Chapter 78: The Hated Miss of the Dating Show (27)

Chapter 78: The Least Popular Socialite on the Dating Show (27)

"You're actually thinking of me," Tang Qing said, surprised, offering a small smile. Who knew Mi Yang had it in him?

"So... Hotshot Singer Mi Yang, is our date over now?"

If Tang Qing hadn’t brought it up, Mi Yang would’ve completely forgotten—today *was* their date. He’d dragged her to his recording studio and kept her busy all afternoon. Suddenly, he felt a little awkward.

After a long pause, Mi Yang finally spoke up. "How about I treat you to dinner tonight?"

"Thanks for helping with the album."

Coming from someone with his usual temper, even gratitude sounded stiff and forced.

The dinner spot was unusual—the hotel rooftop. They were having a backyard-style barbecue. Alongside the grill were string lights and fresh flowers. On the small camping table sat a single rose, carefully placed.

"This is..." Tang Qing blinked at the over-the-top decor. This wasn't just dinner—it looked like a romantic setup for lovers.

"Mi Yang, didn’t know you had it in you. Flowers, lights—who’d think this was your idea? Someone might mistake it for a couple’s proposal setup."

Mi Yang turned bright red. Damn it!

Whose lame idea was this?!

Before leaving, he told his assistant to book any random restaurant. That idiot went and picked this cheesy setup!

Would she think *he* planned all this? Mortified and guilty, Mi Yang couldn’t even bring himself to look at her reaction.

But the socialite didn’t share his unease. She sat down without ceremony, set up the grill, and started giving orders. "I helped you today. Now it’s your turn to cook. Fair enough, right?"

Weirdly, as soon as she gave the command, Mi Yang reacted like it triggered some knee-jerk response. Before he knew it, he was holding skewers in his hands.

Damn this pathetic urge to please!

This woman Tang Qing really was toxic.

With just a wave of her hand, he was obeying like a trained pup. Mad at himself for his spinelessness, Mi Yang didn’t even notice the meat was starting to burn...

"Focus."

A sudden jab from the skewer snapped him out of it. He winced and glared at her. "Why’d you poke me?!"

"I’m doing you a favor here—don’t be a jerk about it!"

"You burned my meat. Can’t even grill right?" She crossed her arms, using her best mistress-of-the-manor voice. "I helped you today. Be nicer to me."

"Why are you glaring at me like that? If you make me mad, I’ll pull my contributions from the album. No commercial use, period."

"You—!"

Of course she had an angle. Just waiting for her moment.

Mi Yang seethed. "You’re threatening me?"

Tang Qing sipped her drink, unbothered. "Damn right I am."

"Hotshot Singer Mi Yang, if you ever lose your singing gig, street food vending won’t save you."

After taking a bite, some people are just born bad at cooking. The ingredients were good, but the taste was rather mediocre, and the middle part was probably undercooked.

Mi Yang's skill level was just one step above An Shenshen, who could practically poison people with her cooking.

"Go on, sing me a song."

No point torturing her stomach further. Tang Qing took the skewers from Mi Yang and tapped the guitar beside her. "I even got the instrument ready for you. Sing the one from the recording studio this afternoon."

Mi Yang pointed at himself incredulously. "You think I'm your personal jukebox?"

At his going rate, a single commercial performance would easily fetch six figures—and that was only if people begged him nicely. Was Tang Qing being a little too... demanding?

"What, you wanna poison me instead?"

Rolling her eyes, Tang Qing handed Mi Yang one of his own skewers.

Mi Yang took a bite and immediately frowned. What the—?

Wasn’t the outside cooked? Why was the inside still raw?

Wincing, he tossed the skewer aside but still stubbornly retorted, "I’ve got standards!"

"Think again. Today was supposed to be our date, and I put up with your recording session all afternoon."

"You were the one who invited me to dinner, and you arranged this barbecue. If you can’t grill, don’t pretend you can."

"Mi Yang, you’re not expecting me to cook for you later, are you?"

By the end, Tang Qing’s voice had turned icy.

Mi Yang knew that tone too well. Meeting her gaze, he instantly realized things were about to go south. He quickly grabbed the guitar. "Alright, fine! I’ll sing! Happy now?"

Muttering under his breath, "No need to be such a tyrant..."

There was no denying that Mi Yang was captivating on stage. When he quieted down and sang earnestly, he practically glowed.

Tang Qing narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the male lead of this story. True to the story, he had the star power to reel in fans.

Mi Yang’s looks weren’t as refined as Xiang Xiuran’s—they were wild and untamed, especially his eyes, which looked like they couldn’t care less. But when he sang, it was as if you were the only one in his world.

"Wow, Tang Qing, if you keep this up, Mi Yang’s heart’s gonna give out..." The system suddenly chimed in. "I’m detecting his Love Points skyrocketing—it’s already at 29."

"He’s so shy..." The system babbled on. Only then did Tang Qing notice his neck was flushed red.

Just from being looked at?

The heiress smirked, then tilted her chin up and flirtatiously winked at Mi Yang, even throwing in a teasing air kiss.

That one move had Mi Yang fumbling. The guitar slipped off key.

What was this woman doing?

Why’s she looking at me like that?!

The lyrics he knew by heart suddenly escaped him. For someone with a perfect track record, one teasing glance from Tang Qing wrecked him completely.

Just as he was awkwardly trying to recover, a woman’s voice suddenly rang out...

It was Tang Qing…

So different from the vibe in the recording studio, under the rooftop lights, in the intimate space shared by just the two of them, Mi Yang found Tang Qing’s voice even more pleasant—more captivating than ever.

As she sang softly and melodically, Tang Qing sat right across from him. Bathed in the soft glow of the lights, she rested her chin in her hand, smiling brightly as she looked at him.

A summer night breeze blew through Tang Qing’s hair. Her eyes crinkled into happy crescents, her gaze bright and clear. Looking at her, Mi Yang once again felt his heartbeat loud in his ears.

"System Alert: Mi Yang’s Love Points +1! (Total: 36)"