Marriage Concerto (Small Thing Called Love) Chapter 17

 

Chapter 17: Grat.i.tude

 

 

After the first four contestants of the top 8 were chosen, today’s compet.i.tion satisfactorily concluded. Tomorrow, the remaining two groups would compete.

 

 

Ding Meng followed the stream of people returning backstage and b.u.mped into the program director. The director smiled and greeted her. “Congratulations on entering the top 8. How was the feeling of leading a choir?”

 

 

Ding Meng paused and even forgot to say her thank you, “Huh?”

 

 

The director teased her, speaking, “Didn’t you have a youth choir? We were all joking and saying that you were a choir soloist.”

 

 

A thread of thought suddenly raced through her mind. As if she was seeking confirmation, Ding Meng asked the director, “Director Zeng, do you know whose idea it was to invite the choir?”

 

 

The director replied, “It was written on your song’s rearrangement that a youth choir was necessary so the program organizers went to find one. Why?”

 

 

Ding Meng’s eyes flashed. An inexplicable sense of disappointment welled up in her chest, causing her to feel a little confused. She smiled at the director and spoke, “It’s nothing. Thank you director.”

 

 

“Mhm, continue to work hard during the next compet.i.tion.” The director made a fighting hand gesture to her and walked away. Ding Meng returned to the dressing room and changed back into her original clothes. She carefully repacked the dress and shoes into the case.

 

 

Since she arrived at home before Qiao Yichen, she a.s.sumed the responsibility of making dinner. When Qiao Yichen returned, she had already plated dinner out on the table.

 

 

Qiao Yichen studied the table full of dishes and spoke to Ding Meng, “Looks like you’re in a really good mood today.”

 

 

Ding Meng spoke, “I never expected that I would actually be the most popular contestant.”

 

 

Qiao Yichen laughed, “Now don’t you think that those ordinary people who care about appearances are quite adorable now?”

 

 

Ding Meng laughed out loud. “Oh right, the outfit and shoes are all in good condition. I’ll return them to you after I clean the dress.”

 

 

Qiao Yichen looked at her. His lips curved, “Are you being silly? Who would want something you’ve already worn?”

 

 

“Eh, but such expensive items like these&h.e.l.lip;..” She felt nervous about accepting them. “How about this, we’ll just consider you donated these to me. When I earn money in the future, I’ll pay you back double.”

 

 

Qiao Yichen looked at her for a moment. Then he lifted the corners of his mouth and spoke, “No need to pay me back double. You can repay me with your body.”

 

 

T/N: More literally, he said “I can accept rou chang”. Rou chang literally means meat debt. Figuratively, it is repaying a debt with yourself as collateral. Pretty suggestive QYC