Divorce Is An Absolute Must! - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Sweetness

◎Sweetness is a style.◎

Li Lan noticed Zhu Qing’s stare and said, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

The look was so intense, a sideway glance with a very expressive face.

“So the ringtone I heard was sung by your AI?” Zhu Qing said coolly.

Li Lan was stunned for a moment and then held back a laugh. “You have sharp ears.”

“You sang for half a minute. I’m not deaf,” Zhu Qing said. She thought the song was quite nice and was itching to hear more. “You can sing? When was that song from? Is there a full version? I want to hear it.”

Li Lan held up a finger and pressed it against Zhu Qing’s shoulder, pushing her away slightly. “No, I can’t play it.”

Zhu Qing: …

“Stingy,” Zhu Qing huffed. “It’s your fault if we lose.”

Li Lan said helplessly, “I really can’t sing.”

Zhu Qing said, “It’s not like everyone who releases a song is a singer, right? Even if you’ve sung before, you can’t sing, and maybe the single was just autotuned…”

Li Lan glanced at the camera and covered Zhu Qing’s mouth. “Watch what you say.” Don’t always hint at the Chinese entertainment industry’s secrets. Although the Chinese entertainment industry was very deserving of the hints.

Zhu Qing: …

Hu Xu, with her booming voice, said, “You two stop whispering to each other! You can be lovey-dovey later. Hurry up and sing! We need to eat after this.”

Zhu Qing smiled. “Okay, Teacher Hu.” Then she lowered her voice and said, “If you’re hungry, there’s another egg in the kitchen. Should I boil it for you?”

Hu Xu’s eyes lit up, and she was about to agree, but Liu Yini gave her a pinch. Hu Xu coughed lightly. “I’ll just wait for dinner.”

The production crew gave them the first topic.

“Please sing three songs related to the sun.”

Zhu Qing and Liu Yini raised their hands at the same time. Zhu Qing saw Liu Yini’s movement out of the corner of her eye and put her hand down.

Liu Yini started singing, “The East is red, the sun rises…” She and Hu Xu had both practiced this song in their youth. She sang it with a lot of emotion and a loud voice, instantly elevating the mood of the small, gray cabin.

Everyone clapped. “That was great!”

Li Lan said, “Teacher Liu, keep going.”

Liu Yini’s cheeks were flushed from singing. She was stunned when she heard Li Lan. “I haven’t thought of another one yet. Do I have to sing them all at once?”

Hu Xu laughed. “You didn’t listen to the rules! The first one to sing three songs wins. You only sang one, and now they’re going to steal it from you.”

The one who “stole” it, Zhu Qing, won the first round with two nursery rhymes, “The sun is shining, the flowers are smiling at me” and “The sun is out, the little birds are awake, the little trees are awake,” as well as the high-class old song “The East is red, the sun rises.”

Li Lan clapped for her and whispered, “Did you learn that from being a teacher in kindergarten?”

Zhu Qing tilted her head and looked at her. “I learned it when I was in kindergarten.”

Li Lan couldn’t help but laugh.

“Please sing three songs related to natural landscapes.”

In this round, before Zhu Qing could even open her mouth, Hu Xu took the second round with “Poplar,” “Mount Dabie,” and “Spring in the North.”

The production crew deliberately tried to keep things balanced, letting the two teams take turns winning. Soon, they were at the last topic.

“Please sing three songs that include “mutual love.””

Mutual love? Compared to the previous, more specific topics, this one was undoubtedly the most difficult. There were many love songs in the Chinese music scene, but most of them were about “I love you,” “I only love you,” “I love you, but why don’t you love me,” or “I’m the one who loves you the most.”

Both teams were deep in thought, but Hu Xu came up with an answer first. The line “You and I are entangled and flying together” gave Zhu Qing a huge inspiration. She immediately followed with “You are the wind, and I am the sand.” The first team to sing the last song would win.

Zhu Qing’s mind was racing. Her expression was as if she was facing a formidable enemy. Just one more song. Mutual love, mutual love, mutual…

Suddenly, the phone’s ringtone entered her ears.

“Her eyebrows are stained with frost; I no longer eat sweets… sharing the same stumble.” “Her, me, sharing.” “Taking root and sprouting.”

Zhu Qing stood there in a daze. In a flash, she understood the meaning of the song. It was about two girls walking shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, depending on each other, growing up together, stumbling and supporting each other, walking into the moonlight, and taking root and sprouting. What sprouted wasn’t just a bright future, but also the love between the two of them.

