88: Chapter 88 Night Song

After dinner, it was already getting dark outside. The four of them walked toward the parking lot. Their legs were still sore, but with something warm in their stomachs, everyone felt settled.

They drove back to the guesthouse, arriving just past seven o'clock.

Lin Wei was about to rush up to her room when Qiao Yichen stopped her: "Don't be in a hurry to go back yet."

Lin Wei turned around: "What for?"

"I pre-booked a KTV room on the first floor," Qiao Yichen showed his phone. "Let's go sing a few songs and relax."

Lin Wei's eyes lit up, and she grabbed Su Qing, dragging her toward the KTV. Su Qing stumbled from being pulled, cursing, "Is it going to kill you to slow down?" but her feet followed along.

Qiao Yichen took Liu Yanran's hand and followed behind them at a leisurely pace.

Pushing open the box door, the warm yellow lighting perfectly created an intimate atmosphere. The big screen looped music videos, the sofa was soft, and several bottles of mineral water were placed on the coffee table.

Lin Wei rushed to the song selection station, her fingers flying as she tapped: "Me first, me first! I haven't sung in ages!"

Su Qing sat down on the sofa, watching her fuss, the corner of her mouth twitching.

Qiao Yichen said a quick word to Liu Yanran, "You two sit first," and turned to leave the room.

A few minutes later, he returned, carrying a tray—two fruit platters, several bottles of sparkling wine, chips, and nuts. A server followed behind, bringing several more bottles of soda.

He arranged the items on the coffee table. Just as he sat down, Lin Wei's singing began. She belted out a fast song at the top of her lungs; her pitch wandered everywhere, but her energy was full. Su Qing's mouth twitched again, but she managed not to interrupt her.

When the song finished, Lin Wei turned back, panting, and saw the pile of snacks on the coffee table. Her eyes immediately shone: "Wow, so much food! Boss Qiao understands me!"

She lunged over, grabbed a slice of watermelon, took a big bite, glanced between Qiao Yichen and Liu Yanran, and then looked at Su Qing, who was selecting a song:

"Hey, I say, there's only one couple here. You two have to sing a few love duets for us to listen to, right?"

Su Qing turned back, understood immediately, and gave Lin Wei an 'OK' gesture.

Qiao Yichen quickly waved his hands: "No, no, no, I'm tone-deaf, really, I can't sing."

Lin Wei smiled slyly, watermelon still in her mouth as she chewed: "It's fine. Our Yanran sings beautifully; you just follow along. If you really can't, just let her carry you."

As soon as she finished speaking, the intro to 'Summer Blown by the Wind' started playing. Lin Wei snatched another microphone and shoved it into Qiao Yichen's hand.

"Do you remember that summer, that summer..." Qiao Yichen forced himself to start, his voice tight, and his pitch drifted off key several times.

Lin Wei raised her watermelon to cheer him on: "You're singing great! Isn't this perfectly normal?"

Su Qing glanced at her: "Are your ears just for decoration? You call that great?"

Lin Wei ignored her and kept her eyes fixed on the screen.

When it came to the female part, Liu Yanran took the microphone.

"In the instant the breeze blew past, it seemed to overturn everything, leaving only loneliness to settle..."

When she opened her mouth, Qiao Yichen froze.

Her voice was clear and gentle, her enunciation precise, and her breath steady. It was incredibly comfortable to listen to. He had never heard her sing before, much less known she could sing so well.

"Hey, it's your turn," Su Qing reminded him from the side.

Qiao Yichen snapped back to reality and quickly picked up the next line, almost missing the beat.

Lin Wei beside them laughed so hard she slapped her thigh: "Boss Qiao, are you stunned silly by Yanran? Look at her with your eyes practically popping out!"

Liu Yanran pursed her lips and glanced at him.

For the next hour or so, the three of them took turns.

Su Qing and Lin Wei sang several old songs together. One was reserved, the other outgoing, and surprisingly, they matched well. After finishing 'Later,' Lin Wei clinked glasses with Su Qing, the bubbles hissing.

"Cheers, cheers! To us finally singing together after so long!"

Su Qing glanced at her: "You sing like that and you still dare to celebrate."

"Why shouldn't I? As long as I'm happy!"

After a few songs, Lin Wei started causing trouble again: "No, no, you two need to sing another one!"

Su Qing egged them on: "How about 'Creating Romance'?"

Lin Wei nodded frantically, already searching for the song at the selection station.

Qiao Yichen looked helplessly at Liu Yanran. She didn't refuse, only the corner of her eye lifted slightly.

The prelude to 'Creating Romance' began, and the two sang the duet. Qiao Yichen was much more relaxed this time. Although he still went slightly off-key, it was much better than the first song. Liu Yanran's voice steadily supported his from beside him. Occasionally, they exchanged a quick glance before quickly looking away.

Lin Wei held up her phone, recording a video, muttering, "I absolutely have to save this part; it's too classic."

After the song, Su Qing led the applause, and Lin Wei clapped along before starting to select songs again: "Again, again! Do you know 'Rooftop'?"

"I do."

"What about 'Coral Sea'?"

"That too."

Lin Wei's eyes widened: "Wow, you two are something!"

After those two songs, the atmosphere in the box grew warmer and warmer. Lin Wei took a bunch of photos and videos, and Su Qing was always the first to applaud after every song.

Before they knew it, the time displayed on the screen had jumped to 8:30.

The fruit platter on the coffee table was empty, the sparkling wine was gone, and the snack bags were piled haphazardly to the side. Lin Wei leaned back on the sofa, her voice a little hoarse, but she was still humming along with the music video.

Su Qing glanced at her phone and yawned.

Qiao Yichen stood up and started clearing the trash from the table: "That should be enough, right? If we keep singing, our throats will be ruined."

Lin Wei sat up, clearly not satisfied and wanting to say something, but Su Qing grabbed her: "That's enough. Let's go back, shower, and sleep. Stop dawdling."

Qiao Yichen checked his phone, a smile appearing in his eyes: "The timing is perfect. I booked the outdoor hot spring pool for nine o'clock tonight with the guesthouse owner this morning, along with lunch tomorrow. If we go back now to change into swimsuits, we'll get there just in time."

Liu Yanran paused slightly: "I didn't bring a swimsuit."

She looked at Su Qing and Lin Wei; both shook their heads.

Qiao Yichen was prepared. The corners of his eyebrows lifted slightly: "I thought of that in advance. I asked the guesthouse to buy four new sets. The tags haven't even been removed yet. We can try them on when we get back to see if they fit."

Lin Wei's eyes immediately lit up. She patted his shoulder: "Boss Qiao, you're something else! Such thoughtful arrangements. Not bad, not bad, reliable!"

Su Qing didn't speak, directly giving him a thumbs-up.

Back in the rooms, everyone changed into their swimsuits.

Lin Wei unwrapped a bag and pulled out a halter-neck style, off-white one, with a slightly tricky cut. She held it up a couple of times, nodding in satisfaction: "Hmm, good taste, this color works."

Su Qing's was a one-piece dress style. She glanced at it, said nothing, and put it on directly.

Liu Yanran's was a black style with side-waist cutouts. When she put it on, it made her skin look very fair. As she came downstairs, Lin Wei had just finished changing. She looked up and saw her, letting out a whistle: "Whoa, Yanran, that figure is great!"

Liu Yanran's earlobes turned slightly red, and she didn't reply.

Qiao Yichen had already changed into his swim trunks and was waiting by the door wearing a bathrobe. Once the three women were ready, they went downstairs together.