A brief silence enveloped the car's interior.

It felt like ages had passed in that split second. Shen Xing Sui remained silent, but his emotions were far from calm. It felt as if a suppressed still lake suddenly churned with waves, rising to towering heights.

Shen Xing Sui gazed into Fu Jin Xiao's eyes. The car's warm, yellow light bathed the man's composed face, devoid of jest. He didn't pressure for an answer but waited patiently.

Shen Xing Sui's heart felt like it was being tightly wrung.

"Why..." Shen Xing Sui began hesitantly, repeating a previous question, "Have you considered the implications of going public? It could impact both our careers."

Fu Jin Xiao raised an eyebrow, "What kind of impact?"

Shen Xing Sui struggled to articulate, responding vaguely, "Various kinds..."

Silence once again settled within the car.

quite a while

A soft chuckle from Fu Jin Xiao broke the silence. When Shen Xing Sui looked up, he met a gaze filled with playful mockery. In a deep, graceful voice, he drawled, "Mr. Shen."

Shen Xing Sui felt a touch nervous.

"Perhaps, if we go public, the person most affected would be me?" A hint of amusement graced Fu Jin Xiao's eyes. "If I don’t mind, what's there for you to fear?"

A brief pause.

Fu Jin Xiao quirked an eyebrow, "Does announcing our relationship tarnish Mr. Shen’s reputation?"

Shen Xing Sui, feeling falsely accused, protested, "No, that's not what I meant."

While he had only Fu Jin Xiao's best interests at heart, the man turned the tables on him.

Shen Xing Sui was well aware of Fu Jin Xiao's superior status. If anyone stood to lose more from public scrutiny, it was undoubtedly Fu Jin Xiao. Precisely because of this, Shen Xing Sui felt compelled to consider Fu Jin Xiao's position, always second-guessing.

How could he not be afraid?

The fear was palpable.

If his relationship with Fu Jin Xiao affected the latter's career or marred the reputation he'd built over years in the entertainment industry, how could Shen Xing Sui bear it? After all, Fu Jin Xiao was his idol, and he wished nothing but the best for him.

Shen Xing Sui took a deep breath, "Of course I wish we could go public. Who wouldn't want their relationship to be blessed?"

"Yet, I've come to realize that not everything goes smoothly. Not every person and not every affair receive the blessings they deserve," Shen Xing Sui's voice was soft, carrying an undertone of concealed sadness.

Fu Jinxiao's eyes darkened momentarily, murmuring, "So what?"

Shen Xingsui was taken aback.

Fu Jinxiao seemed slightly displeased. The man sitting beside him, with slightly pursed lips and a sharp jawline, appeared rather brooding. It wasn’t the idea of going public that seemed to upset him but rather Shen Xingsui's hesitation.

Taking a deep breath, Shen Xingsui said, "So, I think we shouldn’t go public just yet. In the days to come, I'll strive to better myself, to be stronger, more outstanding. That way, if one day we do decide to go public, perhaps I won’t embarrass you, and the negative impact on you will be minimal."

A flash of surprise passed through Fu Jinxiao's eyes.

The young man in front of him was passionate and resolute, suggesting that such a commitment might cost him much, yet he was so determined.

With a hint of hesitation, Shen Xingsui asked, "Is that okay?"

Slowly,

The corner of Fu Jinxiao's mouth curled into a smile.

"Sure," Fu Jinxiao nodded. He always knew when to give in, to provide Shen Xingsui with the comfort he needed. Yet, the cunning man would never let himself be on the losing end, "Since I’ve agreed, shouldn't you..."

Shen Xingsui looked at him, puzzled.

With a teasing grin, Fu Jinxiao drawled, "Offer me some... benefits?"

Shen Xingsui blinked in confusion. Just then, as the car rounded a bend, he inadvertently leaned into Fu Jinxiao.

Fu Jinxiao wrapped an arm around him, lowering his head to softly kiss the corner of Shen Xingsui's lips. As their breaths intertwined and the heat between them grew, he gently parted his lips, seeking more intimacy.

