The reporters were all very excited, their eyes practically shining with excitement, as they hadn't expected to find such an interesting topic while interviewing Shen Xingchen.
However, Shen Xingchen's attitude of "If you keep pushing me, I'll die in front of you" made it difficult for the reporters to press her for more information.
This segment was not cut; on the contrary, it was broadcast verbatim, sparking heated discussions among netizens. The main points of contention became clear:
"Why isn't An Ran, a celebrity with such a bad reputation, banned?"
"Leaving the group."
"What qualifications does he have to stay in the troupe?"
"Actually, they've already been banned. Their group's variety shows and works, anything related to An Ran, have been censored or taken down."
Many people were slow to realize that this day two years ago was also the beginning of the "Starlight" talent show. At that time, An Ran and Shen Xingsui were worlds apart. But times have changed. An Ran is now universally condemned, while Shen Xingsui's career is thriving.
Jane remained even more silent.
Because the incident of him drugging the victim caused a great stir, he was even investigated and questioned by the police.
Fortunately, he was spared imprisonment because the drug powder had been destroyed long ago. However, things didn't go very well for him outside. His boss was cheated on, and the higher-ups were furious, so they permanently blacklisted him. Even the group of people who used to fawn over him seemed to disappear overnight.
When the people returned home, Jian Kuo was furious.
"Twenty million..." Jian Kuo's voice was loud and clear. There was a shattered vase on the ground. He shouted angrily, "Because of your two scandals, the company has lost twenty million in market value. Now we have to delist!"
His chest heaved up and down, and his face was flushed.
An Ran sat on the sofa, crying incessantly, tears streaming down her face. She tried to say, "Father, it's not my fault. I never expected it to turn out like this. My second brother always told me that nothing would happen..."
Jian Zhi's veins bulged as he slammed the door shut with a loud bang.
Everyone in the living room looked at him.
"Blame me?" Jian Zhi sneered, "Did I tell you to drug him? Did I tell you to take people to the hot springs to film?"
An Ran choked up.
Jian Zhi sat down on the sofa opposite him. The look on his face when he looked at An Ran was not one of kinship, but rather like he was staring at an enemy: "If it weren't for you, would I have ended up like this today?"
"An Ran," Jian Zhi sneered again, a smile tinged with resentment: "You really are my good brother."
An Ran's face turned pale from the rebuke, but he knew that this was definitely not the time to confront his family head-on, or he would lose everything.
“Second brother, I really didn’t mean what I did. I was tricked by Shen Xingsui. Otherwise, why would I want to hurt you? I’m blacklisted myself anyway.” An Ran said while wiping away her tears, “Now that the family is facing difficulties, we should work together to overcome them and find solutions. We should unite as one…”
Jian Zhi was thoroughly disgusted by him and said, "What can we do? If you really want to help, just agree to what that Boss Wang said, and we'll be in a better situation now."
An Ran was furious: "Second brother, are you serious? Don't you know what kind of person that CEO Wang is?"
"You're just talking the talk about overcoming difficulties." Jian Zhi sneered, "How can you be afraid of just one CEO Wang? Even if your family goes bankrupt, you don't care about the lives of others. You're not still dreaming of being Mrs. Fu, are you? She never liked you before, but now she does?"
Jian Zhi, as if afraid of infuriating An Ran, said: "That Mr. Wang likes you so much, but he's just a little older. He's rolling in money, how can he not be good enough for you? Let me tell you, once our family goes bankrupt, you might not even be able to find someone like Mr. Wang!"
An Ran's face turned pale and then red. He looked at his father angrily, hoping that Jian Kuo could speak up for him.
But Jian Kuo remained silent for a moment, then looked at him and said, "Ranran, don't judge a book by its cover. President Wang's reputation isn't great, but I think he's quite sincere towards you..."
The ugly and selfish faces of these people suddenly made An Ran feel nauseous.
He used to think that the Jian family had been incredibly kind to him, and even when Shen Xingsui was ruthlessly kicked out by the Jian family, he didn't think his father and brothers had done anything wrong, only that they deserved it. But now, the tables have turned and the tables have turned on him. And now, the Jian family has shown their true colors, using the same attitude to coerce him.
So what about now...?
Is it my turn to deserve this?
...
On the other side
Shen Xingsui's composition process was not smooth.
It all started when he idly browsed Weibo after waking up in the morning and came across an interview with Shen Xingchen. This interview inadvertently touched upon his relationship with Teacher Fu, and the comments section was filled with negativity and condemnation.
"Could these two really be together?"
"It goes against the natural order of human relationships."
"No, no, I really can't accept this."
"They are not a good match at all..."
Although Shen Xingsui told himself that he shouldn't take these things too seriously, his mood still affected his composition. When he put pen to paper, what kept passing through his mind were worldly views, prejudices, impenetrable rain and fog, and branches struggling in the mud. When he put pen to paper, his emotions and state of mind were repressed, bitter longing, and a silent cry.
