I was exposed for adding my female boss to my group of female friends.

The relationship between author and reader is simple enough. I write for you, and you earn money to support me. Perhaps the only profession that can rival this relationship is being kept by a wealthy woman.

This simplicity makes the goal clear: as long as people enjoy reading what I write, that's enough.

So now, every day after get off work I go home and sleep until midnight, then get up and write until 7 pm, then lie down and sleep for an hour before going to work.

Every day I have dark circles under my eyes and deep wrinkles around my mouth. My mind is always thinking about what plot to write tomorrow. When I think of something exciting, a mysterious smile appears on my lips. My colleagues don't know what I'm up to and think I'm going crazy.

But whether staying up late damages the liver or causes dizziness, headaches, and bumping into doors, at least I now have a simple and direct source of happiness—

I'm glad you like what I write.

I hope I can continue writing like this in the future, and that you will continue to enjoy reading it.

In short: I want to bring smiles to everyone's faces through stories!

Thanks to editor Ziliang. When I was writing this book, every time subscriptions dropped, he would come and try to ruin my peace of mind. I had to coax him, telling him everything was under control, and then I would pull off a miraculous comeback. It's like a combination of a useless editor and a genius author, the chemistry between them is off the charts. It's okay, I love him.

Thank you to everyone in the White Rose editorial team for tolerating my daily rants in the signing group, and for always supporting, encouraging, and even harassing me behind the scenes. Although I don't know who reported me twice, resulting in my QQ account being banned for eight days, from now on I'll be a dog if I post any more lewd pictures.

Thank you to the tireless and hardworking chapter writer P-chan and the voice acting master Kuangkuang, and thank you to all the readers who have given me rewards. Your support is the foundation of my confidence to create freely.

Thanks to Vera, the pressure was intense and the motivation was great. Without her encouragement (or rather, her bullying), this book might have collapsed long ago because I let myself go.

Finally, I'd like to make a small request for an initial subscription.

It's now available for purchase. As is customary, I have to add more chapters (even though my abilities are limited and I have no drafts left).

A minimum of 2 chapters will be guaranteed, with an additional chapter for every 500 first-time subscribers, and there is no upper limit.

One alliance leader adds 5 chapters, two alliance leaders add 10 chapters. One Silver-ranked player... Why bother fighting a Silver-ranked player? Do you want to exhaust me?

The first chapter will be released tomorrow morning, and updates will follow depending on the situation...

Okay, I've written over two thousand words. For the sake of my physical and mental health, I won't continue writing according to the rules for extra chapters (writing this stuff is so uncomfortable).

Finally, may all readers find happiness throughout their lives.

2022.9.1

Chapter 122 Arrogant and Tsundere (Seeking First Subscription)

As Xin Hai recounted this ancient story, the expressions of the viewers in the live stream went from calm to confusion and then to utter frenzy.

"Holy crap! 'Too Softhearted' is also a work by Zhi Chi?"

"My dad plays those songs, 'Too Softhearted' and 'Forgetful Water,' every single day. I never noticed before, but it turns out they were written by Zhichi..."

"Didn't you guys notice? 'Red Bean,' 'Because of Love,' and 'Legend' are all from the same album!"

"Hey, you must be really young, right? There's something even more amazing in this album, you'll be shocked when you find out..."

"That's why we say Jiang Xinhai's debut was his peak. His amazing album shook the Chinese music scene to its core."

"I thought it was just hype to say that the diva was like a cooking master, but now it seems... wow—it's terrifying."

Xiao Chuchu flipped through the notebook in her hand and said:

"I remember you said before that you produced this album in just three months while preparing for your exams?"

Jiang Xinhai nodded: "Mm."

"I don't know much about music production, is this even possible?"

Jiang Xinhai shrugged: "Actually, I don't know much about music production. Zhichi always finishes an album in a few months. I just need to sing."

Her face clearly said, "I'm a superstar, so what if I act tough? I have my own family." For a moment, no one could say a word.

So, everyone else turned their attention to Xu Xiangxiao.

