Chapter 22: Playing the Suona — Isn't That a Bit Tacky?

In the livestream room, seeing Su Meng shoveling down the braised stew in big bites, the bullet comments instantly came flooding down like a waterfall.

"No way — a pretty boy like him actually eating a village banquet feast this happily?"

"I loved this kind of big braised stew when I was a kid, it was seriously delicious — who'd have thought Su Meng eats this too?"

"Oh my god, seeing Su Meng eat so happily, the big crab in my hand suddenly doesn't look so good anymore."

"I always figured celebrities ate nothing but delicacies every day, especially pretty boys like him — they can't handle hardship at all. Who'd have thought Su Meng would be this down-to-earth?"

"Hua Chenyu next door picks apart a steak like it's nothing, and then look at Su Meng — fine, I'll admit it, I'm a fan now."

"Setting aside the eating, does anyone know the name of that tune Su Meng just played? Why does it sound so darn cheerful?"

"Haven't you heard? That song was composed by Su Meng himself!"

"Release an album — he has to put out a suona album! Wait, no — if Su Meng releases an album, wouldn't that just be a funeral dirge?"

The on-site follow-shot cameraman, having gotten the director's instructions, came over holding his bowl.

"Brother Su, how come you're eating so happily?"

Su Meng slurped down a mouthful and mumbled.

"Working hard, of course you eat well!"

"Besides, this kind of big braised stew — what you're eating isn't just the flavor, it's the human warmth. That's what gives it its taste."

"Oh right, you haven't done a lick of work — don't you feel guilty eating it?"

"How about tomorrow there's a funeral, you go help carry the coffin?"

Guilty? Carry the coffin?

The cameraman looked at the fragrant big braised stew, and suddenly it didn't smell so good anymore.

……

For the afternoon's work, Su Meng finally had it much easier.

He'd been promoted from suona player to instructor.

No choice — his killing power was just too great.

The suona players from both families came over one by one, calling him "Master, Master" with great affection, and Su Meng wasn't stingy about giving them a pointer or two.

He even taught them a few tunes.

The netizens in the livestream room had also wised up.

The moment they saw Su Meng pick up the suona, they'd mute the sound; only when he put it down did they unmute it again.

For a whole afternoon, the livestream room's popularity stayed sky-high.

In Su Meng's system, the "Popularity +1, +1, +1…" prompts also kept coming nonstop.

It made Su Meng's heart feel warm and fuzzy.

……

"I'm going to the washroom."

Meanwhile, Hua Chenyu waved his hand and shooed the cameraman away.

He ducked into the bathroom, pulled out his phone, and dialed through successfully to his manager's number.

"How's my livestream popularity? Am I way ahead of the others?"

The manager hesitated for a moment, then said vaguely.

"Uh… your livestream popularity is, uh, okay, I guess."

"Okay?" Hua Chenyu instantly bristled.

"I lowered myself to deliver food, and the popularity is only 'okay'?"

"Then who's got the highest popularity right now? Boss Yang? Or Liu Tianxian?"

The manager's tone was also full of disbelief.

"You probably won't believe it when I say it, but the one with the highest popularity is actually Su Meng."

"Su Meng?" Hua Chenyu's pitch shot up at once.

"How could it be him? Didn't he go off to be a musician?"

"With his skills? He understands music?"

The manager was also a bit dazed.

"He actually seems to really know his stuff — and it's the suona!"

"You probably won't believe it when I say it — he grabbed a suona and went to the countryside to take on a funeral gig!"

What? Hua Chenyu was instantly dumbfounded.

After the manager explained for a while, Hua Chenyu fell silent too.

Who would have thought a traffic star would actually go take on a funeral gig?

After a moment of silence, Hua Chenyu said viciously.

"No way — I absolutely can't let him steal all the traffic."

"Isn't he playing the suona? Get some trolls lined up, give him a good blackening!"

Putting down his phone, a cold smirk crept across Hua Chenyu's face.

I just don't believe it — is there really anyone who likes that crappy suona thing?

……

In Su Meng's livestream room, suddenly a lot of other voices appeared.

"No way, no way — something as tacky as the suona, and people actually like it?"

"Su Meng is at least a celebrity, running off to the countryside to take funeral gigs — does he know what 'losing face' means?"

"I only became a fan because I thought Su Meng had real class — who knew he was this tacky? Fan turned hater!"

"Su Meng's not playing piano anymore, but playing guitar would be fine too — playing the suona? How tacky is that?"

"Other artists are doing art, what is Su Meng even doing?"

"Let's go, let's go, who would like a celebrity who plays the suona? It's too embarrassing to even mention!"

Under their influence, many viewers in the livestream gradually shifted their tune as well.