Suddenly—

"Ring ring"

A poorly-timed ringtone disrupted the moment.

Startled, Shen Xingsui swiftly pushed Fu Jinxiao away, answering the call with a flustered, "Hello?"

On the other end was the voice of Shen Minglang, "Xingsui, where are you?"

Recognizing it as his elder brother's voice, Shen Xingsui immediately straightened up and quickly responded, "Big Brother, I just landed. Mr. Fu is driving me home."

"Hmm, didn’t you see the text I sent you?"

"What text?" Shen Xingsui said, checking his phone. Spotting the message from Shen Minglang, he smacked his forehead, "Sorry, Big Brother. I had my phone on airplane mode during the flight and forgot to check after landing."

Shen Minglang wasn’t upset, "Where are you now? Mom and I will pick you up."

Shen Xingsui provided his location.

Shen Minglang replied, "We're close by. Ask Mr. Fu to pull over, and we’ll be there in two minutes."

Shen Xingsui responded and hesitated for a moment as he glanced at Fu Jinxiao, "Um, my elder brother is coming to pick me up."

Fu Jinxiao nodded, "I heard."

As Shen Xingsui looked into his face, a pang of reluctance surged within him. The only reason they would meet tomorrow was due to their shared program recording. Once they part, sometimes their schedules wouldn't overlap for weeks, meaning their next meeting might just be via a screen.

Shen Xingsui used to wonder why some couples, who were always together, never tired of each other. Now he understood their reluctance to part.

Fu Jinxiao directed the driver without turning his head, "Stop by the mall at the next turn."

The driver acknowledged.

His instructions were clear and concise. From his calm face, one couldn't glean much else. Shen Xingsui felt his own naivety keenly; why couldn't he be as mature as Teacher Fu?

"I should..." Noticing what seemed to be his family's car approaching, Shen Xingsui tried to open the car door, "I should get going now."

Before his hand could grip the door handle, someone grabbed his arm.

Fu Jinxiao, seemingly calm, pulled Shen Xingsui into an embrace. His towering figure enveloped him from behind. Leaning down, he nuzzled Shen Xingsui's face, his voice a mix of deep and playful, "You still owe me my reward."

Shen Xingsui was both amused and exasperated.

Only recently had he begun to see this playful side of Fu Jinxiao. The serious and mature man also had a childish streak, which Shen Xingsui found surprisingly endearing.

Shen Xingsui gently squeezed his hand, "My mother and brother are nearby. It wouldn't be good if they noticed."

Fu Jinxiao scoffed, "Keeping it a secret from the world is one thing, but even from our families? We are in an official engagement, not some illicit affair."

He was clearly not pleased.

Panicking, Shen Xingsui quickly replied, "I'm just waiting for the right moment to tell them. It's all so sudden now. I need... some time to prepare."

Fu Jinxiao grunted, albeit a bit mollified.

Who could've imagined this scenario? Countless individuals, regardless of gender, had vied for his attention and were turned away.

So many had wanted to ride on his coattails to stardom.

But now, in his own relationship, he felt hidden, as if they were having a secret affair. What kind of twisted fate was this?

A car's headlights flashed in the distance.

Shen Minglang stepped out of the vehicle. Seeing his elder brother, Shen Xingsui quickly declared, "I should go now!"

Only then did Fu Jinxiao reluctantly let go.

As Shen Xingsui alighted, the evening chill made him shiver. He quickly approached Shen Minglang, calling out affectionately, "Elder brother."

Shen Minglang's gaze lingered on Shen Xingsui's slightly flushed face, "Is Fu Jinxiao's car very warm?"

Shen Xingsui reflexively replied, "Not at all."

Realizing the gaze Shen Minglang had fixed on him, he became flustered and quickly added, "Well, it was a bit warm."

Shen Minglang took a deep breath and said, "Let's head back first."

Shen Xingsui obediently nodded.

Shen Minglang instructed, "Get in the car first. I'll go greet Mr. Fu."

"Alright."

As Shen Xingsui watched his brother stride away, a sudden pang of guilt made him call out softly, "Brother!"

