Chapter 23: I Told You to Bite, Not Like That!

"How about this? Let me sing a song to lighten the mood," Xu Xiu suggested.

If anyone else had said that, everyone would have likely accepted it happily. But because it was Xu Xiu, everyone looked at him with astonishment.

Don't do it!

"No, I'm actually feeling a bit sleepy!"
"I just remembered I left my laundry out; I need to go collect it."
"My stomach is feeling a bit off; I need to use the restroom."
"..."

Xu Xiu was floored. Seriously? What does this mean? Why is everyone running away the moment I mention singing?

Fortunately, Song Dan stood up to smooth things over. "What are you all doing? Sit down! You were the ones who supported him to continue as the village head just a moment ago. How can you just run off the second he wants to sing?"

It was hard to judge Song Dan's words at that moment. The people present couldn't tell if she was exacting revenge on them or if she genuinely believed what she said. Having no choice, they knew they couldn't win against Song Dan, so they sat back down obediently.

In truth, they still held a sliver of hope. They had seen Xu Xiu dance, and since he was so good at that, his singing couldn't be that bad, right?

Once everyone was seated, Xu Xiu walked to the front of the dining area and mimicked a head-bobbing move made famous by the superstar Aaron Kwok. Surprisingly, he actually pulled it off. The people sitting below even started to feel a bit interested—perhaps, just maybe, it might actually sound good.

Pulling out his phone, Xu Xiu found a random DJ backing track and began to sing.

"I didn't sleep until six in the morning, and I have a meeting at eight."
"I ordered takeout at seven, but it only offers free delivery if I spend twenty."
"I’m always cramming at the last minute, just cramming at the last minute!"
"Even though she gave me roses, I really didn't sleep with her last night."
"I was just drunk, don't be angry."
"If that’s how you want to think, then there's nothing I can do."
"And that’s not a hickey, that’s a mosquito bite!"
"..."

As the song ended, Xu Xiu performed a gentlemanly bow with one hand. To be fair, his singing technique had actually improved quite a bit. But the lyrics were just too much to handle!

[Ding! Detected the host's abstract behavior has gained exposure. Exposure value +69... Exposure value +69...]

"Seriously, what was that? Is this your idea of rap?"
"I'm dumbfounded. I actually believed your singing might be decent. I was so naive."
"That was a fantastic rap! Please don't ever sing it again! Do you understand?"
"You... this... just come back and sit down. I can only say this song is not meant for an old person like me to hear!" Even Song Dan couldn't take it anymore.

Xu Xiu ignored their comments and walked back with an unbothered, swaggering gait. His expression was so infuriating that everyone almost couldn't resist pouncing on him.

As soon as he sat down, Meng Ziyi leaned in, stretching her neck toward him. "You really do have a talent for singing, but your lyrics are truly 'impressive'!"

Xu Xiu could tell she was mocking him. While he knew the lyrics were trash and that others mocking him was understandable, it certainly shouldn't be Meng Ziyi. With her reputation as the "Nightingale of Peach Blossom Dock," how could she have the nerve?

"You! Criticizing me?" Xu Xiu pointed at his own face in disbelief.

"Hmph~ What about it? Why can't a songstress critique you? It's your honor," Meng Ziyi said with a haughty air.

"Haha~ I really thank you! Your evaluation is like adding frost to snow, rubbing salt in my wounds, making life worse than death, and causing me unbearable agony!"

"You! You! You!"
"You what? Are you going to bite me?"

Xu Xiu was only joking, but he never expected Meng Ziyi to actually do it!

"Sss—open your mouth... no, let go! It's broken, it's really going to break!"
"Ptooey—salty! See if you dare to act cocky with me again!" Meng Ziyi spat a few times.

Xu Xiu stared at the ring of teeth marks on his finger, mentally spanking Meng Ziyi a thousand times over. How could she be so reckless? She truly lived up to her reputation as a "northeastern tigress"! He meant let her bite, but not *actually* bite!

"What just passed over my face?"

Listening to their conversation, many viewers' minds drifted elsewhere.

"Did a veteran flirt just meet a veteran tease? This bus isn't heading to kindergarten; I want to get off!"
"Get off? I’ve locked the bus doors today; no one is leaving!"
"I'm on Xu Xiu's side on this one. Sister Meng, don't you know what your own singing level is?"
"Sister Meng is so fierce! Just like that, she went for it? Please pay attention to your image!"

Wang Chuanjun watched the playful bickering between Xu Xiu and Meng Ziyi from the sidelines. He looked at them like a benevolent father, quietly munching on his snack.

"Alright, alright, stop messing around. I have a proposal: we should hold another party," Song Dan suggested a group activity.

As soon as her words fell, everyone looked as pale as death.

Everyone, that is, except for Xu Xiu!

He actually quite liked these kinds of parties, mostly because he considered himself socially anxious. Or rather, the kind of person who makes society feel anxious!

"If possible, let's hold a bonfire party tomorrow night. It can bring us closer together."

At this moment, Li Xueqin jumped in again. "A bonfire party again? Why is it always a bonfire party every year?"

Song Dan frowned. "What's wrong with that?"
"It's boring!"

Li Xueqin had made a bold statement, standing her ground against Song Dan. In reality, it wasn't just Li Xueqin; most of them disliked these types of social gatherings. Their state of mind was much like employees at work who never want to attend the team-building events organized by their bosses.

It was boring, truly boring! You can't eat well, and you have to keep a smiling face for your boss at all times. Even worse, some people can't drink, but in these situations, the boss forces you to, and that suffocating pressure is unbearable, leaving you with no choice but to drink until you're vomiting.

Instead of wasting time on team building, it would be much better to give the staff a day off to rest at home! But the mindset of the older generation, like Song Dan's, was completely disconnected from that of the modern youth. She just wanted everyone to have a happy time gathering, playing, and laughing together.

"If we don't hold a bonfire party, what should we do? If you don't have any talent, why did you even come here? Just to sit there?" Song Dan's words were sharp, leaving Li Xueqin speechless.

"How about this, why don't we have a sports meet?" Wu Dajing put in a weak suggestion.

As soon as this proposal was made, it was met with enthusiastic applause from everyone.

"Agreed!"
"This is good!"
"This is novel!"
"Isn't this more interesting than a bonfire party?" Wang Sulong took the opportunity to chime in.

Song Dan immediately shot Wang Sulong a look, which crushed his momentum right back down.

"Then let's do this: tomorrow is the party, and we'll hold the sports meet afterward. That way, we'll have two activities."

The expressions of everyone in the room changed once again, shifting instantly from smiles to miserable, bitter faces.