Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Writing Songs and Kissing in the Moonlight
Quan Xingai finished reading the book "Anna" in one night, and then Quan Zhilong also took the time to read the original novel after finishing his recording work.
"I plan to buy the copyright. What do you think, Zhilong?" Quan Xingai held the book and began to think about the possibility of cooperation.
"The release of this drama can be related to that 'Anna'. It's really a coincidence. They both use other people's identities to join the upper class." After a little consideration, Quan Zhilong agreed with Xing Ai's idea. They thought the same thing.
"I think so too. Eun-joo told me that Anna had cheated a lot of rich people in the United States before, and went to Europe when she couldn't continue. But those rich people were embarrassed to call the police. Do you know who called the police in the end?" Quan Xingai gossiped with Quan Zhilong with great interest.
"Was she really arrested?" Kwon Ji-yong has been busy writing songs and producing albums recently. If it weren't for Star Love, he wouldn't be so concerned about the gossip outside that has nothing to do with him.
"Yes, she fell for her bad friends. She cheated her best friend out of her money under the pretext of borrowing money, but she never paid it back. So her 'best friend' called the police and sued her..." Quan Xingai was in high spirits. Although she was filming this week, she didn't stop writing songs and gossiping.
"Oh my, Terry can probably rest assured now. This female liar has been completely dealt with and will no longer have any influence on Charles." The two of them leaned side by side on the sofa, each holding a kitten.
Quan Xingai looked at the time and simply asked Quan Zhilong to make a video call to Leclerc.
"Why are you two looking for me now? Do you want me to listen to the new song in advance?" In the video, Leclerc was wearing a Ferrari T-shirt in the gym of the training center.
"I'm looking for you to gossip. I heard that Anna was arrested in the United States." Quan Xingai leaned close to the camera and whispered.
"I know about this. Terry told me," Charles shrugged and leaned in closer to whisper, "And Terry has already signed a confidentiality agreement with the US not to disclose any information about me. So this Anna has basically nothing to do with me."
"It seems that this matter is basically over." Quan Zhilong put his arm around Xingai's shoulders.
"Terry always feels that this matter is very unlucky, but I feel very lucky. Although I had a fake relationship for some unknown reason, I met three good friends and it allowed me to experience being a singer." Leclerc smiled brightly.
"After Imola is over, we will go to the F1 Group in London. Charles, please join us to shoot the MV." Kwon Ji-yong spent 10 days to produce the song. During the meeting, he discussed inviting a British director to shoot the MV.
"Terry has already told me that he seems a little bit unbelievable about your speed. It was done in just half a month! Oh my God, is this the efficiency of musicians?" Leclerc agreed to Quan Zhilong's invitation without any doubt, and was looking forward to seeing these new friends again.
"This is the speed of F1. My efficiency will be very high when I am with Sarah." Kwon Ji-yong said while showing his affection.
"Oh—you two—okay, okay, I really can't stand you. Goodbye, gd! Our friendship has capsized."
"Hahaha, don't worry about Charles. See you in Italy the day after tomorrow." Quan Xingai pushed Quan Zhilong away, shook her hand and hung up the video.
Then she turned to look at Quan Zhilong, "Why so soon this time? Going to London to shoot the music video?"
"Yeah, going to the headquarters wasn't just about negotiating the marketing and promotion of the collaboration, but also about other follow-up collaborations. And after that, I had to travel with you, right? So I sped things up and was busy for a week straight before finally getting it done. Honey, I haven't held you in my arms for days. You've been on the set all week, and I missed you so much."
The whining little dragon hugged his girlfriend's waist and acted coquettishly again. The two cats were already used to it and ran back to their own nests.
"Baby Zhilong, you work so hard and seriously, so I'll give you a reward?" Quan Xingai straddled Quan Zhilong's legs, looked down at him, lowered her body, bent her eyes ambiguously, and blinked.
Quan Zhilong's lips quickly met hers, he held her face as if holding a trembling rose, his breath met before his lips, the scent lingering on the tip of his nose was the Untamed Rose of Margiela - warm, moist, with a faint sweet fragrance. When his lips finally covered hers, it was as if countless roses were blooming at the same time, or as if biting through a ripe fruit in midsummer, with a sweetness gradually spreading among the dripping juice.
