The number one playboy on the Peninsula!

Chapter 289 "Seorita" and Mercedes (Seeking monthly votes)

Around 3 a.m. on July 12th...

Gong Cheng sat in first class, revising the lyrics he had just written for "STAY." The buzzing sound of the car on the airport runway as his headphones landed hurt his ears. He glanced at Mina, who was curled up in a chair next to him, covered with a blanket, and smiled as he turned off his phone.

The arrangement of "STAY" is still unfinished, and the lyrics are not quite right. He still needs to take some time to refine them.

Regarding the album "The Lovers," while writing the lyrics for "STAY" tonight, Gong Cheng gained a clearer understanding and more creative insights into two parallel concepts: "turning the world upside down with love" and "the antonym of love"...

Love can turn the world upside down, so love has an antonym. But in his mind, "STAY," as well as some songs that he had initial ideas for but hadn't yet produced, are like two sides of a coin. The heads represent stories that are happening now, while the tails, tossed in the air, suggest things that might happen in the future that he doesn't want to see...

"..."

Thinking about this, Gong Cheng realized he was quite the romantic at heart.
Devoted, pure, and equal love for every woman...

As the plane landed smoothly in London, Gong Cheng unbuckled his seatbelt, stretched, and then turned to his side, his eyes fixed on the sleeping penguin. The penguin's fair face was slightly furrowed in its sleep, its delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed…

He suddenly remembered something interesting: why are many girls' eyebrows so light, or even nonexistent?
Previously, Gong Cheng had curiously asked the little washboard-faced Kim Minjun, only to receive a resentful look in return. The little washboard-faced Kim Minjun's eyebrows were pitifully thin, no wonder he looked like a puppy...

"Wake up, Mina-chan~"

Gong Cheng raised his hand and poked Mina's cheek...

"..."

……

After disembarking, Gong Cheng hurriedly boarded the van sent by Burberry, not even bothering to interact with the fans who came to pick him up, as the non-stop schedule was truly exhausting.

"Tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock, we're going to Burberry to handle Nayeon and Tzuyu's contracts..."

Sitting in the passenger seat, Kim Dae-woo glanced at the schedule in his memo and explained tomorrow's work arrangements to the other celebrities in the car, "This afternoon, several weekly magazines in London will be coming to shoot, and Burberry's autumn collection is also ready to be launched, so we need you, as the spokesperson, to shoot the advertisements..."

Inside the van, Lim Nayeon, Minatozaki Sana, and the others were engrossed in scrolling through their phones. They understood their husband's serious attitude when working, so they didn't disturb him. Miyako rolled down a window halfway, letting in a cool night breeze and the humid heat of London. "Is there anything else?"

As he spoke, he yawned, and the stray hairs on his head fluttered slightly in the night breeze...

"We might have to reschedule..."

Kim Daewoo glanced hesitantly at Tzuyu, Mina, and the others in the carriage, but after thinking for a moment, he figured they were all artists under the same company and probably wouldn't say anything out of line: "The two-day London itinerary remains unchanged for Tzuyu, Nayeon, Sana, and Mina..."

"After finishing their trip to London, they will fly directly to Seoul the day after tomorrow. TWICE's special album comeback is just around the corner."

After hearing Kim Dae-woo's story, Minatozaki Sana and Mani Mina immediately raised their faces in the dimly lit carriage, waiting quietly for him to continue.

"Mercedes has raised their endorsement fee for you to $4000 million a year. This is their last price increase. Of course, for the extra $500 million, they want their product to appear in your music video and cooperate with their marketing campaign..."

Kim Dae-woo revealed the job details that made Lim Na-yeon and the others' eyes widen. He then glanced slowly at Gong Cheng, who was calmly gazing out the window at the passing scenery: "As for Mercedes, we hope to reach a contract as soon as possible. They have a new model ready to launch..."

"They promised that if you wanted Mercedes products to appear in your music video, they would handle the subsequent marketing and promotion, and promised that it wouldn't be worse than what Aston Martin gave you, and might even be better..."

Compared to Aston Martin, one of the world's top ten supercar brands, Mercedes-Benz offers a wider range of models, boasts higher annual revenue, and has a more substantial budget, according to Jin Dae-yu's professional perspective…

Gong Cheng chose Aston Martin from among supercar brands like Ferrari because of the high degree of compatibility, style, and character he shares with the brand. Mercedes-Benz, on the other hand, offers a wider range of choices for the general public and its fans, from entry-level coupes to business vehicles, SUVs, and supercars.

It's likely that there's no one in the world who doesn't know the Mercedes brand...

Therefore, Aston Martin has not made any statement or shown any intention to interfere with the negotiations between Gong Cheng and Mercedes-Benz. After all, the two brands have different positioning for the general public, and any model from brands like Aston Martin and Ferrari starts at over a million RMB...