Using the image of hidden branches in the forest as a model, the lyrics and music avoid explicitly mentioning prejudice, yet every word is imbued with it. The entire manuscript flows smoothly and coherently, and he ultimately settled on the title for the music – "Breaking Through the Soil".
The lyrics and music for this song were originally intended for Hu Kaiyue's column.
After Shen Xingsui submitted the manuscript, it was quickly returned. The reason given was simple: it didn't quite fit their original song plan, and they hoped Shen Xingsui could make changes. After receiving the song, Shen Xingsui spent an entire afternoon thinking about the lyrics and music. He didn't want to change any part of the lyrics and music, not because he was unwilling, but because every part of the song was the best solution he could think of.
After much deliberation, Shen Xingsui made a decision and called Hu Kaiyue to discuss terminating the cooperation.
"Are you really sure?" Hu Kaiyue said with a smile. "There won't be a better production and platform than mine. Or is it because of... Fu Jinxiao?"
Shen Xingsui replied, "No."
Hu Kaiyue asked, "That's because..."
"Although this song is inappropriate for the production team, it's the best I could do personally," Shen Xingsui sighed softly. "It has nothing to do with Teacher Fu."
Hu Kaiyue roughly understood.
This really surprised him; he couldn't believe that a young person would give up a collaboration opportunity just to keep their song.
“Okay, I think I understand.” Hu Kaiyue smiled. “But there’s no need for the termination fee. From the beginning, we agreed on two songs, and you’ve already written them for me.”
Shen Xingsui was very grateful: "Thank you."
Hu Kaiyue simply said, "I owe you a favor regarding Zhang Chi and the villa."
Shen Xingsui was taken aback; he hadn't expected Hu Kaiyue to mind such a thing.
“My nephew did something foolish; he was secretly filmed near the villa. It’s all my fault,” Hu Kaiyue said to him. “So I owe you a favor. I have the right to use the recording studio in Hengtong Building. You can use it.”
The recording equipment there is top-notch.
Shen Xingsui was more grateful: "Thank you."
Now that he had terminated his contract with this company, Shen Xingsui knew that after leaving Hu Kaiyue, he would have to record this song himself. This was also the first time he had tried to produce a song on his own, and it was a bit unfamiliar to him. However, the thought that he could have a song that was not written for anyone or for any theme, but simply because of his own creation, made him somewhat happy.
At the end of the call, Hu Kaiyue added, "If you have any questions about production, feel free to ask me. Although we don't have a mentor-student relationship, I can at least lend a hand on some basic issues. I've been making music for many years... Fu Jinxiao and I each have some connections and resources..."
Actually, this statement is somewhat ambiguous.
Anyone with a bit of sense would have understood what she meant, but Shen Xingsui just smiled and said, "I've already been so grateful to you, thank you for your kindness."
Hu Kaiyue had no choice but to hang up the phone.
When they terminated their employment contracts, it was Wang Meican who handled the matter. Both parties reached an agreement, and there were no disputes, so it was resolved quickly and almost without any trouble.
After finishing her work, Wang Meican went to visit Fu Jinxiao, who was filming in another city, and said, "Sui Sui's contract has been terminated. Hu Kaiyue was very agreeable and didn't ask for any compensation."
Fu Jinxiao sat in the lounge, closing his eyes to rest.
His assistant, Feifei, handed him a cup of coffee. The man took it and lazily replied, "He's unusually generous."
Everyone in the industry knows that Hu Kaiyue is the most uncompromising person. He's the one who terminates other people's contracts, not the other way around. He won't suffer such a loss, because it would be a loss of face.
Wang Meican chuckled and said, "That's right. And what's strange is that he actually gave up his private recording studios in Hengtong Building, saying that we could use them freely later."
Fu Jinxiao paused in his movements.
The man's previously languid demeanor vanished, his gaze darkening considerably. He said slowly, "We have our own recording studio. When did it become his place to do favors for us?"
Wang Meican hesitated for a moment, but still told the truth: "Isn't this because of that relationship with Zhang Chi? Maybe it's out of compensation."
“But I heard…” Wang Meican glanced at him discreetly, coughed lightly, and gossiped, “He was really good to Sui Sui. When he terminated the contract, he kept saying that he hoped there would be an opportunity to work together again in the future, and told Sui Sui to come to him if she had any difficulties.”
Fu Jinxiao gave a cold laugh.
The indoor temperature seemed to drop by a degree.
Wang Meican realized he was unhappy and asked, "It seems that Sui Sui didn't tell you these things. You don't need to be angry. This child probably doesn't care about Hu Kaiyue at all."
It's still a little uncomfortable to hear about one's own wife from someone else's mouth.
She thought that Fu Jinxiao, at his age and status, wouldn't mind...
"I'm angry?" Fu Jinxiao smiled kindly, but there was little warmth in his eyes. He placed the slightly deformed coffee cup on the table and smiled, "Do I look angry to you?"
Assistants: "..."
...
We dare not say.
…
next day
Shen Xingsui was preparing his new song. Instead of using Hu Kaiyue's recording studio in Hengtong Building, Wang Meican found him a new recording studio, the one Fu Jinxiao used to use, which was equipped with top-of-the-line equipment.
