Chapter Eight: The Origin of Little Orange’s Name

She had just reacted purely out of instinct. The trauma from being surrounded and exposed in a public area earlier was still too fresh.

“Boss, another skewer of candied hawthorn, please.”

The two found a corner, and Yiyun Xue handed the candied hawthorn to Chen Jiang. “Here, have some.”

Chen Jiang hesitated for a moment before accepting the treat. “Thanks.”

Looking at the bright red candied hawthorn in his hand, memories from high school surfaced. Back then, he would occasionally eat a skewer, but it had been a long time since. This was the first time a girl had offered him candied hawthorn.

He bit into it, the sticky rice paper wrapped around the sugary hawthorn fruit giving a sweet and sour taste.

Yiyun Xue took a bite from a strawberry skewer with her left hand and cotton candy with her right.

“You like sweets?” Chen Jiang asked, watching her.

“Girls all like sweet things,” Yiyun Xue replied softly, chewing the strawberry.

“I was taking Little Orange to my parents’ for dinner and just happened to stop by here for some snacks. Didn’t expect to see you here too,” she explained.

“I came here with friends for dinner, but they left earlier,” Chen Jiang said.

“Are you heading home now?” he asked.

“Yeah, my parents live nearby. I walked over and was just about to grab a taxi,” Yiyun Xue replied.

“You didn’t drive?” Chen Jiang asked curiously.

Hearing this, Yiyun Xue hesitated before confessing, “I don’t have a driver’s license yet…”

“Not taken the test?” Chen Jiang asked instinctively.

“I failed the third section. Been too busy lately, haven’t retaken it,” she said with a hint of embarrassment.

“That’s perfect then. I’ll drive you both home.” Chen Jiang tapped the cat carrier on Yiyun Xue’s back.

“Meow~” Little Orange voiced its discontent.

“That little guy must be heavy. Need me to carry him for a bit?” Chen Jiang asked with a smile.

“No need,” Yiyun Xue shook her head, defending Little Orange. “I think he’s okay.”

“Alright, let’s head back.” Chen Jiang glanced at Yiyun Xue and pulled out a tissue from his pocket.

“Wipe your mouth,” he reminded her.

Yiyun Xue touched her chin in confusion, then realized some cotton candy had stuck there.

“Thanks,” she accepted the tissue.

Chen Jiang felt as if he had discovered a new world. At this moment, Yiyun Xue was just an ordinary girl, without a trace of the star’s aloofness.

They walked side by side, leisurely enjoying their candied hawthorn.

Upon reaching the parking lot, Chen Jiang pressed the key fob.

Yiyun Xue sat in the passenger seat, placing the cat carrier on her lap.

The little one stared straight at Chen Jiang.

“Big Fat Orange... When did you get Little Orange?” Chen Jiang asked.

“Three years ago. I found him on the street when he was small, skinny, and dirty—not like the chubby one now.” Yiyun Xue gestured with her hands.

Chen Jiang chuckled. “No wonder you named him Little Orange.”

“You’re pretty good too, raising him so plump. I was surprised when I saw him a few days ago—how does a stray cat get so fat?”

“Is your family from Shenzhen?” Yiyun Xue asked, holding the cat carrier.

“No, my hometown is Puning. I’m a Chao-Ke,” Chen Jiang said.

“Chao-Ke?” Yiyun Xue pondered, unfamiliar with such an ethnic group in Guangdong Province.

“My dad is Chaoshan and my mom is Hakka, so I’m Chao-Ke,” Chen Jiang explained with a smile.

“Are you a local of Shenzhen?” he asked, glancing at Yiyun Xue.

“I grew up here, but my family home is in Guizhou Province,” she replied.

“But we only go back during the New Year. I don’t even speak their dialect.”

“Did you go to university in Shenzhen?” Chen Jiang inquired.