Not applicable to the general public...

"A music video?"

"Use the music video for the new song to promote it, to create an official announcement video?"

Gong Cheng withdrew his gaze, and upon hearing this, he immediately smiled, his eyes showing considerable interest.

"Yes, they want to use a music video to link your new song with the news of your signing with Mercedes. They will cover the production costs of the music video, as well as the subsequent promotion and advertising costs."

Kim Dae-woo calmly revealed the lucrative contract offered by Mercedes-Benz. This contract, in the public eye, was no longer just lucrative, but astronomical. Otherwise, the revelation of the $3500 million annual salary when Gong Cheng landed in Paris wouldn't have caused such a stir among fans and the general public…

But now, the contract is worth $40 million, a three-year deal, which is even more explosive than the commercial value of various sports stars.

"So, when do we change our route to Germany?"

“You know, I’ve always been a loyal Mercedes customer…”

Gong Cheng smiled brightly. The music video was easy to handle; they could release a song from the new album to coincide with the release of a new Mercedes model. Specific details still needed design and planning, but it wasn't impossible. The main issue was that he had never experienced a music video being projected onto LED screens around the world before…

He had no doubt about Mercedes' marketing tactics; compared to Aston Martin and LVMH, they were only stronger, not weaker...

"You agreed?"

Kim Daewoo asked in surprise. He had thought this guy would put on a show in front of the girls in the carriage, and he had even planned how to play along. But he was so easygoing. Shouldn't you have been more serious and acted more nonchalant and conflicted?

Lim Na-yeon, Minatozaki Sana, and Mina Minami's lips twitched.

Have you always been a loyal Mercedes customer?

"I didn't see that at all... But a 3-year, $1.2 million contract, anyone would be tempted by that, right?" Lim Nayeon glanced at her male relative, her expression seemingly joyful, but her tone didn't actually sound very happy...

She found herself increasingly unable to understand her male parent...

"After shooting for Burberry today, we're changing our route to Germany tonight. I checked and there are flights available at 11 PM. I'll book them when I get back to the hotel..."

After pondering for a moment, Jin Dayu immediately began making arrangements, managing Gong Cheng's schedule meticulously. "After signing the contract, we don't need to stay in Germany for too long. Their idea is to first take a few preliminary photos and promotional posters..."

"The specific promotional materials are all in your music video. When the music video is being filmed, they will send a senior executive to the set to coordinate with us. Once the music video is completed, we will begin the promotion and distribution process..."

"After that, we transferred in Milan for Fashion Week and work at Armani, and our final stop was Los Angeles and Miami..."

"The director the company sent has already rented the recording studio and some filming locations you need in Miami..."

"Understood……"

Gong Cheng rubbed his temples and responded. Then he glanced at Zhou Ziyu and Mina, who looked like they wanted to say something but couldn't, and gave a wry smile, "Oh dear, I promised to spend a day with you guys in London, but I couldn't keep my promise..."

He had originally planned to spend the day in London with his girlfriends and best friend the day after filming the Burberry ad, but unfortunately he came during the off-season, otherwise he could have gone to see a football match...

"It's okay..."

Chou Tzu-yu smiled gently, her eyes reflecting her older brother's slightly tired face. How to put it... after learning that her brother's career was doing incredibly well, she was very happy for him...

But seeing that tired face again, I felt a pang of heartache...

I hope my brother won't be so tired.

……

Back at the hotel, Gong Cheng opened his suitcase, took out a clean set of clothes, and went into the bathroom to shower...

After washing up, he saw Lim Nayeon's message in the group chat about having a late-night snack at a restaurant. He didn't have much of an appetite, and was too sleepy to keep his eyes open, so he slumped onto the sofa and fell asleep...

Zhou Ziyu took the room key from Jin Dayu, quietly packed a meal from the restaurant, and went into Gong Cheng's suite.

I then discovered that my dear brother, with his hair still wet, was fast asleep, slumped over a sofa cushion...

"Brother, why don't you get up and go to your bedroom to sleep?"

Zhou Ziyu sat somewhat awkwardly on another single sofa in the suite's living room, gently patting Gong Cheng's back with her slender hand, "Be good, brother?"

But there was no response to his rising and falling breathing...

Having no other choice, Zhou Ziyu went into the bedroom alone, took a blanket from the bed, and spread it on Gong Cheng. After all, her brother was so big that she couldn't move him by herself, and she was mainly afraid of waking him up...

What if someone who needs sleeping pills to sleep finally falls asleep, and then you wake them up again?

Chou Tzu-yu was hesitant, her mind in turmoil, and she didn't know what to do...

After finishing, she didn't linger. She was thinking that when she got back to her room, she should talk to Sana and tell her brother that he was very tired and to hint that she shouldn't bother him in the middle of the night.
Be sensible, okay?

