"Du Fei, why don't we order a song too?"
After listening for a while, Wang Zhongling felt the girl sang quite well.
Du Fei naturally wouldn't refuse.
After the girl finished singing, Du Fei beckoned her over.
Seeing someone beckoning, the girl collected the money from the previous customer and walked over with her portable speaker.
"What song would you like to order, sir?"
The girl walked over, placed the portable speaker on a nearby stool, and flashed a sweet smile.
Du Fei was about to ask Wang Zhongling what she wanted to hear.
Unexpectedly, Wang Zhongling's eyes widened. "Hey, you, aren't you Xu Wenshan?"
"You recognize me, customer?"
The girl was surprised that Wang Zhongling knew her name.
However, after looking at Wang Zhongling a few times, she still didn't recognize her.
"Um, we were desk mates all through elementary school, and you always brought me delicious snacks."
Trying to help Xu Wenshan remember, Wang Zhongling continued.
As she spoke, Xu Wenshan's eyes lit up. "I remember! You're Wang Xiaoya!"
*Puchi.*
Du Fei couldn't help but laugh. He hadn't expected that the usually mature and aloof Miss Wang Zhongling would have such a cute nickname.
Hearing Du Fei's laughter, Wang Zhongling shot him an annoyed glance.
Xu Wenshan said sheepishly, "I'm sorry, I spoke too quickly. My apologies."
"It's okay, it's okay. I didn't expect to see you here today, what a surprise."
Hearing Xu Wenshan apologize, Wang Zhongling quickly waved her hand, indicating it was nothing.
It was rare to meet an acquaintance, especially a childhood friend. Wang Zhongling happily pulled Xu Wenshan to sit down.
Afterward, she completely forgot about ordering a song and started chatting with her.
They chatted until the boss brought the food Du Fei and Wang Zhongling had ordered to their table.
"Wenshan, is this your friend?" The boss saw Xu Wenshan and Wang Zhongling engrossed in conversation and said with a smile, "Since she's Wenshan's friend, I'll personally send over two small appetizers."
"Thank you, Uncle Gen."
Xu Wenshan gave a sweet smile.
The boss gestured for them to continue their chat and then went back to his work.
"By the way, Wenshan, I remember you were very good at studying when you were little. How come you're here... I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it, I'm just a bit curious."
Wang Zhongling trailed off as she saw Xu Wenshan's expression turn a little somber. She quickly apologized, afraid Xu Wenshan might misunderstand her intentions.
Xu Wenshan quickly put away her dejected expression and smiled again. "That's all in the past. I think this job is quite good. I like singing, and I can earn money. It's pretty good."
"Oh, look at me, I was so engrossed in chatting with you that I've kept you here for so long."
Wang Zhongling was suddenly reunited with her childhood friend and hadn't thought much about it. Now, she suddenly remembered that Xu Wenshan earned a living by singing for people, and she felt a little embarrassed.
Fortunately, Xu Wenshan didn't mind. She was also very happy to have met Wang Zhongling after so long.
"A customer over there is calling me. I'll come back to chat with you later."
Someone called out to Xu Wenshan from a distance to order a song. She turned to respond, then hastily picked up her speaker and rushed over.
Only after Xu Wenshan had reached the customer who wanted to order a song and began singing did Wang Zhongling withdraw her gaze.
Du Fei: "It seems you and this girl had a good relationship in the past."
"Yes, we were desk mates from first grade to sixth grade. Xu Wenshan was a very cheerful and lively girl. Her parents were very loving and doted on her. Her family's conditions were much better than mine back then. She would bring me all sorts of delicious food every few days."
As childhood memories surfaced, Wang Zhongling's lips curved into a smile.
She then added, "And I remember Xu Wenshan's grades were always first in the whole school. Logically, she shouldn't be singing for money here under any circumstances."
This wasn't Wang Zhongling looking down on singing at a street stall. It was just that with Xu Wenshan's academic achievements, she should have been able to find a more respectable and better-paying job.
"Everyone has their own experiences. Perhaps she has some unspeakable difficulties."
Du Fei looked up at Xu Wenshan.
Although she was smiling and singing for the customers at that moment, Du Fei could sense a faint hint of melancholy about her.
The unexpected reunion with her childhood friend had greatly improved Wang Zhongling's mood.
Coupled with the fact that the food here was truly delicious, Wang Zhongling couldn't help but overeat.
She rubbed her stomach. "Oh dear, I indulged too much today. After this meal, I'm going to gain several pounds."
"If even you say you're fat, how are other girls supposed to live? Leave some room for others."
Du Fei's words weren't intended as flattery.
Wang Zhongling stood at 1.68 meters tall but weighed just over 100 jin. Moreover, her figure was slim where it should be, and curved where it should be, embodying the perfect physique that ordinary women idealize.
Among all the women Du Fei had met, she was second only to Liu Shishi.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Du Fei prepared to get up and pay the bill. Wang Zhongling, meanwhile, was craning her neck, trying to spot Xu Wenshan.
...
"I'm sorry, I don't know that song."
Xu Wenshan held the microphone in one hand and the hem of her clothes in the other.
The several men sitting in front of her were smoking and laughing boisterously.
One of them, a bald man with a dragon tattoo on his chest, shouted, "Damn it! What are you pretending to be innocent for? If you're singing here, how could you not know 'Shiba Mo'?"
"That's right, you have to sing it today, whether you want to or not!"
These men had a pile of empty beer bottles at their feet, and their faces were flushed red, clearly having drunk quite a bit.
Xu Wenshan frowned and was about to turn and leave.
"Stop! Where do you think you're going if you're not singing?"
The bald man stood up abruptly and blocked Xu Wenshan's path.
Xu Wenshan was startled by the bald man's ferocity and stood rooted to the spot.
"You gentlemen, let's talk things over. This child is young and doesn't know any better."
"I'll pay your bill today, and later I'll send you some more... *smack*!"
The boss, Uncle Gen, saw Xu Wenshan being harassed. He was not far away and had just been ordering food for the guests when he hurried over.
He approached with a broad smile, trying to defuse the situation for Xu Wenshan.
But unexpectedly, the bald man slapped him across the face.
Uncle Gen's face immediately turned red.
"Uncle Gen!"
Xu Wenshan exclaimed, seeing this.
The bald man pointed at Uncle Gen and cursed, "Son of a bitch, you look down on me? Think we don't have money? Let me tell you, I have plenty of money! I'm going to hear her sing 'Shiba Mo' today. You better get lost, or I'll smash your shop!"
As he spoke, the man poked Uncle Gen directly on the head with his finger.
Uncle Gen didn't dare to retort and could only repeatedly apologize.