“No, I studied in the Magic City. I graduated from the Magic City Conservatory of Music and now work as a singer, so it’s a professional match,” Yiyun Xue said.

“You studied in Shenzhen?” she asked in return.

“I went to Shenzhen University. I just graduated this year,” Chen Jiang answered.

“Just graduated this year? Then you’re a year younger than me. I graduated last year,” Yiyun Xue said in surprise. She had assumed Chen Jiang was older.

“You released songs while still in college?” Chen Jiang asked, curious.

He remembered that Yiyun Xue had been quite popular a few years ago—she had debuted at her peak.

“Yes, I signed with a company in my freshman year,” Yiyun Xue nodded.

“That’s impressive,” Chen Jiang complimented.

“You’re impressive too, writing such great songs at a young age,” Yiyun Xue’s eyes sparkled.

The car merged onto the highway.

Tall buildings and bright lights surrounded them—this was the most bustling area of Shenzhen.

Their neighborhood was not far, about a fifteen-minute drive.

In the underground parking lot.

“Thanks for giving me a ride home,” Yiyun Xue expressed her gratitude.

“No need. We’re neighbors and partners,” Chen Jiang smiled.

“By the way, I practiced the song you gave me today but felt something was off,” Yiyun Xue suddenly said.

“What’s wrong?” Chen Jiang looked at her.

“I always feel like it’s missing something when I sing it,” she frowned.

“That’s easy to fix. Let’s go to your place, and you can sing it for me,” Chen Jiang suggested.

Yiyun Xue’s face brightened. “Thanks for the trouble.”

They took the elevator to the twenty-first floor.

Yiyun Xue’s apartment was 2101 on the twenty-first floor, directly above Chen Jiang’s.

After changing shoes, Yiyun Xue opened the door.

Chen Jiang followed, curiously surveying the surroundings.

The two apartments had similar layouts, but Yiyun Xue’s was noticeably simpler in decoration.

Predominantly white.

A piano sat in the living room, looking no less expensive than Chen Jiang’s.

“I’ll play, you sing,” Chen Jiang said as he sat at the piano.

“Okay.” Yiyun Xue locked Little Orange in the cage and moved a chair beside the piano.

Chen Jiang’s fingers danced over the keys, music filling the room.

After the prelude, Yiyun Xue began softly, “I hear the winter’s departure…”

“I awaken in a certain year and month…”

…

“Who will I meet? What kind of dialogue awaits?”

“The one I wait for, how far in the future?”

“I hear the wind from the subway and the crowds!”

“I stand in line, holding the ticket of love!”

After finishing once, Yiyun Xue looked at Chen Jiang expectantly.

Chen Jiang laughed wryly. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Teacher Chen, please advise!” Yiyun Xue said seriously.

Chen Jiang thought for a moment. “Don’t be too deliberate. Relax when you sing…”

“For this song, use less technique and more feeling. Trust me, your original voice suits this song very well.”

“I know you want to sing it well to prove yourself. Changing your style is an unknown journey, but I believe you can do it. This album will definitely be a hit!”

“You have to trust the author’s insight,” Chen Jiang encouraged.

“Thank you. I’ll sing it again,” she said.

Yiyun Xue sang two more times, noticeably improving.

“I think with a few more practices, it’ll be perfect. I’ve found the direction,” she said happily.

“That’s good. I’ll head back now. Don’t overwork yourself—protect your voice,” Chen Jiang reminded.

“Okay, bye,” Yiyun Xue nodded in agreement.

…

Back at his own home.

Chen Jiang exercised on the treadmill for a while.

After resting, he took a shower.

Finished, he searched for his book on the Yue Dian platform.

The book, “Mysterious,” was already listed.

He checked the author’s assistant dashboard and saw only five or six bookmarks.

Not a single comment.

The word count was still too low; it hadn’t been fully promoted.

Chen Jiang was eager to see how it would perform as the word count increased.

He wondered if it could match his achievements from his previous life.