Last night in Paris, Sana unnie ran out of her suite in the middle of the night, and she, being a light sleeper, heard everything clearly…

Before leaving, Chou Tzu-yu thought for a moment and then took the food she had brought with her. It was a hot day, and she was worried that if the food was left out overnight, it would spoil and attract insects...

……

That night, Gong Cheng slept exceptionally well...

In the Kakao chat, the big star and Minato both sent messages of concern, probably thinking that he had to rush to Germany again tonight, so they didn't sneak over to disturb his rest in the middle of the night...

During the day, Gong Cheng, Lin Nalian, and Zhou Ziyu went to Burberry Group together to complete their ambassadorship signing.

For artists, the ambassadorship title and collaborations offer greater flexibility in terms of fees. This means the signing fee is usually lower, and settlements may be on a project-by-project basis, such as for a single event or a quarterly collaboration. The focus is on a "rights-for-rights" exchange, such as the swapping of product and traffic resources. Meanwhile, the two individuals signed sub-ambassadorships…

This approach focuses on specific product lines, regional markets, and specific marketing campaigns, resulting in a relatively low level of brand loyalty. However, it represents a first step towards gaining visibility in the high-end luxury market. Aside from the modest endorsement fees, the four members—Minatozaki Sana, Nainai Minami, Lim Nayeon, and Chou Tzu-yu—will be seen at various events...

A one-year contract for a haute couture garment sponsored by a brand isn't long, and the "bondage" with the brand isn't very strong. After one year, the brand will decide whether to terminate or renew the contract based on the return on investment, or upgrade the title, or you might receive offers from other high-end luxury brands...

"..."

The Burberry ad shoot went smoothly and was completed much faster than expected...

At 6 p.m., London's Insa Bridge, a bridge with a history of over two hundred years, has a grayish color and stone brick paving, which can be described as rustic and has a unique charm. The calm waters below the bridge ripple and splash, and the setting sun casts a play of light and shadow on the Thames.

Gong Cheng sat on the dusty railing of the bridge. The railing was wide enough that he didn't have to worry about falling. The surrounding film set was empty, but a number of local residents and tourists from other places had gathered on the outer perimeter, and shouts of "Tarot!" echoed continuously...

He was shooting the last set of advertising photos for Burberry's new season items. After a few sets of photos, he would be wrapping up work...

Not far away, in front of a cluster of cameras, the director stood still, watching the scene on the screen. He glanced out of the corner of his eye at the many photographers around him. They weren't sent by the Burberry Group, but rather tourists with cameras. The scenery of this bridge and the Thames was so beautiful that every year, every day, many tourists and photographers would come here to take photos and capture the moment…

In the shot, Gong Cheng is wearing a long Burberry trench coat that doesn't quite fit the season, but the beige, thin trench coat is the color of autumn leaves, reflecting the sunset. The lighting is perfectly matched, and his slightly melancholic face, with a contradictory smile in his eyes, is gazing at the Thames River...

A tall figure sat on the railing of the ancient bridge, his long legs resting on the raised part at the bottom of the railing. With the sea breeze blowing from the Thames, he slightly raised his head, and the setting sun peeked over his face, giving him a touch of nobility and elegance...

"Crack!"

The director pressed the shutter button frame by frame, and was about to look up and shout "Cut the job!" when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a woman with golden curly hair in a ponytail holding a camera and taking pictures of the boy at the bridgehead. The camera, held next to her cheek, covered half of her face.

The director could tell at a glance that this woman was a professional photographer, perhaps a tourist from abroad, from her professional equipment and camera brand.

What truly intrigued him was that the woman who put down her camera appeared to be in her thirties, with delicate features but some freckles around her eyes and brows. As she examined the photos on the camera, she turned to a passerby and asked, "Who is this boy?"

These days, is there anyone who doesn't know "Tarot"?

This is also something the director is interested in.

Sure enough, the passerby the woman asked looked at her with surprise and then explained, "He is Tarot!"

Then, the passerby opened his mouth in disbelief, "You don't know him?"

The woman first shook her head, then subconsciously reached up to touch the necklace around her neck, attracting the attention of passersby. The pendant she was clutching was a genuine bullet casing. "I've been in war-torn areas of the Middle East for the past two years and rarely watch entertainment news..."

The passersby suddenly realized what was going on. The director glanced suspiciously at her camera and the pendant around her neck, wondering if she worked as a photographer in the Middle East or was involved in refugee aid or something...

The director lost interest, picked up a megaphone, and shouted, "That's a wrap!"

The woman's gaze remained fixed on the boy sitting on the Insa Bridge. His tall figure stood out after his somersault and landing. He took off his trench coat and put on the denim jacket his assistant handed him. He squinted and smiled at the four girls who were running onto the bridge...

