Video Editor

Charlotte became famous.

After breaking his leg, he spent a week in the hospital.

Charlotte was also busy this week...

Instead, he wrote down the songs in his head one by one and asked Zhang Yang to help him submit them.

Charlotte knew those songs too well. He had sung them countless times in karaoke bars and yelled them countless times in private karaoke rooms more than a decade later. Now, they had become his capital for pretending to be something he wasn't.

"Once Upon a Time in You" became a hit.

"Blue Lotus" has become a hit.

"Those Flowers" also became a hit.

It was played on the radio every day, played on a loop in front of record stores, and hummed by people on every street corner.

People in the music industry started asking: Who exactly is this high school student named Charlotte?
Where did they come from? How did they suddenly write so many great songs?
But what truly made Xia Luo famous was meeting Sister Na.

That day, Charlotte was recording a new song in the recording studio.

The recording studio is located in the suburbs of Xihong City. It's an old factory that's been converted into a studio. It looks dilapidated from the outside, but the equipment inside is quite complete.

Charlotte stood in front of the microphone, wearing headphones, singing directly from the sheet music.

In the control room, Qiuya gestured and talked with the sound engineer.

The door was suddenly pushed open.

"boom--"

Everyone turned their heads away.

A woman walked in; she had short hair, wore sunglasses and a leather jacket, and exuded an aura of immense power.

She was followed by two men, one carrying a bag and the other holding a folder; they were clearly her assistant and agent.

Who is Charlotte?

The sound wasn't loud, but its force was undeniable.

Charlotte took off her headphones and froze.

Na Ying.

One of the most popular female singers of this era.

She sang on the Spring Festival Gala, her albums sold millions of copies, and her songs were played everywhere.

What is she doing here?

"I...I am Charlotte." Charlotte's voice trembled slightly.

Na took off her sunglasses and looked him up and down.

He was about 1.7 meters tall, thin, with slightly messy hair, wearing a regular t-shirt and jeans, looking every bit like a high school student.

"Young man, I've heard you're pretty good at songwriting. Can you write one for me too?"

Charlotte's heart raced.

This is an opportunity.

A tremendous opportunity.

Take a deep breath and try to calm yourself down.

My mind raced, searching for memories that belonged to the future.

"Conquer"? That's too early; that's a song from Na Jie's later works.

"The Day Doesn't Understand the Night's Darkness"? No, that won't work either; it's not suitable for this era.

Have it.

"Meet in 1998"

That song that made Na Jie and Faye Wong famous all over the country.

On the Spring Festival Gala stage, two divas, a classic among classics.

"Sister Na, I have a song here that's perfect for you." Xia Luo quickly finished composing the sheet music and handed it over.

Sister Na took it and read it once.

I watched it again.

When I looked up, my eyes lit up. "Great song."

……

From that day on, Charlotte and Sister Na began their collaboration.

Recording, arranging, rehearsing, over and over again.

Sister Na has a good voice, is quick to learn, and learns very fast.

Charlotte provided guidance from the sidelines, occasionally offering a few suggestions.

The sound engineer is top-notch in the industry, meticulously attending to every single detail.

The music for "Meet in 1998" is becoming more and more mature and perfect.

That day, the recording was finished at nine o'clock in the evening.

It was already dark outside the recording studio.

The streetlights in the factory area were on, casting a dim yellow light on the concrete ground.

A few barks came from afar, and insects chirped in the grass nearby.

After packing her things, Sister Na said to Xia Luo, "Xia, it's so late, let me take you home."

Charlotte didn't stand on ceremony and nodded, "Okay, thank you, Sister Na."

"You don't need to be polite when hanging out with Sister Na."

The two walked out of the recording studio and got into Sister Na's car.

It was a black Santana, which was considered a pretty good car for that era.

Sister Na is quite skilled at driving; she shifts gears, presses the accelerator, and turns the steering wheel all in one smooth motion.

The car drove out of the factory area and slowly drove along the streets of Xihong City.

