114: Chapter 114 I actually...had a crush on Xu Qingya

When the plane was climbing, Shen Nian couldn't hold on any longer; she had been worn out too much last night.

Jiang Fan told her to lean over a bit. She hesitated bashfully for two seconds, but in the end, she rested her head on his shoulder.

She fell asleep in less than three minutes.

After a dozen minutes, Jiang Fan felt the small patch of skin on his shoulder start to get damp.

He looked down—

A glistening trail of liquid was hanging from the corner of Shen Nian's mouth, slowly spreading onto his shirt.

Jiang Fan shifted his shoulder outward by two centimeters.

Shen Nian's head followed, pressing even tighter.

Fine.

Resigned to his fate, he let the wet patch grow larger and larger.

— —

When the plane landed, the announcement played twice before Shen Nian groggily opened her eyes.

She sat up straight, rubbed her eyes first, and then let out a yawn.

Halfway through the yawn, her gaze fell upon the dark patch of fabric on Jiang Fan's left shoulder.

She froze completely.

"That... that isn't me..."

Jiang Fan raised his arm and shoved that wet sleeve right in front of her eyes.

"If it's not you, then who is it?"

Shen Nian's face turned red from the roots of her neck, and she stood up and walked out.

Jiang Fan followed slowly behind.

Li Cheng was waiting at the arrival gate. He took Shen Nian's suitcase and eagerly shoved it into the trunk.

"Teacher Shen, you've worked hard."

Shen Nian was still blushing; she nodded vaguely and bent down to climb into the back seat of the car.

Jiang Fan sat in the passenger seat.

Once the car drove off the airport expressway, Shen Nian whispered, "I'm heading back to the apartment first."

"Alright." Li Cheng glanced at her through the rearview mirror.

As soon as the car stopped in front of the apartment building, Shen Nian hurried out, shutting the door with a bit too much force.

With a "bang."

Li Cheng turned his head to look at Jiang Fan in the passenger seat.

"Don't ask," Jiang Fan said.

"I didn't say anything."

Li Cheng wisely shut his mouth and drove the car onto the main road.

He began to report on the events of the past two days.

"The revenue share from the Penguin platform has arrived," Li Cheng rolled up the car windows to block out the sound of traffic outside. "Including Xu Qingya's share, we now have a little over thirty million in our account."

Jiang Fan gave an "Mm."

"Thirty million in just over a month." Even Li Cheng felt it was unreal when he muttered the number.

"Also, three brands want to talk to Shen Nian about endorsements. I've been holding them off, waiting for your go-ahead."

"Turn them down. It's too early." Jiang Fan looked out the window. "If we take endorsements now, the price won't be high. Once 'The Sound of Nature' finishes airing, the market price can double."

Li Cheng nodded and made a note of it.

"Also, tickets for Xu Qingya's Kyoto stop sold out the second they went on sale. Scalpers have driven the price up to six times the original value, and some of the most expensive floor seats are listed at fifty-eight thousand."

"Fifty-eight thousand to watch a concert; there sure are a lot of rich people."

Li Cheng glanced at him.

You're a rich person now, too.

However, this was what he admired most about Jiang Fan—

Even with money, he still eats fifteen-yuan boxed lunches, lives in that small apartment with three thousand yuan monthly rent, and can't even be bothered to buy a car.

— —

Arriving at the Studio, Jiang Fan poured a glass of water, sat in the swivel chair, and opened the system store.

First, he had to decide on the Song for Shen Nian's third episode of 'The Sound of Nature'.

Jiang Fan entered keywords into the store's search bar, flipped through a few pages, and his finger stopped.

"Song".

In his previous life, he had listened to this Song countless times.

Written by Zhao Lei, it tells the story of an ordinary person who still holds onto dignity and hope while in dire straits.

It was perfect for Shen Nian to sing.

She herself was Song.

[ "Song" Redemption Price: 200 points of Lifespan Value ]

Jiang Fan clicked redeem.

[ Redemption successful. Current Lifespan Value: 33600 points ]

The lyrics and melody instantly flooded into his mind, every note incredibly clear.

