Just because I wrote "Zhu Xian," the school beauty sent me razor blades.

Eight o'clock in the morning, at the gate of Jinghua Film Academy.

Lin Yuan leaned against a stone pillar, his hands in his pockets, looking as casual as if he were waiting for someone, or perhaps waiting for the wind.

The girls passing by kept turning back and whispering to each other.

"Is that Lin Yuan? The one who sang a duet with Gu Zhiwan during the military training song competition?"

"He's even more handsome in person than in videos... He looks so energetic, there's definitely something going on."

Lin Yuan heard it, but didn't lift his eyelids.

Something's up? Of course. Today's a big day for his first music video project, so he has to be at his best.

It's exactly eight o'clock.

A figure walked out of the campus.

Her burgundy wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders, she wore a black cropped knit top, high-waisted jeans, and sunglasses perched on her head—she was so radiant, like a moving spotlight, that it was almost blinding.

Gu Zhiwan walked over slowly in her high heels, and raised an eyebrow when she saw him leaning against the pillar.

"You're here quite early, Director Lin."

"I'm used to arriving early." Lin Yuan straightened up, glancing at her lazily. "But you were five minutes late. That meant I got stared at three hundred more times. How are you going to settle that?"

Gu Zhiwan scoffed, "People in the directing department care about punctuality? I thought you artists were all easygoing."

"Being spontaneous is about the work itself," Lin Yuan said calmly. "With partners who are late, I only care about efficiency."

Gu Zhiwan narrowed her eyes, her smile fading slightly: "Who are you calling late?"

What do you think?

She stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly smiled, a smile tinged with scrutiny: "Fine, it's on me. But Lin Yuan, why are you rushing off so early in the morning? Are you still grumpy from waking up, or did you specifically practice roasting me?"

"It depends on the person." Lin Yuan hailed a taxi, opened the door, and said, "I'm too lazy to talk to idle people. But I'm strict with my business partners."

"So what am I now?"

"I'll count as a partner who doesn't let me down today."

Gu Zhiwan was amused and bent down to get into the back seat: "Such a stubborn mouth, aren't you afraid of breaking your teeth?"

"My teeth are my own, no need for you to worry about them." Lin Yuan got in and closed the car door. "But you, why are you walking so slowly? Are you afraid of twisting your ankle, or afraid you'll find out I lied to you when we get there?"

Gu Zhiwan turned her head to look at him, her eyes slightly upturned: "Trying to fool me? Lin Yuan, if you dare to fool me, I guarantee that every day of your music video shoot, from start to finish, will be very interesting."

"Let's wait and see."

Gu Zhiwan leaned back in her chair and turned to look at him: "What are you doing at Tianxing Entertainment, a freshman in the directing department? Chasing celebrities? Going for an audition? Or—looking for investors for your work?"

"Neither," Lin Yuan said lazily, gazing out the window. "I'm a senior composer at Tianxing. I'm going today to prepare for Tianxing's September Star Chart campaign."

The carriage was silent for three seconds.

Gu Zhiwan's expression shifted from confusion to shock, finally settling on a cold laugh.

"What did you say?"

"A high-end composer, from Tianxing Entertainment." Lin Yuan turned his head, his face completely at ease. "What, doesn't it seem like it?"

"You're a directing major, and now you're telling me you can write songs?"

"You should know that the world of geniuses is simply plain, unpretentious, and boring."

Gu Zhiwan stared at him for five seconds, then suddenly remembered something, and her pupils contracted sharply.

"Wait—what did you write?"

"It's nothing," Lin Yuan shrugged, "just a song called 'Summer Wind'."

The air in the carriage seemed to have been sucked out.

Gu Zhiwan opened her mouth, then closed it again.

Gu Zhiwan certainly knew "Summer Breeze." It had topped the Star Cloud Chart for four consecutive weeks, and she had sung it in front of the entire school on the day of the military training singing competition.

In other words—she sang someone else's song, flirted with the person in question, and the person knew all along, even smilingly playing along and continuing the second half of the song!

"Well done, Lin Yuan," Gu Zhiwan sneered, crossing her arms as she looked at him. "You've been hiding it well. No wonder you answered the lyrics so smoothly that day; the original author had seen the standard answer beforehand."

"Knowing the answer and responding smoothly are two different things." Lin Yuan looked innocent. "The way you sang that day—"

"How was your singing?"

"That took a lot of courage to sing."

Gu Zhiwan's brow twitched: "Are you indirectly saying I'm off-key?"

"I wasn't off-key, it's just that the rhythm was a bit... improvised."

"Lin Yuan!" Gu Zhiwan slapped his arm hard. "You laughed at me the whole time, and you still managed to laugh?"

