"What did you do to her, Mo Qingcheng?" A figure leaned against the doorway—it was Feng Ya Song, who had come to hurry the dishes. He always had that teasing, deadly charming young master's voice, and now he deliberately exaggerated it, looking Gu Sheng and the Top talent up and down. "Look how flushed Sheng Sheng's face is, redder than a Young Pioneer's scarf."
The seasoning was ready, mixed with fresh scallions, and poured over the fish.
The aroma truly filled the air.
Only then did the Top talent pick up his own fish, glancing at Feng Ya Song, who immediately dropped his teasing expression and obediently stepped inside to take the fish. On a day like this, offending the chef would bring no good...
After Feng Ya Song retreated, the kitchen was still filled with the noise of the range hood. She felt as if the noise had shaken her soul right out of her body, and she seemed to hear herself murmur, "I'll go out first, since I'm not much help anyway..."
What did Mo Qingcheng say?
She didn't know.
She walked outside to the dining area in the corner of the living room, where everyone was gathered around the table, each wearing their own gossipy smiles, making room for Gu Sheng. All because of Feng Ya Song's question at the kitchen door, everyone had conjured up different images in their minds, but the main idea was the same: the Top talent... must have done something naughty.
As for what naughty thing he did?
Everyone's eyes drifted toward Gu Sheng. To her left was Jue Mei, drinking beer, and to her right was Dou Bing, sneaking bites with her chopsticks. The protagonist was well-protected, leaving no room for teasing, right? Yet, despite this, our heroine kept drinking her iced orange juice, her face growing redder and redder...
The Top talent cooked quickly.
With the efficiency of a hotel chef, dishes were brought out one after another: pepper pork stomach chicken, shrimp-stuffed snow peas, fish-flavored layered eggplant, curry beef vermicelli soup, spicy fermented black bean clams, black pepper stir-fried ribs, poached pearl conch slices... and the final dish... salted pork with bamboo shoots... T.T... This was practically a memoir of the two of them getting to know each other...
She had even tried making one or two of these dishes before. Though they weren't disastrous, they were nowhere near as tempting as the ones now laid out before her. Without even tasting them, she could confidently say they would be absolutely delicious.
"Today's feast is incredible," W said, his eyes practically popping out. "Two soups alone..."
She took a sip of her juice, also staring blankly at the table full of dishes.
Dou Dou Dou Bing, thinking she was afraid of being teased by everyone, cleared her throat and asked, "Sheng Sheng, how did you end up joining the Ancient Style Music Circle?"
"Me?" Gu Sheng pulled her attention away from the dishes. "Actually... it started when my classmate forced me to help rearrange a song. That's how I found out about this circle..."
"You can do arrangements?" Dou Dou Dou Bing was surprised. "Then you must know how to compose too?"
"I've done some, but none were sung by very famous people."
Dou Dou Dou Bing's eyes lit up.
As someone involved in both the Ancient Style Music Circle and Online Voice Acting, she knew the value of someone who could compose and arrange: "You're a singer too?... Sheng Sheng, you're a multi-functional machine, no wonder the Top talent likes you so much T.T..."
Fei Shao also looked impressed: "In the Ancient Style Music Circle, composers and arrangers can practically walk sideways. Sheng Sheng, many small societies don't even have a single composer. Your Shezhang is so lucky! I'm taking it upon myself to poach you. Sheng Sheng, come join our society."
Just as someone was happily poaching away, Mo Qingcheng finished cleaning all the cooking utensils and walked out of the kitchen.He rolled down his shirt sleeves, instantly transforming from a chef back into the dashing and elegant Top Talent. He didn’t seem surprised by everyone’s discussion of Sheng Sheng’s composing and arrangement skills… nor should he be, really. Gu Sheng had long ago told him she wanted to gift him a piece of music…
He sat down right beside Gu Sheng.
The drinks in front of everyone varied, from beer to liquor to juice, but when it came to him… it turned into yogurt… truly a lifelong yogurt enthusiast…
Gu Sheng found herself uncontrollably noticing his every move. Even the simple act of him picking up his chopsticks was magnified countless times in her eyes. Mo Qingcheng very naturally picked the tenderest meat near the shark fin and placed it in Gu Sheng’s bowl. “Didn’t you say it was delicious? Have more.”
“Mm…” She silently picked up her bowl and, under everyone’s unrestrained gazes, quietly ate her fish.
Then… another piece of tender meat was dropped into her bowl.
Alright… the two most coveted pieces of meat had both been given to the Financial Backer. Afraid that the Top Talent would give the entire fish to his own lady, everyone hurriedly reached out with their chopsticks and quickly divided the whole fish.
Come on, the Top Talent rarely cooks fish…
And the fish cooked by the Top Talent is the most delicious…
Meanwhile, as everyone scrambled for the fish, the Top Talent’s chopsticks had already moved toward the other dishes. In short, the best of everything was given to Gu Sheng. Seeing her bowl piled high with food, she felt it was truly inappropriate and ate frantically. One frantically served, the other frantically ate. Less than ten minutes into the meal, she already felt full T.T…
Perhaps seeing that the Top Talent had entrusted his life to someone… everyone unexpectedly began reminiscing about their early days in the circle, filled with melancholy. Dou Dou Dou Bing sighed deeply while eating the bamboo shoots in her bowl. “Ancient style is still better. At least half the fans are men. In Chinese Voice Acting, the vast majority of fans are women, leaving no real place for female Voice Actors…” As she spoke, she smiled at Sheng Sheng. “But if I were a man, I wouldn’t be able to resist either. For example… all the men here have tens of thousands of fans, but they fall into only two categories: those who hope their Favorite Voice Actor likes men, and those who hope their Favorite Voice Actor likes them…”
Gu Sheng hummed in agreement. This was absolutely the norm…
Actually… she didn’t belong to either category. She was completely satisfied just hearing his voice.
