Marriage Concerto (Small Thing Called Love) Chapter 70

Leaving beautiful CA today. Time to spend the next four years in a new state!

Translator: pwip

Chapter 70: You're this well behaved even when your wife isn't around?

On the other end of the phone, Ding Meng blanked out for a long period of time. In the end, she quietly mumbled in agreement.

Qiao Yichen laughed lightly, "Come back quickly. Don't keep me waiting for too long."

Ding Meng didn't know why, but for some reason she felt like Qiao Yichen's words were really s.e.xually charged.

After ending the phone call, she took a bath and went to sleep. She had leave for the next city early the next morning so it was necessary to stock up on energy.

Although the schedules for these signing events weren't very packed, autographing was a strenuous physical activity in itself. Each time she finished an event, her hand felt like it had been wasted. Ding Meng actually started thinking about undergoing physical therapy.

Her only source of comfort was that the alb.u.m sales were still climbing. Even though the numbers weren't climbing as quickly as they did right after the alb.u.m's release, the increase was still quite steady. The number of critic reviews for this alb.u.m had also grown. As for Thank You, the song that she had written herself, quite a few media outlets had given her encouraging, positive reviews.

Even though the lyrics weren't anything too stunning, they were very moving. In conjunction with the music that Qiao Yichen had composed specifically for her wide vocal range, she was able to use her clear high notes to shake the Chinese pop music industry once more.

Although Qiao Yichen had said that every song in the alb.u.m Thank You was a top song, this t.i.tle track was undoubtedly number one in terms of difficulty.

However, there would inevitably be people who enjoyed undertaking big challenges.

Qiao Yichen's eyebrows furrowed deeply as he interrupted yet another contestant who had crashed and burned while performing Thank You. "This isn't singing. This is murder."

The contestant, "…"

He collapsed under the weight of the Great Producer Qiao's criticism.

On the side, a judge who had suffered the same attack spoke with a voice full of trepidation, "Fortunately I don't have heart disease. Nowadays, working as a judge can also be considered a dangerous occupation."

The contestant, "…"

After walking out resentfully, he swore to himself that he would never partic.i.p.ate in an elimination compet.i.tion like this again.

The judges were way too terrifying.

After an afternoon of preliminary selections pa.s.sed, Qiao Yichen was finally able to breathe.

He felt like it really wasn't easy to survive day after day.

He walked to the parking lot by himself to fetch his car. Right when he fastened his seat belt, the cell phone in his pocket began to ring.

It was an unknown phone number.

After a moment of hesitation, he decided to pick it up anyways, "h.e.l.lo."

The sound of a woman chuckling pa.s.sed through the phone. She spoke in an extremely familiar manner, "Yichen, I'm Qin Sifan."

Qiao Yichen blanked out for a moment before responding, "Sifan, you've returned to the country?"

Sifan laughed as she spoke, "Yup, but I won't be staying long." She paused briefly before continuing to speak in her voice that carried laughter, "It wasn't easy for me to return this once. I wonder if Great Producer Qiao is willing or not to do me the honor of getting a meal together?"

Qiao Yichen laughed, "We're old cla.s.smates. There's no need to be this polite. What do you want to eat? I'll treat. It can be considered your welcoming dinner."

Sifan thought for a moment before speaking, "I've heard that a Western-style restaurant named Moon Lover opened in A City. It's been praised to the high heavens so I'm actually rather interested in going."

Qiao Yichen's eyebrows raised as he spoke to Qin Sifan, "That restaurant just has a lot of fancy tricks. The food tastes better at Yu s.h.i.+'s new restaurant Sweet Dream. Why don't we go there?"

On the other end of the line, Qin Sifan paused for a moment before speaking again, "Okay then. Let's meet at Sweet Dream."

After making a phone call to book a reservation, Qiao Yichen drove his car over. When he reached the restaurant, Qin Sifan hadn't arrived yet. After waiting ten minutes, he saw Qin Sifan wearing a red dress, walking towards him

Qiao Yichen said, "Beauty Qin really hasn't changed at all."

Qin Sifan laughed as she sat across from him. She looked him up and down and spoke, "You, on the other hand, seem to have changed a bit." As if she had recalled something, she paused briefly, "I didn't expect that you would actually get married this early. I received quite a shock."

Qiao Yichen replied, "My mom certainly didn't think it was early. She had been urging me for a long time."

Qin Sifan's eyes flashed as she looked at him, "Did you only get married because Aunt was urging you?"

Qiao Yichen looked up at her and laughed, "That's not it. I think I may have liked my wife for quite some time now."

Qin Sifan grunted slightly before chuckling, "Let's order."

The two didn't actually talk that much while eating. At most, they chatted occasionally to say a few words about their experiences over these past couple years. Qiao Yichen looked at the person across him and asked, "Why did you suddenly return to the country? Did something happen?"

Qin Sifan nodded, "Yeah, a children's hospital invited me to come over as a consultant. I may stay for a little over a month."

Qiao Yichen asked, "A children's hospital? For what kind of illness?"

"Autism." Qin Sifan sighed, "I hope that music therapy can be of help to them."

Qin Sifan had studied music therapy abroad and had even pa.s.sed examinations to become certified. She could be considered an authority figure in the discipline. Domestically, music therapy wasn't very developed yet so the children's hospital had specially invited her over.

After speaking, Qin Sifan looked up at Qiao Yichen again, "That's right! Are you interested? Even though you aren't in the music therapy profession, my musical talent can't compare to yours. Perhaps the music you play would have a higher chance of moving the children's hearts."

