章 93: Diary

Miaoyi was clueless about the unfolding events beyond her home's walls. She braced herself for the impending storm of criticism from her aunt, Tang Lina, who was about to make an unexpected "home visit."

Ah, yes. Just after her electrifying live performance, the first person to track her down was none other than her homeroom teacher and aunt.

Having been absent from school for two weeks, Miaoyi knew Tang Lina wouldn't be wearing a pleasant expression. The scolding came swiftly, followed by a hint of concern for Miaoyi's well-being. Tang Lina couldn't help but observe Miaoyi's lazy sprawl on the bed, munching on potato chips and toying with her phone. It didn't take long for Tang Lina to pack her home, grab some groceries, and take charge of the cooking.

Little did Miaoyi anticipate feeling under the weather after her brief 40-minute stage performance. She had underestimated the toll it would take, mentally preparing for the demands of being a DJ but underestimating the physical strain it would impose.

- - - - - - - - - -

Meanwhile, Tang Lina stood proudly in the dining room, surveying the fruits of her culinary labour. Satisfied with her achievements, she pulled out her phone, adhering to her customary routine of allowing her social media followers to drool over the feast. Then, with purpose, she approached Miaoyi's tightly shut bedroom door.

"Come out and try the food while it's still hot."

Tang Lina rapped twice on the door before casually turning the doorknob, stealing a glimpse inside. Initially, there was no cause for alarm. However, upon closer inspection, her eyes widened with fury at the sight of Miaoyi lounging lazily on the bed, clutching a bag of chips, and engrossed in her phone. "What on earth are you doing? Eating in bed? Aren't you even a bit tired?"

"Aunt Lina??" Miaoyi's eyes shot open as she recognized the intruder, hastily abandoning her phone game. In a flash, she stashed the chip bag on the bedside table, fixing Tang Lina with a pitiful gaze, scrambling to concoct an excuse... or rather, an explanation. "Oh, I'm just exhausted. I didn't want to exert myself too much. It's been terribly uncomfortable."

And it wasn't an exaggeration. Discomfort had taken root within her tired body, spreading its branches and casting a shadow over every movement.

Tang Lina, unwilling to prolong the confrontation, urged, "Well, then rise and dine promptly." She offered a helpless glare. "You've changed so much in these past two months, haven't you? Could it be that you've had a heart-wrenching teenage romance gone wrong? Or perhaps a disillusioning encounter when you finally met your online flame in person?"

Miaoyi couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, black lines forming on her forehead. "Why does that sound like a plot from some fanfiction? Have you been reading too much lately? It's entirely detached from reality."

Was this truly her aunt? It seemed as if the very essence of her character had undergone a complete transformation...

"Ahem..." Tang Lina coughed awkwardly, abruptly changing the subject. "Well, regardless of what's been happening, as long as you're fine, that's what matters... Oh, I recall asking you to maintain a daily diary, didn't I?"

"A diary?" Miaoyi blinked, taken aback by the sudden accountability, but then nodded. "Yeah, I've been using it frequently."

"In that case, fetch it and allow me to peruse your thoughts. I want to ensure you're not simply playing around," Tang Lina demanded, asserting her right to inspect the diary.

Suddenly, Miaoyi felt as though her approachable aunt had morphed back into the strict homeroom teacher, scrutinizing her academic affairs.

She silently lamented the absurdity of it all. In what era did students have to write and submit their diaries for review? Wasn't that an unreasonable expectation?

Unaware of Miaoyi's inner thoughts, Tang Lina continued, oblivious to her niece's discomfort. Truthfully, she didn't impose this diary-writing requirement on every student. She believed it would greatly enhance Miaoyi's writing skills and perseverance.

After all, Miaoyi's mother ran a struggling publishing company, and Tang Lina had always guided her towards a literary path, convinced it was her calling.

But little did Tang Lina know that Miaoyi's destiny would take a different turn - a surprising journey into the realm of electronic music production.

That's why Tang Lina asked Miaoyi to write a diary regularly, which she would collect and read every month.

Tang Lina took the diary that Miaoyi handed over and raised an eyebrow. "Is this what you call 'writing diligently'?"

She began reading aloud: "October 12th: Making music, sooo tired, done. "

"October 13th: Released new songs; today's data is not bad, done."

"October 14th: ****** bankrupt? **** ******** *****."

"October 15th: Why haven't any terrorists shown up at school yet?"

"October 16th: CNM, The weather is ****. it's over."

"October 17th: Free studio, but I wanna game at home..."

Tang Lina couldn't continue reading. "Is this what you call 'writing diligently'?"

"Is... is this not okay?" Miaoyi replied uncertainly. "It's just a diary. Do I have to write this in MLA format too?"

Tang Lina shook her head and sighed. "There are too many swear words. You have to change everything."

"Hehe, do you really think I don't go online? What else can these be if not swear words?" Tang Lina threw the diary before Miaoyi and pointed to the letters 'CNM': "How do you pronounce these?"

"Eat... eat lemons?" Miaoyi tentatively replied. "See, it's not swear words."

(A/N: CNM is Chinese internet slang, for cāonǐmā, meaning f*ck your mother)

(A/N: Tang Miaoyi, you liar.)

