Chapter 302: Chapter 300: New Song
Song Jiayan pulled Xu Jiali away, comforting her. "Zhao Qi said that Qin Yun is someone we can’t afford to provoke. We can act on our righteous indignation, but when Sister Wen Ying comes back, is she going to have to clean up our mess? Why should we drag Sister Wen Ying down and make her turn against these powerful families? I know Sister Wen Ying is capable, but she’s still just one person. These powerful families have status, position, and intricate networks of connections."
Song Jiayan didn’t say it, but he was actually more worried about Xu Jiali.
Like him, Xu Jiali had no fame, no background, and no backing. She came from an ordinary background.
Even though he hated to admit it.
But Song Jiayan knew all too well that for those powerful families, crushing an ordinary person was just too easy.
For example, hiring a hitman.
For example, paying to orchestrate all sorts of accidents, and then using money to settle the matter.
There were even some obscure rumors about people offering a million to hire someone to take their place in prison.
That’s just how society is.
Although everyone advocates for fairness these days, does true fairness really exist?
The only difference is that, compared to the past, the living standards for the lower class have improved a little.
As long as class divides and the gap between rich and poor exist in this world, true fairness can never exist.
Song Jiayan understood clearly that he and Xu Jiali were at the very bottom.
Xu Jiali didn’t want to cause trouble for Sister Wen Ying. Hearing Song Jiayan’s words, she nodded.
"I just can’t stand that woman. Why has Sister Yingying become a thorn in so many people’s sides when she hasn’t even done anything?"
"Is it just because Sister Yingying is all alone, just like us? In their eyes, she’s at best a *nouveau riche*—a *nouveau riche* with no foundation, someone they can push around and control as they please."
Xu Jiali finished her rant and let out a sigh.
It wasn’t that she didn’t understand. She just felt incredibly stifled and refused to accept it.
’I feel more and more like I can’t make it in this industry. What should I do?’
"Song Jiayan, if you become a top-tier singer, will you still know me?"
Xu Jiali turned her head and looked at Song Jiayan seriously.
Song Jiayan was a bit speechless. "You’re my friend. You always have been."
"But what if I’m always just a nobody?"
Song Jiayan reached out and touched Xu Jiali’s forehead, wondering if she had a fever.
"Xu Jiali, listen to me. I’ve never said this much to anyone before. You are my friend, and you always will be. Unless you don’t want me as a friend anymore, that will never change."
SMACK!
Xu Jiali’s hand shot out and she lightly slapped the back of Song Jiayan’s head, feigning mild anger. "Song Jiayan, you’ve gotten bold! How dare you touch my head!"
"My bad, my bad."
The atmosphere seemed to ease up quite a bit.
But with the production crew gone, the only ones left were the two of them and Qin Yun.
That Qin Yun seemed more like a foe than a friend, and it looked like she had brought people with her.
’Ah, these wealthy families, always surrounded by an entourage whenever they go out.’
Xu Jiali wasn’t actually jealous. ’If I were in her position, I’d probably be used to it too.’
She was just unhappy with Qin Yun’s attitude toward Sister Wen Ying.
’It’s like everyone else was born a level beneath her.’
"Song Jiayan, I used to think Zhao Qi was a pretty decent guy, but I can’t believe he just left at a critical time like this."
Song Jiayan nodded but didn’t say anything.
’He too had almost thought of Zhao Qi as a friend, but one has no right to interfere with other people’s choices.’
*
"Mr. Song Jiayan, hello. I am Chen Ming."
An unfamiliar man in a suit and tie appeared before Song Jiayan and Xu Jiali.
His expression was calm, seemingly devoid of any other emotion.
Song Jiayan stared blankly at the man before him. ’A stranger. I’ve never seen him before. I really don’t know him.’
"And you are?" Xu Jiali was the first to ask.
"My apologies. I was sent by Doctor Wen. I’m responsible for handling Mr. Song’s music collaboration matters."
The man was courteous and polite.
"Mr. Chen, hello." Song Jiayan felt a little apprehensive.
’I didn’t expect him to show up so quickly. But I don’t know anything about this stuff. What am I supposed to say?’
"Song Jiayan, there’s no need to worry. You are Doctor Wen’s friend. I will act on your behalf, fighting for your best interests. Doctor Wen is my boss."
They had been worried, but upon hearing that Wen Ying was this man’s boss, they were somewhat stunned.
’Boss?’
’Sister Wen Ying is a boss now?’
’This man probably isn’t lying.’
He took out various documents and materials to prove his identity.
Although Xu Jiali and Song Jiayan were newcomers, they were still very cautious about this sort of thing.
’Scammers these days are so devious, so full of tricks.’
’What if he’s just using Sister Wen Ying’s name to try and scam him?’
"I’m sorry, Mr. Chen, but let’s wait until Doctor Wen arrives to discuss this. What do you think?"
Of course, Chen Ming had no objection.
He was somebody in the industry. When he was first told to manage a newcomer, he was a little curious but didn’t agree right away.
But after hearing Song Jiayan’s two original songs, he felt that this young man was indeed a promising talent.
’People are so restless these days; it’s rare to find someone who can calm down and focus on creating.’
Finally, Mr. Jiang told him that this task was assigned by the new boss, and that the new boss was very optimistic about Song Jiayan.
This made Chen Ming even more curious, so he accepted the job.
Seeing him in person, he was indeed much like the online descriptions said—very shy.
’People like this are honest and easily bullied.’
’It’s a good thing he ran into me.’
When he saw their cautious attitude, he was very satisfied.
Besides, he had never met the new boss either. Since he had the opportunity, he naturally stayed.
’Just what kind of extraordinary person is this new boss?’
He just hadn’t expected that he would arrive just as the production crew was leaving.
Although he didn’t understand what was going on, he wasn’t the type to gossip. As long as the person he was here to see was present, that was all that mattered.
Qin Yun had always kept her distance from Xu Jiali and the others, as if she looked down on them.
Xu Jiali, Song Jiayan, and Chen Ming were together.
They wandered around the town aimlessly. But when they were standing by the river, Chen Ming noticed that Xu Jiali and Song Jiayan seemed distracted.
"Mr. Song Jiayan, have you composed any other songs?"
Song Jiayan nodded.
Xu Jiali was astonished. "You have a new song and you didn’t say so? I’m your fan, you know! I love your songs so much, I’ve listened to those two a hundred times! You have a new song and you’re not going to let me hear it first?"
Song Jiayan blushed, not knowing how to explain himself.
Chen Ming, however, once again observed the relationship between Song Jiayan and Xu Jiali. ’It’s really nice.’
’The good kind of relationship between friends.’
"Mr. Song Jiayan, if you don’t mind, could you sing a couple of lines for us to hear?"
Chen Ming had also spoken up. He was simply too curious.
’Just how many stories does this young man have in his heart?’
’And how many of them has he written into songs?’
’Writing life into song, writing confusion into song, writing youth into song.’
Song Jiayan nodded silently, then looked toward the opposite bank of the river.
"Wandering through streets and buildings, a heart of stallions and hunting grounds. The most magnificent fragility and confusion are nothing more than this.
Beyond the sky is another sky, and impermanence. Beyond the mountain is another mountain, and a foreign land.
After stumbling and falling, the heart still returns to its old home."
The voice that slowly emerged was like that of a storyteller who had recounted tales for many years.