Xu Xiangxiao began, "Normally, music production shouldn't be this fast, but Tianya and I were even faster. We finished the 'Seven Mile Fragrance' album in just two months, although it was very tiring..."

The person sitting next to Qin Yaoyang in the private room on the second floor was drinking tea when he heard her words and spat it out with a "pfft".

Sitting at one end of the long table, Wang Feng smiled awkwardly before slowly saying:

“Most musicians take one or two years to polish an album, and sometimes it’s not uncommon to take ten years. Someone who does it this fast is an exception…”

Jiang Xinhai turned to him and asked, "Really? But Xiangxiao and I were both this fast?"

"You two are exceptions."

Xiao Chuchu continued, "I'm very curious about how much Zhichi contributed to your collaboration. Could you continue telling this story?"

Jiang Xinhai paused for a moment, then continued...

……

"You just need to sit here and look at your face; it helps to stimulate your thinking."

Jiang Xinhai was completely baffled.

Is my face a blank page of "omitted" reference answers, or is it like hell, filling your mind with devilish inspiration?

Although he was internally complaining, Jiang Xinhai still sat down.

Chen Ya showed no intention of letting go of her hand.

He held a pen in one hand and her hand in the other. Under the pressure of his thumb, a white and reddish fingerprint gradually appeared on Jiang Xinhai's small, white hand.

Jiang Xinhai turned his head and saw a lot of people pointing and whispering about the two of them in a corner of the cafeteria, away from them.

When Chen Ya grabbed her hand, the crowd was almost in a frenzy.

Jiang Xinhai is regarded as the princess of Binhai University. Now the princess is being defiled by people from who-knows-where, and the anger of these people is understandable.

Moreover, that person was wearing a suit, sneakers, and had hair like a bird's nest, exuding a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) air while also possessing a touch of pastoral charm.

"Can you let go now?" Jiang Xinhai turned to Chen Ya and said.

Chen Ya, however, seemed oblivious to her predicament:

"Let's make the sixth song 'Later,' the seventh... well, 'Aurora,' and the eighth 'At Least I Still Have You'..."

Jiang Xinhai struggled to twist his hand free, swung it in the air, and stared at the notebook he was holding, his eyes full of suspicion:

"I was just about to ask you this: what's the point of just writing down a name? Even though these names look quite respectable."

She had something else she wanted to say but didn't: You're not just messing with me in the end, are you?

Chen Ya said, "Every time I think of a melody, I think of a name, and I write down the name to remember it."

"So you've already come up with eight melodies? That's amazing!"

“Yes.” Chen Yatian nodded shamelessly.

Jiang Xinhai rested his hands on his face: "Is it really that easy for composers to write songs?"

"There's a slight difference in speed, but they're probably about the same."

Chen Ya finally wrote the words "Listen to the Sea" and "Encounter" on the paper, then looked at the notebook in his hand with satisfaction and nodded with a smile.

"Everything's ready. For our first album, we're going to make a big splash and shake up the entire Chinese music scene."

Jiang Xinhai propped his chin on his hand: "Why don't you create a stir for me first? To me, you're just making empty promises."

Chen Ya glanced at her. Jiang Xinhai had such beautiful features that even if she spoke harshly, he couldn't get angry.

"Hehe, once I finish writing it, just wait until every cell in your body trembles and cheers for me."

"Well, in any case, having confidence is a good thing."

Jiang Xinhai spoke with a hint of pity, but Chen Ya couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

"So, what's your decision? Here's my proposal." Chen Ya handed the notebook back to her. "The future of ten songs, in exchange for the present. You'll be responsible for renting the place and the performances, and I'll take care of everything else."

Jiang Xinhai raised her slender, fair wrist and glanced at her watch:

"I only had 36 minutes to think about it, what conclusion could I possibly reach?"

Jiang Xinhai's mother gives her 2000 yuan a month for living expenses. If she rents a place, her available funds will shrink rapidly, and she will inevitably face the fate of being broke in the future.

