Chapter 33

Ankhsu's return was like a whirlwind, completely engulfing Feng Ling in a high-intensity work rhythm. The album "One Me" project officially began, and the team rented a single-family studio in a creative park in the east of the city. This space served as their temporary stronghold for rehearsals, creation, meetings, and some filming.

As the project's publicity director, Feng Ling quickly jumped into the fray. No longer a passive dancer, she became the central figure responsible for overseeing the overall situation, formulating strategies, and coordinating internal and external efforts. During the day, she met with Ankhsu's management team, music producers, and visual directors, bouncing ideas and often arguing heatedly over specific promotional pitches. At night, she pored over data reports and media lists, meticulously detailing each implementation step.

Ankhsu was completely in work mode, focused and demanding, even more powerful than the radiant idol on the stage.

A colleague from the publicity team cautiously suggested that a certain platform might be difficult to negotiate. Ankhsu didn't even raise his eyelids, his finger swiping across his tablet as he flicked through the demo for the next song. He simply said, "Tell the platform manager that this is a project for my new album. If he has any difficulties, I'll contact their group vice president directly."

The entire conference room was instantly filled with the sound of a pin drop, and then all work quickly moved forward, with no one questioning it anymore. Feng Ling watched from the side, and for the first time, she felt so clearly how this young man she was familiar with had absolute and unquestionable power in his business empire.

But when discussing with Feng Ling, he showed great patience and respect.

"I think the approach to this series of short videos could be a little softer," Feng Ling said, pointing to the projection screen in a professional tone. "Instead of always emphasizing 'breaking' and 'rebellion,' could we incorporate some perspectives of 'searching' and 'dialogue'? For example, what's your earliest childhood memory of music?"

An Hesu leaned back in his chair, his fingers unconsciously twirling the pen. He pondered for a moment, a glint in his eyes. "That makes sense. Constantly emphasizing 'breaking' would seem contrived. The process of 'establishing', the process of finding the true voice within, might resonate more." He raised his head and looked at Feng Ling, his eyes full of undisguised admiration. "This angle is great, let's adjust it in this direction."

The documentary's behind-the-scenes director, filming nearby, discreetly focused his camera on them. In the frame, Feng Ling's brow furrowed slightly, her fingers swiping rapidly across her tablet, her eyes determined as she expounded on her views. Meanwhile, An Hesu leaned in slightly, listening, his gaze fixed on her face. There was a natural trust and focus, transcending that of a work colleague.

During a break, Feng Ling casually handed an unscrewed bottle of water to An Hesu, whose throat was dry from singing practice. He took it, tilted his head back, took a few sips, his Adam's apple rolling, and then naturally handed the bottle back to her, whispering a "thank you." The whole process was seamless, without deliberate avoidance or overly intimate gestures, but revealing a familiarity that only comes with years of cultivation.

These subtle interactions were all recorded. They didn't appear in the official promotional materials, but were "inadvertently" released by the team as tidbits of "daily work."

At the same time, Ankhsu's "accidental" art began to quietly unfold.

One day, he appeared at the studio wearing a vintage printed shirt from a niche designer brand. A few days later, Feng Ling was seen in a behind-the-scenes clip wearing a similar sweater from the same brand, but in a different colorway. Astute fashion bloggers and Sherlock Holmes fans quickly spotted this subtle coincidence through brand details and timelines.

[Look, ladies! Are Nyan and his publicity director wearing the same private clothes?!]

This brand is super niche! Is this a coincidence? Are they trying to desensitize us?

[Ahhh, I don't care, I'll just give it a try! Their interaction is so touching! My leopard cat!]

Wind chime elements have also begun to creep into the artist's work. In a short video documenting his late-night creative process, Ankhsu features a minimalist metal wind chime hanging on a windowsill, emitting a nearly inaudible chime in the breeze. A line appeared in the draft lyrics for the pre-release song from the new album: "Listen to the wind chimes whisper in the afternoon, like a secret from a summer untold."

Fan groups were abuzz with excitement, with every detail being magnified and interpreted. While most remained on the sidelines, believing it was simply a matter of work chemistry and artistic composition, an undercurrent of "Feng He Rili" (a fan-favored nickname for the couple) had quietly begun to surge within the fan base.

When An Hesu was interviewed by a prestigious music magazine, the reporter asked the classic question: "He Su, now that your career has reached a new height, can you tell us what your ideal partner is like?"

He didn't shy away, leaning slightly against the sofa, his gaze sweeping across the city skyline outside the interview window. His tone was calm and sincere, "Appearance isn't that important. I admire...independent women with their own passionate careers and clear ideas. They don't need to rely on anyone; they are their own light." He paused, as if weighing his words. "It would be best if...you could inspire me from another dimension when I'm stuck in a creative bottleneck and stuck in a rut, allowing me to see a different world."

As soon as this interview was released, it was immediately dissected word for word by fans and media outlets. Keywords like "independent," "professional," and "inspiring" subtly overlapped with fans' image of Feng Ling as a capable, professional publicity director who demonstrated exceptional project competence. The discussion quietly intensified.

Feng Ling could sense the increasing scrutiny from the outside world, but she had no time for anything else. The pressure of work and the sometimes volatile professional collaboration with An Hesu had already taken up most of her attention. She relished the sense of accomplishment of pushing her abilities to the limit, yet also felt a suffocating sense of being at the center of a storm. Every public action and statement was subject to scrutiny by the team, and she had to fulfill her role as the "perfect partner."

On a Friday evening when she was exhausted, she received a text message from an unfamiliar number but with a familiar name:

"Feng Ling, tomorrow at 3pm, Xihe Dance Club will have a small-scale internal exchange and sharing. I hope to invite you back to take a look. - Qi Qi"

The signature was his real name. His tone was formal and restrained, yet it shook her defensive heart. That place, those memories, suddenly came flooding back. She didn't dare to dwell on it, and without hesitation, she replied with two words: "Okay."