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

Where are you going to retreat to?

Ruan Qingzhu didn't answer her, but suddenly said:

"I envy you. You love singing so much and you can do what you love with the person you love."

Jiang Xinhai asked, "Don't you like singing?"

“I used to love singing. If you don’t love singing, how can you sing well…” Ruan Qingzhu lowered her head and smiled faintly.

"Then why don't you just sing it? Your new album is selling pretty well, isn't it?"

Ruan Qingzhu looked up: "I used to like it, but now, singing only makes me feel tired."

Jiang Xinhai didn't quite understand this feeling.

“In our industry, when fans like you, you’re a treasure, but once they stop liking you, you’re nothing,” Ruan Qingzhu said. “Most singers are different from you; it’s not just about singing well. There are a lot of impure things involved…”

Then she added, "Can you sing for a lifetime? There will always be a day when you can't sing anymore. For most people in this industry, it's impossible to keep singing forever. The best outcome is just to marry a rich man."

She took a step closer to Jiang Xinhai and said, "I'm dating the son of a real estate company owner. Once I get married, I'll become a full-time housewife and never sing in public again."

Jiang Xinhai said, "Really?"

She suddenly felt a little sad.

“Don’t pity me,” Ruan Qingzhu understood her gaze. “The day I finally put down the music, I will only feel… relief.”

She let go, and the glove fell into Jiang Xinhai's hands.

"Why is there only one?"

"Oh dear, there's another one that's gone somewhere." Ruan Qingzhu's smile suddenly became formulaic. "They probably forgot to bring it."

"Never mind." Jiang Xinhai put the glove away.

She turned and left, walking along the road, her steps gradually becoming lighter from heavy.

What do other people's stories have to do with her?

All she needs to do is sing each song well.

Ruan Qingzhu stood behind her, watching her receding figure.

Her hands were inside her handbag.

The last glove lying in the bag was slowly squeezed in the palm of the hand.

……

2016, spring.

The Regent Hotel, the scene of Haiya Company's cocktail party.

Rows of tables were set with steaks, lobsters, and roast chicken, waiters carried wine glasses, and warm yellow light diffused from crystal bulbs.

People dressed in formal attire of various colors were scattered in twos and threes, with occasionally distinguished elites from all walks of life among them.

Zhou Peng, who was burning CDs in a small factory a few years ago, is now dressed in a suit and tie, with his hair neatly combed, and is currently drinking and chatting with executives from Aihua, the largest entertainment company in China.

This cocktail party was to celebrate Aiwa's successful acquisition of Haiya Company.

Chen Ya and Jiang Xinhai stood upstairs, looking at all this, both feeling somewhat uneasy.

Haiya Company – just as its name suggests, Hai is the Hai in Jiangxinhai, and Ya is the Ya in Chen Ya.

The company was initially built around the two of them, and within just three years, it grew into an industry leader.

However, today, the company's history of independent operation comes to an end.

From now on, Haiya will become a subsidiary of Aihua Company and will be under Aihua's actual control.

Aihua Entertainment is a business owned by "that Lu family".

"That Lu family" sounds like industry slang, but anyone in the entertainment industry knows the significance of those four words.

In short, Aiwa is a company that can make the entire industry tremble with just a few words.

Haiya Company was acquired by Aihua and became part of Aihua's entire entertainment ecosystem, which can only be described as a fault not caused by its own actions.

"Are you unwilling to accept this?" Jiang Xinhai asked.

“If he was really unwilling to accept it, he wouldn’t have sold the company.” Chen Ya took a small sip of red wine.

"But commercially, we lost after all." Jiang Xinhai sighed softly. "The old employees who used to work hard with us don't want to work hard anymore, and even Zhou Peng is going against you."

“They want a more stable life, higher income, more money, to send their daughter to study abroad, hire two more nannies, and buy two more cars… It’s all understandable, and we can’t blame them,” Chen Ya said slowly.

Jiang Xinhai glared at him: "Isn't it all your fault? The signing terms you offered to the singers were too generous. Not only could they switch companies whenever they wanted, but there were also all sorts of guarantees and subsidies. Which company can afford to be treated like that?"

“Artists certainly need good contracts,” Chen Ya said.

“But you’re so indiscriminate in choosing the bands you sign, they’re all bands with no commercial value,” Jiang Xinhai complained. “Than bands like Wan Qing, New Pants, Orange Ocean, and Penicillin, I just don’t understand…”

"...I don't understand, why did you even sign with Secondhand Rose?" Jiang Xinhai almost couldn't catch his breath.

Chen Ya gave a mysterious smile: "They're doing quite well."

Jiang Xinhai said excitedly, "They're like a folk opera duo! Their appearance is strange, and the songs they sing... I feel like they have a powerful effect in warding off evil spirits."