Shen Minglang paused, the slender, elegantly dressed figure turned, and through the gleaming golden frames of his glasses in the moonlight, he calmly looked back at his younger brother, "What is it?"

Unable to find words, Shen Xingsui simply lowered his head, murmuring, "I'll wait for you in the car."

Watching his gentle and accommodating younger brother, Shen Minglang felt a swell of emotions but eventually just nodded.

Shen Xingsui then dashed back to the car.

Xu Enzhen was seated in the back. Seeing him, she waved, "Xingsui."

Upon seeing his mother's smile, although it had only been a few days, he missed her terribly. He moved to the backseat, nestled against her, and affectionately called out, "Mom."

Embracing Shen Xingsui, Xu Enzhen's voice quivered with emotion, "You're back."

Shen Xingsui nodded earnestly.

"I bought souvenirs for you, father, and my brothers," Shen Xingsui said with a smile, "They're all in my luggage. I'll show you when we get home."

Xu Enzhen grinned, "What did you get?"

Shen Xingsui began listing the items, "Well, there's silver jewelry from the Fei tribe, prayer plaques, local snacks..."

As they sat in the car, he detailed his time in the village. Xu Enzhen would occasionally interject with questions about the shoot, his interactions with the other guests, and the food he had eaten.

Shen Xingsui's narration was fragmented, jumping from one topic to another, but Xu Enzhen listened patiently, her face adorned with a gentle smile.

The car's heating made for a cozy atmosphere.

Shen Xingsui felt at peace, enjoying the simple pleasure of sharing the minutiae of his life, much like a child recounting his day to his parents during a car ride home from school.

After listening, Xu Enzhen gently said, "So, Mr. Fu lent you his points in the end?"

Shen Xingsui nodded.

"You should be grateful then," Xu Enzhen remarked, "Jinxiao is indeed a good kid, reliable and down-to-earth. While he's been looking out for you, you should also be respectful of him, given his standing as the eldest son of the Fu family. It would be appropriate to thank him, perhaps treat him to a meal when you have some free time..."

Shen Xingsui smiled wryly, "Don't worry, Mom. I know how good Mr. Fu is to me."

Before, when Xu Enzhen reminded Shen Xingsui about Fu Jinxiao, Shen always appeared reverential and eager to learn. But this time was different; he praised Fu Jinxiao with a smile, as if complimenting Fu was akin to commending a part of himself.

Xu Enzhen was astute. Her expression shifted subtly as she sensed a change.

At that moment, Shen Minglang returned to the car, announcing, "Let's go."

Only then did the driver start the engine again.

Throughout the journey, Shen Minglang took the time to guide Shen Xingsui on how to protect himself in their industry, highlighting the need to avoid those who sought to take advantage due to power or ill intentions. The essence of his advice was, "You're still young. Be wary of shady individuals."

Shen Xingsui nodded anxiously in agreement.

He thought about how his mother had just mentioned how upright and dependable Teacher Fu was. He certainly wasn't the sort of person his brother was cautioning him against. By that logic, his brother must be tacitly endorsing their association.

How clever of him to deduce that.

...

the next day

Shen Xingsui was then contacted by his agent.

Thanks to the popularity of the show "Starry Night," Shen Xingsui's own star was on the rise. His performance and grasp over music had garnered the attention of several music producers. He received numerous offers for TV and movie soundtracks, and the deals proposed were lucrative.

Wang Meican filtered the offers and presented one, "Teacher Hu Kaiyue wishes to collaborate with you on an album."

Hu Kaiyue.

Shen Xingsui paused when he heard the name. It was a household name. If there were two dominant figures in the music industry, one was Fu Jinxiao and the other was Hu Kaiyue. The latter's songs were hits everywhere. He was dubbed the 'Music Prince.'

Excitedly, Shen Xingsui asked, "Is it really Teacher Hu?"

Wang Meican chuckled, "Indeed, it's him."

It felt to Shen Xingsui as if he'd been hit by unexpected good fortune. Just recently he had collaborated with Fu Jinxiao on a song, and now he might get to work on an album with Hu Kaiyue? It seemed almost too good to be true!