The photographer saw beauty in each of the four girls from different angles. One of them, petite and swaying as she walked, might even be her type. She resembled her first love, and made one feel like taking a bullet for her…

But the girls' chatter and cheerful laughter were far less impressive than the boy in the denim jacket who gave her the same stunning feeling!

His excellent physique and gentle smile, though a hint of sadness seemed to linger in his eyes, made his heart flutter. The name "Tarot," which he heard from passersby, was definitely not his real name. Yet, as he walked in front of several girls, chatting and laughing, it made his heart race...

To hide the shock in her heart, the woman picked up the camera hanging in front of her vest again, focused the lens, and took a picture of his smile in the sunset.

She swore to God that at thirty, she had never met a man who could move her heart. All five of her past relationships were with girls; she was a lesbian…

Regarding her sexual orientation, she vaguely knew she was a lesbian when she was a teenager, but a boy not far away, just a glance and a smile from him, made her heart flutter!

She felt that God must be crazy, or that she herself was crazy.

So she picked up her phone and typed "Tarot" into a search engine, eager to know everything about him, just like how she had worked for two years in the war-torn Middle East and found it difficult to find inspiration for photography, so she came to London to see the architecture of Western Europe...

But God sent a muse!
"..."

"..."

"..."

News articles related to that name appeared on the screen, and raw photos even clearer than the ones she had just taken assaulted her vision and mind. As she browsed through those achievements, she looked up slightly and realized that the "muse" had already led four girls away.

She glanced sideways in disbelief, her throat bobbing as she asked the kind passerby, "Is he even more famous than Justin Bieber?"

"It's hard to compare them. In terms of achievements, he has surpassed Bieber in just one year, but it's hard to say who is more popular. They are at least on the same level."

A passerby offered a fair assessment, then added with admiration, "Even Taylor Swift wants to collaborate with him. In the last two years, from last year to this year, he's practically dominated the world's trending topics and scandals..."

"It's hard to define exactly how popular he is, but it's rare to find someone like you who doesn't know him or hasn't even heard of him..."

"..."

The woman moved away from the crowd and found a seat where she could feel the Thames breeze. She carefully browsed the news and information about the boy. She took out her earphones from her bag, put them in, and the addictive voice and pure singing made her eager to confirm her inner thoughts...

She browsed through Tarot's world tour plans for the second half of the year, having heard that tickets would be very expensive, but she was even more eager to see if she had truly fallen for this global superstar at first sight...

She then opened Twitter and uploaded the pictures she had taken with her camera.

In the picture, a tall boy leans against the setting sun, sitting on the bridge, gazing at the surface of the Thames...

Her caption read: "I fell in love with you at first sight in London, only to find out later that you're a world-famous superstar..."

"These photos are for you..."

So she clicked the send button, inexplicably looking forward to Tarot's world tour. She wanted to see if she, a lesbian for thirty years, had truly fallen in love with a world-famous star...

……

As the sun set, the sky in London darkened quickly...

Gong Cheng was unaware of what was happening off-set. He led Ziyu and the little dog to walk along the Thames River and then casually found a restaurant for dinner.

"..."

Late at night, Gong Cheng, Jin Dayu, and their bodyguards boarded a flight to Germany, their destination being Stuttgart.

Stuttgart is the capital and largest city of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and is known as the "Motor City." It boasts a massive automotive industry with over 8 employees. Mercedes-Benz alone produces up to 60 vehicles annually there, and the company's headquarters are also located in Stuttgart.

"..."

July 13th...

Gong Cheng visited the Mercedes-Benz headquarters and, at the invitation of the management, toured the factory. They had launched the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class earlier this year and were preparing to launch the new G-Class in China next month, along with models such as the AMG GLC 63/GLC 63 Coupe…

Ultimately, their plan for this year includes launching multiple new models, covering sedans, SUVs, and high-performance vehicles. Therefore, they are eager to reach an agreement with Gong Cheng.

Around noon, Gong Cheng sat in the building and happily signed a contract with Mercedes-Benz for a three-year endorsement deal worth 120 million US dollars.

Gong Cheng felt he was the first one to do this, so he had to show off...

"..."

The news of his arrival in Stuttgart was captured by passersby at the airport, and the news spread like wildfire, with the internet flooded with speculation about whether "Tarot" had reached a contract with Mercedes-Benz.

After all, a reporter had previously revealed that Mercedes-Benz offered a staggering $35 million per year to sign the "Tarot" endorsement deal...

After signing the contract, Gong Cheng did not linger. His promotional advertisements for Mercedes-Benz would appear in future music videos. That evening, he boarded a plane directly to Milan, Italy's second-largest city and fashion capital.

Without his female relatives around, Gong Cheng worked more peacefully and became more efficient.

