Chapter 61: KTV's Sudden Rise to Fame

After sensing the sorrow emanating from Shen Xian, Zhou Wan felt a heaviness in her chest as well, yet she had no idea how to comfort him, for she knew nothing of his past. Shen Xian wouldn’t tell her much either. Empathy between people is impossible. Although Zhou Wan debuted through live streaming, Shen Xian was well aware that her family background was hardly lacking; she had certainly grown up pampered and privileged.

The experience with White Moonlight had taught Shen Xian a hard truth: the barrier of class is unbreakable. A lady of wealth is always a lady of wealth; the sense of superiority and class ingrained in her bones would follow her throughout her life. She could never truly feel Shen Xian’s hardships.

A beast of burden remains a beast of burden; no matter how much money he might have, he would always be seen as a nouveau riche by others, never able to taste the joys reserved for the truly wealthy. Heritage is something a family accumulates over decades, generations, even centuries.

Thus, Shen Xian had decided long ago never to marry or have children. He didn’t want his offspring to be born as beasts of burden.

“What’s wrong?” Zhou Wan drew closer, her voice gentle.

Something tender was touched inside her—this was the third time Shen Xian had moved her heart. The first was three years ago, when he was drunk, curled up on the bed like a wounded lone wolf, licking his wounds, solitary and helpless. The second was when he treated Qing Qing so well; that kindness came from deep within, impossible to fake. The third time was now.

Shen Xian seemed enveloped in sadness, suffused with the scent of death, like an old man nearing his end, devoid of vitality.

Hearing Zhou Wan’s question, Shen Xian’s face was quickly adorned with a bright, sunny smile, soothing and radiant. “I’m fine! Let me cut some fruit for you.”

As he spoke, he walked into the kitchen, swiftly preparing a fruit platter and placing it before her.

Their hands inadvertently touched, Zhou Wan recoiling as if shocked by electricity.

Shen Xian smiled, “Sorry.”

Zhou Wan shook her head and stood up, intending to wash her hands in the kitchen.

She didn’t notice her skirt hem catching on a metal piece at the corner of the coffee table. As she rose, there was a sharp tearing sound—the strap of her loose nightdress was yanked halfway down.

Her pale, smooth shoulder was exposed, her collarbone clear, and the fullness of her flesh revealed. The inner lining was a black lace camisole, and Shen Xian could even see the goosebumps rising on her skin.

My God...

What a figure!

36D?

How could it be so perfectly shaped?

And it was still quivering?

Shen Xian’s eyes widened in astonishment.

“You’re not allowed to look!” Zhou Wan shrieked, arms crossed over her chest, her face flushed crimson.

Shen Xian spun around hurriedly, “I didn’t... didn’t see!”

Clutching her chest, Zhou Wan, still in her slippers, ran to her room and slammed the door shut. From inside came her furious voice: “Don’t you dare savor it, or I’ll gouge your eyes out!”

Oh dear.

Shen Xian closed his eyes contentedly, the image etched in his mind, impossible to dispel.

Wasn’t this more thrilling than watching a film?

Back in her room, Zhou Wan lay tossing and turning, unable to sleep. She looked down at her nightdress and ruffled her hair in frustration. “What a disaster!”

But could she really blame Shen Xian?

Not at all!

Shen Xian turned off the living room light and called out to Zhou Wan, “I need to step out for a bit. Get some rest early; the door code is 852963. I’ll be back later.”

He left the room and drove Xiao Zhengchun’s Land Rover toward the KTV.

Xiao Yang, still loitering outside the KTV, was smoking like an idiot. Seeing the Land Rover arrive, he rushed over.

“How’s it going?” Shen Xian asked.

“We’ve already opened three private rooms,” Xiao Yang replied.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be ready soon.” Shen Xian spoke as he pulled out his phone, recorded a short video outside the KTV, and posted it on Douyin.