"Not bad." Lin Yuan rubbed his arm, unable to suppress the smile on his face. "It's mainly because you sang it so confidently, even though you clearly didn't know I wrote the lyrics. That's quite rare."

Gu Zhiwan gritted her teeth, turned her head to look at the rapidly receding street scene outside the window, and after several seconds managed to squeeze out a sentence: "You... really deserve a beating."

"People who deserve a beating usually live longer."

Gu Zhiwan took a deep breath, suppressing her embarrassment and anger, and looked at him again, her eyes sharp: "So you called me to Tianxing today to support you?"

"No need." Lin Yuan also dropped his joking tone. "I called you here because you're suitable. I can handle things myself."

Gu Zhiwan blinked, then suddenly laughed, a laugh tinged with a devilish provocation: "Quite the boast. What if I'm not satisfied with the photos?"

"In my lens, I call the shots," Lin Yuan said calmly, yet with an undeniable authority. "If you can find fault with it, I'll treat you to bubble tea for a month. If you can't, you'll just have to cooperate."

Gu Zhiwan was slightly taken aback, then the corners of her lips curved into a smile: "Alright, I'll wait and see what Director Lin's methods are."

We've arrived at Tianxing Entertainment's headquarters.

Gu Zhiwan unconsciously straightened her collar.

"Nervous?" Lin Yuan asked casually, his hands in his pockets, as if he were just shopping at a supermarket.

"Who's nervous?" Gu Zhiwan rolled her eyes at him. "I was just thinking, if your boss is difficult to talk to later, should I smooth things over for you?"

"No need." Lin Yuan walked ahead without turning his head. "You just mind your own business. I'll handle my own affairs."

The receptionist's eyes lit up when she saw Lin Yuan: "Teacher Lin! Long time no see! Are you looking for President Fei?"

"Um."

"President Fei instructed me beforehand that you could go straight upstairs upon arrival."

I took out my phone and sent a WeChat message.

[Lin Yuan: Sister Fei, now that we're in Tianxing, where can I find you?]

[Fei Zhao: When you arrive, go straight to the 8th floor, to small conference room number 3. I'll be waiting for you there.]

"Let's go see the boss."

The door to the small conference room number three was ajar, and Lin Yuan knocked twice.

"Enter."

The clear, crisp female voice, neither too loud nor too soft, possessed an undeniable aura.

Lin Yuan pushed open the door and entered.

Fei Zhao sat at the head of the table.

He wore a dark gray suit, his hair was tied up high, his jawline was well-defined, his eyebrows and eyes were cold, and his thin lips were slightly pursed.

"Sister Fei, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

"As long as you're not late." Fei Zhao's gaze fell on Gu Zhiwan behind him, pausing slightly. With her wine-red curly hair, exquisite makeup, and radiant aura, the lights in the entire conference room seemed to brighten by a degree.

After looking at him for two seconds, he shifted his gaze back to Lin Yuan, a meaningful glint in his eyes.

"Sister Fei, this is—" Lin Yuan stepped aside, gesturing with his hand, "She's the female lead in my music video, Gu Zhiwan."

"Zhiwan, this is Sister Fei, Fei Zhao, the vice president of Tianxing Entertainment, and also my…" He paused, then continued, "...client."

Fei Zhao: "..."

Gu Zhiwan suppressed a laugh and gave a slight bow: "Hello, Mr. Fei."

He was neither arrogant nor humble, and his voice was clear and resonant.

Fei Zhao leaned back in his chair, his gaze slowly sweeping over Gu Zhiwan's face, unhurried and deliberate.

Have you ever been on camera?

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an imposing, authoritative aura.

Gu Zhiwan was slightly taken aback, but quickly regained her composure and shook her head frankly: "No. But President Fei can trust Lin Yuan's judgment in choosing people—anyway, if the deal falls through, he'll be the one to take responsibility."

Fei Zhao finally nodded, her lips curving slightly – to her, this was already a smile.

Then, she looked at Lin Yuan.

"I didn't realize you were such a good person," Fei Zhao said calmly, taking a sip of his coffee. "Your talent for picking people is just as impressive as your composing skills."

"Sister Fei, you flatter me. Composing relies on talent, and selecting talent relies on discernment; these are both skills that earn a living."

"Hmm, you're holding the bowl quite well, but I'm afraid you might tip it over one day and spill it all over yourself."

"It can't be turned over. My hands are steady, and my heart is even steadyer."

Gu Zhiwan almost lost her composure—one with dry humor, the other with a thick skin, their comedic timing was flawless.

Fei Zhao tapped his fingers twice on the table.

"Tell me. What are your plans for the September Star Rankings?"