Inefficiency is unacceptable, since the moment you open your eyes, you're bombarded with flight information and packed schedules, either in first class or in a hotel… A highly viewed post on Twitter also trended on Twitter these past two days.

#I fell in love with you at first sight in London, only to find out later that you're a world-famous superstar#
#……#
Gong Cheng didn't pay much attention to this; he was too busy to care. Even the video calls with Cou Xiaogou were late at night, just a short video call at the hotel, but either he was on a flight or Cou Xiaogou was already asleep...

……

July 16th.

Gong Cheng arrived in Los Angeles to attend an internal screening of "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." While called a screening, it was essentially a meeting of the production team and Sony executives to monitor the film's progress...

With about six months to go before its release, the final cut will undergo rigorous review from various aspects during this period.

The film, which is about 100 minutes long, is a 2D animated film, but through its unique visual style and technical processing, it creates a sense of depth and layering that is close to 3D. However, the breakthrough of "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" lies in its combination of traditional 2D hand-drawn style with modern digital technology, forming a highly recognizable "comic book-like stereoscopic visual effect." The characters' movements are smooth but retain the jumping feeling of "frame animation." Combined with the rapid camera cuts and perspective stretching, it creates a sense of spatial movement similar to 3D animation.

Overall, the viewing experience was quite good, but the production team still found many problems that require further modification and editing. Some special effects also need improvement…

“Tarot, your suggestion last time was excellent.” “Insert background music from your film when the main character wears headphones or plays music on their laptop…”

The person in charge sat smiling in the conference room, discussing their ideas and requirements for the movie's theme songs with Gong Cheng. The most important point was that the songs had to match the tone of the plot...

You can't exactly play a horror movie's theme song on a comedy, can you?

It's very simple.

Gong Cheng listened to the client's requirements and nodded. After watching the entire "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" movie, he felt it had a cyberpunk vibe. As for the specific film production and Sony's ideas about incorporating him into the film...

He didn't pay much attention to it, after all, he didn't understand filmmaking and was just an outsider. But he was quite interested in the movie's theme song and had a general idea in mind.

"..."

In the afternoon, Gong Cheng followed the person in charge to the department responsible for 2D hand-drawn illustrations for the movie "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." He looked at several hand-drawn illustrations of their "characters," which were really just images of them in the movie...

He was quite satisfied. The black hair, the facial modeling, and everything else were drawn based on his own appearance, and they were pretty much a good match. He was still as handsome as ever...

……

"How are you doing lately, Mr. Influential Person?"

At night, Gong Cheng drove to the vicinity of the Poor Ris Wharf in Angel City. In addition to the endless coastline and beach, there were many bars with pleasant atmospheres nearby. Taylor picked up his glass, watched him with a light laugh, and teased him.

In just one week, the boy in front of me handled some work in Europe, and almost all the media in Europe were reporting on him.

From speculation about whether he had signed a contract with Dior, to his appearance at Mercedes headquarters in Germany...

"So-so~ They landed a big contract worth over 1 million US dollars!"

Gong Cheng shrugged and sat down opposite Taylor. Next to her sat a woman with a wheatish complexion and dark brown curly hair, Camila Cabello, also known as Camila.

After introducing Camila and Gong Cheng briefly, Taylor rolled her eyes. "A $1 million contract? You think it's a piece of cake?" The words had barely left her mouth when she remembered the industry rumor that Mercedes wanted to sign Gong Cheng for $3500 million…

A three-year, $105 million contract—"You signed a contract with Mercedes-Benz?"

“Yes, otherwise why would I go to Germany? I’m already busy enough…” Gong Cheng didn’t hide the news, after all, his appearance in Germany had already spread like wildfire online, so there was nothing to hide. It’s just that the signing fee was different from what the outside world imagined.

But for a deep-pocketed company like Mercedes, there's little difference between $3500 million and $4000 million.

After taking a sip of his drink, Gong Cheng didn't bother with Taylor, since they were already quite familiar with each other. Instead, he was very interested in Camila Cabello, who was a year younger than him. This meeting was arranged by Taylor beforehand, which led to their collaboration.

The only song that Gong Cheng completed during his trip to Europe was "Seorita," a light and romantic song. Initially, he wanted to work with Taylor, but to be honest, Taylor's voice and style didn't match the feeling he wanted in terms of the arrangement.

When he reached an agreement with Camila Cabello, he had already sent over the arrangement and lyrics. Otherwise, he wouldn't have rushed over as soon as he finished filming "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." During his last stop in the United States, besides working with Sony, he spent his time recording the audio for this song with Camila Cabello, and had the company rent a recording studio in Miami...

In addition to recording the audio, his album cover will be photographed in Miami.

I love hearing you call me Seorita~

I wish I could pretend I don't need you~

Camila Cabello and Gong Cheng clinked glasses, chuckled, and hummed softly, recalling his earlier appearance.

