After Shen Xingsui finished chatting with An Ran, An Ran couldn't wait to leave.
His filter of seeing An Ran as the protagonist was completely shattered. In fact, he had known for a long time that An Ran was not as kind as he appeared. The intentional or unintentional framing he had done, and the hostility that would erupt from time to time, were far too intense. So intense that even someone as clumsy as him could sense it.
This was his first time working with An Ran, and he was a little nervous and didn't quite trust her. So he went to the monitoring room of Hengtong Building and, after some effort, got the video footage from the corridor from the staff. There were many cameras there, and they recorded the entire conversation between the two of them.
This way, at least there will be some precaution.
After finishing all this, it was already afternoon. He returned to the corridor to wait for Director Zhang Jiang. Luckily, around 1 p.m., a staff member called him and said, "The producer is back. Please come in."
Shen Xingsui nodded: "Okay, thank you."
Shen Xingsui was somewhat curious about this producer whom she had only heard of but never met. Upon entering, she saw a man sitting in a chair. He was wearing a low-brimmed hat, work pants, and a hoodie. His beard covered half of his face. He was taking a nap in the chair with his legs propped up on the coffee table, looking like he was about to fall asleep.
After regaining her composure, Shen Xingsui quickly bowed and said, "Hello, Producer Zhang."
"Is it Sui Sui?" Zhang Jiang's voice was sleepy. He pulled something out of his pocket and said, "Do you mind if I have a cigarette?"
Shen Xingsui shook her head: "I don't mind."
The lighter's flame lit up the room, and the smell of smoke drifted out slowly. Zhang Jiang sighed softly before looking at Shen Xingsui: "I listened to your work in the recording studio of 'Mountains and Rivers' a couple of days ago, and I thought it was pretty good. I heard you're not working with them anymore?"
Shen Xingsui was both surprised and taken aback, but finally nodded obediently: "Yes, they found someone else, but why were you there?"
“They asked me for help.” Zhang Jiang sighed, “That team isn’t very good; they cause a lot of trouble.”
Shen Xingsui dared not respond.
Zhang Jiang flicked his cigarette ash and said, "Although I think your arrangement is not bad, you also have many problems. To be honest, I wasn't planning to consider you at first."
Shen Xingsui's joy came to an abrupt end, but then she heard Zhang Jiang say, "However, I heard your composition from a few years ago on Weibo. I think that although your foundation is not solid and you make some basic mistakes, you have good talent and are the kind of person who can be salvaged, so I asked you to come and take a look."
Shen Xingsui never expected that she would have such a blessing in disguise!
"My foundation is indeed not very solid, but I can learn." Shen Xingsui showed enough humility: "Actually, the piece I composed for 'Mountains and Rivers' was something I did in one night. There are indeed many parts that are not good, but I am willing to spend time and energy to polish it. I want to make music!"
Zhang Jiang was somewhat surprised after hearing this. For the first time, he lifted the brim of his hat and looked the young man up and down with his dark eyes. Originally, he was just a little interested in Shen Xingsui and a little curious, but at this moment, he was moved by Shen Xingsui's words and began to take this young man seriously because of his sincerity.
Zhang Jiang smiled and said, "Just one night?"
Shen Xingsui nodded slightly.
At this moment, he was not quite aware that being able to compose a complete piece of music in one night was already considered a gifted individual.
Zhang Jiang stood up and beckoned to him: "Come here."
Shen Xingsui followed.
Zhang Jiang stopped in front of a piano in the room. He sat down, put a cigarette in his mouth, placed his hand on the piano, pressed the keys and began to play. He didn't play much, just played a few simple notes and then stopped.
“Come here, compose a short, simple tune using the melody I just played,” Zhang Jiang stood up, looking down at him with an almost provocative air: “Can you do it?”
Shen Xingsui hesitated for a moment, then nodded firmly: "I can!"
Sitting down at the piano, Shen Xingsui reviewed the melody of the piece again and again in his mind. He took a deep breath, placed his hands on the piano stand, paused for a moment, and then slowly began to play. At first, he played slowly, and the light and ethereal melody gradually flowed from the piano. In the end, his hands moved faster, and a complete melody poured out like flowing water, melodious and ethereal.