He tilted his head slightly to deepen the kiss, his palms slid to her back and into Xingai's pajamas, skillfully unbuttoning them. As the kiss gradually deepened, the two began to tremble, and their hugging figures were like two swaying roses, each petal stretching out to receive the gift of light and dew.
After a long moment, moonlight slanted through the French windows, casting long, warm shadows across the floor. The air was filled with the faint scent of scented candles, mixed with the comforting kitten scent of Iye and Zoa. Jeon Seong-ae, wearing Kwon Ji-yong's shirt, sat cross-legged on the soft carpet, her guitar casually draped across her lap.
She struck a random chord.
"How about Walking in the Clouds? The name of my album, Nefelibata, originally means an unrealistic dreamer, but also a person who is free from the rules of reality and whose thoughts and actions are full of poetry and free spirit." Quan Xingai played a soft and pleasant melody, and said to Quan Zhilong while humming softly.
Kwon Ji-yong lay on the edge of the sofa with his head down and leaning against the edge, close to Xing'ai's arm. Hearing his girlfriend's words, he said, "I happen to know that this word is composed of the Greek roots 'nephos' (cloud) and 'ibata' (to stroll). My baby Sarah strolled from the clouds and came back to me, which constituted my 'moment of destiny', so I agree with this name 100%." He said with a smile.
“For this album, I think I will choose the melody route that I am good at. Just like you said, you want to show your current self so you chose Destiny Time, and I also want to express the soft but firm love for all the stars at this stage.
"Besides, the Riot Dolls team has already gone for the traditional K-pop style. Since this is my own album, I want to follow my intuition and choose a more lyrical melody for the title song. However, it can't be all lyrical R&B. My hip-hop heart hasn't stopped. I've already written a few beats. How about Master Quan giving me some advice?" Jeon Xingai said as she strummed the chords and looked at Quan Zhilong with interest.
"Baby, if you are not afraid of those rumors, how about giving me your black bubble song? I will compose the beat for you." He turned over from the sofa and looked into Xing Ai's eyes and said.
"I promised you in Paris before that you would participate in the solo album. I am not going back on my word. Okay, I'll leave those black songs to you, and I'm composing the title song of my Walking in the Clouds - how about listening to this melody?" Quan Xingai raised her eyebrows and played a lyrical melody that she had been composing recently, which was extremely suitable for the atmosphere of tonight.
"This is a nice piece." He listened attentively, his fingers unconsciously tapping the edge of her shirt. "Write this down, write it down. Wuli Nuna is a master of melody."
Quan Xingai handed the guitar back to him, reached for the notebook and pencil, and wrote down the melody. He continued to hold the guitar, perfecting the spontaneous inspiration he had just had, humming the possible lyrics in a low voice, intermittently.
After writing for a while, she paused and tilted her head to look at his focused profile. The bright moonlight cast a faint moonlight blue on his eyelashes. She reached out, not to touch him, but to gently brush aside a strand of hair that had fallen across his forehead, her fingertips briefly brushing his temples.
He stopped humming, grabbed her hand which she had not yet fully withdrawn, brought it to his lips, and kissed her knuckles naturally, but his eyes were still on the strings, as if he was still immersed in the melody.
"How about we try singing harmony together?" he said thoughtfully, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather. "Interweave them together, similar to the way we did with the song 'Love and the Sea' last time."
"Okay." She responded, letting him hold her hand, curling her lips as she took the pen with her other hand and made a small mark on the music score.
The room fell silent again, leaving only scattered guitar sounds, the rustle of pencils across paper, and the occasional exchange of brief words between the two, so brief that only they could understand each other. The unfinished melody lingered in the moonlight, and the aroma and the sound of their breathing blended together, slowly growing.
"Isn't this tune suitable for vocal a cappella? It seems to have a moonlight atmosphere, a bit... romantic and sacred..." Quan Xingai was looking at the melody with a pen and making corrections. The guitar was held in Quan Zhilong's arms. The two of them snuggled on the soft carpet. Although they were talking about creation, no one wanted to go to the production room or studio.
Quan Zhilong hummed, but his fingers didn't stop. He repeated the melody played by Xing Ai, his brows slightly knitted, as if something was missing. Xing Ai didn't look at the music sheet again, but focused on his fingers plucking the strings, and then her eyes gently fell on his slightly pursed lips.