Gong Cheng, sitting by the window, nodded repeatedly, a delighted look on his face. "That's exactly the feeling!"

"Seorita" is a respectful term for a young woman in Spanish. When he produced this song, his main focus was on sexiness—sexy vocals, sexy arrangement—which also implies its catchy and addictive nature. Besides sexiness, it's light, sweet, and has a romantic, exotic feel. However, Taylor Swift couldn't pull off this kind of sexiness, so it had to be rejected…

"So crisp and fluffy~"

"Are we leaving for Miami tomorrow?"

Gong Cheng pushed up the brim of his camouflage baseball cap. He was wearing a white vest and casual beach shorts, looking very unruly, a far cry from the suit and tie he wore at Milan Fashion Week a couple of days ago.

"So eager? I thought you'd enjoy yourself in Los Angeles for a couple more days. I've already booked a bar in the city tonight..."

Taylor glanced at him in surprise. In her memory, this guy was almost a regular at nightclubs, and the countless tabloid stories about him online weren't entirely untrue.

"You don't dare stay in Los Angeles for long. Have you forgotten last year when Coachella ended and we were in a downtown bar, bikinis were thrown at us?"

Gong Cheng took off his baseball cap, poured himself a glass of rum, and recalled that last year, some local idiot media outlet had spread the rumor that he liked bikini-clad women. On social media, including during his time working in Los Angeles, whenever he went to a bar, people would throw bikini sets at him...

Damn it, that's how their reputation gets ruined.

"I'm fine with it, I can record anytime."

Camila Cabello couldn't help but laugh out loud when she heard these funny stories. She had been looking forward to collaborating with "Tarot" for a long time, and when Taylor sent the message, she even doubted that she had heard correctly!

Since last year, many musicians have wanted to collaborate with "Tarot," partly due to his high popularity and partly due to his talent as a producer. Collaborating with him and releasing a featured track would definitely be a profitable deal...

"Do you want to come along?"

"I estimate I'll stay in Meyer for two days. After the song recording is finished, I have to rush back to Seoul..."

Gong Cheng extended an invitation to Taylor. It seemed that Taylor hadn't been doing much lately. It was as if there had been no news since her performance in Detroit. But she kept saying that she had been writing songs, and had even written a love song.

I'd like to find someone to feature on...

However, the actual song production is not yet complete, so the matter remains undecided.

……

the next day……

Gong Cheng and Camila Cabello arrived in Miami. After landing and a short rest, the two went into the pre-rented recording studio. Taylor followed them and sat near the monitor outside the studio, overseeing the production...

"..."

As the intro to "Seorita" begins, the clean notes of the acoustic guitar, paired with exquisite finger snapping effects, evoke the feeling of standing on the beach at dusk, watching the golden afterglow fall on the surging tide.

Camila Cabello's slightly husky mid-to-high voice, keeping time with the beat, sang, "Oh~ I think I should run away, but you've captivated and controlled me..."

"..."

"Open your lips~ peel off my clothes~ Oh~ I'm falling for your tongue, oh my dear~ Your kiss is intoxicating~ Don't stop~" Gong Cheng's soft, low voice seemed to float on the beat of a song~
Taylor listened with admiration to the two intertwined voices through her headphones. The subtle emotions that seemed to be unspoken, the duets and harmonies, added a narrative feel from different perspectives. Gong Cheng used "Seorita," a term used to refer to unmarried young women, and then used the lyrics as a thread to create a surge of romantic emotions...

……

On July 18th, Gong Cheng's work in Europe was about to conclude...

The director sent by the company rented an abandoned warehouse near Miami Beach. The gloomy afternoon was punctuated by a shower, and the rainy season in this city usually starts in May and ends in October.

During this period, influenced by tropical weather patterns, Miami experiences concentrated rainfall, with peak rainfall occurring in June, July, and August. Afternoon or evening thunderstorms are common, and while the rain is heavy, it is usually short-lived.

The crackling thunderstorm made the green leaves of the palm trees on both sides rustle loudly...

Taylor and Camila followed the crew with great interest, watching Gong Cheng record the poster and album cover.

They were already used to Miami's rainy season; it never lasted long, a gust of wind would pass, and the rain would stop...

And the album cover that Gong Cheng needed to shoot just happened to require this rain shower.

Rainwater falling from the factory eaves formed a transparent curtain of rain in front of the door, but splashing raindrops would occasionally create strings of water droplets in mid-air. The director held the camera equipment under a parasol, which was used to shield himself from the rain.

In the shot, Gong Cheng's tall figure and handsome face are framed against the transparent rain curtain, making his portrait appear somewhat blurry and hazy.

He removed his high-end custom-made clothes and elaborate, eye-catching earrings. His gestures, simple white T-shirt and ripped jeans, all became somewhat somber under the dim sky. The composition of the whole picture had a hazy, gloomy feel, as if representing a certain mood...

