None of the journalists expected that interviewing Shen Xingchen would bring up such an intriguing topic. Everyone was visibly thrilled, their eyes sparkling with excitement.

However, Shen Xingchen had a look that seemed to say, "Press me further, and I might just collapse right here for you to see," making it difficult for the reporters to probe further.

This segment wasn't cut; on the contrary, it was broadcast in its entirety, and for a while, it sparked heated discussions among netizens. The focus of the debate became quite clear:

"Why hasn’t An Ran, with all his scandals, been blacklisted yet?"

"He should leave the group."

"What right does he have to remain in the group?"

"Actually, he's already been blacklisted. All of their variety shows and works related to An Ran have been censored or removed."

Many recalled that two years ago, when the "Stardust" talent show had just begun, An Ran was worlds apart from Shen Xingchen. But times have changed, with everyone condemning An Ran, while Shen Xingchen's career has only flourished.

Jian Zhi remained conspicuously silent.

The rumor mill was abuzz when the drugging incident happened. He even had to face police interrogation.

Fortunately for him, the evidence (the drugged powder) was destroyed, saving him from imprisonment. But life outside wasn't easy either. With the CEO being deceived and senior executives furious, he was permanently blacklisted, and even those who used to curry favor with him seemed to vanish overnight.

When he got home, Jian Kuo was fuming.

"Twenty million..." Jian Kuo's voice echoed, a shattered vase on the floor. He shouted, "Because of both of your scandals, the company lost twenty million in market value. Now we're being delisted!"

Jian Kuo was red-faced, breathing heavily.

An Ran, sitting on the sofa, wept continuously. With tears streaking his face, he said, "Father, it wasn't my fault. I never saw this coming. It was second brother who told me that everything would be fine..."

Jian Zhi's veins bulged with anger, slamming the door shut with a loud bang.

Everyone in the living room turned to look at him.

"Blaming me?" Jian Zhi scoffed, "Did I tell you to drug him? Or lead a team to film at the hot springs?"

An Ran choked up.

Sitting across, Jian Zhi stared at An Ran, not with familial warmth, but as if looking at a sworn enemy, "If not for you, would I be in this predicament?"

"An Ran," Jian Zhi sneered with a touch of resentment, "You're truly the best brother I could ask for."

An Ran paled at the rebuke, but he knew that this wasn’t the time to be confrontational; otherwise, he'd lose everything.

"Second brother, I never intended for any of this to happen. I was outmaneuvered by Shen Xingchen. Why would I want to harm you? Haven't I also been blacklisted?" As he wiped his tears, An Ran continued, "Now that our family is facing challenges, we should unite and overcome them together..."

Jian Zhi retorted with disgust, "What solutions could you possibly offer? If you genuinely want to help, accept Mr. Wang’s offer, and things might get a little better for us."

An Ran, in exasperation, asked, "Are you serious, second brother? Don’t you know what kind of person Wang is?"

"Overcoming challenges seems to be just lip service for you," Jian Zhi smirked, "Scared by one Mr. Wang? Even if our family goes bankrupt, you don't care about anyone else’s fate. Do you still harbor dreams of Lady Fu's affections? She never fancied you before. Why would she now?"

Jian Zhi spoke with an intensity that seemed as if he wanted to infuriate An Ran: "Director Wang is fond of you, isn't his only flaw being a bit older? With his immense wealth, how is he not worthy of you? Let me tell you, if our family goes bankrupt, you might not even find someone like Director Wang."

An Ran's face turned from pale to flushed in anger. He cast a resentful gaze at his father, hoping that Jian Kuo would speak in his defense.

But Jian Kuo merely paused for a moment before saying, "Ran, don't judge a book by its cover. I know there are rumors about Director Wang, but I believe he genuinely cares about you..."

The ugly and selfish expressions on their faces suddenly nauseated An Ran.

