CHAPTER 182: CHAPTER 177: I AM IRRECONCILABLY OPPOSED TO YOU! (THREE MORE UPDATES)

"What’s wrong with you?" Yi Luowa looked up at him. "Are you upset because I hit someone?"

Tong Airui shook his head with a smile. "After all these years of holding it in, I’d be mad if you *didn’t* hit them!"

"I’ve told you before—I can only pretend to be someone I’m not for a day, maybe half a day. Now my cover’s blown," Yi Luowa nervously twisted her fingers. "If they go back and tell Uncle and Auntie what happened today, do you think they’ll start looking down on me?"

"No way. Back in the day, my mom was bullied by her sister too, and she fought back even harder than you did. In the Aoderiqi family, there are no weaklings." Tong Airui pinched her nose with a grin. "You know why Aino doesn’t like Connie?"

Yi Luowa pouted. "Because he’s dumb! She’s such a great girl, and he doesn’t like her."

Tong Airui smirked. "He’s not dumb at all. He doesn’t like Connie because she grew up in the palace, where everything is prim and proper. The Aoderiqi family is a family of fighters—we have no use for people who are overly proper. So, you really don’t need to worry about this."

"Alright then. But I think I should confess myself before we get back."

"Don’t bother her tonight, though, or my dad will be upset."

Yi Luowa blinked and smiled mischievously.

Tong Airui smirked, leaned slightly forward, and said, "Yuan Hang, let’s head to the KTV at the Imperial Hotel. Everyone still wants to have fun, and the environment there is much nicer."

Yuan Hang turned on the hazard lights and drove straight to the Imperial Hotel.

When they got to the private karaoke room, Yi Luowa pursed her lips and walked over to Connie. "Are you okay?"

"I’m fine. I wasn’t even done having fun before Fifth Brother dragged me out." Connie held up the butterfly mask with a smile. "This thing is amazing. You can do whatever you want without fear of consequences. Next time we go out, I’m definitely bringing it."

Tong Aino glanced at the butterfly mask and turned to Tong Airui. "You brought everyone here, so you sing the first song?"

"Have your sister-in-law sing it for me," Tong Airui said with a smile. "Sweetheart, what song do you want to sing?"

Yi Luowa shook her head. "I can’t sing..."

"Nonsense!" Tong Airui narrowed his eyes playfully.

"Really, I can’t!" Yi Luowa giggled. Mostly, she was afraid of being judged by everyone here. Tong Airui always put her in the spotlight, which made her nervous.

"You can’t sing? Who was the soloist for your school’s New Year’s Eve gala finale, then?"

Yi Luowa pouted. "Tong Airui, did you have to investigate me *that* thoroughly?"

"You’re the mother of my future kids—if I don’t investigate properly, how can I feel at ease?"

Yi Luowa rolled her eyes at him.

Everyone burst out laughing.

Monica, after arranging the fruit platters, laughed and said, "Don’t be shy, everyone. Luowa, you go first. Connie, get ready. If you have a song in mind, let the waiter know so they can queue it up."

Everyone called out their song choices. When Yi Luowa picked up the microphone, Connie quickly put on the mask. Teng Ai Ni laughed and said, "You’re really wearing that?"

"Wearing it makes me feel more secure."

"...I know the kind of happiness I want is in that higher sky. I want to fly higher, fly higher, dancing like the wild wind, breaking free from constraints. I want to fly higher, fly higher, wings stirring up a storm, my heart roaring. I want to fly higher, fly higher, dancing like the wild wind, breaking free from constraints. I want to fly higher, fly higher..."

The bold and powerful voice immediately grabbed everyone’s attention. No one had expected such explosive energy to come from such a petite person.

Before Yi Luowa finished singing, Tong Airui was already leading the applause.

When the song ended, Yi Luowa stuck out her tongue and handed the microphone to Connie.

"Singing after you is so stressful," Connie said with a laugh.

"I’m just howling without technique. Your singing is definitely better than mine. You got this!" Yi Luowa cheered her on enthusiastically, pushing her toward the mini stage.

As the music began, Connie sang a rendition of "I Willing". "Liars are all deceivers, believers are all fools. Why do so many people still turn themselves into lunatics? Beauty is not just skin deep; intimacy is but a shadow..."

Connie’s voice had an ethereal quality that transported everyone from the noisy city to a void of quiet serenity. She and Yi Luowa were polar opposites: one wild and dynamic, the other serene and still, but both gave the crowd a delightful feast for the eyes and ears.

After Connie finished, everyone sang a song in turn, and the applause in the room never stopped.

"This next one is yours," Tong Aino said, nudging Tong Airui.

Tong Airui waved his phone. "Got a call. You sing it for me. I’ll do two songs back-to-back after the call."

"Who’s calling?" Tong Aino shouted into the mic. "Don’t tell me it’s some girl calling you?"

His loud question instantly drew everyone’s attention, even Yi Luowa, who had been chatting with Connie, turned her head to look.

Tong Airui grabbed the mic and shouted back in Tong Aino’s ear, "It’s your uncle calling!"

Tong Aino’s ears rang from the loudness. He rubbed his ears and rolled his eyes. "From now on, we’re mortal enemies!"