CHAPTER 94: CHAPTER 90: A BATTLE OF WITS AND BRAVERY, CHU TIAN’S MISCHIEVOUS TASTE

"All right, it’s done! Finally over!" Chu Tian stretched lazily, yawning as he spoke with a sense of relief. After a whole day of polishing, the song was finally recorded. Although he had just been sitting in a chair directing others, he felt it was more exhausting than recording the song himself. It wasn’t physical tiredness so much as mental exhaustion. He had to adjust the singers’ techniques, skills, and the intensity of every part of the song. He also had to design and adjust the rhythm and emotion of the song according to each person’s abilities. Considering every aspect, his head felt like it was about to explode after two days of recording.

Just then, an equally exhausted Xu Qingqiu walked out from the recording room. She took a sip of water and then looked at him with a wry smile, saying, "You’ve worked hard."

Chu Tian leaned back lazily against the chair, saying with an air of resignation, "Not hard work, just a hard life..."

"Pfft... what nonsense are you spouting? Have I wronged you by having you work with me?" Xu Qingqiu retorted.

"That’s not it. I’m just a bit tired," Chu Tian replied.

"You call this tired? What are you going to do when you become a star and it’s even more exhausting?"

"What am I going to do? Naturally, I’m not going to become a star!"

"You..." Xu Qingqiu hadn’t expected him to still think this way and was suddenly frustrated. She thought Chu Tian still had some mental block and decided to have a serious talk with him. "Chu Tian, tell me the truth, what’s really going on with you? Your voice is getting much better. Now it’s just a bit hoarse when you talk; it’s improved a lot. So why are you still so resistant to becoming a star?"

He tilted his head and looked at Xu Qingqiu quizzically, saying nonchalantly, "Didn’t you just say it? Being a star is so tiring, so why would I want to be one?"

"Ah? You’re sure that’s the only reason?"

"What else could it be?"

Xu Qingqiu looked at him irritably. Seeing that he seemed earnest and not just trying to placate her, she became even angrier.

"What now? Why are you staring at me?" Chu Tian asked.

If Chu Tian hadn’t asked, it might have been better. But since he did, Xu Qingqiu immediately raised her small fist and pounded it hard on his arm. While hitting him, she fumed, "Why are you so lazy? You’re so lazy it’s going to be the death of you!"

"Stop, stop, stop! That hurts!"

"So what if I’m lazy? Who made a rule that people can’t be lazy?"

"But... but you obviously have such great talent and ability..."

"No, don’t say such nonsense. I don’t have any ability or talent; I’m just an ordinary person!" After saying this, Chu Tian quickly got up and left the troublesome spot.

I really don’t understand what she’s thinking. Why does she insist I become a star?

Watching Chu Tian’s retreating back, tears slowly filled Xu Qingqiu’s eyes. She didn’t know why, but seeing Chu Tian like this, she always felt it was her fault that he had become so lacking in ambition. Originally, he was proactive and cheerful, always wanting to do his best at everything. Back then, they had even made a pact to dominate the male and female music scenes together. But because of what happened to her, he had turned into the person he was now, and it pained her deeply.

"By the way, the song’s been recorded," Chu Tian said, having suddenly remembered something halfway out. He came back, opened the door, and added, "Once you finish listening, take it out and remember to have someone make the master. I’m heading back first."

But as soon as he opened the door, he saw Xu Qingqiu sitting there crying.

Why is she crying again? I didn’t do anything, did I?

Wanting to avoid further trouble, he blurted out his piece and hastily scrammed.

This girl cries way too much. It’s baffling.

After leaving the company, Chu Tian walked leisurely down the street, looking for a place to eat. When he passed by a bubble tea shop, the mascot costume at the entrance suddenly caught his eye, and he hurried over.

"Hello, how much for this costume?"

The person inside the mascot costume thought they had misheard and stood there stunned, staring at him. Their innocently foolish appearance almost made Chu Tian burst into laughter.

"I said, how much for this costume!" Chu Tian repeated.

What the heck? Selling the costume? The person inside was completely baffled. Is this guy out of his mind? I’m just a worker. If I sell this costume, which is how I make my living, what am I supposed to do?

Although these were their thoughts, shop rules prevented them from speaking. So, they just patted their head, then gestured towards the bubble tea shop behind them with a "please enter" motion.

Unfortunately, this gesture was strikingly similar to a certain Black guy from an internet meme he’d seen before—the one who, upon seeing various nonsensical videos, would demonstrate a simpler method and then point at his accomplishment with both hands, looking utterly speechless. It was so similar that Chu Tian couldn’t hold back his laughter.

"HAHAHA, don’t move! I’m not buying bubble tea; I just want this costume!"

Now, the person inside couldn’t hold back either. "Bro, are you serious? This is my livelihood! If I sell it to you, what am I supposed to do?"

"Don’t get me wrong, brother. I just want a costume like this."

"If you want a costume, go buy one! See over there? All sorts of styles and designs to choose from. This is a mascot uniform. Why are you trying to buy it from me? If I sold it to you, the manager would kill me!"

Chu Tian realized that what he was doing was indeed inappropriate. "Sorry, brother. Thanks for the directions."

After apologizing, he quickly ran to the store the person had pointed to and bought a big, fat cat mascot costume—a summer model, inflatable, and definitely not made of silicone.

「Late that night」

When it was quiet, Chu Tian sneaked to the vicinity of the company. He promptly noticed a suspicious woman wearing a fisherman’s hat, sitting by the pool across from the office building.

According to my guess, it’s almost certainly Xu Qingqiu! This stubborn girl. Has she gotten wiser today? Did she even bring mosquito repellent?

In order to properly tease... um, amuse her, Chu Tian quickly got into the mascot costume. He hugged the bouquet of flowers he had prepared earlier and headed towards the office building at an unhurried pace.

Xu Qingqiu noticed the huge figure almost immediately, her gaze completely drawn to it.

What’s this? A mascot? Why is it here? Holding flowers? Is this someone delivering flowers? Could it be a marriage proposal? Which company? The girl must be pretty, right? How romantic!

As she watched, her thoughts began to wander, and a mess of ideas flooded her mind, almost making her forget what she was supposed to be focusing on.

Chu Tian made it to the office building without incident. He squeezed onto the elevator with difficulty. Upon reaching the 32nd floor, he turned a corner and entered the range of the surveillance cameras. Unperturbed, he walked under a camera, set down the flowers, and then bowed to the camera. Still wearing the mascot costume, he began to hop and jump on the spot, performing various moves with ease and dancing with crisp precision.

After finishing his dance, he pointed to the bouquet at the entrance, then raised his hands to form a heart shape. Next, he painstakingly took out a small gadget from a pocket on the back of the costume and pressed it lightly.

Having done all that, he calmly turned around and walked away in the mascot costume. He eventually found a corner to take it off and discard it, gasping for air.

It was too hot; even the cooling fan wasn’t enough.