My girlfriend is from the future!

Under the ancient tree with its strong branches and covered with red prayer ribbons, in the side hall of Quanling Temple.

He Tianran chose a sunny, high branch, stood on tiptoe, and carefully tied the red ribbon in his hand to it.

As the warm winter breeze swept by, the newly tied prayer ribbon, along with countless other red silks carrying the wishes of all beings, swayed gently in the wind, like a dancing flame, or a crane finally spreading its wings.

Cao Aiqing stood under the tree, looking up. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on her face. She looked at the red ribbon unfurling in the wind, then turned to He Tianran beside her, who was also looking up and gazing at her. The lines of his profile appeared particularly clear and soft in the light.

The two didn't talk much about what happened at the family dinner last night. Perhaps for Cao Aiqing, the words she uttered after those three drinks, while containing some genuine emotion, were essentially still an act. This was something they had agreed on from the beginning, so there was little need to explain this part.

As for He Tianran's attitude after this incident actually happened, the fact that he came to Quanling Temple today without delay is the best attitude he can give.

Just then, He Tianran tried to bring up the topic, wanting to say that yesterday's scene made him regretful; perhaps he shouldn't have let Cao Aiqing act with him, and he should have thought of more ways. But Cao Aiqing only said "I know," "I understand," and so on, not letting the man delve deeper into the topic, until the man suddenly asked:
Why did you pray that I would be with the person I love, instead of with you?

The girl fell silent for a long time. After a while, she smiled and, instead of answering the man directly, replied with these words:
“Naturally, just like you were willing to wait for me for four years, knowing that I would come back from England, it was because you knew that if I loved you, I would definitely come back. At that time, you were a person full of expectations, moving forward without hesitation, and firmly believing that sincerity could be reciprocated. But we all understand that sincerity alone cannot solve the problems that are troubling you right now, so you don’t need to worry about me. As long as you still retain this sincerity, I will always love you.”

He Tianran silently kept those words in mind.

……

……

After descending the mountain, about another week had passed.

Yu Naoqiu hasn't shown up since the family banquet, and her psychological clinic has remained closed. It's understandable, really. He Yuanchong is injured, and there are countless meetings to attend in the Haigang District. As a partner, he can't possibly be so free as to visit every few days. However, He Tianran also has a lot on his plate. He needs to participate in the promotion of his new drama, and the company is just one step away from going public. So, the two of them don't have much time to meet for the time being.

That day, He Tianran received a message from Li Wang, saying that he was thinking about the soundtrack for the movie and wanted Director He to go to Wei Xing's music studio to discuss it with him.

Although He Tianran is now an investor in "Cosmic Street" and is also listed as the producer, he rarely participates in things that affect other people's creation. He just thinks that if nothing unexpected happens, this should be the first movie to be released with the "Future Production" logo, so he should pay attention to it.

The sense of ritual is a strange thing. In fact, as an art film, "Cosmic Street" received far less investment than the films and TV series that He Tianran currently works on, and the box office expectations for it were not high. But when you think about how this film is aiming for the big screen and various awards, its nature changes completely.

Indeed, the feeling towards a project is completely different from that towards something you love.

He had only planned to come here for a casual chat and leave after sitting for a while, but unexpectedly, when Li saw He Tianran, he pulled him into the recording studio and listened to the soundtrack that Wei Xing had composed for the movie.

"You guys can discuss this yourselves, why drag me into it? Anyway, whatever decision I make, Director Li won't listen to me."

He Tianran moved the monitoring earpiece covering his left ear behind his ear. At this moment, a soothing instrumental piece was playing in his right ear, which was used to match the emotional tone. The monitor was playing footage that Li Wang had already edited, and some footage that had not been filmed was temporarily replaced by storyboard sketches.

"Director He is quite self-aware. There's a song I've been competing with him for years, and we still haven't settled on it."

Wei Xing, who was standing to the side, sipped his drink and slid the volume button on the sound console down to turn the music down, making their conversation clearer.

Wei Xing has been working on these musical pieces for several years, but the "Cosmic Street" project has been shelved, which is why the progress has been so slow.

"Then we're calling your brother Tianran over, it's definitely so you can do something you can."

Li Wang's obsequious smile made He Tianran vaguely feel that something was amiss.

"What can I do? What can I do? Composing music? I only have that little bit of music theory knowledge I learned from the guitar. I can transcribe a chord or copy a melody, but I can't even read sheet music properly."

"Alas, Director He, you are mistaken. Come on, Xingzi, explain yourself."