He once believed that the Jian family treated him exceptionally well. Even when Shen Xingsui was ruthlessly driven out by the Jian family, he didn't blame his relatives and thought it was deserved. But now, the tables have turned on him, and the Jian family showed their true colors, pressuring him in the same way.

So, now...

Was it his turn to "deserve" it?

...

On the other side,

Shen Xingsui's songwriting wasn't going smoothly.

The cause? Simply because he casually checked Weibo when he woke up and stumbled upon an interview with Shen Xingchen. The interview inadvertently mentioned him and Teacher Fu, and the comment section was flooded with criticism:

"Surely, these two aren't together?"

"It's against nature."

"No, no! I can't accept this."

"They're not a good match at all..."

Although Shen Xingsui told himself not to take these comments to heart, they inevitably affected his songwriting. As he wrote, he felt the weight of societal judgment, prejudice, an obscuring mist, and the struggle of branches mired in mud. His mood was one of repression, longing, and silent screams.

Inspired by the hidden branches in the woods, his lyrics subtly conveyed prejudice. The entire composition flowed seamlessly, and he finally named the song "Breaking Ground."

Originally, the song was intended for Hu Kaiyue's segment.

However, when Shen Xingsui submitted it, it was swiftly returned. The reason? It didn't align with their predetermined theme. Holding the returned composition, Shen Xingsui pondered for an afternoon. He was reluctant to change any part of the song, feeling that every note and word was its best version.

After much contemplation, Shen Xingsui decided to call Hu Kaiyue to discuss terminating their collaboration.

"Are you sure about this?" Hu Kaiyue asked with a smile, "There's no better production and platform than here. Or, is it because of... Fu Jinxiao?"

Shen Xingsui replied, "No."

Hu Kaiyue inquired further, "Then it's because..."

"Although the song might not suit the producers, it's the best I can personally offer," Shen Xingsui sighed softly, "It has nothing to do with Teacher Fu."

Hu Kaiyue seemed to understand.

It surprised him that a young man would prioritize preserving his own song over a collaborative opportunity.

"Alright, I think I get it," Hu Kaiyue said with a smile, "As for the contract termination fee, don't worry about it. From the beginning, our deal was for two songs, and you've already delivered."

Shen Xingsui expressed his gratitude, "Thank you."

Hu Kaiyue simply said, "Regarding the issue with Zhang Chi and the villa, I owe you a favor."

Shen Xingsui was taken aback; he hadn't expected Hu Kaiyue to be concerned about such matters.

"My nephew made a foolish mistake, leading to the villa being secretly photographed. That's my oversight," Hu Kaiyue explained, "So I owe you. You can use the recording studio in Hengtong Tower, where I have access."

The recording equipment there was of the highest quality.

Shen Xingsui's appreciation deepened, "Thank you, Sir."

Now that he had terminated the contract with this side, Shen Xingsui knew that he would have to record this song on his own. Although it was his first time producing a song and felt somewhat unfamiliar, he was somewhat pleased to think that he could create a song not intended for anyone or any theme but just for his own expression.

At the end of the phone call, Hu Kaiyue added, "If you have any issues regarding production, feel free to ask me. Though we don’t share a mentor-student bond, I can still help with basic issues. I've been in the music industry for many years... Both Fu Jinxiao and I have our own connections and resources..."

His words were somewhat ambiguous.

Anyone a tad sharper would've grasped the undertone, but Shen Xingsui simply replied with a smile, "I'm already greatly indebted to you. Thanks for your kind offer."

Hu Kaiyue had no choice but to end the call.

Wang Meican handled the termination of their labor contract. The two parties reached an agreement swiftly without any disputes, making the process hassle-free.

After settling the matter, Wang Meican went to visit Fu Jinxiao, who was shooting on location, "Xingsui's contract is terminated. Hu Kaiyue was very straightforward, not asking for any compensation."

Fu Jinxiao sat in the lounge, resting with closed eyes.