The young man, who initially appeared somewhat reserved and inexperienced, began to exude confidence when he sat down at the piano. His brows were filled with determination, and he believed in his music, just as the music believed in him.
After the music ended, the room was quiet for a moment.
Then, slow applause began, and Zhang Jiang smiled slightly: "I knew I hadn't misjudged you. Well then, I'll be frank. Teacher Fu has already written the lyrics for his new song. The lyrics have been sitting here with me for half a year. During that time, I've tried countless arrangements, but he's still not satisfied. So I'd like you to give it a try."
? !
Shen Xingsui jumped to his feet with a "whoosh!" The movement was so loud that he even knocked over his chair. He stammered, pointing at himself, "Teacher Fu's new song?!"
Zhang Jiang was startled by his commotion and nodded, saying, "Yes."
Shen Xingsui was truly dumbfounded. He was so excited that he couldn't speak coherently: "Me? Me, compose music for Teacher Fu? You really think too highly of me. I can't do it. How could I possibly compose music for Teacher Fu? I..."
Zhang Jiang chuckled softly, finding the child quite amusing: "Hey, what grudge does Teacher Fu have against you? Why are you so unwilling?"
hatred?
Shen Xingsui shook his head like a rattle: "There's no grudge, no grudge. I just feel that I... I'm not worthy of arranging music for Teacher Fu."
This is not an understatement at all. In fact, it is why Zhang Jiang once wanted to give up the idea of inviting Shen Xingsui. It is because Shen Xingsui's qualifications and age are too shallow, while Fu Jinxiao has been in the music industry for many years. He is not only a movie star, but also a king-like figure. His fans and movie fans are all over the country. There are countless popular songs. The people who can write lyrics and songs for him are all highly qualified and have outstanding strength.
A junior like Shen Xingsui is not up to the task.
Zhang Jiang stroked his chin and said, "Whether you're qualified or not isn't up to you. Seniority isn't always the only measure of ability, and there's no guarantee you'll be chosen in the end. It all comes down to your performance. If you feel you're not qualified enough and deliberately undermine your abilities in your work..."
Shen Xingsui interrupted, "I absolutely won't!"
Zhang Jiang was taken aback.
"If it's Teacher Fu's song, I will absolutely give it my all and put on my best performance!" He said passionately, as if making a vow: "I will definitely not do a shoddy job."
Zhang Jiang paused for a moment, then chuckled softly, "Alright, looks like you're really motivated. Here, I'll give you the materials. Take them home and take a look. You can work from home or come here. If you don't understand anything, feel free to ask me. I can provide you with all the help you need in these five days, okay?"
Shen Xingsui immediately replied, "No problem!"
Although he was very upset about the Jian family's affairs not long ago, and the fact that "Shanhe" broke its promise to him was a blow to Shen Xingsui, a sudden windfall made him cheer up and completely dispel his previous depression.
After returning home from outside, Shen Xingsui originally intended to go upstairs to prepare, but unexpectedly, the house was brightly lit. He stood blankly at the door, looking at his family members sitting on the sofa not far away. Shen Yong and Shen Minglang were sitting side by side, and Shen Xingchen was sitting next to Xu Enzhen eating a freshly peeled apple. This scene, resembling a court hearing with three judges, completely stunned Shen Xingsui.
He hesitated before speaking, "Why are you all home today? Dad, brother, aren't you usually very busy? You're usually at the company or on business trips at this time. Mom, aren't you abroad participating in a new product design?"
Why are they all gathered together?
After hearing Shen Xingsui's words, Xu Enzhen took a deep breath and said, "Sui Sui, why do you think we're here?"
Shen Xingsui hesitated: "Why...?"
This was actually the first time he had encountered such a large gathering at the Shen family's home. They had never spoken harshly to him before, but today's scene truly made him a little flustered. He couldn't help but start to wonder if his past scandals had affected his family, or if his involvement in plagiarism had made them think he wasn't a good kid.
Various unpleasant speculations kept flashing through his mind, leaving him somewhat at a loss. His gaze towards his mother began to wander, feeling both wronged and unsure of how to begin.
Shen Yong sat up straight, exuding a strong family aura, and said heavily, "Such a big thing happened, and you didn't even discuss it with the family."