At Li Wang's call, Wei Xing's wheelchair slid down, and he and Li Wang sat down on either side of He Tianran, forming a sandwich.

"Director He, you need to have confidence in your musical talent. With your current guitar skills, you've already beaten 90% of the bands in the country. If you were to join any band now as the lead guitarist, you'd be more than qualified."

"...Really?"

"It's all taken care of!" The two exclaimed in unison, making He Tianran feel a little smug. He couldn't help but touch his chin, which he had shaved clean that morning, and his mind drifted back to the scene of the "lead singer" communicating with the band on the balcony that day. But then he quickly shook his head and said:

"No, you two called me here specifically to get me to start a band?"

Li Wang squinted, a grin on his face:

"Yes and no."

He Tianran laughed in exasperation, "What is nothing and what is nothing? Are you playing with turtle soup here? Or are you filming a variety show? Your skill in telling riddles to annoy people is definitely above mine, Director Li."

"Hey~" Li Wang waved his hand, looking embarrassed, "I learned this from watching you and A Liang on variety shows~"

"You... that's enough!"

"Okay, okay, let's get serious..." The buzz surrounding He Tianran and Wen Liang's recent appearance on a variety show has finally died down considerably, so Li Wang knew when to stop and said earnestly, "It's like this, Director He, you're supposed to play the missing 'lead singer' in my film, right? He has an unreleased song in the film, and he needs you..."

"Isn't that sung by Wen Liang?"

Before the other person could finish speaking, He Tianran, who had read the script, asked a question.

"Yes, the song was used in the final film, but the problem now is... the lyrics are still not available."

"Then write it down, why are you telling me?"

"Well, aren't you the band's 'lead singer'..."

"no……"

Hearing Li Wang's words, He Tianran was momentarily stunned. He paused for two seconds, crossed one arm over his chest, and gestured with the other:

"Hiss~ You mean, I'm the lead singer, but I disappeared, and now I have a song with unfinished lyrics, and I have to put myself in the role and finish writing it, and then leave it for Wen Liang to sing at the end, is that what you mean?"

"Yes, yes, that's what I mean."

Li Wang nodded repeatedly. Just as He Tianran hesitated, Wei Xing, who was standing to the side, also reminded him:

"Director He, do you remember when I helped A Liang record 'The Night Asks the Day' last time, I told you that I've always wanted to write a truly memorable hit song for Interesting?"

This must have happened before He Tianran's schizophrenia. He remained silent about it, only looking at Wei Xing, who continued:
"I... majored in sculpture in college. Although I've always loved music composition, it was just a hobby. By chance, I met Uncle A, Ah Liang, and later Boss Park, Director Li, and a bunch of other friends. The years I spent in a band with them were the most carefree years of my life. I often feel regretful that if I had been a little better at music composition back then, and had written a hit song for the band, maybe... heh~"

He Tianran listened quietly, then asked softly:
"Then why don't you write the lyrics yourself?"

Wei Xing shook his head:
"Writing lyrics isn't my strong suit, besides..."

He gazed at He Tianran before him, and though somewhat unwilling, he still sincerely admitted:

"Director He, you helped Director Li restart 'Cosmic Street,' which indirectly gave my song a chance to be released again. This shows that you and our group of people have some kind of destiny, or that we are actually the same kind of people. Otherwise, with your current fame, you would not be able to come together with us."

The difference between you and us is that when I watched your impromptu performance with A Liang on the rooftop a while ago, and also looked back at your earlier musical flash mob at the University Town subway station, I could sense that you and she had a great chemistry. This chemistry wasn't the kind that band members develop through constant practice, but rather A Liang's heartfelt joy, a state that she didn't have with us friends.

I believe you, Director He, can also sense this, because if you didn't, you probably wouldn't have let A Liang, who is already famous, continue to participate in this low-budget art film. After all, given her current commercial value, making this film would undoubtedly be a waste of her time.

Director Li and I had already discussed this before. Given that you'll be playing the role of the 'disappearing lead singer' in the film, and considering you're a director with creative abilities, we unanimously decided that you were the best choice for the lyrics of this song.

If it were anyone else, He Tianran would have thought they were flattering him. But Wei Xing, as a former member of Wen Liang's band, had spent several years creating a song to make up for the regret of the band's disbandment. His words were truly sincere and reasonable.

Since the other party had already said that, He Tianran no longer refused. He put on the left earpiece and spoke:
"Let it out, let me hear it..." (End of Chapter)