MCB Chapter 6

“That guy.” Cong Qi threw the keys onto the cabinet by the door.

With her chin resting on her hands, she had a look of being captivated. “His voice sounds really, really nice.”

Unfortunately, she was busy digging her toes into the ground¹It is a figurative way to describe someone who is preoccupied or absorbed in their own thoughts or activities, often to the point of being oblivious to their surroundings or missing something happening around them. In the context of the text you provided, it suggests that the character was so engrossed in what she was doing (perhaps listening to something or focused on a task) that she didn’t notice or react to something significant that was occurring nearby. It’s a way of emphasizing her distraction or preoccupation. at the time and didn’t react, otherwise, she would have definitely gone up to make a friend.

When Xu Huiying heard her daughter’s coquettish and lingering tone, she knew something was wrong with this girl.

“It sounds so good, is it as good as Cheng Qian’s voice?”

Cong Qi kicked off her Reebok shoes and change into slippers before rushing to the bathroom to wash her face.

The water splashed onto her face, but it couldn’t hide the excitement in her tone. “It’s different, but it’s definitely good~~~~”

“Where’s Dad?”

Xu Huiying: “He’s in the yard of the neighboring building playing chess with your Uncle Mao.”

Cong Zhiyuan didn’t drink, smoke, or play cards, but he loved playing chess. Sometimes, when he got into it, he would forget about time.

“QiQi, please make some time for me this week during your vacation.”

Cong Qi had just washed her face, and she didn’t bother drying it with a towel, letting the water droplets on her cheeks air dry naturally, making her face look exceptionally beautiful.

She casually picked up a banana from the table and peel the skin.

Taking a big bite, she mumbled, “What for?”

“Aunt Zhang wants to get together with me this Saturday. She knows you haven’t found a boyfriend yet, so she suggested you meet her nephew. I’ve seen his photo and resume, he’s quite outstanding. Give it a chance.”

“Which Aunt Zhang?”

Most of the staff at No. 4 Middle School were like aunts and uncles to her, and there were two Aunt Zhang among them.

“Zhang Aihua, she was my roommate. You’ve met her when you were little. She used to give you snacks to play with. Do you remember?”

Cong Qi tilted her head, pondering for a moment.

Gradually, in her mind, there emerged an aunt who appeared slightly plump and was known for her warmth and laughter. She was her mother’s college classmate.

During their first year at university, her parents hadn’t saved much money yet, so they couldn’t afford to rent an apartment or hire someone to take care of her. Her grandparents weren’t in the city, and even if they were, it wouldn’t have been possible for them to come specifically to help.

So, Cong Qi ended up cheerfully staying with her mother in the dormitory.

She remembered that back then, there were no age restrictions for the college entrance exam, so her mother had classmates who were in their teens and others who were older than her. However, families like theirs, with parents and a child attending school and living on campus, were rare.

Her parents were aware that having an extra child in the dormitory would certainly affect their roommates, but there was no other option. They were pursuing their education, and they couldn’t leave her behind.

At that time, Cong Qi was only four or five years old, and a child of her age could only stay with her mother. So, she mustered the courage to discuss it with her dorm mates.

Fortunately, everyone in the dormitory was very kind and not only agreed to let the child stay but also played with Cong Qi during their free time.

So, Cong Qi would often hear her mother calling her sweetly and asking her not to make noise or disturb the aunties.

Fortunately, she was a sensible child back then. Coupled with her adorable appearance, rosy cheeks, and sweet voice, she quickly won the hearts of her dormitory aunties.

Moreover, her mother would often help others with chores and was always the one doing the most cleaning in the dormitory, so mother and daughter had a harmonious year in the dormitory.

In the following year, they finally had enough money to rent an apartment, and several aunties hugged her and cried their hearts out, particularly reluctant to part with this source of joy.

Thinking about this, Cong Qi was also delighted to see Aunt Zhang again.

Unable to contain her excitement, she leaned on Xu Huiying and asked, “Mom, is it Aunt Zhang who gave me that sparkling dress?”

“Do you remember? It’s her, and besides the little dress, she also helped you find those English cassette tapes you used in junior high school.”

She remembered the cassette tapes as well.

“But, Mom, I remember Aunt Zhang has been living in another city since she graduated, right?”

“That’s right.”

“So… why did she suddenly come back and want to introduce me to a boyfriend?”

Cong Qi didn’t have much resistance to blind dates, especially after witnessing the chaotic and troublesome relationships that had taken place in the past few years.

“She’s here to recuperate.”

“Ah?!”

“She’s suffering from work-related exhaustion. The climate here is pleasant, so your Aunt Zhang plans to stay for a while. Coincidentally, her nephew works at a hospital, and oh, I almost forgot, the person she wants to introduce to you is this young man. Aunt Zhang has even sent a photo. I’ll show it to you later.”

“Great, great!”

Cong Qi started picking at her fingernail, not feeling embarrassed at all.

She followed Xu Huiying around like a little tail, chattering away as she followed.

“Why haven’t you found it yet?”

“Could it be in one of the drawers?”

“Mom, didn’t you accidentally throw it in the trash?”

…

Xu Huiying’s temples throbbed.

She helplessly gave her daughter a stern look.

She was seriously thinking about where to put the photo, but her daughter was chattering away like hundreds of ducks, and she wished she could sew her mouth shut with a needle.