However, Wang Meican quickly tempered his enthusiasm, "But first, you'll need to participate in a selection process and pass certain evaluations."

"Two songs from this album are meant to be theme songs for a major film," Wang Meican continued, "and the remaining tracks will be part of Teacher Hu's new singles. Thus, many in the industry are vying for this chance."

Shen Xingsui regained his composure, realizing the competition was fierce.

Wang Meican encouraged him, "Just getting an invitation from Teacher Hu as a newcomer is commendable. In a sense, it's already an affirmation of your talents."

Shen Xingsui replied with a smile, "Even just getting advice from Teacher Hu is a valuable opportunity for me. Regardless of the odds or fierce competition, I won't give up on this audition."

Wang Meican nodded, "I'm glad to hear you're so determined."

A few days later, Shen Xingsui arrived at the audition center.

To his surprise, he bumped into some familiar faces — the last people he wanted to encounter: An Ran and Zhang Chi.

Upon seeing Shen Xingsui, An Ran paused before greeting, "Xingsui, what a coincidence."

Shen Xingsui simply nodded, choosing to remain silent.

With An Ran, Shen Xing Sui always adopted a strategy of avoidance and keeping distance. Being a mere side character, he knew better than to confront the protagonist shielded by the world's consciousness.

Yet, An Ran approached him, "Xing Sui, I never expected to see you here. Are you here for the audition too? I heard Master Hu is quite strict. It's quite nerve-wracking, isn't it? Aren't you nervous?"

Shen Xing Sui noticed that An Ran's attire today was different from usual.

Dressed entirely in muted colors, his clothes appeared spotlessly clean, as if freshly laundered for this audition. He had clearly made an effort for the day.

Shen Xing Sui replied, "I'll just do my best."

An Ran sensed Shen Xing Sui's indifference and chose not to continue the conversation.

Zhang Chi, standing nearby, spoke up, "It seems like fate that we'd meet here, Xing Sui."

"Indeed," Shen Xing Sui replied, genuinely curious, "Are you here for the audition too?"

Zhang Chi nodded, "I've always been enrolled in a music academy abroad. I returned to pursue a career in music. This audition is a chance for me."

After all, producer Hu Kai Yue was his uncle. He wasn't going to miss such an opportunity to get ahead.

Shen Xing Sui was unaware of these intricacies and simply responded, "Let's both give it our best."

An Ran, feigning enthusiasm, chimed in, "It'd be great if we both got selected. After all, we're classmates. Finally, a chance to collaborate."

In reality, An Ran was confident about this audition. In his previous life, he had seized this opportunity. Knowing Hu Kai Yue's preferences, he understood the producer's penchant for purity, both in appearance and spirit. Meeting these criteria wasn't easy. He had even spent a fortune commissioning a song. All he needed now was to maintain this façade, and success seemed certain.

An attendant called out a name, and An Ran, with a smile towards Shen Xing Sui, went inside.

Many participants waited around, all silent and visibly nervous. This opportunity was undeniably significant.

About half an hour later, An Ran emerged.

His face still held a hint of a smile, suggesting a positive outcome. He gave Shen Xing Sui a meaningful glance before leaving.

The attendant announced, "Next up, Shen Xing Sui."

Shen Xing Sui stood up and entered the room, which surprisingly looked like Hu Kai Yue's private studio. The studio was impeccably clean with numerous instruments neatly arranged on shelves.

Hu Kai Yue sat on a tatami mat, seemingly engrossed in a solo chess game.

Shen Xing Sui bowed, "Greetings, Master. I am Shen Xing Sui."

Hu Kai Yue looked up, "I've seen you on the variety show. The songs you presented were impressive, very pure. Did you write them yourself?"

Shen Xing Sui replied, "Yes."

Hu Kai Yue, holding a chess piece and contemplating his next move, said, "For this audition, I'll give you one task: Perform a pure instrumental piece within ten minutes."

Pure?

This seems to be the second time I've heard that word.

The term is so concrete that it's hard to even imagine...

Hu Kaiyue looked up, asking, "Can you do it?"