“I’m even less informed while I’m abroad. My mother doesn’t follow entertainment gossip, and I wouldn’t have known anything if Shen Xingchen hadn’t told me.” Xu Enzhen’s voice was a mix of anger and anxiety: “You child, are you trying to drive your mother crazy?”
Shen Xingsui was taken aback.
Shen Xingchen, standing to the side, boasted, "Mom, it's all thanks to me."
Shen Minglang pushed up his glasses and said, "I was on a business trip out of town. Because of jet lag and the plane incident, I only heard about it from Shen Xingchen today. It's also my fault."
Seeing their reaction, Shen Xingsui quickly said, "No, no, big brother, how can this be your fault? It's my fault. Actually, I wanted to resolve this as soon as possible. After all, with public opinion and rumors, the outside world's evaluation is always bad. It wouldn't be good if it affected the family business. Besides, everyone is so busy. I can't even help share the burden, and I'm just adding to your troubles..."
...
The room fell silent for a moment.
Xu Enzhen was initially shocked, but upon seeing Shen Xingsui's somewhat apprehensive gaze, her initial anger instantly melted away. At that moment, she was filled with endless heartache and pity.
Unlike Shen Xingchen, who is a child who cries, he would call home immediately to ask his father and brothers for help whenever something happened, because he had a solid support system. He knew from a young age that he was loved and had a safe haven, and that even if the sky fell, his family would be by his side.
Shen Xingsui, on the other hand, instinctively shoulders everything himself, even worrying about whether he will cause trouble for those around him or be disliked. He lives cautiously because he has nothing but himself.
Xu Enzhen stood up, her voice low and gentle, and softly called out, "Sui Sui."
Shen Xingsui looked up.
Xu Enzhen approached him, took his slightly cold hand, and raised her other hand to stroke Shen Xingsui's somewhat thin face. Looking into his clean yet fragile eyes, she could no longer hold back the emotions surging in her heart and whispered in a trembling voice, "I'm sorry."
Shen Xingsui opened her eyes slightly, and the next second she fell into her mother's gentle embrace.
Xu Enzhen hugged him, let out a soft breath, and placed her palm on the back of Shen Xingsui's head: "Mom isn't angry with you, nor am I going to get angry with you. I'm angry with myself. You've been wronged, but I wasn't the first to know, nor was I there for you right away. Just thinking about how you got through these past two days makes me unable to forgive myself..."
Shen Xingsui's body stiffened, and then she breathed a sigh of relief.
So it turns out they didn't dislike him. That's great.
Shen Xingsui could even sense his mother's slightly choked voice, which made his nose tingle, but he still gently reached out and patted his mother's back, saying, "Mom, this has nothing to do with you, I don't blame you, it's my own fault for not handling it well."
Xu Enzhen shook her head.
Shen Xingchen crunched his apple loudly behind him, then slammed his hand on the table: "How can you blame yourself? Blame that son of a bitch..."
Halfway through his rant, he saw his father's cold gaze and remembered his father and brothers' constant teachings to keep his emotions in check and not to use foul language all the time, but to be civilized. So the words that were about to come out were stuck in his mouth like an apple stuck in his mouth, and he finally forced himself to change his words: "Jian Zhi, you're living a good life."
"..."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Shen Xingsui and Xu Enzhen's originally sad mood was completely ruined by the young master, and in the end they couldn't help but smile.
Shen Minglang came over and poured Shen Xingsui a glass of water. The businessman, who always put profit first, spoke with a rich accent: "I just came back from outside. Have a glass of warm water. There's rice cooking in the kitchen. You can eat it in a while. I heard from Aunt Wu that you haven't been eating much these past few days, so I specifically asked her to stew some top-grade ginseng that I bought at a high price from the auction house to help you recover."
Shen Xingsui was stunned: "No, no, there's no need..."
Shen Minglang, however, was quite generous: "No need to save money, we can buy more after we finish eating."
"..."
He can say whatever he wants; it's not about the money.
Shen Yong couldn't bear to let his son steal the spotlight, so he spoke up, seemingly composed but actually competitive: "Sui Sui, your older brother is right, you really should take good care of yourself. And coincidentally, I have some treasured items of my own..."