"OK!"

The director pressed the shutter and recorded a few more behind-the-scenes videos, then called out to Gong Cheng from behind the rain curtain.

"..."

Gong Cheng picked up an umbrella and walked through the rain to the sunshade. Looking at the finished photos, he smiled and said, "Not bad..."

"Not bad?"

Taylor raised an eyebrow in surprise, then couldn't help but ask in astonishment, "This photo looks like a gloomy day, a bit depressing. Are you sure you want to use it as the album cover?"

For singers, album covers are also very important; otherwise, there wouldn't be awards for album covers at some award ceremonies. They not only represent the message the album wants to convey but also serve as a visual element, and the choice of color schemes often aligns with the style of the songs…

Like many R&B singers, he loves Klein Blue.

Even Taylor Swift's previous album, the one she collaborated on with Makoto Miyazaki, had a carefully considered cover design. Its slightly dark and oppressive style was her response to the "Snakegate" incident.

"Weren't your album covers always very eye-catching?"

She asked hesitantly.

"This is only half; the other half doesn't need to be filmed, it requires some special effects."

Upon hearing this, Gong Cheng chuckled and leaned down to point to the finished product in the camera, "Torrential Rain, me, fits the theme of my upcoming album."

"What theme?"

"Love? Lovers? 'The Lovers'?"

Camila Cabello asked about Tarot's new album "The Lovers" coming out in the second half of the year, which had already gone viral among fans worldwide. Naturally, singers like them were more interested in what their peers were up to, but the cover photo in front of them, with its torrential rain and the image of lovers, didn't seem to fit at all...

The album title, "The Lovers," evokes a story of love and romance between lovers, as does the song "Seorita," a collaboration with Tarot.

Gong Cheng took the ring and necklace that Jin Dayu had taken off, as well as the earrings given to him by the women, and slowly put them on. Then he looked at Taylor and Camila and smiled: "The theme is very simple..."

"When the torrential rain washes away money and fame, all that's left in the world is love..."

He touched his earlobe and put on the earring. This sentence is a broad concept, while "reversing the world with love" and "the opposite of love" are more detailed. Just like this cover is only half. One half is "Gong Cheng", while the other half will be composited with special effects in the later stage. Behind the heavy rain, there is another version of himself standing under the spotlight, "Tarot".

Like a coin with two sides... As for the release of the songs, is he considering a sweet little song, a slightly sad song, or a scumbag song? Is this a coordinated release?
This also confirms the "antonym of love," one positive and one negative...

……

Work ended at night.

Gong Cheng lazily got into Taylor's car with Camila Cabello, and the three of them drove along the beach in Miami. A rain shower came down, and the air carried a faint, acidic smell of rain...

As he passed the American Airlines Arena, Gong Cheng took off his sunglasses and glanced at the arena building behind the palm trees. The warm golden lights were still shimmering in it. He suddenly spoke, turning his head to look at Taylor, who was driving a convertible supercar beside him:
"You're saying that when I recorded songs in Miami, I brought my talent to Miami?"

Taylor was initially confused by his nonsensical remark, but after glancing at the American Airlines Arena in the rearview mirror, she realized what he meant. She laughed twice, then rolled her eyes and asked, "You watch the NBA often too?"

"I used to watch it, but I haven't had time to watch it lately..."

Gong Cheng shrugged and spread his hands. He was already quite tall when he was in middle school, so the basketball club members often invited him to play half-court or full-court games. He was pretty good, but it was just for fun.

"What about rugby?"

Taylor raised an eyebrow and asked again.

"Not interested..."

Gong Cheng replied, and then heard Taylor's invitation, "Next time you come to the US, if you're not working, how about we go to a basketball game together? Did you know that LeBron James signed a 4-year, $1.53 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers this month?"

"Know……"

Gong Cheng nodded. Just a few days ago, on July 10, James brought his talents to the Los Angeles Lakers, which was big news all over the world, especially in the United States, a country with a strong basketball culture.

The three chatted about the game and some related transfer news. Gong Cheng was surprised that Taylor and Kareem were quite knowledgeable about these things, but then he thought about it and realized that Taylor had been a regular in the stands for NBA and football games over the years, so it wasn't surprising...

"..."

……

July 20th.

After a flight of more than ten hours, Gong Cheng returned to Seoul. When facing the media outside the terminal, he suddenly felt tired. He was fine when he was working, but as soon as he returned to a familiar place, it was as if his tense body relaxed and the feeling of fatigue suddenly surged up.

"..."

Amidst a deafening roar of cheers, Gong Cheng got into his Maybach, rolled down the window, waved to the fans who had come to greet him, and drove off...

"Going to the dorm?"

Che Qianhao, sitting in the driver's seat, asked a question.