Suddenly, she leaned closer, her nose almost touching his earlobe, her breath warm. "Here," her voice was softer than before, breathy and like a secret, "do you think adding some West Coast R&B rap would be better?"
Her breath brushed against his earlobe and the side of his neck as she spoke, and his fingers plucking the strings paused imperceptibly. Quan Zhilong didn't answer immediately, but tilted his head to look at her. The distance between them suddenly became extremely close, and they could clearly see their own reflections in each other's pupils, as well as the gentle moonlight from the window.
The air seemed to stagnate for a moment, with only the wick of the scented candle crackling slightly.
He loosened the neck, and the guitar slid to the side, landing on the thick carpet with a dull thud. But he ignored it. His palm touched her cheek, his thumb gently stroking her cheek, and the temperature rose where their skin touched.
She lowered her eyes, not avoiding the gaze, but her eyelashes trembled slightly and a sly smile appeared in her eyes.
He lowered his head and kissed her again.
The kiss started softly, tentatively, stained by the bright moonlight and the softness of her lips. She responded by climbing a hand up his shoulder, grasping the fabric of his cotton T-shirt, her fingertips tightening slightly.
The hand that had been caressing Nuna's cheek impatiently slid to the back of her neck again, pressing her closer to him. The kiss deepened, becoming less tentative and more gentle. Their breaths mingled, their rhythms slowly becoming one, as if they were composing another romantic and tacit melody.
After a long time, he finally moved away slightly, resting his forehead against hers, his breathing a little disordered. She opened her eyes and saw that his eyes, close to hers, were filled with a smile and lingering passion.
"That part just now," his voice was low and husky, his breath brushing against her lips, "…it felt right."
Her face flushed, and she couldn't help but chuckle. She clenched her fist and gently hit his shoulder: "Are you talking about chords or something else?"
He grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, his chest shaking as he chuckled, "All of it."
The next day, the two worked separately. Kwon Ji-yong prepared to go to London to record the driver version of the collaboration song, and Jeon Star-ae started to work on "Anna".
Before leaving for Italy, Jeon Seong-ae visited the company again to discuss the book "Anna" that Lim Shi-ling had given her. Moon Eun-joo and Lim Shi-ling agreed, stating that the final decision would be up to Seong-ae. Lim Shi-ling also gave the publishing rights because the original author was particularly fond of Jeon Seong-ae. She even told Netflix that she hoped Seong-ae would star in any adaptation.
As a capable and beloved assistant to her best friend, a high-quality partner of Netflix, and the original author's favorite target, Lin Shiling is very happy to do a favor for a talented creator.
The chaebol is extremely efficient. That afternoon, Jeon Seong-ae met with the author Zheng Han-ya. The two hit it off immediately and talked for a long time about the class dilemma of Korean women and the various scammers they encountered around them. Zheng Han-ya was surprised that Jeon Seong-ae dared to say boldly in front of her chaebol boss Moon Eun-joo and the boss's best friend Lin Shiling, "The problem of Korean women is not just gender but class." Zheng Han-ya became more convinced that Jeon Seong-ae was the best candidate to play Li Youmo.
Star Love has bought the copyright, and the subsequent cooperation with Netflix will be discussed between the company and Netflix. Star Love has already boarded a plane to Italy again with Kwon Ji-yong and Lee Joo-hyuk.
*
In late April, in Imola, Italy, the Mediterranean coast was teeming with early summer heat. The temperature had already begun to rise, the sun blazed down fiercely, and the air was thick with the scent of burning fuel and engines, a pervasive, heated, and anxious atmosphere. The roar of the engines, tugging at the air, was no longer a distant sound across a screen, but a physical presence that surged from the soles of my feet to my head, vibrating my chest.
The race is about to begin. The cars are waiting quietly on the starting grid. The air begins to become quiet. Then, the signal lights at the highest point suddenly light up one after another, bright red and dazzling.
At that moment, the entire world's pressure was concentrated on those five red lights. The air was completely taut, like a fully drawn bowstring, ready to break in the next second.
The silence reached its peak.
Then all the red lights went out.