Shen Xingsui quickly said, "Dad, no need, no need!"
Shen Yong was slightly taken aback, looking at him with some surprise, and even a hint of hurt flashed in his eyes.
Shen Xingsui panicked even more, so she quickly explained, "What I mean is, I'm actually fine now, I don't need any supplements!"
Xu Enzhen laughed from the side: "Don't scare Sui Sui, okay?"
Shen Xingchen asked curiously from the side, "Dad, what are you treasuring? Can you bring it over so I can have some to nourish myself? I feel like I'm growing a lot lately."
"How old are you? Still growing?" Shen Minglang gave him a cool look: "You can catch up in your dreams, and you'll grow in your dreams too, which is perfect."
?
Shen Xingchen roared angrily.
Shen Xingsui was amused by them. Xu Enzhen held his hand and said, "Suisui, you don't need to worry about the Jian family's affairs. Don't worry. Although we don't know much about the entertainment industry, we will never let you suffer any injustice. Dad and Mom will handle this matter for you."
Seeing how worried her parents were about her, Shen Xingsui felt a warmth in her heart, and all her grievances disappeared. She said softly, "It's okay, Mom. I... I'm not actually that fragile."
Xu Enzhen smiled and patted his head: "In Mom's eyes, our Sui Sui will always be a child."
Shen Xingsui's heart softened completely.
He had never experienced anything like this before. When he encountered difficulties outside, everyone around him was offering advice and telling him that it was okay, that even if he got into trouble, it wouldn't be a problem, that they would help him. It felt so good to have people around him, so good that it felt like he was dreaming.
Xu Enzhen said, "It's almost time to eat. Do you want to wash up?"
Shen Xingsui nodded: "I'll come down later."
Xu Enzhen smiled and said, "Okay."
Once everyone had gone upstairs, the people downstairs were no longer all smiles. Xu Enzhen's face darkened, and she sat down on the sofa, saying, "Jian Kuo, that ungrateful wretch."
They could more or less guess that Shen Xingsui was not doing well in the Jian family, but in the market, even if there were a thousand or a hundred opportunities, they never suppressed the Jian family because they cared about the kindness of raising them for so many years. Although they did not have a deep relationship with the Jian family, they did not deliberately suppress them. What they did not expect was that the Jian family had let it go before, but now they actually dared to bully their child!
Shen Yong sat on the sofa, his face still cold, but his tone was much more relaxed: "Since they were the ones who didn't know what was good for them first, things are actually much easier to handle."
Shen Minglang had taken credit for her previous achievements, which made Sui Sui close to her mother and younger brother, but distant from him, her older brother. Now that she finally had a chance, she took the initiative and said, "Leave this matter to me."
"Weren't you complaining the other day about me asking you to buy a piano, but you were busy and had other plans on hand?" Shen Yong said slowly, "I'll handle it this time."
Shen Minglang smiled and said, "That happened a couple of days ago. Don't worry, Father, I won't neglect important matters."
Shen Yong: "You just got back from your business trip..."
“That’s true. It seems you’re alright, Father. I’ll leave the other business trip to you then.” Shen Minglang said with great filial piety, “You can rest assured that you can leave Sui Sui’s affairs to me.”
Shen Yong gave him a cool look: "Looks like you have a lot of energy."
Shen Minglang's smile deepened: "I will do whatever it takes."
"..."
An invisible gunpowder smoke filled the living room.
Shen Xingchen leaned close to her mother and whispered, "Mom, what are they saying? This is so confusing."
"Kids shouldn't meddle in adult matters." Xu Enzhen patted his head and said, "Hurry up and register a Weibo account for me, the ones you guys usually use. I need to keep up with your updates. Oh, and I also heard from the girl that there are fan groups and supertopics. Please follow those for me too."
Shen Xingchen responded, "Oh, just download Weibo and search for the name. Let me teach you."
Shen Xingchen took the phone and showed Xu Enzhen how to search around, then handed the phone back to her, pointing to the screen: "Just follow this account, and the super topic and other things are all under the name."
Xu Enzhen learns things very quickly. After following both of his sons, he started searching for the keywords in the super topic. For some reason, the super topic "Shen Xingsui Fu Jinxiao" appeared below.