Shen Xingsui once said, "Sister Wang, I heard that Teacher Fu's recording studio has always been his exclusive use. Isn't it a waste to make it available for me now?"
Wang Meican sighed, "Sui Sui, you're too young to understand."
...
All right.
Although Shen Xingsui is good at composing and writing lyrics, he doesn't know anything about recording and producing songs. He often has to go to another music director to learn and study together.
The lyrics and composition of this song are very bold and do not follow the mainstream market. So from the beginning, they did not expect it to become a popular song or become a big hit. They just hoped to put their heart into making this song well. Their first audition was quiet. Shen Xingsui's voice was clean and powerful. There was no particularly technical singing style, but it could still draw people into the song.
The opening notes are a melancholic and sorrowful feeling, like branches blooming amidst grief, but the closing notes are like a new shoot emerging from the ground, seeing the dawn. It's a very simple song, yet it made the entire recording studio very quiet.
The music producer smiled and said, "The younger generation is truly formidable."
"No wonder he's a lyricist who's collaborated with two of the biggest names in the Chinese music scene." The music director shook his head and said, "He definitely has something."
When Shen Xingsui left the recording studio, someone followed her. This person looked very ordinary, with a mushroom haircut, and seemed a little shy: "Hello."
Shen Xingsui looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"Oh, my name is Zhang San San, I'm a director." The mushroom-headed man handed him his business card: "I just happened to hear your new song in the recording studio, and I really, really like it, so I thought..."
Shen Xingsui watched quietly. Although the director was unknown and looked like a recent college graduate, he listened attentively to his halting words: "I'm preparing to make a self-produced film, and I think your song is really perfect for our story. If possible, could we buy the rights to this song? I don't have a lot of money, although..."
Shen Xingsui asked, "What movie?"
When Zhang San San talks about his work, his eyes seem to light up. He smiles and says, "The movie is called 'The Lonely City.' I wrote the script myself. You can take a look at it."
Shen Xingsui received the script and only read the first two pages, somewhat surprised: "Pure romance, two male leads?"
Zhang San San nodded shyly: "Yes, this is a drama set in the Republican era, which I wrote myself."
Shen Xingsui hesitated: "It seems like no one is making dramas with two male leads yet. Even if it airs, the ratings and other data might not be good. Are you really going to make it?"
“I want to give it a try,” Zhang Sansan replied firmly. “And I have a lot of confidence in my story.”
Shen Xingsui smiled gently. In fact, the most fundamental creative concept behind his song "Breaking Ground" is love that cannot be accepted by the world. It seems that the two little guys were born to support each other, just like the do-or-die movie "The Lonely City".
“Okay, I’ll go back and take a look.” Shen Xingsui agreed: “I will get back to you later.”
Zhang San was overjoyed. He hadn't expected Shen Xingsui to agree to his request. He immediately extended his hand, his hand trembling slightly, and said, "Okay, okay, I look forward to your reply. I hope we can cooperate."
At this time, Zhang San San was not yet the great director who would later become a legend with "The Lonely City".
He was still very young and shy.
Shen Xingsui smiled back, "Not at all, you're too kind. I'm also very interested in this script."
On the way back, he never thought he would be attracted by a script, let alone shed tears because of a story. The script of Lonely City was very well written. Even though it was a dual male lead story, the repressed yet firm emotions in the chaotic world tightly gripped Shen Xingsui's heartstrings. He finished reading the script in one night and even had difficulty falling asleep.
Early in the morning, Zhang San received a phone call.
"Hello?"
"Director Zhang?" Shen Xingsui said, "I agree to dedicate the song 'Breaking Ground' to 'The Lonely City'."
Zhang San was overjoyed after hearing this: "Really?"
Shen Xingsui replied, "However, I have a request."
Zhang San asked in confusion, "What?"
"Can I audition for a role in 'The Lonely City'?" Shen Xingsui really liked the script: "Although I have no experience in filmmaking, I really want to get closer to this story..."
Zhang San was overjoyed: "Of course, of course! To be honest, nobody wants to play the role of Gu Cheng. It would be great if you were willing!"
Shen Xingsui smiled and said, "Okay, I'll discuss it with my agent. Shall we schedule a time to talk in detail?"
Zhang San quickly agreed, but there was something very important he felt he should honestly tell you: "Actually, I have no problem at all, but Sui Sui, there's something I need to tell you honestly. To make the movie, I sold my house and car to rent the location and equipment, but this cost me most of my money, so regarding the actors' salaries..."
Shen Xingsui hesitated and said, "It's okay, my agent is very easy to talk to. Just give me the normal pay."
"Ahem," Zhang Sansan tried to cover up his embarrassment: "What I'm afraid of is that there might not be any normal ones."
Shen Xingsui fell into deep thought. After a moment of silence, he said softly, "Then you should name a price first, so I can be mentally prepared and see if Sister Wang can accept it."
After hesitating for a long time, Zhang San San finally spoke up: "How about three thousand a month?"
"..."
This time, Shen Xingsui fell silent.
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