On both sides of the road are rows of old residential buildings, and the shops downstairs are still open, with lights on in the shops selling cigarettes and alcohol, snacks, and bicycle repairs.

Some people were squatting by the roadside eating barbecue, some were pushing carts selling fruit, and some were standing at the alley entrance chatting.

As she passed an intersection, Sister Na suddenly saw someone on the roadside.

A handsome young man who looks like a high school student is riding a bicycle and waiting at a red light.

He was wearing his school uniform, carrying a backpack, and standing there quietly with one leg on the ground.

"Hey! Charlotte, isn't that your classmate?" Sister Na asked Charlotte.

Charlotte looked in the direction Sister Na pointed and paused for a moment.

Suning.

The classmate who transferred here.

She doesn't talk much, has good grades, and isn't very noticeable in class.

He listened attentively in class, read quietly after class, occasionally exchanged a few words with Ma Dongmei and the others, and then continued reading.

But Charlotte always felt that this person was a bit strange...

I can't quite put my finger on what's strange about him, but he just feels different from the other students.

That feeling was like...

What does it look like?
Charlotte couldn't explain it either, and besides, she didn't have many memories of Suning.

“She’s my classmate,” Charlotte said. “Her name is Su Ning.”

Sister Na rolled down the car window and called out, "Young man, are you still riding your bike so late?"

Su Ning turned her head and saw Sister Na with the car window rolled down, then saw Xia Luo sitting in the car. She was stunned for a moment, "Sister Na? Xia Luo?"

Sister Na laughed, "So you really are from your school. Have you eaten yet? If not, let's grab something to eat together?"

Su Ning looked at his bicycle, then at the car, and hesitated for a moment.

Charlotte said from the side, "Get on! It's fine to leave the bike here. You can ride it back after you finish eating. I know this place well, it won't get stolen."

"Alright! Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Suning pushed the bicycle to the side of the road and locked it to a utility pole.

Then I got in the car and sat in the back seat.

Sister Na drove them to a small restaurant.

The storefront is small but clean, with a few wooden tables covered with plastic tablecloths.

There weren't many people at that time; only two or three tables of guests were eating quietly.

The menu was posted on the wall, handwritten, with crooked and messy handwriting.

The three of them found a corner to sit down, and Sister Na ordered a few dishes.

Hot and sour shredded potatoes, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, braised pork, and seaweed and egg drop soup are all common home-style dishes.

While waiting for the food, Sister Na and Xia Luo chatted about recording the song.

They chatted enthusiastically about what key notes needed adjusting, what arrangements needed improving, and what post-production needed processing.

Suning listened quietly from the side.

However, his gaze kept falling on Sister Na's face.

It wasn't the kind of gaze that stares intently; it was a light, occasional, fleeting glance.

But after it happened so many times, Sister Na noticed it too.

Na-jie turned her head and laughed, "Su-ning, why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on your face?"

Su Ning shook her head, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Sister Na, have you been not getting enough rest lately?"

Na was taken aback. "How did you know?"

"Judging from your complexion, you look a bit..." Su Ning thought for a moment, "...a bit unwell. Your dark circles are quite heavy, your skin is dry, and you look rather tired."

Na sighed, "That's right! Lately, I've been staying up late every night to find new songs, and I can't sleep well. I toss and turn in bed, my mind just won't settle down. I keep thinking about this and that, and the more I think, the less I can fall asleep. Sometimes when I finally do fall asleep, I have nightmares and wake up in a cold sweat. Once I wake up, I can't fall back asleep and just lie there with my eyes open waiting for dawn."

Then she waved her hand dismissively, "But it should be fine, it'll be alright after this busy period. Young people can handle a few days."

Suning didn't say anything more.

But his brows furrowed even more deeply.

Others might not be able to see it, but Suning could.

There's a ghostly aura about Sister Na.

It's very faint and light; ordinary people can't even detect it.

Even experienced geomancers can't tell without careful observation.