Shen Xingsui snapped back to reality, nodding, "I can give it a try."

Hu Kaiyue gestured toward the array of instruments nearby, saying, "Pick any you like."

Shen Xingsui scanned the room, appearing lost in thought. He pondered the essence of the word 'clean' – there's the cleanliness of one's surroundings and of one's soul. But how could he convey 'clean' through music, and compose a complete piece?

When considering 'cleanliness', the best instrument might be the piano.

Or perhaps the guzheng or guqin, both inherently pure in sound.

The issue was, whatever he thought of, the previous participants might have considered as well, and possibly executed it even better.

About ten minutes later, though no clock was in sight, Hu Kaiyue placed his chess piece down, inquiring, "Time's up. Have you settled on a piece?"

Shen Xingsui responded, "I've decided."

Hu Kaiyue raised an eyebrow, "Begin then."

He had expected Shen Xingsui to choose the piano, but to his surprise, Shen selected a small, simple harmonica. He sat a short distance from Hu Kaiyue and said, "Let's begin."

On a spring afternoon, a youth in a white shirt sat on the ground. The curtains near the bed fluttered gently in the breeze. The crisp, pleasant sound of the harmonica filled the room as he played a children's song.

Melodies crafted for children are always the most straightforward and soothing.

Shen Xingsui played with a look of focused elegance, and the notes emanating from him seemed to come alive, filling the room with joy.

Hu Kaiyue put down his chess piece, watching him intently.

After completing the performance, Shen Xingsui stood up, announcing, "I've finished."

"Cheating," Hu Kaiyue pointed out, "You've borrowed a children's song."

Shen Xingsui feigned innocence, "You asked for an interpretation, not necessarily an original. The cleanest song I could think of was this."

Outside of work, Hu Kaiyue had a flirtatious nature and was fond of clever, spirited young men. Initially, Shen Xingsui appeared merely spirited, but now he seemed keen-witted, the kind Hu favored.

He was delighted internally but showed no sign on his face.

Pretending to be stern, Hu Kaiyue said, "Smooth talker. You seem so honest on camera."

Shen Xingsui became a bit nervous, scratching his head, "I didn't want to be rejected. I had no choice. Please don't hold it against me."

"Though opportunistic, your idea was good," Hu Kaiyue resumed his chess game, adding, "Go home and await further notice."

Uncertain of the implications, Shen Xingsui simply bowed in acknowledgment.

Passing by the chessboard, he caught sight of the game that Hu Kaiyue had been puzzling over and couldn't help but remark, "Move to the second row on the left, and you'll break it."

Hu Kaiyue looked surprised. He scanned the board and realized that if he followed Shen Xingsui's suggestion, the entire game would indeed shift in his favor, and the once-defensive black pieces could turn the tables.

Hu Kaiyue inquired, "Did you investigate my hobbies?"

Shen Xingsui replied earnestly, "No, I have a friend who loves chess, so I learned a bit from him. But compared to you, I'm sure I'm no match."

Hu Kaiyue paused, taken aback.

"How can someone be so candid? Hasn't anyone ever told you that you're terrible at flattery?"

Realizing he might've misspoken again, Shen Xingsui hesitated and admitted, "Yes, someone has..."

Another pause from Hu Kaiyue before he broke into genuine laughter.

This was the first time Shen Xingsui had seen him laugh since their meeting. The mirth was so infectious that even the chessboard seemed to quiver a bit, making Shen worried the game might be disrupted.

Once his laughter subsided, Hu Kaiyue asked, "Are you truly a pupil of Wang Meican and Fu Jinxiao?"

How can someone be so naive?

Shen Xingsui felt awkward, unsure of how to respond.

Leaving the audition room under Hu Kaiyue's amused gaze, Shen felt both embarrassed and defeated, certain he'd blown his chance.

But by afternoon, he received a call from Wang Meican.

There was a hint of surprise in Wang Meican's voice, "Xingsui, regarding the album audition with Mr. Hu... "

Shen Xingsui, assuming a scolding was imminent, began to apologize, "I'm sorry, Sister Wang, I..."