It was about mutual love.

A voice came from beside her.

“Little sister, you sit on the bow, big brother, I walk on the shore…” Li Lan said the lyrics with a nervous expression. “Is that right?!”

The production crew wanted to say that Li Lan wasn’t even singing and that a child reciting it would have more emotion than Li Lan. But Hu Xu and Liu Yini were already clapping, and the production crew decided to end the segment there.

While Zhu Qing was in a daze, Li Lan had already claimed victory.

“The 50 points you wanted,” Li Lan said, turning to look at her with a smile. “We won.”

Zhu Qing came back to her senses and went back to the kitchen with Li Lan to prepare dinner. She said glumly, “That’s great.”

Li Lan put away the snacks Hu Xu had brought back. She turned around and saw Zhu Qing’s expression. “You look like we lost the game. What’s wrong?”

“I have something on my mind,” Zhu Qing murmured. “Don’t ask.”

Li Lan quietly closed her mouth. After a while, Zhu Qing couldn’t help but say, “Aren’t you going to ask me what’s on my mind?”

Li Lan’s head shot up, as if she was just waiting for Zhu Qing to say that. “I’m asking. Hurry up and tell me what’s on your mind.”

Zhu Qing was a little annoyed. She knew her anger was a little out of place, especially with the cameras filming. She couldn’t ask now, but how could she not ask about something like, “I think I’ve found out my wife sang a love song with someone else, set it as her exclusive ringtone, and won’t let me listen to it!”

Li Lan saw Zhu Qing’s face go red and green like a spilled artist’s palette. She started to self-reflect.

“Did I steal your idea for the song?” “Did someone use up your water jar again?” “Are you still half-asleep and in a bad mood?” “Or… do you hate ‘The Boatman’s Love’?”

Li Lan was acting as if the last one was a fact. Zhu Qing said angrily, “It’s not convenient to talk about it now.”

Li Lan said, “Oh,” and turned off the fixed camera in the kitchen and their mics. She then closed the kitchen doors and windows. “Go ahead.”

Zhu Qing watched her actions, and once she was sure the production crew’s eyes and ears were completely gone, she glared at Li Lan, showing her true colors. “Li Lan, I’ve found your fox tail! I have something on you!”

Li Lan said, “Wow,” and played along. “That’s impressive.”

Zhu Qing said angrily, “Confess now.”

Li Lan probed. “Can I ask what it’s about first? Why did your attitude change so much right after you told me you wanted to start over? Are you already getting tired of me before you’ve even had me?”

“Yes! I just confessed to you, and you’re treating me like this! You’re an un-transparent woman!”

Li Lan raised a hand and rubbed her forehead. “Please state your crime clearly.”

Zhu Qing snorted. “When I was answering the last question, I remembered a song. Do you know which one?”

Li Lan lowered her hand, a sense of foreboding growing inside her.

“‘Taking root and sprouting’!” Zhu Qing pointed at the phone next to her. “That ringtone! The ringtone about you and someone else taking root and sprouting!”

Li Lan wanted to stay serious, but Zhu Qing’s actions, tone, and expression made it very difficult to keep a straight face.

“I didn’t take root with anyone else, and I’m not sprouting,” Li Lan said, trying to stay calm. “And that’s not my song.”

Zhu Qing said, “How is it not yours? You sang it. I can recognize your voice.”

Li Lan said seriously, “Some singers can never sing their own songs in their lifetime.”

Zhu Qing was stunned for a moment. She asked strangely, “What are you talking about?”

“This isn’t my song. I don’t have the copyright. It’s just a trace from when I was young and just starting out, trying to make something of myself in all sorts of jobs. It’s the dirt I rolled in on the ground, and it never belonged to me.”

The explanation was so artsy that Zhu Qing didn’t quite understand it, but she did understand the phrase “she doesn’t have the copyright.”

Li Lan picked up her phone and handed it to Zhu Qing. “The copyright is in Miss Yang’s hands. She composed the music, and the other person singing wrote the lyrics. The original person who was supposed to sing with her wasn’t me, but there was an accident later, and that’s how that little tune was created.”

Zhu Qing was completely baffled. What kind of a situation was this? “Then why did you make it your exclusive ringtone?” Zhu Qing keenly grasped the most contradictory part. “Didn’t you say you don’t have the copyright?”