Qiao Yichen looked down as if he was contemplating. Seeing that he didn't speak, QIn Sifan continued, "It's also not a problem if you don't have the time. After all, you are also a very busy person."

Qiao Yichen spoke, "Of course I'm very willing to help these children. It's just that I really don't have any time over these next two days. If you aren't in a rush, would three days from now work?"

When she heard him agree, Qin Sifan replied happily, "That works. I will confirm a time with the children's hospital side."

Qiao Yichen gave her a nod and continued eating.

After dinner, Qiao Yichen picked up the tab. As Qin Sifan walked next to him, she looked at him and asked, "Do you have any plans later?"

Qiao Yichen replied, "Does going home and sleeping count?"

Qin Sifan started laughing, "You're this well behaved even when your wife isn't around?"

Qiao Yichen spoke, "One should be even more well behaved when the wife isn't around."

Qin Sifan grinned and didn't try to detain him any further, "Then I'll go straight home too. I'll see you three days from now."

"Okay." Qiao Yichen waved goodbye to her and walked directly to his car.

The house was still dark when he arrived home. Qiao Yichen sighed. He walked into the bedroom and gave Ding Meng a phone call.

After partic.i.p.ating in a signing event that afternoon, Ding Meng had immediately rushed to the next city. At this time, she had just reached the hotel. When she saw that Qiao Yichen was calling, she couldn't help but start laughing.

For this week that she had been gone, this guy had been calling her everyday.

She picked up the phone and laughed as she asked, "Goudan, did you miss me again?"

"Yeah…" Qiao Yichen casually took off his necktie and laid down on Ding Meng's pillow. "Wife, you're returning three days from now, right?"

"That's right. I should be arriving before noon."

Qiao Yichen grinned, "Then let's eat lunch together."

"Okay, I want…"

"No chuan chuan."

Ding Meng, "…"

She clucked her tongue and pouted, "Then it's up to you."

After laughing for a bit, Qiao Yichen asked, "You shouldn't have anything going on in the afternoon, right?"

"Yeah, the company told me to take a half day off. There will be filming for an advertis.e.m.e.nt the next day."

When Qiao Yichen heard that, he hesitated for a moment but spoke anyways, "Wife, I have a friend from overseas that is trained in music therapy. She returned recently to help treat the children at a children's hospital. It'll be three days from now. Would you like to go?"

Ding Meng blinked a couple times, "Am I allowed to? This sounds rather technical."

Qiao Yichen responded, "Don't worry. You won't be asked to do anything technical. You would just sing songs to children with autism to help them experience the beauty of music."

"Ah, if that's the case then I have no problem with it."

"Okay, then it's settled." Qiao Yichen was silent for a moment before sounding a bit depressed, "But this way you have any time to relax."

Ding Meng spoke, "That's okay. It's mostly just my hand that gets tired from these signing events. Otherwise I'm fine."

Qiao Yichen laughed, "Sure enough, my wife has a beautiful heart."

Ding Meng spoke discontentedly, "I look very beautiful too, okay?"

"Yup, how are you so beautiful?"

Ding Meng, "…"

Early in the morning three days later, she ended her nation-wide autograph tour and followed the company's crew members back to A City.

After arriving at the company, her first stop was Jiang Man's office. The plans for the end of the year concert had already been completed. The date was set for December 25th, and the concert was named Lemons Move My Heart.

"After the publicity posters are produced, the company will announce the news. The rehearsals for the concert will begin slowly. The coming months might be very hard on you."

Ding Meng spoke, "That's fine. It's worth it to suffer some hards.h.i.+ps for the concert.

Jiang Man laughed, "Alright. You've worked hard during the signing events too. Go back and get some rest. Otherwise, Qiao Yichen will come here looking for you."

Her words made Ding Meng feel rather embarra.s.sed. She laughed gently and left Jiang Man's office.

Qiao Yichen was waiting right by the doorway.

When Ding Meng saw Qiao Yichen leaning against the wall, she almost screamed in fright. "Why are you here? Who are you trying to scare by being so quiet?!"

Qiao Yichen smiled at her, "My wife."

Ding Meng rolled her eyes at him. Qiao Yichen moved closer to her in a sticky manner, "Wife, didn't you miss me after over a week of not seeing each other?"

DIng Meng spoke decisively, "Nope."

Qiao Yichen, "…"

He narrowed his eyes and reached out to wrap his hands around her waist, bringing her closer, "You really didn't miss me?"

Ding Meng quickly pushed him away in embarra.s.sment, "Don't make a scene. We're at work."

Qiao Yichen continued to hold her tightly around the waist. He spoke ambiguously, "Wife, I had such a hard time sleeping every night without you. I'll finally be able to get a good night of sleep tonight."

Ding Meng, "…"

She didn't want to ask if he was actually talking about sleeping or something else.

A coworker who walked past them gave them an awkward laugh before fleeing quickly.

Ding Meng was so embarra.s.sed this time that her face turned red. She immediately stomped on Qiao Yichen's foot, "Do you have any shame left?!"

Qiao Yichen's foot stung, but his hands refused to let go and were still wrapped around Ding Meng. "What's so shameless about hugging my wife? I haven't even kissed you yet."

Ding Meng, "…"

Inside the office, Jiang Man had run out of patience long before Ding Meng ran out of hers.

She dialed her a.s.sistant's phone number and spoke with extreme distaste, "Drag away those two crazy PDA loving devils in front of my office! Immediately!"