But Su Ning is different... With his late-stage Nascent Soul cultivation, he is extremely sensitive to such things.

The ghostly aura lingered around Sister Na, cold and gloomy, as if something was constantly tormenting her.

No wonder Sister Na can't sleep well.

No wonder Sister Na had nightmares.

That ghostly aura had been lingering on Sister Na for quite some time.

If left untreated, it will worsen over time. First, there will be insomnia and vivid dreams, then mental confusion, then physical weakness, and finally…

Suning lowered his eyes and said nothing more.

The food arrived, and the three of them ate and chatted.

Sister Na has a straightforward and outspoken personality.

She was seen eating heartily, drinking soda, and chatting animatedly with Charlotte.

They talk about music, the entertainment industry, and all sorts of gossip.

Charlotte loosened up, telling funny stories about recording songs and those bawdy jokes that were popular in later generations, making Sister Na next to her burst into laughter.

Suning doesn't talk much, occasionally chiming in, but mostly eating quietly.

He ate at a moderate pace, picking up food, chewing, and swallowing with natural and composed movements.

After finishing their meal, Sister Na went to pay the bill, while Xia Luo went to the restroom.

Su Ning stood up, thought for a moment, and took a small object out of his pocket.

It was a sachet.

It's about the size of a palm, made of ordinary cotton fabric, light blue, with a few small flowers embroidered on it, and looks quite delicate.

The stitches are very fine, and the embroidery is exquisite; it's clear that it was made with care.

But what's inside is anything but ordinary.

A talisman.

A talisman for exorcising ghosts.

Those in the late Nascent Soul stage naturally understand some important Daoist techniques.

Although it's not very useful in many of these dungeon worlds, seeing the ghostly aura on Sister Na just now suddenly reminded me of it.

They even realized that this copy world might not be as simple as it seemed.

This talisman is more than enough to deal with this level of ghostly energy.

When Sister Na returned, Su Ning immediately handed her the sachet, saying, "Sister Na, this is for you."

Sister Na was taken aback for a moment, then took it and looked at it. "A sachet? For me?"

"Hmm." Su Ning nodded. "I made it myself. I put some calming herbs in it, which is good for sleep. We're under a lot of pressure during the college entrance exams, and it's very effective at relieving insomnia. If you don't mind, try putting it next to your pillow tonight. It should help you sleep better."

Na-jie laughed, "Suning, you can even make this? Okay, I'll keep it, thank you!"

Then she stuffed the sachet into her bag and didn't think much of it.

Consider it a thank you meal; I'll accept it.

But Na-jie didn't know that this sachet would save her life.

……

That night, Sister Na returned home, washed up, and lay down on the bed.

She lives in a three-bedroom apartment in the city center, which is quite luxuriously decorated.

There was a stereo in the living room, playing soft music.

There's a poster of Na Jie hanging in the bedroom; she's smiling brightly in the photo.

After taking a hot shower, Sister Na lay down, but she couldn't fall asleep no matter how much she tossed and turned.

My mind started wandering again.

Tomorrow's recording, the day after tomorrow's rehearsal, next week's schedule... the more I think about it, the clearer my mind becomes.

For some reason, Sister Na suddenly remembered the sachet that Suning had given her, and took it out to look at it.

A small, delicate sachet, with fine stitches, embroidered with a few small flowers.

I took a closer sniff and noticed a faint fragrance; I didn't know what kind of herb it was.

So she casually placed it next to her pillow.

"It smells pretty good," Sister Na muttered, then closed her eyes.

Strangely, this time, the distracting thoughts in my mind slowly dissipated.

Those chaotic thoughts receded like the tide, growing farther and farther away, fading into the distance.

Soon, Sister Na fell asleep.

……

It was two in the morning, the night was deep and quiet.

The neighborhood was so quiet you could hear the wind rustling through the leaves.

The streetlights were on, their dim yellow light illuminating the empty road.

A dark shadow drifted in through the window.