Li Lan lowered her eyes and quietly looked at the phone screen. The memory of her confrontation with Yang Huayi flashed in her mind. It was because of Yang Huayi’s need for control. Or perhaps, something more subtle. Yang Huayi’s actions later on were a kind of unacknowledged self-deception. Li Lan vaguely knew the inside story but didn’t know the details.

The phone number was manually entered into Li Lan’s phone by Yang Huayi. The online ringtone, which could only be found with a special code, was personally set as the exclusive ringtone by Yang Huayi. This happened not long ago, about half a year ago, and from then on, Yang Huayi started contacting her frequently. If Li Lan hadn’t been sure that Yang Huayi wasn’t trying to exploit her, but was just trying to find something from her or achieve another goal, Li Lan might have just cut ties with her.

“This is an online ringtone. You can only find it with a specific code. Miss Yang said this is the only way I can listen to this song. If you feel uncomfortable about it, I’ll change it now.”

Zhu Qing stopped Li Lan’s hand, a look of gloom on her face. “Wait a minute. Is this Miss Yang the person you said had connections?”

Li Lan wanted to correct Zhu Qing’s thinking. “We’re collaborating.”

“Yes. Is she the big shot you’re collaborating with?”

Li Lan was silent for two seconds and reluctantly nodded.

Zhu Qing’s expression grew even more serious. She looked as if she was facing a great enemy. She grabbed Li Lan’s hand.

Li Lan said nervously, “Xiao Qing? What’s wrong? Why do you look so worried?”

Zhu Qing said with the grave expression of someone making a painful decision, “I think this Miss Yang is a pervert. She must have a thing for you. Let’s just go. We don’t need this money. I can’t let you be forced to deal with a person like that!”

There were too many things to unpack. Li Lan couldn’t even find a place to start.

Zhu Qing shook her arm, her expression full of disappointment. “The wise will follow the righteous path, while the evil will crumble. We can’t let ourselves crumble!”

Li Lan forcefully pulled one of her hands away and pressed it against Zhu Qing’s forehead. She said in a very complicated tone, “She’s a pervert?”

“She composed the music herself, had someone else write the lyrics, and then she didn’t sing it herself but made you sing it. Then she didn’t give you the copyright, and on top of that, she won’t let you listen to it whenever you want. She made it her exclusive ringtone. If that’s not perverted, then she’s just a pure psychopath!”

Li Lan felt that Yang Huayi’s mental state was indeed a mystery, so she didn’t argue. “She has a thing for me?”

“What’s so weird about someone having a thing for you? Why didn’t she force Qi Yao to sing his own song and set it as her exclusive ringtone… Eww, that’s disgusting.”

Li Lan thought about it. It was indeed quite disgusting, but she still refused Zhu Qing’s request.

“Trust me. She has absolutely no interest in me. She has someone she likes, really.” Li Lan said seriously. “I didn’t get this reality show because of her connections. She’s not the type to hand-feed people. She prefers to add the finishing touch, not to help when someone is down. She even… kicked me while I was down. So you don’t have to worry. That’s definitely not what she’s about.”

Li Lan had explained it very thoroughly and was very sincere. “I’m not being wronged. I just like the song, so I kept it as my ringtone. There’s no other reason.”

Zhu Qing gradually calmed down. “Is that all?”

Li Lan nodded. “That’s all. You’re overthinking it.”

Zhu Qing lowered her head and sorted out her thoughts. She realized that she had overreacted. It was just a ringtone. Li Lan didn’t even admit it was her song and didn’t seem to care about it that much. She was the one who was overreacting because she was worried.

“Ahem, let’s start cooking.”

Li Lan opened the doors and windows again. The cameras dutifully recorded Zhu Qing’s process of making delicious food. Li Lan, meanwhile, was helping her and learning from her.

“I don’t like ginger,” Li Lan said. “Can you not put it in?”

Zhu Qing didn’t hesitate. “Then I won’t put it in.”

Li Lan thought for a moment. “I also don’t like spicy food.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll just fry some chili peppers on the side. Anyone who wants it can add it themselves. I’ll just put a little bit in the main dishes.” Zhu Qing immediately agreed.

Li Lan was very satisfied.

Soon, the actor and actress also came to the kitchen. Their challenge was to recite lines from classic TV shows. The person who won was someone no one had expected: Li Lan.