Fortunately, she had the intention of keeping her talents hidden and didn't tell Chen Ya about it. If Chen Ya had known, he would have cried out that Jiang's mother was abusing a genius.

Chen Ya said, "If you really don't trust me, let's find a place and rehearse 'Red Bean' once, and you'll see how much potential this song has."

Jiang Xinhai said, "Then we need to find a place with musical instruments."

"This is Binhai University, there should be many places like that here."

"You're right."

Jiang Xinhai stood up and said to him, "Then let's go borrow the vocal music classroom for a while. If you're not worried about stomach prolapse, come with me."

Chen Ya smiled slightly and grabbed the suit jacket draped over the back of the chair: "Is this always your style of speaking?"

What style?

"Very mischievous, and a little arrogant."

"I haven't paid much attention to my speaking style; I guess I've always spoken this way since I was little. But I don't think I'm mischievous. Also, what does 'tsundere' mean?"

"In other words, you are using strong but insincere words to cover up your deep-seated affection."

"...You must have made a mistake."

Chapter 123 Boasting (Thanks to Xie Shennong, the Master of Reading Ten Thousand Books Alliance)

It was mid-May, and it was raining heavily yesterday. The roadside drainage ditches were covered with fallen branches and rain-soaked cherry blossom petals.

This morning the weather cleared up, and the low, plump clouds were blown away by the southerly wind. A voluntary cleanup was organized on campus. Dead branches and fallen leaves were swept together and piled up into a small hill. I don't know where the students were, but they put their brooms on top of the hill to prevent them from being blown away by the wind.

Along the roadside, emerald green and pink branches stretched out like the alluring fingers of lovers, swaying in the wind. Many people from outside the school gathered under the trees to take pictures. Some unruly people took advantage of the moment when no one was looking to shake the tree trunks and then bask in the colorful rain of flowers. Some students who were responsible for guarding the area ran over and shouted at them.

Jiang Xinhai and Chen Ya maintained a distance of one meter between them. Chen Ya followed behind her and saw her fair and delicate ear peeking out from the side of her jet-black hair. There were beads of sweat on the back of her light green shirt, and her slender and long neck looked like a figure that had stepped out of a portrait hanging in an art museum.

The two remained silent for a long time, a long silence between them.

Jiang Xinhai doesn't consider herself aloof; given the chance, she would definitely be quite proactive.

Chen Ya walked up to her and said, "Do you know why the song is called 'Red Bean'?"

"Uh... because 'Green Bean' doesn't sound good?"

Chen Ya said, "Your answers always surprise me. I like you more and more."

Jiang Xinhai turned around and looked at him with some surprise.

At first, she thought he was confessing his feelings, but he didn't continue, so she became uncertain again.

So she turned around abruptly to hide her earlier unease, her long hair fluttering in the air.

"Red beans symbolize longing and are also called love beans, so the song should express the painful and lingering feeling of longing."

"Oh."

Jiang Xinhai then calmly pulled away from him by a meter.

Chen Ya asked from behind, "Have you been trying to shake me off the whole time?"

"Sorry, I can't walk side by side with someone wearing dress pants and sneakers."

In fact, quite a few people had been glancing at them along the way. And they still are.

Are you afraid of losing face?

"It's not that I'm afraid of losing face... okay, I am afraid of losing face." Jiang Xinhai smoothed his bangs. "What exactly were your considerations when you did something like this?"

Chen Ya looked down at his sneakers: "My favorite writer once said that as long as you keep wearing sneakers and running long distances, you'll always be a boy."

"How old are you and you're a boy?" Jiang Xinhai asked.

"18."

Jiang Xinhai's expression finally changed: "You're only 18?"

Why can't I be 18?

"You released so many songs when you were only 18?" Jiang Xinhai asked in surprise. "I thought you were at least in your twenties."

"You're 18 now, aren't you already a big star?"

Jiang Xinhai tilted his head, feeling like he wanted to refute everything, but didn't know where to begin.

She never felt that she was anything special. Deep down, she still admired talented people and felt that songwriters were different from herself.