Chapter 303: Chapter 301: We’ll Go Together
Song Jiayan’s voice was unique. The lyrics and melodies he wrote always found an easy way into a person’s heart.
Everything, it seemed, was as special as the man himself.
Xu Jiali and Chen Ming both listened quietly to Song Jiayan’s new song, each picturing a scene entirely their own.
The recklessness of youth. Everyone once had a distant shore in their heart they could never reach.
They had charged forward, crashing headlong through life, only to end up licking their wounds alone.
Later, we grew into the people we are today.
It’s hard to say if it’s for the better or worse. This is just growing up.
"Who hasn’t wasted some precious time? If a boy laughs, cries, grows tired, and says he wants to wander."
"Leaving behind the look of an adult, watching as the years draw their swords, there will always be someone who becomes your distant shore."
The three of them gazed into the distance.
Song Jiayan’s voice echoed in the minds of Xu Jiali and Chen Ming. Even after the sound stopped, a sense of melancholy lingered in their hearts.
"Mr. Song Jiayan—"
"Mr. Chen, if you don’t mind, just call me Little Song."
Hearing "Mr. Song Jiayan" over and over felt a bit awkward and like a mouthful to Song Jiayan himself.
Chen Ming smiled. "Alright, Little Song. Then you can call me Brother Chen."
Song Jiayan didn’t refuse.
Chen Ming was older than him and a senior in the industry.
’If he really is one of Sister Wen Ying’s people...’
’Then I’m more than willing to call him brother.’
"Little Song, your music deserves to be heard by more people. In my many years in this industry, I’ve seen all sorts of musicians, but you’re one of a kind. Your music has a unique character that easily finds its way into people’s hearts and resonates with them. That’s why you’re sure to become a famous singer, trust me."
"Stay true to yourself, keep working hard, and even after you become famous, remain humble and patient. Be yourself. If you maintain your passion and reverence for music, you’ll be able to walk this path for a long, long time."
"Thank you, Brother Chen. I will."
Song Jiayan was very talented, but Chen Ming didn’t say it out loud.
Many people, upon discovering they have talent, start to get lazy.
He didn’t want Song Jiayan to become that kind of person. Even if the risk was low, he wasn’t willing to take it.
Besides, this was the first person his new boss had asked him to mentor. He had to deliver a perfect result.
"Brother Chen, what about me?" Xu Jiali blinked, looking at Chen Ming.
Chen Ming was a little thrown.
"Xiao Xu, you want to sing too?"
Xu Jiali shook her head. "I’m completely tone-deaf; I’d better not torture everyone’s ears. I mean, you’ve been in this industry for so many years. What do you think of me?"
"Xiao Xu, you’re very sincere, straightforward, and genuine, which is great. And a great beauty, at that. You and Little Song both have pure hearts."
Xu Jiali pursed her lips. Hearing that answer, she already knew what he meant.
It looked like praise. Every word was praise, and all of them together were still praise.
But in this environment, in this context, the praise was meaningless.
It was like he was telling her, ’You’re a nice person, but we’re not a good fit.’
’Isn’t that straight out of a player’s handbook?’
Xu Jiali didn’t ask anything else. After all, they were just casual acquaintances.
It wasn’t like he was going to teach her everything he knew without reservation.
This was reality.
Just because she’d been on a show, latched onto Sister Wen Ying, and gained a lot of fans, didn’t mean she could get cocky and lose sight of her own limitations.
Song Jiayan turned and glanced at Xu Jiali.
Night fell, and Xu Jiali grew anxious.
"It’s already the second day. Why isn’t Sister Wen Ying back yet? Little White hasn’t come back to tell us anything, either. Isn’t this a little weird?"
Song Jiayan nodded. He thought so too.
"Mr. Chen, we have something to do across the river. Why don’t you head back first?"
Just as Song Jiayan spoke, a stranger started walking toward the riverbank. His posture was ramrod straight, and every step seemed filled with power.
"Mr. Song, Miss Xu, it’s not very safe here at night. It would be best for you to go back and rest."
"Who are you?" Xu Jiali had no intention of leaving.
"I’m from the government. You can’t stay here at night."
After seeing the ID in the person’s hand, Chen Ming left.
Xu Jiali hesitated. She really didn’t want to go.
She had already lost a night’s sleep over this. If she left now, how could she justify that to Sister Wen Ying?
"Miss Xu, I know you’re worried about Doctor Wen, but you really cannot stay here at night."
"But we’ve stayed overnight here before."
"Miss Xu, didn’t Doctor Wen tell you before she left that it might be dangerous over there?"
"I know you’re worried about Doctor Wen. Our people have already gone to look for her. You can wait for news in town."
Wait for news, wait for news, always wait for news.
They said to wait for news about Xu Yiran, but there hasn’t been a single word since.
Now it was the same thing with Sister Wen Ying—just wait for news.
Although she was unhappy about it, Xu Jiali was a law-abiding citizen.
Under their watchful gazes, she was pulled away by Song Jiayan.
The town seemed much quieter under the cover of night.
The usual crowds that came out to stroll the alleys, play chess or mahjong, and gossip about their neighbors were down by fifty or sixty percent.
"Song Jiayan, don’t you think something is off here, too?"
Song Jiayan gave his trademark nod. "This afternoon, I think I heard someone say that the neighborhood committee told everyone not to come out at night and to stay home."
"Don’t you get the feeling that something big is about to happen?"
Song Jiayan just nodded again, but he didn’t know what it could be.
"I have a bad feeling. I feel like Sister Wen Ying is connected to this, and so is the production crew leaving, and even those people who popped out of nowhere today claiming to be from the government."
"Me too." Although Song Jiayan wasn’t one for conversation, he was quite perceptive.
He had also sensed that something was amiss.
"I wonder where Little White is, and if they’ve met up with Sister Wen Ying. Why haven’t they sent word? I’m so worried about them."
"Don’t worry too much. Little White is a Great Immortal; they should be fine."
Xu Jiali nodded. It was the only way she could console herself.
Nothing happened all night.
The moment dawn broke, Xu Jiali got out of bed.
Or rather, the dark circles under her eyes had gotten even worse.
Without even bothering to wash up, Xu Jiali knocked on the door of the next room.
The room belonged to Song Jiayan.
He was in no better shape himself.
"Jiali, it’s so early. Are you planning to...?"
"SHH!" Xu Jiali put a finger to her lips. "Hurry, come with me."
The two of them snuck out of the hotel. The streets were still empty.
The whole way, they hugged the sides of the road, afraid of being spotted.
All the way to the riverbank.
"Jiali, are you going to look for Sister Wen Ying?"
"Don’t try to stop me. I have to find Sister Wen Ying. It’s been two days. I’m so worried I can’t eat or sleep. I have to go! If you’re scared—"
"I was going to say, I’m coming with you." Song Jiayan seemed to have made his decision long ago.