In that ten-thousandth of a second, the world exploded. The suppressed roar of the engines surged like a tsunami, instantly shattering all silence. The violent sound waves physically impacted the chest, deafening the ears. Tires spun wildly, scraping against the ground, emitting puffs of white smoke. Like arrows shot from a bow, a dozen steel beasts roared into the first corner of the track.
The suffocating anxiety was instantly overwhelmed by the absolute speed and noise.
The big screen would occasionally playfully switch to the staff in the P room and the driver's family and girlfriend in the guest seats.
Quan Xing Ai wasn't content to stay in her guest seat. She stood behind the partition wall, observing the track closely. Kwon Ji-yong and Lee Joo-hyuk sat side by side on a red sofa in the Ferrari team's guest viewing area. A sunshade covered their heads, but the heat and noise still permeated them. All three wore red polo shirts provided by the Ferrari team, which didn't stand out in the sea of red.
The three of them arrived at the paddock yesterday and missed the pole position race, but made it to the post-race dinner. Hamilton won first place in the pole position race, and the team planned to have dinner at Qu Restaurant, and then Leclerc pulled the three new friends over. Quan Xingai knew nothing about racing, and after being cram-fed, he still felt his head was empty when sitting in the guest seat of the qualifying race today.
"I feel so nervous for no reason!" Quan Xingai came back and sat down on the sofa, tilting his head back and drinking Coke in big gulps.
The live broadcast screen cut to the three of them, and there was a small cheer at the scene, with more discussions on the Internet and in front of the TV.
[Oh my, who do I see? [Blurred screenshot.jpg]]
[Yes, I read that right, it was those three. They were wearing Ferrari’s red polo shirts, and I almost didn’t recognize them.]
[So the three of them are now openly working together?]
【Is this love or not? 】
[Ah, if the camera hadn't frozen for a few seconds, I really wouldn't have recognized you. My hair has turned short and black, and I'm wearing sunglasses and a hat. I almost didn't recognize you...]
[Help! They look like planning staff sitting there, pulled in to make up the numbers... Especially Xing Aioni, that red dress looks like she's just borrowed work clothes. Kkkkk]
But his face is still punchable! But why is his expression so confused? KKK Long Ge seems to be trying very hard to understand the game, his brows are furrowed so tightly that they can kill a fly. Li Zhuhe seemed to be explaining to them at the beginning, but then he had no time to pay attention to those two after the game started KKK
The competition has begun!! But the director still likes to cut to the guests, especially Quan Long and Dao 2. Has he discovered the secret to the ratings?
Looks like a very professional discussion? Do you understand? I'm guessing the conversation goes something like: "Oppa, why is that car so noisy?" "Because... it has a good engine?" kkkkk
Lee Joo Hyuk really likes racing, so maybe Long Ge wouldn't be unable to understand it. Influenced by Su He, maybe he's explaining it to Xing Ai seriously?
[GIF: G-Dragon leans in to talk to All Star Love] Here we go again, how many times has this happened? What can't be said loudly? What can't we VIPs hear?!
The results were actually pretty good. Lock & Lock got second place, which is great. Ferrari always takes pole position, but they struggle in qualifying. Can our tractor upgrade their car? The strategy team is smiling, so please work on it! Lock & Lock is a genius, but they can't compare their Earth car to a Mars rover...
It's so cute to see Long Ge and Xing Ai trying so hard to fit in with the team, but it really doesn't fit the style hahahaha. But Su He next to them is so handsome like a male model, and I'm also completely excited. 】
[Well, the Ferrari isn’t great, but the guests are great.]
*
As the race started, the entire Ferrari team became nervous. The team engineers stood behind the isolation wall, sometimes silent, sometimes roaring, with their arms folded or holding communication equipment, and every look was so solemn that water could be squeezed out of it.
Jeon Seong-ae seemed affected, too, unconsciously holding her breath. Kwon Ji-yong's fingers tapped a rhythm on his knee, his eyes fixed on the results on the screen. Seong-ae leaned forward slightly to ask Lee Joo-hyuk how his Ferrari was doing. The one who understood the most on the field was Lee Joo-hyuk, whose gaze was fixed on the red car.
"Not bad. I'll probably use the undercut strategy in the pit lane."
