茶杯狐 -CUPFOX

Chapter 155 TIMING

“I’m so full, so full…” Tang Baona said with some discomfort.

Xiang Kun scratched his head helplessly, “Unfortunately, I don’t have any digestive tablets here, nor do I have tea or coffee.”

“It’s fine. I’ll be okay after a while. Let’s take a walk. Your residential area seems quite nice.” Tang Baona suggested.

As such, they went out for a walk in the residential area, unknowingly left the area, ending up in the park where many elders were chatting, dancing, and playing chess.

“Next time you should come to my place, and we can try recording some songs with my equipment. Your singing at the KTV was obvious, quite touching,” Tang Baona said, guiding the conversation towards Xiang Kun’s singing.

“I don’t think it’ll work, I don’t have any musical talent.” Xiang Kun knew himself well. His singing on stage was all thanks to cheats during live performance, recording audio can be quite exhausting.

“If you managed to bring out that feeling singing ‘People Like Me’, it shows that you do have talent. Musical talent isn’t only about pitch and timbre, it’s about using your voice to tell a story, to move others, provoke resonance, which is a very important talent!” Tang Baona said, affirming.

She then mentioned how she had originally thought about specializing in music during her university years, but gave up, realising that she couldn’t handle the hardship and that compared to those prodigies, her talent doesn’t count as talent at all. She found it more joyful to keep music as a hobby.

Apart from music, she also loves movies and had once dreamed of making her own film, being a director, producer, or editor. Thus, the videos paired with the songs she sang on her B-Station channel, were mostly edited by her, sometimes even with some scenic shots included.

Having such a casual chat along the way, Xiang Kun couldn’t help but space out.

Isn’t this the kind of life he dreamed about?

Having his own house, a stable job, a decent income, coming home to a table full of erm, he comes home early and cooks a table full of delicious cuisines, he then takes a walk with his wife in the residential area or the park, chitchatting about all sorts of things, discussing from current affairs to gossip, from hobbies to work-related trifles…

While he was deep in thought, Xiang Kun quickly stepped aside holding back Tang Baona, raised his right hand, and caught a mini-football flying towards them. He then threw back the football to the children on the grass pitch.

Seeing this, Tang Baona said in surprise and amazement to Xiang Kun: “If Zhen’er was here, she would definitely say that line again: ‘Xiang Kun! And you say you don’t know martial arts?”‘

Xiang Kun laughed: “Just the basics, just the basics.” Although his thoughts were scattered, he was always very clear about what Tang Baona was saying or what was happening around them. His senses were instinctively collecting information and his brain was always analyzing. He could react immediately in any situations.

The moment one of the children on the pitch kicked the football, Xiang Kun

had judged its trajectory if Tang Baona continued to move at the same speed, the football would hit her shoulder.

Of course, even if it did hit her, the mini-football and the kid’s strength wouldn’t cause any harm, it just might give her a fright.

“I remember a video where a female reporter was interviewing a baseball player. A baseball came flying towards her, almost hit her. Eventually, the baseball player reached out and caught the ball effortlessly.” Tang Baona recalled while searching for the video on her phone to show Xiang Kun.

“The speed of that football just now couldn’t compare to this baseball.” Xiang Kun, after watching the video, humbly said.

“I bet that you must have been a sports jock when you were studying. I’m such a klutz, always fell when playing games with friends when we were young. Even my sister didn’t prefer playing with me. In middle school, Linlin wanted to suppress her boyfriend, dragged me to learn Taekwondo, I gave up after training for some time. It was too exhausting.”

Saying this, Tang Baona suddenly sounded low: “Did I tell you? Linlin and her husband are planning to get a divorce.”

Xiang Kun looked at her in surprise, the Linlin that Tang Baona mentioned was the art director of the game company, the wife of the guy with braids from her birthday party at the KTV. Back then, Tang Baona had introduced him to the couple. They had been in love since primary school and eventually got married. He was quite envious of them, and from his observation that night, they seemed quite intimate, how come they were planning on a divorce after just a few days?

“Uh, didn’t you mention that they used to fight and break up, reconcile quite often? Maybe they just had a fight, and everything will be fine when they cool down? They have been together for so many years, and it’s not easy for them to get married,” Xiang Kun said, choosing his words carefully.

Tang Baona shook her head: “I talked to Linlin. She said it’s different this time. The problem actually started from a tiny thing. She forgot to turn off the tap when she left the house, her husband scolded her, one word led to another, it got fiercer and fiercer, and in the end, they mentioned ‘divorce’. She ended up going back to her mother’s place. She thinks they might actually break up this time…”

Hearing this, Xiang Kun was taken aback, not knowing what to say, as he didn’t have any experience in this area.

