Life countdown begins, ice queen bursts into security room

At 7:30, Xu Qingya's phone rang on the bedside table.

The ringtone is "Red Bean".

Xu Qingya groaned, reached under the covers and fumbled for a while before finally finding her hand and pressing it off.

The alarm clock had just been turned off when Yang Lele called.

She cleared her throat before answering.

"Feed".

"Sister Ya, the stylist for the magazine shoot asked what time you're leaving?" Yang Lele's voice came through the receiver.

Nine o'clock.

After hanging up the phone, she turned over and buried her face in Jiang Fan's shoulder.

"Sleep for another ten minutes."

By the time Xu Qingya sat up, supporting herself on Jiang Fan's chest, it was already eight o'clock.

She glanced down at Jiang Fan. "Why didn't you call me!"

Jiang Fan noticed that she didn't reply, and his eyes wandered downwards.

"What are you looking at?"

"I love watching it."

Xu Qingya threw off the covers and got out of bed. She walked barefoot on the carpet toward the bathroom, and after taking two steps, she turned back and glared at him.

"It's all your fault."

-

The two of them finished packing one after the other.

When Xu Qingya came out of the dressing room, she had already switched back to being the top female star of Tianyu Media.

She picked up her bag and walked to the entrance, then turned back and waved to Jiang Fan.

Jiang Fan walked over.

Xu Qingya tiptoed and kissed him.

See you this afternoon.

"Um."

The door closed.

Jiang Fan stayed on the sofa for a while longer.

I left home at noon, slurped down a bowl of beef noodles downstairs, and took a taxi to Tianyu.

-

The car stopped at the main entrance of the Tianyu Media building.

Jiang Fan didn't rush to get off. He sat in the back seat and looked up at the Tianyu logo on the roof.

A few seconds later, he pushed open the door and got out of the car, straightening his cuffs.

The nautilus on my wrist swayed, and the blue disc flashed in the midday sun.

On the steps at the entrance, Zhao Guoqiang was reprimanding several new security guards with his hands behind his back, his voice quite loud.

"Stand up! Stand up! This is Tianyu Media, not a train station!"

He caught a glimpse of the person getting off the bus out of the corner of his eye, paused for a moment, and then his expression quickly changed.

Jiang Fan didn't give him a chance to come over, and went straight up the steps and pushed open the door to enter the hall.

The receptionist looked up, her first reaction was a professional smile, her second reaction was a blank expression.

She remembered that face, the handsome security guard who nodded to her every day.

"You are... Ah, Teacher Jiang?"

"Yes. I made an appointment with Xu Qingya."

"Please wait a moment, I'll contact Sister Chen right away!"

People were coming and going in the lobby, and several employees who recognized him glanced at him from a distance.

Someone took out their phone to take a picture, but a colleague next to them nudged them with their elbow and they quickly put their phone back.

A moment later, the elevator opened with a ding.

Chen Lan walked out quickly in her high heels.

"Teacher Jiang, come up with me."

-

The recording studio is on the top floor.

Pushing open the door, I found Xu Qingya already in the studio adjusting her in-ear monitor.

Jiang Fan sat down at the mixing console and put on his monitoring headphones.

"Try it once."

The piano prelude flowed from the in-ear monitor.

"How many times did we say goodbye in those fleeting years, only to postpone it again..."

After Xu Qingya finished singing the first time, Jiang Fan pressed the intercom button.

"The pronunciation should be clear and elegant, not too forceful or harsh, but rather have a subtle, elusive quality, like a dragonfly skimming the water."

The second time, the third time.

"The chorus uses frequent switching between true and falsetto voices to express regret and longing, giving the song a more ethereal feel."

"Um."

On the fourth time, the shed door was pushed open from the outside.

Chen Lan turned her head, her brow furrowed slightly, and she stood up.

The person who entered was Wang Haiyang, the vice president of EE-Media.

He was followed by a beautiful assistant, who was holding a folder.

"Mr. Wang."

"Xiao Chen." Wang Haiyang responded with a smile, his gaze passing directly past her and landing on Jiang Fan in front of the mixing console.

"Teacher Jiang is here. I heard you came to record a song today, so I came down to see you."

Jiang Fan glanced at Xu Qingya in the shed and pressed the intercom button.

"Qingya, take a ten-minute break."

Xu Qingya took off her headphones and came out of the shed.

"Why is Mr. Wang here?"

"Just passing by." Wang Haiyang spread his hands and turned back to Jiang Fan. "Teacher Jiang, may I have a word with you?"

