Aren’t You Even Going to Pretend

Su Yang smiled and started selecting songs.

Soon, a knock came at the door of the private room, and the earlier server pushed a cart inside.

On the cart were two cases of beer, several bottles of foreign liquor, a large pile of snacks, and a fruit platter.

He placed everything on the table, arranged them neatly, then looked up at the group: "Handsome guys and beautiful ladies, do you need these drinks opened now?"

"No need to trouble yourself. We'll handle it ourselves later," Hong Ran said.

"Alright, just press the service bell if you need anything."

"OK."

The server nodded slightly and left.

"Have your friends arrived yet?" Su Yang asked while picking songs.

Hong Ran impaled a piece of cantaloupe and brought it to her mouth: "They're on their way."

"My friends are too. Probably about ten minutes out. What about your two friends?" Qin Su asked.

"They should have left by now."

"Okay, let's start singing then. I'll go first. Don’t laugh at me if I sound bad, alright?" Qin Su looked at the two of them.

"We won't. Just sing whatever you want."

"Alright, here I go." Qin Su pushed her song to the top of the queue and picked up the microphone on the table.

The screen changed, and Su Yang looked up. It was a very popular song—"Rain Love."

The intro music began. He had to admit, the sound system in this KTV was excellent. Su Yang was sensitive to such details and could tell good quality from bad just by listening.

The intro ended quickly, and Qin Su started singing into the mic.

—Outside the window... the sky~

The first lyric barely left her mouth when Su Yang’s eyes widened in shock.

Hong Ran hadn’t wanted to laugh—she knew exactly how Qin Su sang—but seeing Su Yang’s reaction, she couldn’t help it.

"Pfft~"

Qin Su hadn’t lied. She really was tone-deaf. Not a single word landed on the right pitch.

If you didn’t read the lyrics, it would be impossible to tell what song she was singing.

Hearing Hong Ran laugh, Qin Su immediately paused and turned around, embarrassed: "Sister Hong! You promised you wouldn’t laugh! I only sang one line, and you’re already laughing?"

Hong Ran lowered her head and waved her hand: "Hahaha, no... I’m not laughing at you. Su Su made me laugh."

Qin Su looked at Su Yang. Seeing nothing unusual, she added: "Su Yang didn’t do anything, though?"

"Oh, forget it. Just keep singing. I won’t laugh anymore."

"Hmph, don’t laugh at me again. I’m really trying my best."

"Alright, alright."

Qin Su turned, pressed play on the small wall screen, and continued singing.

—Like your... ever-changing tempa-ment...

Su Yang clenched his teeth, forcing back a smile. "Stupid mouth, hold it together!"

Qin Su’s singing was way too... "melodious."

Among all the girls Su Yang had met so far, she had the most unique singing style.

The song quickly reached the chorus, but Qin Su couldn’t keep up. Somehow, her mouth couldn’t turn the words fast enough, and she lagged behind the beat.

The chorus had already started, but she was still babbling through the previous line.

"Phew." Su Yang exhaled, frowned, and stroked his chin.

Seeing this, Hong Ran bit her lip and covered her mouth. She hadn’t wanted to laugh, but watching Su Yang struggle to hold it in was simply too funny.

"Pfft!! Hahaha!" Hong Ran couldn’t contain herself anymore. She threw her head back and burst out laughing.

This laugh immediately interrupted Qin Su. She turned and glared at Hong Ran: "Sister Hong! You laughed at me again?!"

"I... I really wasn’t laughing at you. I’ve sung with you so many times, I’m used to it by now."

"Then what were you laughing at?"

"Look at Su Su. He’s the one making me laugh."

Su Yang looked up with an innocent expression: "When did I make you laugh? Don’t blame the wrong person. I was seriously listening to Susu sing."

"Hmph, you two are so annoying, always interrupting me."

"Just sing like we’re not here."

"Fine. Don’t make any noise then. I’ve practiced this song a lot lately."

"Uh... sure, go ahead."