It was a humanoid thing, but it had no physical form; it was just a cloud of black mist.

It floated in the air, sometimes up, sometimes down, like a piece of paper being blown by the wind.

A face could be vaguely seen in the black mist, twisted, ferocious, and full of resentment.

It floated to Sister Na's bedside and was about to get closer...

The sachet beside the pillow suddenly lit up.

It's not the bright light of a light bulb, but a soft, warm golden light.

The golden light shone from the sachet and enveloped the entire bed.

The dark figure was enveloped in golden light and let out a shrill scream.

"what--"

The scream was sharp and piercing, like countless needles stabbing into your ears.

But ordinary people can't hear that sound at all; only ghosts can hear it.

The shadowy figure struggled desperately, trying to escape.

But the golden light was like an invisible net, trapping it firmly.

The golden light grew stronger and brighter.

The dark figure twisted, struggled, and howled in the golden light.

Its body began to melt, like an ice cube being placed in hot water, dissipating little by little.

"No—spare me—spare me—"

no respond.

The golden light continued to shine, while the dark shadows grew fainter and smaller.

That hideous face twisted into various shapes in the golden light before finally disappearing completely.

The whole process took less than ten seconds.

The golden light disappeared, and the sachet returned to its original state, lying quietly beside the pillow.

Na-jie turned over and continued sleeping, unaware of anything.

……

When Na woke up the next morning, she was stunned.

The sun was shining brightly, and birds were chirping and chattering outside the window.

Lying in bed, I felt like I had slept for a very long time, yet it also felt like I had just closed my eyes and opened them to find it was already dawn.

Na-jie hasn't had such a deep sleep in a long time.

She realized that the sachet was actually quite useful.

He picked up the sachet again, looked at it, and then put it down.

What Na-jie didn't know was that something happened last night that she would never know.

……

From that day on, Sister Na's sleep improved more and more.

I can fall asleep quickly every night after lying down.

I slept soundly through the night without any dreams, until dawn.

I woke up the next day feeling refreshed and full of energy.

Her complexion is getting better and better.

Her skin became rosy and radiant, and she looked refreshed.

Makeup artists all say that Na Jie's skin is in really good condition lately, and she doesn't need much concealer.

Sister Na thought that she had finished her busy period and had rested well.

I never imagined it was thanks to that sachet.

When Na-jie saw Xia Luo again later, she casually mentioned it.

That day in the recording studio, during a break after recording a song, Sister Na sat on the sofa drinking tea.

Charlotte sat beside him, flipping through the sheet music.

"Oh, by the way," Sister Na suddenly said, "your classmate is quite interesting. The sachet he gave me is really effective. I've been sleeping exceptionally well lately, I haven't slept this soundly in years. Please thank him for me later."

Charlotte nodded. "Okay, I'll talk to him about it later."

But Charlotte had some doubts.

Suning?

Sachet?

He felt something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Why did Su Ning, who usually seems so ordinary, suddenly send Na Jie a sachet?
They even mentioned some calming herbs, and they're so effective?

Charlotte thought about it for a while, but couldn't figure it out, so she stopped thinking about it.

Maybe they're just thoughtful and good at handling things.

Suning remains the same as always.

He goes to and from school every day, doesn't talk much, gets good grades, and keeps a moderate distance from everyone.

He listened attentively in class, read quietly after class, occasionally exchanged a few words with Ma Dongmei and the others, and then continued reading.

Ma Dongmei and Qiu Ya came over to ask Suning questions, and he patiently answered them.

Da Chun and Yuan Hua invited Suning to play ball, and he went along.

Zhang Yang chatted with Suning, and he listened with a smile.

Meng Te smiled at Su Ning, forcing back an awkward, sickening smile, but in his heart he was determined to protect his chrysanthemum.

But that's how it is.

No one knows what Su Ning noticed during dinner that night.

No one knows what's inside that little sachet.

No one knows what happened that night.

Only Su Ning himself knew, but he said nothing.

...(End of this chapter)