Ye Xiao, helpless, eventually went up on stage. At this moment, he really felt like he was making an appearance in public. If he could go back three minutes, he would certainly have just praised Jiang Miaoke's singing as beautiful. Now look, he had to perform too, and what's more, he was singing "Mouse Loves Rice."

"Can't we really change it?" Ye Xiao looked at Jiang Miaoke one last time!

Jiang Miaoke immediately frowned.

Ye Xiao did not dare to provoke this star of disaster anymore, chuckled with a heh-heh, and said, "This song is pretty good too."

Just then, the music had reached the point where he should sing.

Could Ye Xiao really not sing? Obviously, that certainly wasn't the case. Ye Xiao's vocals were even much better than the average person. He simply didn't want to sing in front of so many people. After all, among those present, he only knew Jiang Miaoke and had just met Qi Xin. Everyone else was a stranger to Ye Xiao, and also, Ye Xiao did not know if anyone among these people might know his true identity.

However, as things had come to this, Ye Xiao obviously had no excuse to escape, so with a bitter smile, he started singing along with the music.

"I hear your voice, and it evokes a special feeling that makes me keep thinking I dare not forget you. I remember someone who will always be in my heart, even if I can only think of you this way. If one day, the ideal of love becomes reality, I will double my efforts to treat you well and never change..."

"Mouse Loves Rice," this song has a simple melody and straightforward lyrics. Although it has no climax with musical techniques, its lyrics are catchy. When released, it swept across the country and overseas, portraying a pure love story in the song. And isn't love supposed to be as simple as a mouse loving rice? Perhaps, this song also depicts the truest portrayal in the hearts of lovers.

Ye Xiao's vocals may not be distinctive, but they are magnetic. As the song flowed from his lips, the bar, previously noisy, quieted down.

Especially the girls, who stared at Ye Xiao on stage singing "Mouse Loves Rice" with deep feeling, were all stunned.

That must be the longing of any girl.

Jiang Miaoke was also stunned. Initially unhappy because Ye Xiao did not believe she could sing both sentimental and passionate songs well, she had deliberately chosen the song considered tacky, "Mouse Loves Rice," for Ye Xiao to sing. But unexpectedly, Ye Xiao had breathed life into the song.

Jiang Miaoke was somewhat dazed, feeling the same way in her heart, even secretly thinking if only all of it were true.

However, as soon as the thought appeared, Jiang Miaoke quickly dismissed it. She was, after all, a distinguished young lady. How could she be moved by a mere song? She shouldn't... she shouldn't be, right?

After finishing, Ye Xiao put the microphone down and with a heh-heh chuckle, said to Jiang Miaoke, "I've finished singing. Now, can we go out to eat?"

While everyone had been absorbed in Ye Xiao's passionate performance, his untimely remark brought everyone's minds back to reality.

"Can you be a bit more sophisticated?" Jiang Miaoke immediately chuckled bitterly and rolled her eyes at Ye Xiao.

Ye Xiao laughed out loud, a face full of pride as he said, "What is sophistication? I think I'm already very sophisticated. Who among you stands as tall as me right now?"

At that moment, Ye Xiao really was the tallest, since the stage was half a meter higher than anywhere else, but is that really how sophistication is defined?

"Fine then, but what time is it now?" Jiang Miaoke looked to Qi Xin beside her and asked, "Xinxin, what time is it?"

Qi Xin turned her head to look at Hai Bo and said, "Hai Bo, what time is it?"

"Five fifty-two," Hai Bo replied, his head still lowered.

By now, Hai Bo had also recovered from the shock he had felt upon seeing the Nine Dragons Play Pearl to his usual calmness.

"Nearly six o'clock, alright, let's go eat. What should we eat? You just said, you're treating me," Jiang Miaoke looked at Ye Xiao, disregarding anyone else.

Ye Xiao immediately scratched his head and said, "But wasn't that under the condition that I wouldn't sing on stage? Shouldn't you be treating me now? Besides, you're much richer than me."

"You... can't you keep some face for yourself?" Jiang Miaoke couldn't help saying.

Ye Xiao chuckled softly and then turned to Qi Xin, saying, "Beauty, let's go have a meal, Coco's treating."

"Ah?" Qi Xin was genuinely surprised that Ye Xiao would invite her to eat at this time, after all, they were not familiar.

"Okay, then I'll take it as treating Xinxin to a meal. You're just an accessory," Jiang Miaoke laughed smugly, though her cheeks were much redder than before.

So Jiang Miaoke and Qi Xin greeted the others, who soon resumed their lively activities in the bar and even clamored for them to come back quickly.

"Ye... Ye Xiao!" As Ye Xiao was about to leave, someone suddenly called out his name in the bar.

Ye Xiao immediately turned to look at the person who had spoken. It was Hai Bo.

"What's up?" Ye Xiao smiled.

Hai Bo looked somewhat restrained and a bit embarrassed.

"Can we talk for a moment?" Hai Bo looked at Ye Xiao.

Ye Xiao nonchalantly nodded his head and then made his way to the bar.