(A/N: I had to look that up btw, so THANKS Miaoyi for making me look up Chinese internet slang)

(A/N: This is a bit distracting, isn't it... I'll stop now)

- - - - - - - - - -

"Hmph, regardless, you have to change this," Tang Lina said firmly. "If you keep learning these bad things, I will talk to your mother."

"Fine, my bad..." Miaoyi nodded helplessly, indicating she would obey.

It had been about two months since she arrived in this world. Initially, Miaoyi used catchphrases like 'Gan,' 'Wo cao,' 'Wo ri' or "Te me,"... but now, thanks to Qiuying's corrections, she rarely used them. She couldn't believe how refined she had become.

(A/N: Gan = Intercourse with ur mom, Wo cao = F*ck, Wo ri = F*ck you, Te me = F*cking)

And now, she couldn't even write her diary like this! Was this despair? What's the difference between this and censorship?

Miaoyi felt overwhelming sadness and anger.

"One last thing, I can't control your gaming habits, but if your grades drop, be prepared for solitary confinement," Tang Lina said calmly.

"I understand." Miaoyi didn't care much about this point. She curled her lips, expressing disdain.

Studying was never something she needed to worry about. She used to be an outstanding student. The knowledge from her final year of high school couldn't trouble her.

Besides, it was much easier than reaching Silver in League of Legends.

"Let's get ready for dinner. Qiuying has probably been waiting for you. Look at her and then look at yourself," Tang Lina said, annoyed. "Behave well. Some top-tier universities have started early admissions. You can give it a try."

"Early admissions?" Miaoyi was taken aback.

"The Central Conservatory of Music and Tsinghua University are leading the way. I've secured two spots for you with Qiuying," Tang Lina said with a meaningful look. "If you want to skip class in the future, it'll be much easier. You won't do that, will you?"

"N-No... I won't, I won't, you can trust me, Auntie," Miaoyi put on a pained expression. What else could she say?

The Central Conservatory of Music? Although it wasn't a local school in Shanghai, it was probably included in Qiuying's plans, right?

- - - - - - - - - -

At the same time, on the internet, the news of the TMY and Jing Qiuhua duo was just reaching the fermentation stage. It would take some time before the heat dissipated completely.

After all, whether it was the overall effect of the live performance, the lingering excitement after the show, or the release of a bunch of new singles on both Light Cloud Music and iTunes, it all stirred up the fans of T/A and various electronic music enthusiasts.

This had become a significant event in the Chinese electronic music scene. Although some people might be unwilling to admit it, it was a fact that couldn't be changed.

And it was the first day that T/A singles made it to the iTunes platform. Many people who followed electronic music or were fans of TMY shifted their attention, hoping to see something.

The results would probably be out soon. Twenty-four hours was not a long time.

People had already started making predictions on the Hua Electric forum and Weibo hot topics.

A music critic who recently joined Weibo captured numerous likes with their candid remark: "This is TMY's maiden encounter with an international audience, and the current outlook isn't too optimistic. Despite my admiration for the Princess, the overseas appeal is an enigma. Once music crosses borders, everything becomes unknown. While the previous batch of singles like 'Closer' hinted at international popularity, it was merely based on Light Cloud Music's statistics. The actual scenario remains a mystery. Nonetheless, I'll support the song regardless."

The comment sparked vibrant discussions underneath, with pessimistic voices seemingly prevailing. Nevertheless, the comments were grounded in realism rather than malice, merely projections based on the present circumstances.

However, the release of TMY's singles on iTunes remained a red-hot topic.

In the vast expanse of the online world, beyond TMY, chart rankings, and celebrity updates, the younger generation eagerly anticipated another thrilling event.

This event was none other than the final match of the S8 Season of the League of Legends Global Finals, set to unfold in Incheon, South Korea, just two days later, on November 3rd.

With November 1st already upon us, the world would soon witness the crowning of the true annual world champion of the most popular competitive game. This spectacle riveted the younger generation's attention. If not for TMY's debut and the release of the annual chart rankings that sparked entertainment gossip, the League of Legends World Finals would have been the highlight of the moment.

What set this year apart from the rest was the unexpected twist - the teams from the Chinese LPL refused to falter, sending an underdog team charging ahead to reach the final match!

"6666, so many incredible things are unfolding! I'm grinning from ear to ear!"

"I'm putting it out there: if LPL wins, I'll livestream sporting a vibrant, funky hat!"

"23333, does the person above really have that much audacity? Then count me in too! If LPL wins, I'll proudly dash through the city with the champion team flag, wearing nothing but a smile!"

"+1 for the boldness!"

"Why's everyone suddenly going wild with their declarations? You guys are wild!"

"2333, this is the epitome of eccentricity!"

...

The discussions about the championship took an amusing turn, with unexpected statements catching fire. Even some well-known or semi-known streamers hopped on board, fueling a wave of excitement and expanding their influence.

Just as the virtual audience revelled in the exhilarating banter, an unexpected message began circulating on Weibo.

[TMY: If LPL wins, I'll live to stream myself dancing to 'Gokuraku Jodo' thirty-three times...]