Jiang Fan closed his eyes and went through the whole Song in his head, then opened his eyes, pulled the keyboard over, and began to map out the Arrangement framework.

The original Arrangement was folk-oriented, primarily guitar-based, with a touch of Tibetan-style backing vocals added.

Yi ya yi ya you. Yi ya yi ya you.

Yi ya yi ya hei. Yi ya yi ya you.

A passage of Tibetan-style children's humming, clean and pure, floated in the air like the wind on the plateau.

The first verse used only guitar and piano, restrained throughout.

By the chorus, he added hand drums and bass, with strings supporting from beneath.

Jiang Fan tapped away for two hours, and the Arrangement framework was finally built.

He played the demo from the beginning.

No problems.

Put on the stage of 'The Sound of Nature', this Song was in a different dimension from all the other selections.

You all compare techniques, Arrangements, and stage effects.

I compare souls.

He saved the file and sent a message to Shen Nian.

[ Come to the Studio tomorrow to practice the Song. ]

Shen Nian replied in a second: [ What style is it? ]

[ You'll know when you get here. ]

[ ... You're like this every time. ]

[ Like what? ]

[ Teasing people. ]

Jiang Fan didn't reply and put down his phone.

He opened the store again and started browsing for Songs for Su Yuyan.

He had to fulfill what he promised her.

Jiang Fan browsed the store for over a dozen minutes and locked onto a name.

He didn't redeem it immediately.

His brain had been running all day, so he would put it aside for now.

— —

At eight in the evening, Jiang Fan came out of his office.

To his surprise, Li Cheng was still waiting at the door.

"You haven't gone back yet?"

"Waiting for you to eat." Li Cheng shook his car keys. "Want to have a drink?"

"Sure."

The two found a food stall with plastic stools, folding tables, and greasy light bulbs hanging overhead.

The scent of life and cooking wafted in from all directions; the grease from the barbecue dripped onto the charcoal fire, sizzling loudly.

Li Cheng took off his suit jacket and draped it over the back of the chair, loosened his tie, and slumped into the stool.

"Damn, eating this is still the best." He picked up a bottle of ice-cold beer and popped the cap off with his teeth. "Eating Japanese and French cuisine with that crowd all day isn't as satisfying as this beer and skewers."

Jiang Fan also opened a bottle and clinked it against his.

The ice-cold liquid slid down his throat, and the string that had been pulled tight all day finally relaxed.

After a few bottles, Li Cheng chewed on edamame, slurring his words: "Brother Fan, let me tell you, the best decision I've ever made in my life was to follow you."

"For the money?"

"Bullshit." Li Cheng glared. "Of course, the money is good too—but mainly, working with you is comfortable. You don't put on airs, you don't build castles in the air, you just get things done. How many bosses in this industry spend all day in meetings bragging, and by the end of the year, they haven't accomplished a damn thing."

Jiang Fan glanced at him and raised his bottle. "Drink. Stop buttering me up."

"Drink."

The two bottles collided.

— —

Halfway through the meal, Jiang Fan's phone vibrated.

[ Shen Nian: Have you eaten? ]

[ Jiang Fan: Drinking with Li Cheng. ]

[ Shen Nian: Then drink less. I made some porridge. Do you want to come over and have some after you finish drinking? ]

Jiang Fan stared at the screen for two seconds.

[ Jiang Fan: Got it, Mom. ]

There was a pause on the other end for a few seconds.

[ Shen Nian: ... You're the mom. ]

[ Jiang Fan: Call me Dad. ]

[ Shen Nian: Get lost. ]

Jiang Fan threw the phone back onto the table, the corner of his mouth curling up.

Li Cheng leaned over to take a peek, but was slapped away by Jiang Fan.

After drinking for another half hour, Li Cheng started to slur his words.

"Brother Fan... let me tell you a secret..."

"Go ahead."

"I actually... had a crush on Xu Qingya." Li Cheng's face was flushed, his eyes unfocused. "Once, at an event... I saw her walk past me... those legs..."

Jiang Fan tossed a peanut into his mouth.

"Shut up, don't fantasize about my client."