Seo Eun-jin: ?
Out of curiosity, she clicked to enter and became one of them.
...
the next day
Shen Xingsui received a call from An Ran, who said, "Suisui, I got the keys. Hurry up and come over. I'll be waiting for you at the villa entrance."
Shen Xingsui responded.
He arrived at the agreed location, accompanied by Shen Xingchen. However, he didn't let Shen Xingsui come along. Instead, he parked the car on another side road. He was worried that if anyone saw the room full of Fu Jinxiao's albums and merchandise, they would be shocked. But he also considered the potential dangers of going alone, so he had a voice recorder and a hidden camera on his person beforehand. He even set up an automatic contact on his phone so that Shen Xingchen could come and meet him if there was any emergency.
An Ran didn't see Shen Xingchen's car, but came to the door to greet him, saying, "Come quickly."
Shen Xingsui said, "You promised to take me back to get my things, so you have to keep your word."
"Don't worry, I promise I will definitely do it." An Ran said helplessly, "You also promised me that you wouldn't tell my brother about that, and you have to do that too."
Shen Xingsui nodded: "Yes, I will."
It had been a long time since he had returned to the Jian family home, and he was filled with emotion. Every corner of the courtyard and house had left a deep impression on him. He had lived here for many years, but this was the last time he had come to confess his love.
An Ran led him inside and upstairs, saying, "This is the room, right?"
Shen Xingsui was also somewhat moved and replied, "Yes."
An Ran opened the door, and with a click of the key, the door to the room opened, and the house where he had lived for twenty years came into view again. The furnishings here had not changed much, but his purpose was not here. Instead, he went directly to the back of a wall, where there was a hidden door. The hidden door led to his collection room.
Shen Xingsui pushed open the door. The room was dark, so he turned on the light. But after the light came on, he saw everything on the shelves and froze on the spot, as if all the blood had been drained from his body in an instant. His face turned pale and he stood frozen in place.
An Ran walked over in small steps: "What's wrong?"
The shelves, which were once full of various limited edition albums and merchandise, are now mostly empty. Nothing is left, and some are scattered on the ground, as if someone has stepped on them. Those discs that he used to cherish so much, and even carefully sealed with sturdy wooden blocks to prevent them from getting dusty, have been broken in two and thrown on the ground, with footprints on them.
Shen Xingsui stiffly strode to the CD, his whole body trembling. He was trembling with anger, and without any disgust for the dusty CD, he picked it up, turned around to the side with the photo, and looked at the shattered image. He tried his best to piece it back together, but he couldn't restore it no matter what he did. The broken edges of the CD were a little rough to the touch, but nothing was as painful as the pain in his heart.
"Why..." Shen Xingsui murmured. He turned to look at An Ran, his eyes red and his voice cold: "Who did it?"
An Ran was suddenly stunned by Shen Xingsui's fierce gaze, freezing on the spot. He had never seen Shen Xingsui like this before and was somewhat frightened, but he still said, "It wasn't me, it really wasn't me who took them. It was my second brother. He comes over often, and sometimes I don't know what he's doing in there! Besides, didn't you say you didn't want them anymore? You left with nothing, so these things..."
A surge of anger welled up in Shen Xingsui's heart. He said, "That's no excuse for you to trample on me!"
His heart ached so much it felt like it was bleeding. If it weren't for a strong will holding him up, he would have almost fainted when he saw this scene. No one could understand his feelings, the feeling of having his years of hard work trampled on the ground!
An Ran quickly said, "Calm down, I don't know either!"
“An Ran.” Shen Xingsui stood up, facing him directly, her eyes cold. “Where did everything go from these empty shelves? If these collections are with you, hand them over now, and I can let bygones be bygones. But if you dare to lie to me…”
The room fell silent for a moment.
Shen Xingsui's gaze was venomous as she looked at him: "I will never let you go."
An Ran's heart almost stopped. Shen Xingsui's appearance terrified him. Actually, he had also taken some albums and CDs from here. After all, they were really limited editions. Many of them were simply unavailable on the market. These were collectibles that were priceless and unavailable. Anyone would covet and be tempted by them. He was truly amazed at the time, so he took some.