"You did an incredible job. You were chosen!" Wang Meican praised, "Out of all those musicians, they picked you. Xingsui, you truly are a gem."

Shen Xingsui, in disbelief, asked, "Really? I was chosen?"

Wang Meican affirmed, "Of course. They personally called me. They even mentioned they're eager to finalize the contract."

All this felt surreal to Shen Xingsui, almost like a joke, especially knowing the caller was indeed Hu Kaiyue.

"I heard another selectee is named Zhang Chi, seems to be Mr. Hu's nephew," mentioned Wang Meican, "But it shouldn’t affect much. They'll contact you soon for an orientation. This album is being produced at Phoenix Mountain in City B. Mr. Hu has a peculiar way of crafting music; he's particular about the environment, claiming it brings inspiration. However, he hopes you can pack up and join them."

Shen Xingsui, surprised, echoed, "I'm going too?"

Wang Meican nodded, "Yes."

At that moment, Shen Xingsui hadn't connected the dots, merely attributing it to the whims of different musicians.

Shen Xingsui responded, "If it's for work, I'm on board."

Wang Meican was aware that many musicians had their quirks. Coupled with the fact that Hu Kaiyue never had any negative rumors, she didn't overthink it. She merely instructed him to pack his belongings, as they would depart in a couple of days.

...

On the other hand, An Ran, having heard the news as well, struggled to accept it.

He had gone as far as paying a premium for songwriting and composition, only to lose to a spontaneous children's song played by Shen Xingsui? And Zhang Chi, known for pulling strings, also managed to secure a spot?

How has the world completely transformed after just one reincarnation?

In a bout of rage, An Ran flung his phone onto the sofa, venting, "Shen Xingsui must have used her family's influence to get ahead."

His visibly irritated demeanor was spotted by Jian Zhi, who descended from the staircase. Ever since the incident, Jian Zhi had kept his distance from An Ran, causing a rift between the brothers. Now, hearing Shen Xingsui's name, he approached to inquire, "What's the matter with Shen Xingsui?"

An Ran was elated to see his usually distant elder brother initiate a conversation.

"Brother, Shen Xingsui is increasingly exploiting her family's clout," An Ran relayed the events, embellishing with his speculations, "Zhang Chi is Hu Kaiyue's nephew and has taken a liking to Shen Xingsui. He surely vouched for her, resulting in my elimination."

After processing the account, Jian Zhi remained silent for a while.

Pressing further, An Ran criticized, "Shen Xingsui is fickle, always mingling with men everywhere. I can't fathom what Teacher Fu sees in her!"

Jian Zhi felt the sting of those words too.

Due to that incident, the Shen family had hampered the Jian family's business. Beyond that, Jian Zhi faced setbacks from Fu Jinxiao within the entertainment industry. Despite his years of effort, he couldn't combat Fu Jinxiao's extensive network and prowess, which left him bereft of resources and ridiculed.

Jian Zhi spoke softly, "So, you admire Fu Jinxiao but despise Shen Xingsui, right?"

An Ran hesitated momentarily before nodding.

With a sly smile, Jian Zhi suggested, "Isn't this an opportunity? Pairing Shen Xingsui with Zhang Chi would resolve things, wouldn't it?"

Instinctively, An Ran retorted, "That's improbable. She's infatuated with Fu Jinxiao. How could she possibly entertain a relationship with Zhang Chi..."

"That's where you come in," interjected Jian Zhi. Knowing An Ran's nature from previous album collaborations, he continued, "Desperate times call for desperate measures."

With a meaningful glance, he added, "You'll be out recording an album together, right? Alone, two people, a fleeting moment of confusion... Anything can happen, and who could stop it?"

An Ran paused, slowly grasping Jian Zhi's implications.

Jian Zhi tempted him further, "If Shen Xingsui is no longer an obstacle, perhaps there might be a chance for you and Teacher Fu."

Initially skeptical, An Ran reconsidered after recalling Zhang Chi's gullible nature. Perhaps, without Shen Xingsui, things might revert to normal, and he might genuinely have a shot at happiness.