"Go back to Yeongdeungpo..."

"Tell Zhenying that I'll go to the company again tomorrow..."

Gong Cheng unbuttoned his jacket, finally feeling a bit cooler. His adoptive mother had called before he boarded the plane, asking about his situation and telling him that it had rained in Seoul. He remembered this and put his jacket back on, but the rain in Seoul had already stopped last night…

Aside from the slightly humid air, the raindrops were completely dried up by the rising sun.

……

"Oh my god, I'm home..."

Gong Cheng quickly climbed the stairs to his floor, knocked on the door, and called out.

He still had the keys in his dormitory in Gangdong-gu. He hadn't planned to go back to Yeongdeungpo as his first stop in Seoul; he just suddenly wanted to go home to rest...

"Click~"

A few seconds later, the door was opened from the inside, but the figure that opened it surprised Gong Cheng. It wasn't his mother, nor his father...

Why is it Tzuyu?

What are you doing here, Ziyu?

As soon as he finished speaking, Gong Cheng regretted it. He smiled apologetically at his beautiful younger sister, who stood gracefully in a black dress. His words sounded like he was telling her to leave. Ziyu's long brown hair cascaded smoothly over her shoulders, her small, delicate face framed by raised eyebrows. "We're taking a break today..."

Just then, the adoptive mother, looking increasingly well, walked over, her face beaming with joy, but her tone tinged with reproach, "Why didn't you tell me you were coming home?"

"I miss you, Mom! Why do I need to tell you in advance if I'm going back to my own home?"

Gong Cheng sighed helplessly, walked into the living room, and changed his shoes. Zhou Ziyu, who was standing next to him, continued to chime in, "It's a day off today. All the members went home. My mom and the others are in Tainan. I was a little homesick, so I came over..."

Upon hearing this, Gong Cheng's adoptive mother raised an eyebrow. She first glanced at Ziyu, who was very well-behaved and sensible and had immediately started to fawn over her, and then looked at her own tall son, a hint of suspicion flashing in her eyes.

"Take a break?"

"Wasn't it said that you were going to make a comeback soon?"

Gong Cheng asked in confusion, walked to the refrigerator, and tried to pick up a can of beer as if he knew it well, but after thinking for a moment, his hand stopped in mid-air, and he closed the refrigerator door. He then bent down and took a bottle from a box of banana milk on the floor.

"Hey brother, didn't you read the messages we sent in the group chat carefully?"

Chou Tzu-yu angrily questioned that the comeback had been postponed to a week later. There was no other way now that individual resources were open, and apart from their trip to Paris and London, the other members were also getting other resources from other sources.

For example, Jeongyeon went on a variety show by herself, and Chaeyoung has been busy with her YT Jewelry endorsement these days, so her schedule is simply too tight to be adjusted. Therefore, Park Jin-young decided to postpone TWICE's comeback for a week, and today is their day off...

After that, they'll be preparing for their official comeback...

"I saw it, but I was too busy and didn't read it carefully..."

Gong Cheng thought about it seriously, and it seemed that the TWICE members had indeed mentioned it in the group chat? But he was in a hurry to board the plane at the time, so he didn't pay attention to it...

"Ziyu, Xiaocheng, what do you want to eat?"

"Mom went out to buy groceries..."

Gong Cheng's adoptive mother came out of the room carrying a handbag and looked at the two of them with a smile.

Hearing the word "Mom," Tzuyu sat on the sofa a little shyly, her long legs straight and pressed together. But after thinking for a moment, she stood up and said somewhat awkwardly and shyly, "Auntie, how about I go with you?"

"I was just thinking of taking a walk around the area..."

“Sure,” Gong Cheng’s adoptive mother readily agreed, but then hesitated and asked, “But Ziyu, won’t it cause trouble if you’re recognized?”

"No, I'll wear it..."

Chou Tzu-yu sweetly took out a mask, took another step to the sofa, and put the blue baseball cap that her brother had just taken off when he came in on her head. The brim of the cap was printed with a pattern of the arrow of the Pitt.

Gong Cheng's adoptive mother thought about it and felt it wasn't a big deal. Anyway, the market was very close to her home, and she would be back soon. So she nodded in agreement, smiled, and took Ziyu's arm, preparing to go out.

"Ziyu, tell Mom what you want to eat. Mom's a great cook, you know that..."

"do not mention it……"

Gong Cheng sat in the sunlight streaming in from the balcony, smiled broadly at Zhou Ziyu who was getting ready to leave, then got up and stretched. "Oh, Mom, Ziyu, you guys go ahead with your work. I'll shamelessly wait for dinner. I'll go rest in my bedroom for a bit first~"

"Go quickly, go quickly!"

Chou Tzu-yu's voice was soft and sweet as she waved her little hand and urged them on with a grin.
(End of this chapter)