However, he dared not say it, and instead tried to shift the blame to Jian Zhi: "Really, Sui Sui, this has nothing to do with me. You know what my second brother is like. He has never liked you or Teacher Fu. After you left, he wouldn't allow anyone to enter your room, but he himself comes here often. It must have been him who did it!"
Shen Xingsui sneered: "Is that so?"
"Really, really!"
Shen Xingsui went to the back. He designed and developed this small house himself. He walked to the innermost part, where there was a small hidden compartment behind the curtains. It was very well hidden. Because he used to be self-conscious, he didn't dare to publish some of his manuscripts. So he put some of the more private things in this small hidden compartment. This was the thing he was most grateful for.
"Clap"
The hidden compartment opened, and Shen Xingsui took out a stack of manuscripts and put them in a box. He also put the remaining albums on the shelf into the suitcase. The hidden door had a small glass window. Standing next to the shelf, he saw a car returning outside. It looked like Jianzhi's nanny van. However, the hidden door was very soundproof, so An Ran at the door could neither hear nor see it.
A cold smile played on Shen Xingsui's lips as he said, "An Ran, I'm giving you one more chance. You really don't know?"
An Ran shook her head: "I really don't know, I swear."
“An Ran, you should understand why you brought me here. If your father and brother find out, what will they think of you?” Shen Xingsui was originally a villainous cannon fodder. When he was provoked, he decided to play the villain to the end: “If you dare to lie to me, I won’t have a good time, and neither will you.”
An Ran really didn't expect Shen Xing Sui to be so desperate and ruthless this time. It was as if he had really been hit where it hurt. He was very flustered because he had sold some of the limited edition albums, and he hadn't taken good care of the others when he used them. Now they were all damaged. He could only lie and desperately shift the blame: "It was all Jian Zhi's doing. There was no one else but him. Sui Sui, you have to believe me. I never had any intention of being cheated."
Shen Xingsui's smile was full of sarcasm: "Is that so? You swear it."
An Ran immediately raised her hand: "I swear I'm not lying!"
"Alright." Shen Xingsui nodded, walked past An Ran, went outside the door, looked at Jian Zhi who had just come upstairs, and smiled as he met his shocked gaze, saying, "We meet again."
Jane shouted angrily, "What are you doing here?"
Shen Xingsui looked at him calmly: "An Ran invited me to be her guest."
"An Ran?!" Jian Zhi turned his head in shock. He couldn't believe that his usually well-behaved and sensible younger brother would say such a thing about him. He asked incredulously, "Ranran?"
An Ran had no idea why Jian Zhi had suddenly returned: "Brother, brother, why are you back? Weren't you on a business trip?"
Jian Zhi sneered: "If I hadn't gone on that business trip, would I have known that all of this was my fault?"
An Ran's face paled: "Brother, that's not what I meant!"
"What do you mean by that?!" Jian Zhi walked over, looking indignant. "I said no one is allowed in this room. Where did you get the key?"
An Ran looked at Shen Xingsui with a wronged expression and said with tears in her eyes, "Brother, please let me explain. It was all Shen Xingsui's fault. He forced me to do this. He threatened me."
Jianzhi then looked at Shen Xingsui again.
Shen Xingsui seemed to have anticipated this, and he smiled, "An Ran, not bad at all. Looks like you're feeling wronged?"
An Ran stood next to Jian Zhi, looking aggrieved: "Sui Sui, what have I done to wrong you that you're threatening me like this? Do you know how much it hurts me to steal my brother's things against my conscience?"
Shen Xingsui watched his performance and smiled.
An Ran felt a chill run down her spine at that smile. A strange unease and heartache welled up inside her. In the past, he was the one who schemed against Shen Xing Sui, but this time, for some reason, he actually had a feeling that he was about to be defeated.
really
Shen Xingsui slowly took out a voice recorder from his pocket, adjusted it, and played a recording of An Ran's voice: "I can steal the key. How about this, you come over in two days. My brother will be away on a business trip at that time."
...
After the recording was played, An Ran turned pale.
Jianzhi looked down at the person next to him in disbelief. His younger brother, who had always been well-behaved and sensible, seemed to have shattered completely at this moment.
An Ran quickly said, "Brother, let me explain..."
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