"Mo, what is that?" the layman Quan Xingai continued to ask.
"It means 'early pit stop strategy'. The car behind comes in early to change tires and uses the speed advantage of the new tires to overtake the car in front." Quan Zhilong leaned close to her ear to explain.
The driver behind the red helmet in car number 17 was none other than their friend Charles Leclerc. As the red car careened into the chicane at breakneck speed, she instinctively grabbed Kwon Ji-yong's arm, her nails digging into his skin. He was now in sixth place.
As they were speaking, a short, urgent burst of communication from the team radio suddenly shattered the relative calm. The Ferrari staff member nearby looked stern, and they quickly confirmed something into the microphone, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.
"Box, box"
"We're about to go in." Quan Zhilong said subconsciously, his eyes quickly cast towards the entrance of the maintenance passage, and his body unconsciously leaned forward slightly.
Quan Xingai followed Zhilong's gaze and saw that the familiar red car number 16 didn't roar towards the next corner as usual. Instead, it broke away from the rhythm of the track and slowed down into the entrance of the pit area. Its voice changed from a high-pitched roar to a dull low hum, like a beast that had been briefly tamed.
She held her breath and couldn't help but hold Quan Zhilong's hand tightly. Li Zhuhe, who was standing beside her, stared at the fully started Ferrari team with a sharp gaze and a focused expression.
The next second, the entire maintenance station started up instantly like an extremely sophisticated killing machine.
Like soldiers at a silent command, over twenty staff members in red uniforms filed out from behind the barrier without hesitation, each taking their position. Their movements were impeccable, their eyes sharp and focused, their gaze fixed on the car being precisely guided into its parking space. The only sounds in the air were the low roar of engines and the shriek of tires scraping against the pavement.
The car hadn't come to a complete stop yet - the jack was already in place, the car body was lifted up instantly, and the four old tires were removed almost at the same time.
The new tire was pushed precisely into the caliper and the bolts were retightened with incredible force.
Adjustments to the front and rear wings occur in the blink of an eye.
The entire process was accompanied by the frantic clang of metal, the clatter of specialized tools, and the short, almost inaudible shouts between the staff. The movements were so fast that they left afterimages, and each movement was precise to the millimeter, without the slightest delay or error, an efficiency that was almost brutal.
It takes less than 3 seconds.
Quan Xingai forgot to breathe, and even forgot everything around him. His mouth was slightly open, completely shocked by the magnificent scene of human collaboration and extreme engineering that took place in just over two seconds.
The car body was lowered, and the tire changer swung his arm downward suddenly. The racing car seemed to be untied from its reins, and the engine suddenly roared with full force. The burning tires rubbed against each other and made a violent sound. Then the two steel beasts shot out like an arrow and re-engaged in the battle on the track.
The deafening roar faded, and the pits returned to calm. The crew quickly retreated, leaving behind an empty parking space and a few clear tire tracks on the ground. The air was filled with the strong smell of burning rubber and fuel, proving that the suffocating two seconds just now were not an illusion.
Quan Zhilong, Li Zhuhe, and Quan Xingai all breathed a sigh of relief, unaware they had been holding their breath. Then Quan Zhilong whispered, "Wow..." The word was faint against the roar, yet it was filled with indescribable shock.
"OMG! This is too exaggerated!" She almost muttered to herself, her voice mostly swallowed up by the roar of the huge engine.
The three of them exchanged glances, each seeing the same disbelief and excitement in the other's eyes. The impact of that efficiency and collaboration, which transcended everyday human perception, was far more direct and intense than watching the racecars speed by from the stands.
Then when she came to her senses, the excitement hormones began to surge. Quan Xingai jumped to the side of the isolation wall and stood on tiptoe to watch the fierce race in the paddock. "It was Charles who just entered the pit, right? Is he going to fall behind?" she asked screaming.
Quan Zhilong caught up with her. He tilted his head and put his lips close to her ear so that she could hear clearly: "Yes, it was Charles who pitted early. Don't worry, he has a good rhythm now. He just changed new tires and caught up. Here he comes! Look at him exiting the corner, it was very smooth." There was a focused light in his eyes, which was different from the immersion in composing music. It was an excitement ignited by absolute speed and precision.