"You must respect things you don't understand; otherwise, what's the difference between you and Yingzi?"

Chen Ya's nonchalant retort caused Jiang Xinhai to suffer internal injuries from holding it in.

“Okay, I won’t talk about this anymore,” Jiang Xinhai stared straight at him with her bright eyes, “When are we getting married?”

Chen Ya looked to the side, pretending not to hear.

"Stop playing dead, you can't hide forever." Jiang Xinhai crossed his arms. "I was the one who confessed, now it's your turn to propose!"

Chen Ya said, "Aba aba? Aba aba..."

Jiang Xinhai slapped his forehead and stomped hard on his foot with her high heel before angrily turning away.

Chen Ya stared at Jiang Xinhai's retreating figure from afar, his eyes filled with tenderness.

He took out his phone, and just then, a new message popped up.

It belongs to Xu Xiangxiao.

He opened the chat software and glanced at it; it was full of messages from Xu Xiangxiao.

3:26

【Are you there?】

Are you asleep?

I couldn't sleep all night; I kept thinking about you.

The other party retracted a message.

4:07

[Are you really asleep?]

Then listen to me.

【I like you.】

[This isn't cool at all, liking Tianya isn't cool at all. But I just like Tianya.]

[Finally, I said it.]

Oh no, it can't be taken back.

【…】

8:42

[Are you there? Haha, I was a little out of it last night, so don't take what I said seriously.]

13:01

Why aren't you replying to me? You can't possibly be still half asleep, can you?

What are your thoughts on what I said yesterday?

"..." Chen Ya exited the chat software and pressed his forehead.

It's a bit... no, it's quite a headache.

Switching to system view, a few lines of text appear on the pale blue screen:

[Current Achievement: Musician (2500/2500)]

[The challenge has been activated. Complete it to proceed to the next stage.]

Challenge: 1. Create at least two new music genres; (Incomplete)

2. The created new musical genre achieves global influence (recognized by people on all five continents). (Incomplete)

Chen Ya took a sip of red wine.

Then, he fell into deep thought...

……

Jiang Xinhai's story is quite long, but she didn't go into every detail; she only gave a general outline.

For example, how did you get to know Dao Lang, and how did you resolve to help Dao Lang take revenge?

How did Yingzi suppress them during the album release process, how did they finally turn the tables, and how did they confess their feelings to each other?

He later founded Haiya Company, the details of which are briefly mentioned. It was eventually acquired by Aihua, and Chen Ya subsequently fled.

It didn't take too long to finish explaining all of this.

The reporters sitting below the stage were scribbling notes, and even Xiao Chuchu was speechless for a moment.

"Because of the marriage, Zhichi and I had a fight. He was probably still angry about the company being acquired, so he left China after promising to give ten years to the Chinese music scene. He disappeared for several years."

"I only recently got back to know him..." Jiang Xinhai said at the end.

After he finished speaking, the people below sighed.

The viewers in the live stream also had mixed feelings.

If their initial feelings for Jiang Xinhai and Zhichi stemmed from gossip and a desire to watch the drama unfold, it was perhaps mixed with a degree of malice.

Now, all that malice has vanished.

At first, to the audience who only looked at the surface, the idea of ​​a singer dating their go-to songwriter was somewhat... well, you know.

In short, it's definitely not romantic.

Furthermore, Zhichi, a dropout from a mountain village, used his talent to win over the goddess, then started a company, achieved great success, and made a leap in social class, which aroused envy in others...

But after listening carefully to their stories, no one would think that way anymore.

Their love is still worthy of our blessings.

However, his act of running away at the last minute was truly...

Outrageous!

The live stream chat was flooded with comments:

"What kind of thought process does Zhichi have? He's already achieved so much success, why is he so upset?"

"He went abroad to pursue the ultimate in music, since the music abroad is indeed more impressive."

"Can we pursue the pinnacle of domestic music first? We can talk about it when we can reliably beat Xu Xiangxiao and Tianya."

"His behavior makes no sense at all. He has a lot of influence and resources in China, but who knows him abroad? Without resources, how can he make good music?"

"Maybe he was at the peak and thought he should stay at the peak forever, but when he found that he couldn't, he gave up on himself and simply ran away."

……

Xiao Chuchu asked, "One last question, Ms. Jiang Xinhai, this question is asked on behalf of netizens."

Jiang Xinhai looked at him, who turned a page in his notebook and asked:

After you went abroad, did you continue creating art overseas? What are some of your notable works?

Jiang Xinhai's expression was emo: "I don't know."

"If he's still making music, he'll probably mention it to you, right?" Xiao Chuchu asked. "People always want to show off their achievements."