Qin Su pressed play and happily continued singing.

Su Yang opened and closed his mouth, flexing his facial muscles.

Qin Su’s singing was the complete opposite of her face. Maybe, as Su Yang had said, she sang badly because she was too beautiful.

The slightly torturous few minutes finally ended.

Su Yang immediately clapped in encouragement: "Not bad! Not bad!! That was good."

Qin Su turned and put the microphone down: "Don’t force yourself to compliment me. I may be tone-deaf, but my ears can still tell good from bad."

"The fact that you know you struggle with singing but still bravely belt it out in front of others—that alone deserves applause from me!"

"He’s right!" Hong Ran chimed in. "A lot of people who know they can’t sing well wouldn’t dare to sing in public. You’ve already beaten most people in that regard."

"Really?" Qin Su smiled happily.

"Of course. That’s the honest truth." Su Yang nodded and gave a thumbs-up.

"Then you two keep going."

Hong Ran turned and tapped the screen to skip the song, then picked up the other microphone: "My turn. I’m not great either, so just listen casually."

"Let’s hear it!" The two clapped.

Hong Ran had chosen a KTV classic—"Ten Years."

This song was practically a must-sing in KTV, sung by countless people.

Hong Ran picked up the mic and gently swayed to the intro.

When the intro ended, she stood up and sang.

—If those two words hadn’t trembled.

—I wouldn’t have felt the pain...

Hearing Hong Ran’s voice, Su Yang nodded. It wasn’t outstanding or professional, but among regular people, she was pretty good.

Most ordinary folks just didn’t go off-key; they weren’t necessarily pleasant to listen to.

Hong Ran, however, put emotion and feeling into her singing, and every note was accurate.

She could probably be considered KTV mic-queen material. Of course, this song was quieter and slower, so her real skill would need a few more songs to judge.

But compared to Qin Su’s just now, it was like heavenly music.

Qin Su quietly sneaked over and sat next to Su Yang, eating fruit and listening.

As she ate, she suddenly stabbed a piece of watermelon and held it to Su Yang’s mouth.

Su Yang was focused on listening and absentmindedly opened his mouth to take the watermelon Qin Su fed him.

Just then, the first part of the song ended. Hong Ran turned to look at them. Her eyes widened as she pointed at the two and laughed: "No showing off your PDA in front of me!"

"Huh?" Su Yang froze, suddenly realizing that their actions seemed a bit intimate.

Hearing Hong Ran’s words, Qin Su put down the fruit and rushed to the restroom.

"What’s going on?"

Hong Ran grinned: "You two seem a little strange."

Su Yang rolled his eyes, leaned back on the sofa, and smiled: "What’s strange about that? Hurry up and sing—your part’s starting."

Hong Ran didn’t press further and continued singing.

The song ended quickly, and Qin Su came out of the restroom.

She walked over to the screen as if nothing had happened, pretending to pick the next song, acting completely oblivious.

Su Yang saw that Hong Ran was about to speak, so he stood up first, grabbed the microphone on the table, and shouted, "Susu, put my 'Black Humor' on. One song per person, now it’s my turn."

"Got it," Qin Su replied.

Hong Ran then asked with a smile, "You two aren’t even pretending anymore, are you..."

"What do you mean?" Su Yang was caught off guard.

"Playing dumb?"

"Oh, you mean just now? That’s nothing. Just friends casually passing food to each other."

"Casual, huh?"

"Is it not casual?"

"Hey, fine, fine." Hong Ran dropped it, secretly smirked, and grabbed a bottle of beer to open.

"I think let’s start drinking anyway. No idea when the others will show up. We can’t just keep waiting for them without having a drink."

"Sure, open one for me. My song is about to start."

As he spoke, the screen shifted, and the music video for "Black Humor" began playing.

Su Yang took the beer bottle Hong Ran handed him, took a quick sip, and got ready to sing.

Just as the intro was about to end, a knock came from outside the private room door.

......