The emotions of the two people were ignited together. The scorching sun of the Mediterranean was shining directly on her, but they didn't care. They just looked at the result column on the sign from time to time. The first place was Red Bull driver Verstappen, followed closely by McLaren's George Russell, and Leclerc caught up and ranked fourth.
In just a short pause, Leclerc moved up one place. His slightly rapid breathing and brief report came over the team radio. Jeon Seong-ae breathed a sigh of relief, high-fived Lee Joo-hyuk, and exchanged a glance with Kwon Ji-yong. The three of them laughed simultaneously, their nervousness and pride for their friend evident.
Quan Zhilong pulled Xing'ai back to sit on the sofa. He picked up the mineral water in the ice bucket next to him, unscrewed it, and handed it to her first. Xing'ai took it and took a sip. The ice water brought a brief sense of coolness. Quan Zhilong then opened another bottle and took a big sip of ice water. He wiped the water off his jawline without paying attention.
[I think I saw Blade 2 jumping around in the audience...]
[Hahahaha this is so cute, I would definitely scream if I were there!!]
[The screen flashed by. Even Long Ge looks so handsome when he drinks water! Hey, I am that water droplet.]
[So sexy! I can still see my brother at the sports stadium. I'm inexplicably excited. Even Blade 2 looks good to me.]
[Alas, the people behind us walked in, so we can’t see anymore…]
[I always feel that Dao2 and Quan Long's body language is different from others. They are definitely a young couple.]
[It's just an invitation from F1 to watch the race and the subsequent collaboration song. Don't speculate. If they say we are friends, then we are friends.]
Then the match entered a relatively stable period of strife. Quan Xingai relaxed a little, leaning back on the sofa, her shoulder against his arm. The hot wind blew past, blowing a few strands of her hair slightly damp with sweat.
He reached out his hand, not to fix her hair, but to lightly touch the top of her ear with his fingers, which was slightly red from the sun. "Are you hot? Your ears are red from the sun," he whispered in her ear.
The two of them sat in a corner, out of the reach of the cameras. She turned her head and smiled at Quan Zhilong, then grabbed his hand, her fingers naturally slipping through his, clasping it. Their clasped hands rested on the red sofa armrest between them, exposed to the scorching air. A thin layer of sweat quickly formed where their skin touched, yet neither of them let go despite the sticky feeling.
"It's hot, but so exciting!" The scene was filled with cheers and engine sounds, and the two had to get very close to each other to talk.
"At the end of today, do you really want to go to Ferrari's training center to experience the track?" Kwon Ji-yong took off his baseball cap and smoothed his sweat-soaked hair, then looked at Xing Ai without blinking, covering his nervousness with indifference.
"The puppy Zhilong looks so cute with his round eyes. I know what you are thinking. Don't worry, I will overcome the nightmare." Quan Xingai pulled his hot earlobe.
"Nuna, I'm afraid of losing you. It's more my nightmare than your nightmare." He curled his lips and slumped his shoulders.
"Then let's overcome the nightmare together." Quan Xingai patted the puppy's head, intimately and naturally.
Outside, cheers erupted, the checkered flag waved, and the roar gradually subsided, transforming into a roaring roar in the stands. The result wasn't perfect, but their friend stood on the podium, second place, which wasn't bad either.
Champagne bubbles splashed across the podium, catching the sunlight with dazzling glare. They stood in the crowd, looking up, smiles on their faces. All Star Love rushed out with the staff, hands cupped to their mouths, cheering loudly. On the podium, Leclerc, Verstappen, and Russell embraced each other in celebration.
Amidst the clamor of the crowd, Quan Zhilong brought Xing'ai to his side, avoiding the surging crowd behind him. He lowered his head and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Is Nuna's adrenaline ignited? She's always easily moved by emotions."
She looked up at him, her eyes curved with a smile. "Don't you think the roar of the engine is very similar to some kind of drum beat? And it's very adrenaline-inducing. Next time you run out of inspiration for writing songs, maybe you can come and listen to it more often."
He smiled and tightened his arms around her waist. Seeing that the cameras were focused on the podium, Quan Zhilong quickly moved closer and kissed Xingai on the top of her head. Mixed in with the noise of the crowd and the smell of celebratory champagne, it was as natural as breathing.
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