Since the beginning of the show, Li Lan had a confident air about her. She seemed aloof and didn’t talk much, but she spoiled her wife, was polite to others, and had a good sense of humor without being too loud. In short, she was a very likable presence. People who liked her would try their best to find footage of her, and people who didn’t wouldn’t be annoyed by her.

This aloof Li Lan was surprisingly able to recite lines from classic rural and parental love TV shows faster and more accurately than the actor and actress. Sun Qi handed the extra crabs, loaches, and grass carp to Zhu Qing and clicked his tongue in amazement. “Did one of you cheat?”

Zhu Qing was also stunned. “I didn’t see her study the lines.”

Xu Yuzhi whispered, “Tell me secretly, and I won’t tell anyone else.”

Zhu Qing glanced at her mic and said honestly, “She really didn’t have time to study the lines last night.”

Before Xu Yuzhi could react, Sun Qi pulled her away. “Awooo~”

Zhu Qing asked Li Lan softly, “Did you cheat?”

Li Lan smiled helplessly. “No.”

Zhu Qing asked, “Then how did you know all of them? You even remember the filler words of the passing villagers.” Unless she had watched it dozens of times, how could she remember those small details so clearly?

Li Lan glanced at Zhu Qing. She found it a little strange how Zhu Qing always managed to bring up the most sensitive topics. Li Lan didn’t mind it, but the one who ended up minding it was Zhu Qing. Like the answer to this question.

“They only played those TV shows in the orphanage, from morning to night. It never changed for years.”

Zhu Qing immediately felt a pang of heartache and regretted asking. Li Lan quickly sent her away to get water before her expression changed.

Cleaning and gutting the fish was a messy and bloody job. Li Lan didn’t want Zhu Qing to do it, but… Li Lan held up the not-so-fat grass carp. It’s eyes were open, its mouth was moving, and its gills were puffing in and out. It was so ugly. It reminded her of eating fish as a child, when the only thing she was ever given was the fish head with its eyes still open.

Sigh, it was all Zhu Qing’s fault.

Zhu Qing came back happily and did a bunch of work without complaint. She even sent Li Lan away to make tea and tried to cheer her up by telling her jokes. Li Lan was so worn out by her that she couldn’t even get mad.

The last couple to come back was Qi Yao and Yu Ling. Dinner was almost ready, and they came back covered in mud. Compared to yesterday when Qi Yao was just covered in mud, today they were both rolling in it. The production crew couldn’t even bear to make them play a game and just waved their hands, telling them to go back to the room.

Yu Ling put down a bag of wild fruits. It was obvious that they hadn’t earned any points again. There were plenty of points to go around today, so no one would mind, but she was still considerate enough to bring back what she could.

When Zhu Qing saw this, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. Yu Ling was only seventeen or eighteen, at an age when she should be taken care of. But she had been thrown into the fields to do farm work with such an unreliable partner. Zhu Qing’s heart instantly went out to her. Especially with how disheveled Yu Ling looked, her cold and delicate demeanor was gone, leaving only a soft and pitiful one.

“Go to my room and get cleaned up,” Zhu Qing said. “There’s some ointment for mosquito bites on the bedside table.”

Yu Ling lowered her head, her eyes red, and nodded. “Okay, thank you.”

Li Lan looked at Yu Ling’s retreating back and frowned.

Zhu Qing sighed. “Is the production crew really going to push Qi Yao this hard? You said Yu Ling has a company, right? Where’s her company?”

Li Lan rubbed the back of Zhu Qing’s neck and said softly, “Don’t think too much about it. If Miss Yang wants to push Yu Ling, she definitely has her own plans. As for Qi Yao… you’ll know later. There are always a bunch of these good-looking but useless men. They’re never in short supply.”

Zhu Qing washed a few of the wild fruits Yu Ling had picked and tasted them. They weren’t bad. “We can have these as our fruit after dinner. I won’t buy any other fruits so we can save a spot for Yu Ling.” Zhu Qing was being very considerate of Yu Ling.

Li Lan was about to say something but held back.

Zhu Qing went back to work, and Yu Ling’s face flashed in her mind again. She was a mix of cold and cute, a very contradictory but appealing combination. When her cold demeanor disappeared, she looked even more gentle and cute.

Sweet, cute, gentle…

Zhu Qing suddenly said, “Who was the other person you sang with?”

Li Lan’s hand shook, and the knife scraped across her fingertip, chipping her well-manicured nail.