40: Assistant Director: Being alone with Chen Fang is a terrifying thing.

The sun gradually moved overhead, and Chen Fang and Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director had lunch in the car.

Finally, at 11:30 AM, the nanny van drove into the industrial park, and after another ten minutes, it stopped downstairs at the Xiaoxiang Radio and Television Building.

A lady in her forties walked over, extended her hand, and smiled, "Hello, Teacher Chen, hello, Xiang Guide, I am Zhao Qing, a sound engineer from Tianji Entertainment."

Chen Fang reached out to greet her, "Hello, Teacher Zhao, thank you for coming all the way from Beijing."

"You're too kind, Teacher Chen, please follow me." Zhao Qing turned around and gestured for them to follow her forward.

Chen Fang followed her upstairs and entered a recording studio.

The accompaniment was produced according to the sheet music and other materials he sent, and it was exactly as he imagined.

Chen Fang cooperated with Zhao Qing to skillfully debug equipment, try singing, and record.

Two hours later, after thanking Zhao Qing, Chen Fang left the recording studio.

Walking to the lounge next door, the door was ajar. Chen Fang knocked, but no one answered. He pushed the door open and saw Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director taking a nap.

Chen Fang walked in, "Xiang Guide?"

Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director jolted, his eyes a little dazed, as if he hadn't fully recovered. Seeing Chen Fang, he quickly sat up and blinked twice heavily. "Teacher Chen, what's wrong?"

"Xiang Guide, I'm done recording, we can go back now."

Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director looked incredulous, "Debugging equipment and trying to sing takes almost an hour. Are you sure you didn't miss any steps? It's hard for us to come all the way from Qingtan Village."

"I'm a singer, I wouldn't miss any steps, I'm really done recording."

Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director's mouth slightly opened, he was silent for a moment, then nodded, "Okay, I'll contact the driver now, you can sit down for a bit."

Half a minute later, Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director made a call and sat back on the sofa, "Teacher Chen, I'm sorry, I thought it would take at least three or four hours. The driver is rushing over as fast as he can, he should be here in about half an hour."

"It's fine, let's rest for a bit." Chen Fang took out his phone.

Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director asked, "Teacher Chen, when will one meat and one vegetable be released online?"

Chen Fang looked at Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director, "Early Friday morning, which is the day after tomorrow."

"That's quite a rush?"

Chen Fang nodded.

Because Tianji Entertainment wanted to capitalize on the existing promotional buzz of the adventures and also release the song on Friday, the best choice was the day after tomorrow.

Because most well-known charts refresh early Friday morning, such as the Billboard in the United States, the England Golden Melody Chart, Tencent Music's Peak Chart, and NetEase Cloud Music's Soaring Chart. Their statistical cycle is from Friday to next Thursday, showing the music's popularity and sales over the past week.

So it's generally chosen to release songs on Friday to gain sufficient exposure and traffic.

But time was very tight. Tianji Entertainment would probably have to work overtime today to complete the mixing and mastering, and use connections to speed up the review process.

"I wish your song becomes a huge hit."

"Thank you, Xiang Guide."

Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director smiled, picked up his phone, and started scrolling through videos.

A few minutes later, an exciting electronic music came through his headphones, and a black Bentley he had long yearned for sped past. Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director couldn't help but exclaim, "This car is really cool!"

Chen Fang's voice came from beside him, "What car?"

"This one." Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director tilted his phone screen towards Chen Fang, "Cool, right? I also want to buy this kind of car, but your sister-in-law has always disagreed."

Chen Fang looked closely and said, "Do as you please."

Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director quickly waved his hand, "Do as I please? If I buy this, your sister-in-law will kill me."

Then he saw Chen Fang looking at him seriously, "I meant 'salary's desire'. Salary locks desire."

"..." Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director's breathing hitched.

[Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director Negative Emotion Value +266!]

Although it was indeed true, he really wanted to kick him.

"It's still happier for you guys who have God chasing you to feed you, but Teacher Chen, you really sing well." Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director sighed and continued to scroll through his phone.

Chen Fang beside him also lowered his head and continued to look at his phone.

Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director slid his finger.

Celebrity event videos, travel videos, friends showing off achievements...

After scrolling for a few minutes, he couldn't help but sigh again, "Look, good-looking people post selfies, rich people post travel, smart people post achievements, and people who can make money post work experiences, and I can't even go crazy."

Chen Fang beside him was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "It's okay, Xiang Guide, you also have your strengths, and aspects that we can't post."

Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director scratched his head and smiled, "Really?"

Chen Fang nodded seriously, "You can get fat."

"..."

[Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director Negative Emotion Value +266!]

Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director couldn't help but clench his fists.

Ah! I want to hit him!

Although his 'going crazy' and 'getting fat' were similar types, is that how he comforts people?!

Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director took a deep breath and closed the short video app. "I'm not scrolling anymore, it's a waste of time."

Not only a waste of time, but also upsetting.

As soon as he closed the video app, he heard Chen Fang say, "Xiang Guide, don't feel guilty about scrolling through short videos."

Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director looked at Chen Fang, "Huh?"

"Because you won't generate any value even if you don't scroll now."

"..."

[Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director Negative Emotion Value +366!]

Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director took a deep breath, just about to curse him in his heart, when he saw Chen Fang show an innocent smile, "But if you can find joy in spending time scrolling through short videos, then it's not a waste of time!"

The anger in Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director's heart flickered twice, wanting to burn but unable to. He was silent for two seconds and then said, "Don't tell me, that actually makes sense."

Chen Fang nodded seriously, "One should live without regretting the years squandered, and without being ashamed of a life lived in mediocrity."

"?" Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director's mouth was slightly open, he blinked, "Didn't you just say that scrolling through short videos isn't a waste of time? Why are you suddenly talking about aspirations now?"

"My point is, don't regret, and don't be ashamed. Don't self-consume, enjoy the present, accept mediocrity."

"?"

Xiang Haitao, Assistant Director scratched his head.

It seemed to make sense, but why did it feel a bit off?

No, I can't keep talking to him. If I keep talking like this, I'll become apathetic and decadent.

"Teacher Chen, how about we go downstairs and look around?"

"Okay." Chen Fang stood up.

This is the Xiaoxiang Radio and Television Building, also the headquarters of Mango TV. It's good to look around and gain some knowledge.

The two walked down the stairs and arrived at the first floor. The corridor leading to the lobby was lined with a large display of posters.

Chen Fang walked slowly, observing as he went.

As he was about to reach the lobby, Chen Fang stopped to look at a poster for a music variety show. After looking for a while, he heard two men chatting from the side at the end of the corridor.

"The Wenxing Cup competition at Wenyuan Bookstore is getting worse every year. Are there fewer and fewer entries?"

"Of course, the market determines where authors go. In recent years, everyone likes to read web novels that tap into social emotions, and many authors have gone to specialize in social emotions. Besides, their bookstore is almost finished, right? Old-brand publishers can't keep up with the digital age and won't last many more years."

"Hmm, but I still like the winning works of the Wenxing Cup. At least you can see something different. I hope it doesn't close down."

The voices of the two men faded away.

Chen Fang walked out of the corridor and turned his head to see a poster on the wall for the upcoming hardcover edition of "thirty years," the first-prize winning work of last year's Wenxing Cup. The Wenyuan Bookstore they mentioned was the organizer of this competition.

Chen Fang's gaze swept across the dark blue poster, and he suddenly noticed a line of small text written in the bottom right corner:

[This year's Wenxing Cup Literary Creation Competition is open for submissions from May 1st to May 20th. For details, please scan the QR code below]