As for how things had developed to this point… well…
Fortunately, there was a voice acting competition for a game that evening, and Mo Qingcheng happened to be one of the judges. He needed to take Gu Sheng back to school first, then return home to go online. Half an hour later, when Gu Sheng finally had to raise the white flag, truly unable to eat another bite, Mo Qingcheng also put down his chopsticks. Leaving the room full of people behind, the two of them slipped away first.
This time happened to be the peak traffic hour on the roads.
Gu Sheng had initially said she would return alone, but Mo Qingcheng had already led her down to the nearest subway entrance.
She calculated the time: seven stops in total, an hour round trip, just enough to make it to the competition… which eased her mind a little. The subway air conditioning was strong, and as the two stood on the platform waiting for the train, each held their own coat. She looked up at the clock display—the next train would arrive in 2 minutes and 48 seconds.
Mo Qingcheng was on a call.
Her eyes drifted to the advertisement board on the opposite side of the tracks.
Coincidentally… it was an advertisement for that very game."Hurry, hurry, I need to get back to listen to the competition..." A young girl behind her was extremely anxious.
"There's still time, there's still time," another girl comforted her. "Isn't your favorite voice actor not signed up for today's role? His should be the one next week, right?"
"You... don't... you know... my ultimate favorite... Qiang Qingci... is a judge tonight..."
Sweat...
She didn't dare to turn around, but she clearly heard the girl squeezing each word out through gritted teeth...
T.T...
She glanced at the top talent, who calmly responded with an "mm-hmm" to the person on the phone, saying something about further studies and such. She couldn't tell if he genuinely hadn't heard or if he had but didn't care... In any case, as a little transparent like her, she couldn't understand the mindset of a top talent who had long been deified...
"The top talent is a judge? The top talent is a judge?! Ahhhh, why didn't you tell me earlier? If I'd known, I wouldn't have eaten those curry fish balls—I could've saved ten minutes in line!"
...
Two die-hard fans...
Beside the two girls was someone clearly outside the circle. Seeing them excitedly mention the same term—"top talent"—they curiously pressed for details and were immediately subjected to a brainwashing-style indoctrination. Without exception, it was all about how the top talent was stunningly beautiful, had amassed hundreds of thousands of fans, yet remained low-key, with absolutely no black marks in his history...
...
Gu Sheng continued to stare at the countdown display—20 seconds left.
Why did she feel the urge to protect the top talent from being discovered? With a guilty conscience, she prayed for time to pass quickly so they could board the subway. At the end of the track, a bright light appeared—the subway was finally pulling into the station.
"Do you know when I started liking the top talent?! So, so long ago—I'm his die-hard fan. I fell in love with him from the moment he voiced Gin Ichimaru! You have to listen to it when you get back! I swear, you'll become an obsessive fan the moment you hear it. I cried when I listened to it back then..."
(⊙o⊙)...
What a coincidence.
Me too...
The subway doors opened. The carriage wasn't too crowded, but it was just enough to squeeze in the two girls and the two of them. Mo Qingcheng finally hung up the phone and positioned her in the corner where two carriages connected. He was tall, standing on the outer side, shielding her from anyone trying to get close.
But... this posture of him propping his arms on either side, encircling her, was really...
Too awkward to move.
"When was the first time you heard my voice?" Mo Qingcheng's voice lowered slightly, just right for a quiet conversation between the two of them.
He actually heard what those people said earlier?
(⊙o⊙)... So composed... Truly a seasoned veteran.
"It was also Gin Ichimaru," she whispered, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Your voice acting for Gin Ichimaru."
"Him," Mo Qingcheng chuckled. "Didn't you notice that both Jue Mei Sha Yi's and my names are related to him? Jue Mei Sha Yi is Gin Ichimaru's combat move, and Qiang Qingci is Gin Ichimaru's inner lining color."
...
...
Of course, she knew...
Qiang Qingci was the color of Gin Ichimaru's clothing lining...
And both Jue Mei and Mo Qingcheng had voiced this character—one in the early stages, the other in the later stages... So fans had long dissected this, explaining it in great detail. But hearing the person himself explain it years later still felt incredibly fulfilling.Her favorite Japanese anime.
Her favorite character.
And voiced by her favorite voice actor—it was simply too perfect.
The subway began announcing the station, but her mind drifted to a scene in that anime where Gin Ichimaru, leaving the beloved Rangiku, knowing he was about to go undercover and plunge into danger… said those words with utter indifference and tenderness.
Gu Sheng let out a soft sigh: "My favorite line is what Gin said to Rangiku when he left," she had only spoken halfway when Mo Qingcheng naturally continued: "Goodbye, Rangiku… I'm sorry."
No need for buildup at all.
A voice so perfectly delivered, it could stir emotions instantly…
Back then, she had worn headphones, replaying that scene over a dozen times just to hear Qiang Qingci's flawless voice acting… And now, right before her eyes, in her ears, this voice… intentionally recreated just for her…
So blissful…
Blissful enough to die T.T…
Author's note: T.T This story will end once we get to the steamy scene…
For those urging me to hurry, think about it yourselves… One chapter for a kiss, two for the steamy scene—does that mean we’ll wrap up in just a few chapters or something.
OpenNovel