat with Ying Shengnan. Xi Mi sat alone near Qiao Shan and her husband, feeling a touch awkward. She felt like her third-wheel light bulb^[1] was a bit too high-wattage. She quietly shuffled away and went to pick songs on her own.

Tian Jian finished singing and sat back down beside Ying Shengnan.

Ying Shengnan looked over at Xi Mi perched on the tall stool picking songs, then jabbed Ying Quhe’s head through gritted teeth. “Are you an idiot? The girl’s right there, go hit on her! Grab a bottle and go over. This whole table of foreign liquor and red wine—we ordered it for you two.”

“…” Ying Quhe held a glass of liquor, sipping in small, unhurried tastes. He smirked sarcastically. “You don’t know my alcohol tolerance? I can never carry a tune.”

Ying Shengnan was beside himself. “Are you stupid?”

Tian Jian hugged Ying Shengnan’s arm and leaned in, chiming in, “Yeah, Lao Qu, are you stupid? You get drunk, then nature takes over and you can make a move on Mimi.”

Ying Quhe swirled the liquor in his glass, his gaze sweeping past Tian Jian before nailing Ying Shengnan squarely in the face. His voice carried a thread of anger. “You old beast. Tian Jian was a perfectly good girl. You’ve corrupted her into this?”

Ying Shengnan: “Heh heh, who’re you calling an old beast? Yes, yes, I’m an old beast. But at least I’m up front about it. Unlike some other old virgin, who does everything in the shadows.”

Tian Jian mimicked Ying Shengnan: “Heh. Heh.”

Heh heh… Ying Quhe felt a bit stifled. He put down his glass with a weighty clink. The crisp sound of glass knocking made Tian Jian shrink into Ying Shengnan’s arms.

Xi Mi was slowly searching for songs when suddenly someone loomed behind her. A hand with well-defined knuckles appeared on the touchscreen, selecting an American folk ballad.

She tilted her head and found herself level with Ying Quhe’s jaw. The man dipped his head slightly and asked her, “Mind if I jump in with one?”

His warm breath fanned across her face.

She shook her head.

Not at all.

The intro to 《Jamaica Farewell》 started playing, and Xi Mi swayed the prop in her hand to the rhythm. When Ying Quhe opened his mouth, Xi Mi’s brow furrowed slightly. He seemed a little off-key…

His singing’s saving grace was a beautiful voice. A folk ballad, delivered like poetry recitation. That was a distinctive flavor too, wasn’t it? Probably only Xi Mi in that private room could appreciate Ying Quhe’s poetry-recitation style of singing.

Qiao Shan had never heard the song before and was absolutely convinced this was just how the song was meant to be performed. She turned to her husband. “Zuo Yi, what song is this? Why is Second Brother just reciting the whole time? There’s no actual singing?”

Zuo Yi: “…Second Brother is probably reciting a love poem.”

Ying Shengnan held back his laughter and whispered to Tian Jian under his breath, “Our second brother’s got a bit of cunning. He can’t hold a tune, so he specifically picked an American folk ballad. His voice is pleasant enough that even off-key, it doesn’t grate on the ears. At most, people just think he’s reciting. Xi Mi grew up in the ancient town. She’s definitely never heard this song before.”

Tian Jian gave a soft “Mm” and stared blankly in Xi Mi’s direction. “Old Ying, Xi Mi picked up the mic. Is she about to start singing?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, an ethereal soprano drifted out of the speakers, blending with Ying Quhe’s deep baritone. The two voices formed a stark contrast, yet they matched perfectly. The collision of those two sounds was so beautiful it made goosebumps rise all over.

Ying Quhe’s voice fell silent.

Xi Mi’s high notes soared effortlessly: “year

At the market, you can hear

lteireadteybear

The ladies calling out, selling their wares balanced on their heads

Ackee fruit, rice, and salted fish are all quite fine

year

Rum is excellent any time of year

buti’ayi’nyway

But I’m sorry to say I’m still on my way

…”

Amid the shock, Ying Shengnan took the lead in applauding. “Quhe really outdid himself embarrassing himself this time.”

