Chapter Thirteen: A New Song, Becoming Wealthy

"Alright!" With Li Mengya's words, Jiang Yun felt much more at ease.

"System, exchange for 'Become Wealthy.'"

"Ding! Congratulations, host, exchange successful. 50,000 popularity points deducted."

"Current popularity points: 903,086."

A USB drive appeared in Jiang Yun's hand out of thin air, but he pretended to pull it from his pocket.

A staff member approached, and Jiang Yun handed the USB drive over.

Soon, the rhythm began, music accompaniment and whistling harmonies filled the air.

Holding the microphone, Jiang Yun sang with a self-mocking, teasing tone: "If one day I become very rich."

His voice was unique, and with his S-level singing skill, the moment he opened his mouth, everyone was drawn into a marvelous atmosphere.

"If one day I become very rich,
My first choice won't be to travel the world.
I'll lie on the world's biggest, softest sofa,
Eat, sleep, wake up, eat again, just pass a year.
If one day I become very rich,
Then I can keep everyone by my side,
Every day happily eating, drinking, chatting,
No worries about tomorrow or farewells."

"Become wealthy, I become wealthy."

"Oh oh oh~" The musical accompaniment echoed with beautiful harmonies.

Everyone was stunned by the cheerful melody and self-deprecating humor of the song.

A concert should have been noisy, yet miraculously, there was a brief silence.

The audience's expressions were complex, unsure how to respond. What kind of life must one have lived to sing such a unique song?

When the song ended, the concert drew to a close, and everyone even forgot to applaud.

"Ding! Congratulations, host, task completed. Reward: piano mastery."

Jiang Yun wasn't particularly excited about completing the task. Helping Li Mengya sing was his true purpose, the task was just a secondary goal.

After the concert, the audience reluctantly dispersed.

"Jiang Yun, thank you for helping me tonight. Let me treat you to a feast," Li Mengya said with a radiant smile.

"That sounds great! Singing three songs in a row nearly wore me out," Jiang Yun replied, without any pretense.

Li Mengya drove her Beetle, swaying gently as she stopped in front of Jiang Yun.

"Get in!" Li Mengya called out, her head leaning out the window.

Jiang Yun walked to the passenger side, opened the door, and got in.

He was a little puzzled—how could a woman like Li Mengya still have such a girlish side?

A yellow Beetle with pink interior.

The yellow Beetle rolled along the road, swaying gently.

They arrived at their usual spot, the Red Romance Western Restaurant.

They entered a private room, and a waitress stepped inside.

Jiang Yun and Li Mengya began ordering.

"I'll have a grilled steak," Jiang Yun said, eyeing the new menu recommendations.

"And a vegetable salad, plus an orange juice!"

Jiang Yun passed the menu to Li Mengya, who pointed: "I'll have this, this, and this!"

After they finished ordering, the waitress lingered.

Li Mengya still wore her mask and sunglasses.

"You two visit often—would you be interested in signing up for a membership card?" the waitress asked.

Jiang Yun realized she was about to pitch the membership card, so he followed her lead, asking, "What benefits come with the card?"

"Right now, if you recharge 5,000, you get 2,000 bonus. Recharge 10,000, get 3,000 bonus. Recharge 15,000, get 5,000 bonus. Recharge 30,000, get 10,000 bonus. And you get a twenty percent discount!"

Li Mengya had paid him fifty thousand for a song, Zhou Lun paid five hundred thousand. Jiang Yun had spent twelve thousand on six months' rent, fifty thousand to compensate Wang Lili for her dress, plus other expenses, and still had over four hundred thousand left. Signing up for a membership card was no problem.

"I'll recharge thirty thousand," Jiang Yun decided after some thought.

The waitress's face lit up with joy: "Really? You're really going to recharge thirty thousand?"

Jiang Yun smiled, "Why wouldn't I?"

The waitress pulled out the POS machine, and Jiang Yun swiped thirty thousand. Seeing the payment, she finally felt relieved.

"Whew—"

Suppressing her excitement, the waitress went to the cashier to process Jiang Yun's membership card.

"Well, if it isn't Little Li, who never gets sales!" one of her colleagues said sarcastically.

The waitress named Li ignored her supervisor's usual taunts and walked to the cashier.

"Card application," Li said to the cashier.

The supervisor leaned over, "A card? What amount? Five thousand won't get you much."

Li continued to ignore her, handing over the POS receipt.

The cashier glanced at the receipt, then looked up at Li in astonishment.

She took out a card, entered the customer's information as Li had collected, and activated the card.

The cashier handed the membership card to Li.

Li took the card and returned to Jiang Yun's private room.

"How much was the card?" the supervisor asked.

The cashier handed her the receipt, "See for yourself."

The supervisor glanced at the receipt and was instantly shocked: "Thirty? Thousand?!"

"What luck! Thirty thousand means three thousand in commission—that's a month's salary!"

After dinner, Li Mengya put her mask and sunglasses back on.

They walked out of the private room.

"Dear guests, I hope you enjoyed your meal. My name is Niu Xinxin," the supervisor introduced herself. "How was your meal?"

"It was fine—why?" Li Mengya couldn't speak conveniently, so Jiang Yun responded.

"Since you recharged a membership card today, our staff forgot to give you your gift," the supervisor Niu Xinxin said, holding a plush toy.

"Give it to me," Jiang Yun reached out his hand.

Niu Xinxin handed him the plush toy.

Jiang Yun and Li Mengya were about to leave.

"Wait, wait, dear guests!"

Jiang Yun stopped, puzzled, and looked at Niu Xinxin.

"Here's the thing: if you use up your membership card balance, you can come to me for a recharge. I can offer even more discounts. Here's my business card!" Niu Xinxin handed over a card.

Jiang Yun took it, rolled his eyes inwardly. So this is what the supervisor wanted.

"We'll see," Jiang Yun replied perfunctorily.

"Alright… then…" Niu Xinxin was a bit embarrassed.

After Jiang Yun and Li Mengya left, Niu Xinxin stood in place, her eyes flickering, mumbling to herself, "Just wait, I'll steal your customers so you can't make a single sale."

Li Mengya drove the Beetle, carrying Jiang Yun to an old residential area.

The concert started at seven, lasted two hours, then dinner at the Western Restaurant—it was now eleven at night.

They agreed to meet tomorrow at the recording studio to record new songs. Li Mengya would record "Across the Ocean to See You," Jiang Yun would record "Become Wealthy."

They said goodbye.

Jiang Yun returned to his rental apartment, washed up—it was already one in the morning.

He picked up his phone and sent Li Lulu a message, asking about her situation.

Unexpectedly, she replied instantly: "It's going smoothly, the condition is stable now."

Jiang Yun replied, "Seeing you up so late, your heart must be anxious."

"Indeed, I'm quite worried!" Li Lulu responded.

"Don't worry, Uncle will be safe for life," Jiang Yun reassured.

"Thank you, boss, and may your words come true. OK (ゝω・´★)"