Meanwhile, Hai Bo walked out from behind the bar and joined Ye Xiao in a secluded spot.

"What are they up to?" Jiang Miaoke stared with a puzzled look at Qi Xin, then turned her gaze towards Ye Xiao and Hai Bo.

Qi Xin cracked a slight smile and said, "How could I possibly know? But do you feel like your face is getting a bit hot?"

"Eh?" Jiang Miaoke was surprised by Qi Xin's question and responded, "How did you know? Indeed, I do feel a bit of heat. Is the heating on here? Are you hot?"

"I'm not hot. Are you feeling a bit light-headed and unsteady on your feet?" Qi Xin inquired again.

Jiang Miaoke immediately replied after hearing Qi Xin's question, "How do you know everything?"

"Nonsense, you are clearly tipsy from drinking just now. That 'Nine Dragons Playing Pearls' you downed was mixed with a lot of strong alcohol, and you finished it all. Once you step outside and catch the breeze, you're definitely going to be drunk," Qi Xin said to Jiang Miaoke with a hint of resignation.

Jiang Miaoke, upon hearing that Qi Xin thought she would get drunk, immediately responded with nonchalance, "How could that be? I'm the legendary 'can't get drunk no matter how much I drink.' One drink like that, even two more, what's the big deal?"

"I hope so," murmured Qi Xin with a faint smile, not continuing the conversation but instead, watching Ye Xiao with Jiang Miaoke.

Ye Xiao and Hai Bo had reached their spot, and Ye Xiao looked at Hai Bo with a smile, "What's up? Do you want to challenge me again? I need to go eat."

"It's not that!" Hai Bo blurted out but stopped short, seeming to hold back something further.

"What's the matter? Why are you hesitating?" Ye Xiao asked with a wry smile.

With his face turning slightly red, Hai Bo hesitated for a moment but finally looked at Ye Xiao and said, "Take me on as your apprentice."

"Ah?" Ye Xiao was momentarily taken aback upon hearing this; he truly hadn't expected Hai Bo to request him as a master.

"You're joking, right?" Ye Xiao looked Hai Bo up and down and said, "You're older than me, and you want me to be your master?"

"Age does not define a master-apprentice relationship. You have superior skills, and you are capable of being my master... I hope to learn the art of 'Nine Dragons Playing Pearls' from you," said Hai Bo, straightforwardly laying out his earnest thoughts.

However, when Ye Xiao heard this, he simply smiled gently and said, "Your honesty in speaking your heart shows you are sincere, but I still cannot take you as my disciple."

Hai Bo felt a surge of confusion upon hearing Ye Xiao's words. He could not fathom why Ye Xiao wouldn't accept him as an apprentice.

Ye Xiao clearly saw what Hai Bo was thinking and said softly, with a smile, "The 'Nine Dragons Playing Pearls' is not something everyone can learn right away. As you saw earlier, my bartending technique doesn't really involve any special tricks; it's primarily about speed. If you can match my speed, I believe you will be able to understand the principle behind 'Nine Dragons Playing Pearls' on your own."

"Oh? Are... are you serious?" Hai Bo was surprised.

"I am always sincere with friends," Ye Xiao said softly, with a smile.

Ye Xiao spoke teasingly, but Hai Bo knew he meant it seriously. Perhaps as Ye Xiao had indicated, only if one could match the speed could they truly mix 'Nine Dragons Playing Pearls.' And implicitly, Ye Xiao also conveyed to Hai Bo that he regarded him as a friend.

Friend!

Hai Bo never had friends, yet for some reason, facing Ye Xiao today, Hai Bo did not deny it but earnestly nodded his head.

"Would you like to go eat?" suggested Ye Xiao, smiling.

Hai Bo shook his head and said, "I'm the bartender here; I can't leave."

"Alright then, another day we'll drink together," laughed Ye Xiao.

Hai Bo nodded, saying, "We'll drink the remaining Erguotou."

"He who understands me, Hai Bo indeed!" Ye Xiao laughed heartily, then walked over towards Jiang Miaoke.

As Hai Bo watched Ye Xiao cheerfully leave, a warm feeling swept over him, and for some unknown reason, the typically cold-natured Hai Bo felt a slight change in his disposition, all because of Ye Xiao's presence.

The eleventh month of the lunar calendar, also known as the winter month!

This marked the beginning of winter. If by the end of the month, it was likely that it would even snow.

Moreover, the days had grown much shorter. Although it was only about six o'clock, the sky was already dark, and the chilly autumn wind blew, making people feel a bit of a chill.

Of course, Ye Xiao was an exception. Despite wearing thin formal clothes, he did not feel cold at all, protected by his True Qi Protection.

However, once Jiang Miaoke stepped out from Black Mood, facing the autumn breeze, her already rosy cheeks reddened even more. Moreover, after drinking a 'Nine Dragons Playing Pearls' mixed with various strong alcohols, the alcohol's effect gradually intensified. At this point, the buzz had reached about two-thirds of its strength, making Jiang Miaoke's walking somewhat wobbly.

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