Chapter 13: Ride First, Ticket Later

After singing once, the band members began packing up their equipment.

"This is the third time today, huh?" Lao Zhao and the others couldn't help sighing, day after day...

Seeing there was no more excitement to watch, the nearby onlookers each dispersed.

After standing there a while, Yang Tongxue also grabbed Zhang Xiaofei's arm, preparing to leave.

However, Zhang Xiaofei hesitated, dawdling, and finally managed to let Chen Ci stop them.

"Where are you going?" Chen Ci asked, wearing his usual smile, seemingly oblivious to the tension in the air.

Zhang Xiaofei quickly replied, "Oh, Chen Ci, this song is really nice. Did you write it?"

Saying that, she lightly jabbed Yang Tongxue in the side with her elbow.

However, Yang Tongxue at that moment had no intention of acknowledging Chen Ci, rolled her eyes and turned her face away: "Hmph."

"Well, there's an official event for the one-year countdown to the Olympics, my uncle recommended me as the program planner, and this is the theme song I wrote."

"Your uncle? That is..."

Upon hearing that, Zhang Xiaofei's eyes immediately showed surprise; this time it didn't seem feigned.

At the same time, Yang Tongxue turned her face back, and seeing this, Chen Ci couldn't help feeling a bit complicated.

He nodded: "It's him; the Olympic Organizing Committee originally wanted him to be the chief director of the countdown event."

"Then, you said you wanted to give Mi Mi a gift..."

"Then we should ask her." Chen Ci turned his gaze to Yang Tongxue and said softly: "Mi Mi, do you like this song?"

At this moment, Yang Tongxue finally deigned to respond to him, her eyes still holding a hint of stubbornness: "What, what do you mean?"

Chen Ci spoke word by word, seriously: "I plan to film a promotional video for the theme song, and I want you to be my female lead."

"Wow~"

Zhang Xiaofei looked envious, lightly clapped her hands: "Then you two talk, I'm heading back first."

"Hey Xiaofei."

Yang Tongxue still wanted to detain her, but Zhang Xiaofei gave her an encouraging glance and then sprinted off toward the dormitory building entrance.

After Zhang Xiaofei's figure had completely disappeared, Chen Ci then leisurely said: "Mi Mi, I've been busy with this all day, wanting to give you a surprise."

After a brief pause, Chen Ci sighed softly, his tone tinged with a bit of disappointment: "As it seems now, I was too overconfident, still thinking you would surely like it..."

"You really mean that?"

A pair of wise, large eyes fixed intently on Chen Ci, as if saying I'm not easily fooled.

"Huh?"

Chen Ci slowly lifted his head, then gave a self-mocking laugh: "Mi Mi, you don't have even this much trust in me. Indeed, I'm still thinking too highly of myself..."

His tone heavy, he felt utterly forlorn.

Yang Tongxue felt a bit at a loss, so she casually asked a question, without saying she didn't believe.

As for making such a big deal out of it, why does it even involve trust between lovers?

Chen Ci secretly chuckled, this is called seizing the high ground, taking the woman's path, leaving her no way out; never trust a woman's casual "just asking"...

Although it's a bit affected, it really works well; it's an extremely high realm described in the Chen Family Annals.

Sure enough, Yang Tongxue hurriedly explained: "No, it's not."

"Not what?"

"This song, it's really nice, I like it..."

"So, does that mean you're willing to be my female lead?"

"Um..."

Chen Ci nodded, let out a breath of relief, all settled—he no longer needed to pretend to be affected.

"But I have to join a film crew in a few days to shoot a movie; afterward I won't have much time, my singing might not be up to par—when should we record?"

"Ah? Record..." Chen Ci was taken aback by the words, then kept his composure and nodded: "Sure, anything works."

Chen Ci's original intention was just to have Yang Tongxue appear on camera, not expecting her to actually sing.

After all, that classic tune of hers still lingers in Chen Ci's mind, impossible to forget.

But the mood has come to this; what else can we do? We'll just take it step by step.

"You, come here."

Suddenly, Yang Tongxue curled her finger at Chen Ci without any warning.

Chen Ci looked at her, full of doubt, but still moved closer.

"Hiss!"

Chen Ci only felt his earlobe sink and his head tilt; it didn't hurt much, but he had to put on a full show of pain.

"Cut it out, I didn't use any force at all."

Yang Tongxue keenly perceived everything; Chen Ci smiled and let her pull his ear closer.

"This is just a little lesson from you bullying me, making me worry about you all day for nothing."

"Are you sure it's worry, not longing?"

"You!"

"Hiss!"

This time it was for real, but Chen Ci had no regrets.

Then came another cold snort from beside his ear: "Hmph, kiss me."

"Ah?"

"What 'ah'? If you don't kiss, you're not leaving."

Yang Tongxue tilted her head sideways; this scene felt somewhat familiar, as if she'd seen it somewhere before.

Forget it, no need to think so much—let's just eat the benefit that came to our door first and talk later.

Gazing at the supple, youthful face within arm's reach, Chen Ci couldn't help but sigh—this Yang Lao Ban at his age is really well-off.

Then, without further hesitation, he closed his eyes and went A.

Hearing a "plop", Yang Tongxue swiftly twisted her body aside.

Chen Ci braced his hands on the ground and lay prone in the mud of the lawn.

Fortunately he had kept a trick up his sleeve—when things go awry, there's always a catch, and sure enough, no free lunch falls from the sky.

"Haha..."

The prank succeeded; Yang Tongxue smiled triumphantly and even reached out to help Chen Ci up.

He seemed angry, and flicked her hand away in annoyance.

Chen Ci got up himself, patted the uneven dirt, and asked, "Satisfied?"

"This is payback for you bullying me yesterday—come over."

Saying that, Yang Tongxue curled her finger at him again.

"Still coming?"

Those little tricks just now were actually all within Chen Ci's expectations; now he wanted to see what other tricks she could pull.

Chen Ci stepped forward again—perhaps thinking he was moving too slow, Yang Tongxue suddenly took a big stride forward.

No, saying she jumped would be more accurate.

She suddenly leapt in front of Chen Ci, startling him, but what surprised him even more was what came next.

Just as Chen Ci opened his mouth to say something, his vision went dark and a black, round object lunged at him.

Immediately after came a fierce, storm-like assault.

At that moment, the only thought in Chen Ci's mind was—"I've been forcibly kissed!"

But before he could react, the thunderstorm came and went quickly, parting the clouds to reveal clear sky.

Regaining his sight, Chen Ci felt a slight pain at the corner of his mouth—he hadn't just been forcibly kissed, he'd been bitten too.

"Satisfied now? This is your reward—I like this gift…"

"Master Ci, you went all out, and that's it?"

On the way back, Lao Zhao drove while Chen Ci stared at the night scenery outside, muttering to himself, "Interesting, more exciting than I thought…"

Lao Zhao, not sure if he'd heard clearly, then asked, "Master Ci, speak frankly—give the brothers the lowdown: second base… did you actually get there?"

"Huh?"

Chen Ci snorted, "Is that all you're after?"

He'd figured he'd get on the bus first and buy the ticket later, but he hadn't expected it to be this exciting…