Why did you make me reincarnate?

As night fell, the crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only a few scattered tables of guests still talking in hushed tones.

Xu Chaoyang had just put away the microphone on the stage when he turned around and saw Chen Mo squeezing through the crowd with a rather interesting expression on his face.

"Chaoyang, you're really good at hiding things."

Chen Mo walked up to him, her tone filled with admiration, "I was wondering how you were so sure you could get the Chuhe Band to come. Turns out it was the real Chuhe Band."

He shook his head, realizing he had foolishly helped promote the idea everywhere, thinking this young man had quite a bit of influence.

"You didn't ask either," Xu Chaoyang said with a smile.

Chen Mo laughed at his shameless logic. "Fine, you're right."

As the two were talking, a figure walked up to their side. Qin Shuang took off her sunglasses, revealing her charming face.

At twenty-seven or twenty-eight, her eyes held a sharpness born of experience, and her makeup was exquisite yet understated.

Her gaze fell on Xu Chaoyang, scrutinizing him closely, from his composure in handling the conflict to his calmness when he stood on the stage and picked up the microphone.

The boy changed his appearance in completely different ways, but each one was just right. Qin Shuang had already made a judgment in her mind.

He should be the true core of the Chuhe Band.

She extended her hand and said formally, "We've already met. Let me introduce myself again. My name is Qin Shuang, and I work for Huanyu Records."

Xu Chaoyang also extended his hand and shook it politely, saying, "Hello."

Qin Shuang smiled slightly and looked directly into his eyes: "I'd like to ask, did you write both songs?"

Xu Chaoyang didn't hesitate and still pushed the blame onto Chen Chu: "I'm sorry to disappoint you, the other two people in the band are the main creators. My role as lead singer is just a guest appearance, not a regular member."

Qin Shuang's gaze lingered on his face for two seconds, but she didn't press further. "If it's convenient, could you arrange for me to talk to them?"

"Of course, they're backstage. If you want to see them, you can come along with them, Brother Mo."

Chen Chu is probably dealing with Zhou Jingran right now, so two more people wouldn't matter.

Shen Ju tugged at Xu Chaoyang's sleeve, a half-smile on her face, "You're really good at lying."

She knew the inside story; both songs were written by Xu Chaoyang, but he has been denying it.

Xu Chaoyang said with a smile, "I've never lied to you."

Shen Ju tilted her head. "Who knows?"

After she finished speaking, her eyes inadvertently swept in another direction, where Jiang Banxia and her group were still sitting in the outer area.

Shen Ju had noticed long ago that the girl was staring at Xu Chaoyang, and strangely, she would occasionally glance at her, with a hostile expression.

Shen Ju has received countless such looks since she was a child; her mother said they were jealous.

But this time it seems a little different?

Yu Li and Zhang Qing were whispering something to each other, but Jiang Banxia didn't hear a word they said, her eyes fixed on Xu Chaoyang.

Watching him chat and laugh with Chen Mo, and then seeing a beautiful woman shaking hands and talking with him.

And the girl named Shen Ju stayed by his side the whole time, firmly occupying the place that should have been hers.

Their eyes met briefly.

Jiang Banxia was the first to look away, her hostility intensifying.

"Xu Chaoyang, take me home." Shen Ju felt a little tired.

"Yeah, it is quite late."

Xu Chaoyang looked around the bar; everything was in good order, and there was indeed nothing he needed to worry about.

"Okay, let's go."

He told Lu Qingqing what to do, picked up his coat, and walked out with Shen Ju.

When some guests saw them leave, they started whistling, and then several other tables nearby joined in, though everyone was friendly.

"Take care, boss!"

"Take care, ma'am!"

Shen Ju's ears would turn slightly red every time she heard the term "boss lady," but she never objected.

Xu Chaoyang turned around and glared at them, laughing and scolding, "If you keep talking nonsense, there won't be any discounts next time you come."

He was met with even louder laughter.

The two walked through the bar, passing by Jiang Banxia without even glancing at her out of the corner of their eye, as if the people at this table didn't exist at all.

As Jiang Banxia watched Xu Chaoyang's figure disappear through the door, she felt as if something had clenched her heart.

She suddenly remembered that Xu Chaoyang used to stand beside her like this, with only her in his eyes.

But now, he won't even glance at me.

……

Xu Chaoyang wanted to help Shen Ju hail a taxi, but Shen Ju walked over to the Flying Pigeon taxi instead.

"Hey, I'm a boss now, how could I possibly still be a rickshaw driver pulling you around?"

Shen Ju tilted her head slightly but made no other movement, the meaning of which was quite obvious.

Ten minutes later, the two were driving on a highway in Wenzhou, with Shen Ju naturally holding onto Xu Chaoyang's clothes with one hand.

As we passed through a small alley, the music and video store on the side of the road was still open, and Chuhe's cassette tape covers had already been pasted on the door for advertising.

Shen Ju saw this and whispered from the back seat, "Do you think people would feel particularly disillusioned if they knew that the lead singer of the Chuhe Band was riding a bicycle to take a girl home?"

"That's perfect. I don't want to be fawned over. Liu Jianghe would probably like it; he's rather flamboyant."

Shen Ju smiled, pursing her lips. She smoothed her wind-blown hair and said, "Xu Chaoyang, ride a little slower."

"Huh? What did you say?"

Xu Chaoyang was focused on dodging the car. The alcohol in the night made his young body slightly tipsy, causing Shen Ju's words to drift away in the night wind.

Guided by Shen Ju, the bicycle turned onto a quiet side road.

The sides were lined with ornamental sycamore trees, their branches and leaves intertwining to form a dark green canopy overhead.

"This road is quite beautiful."

"After a while, it gets the same old thing. It's too desolate. I don't like it anyway."

Looking at the dappled light and shadow on the road, Shen Ju felt a pang of regret that the journey was so short. Why hadn't she realized it before? There should have been more time.

The two finally stopped in front of a slope; further up was the mountaintop villa area, and Xu Chaoyang's bicycle couldn't get past the gate.

He walked alongside Shen Ju, wondering why villas were always built on mountains, and why the residences had to be superior to others.

I have three million now. Should I buy a piece of land in the Bay Area and let these people see what a mature ocean view property is like?

Wouldn't the appearance of that minimalist coastal style, created by top designers 10 years later, shock people in the real estate market?

Xu Chaoyang was lost in thought when he suddenly felt something warm and cool hook his fingers.

The girl gently pulled him, her fingertips touching him; the movement was so light it seemed she was testing something.

Xu Chaoyang didn't dodge; instead, he grasped Shen Ju's fair and slender hand and responded generously.

The two went from being cautious to holding hands.

Xu Chaoyang felt Shen Ju's fingers trembling slightly, but ultimately did not choose to let go.

Holding hands, they walked all the way to Shen Ju's building, where the beautiful detached villa was still lit up.

Xu Chaoyang hesitated for a moment. Would Shen Zhiyi break his legs if he went to her door at this hour?

Damn it, I got a little carried away. The Shen family's bodyguards might be watching me right now.

Seeing his expression, Shen Ju laughed and said, "Don't worry, my dad isn't home. There's only a housekeeper we hired."

Xu Chaoyang touched his nose, wondering if he had been too obvious, that he had been seen through so easily.

"I'm not scared, I'm just showing my uncle the respect he deserves."

Shen Ju released his hand. "I'm going back now. Be careful on your way."

Xu Chaoyang reluctantly released the cool warmth. "Okay, you should get some rest."

Shen Ju took a few steps and then turned back. Seeing Xu Chaoyang still standing there watching her go, she smiled slightly and quickened her pace.