At this moment, seeing Tang Baona, who was slightly low-spirited and sighing beside him, he suddenly remembered some memories from his university days. Chang Bin sat in front of him and Zi Cheng in the cafeteria, imparting Imowledge about how to pursue girls:

“Let me tell you, unless you’re so handsome it’s inhumane, or if from the beginning the girl you like also likes you a lot, otherwise, never confess spontaneously.”

Chang Bin looked serious, stirring a pot of soup with one hand while his other hand bore a chicken head like pose, as if he was giving a speech.

“A good confession is all about skills and timing. You have to spend some time with the girl first, let her let her guard down, don’t stress her out, win her trust. Then, soften her with sentimentality, attract her with humour, familiarize her with time, and strike when the iron is hot. ”

“So, timing in a confession is crucial. Let’s repeat together: T-I-M-I-N-G, Timing! ”

Xiang Kun, who sat across, played along, “In that case, teacher Chang, how can we tell when the ‘time’ is right? ”

“Good question, Xiang. Pay attention now, Liu.” Chang Bin put down his spoon and formed chicken heads with both hands, responding seriously, “You have to observe. When the girl let her guard down before you, when she let her true feelings show—that’s when it’s the right timing. What are true feelings, you say? It’s the kind of behaviour you won’t see from her in front of others. Do you understand? ”

Xiang Kun prompted him again, “Then, how should we confess our feelings? ”

Chang Bin turned to Zi Cheng, stretched out his right hand with fervour and said, “Babe-”

Xiang Kun nearly choked on his own saliva at the sight.

Chang Bin’s voice was slow but firm, “I want to eat scrambled eggs and beef burgers with you, play hooky and go to Jacky Cheung’s concert, hike together and watch the sunset, and then push you on the swing until we are old.”

Zi Cheng blinked and responded, “Oppa, scrambled eggs and beef burgers? Isn’t this too unromantic? ”

Chang Bin brushed his hands off, “You understand nothing! For the girls that you want to truly love and be together with, it’s the trivial emotions from everyday life that matter. Once the timing is right, your sincerity will get the response it deserves. Otherwise, it’ll just return with indifference.”

Xiang Kun nodded, “I GET IT! It’s like when we’re gaming, we have to study the boss’s pattern. Most of the time we just have to hang in there. If we hang on until a specific stage, at a specific time, the boss would be in a weakened state.

Then we push with all we’ve got. That’s when we will win!”

Zi Cheng immediately pitched in, “Tank, pull. Healers, heal. Damage, full output. Those who don’t contribute get no rolls on loot!”

Watching the two gaming enthusiasts high five each other in harmony, Chang Bin shook his head helplessly, “Ah, I have a feeling, you two will regret not taking my words to heart…”

Xiang Kun snapped back to reality. He involuntarily glanced at Tang Baona, standing by. For some reason, he thought about Chang Bin’s speech on timing.

He knew that if he made the right moves, he could narrow down the gap between himself and Tang Baona. They might even get a chance to move beyond friendship.

However, he also thought about his own living situation, his rivalry with Guo Tianxiang, the guilt he felt from drinking blood during those long nights, and his occasional violent thoughts.

He knew he wasn’t ready for another person’s happiness yet. He couldn’t bear the responsibility of a family, and he wasn’t ready to share his secrets with anyone either.

“Sigh, no matter what, I hope that both of them can be happy.” Tang Baona, standing by his side, was oblivious to the thoughts racing through Xiang Kun’s mind. Emerging from her dejection, she looked at him and said, “It’s about time. I should head home. Let’s stop by your place, and you can help me pack the woodcarving.”

“Oh? You have a pretty good memory, remembering to take the woodcarving.”

“Of course, if I can’t rely on physical strength, I have to rely on a good memory!

By the way, you still owe me two rabbit meat meals, don’t forget!”

“Rest assured, I won’t forget. Although, next time, it doesn’t have to be rabbit meat. I could prepare some other dishes.” Xiang Kun said, “I guarantee you’ll like them.’

If Tang Baona’s food preferences were a game to be won, Xiang Kun must have achieved a 70% completion rate.

Next, he will use ingredients other than rabbit meat for a more comprehensive test and adjust based on feedback.

Considering that he had only cooked for Tang Baona three times, Xiang Kun was quite satisfied with the pace he was picking up on his guest’s taste preferences..