3000 yuan.
At first glance, it doesn’t seem like much.
But if you convert it into an hourly rate for 2 hours, that’s 1500 yuan per hour.
Compared to the 20-something yuan per hour you’d earn working at a convenience store in China, this number is astronomical—something you’d expect from a shady industry.
Bai Xing initially didn’t want to entertain the idea.
But considering her grandmother needed money urgently, her own pockets were empty, and the other party had explicitly suggested opening a private room to discuss some “academic questions,” she figured, why not? Free money is free money.
So she stopped in her tracks and emphasized once more:
“Since you’re so sincere, I suppose I can agree. But let’s make one thing clear—your consultation is strictly a ‘consultation.’ I’ll answer your professional questions, but anything beyond that, I’m not responsible for.
Also, don’t even think about introducing me to anyone else. If you’re harboring some sneaky idea of introducing me to your so-called brothers or friends, you’re being naive. I’ll walk away immediately, got it?”
“Mhm, got it, got it! Don’t worry, senior, I’m not a bad kid!”
Liu Yi was particularly good at closing the distance. Even though Bai Xing had spoken to her in a condescending tone, she still acted like an eager kitten, piling the cash into Bai Xing’s hands.
“Hey… what’s the rush?”
Seeing Liu Yi so eager to hand over the money, Bai Xing furrowed her brows, feeling a bit awkward.
She couldn’t help but wonder to herself, “Could she really just want to ask some questions? Is there really no ulterior motive?”
“Hehe, let’s go, senior! We’re going karaoke!”
Before Bai Xing could think further, Liu Yi leaned in, trying to break down the boundaries.
Since she’d paid, she spoke with a bit more confidence, so she took the initiative to link arms with Bai Xing, acting like they were best friends, and led her upstairs.
Bai Xing was suspicious and remained on guard the entire time.
Soon, the two arrived at the top floor.
—「Night Cat Karaoke Lounge」.
…
…
This was a large entertainment venue located on the top floor of City Plaza. Given the high-end nature of the mall, the karaoke lounge wasn’t cheap either. To host a party here, you’d need to spend at least 3000 yuan.
Liu Yi seemed to be a regular here. She walked confidently to the extravagant front desk, swiped a black membership card, and with the respectful assistance of the staff, booked a small private room for two at a 40% discount, reserving it for 3 hours.
She wasn’t lying—the voice actor gathering next door was indeed happening, and it was a large room for over 20 people.
She didn’t join them, instead opening a small private room, keeping her promise.
But—
“Huh? Didn’t we agree on 2 hours?”
Bai Xing immediately became alert.
“Yeah, technically it’s 2 hours. But, senior, I like to prepay some extra time so we don’t have to rush when it’s over. It’s hard to sing well when you’re constantly worrying about the time left,”
Liu Yi explained, “Teacher Huang always says you shouldn’t sing under pressure.”
“…”
Bai Xing pursed her lips, her suspicions fading slightly. “You’re quite the diligent student.”
“Ehehe.”
Liu Yi seemed thrilled to be praised by her senior and happily pulled Bai Xing’s hand as they walked toward their room.
As they passed the internal shops, she grabbed a cart and picked up a bunch of sodas, fruit platters, fried snacks, and popcorn from the beverage supermarket.
“Senior, do you drink?”
“No.”
“Snacks?”
“Not hungry, I just ate.”
“…Oh, okay. No worries, I’ve got too much credit on this card anyway, so let’s just grab some water.”
Liu Yi smiled, selecting the items herself and instructing the staff to deliver them to the room later.
The staff nodded and bowed, acknowledging the request.
The two continued further inside.
After turning the last corner, they arrived at a VIP private room, clearly not cheap, with a sign above the door that read 「VIP Luxury Private Room」.
“…How much is this room?”
“Not much, senior. Come on, let’s go in!”
Liu Yi seemed ecstatic, clearly looking forward to the night’s “consultation.”
Seeing her so excited, Bai Xing grew wary again.
She couldn’t quite figure out what this girl’s true intentions were.
But, to be fair, when you’re around someone who’s radiating positivity,
even if you’re feeling down, their energy can rub off on you, lifting your spirits.
Conversely, if your negativity outweighs their positivity, it can drag them down into your dark mood.
Today, Bai Xing’s initial unhappiness was briefly washed away by Liu Yi’s constant cheerful demeanor.
She even started to think, “Why not sing? It’s been a while since I’ve let loose. Maybe I’ll give it a go.”
Liu Yi, with her crescent-moon eyes, quietly noted the subtle changes in Bai Xing’s expression.
…
A moment later.
The two girls settled onto the leather sofa.
Bai Xing surveyed the room—
Three-sided sofa, a coffee table, marble flooring, acoustic paneling;
Stereo speakers, disco ball, a small stage with a microphone stand, two wireless mics;
Dual song selection panels with songs in every language, and on the large screen in front, a looping message: “Be mindful of fire safety, no illegal transactions,” courtesy of the police.
Everything was there, and there were indeed no outsiders.
“So, what’s the plan? Sing or talk?”
At this point, Bai Xing wasn’t overthinking it anymore. She sat confidently in the center of the sofa,
crossing her legs and waiting for her “client” to speak.
“Hehe, senior, I’ll put on some songs as background music, and we’ll start with the academic questions!”
Liu Yi had a clear plan.
She bent over the song selection panel and quickly picked seven or eight songs, queuing them up to play.
Bai Xing glanced over and noticed that all the songs were familiar—in fact, she’d heard every single one of them.
She couldn’t help but ask, “You mentioned you’re a VTuber earlier. What category do you work in? Why are all these songs from the dark/edgy/yandere genre?”
Liu Yi had chosen songs like “So Cute It’s a Crime,” “Who’s Next Door?” “Layers of Schemes,” “Under Her Leadership,” and even “The Deceitful Girl’s Jest,” which was essentially a frantic, shouting monologue over an instrumental track…
Bai Xing was a bit stunned.
There was no denying that Liu Yi’s song choices were perfect for a voice actor gathering,
and she could easily use these tracks for a live voice-acting showdown.
“What kind of music taste is this…? It’s both cringe and cool, but also just weird…”
Bai Xing, who had initially been indifferent to Liu Yi, was now thoroughly intrigued.
Looking at Liu Yi’s undoubtedly mischievous expression, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this girl wasn’t here just to sing with her…
Especially that confident smirk—what was that about?
“Hm?”
Suddenly.
A realization dawned on her.
Got it.
She’s probably here to 「challenge me」.
【On the surface, she’s paying me to sing, but in reality, she’s using this opportunity to prove she’s better than me—better than me, the senior who once dominated the scene at Sound Bear. Is that it?】
Bai Xing’s mind raced, quickly piecing together Liu Yi’s true intentions.
She wasn’t stupid—she knew there was no such thing as a free lunch.
Thinking this, she couldn’t help but let out a cold chuckle.
“Alright then.”
If that’s how it is, don’t blame me for not holding back.
I’ll give it my all and show you,
“Today, you’ve picked the wrong person to mess with.”
…
…