Jiang Fan glanced at Xu Qingya.

Xu Qingya didn't reply, but picked up the water glass on the table and took a sip.

"Let's talk about it here," Jiang Fan said.

Wang Haiyang's smile paused for half a second, then returned.

"Alright. Mr. Jiang is a straightforward person, so I'll get straight to the point—Tianyu wants to discuss a long-term partnership with you. An exclusive contract, and you can name your terms regarding the terms."

The assistant handed me the folder.

Xu Qingya's new album "Red Bean" has sold over 100 million copies, and her songs "Blue and White Porcelain" and "Nocturne" have been played over 100 million times in total.

Wang Haiyang had calculated it very clearly—signing Jiang Fan to Tianyu Media was equivalent to locking up a money-printing machine.

Jiang Fan did not accept the contract.

"Cooperation is negotiable, but signing a contract is out of the question."

"Teacher Jiang, please listen to me first—"

"The songs I have will go to whoever's project is suitable. I'll continue to contribute to Qingya's project, so there won't be any conflicts." Jiang Fan paused for a moment. "For other projects, just let Sister Chen handle the coordination."

Wang Haiyang's smile lasted for two seconds.

He was naturally unwilling to accept that the contract hadn't been signed.

But given Jiang Fan's attitude, forcing it on would just look bad.

"Okay." He nodded. "Professor Jiang is so straightforward, let's leave it at that for now. Please take care of me if there are any other projects in the future."

"Um."

Wang Haiyang didn't stay any longer. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he went downstairs with his entourage.

The shed door was closed.

Xu Qingya glanced at Jiang Fan over the rim of her water glass, put the glass back on the table, and put her headphones back on before going into the studio.

"Fleet of Time" was recorded eight times in total.

Chen Lan leaned back on the sofa, closed her eyes, and listened to the final version.

When I opened my eyes, they were filled with regret.

She lowered her head and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

Jiang Fan pushed the push rod up.

"That's fine."

-

It was already past six o'clock when we finished.

Xu Qingya went to the dressing room to change clothes, while Jiang Fan waited in the corridor outside.

The evening rush hour had begun, and among the few people gathered at the elevator entrance, many recognized him.

An elevator opened with a ding.

A person came out from inside, looking down at a short video, and almost bumped into Jiang Fan with their shoulder.

"Watch where you're walking—"

The moment he looked up, Zhao Guoqiang's face froze.

"Jiang...Jiang Fan?"

Jiang Fan glanced at him.

"Manager Zhao."

Zhao Guoqiang's gaze involuntarily slid downwards, landing on Jiang Fan's wrist.

Blue dial, octagonal case, steel chain.

A while ago, he happened to come across a short video about watches – the Patek Philippe Nautilus, which starts at 1.2 million.

Zhao Guoqiang opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

The door to the dressing room opened.

Xu Qingya changed into a long black trench coat and came out with her hair loosely tied up. When she saw the scene in the corridor, she paused for half a second.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," Jiang Fan said. "It's just an old acquaintance."

Zhao Guoqiang's face turned pale instantly.

Xu Qingya glanced at Zhao Guoqiang, her expression unchanged.

"Let's go," she said.

Jiang Fan followed her toward the elevator.

He paused briefly as he passed by Zhao Guoqiang.

"Manager Zhao."

Zhao Guoqiang looked up, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

"...Teacher Jiang."

"Work hard and stop abusing your power for personal gain."

Zhao Guoqiang's lips moved, but he didn't say a word.

Jiang Fan didn't look at him a second time and followed Xu Qingya into the elevator.

Zhao Guoqiang was left standing alone in the corridor.

-

The elevator is going down.

Xu Qingya leaned against the corner and glanced at Jiang Fan.

"know?"

"My former boss."

Xu Qingya raised her eyebrows slightly, then lowered them again.

"oh."

The elevator arrived at the first floor.

Jiang Fan and Xu Qingya parted ways in the lobby.

Her car was already waiting at the exit, and Yang Lele stood by the car to greet her.

Xu Qingya had to go to the airport that night to catch her next engagement.

Before getting into the car, she glanced back at him, said nothing, and got in.

The car drove off, its taillights flashing twice in the evening traffic before disappearing.

Jiang Fan stood on the steps and took his phone out of his pocket.

There was a text message sent by Zhou Yutong around 5 PM.

"Brother Fan, Sister Nian went to the studio to practice all afternoon today, and I just checked her temperature and she still has a slight fever."