“Young lady, can you please be quiet for a moment?”

Cong Qi blinked her eyes, pressed her lips tightly, and drew a straight line next to her lips with her index finger.

She obediently stopped talking, but her lively and playful eyes continued to seek attention at every moment.

Xu Huiying helplessly covered her forehead, feeling that her daughter’s incessant talking was still bothering her.

She glared at Cong Qi again.

Cong Qi looked bewildered, innocently blinked her beautiful big eyes, as if to say, “Mom, didn’t I stop talking?”

Xu Huiying: …

Found it!

She searched through all the drawers in the living room and bedroom, and finally found it in the pen holder on the desk.

“Here, take a look and see if he’s a potential.”

With an excited heart, Cong Qi looked at the photo.

As her gaze fell upon the picture, the spark in her eyes slowly faded, and she muttered, “Is this a passport photo? I thought it was a full-body shot.”

Of course, for a handsome guy, she wanted to see his entire body. If his face was attractive but his body wasn’t, she wouldn’t be interested.

Xu Huiying impatiently swatted her daughter’s arm. “Aunt Zhang said that this young man, Xiao Wang, is nearly 1.8 meters tall. If you find him attractive, you can meet him and have a chat. If not, we can discuss it later.”

Cong Qi carefully examined the photo.

Xiao Wang did look good, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, a full forehead, and a youthful appearance that seemed quite reliable. Being a doctor was also a respectable profession, so if this marriage worked out, her future would be secure.

Aunt Zhang and her mother had maintained contact for so many years, and their relationship was solid. It was unlikely that she would introduce someone with questionable character.

But Cong Qi felt that something was missing!

“How is he?”

Seeing her daughter lost in thought, Xu Huiying gently pushed her.

Cong Qi snapped back to reality and shrugged nonchalantly. “Let’s meet him and find out. They say there’s a nice new restaurant on Yulin Road, so we can invite Aunt Zhang and have a good meal.”

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but salivate. Apparently, her excitement for the restaurant far surpassed her interest in Xiao Wang.

Xu Huiying couldn’t help but smile and poked her daughter’s forehead. “I knew it would come down to food.”

“In life, there are only two words: eat and drink. I love to eat, and I’m proud of it!”

Cong Qi raised her head proudly.

Xu Huiying had no choice but to accept that her daughter, despite being all grown up, was still like a child.

She shook her head and returned to the living room to continue watching TV.

Cong Qi casually stuffed Xiao Wang’s photo back into the pen holder and happily went to her room to write in her diary.

Hmm, that voice was so nice; it deserved to be noted down.

She bit the tip of her pen and wracked her brain to describe the other person’s voice in detail, so she wouldn’t forget it when she looked back in her diary.

“Uh, melodious and sonorous, enchanting to the ears, making one’s heart race…”

She recorded hundreds of words just for the voice.

At the end, she added a personal and distinctive sentiment:

“Hoping he has a face that matches his voice. It’s a pity I couldn’t see it clearly.”

“Oh no, how could I not see it clearly?!!!”

Just as Cong Qi closed her diary, her mother’s voice came from the living room, “QiQi, MiaoMiao is here.”

As soon as her voice reached, the door was knocked.

Cong Qi got up and opened the door. “MiaoMiao, why are you here? Come in and chat.”

Qu Miaomiao had a faint smile on her face and quickly glanced at the posters plastered all over the wall. Among them, the one of Little Tiger Team seemed to be Cong Qi’s favorite, as there were four of them, while the other male stars had at most two.

Little Tiger Team…

She had been a fan in her youth too, and she and Cong Qi had countless arguments over who was more handsome.

Fond memories flooded back, and Qu Miaomiao’s gaze softened.

She smiled and held Cong Qi’s hand. “I felt tired and drowsy this afternoon, and I forgot about the favor someone asked me for.”

Cong Qi looked puzzled. “What favor?”

Qu Miaomiao playfully bumped her shoulder and smiled with a meaningful look.

Cong Qi felt a chill run down her spine due to her teasing smile.

Then she heard, “During the Chinese New Year, didn’t we go to the ice skating rink and run into my classmate? He’s interested in you and asked me to invite you out next Monday. Will you go?”

Cong Qi blinked her big eyes in bewilderment: …What’s going on?

It’s not even spring! How come there are so many romantic interests suddenly blossoming?

Could it be that her single dog²it is a humorous slang term in some Asian cultures, particularly in China. It refers to someone who is single and not in a romantic relationship, especially during times when many people around them are coupled or married. The term is often used humorously or self-deprecatingly to describe one’s own single status. aura was too strong, and her halo was blinding everyone?!!

• 1
  It is a figurative way to describe someone who is preoccupied or absorbed in their own thoughts or activities, often to the point of being oblivious to their surroundings or missing something happening around them. In the context of the text you provided, it suggests that the character was so engrossed in what she was doing (perhaps listening to something or focused on a task) that she didn’t notice or react to something significant that was occurring nearby. It’s a way of emphasizing her distraction or preoccupation.
• 2
  it is a humorous slang term in some Asian cultures, particularly in China. It refers to someone who is single and not in a romantic relationship, especially during times when many people around them are coupled or married. The term is often used humorously or self-deprecatingly to describe one’s own single status.