Ying Quhe silently set down the microphone, sank back into the sofa, and watched the girl perched on the bar stool, swinging her legs happily as she sang the folk song.

This song reminded Xi Mi of her childhood.

In the small American town of Carmel, she’d had a home too.

Fragments of memory pieced themselves together bit by bit. A seaside town. Little Xi Mi riding her tiny bicycle through the quiet, artsy streets, Papa Xi pushing from behind, giving her the momentum to keep going.

Every weekend, Papa Xi would organize a picnic, bringing her favorite floral blanket and her most beloved snacks to enjoy the town’s blue seas and clear skies.

That car accident ended her princess childhood.

…

The folk song stirred up things she’d rather forget. By the time it ended, her eyes were wet. She set down the microphone, muttered “Going to the bathroom,” and fled the private room.

Ying Shengnan elbowed Ying Quhe. “The little girl’s crying. Go check on her.”

Ying Quhe said, “Didn’t she go to the bathroom?”

This time even Tian Jian couldn’t stand it. She smacked Ying Quhe on the head. “Lao Qu, are you stupid? Our room has its own bathroom. Mi Mi’s clearly got something on her mind. Go see what’s up, now.”

She gave Ying Quhe a shove as she spoke.

Xi Mi went to the restroom to wash her face. Once she’d pulled herself together, she headed back. Rounding the corner, the door to their private room swung open and she came face to face with a familiar figure. She recoiled on instinct, spun around, and strode quickly toward the exit.

The person caught sight of her back and called out, “Xi Mi?”

Xi Mi bolted. She rushed into the elevator and hit the button for the first floor.

Just as the elevator doors were sliding shut, a hand reached in, forcing them back open. Xi Mi turned around, covered her face, utterly despairing, already picturing the scolding she was about to receive. But the voice behind her was Ying Quhe’s. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Xi Mi spun around. Seeing it was Ying Quhe, she exhaled with relief. Her gaze slipped past his shoulder, and she spotted Zou Chengfeng closing in. … Acting on pure instinct, she grabbed Ying Quhe by the collar, yanked him toward her, wrapped her arms around his waist, and pressed her cheek against his chest. “Don’t move. Hold me tight.”

“…” Ying Quhe looked down at her, his gaze settling on the top of her head. “Say that again?”

Xi Mi could hear the edge in his voice, but there was no time to explain. “Someone I know!”

Zou Chengfeng wasn’t sure it was Xi Mi. He chased after her into the elevator, only to be met with an indecent scene.

The man had the girl pressed against the elevator wall, his tall frame blocking her from view. Zou Chengfeng stepped in and tapped Ying Quhe on the shoulder. “Sir.”

Ying Quhe, having been so rudely “interrupted,” wrapped his arms tighter around Xi Mi, turned his head, and fixed Zou Chengfeng with a murderous glare. “Can I help you?”

Zou Chengfeng’s face was full of apology. “Sorry to disturb you, sir. Your… girlfriend looks a lot like my junior sister. I just came over to say hello.”

“Get lost.” Ying Quhe pivoted to the right with Xi Mi in his arms, pulling her even closer, and shot Zou Chengfeng a fierce glare. “Junior sister? What is this, some wuxia novel^[2], pal?”

Zou Chengfeng glanced at the girl in Ying Quhe’s arms. Aside from the outfit, her build really did resemble Xi Mi.

From within Ying Quhe’s embrace came Xi Mi’s coy little voice. “Brother Ying, I’m scared… who is this man?”

A high, coquettish voice, carrying a trace of flirtation. Going by the accent, she didn’t sound Chinese, more like a foreign girl speaking broken Mandarin.

Ying Quhe patted the back of her head with his large hand, soothing her. “Don’t be scared, baby.”

That voice completely shattered Zou Chengfeng’s theory. It wasn’t Xi Mi’s voice at all. Zou Chengfeng looked at Ying Quhe and found his face familiar. He asked, “Are you Ying Quhe, the judge from China’s Supreme Taste?”

Ying Quhe said, “Sir, would you mind picking a better time to hit on people?”