Caption: This KTV finally has all my songs available. Tonight, I’m here to try it out—let’s see if my singing here sounds different from the studio versions.

He posted it using the Mailman account, with location tagging, and spent thirty thousand yuan on Dou+ targeted promotion—aimed at men aged thirty to forty-five.

Perhaps it was Mailman’s own popularity, or maybe Dou+ worked its magic, but the platform sensed the scent of money.

Many citizens in Nanzhou and neighboring cities were browsing videos, and suddenly, this one popped up.

“Damn, Mailman is singing at this KTV, let’s go catch him!”

“Check the location—180 kilometers away, I’ll be there in two hours!”

“Let’s go, to Langxi Road KTV, let’s catch Mailman!”

“Wow, his songs are finally available, but why only in Nanzhou’s KTVs?”

“Whatever, brothers, let’s go to Nanzhou’s Langxi Road KTV, I want to sing ‘My Good Brother’!”

“I want to sing ‘Wait a Minute’!”

Zhou Wan was lying in bed, bored, scrolling on her phone when she suddenly saw Mailman’s update. She sat up at once, checked the location: six kilometers away!

She immediately gathered her things, ready to head to the KTV. But glancing at Qing Qing sleeping soundly beside her, she hesitated and called Shen Xian.

She meant to say, “Could you come back and watch Qing Qing for me? I have an urgent matter to attend to.”

But Shen Xian didn’t answer.

She then called Ning Cai, but her phone was also switched off.

Helpless, Zhou Wan lay back in bed, full of resentment.

Xiao Yang and Shen Xian sat in the Land Rover, chatting.

Suddenly, Xiao Yang’s eyes widened, for he saw a large crowd—over thirty people—marching toward the KTV.

What was happening?

Were they coming to cause trouble?

Xiao Yang hurried out of the car, approaching the thirty burly men.

“Waiter, is there a big room? Ten people. Yes, ten cases of beer to start, and bring all the snacks!” said a man in his forties, “Bring two bottles of liquor as well, tonight I want to sing ‘Brothers, Give Me a Hug’!”

The head waiter was stunned—since the “No Girls Order,” this was the first time a guest had been so extravagant.

But the head waiter quickly displayed absolute professionalism. “Certainly, Room 888. Please go inside and wait!”

The second wave was a young woman, arm-in-arm with a middle-aged man. She looked only twenty-something, while the man was in his forties or fifties, and she was dressed provocatively.

She threw Xiao Yang a flirtatious glance. “Cousin, this is my husband. He’s here to sing tonight. Soon, his brothers and their wives will arrive too, so arrange a big room.”

Xiao Yang immediately understood. “Of course, big brother, please come inside.”

After settling them, the young woman came out alone to find Xiao Yang, smiling sweetly. “Cousin.”

Xiao Yang laughed heartily. “Cousin, I was planning to visit Auntie soon, but I’ve been busy. Here’s something for Auntie—take it and pass it on for me!”

As he spoke, he discreetly handed her an envelope, apparently containing a couple thousand yuan.

The “cousin” took it, giving Xiao Yang another flirtatious look. “Very sensible.”

Of course, she wasn’t really his cousin, nor was Xiao Yang her cousin. The money wasn’t for any aunt, but rather for the girl’s commission and room fee.

Even if someone secretly filmed their conversation or checked surveillance, even if the police came, they couldn’t do anything.

Giving money to your aunt—what could be more reasonable?

In the neighboring 8:30 private room, guests had just sat down when one remarked, “The KTV next door now has all of Mailman’s songs. I just found out. Let’s go next door!”

“Go, go, go, hurry before there’s no seats!”

“But there are no girls there!”

“Hey, brother, what are you saying? Aren’t we here to sing? When have you ever ordered girls? That girl is my girlfriend.”

“Ah, right, right, girlfriend. I’ve got a girlfriend too—you’re absolutely right. Let’s go next door!”

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