Feifei, the young assistant, handed him a cup of coffee. Accepting it, the man lazily acknowledged, "He's being surprisingly generous."

Everyone in the industry knew that Hu Kaiyue was known for not giving an inch. It was always him terminating contracts with others, not the other way around. He wasn’t one to face such losses, it'd be a blow to his pride.

Wang Meican chuckled, "Indeed, and what’s more surprising is that he even offered us the exclusive recording studios in Hengtong Tower for future use."

Fu Jinxiao paused in his actions.

The laid-back aura he had been emitting suddenly condensed, his gaze turning significantly colder, "We have our own studios. When did it become his place to do us favors?"

Wang Meican hesitated before explaining, "Isn't it related to the issue with Zhang Chi? Perhaps he's trying to make amends."

"But I've heard..." Wang Meican cautiously glanced at him and whispered, "He's been quite kind to Xingsui. During the termination, he kept saying he hopes for future collaborations and that Xingsui can approach him if he faces any issues."

Fu Jinxiao scoffed.

The room's temperature seemed to drop a degree.

Sensing Fu Jinxiao’s displeasure, Wang Meican inquired, "It seems Xingsui didn't mention any of this to you. You shouldn't get upset. Maybe Xingsui didn’t even take Hu Kaiyue seriously."

Hearing about matters concerning his beloved from someone else might have been slightly unsettling, after all.

She thought that given Fu Jinxiao's age and status, he wouldn't care anymore…

"Angry?" A benevolent smile played on Fu Jinxiao's face, though warmth was absent from his eyes. He set the slightly distorted coffee cup on the table, grinning, "Do I look upset to you?"

Assistants: "..."

...

We dare not say.

the next day

Shen Xingsui was preparing his new song. Instead of using the studio in Hengtong Building offered by Hu Kaiyue, Wang Meican found him a new one, previously reserved solely for Fu Jinxiao. The equipment inside was top-notch.

Shen Xingsui once commented, "Sister Wang, I've heard that Master Fu's studio was exclusively his. Giving it up for me to use now might be too extravagant, isn't it?"

Wang Meican sighed, "Xingsui, you're still young; you don't understand."

...

Alright then.

Although Shen Xingsui excelled in songwriting and composing, he was unfamiliar with the recording and production process. He frequently visited the music director on another floor to learn and discuss techniques.

The song, bold in both lyrics and melody, diverged from mainstream tastes. They didn't hope for it to top charts or go viral, just wanted to produce it with dedication. Their first demo was serene, Shen Xingsui's voice clear and powerful. No fancy techniques, but immersive.

It began with suppressed sorrow, like sprouting branches amidst grief, but ended as if dawn had broken through the earth. The song, though simple, rendered the studio silent.

The music producer remarked with a smile, "Such promising youth."

"Truly deserving of someone who's collaborated with two kings of the Mandarin music scene," the music director noted. "He's got talent."

As Shen Xingsui was leaving the studio, a seemingly ordinary man approached. With a bowl-cut hairstyle and a timid demeanor, he greeted, "Hello."

Shen Xingsui eyed him curiously.

"Oh, I'm Zhang SanSan, a director." He handed over his business card, "I happened to hear your new song in the studio. I loved it so much that I wanted to..."

Shen Xingsui listened patiently. The young, seemingly recent graduate stammered, "I'm preparing for a self-financed movie, and I believe your song would be perfect for our story. Would it be possible to purchase the rights? I don’t have much money, but..."

Shen Xingsui inquired, "What movie?"

Zhang SanSan's eyes gleamed as he began, "It's titled 'Lone City'. Here's the script for your reference."

After browsing the first few pages, Shen Xingsui remarked, "Pure romance, with two male leads?"

A bit shyly, Zhang SanSan nodded, "Yes, it's a period drama set in the Republic of China era. I wrote it."

Shen Xingsui hesitated, "Currently, no one seems to be producing a dual male lead movie. Even if it's released, its ratings and metrics might not be impressive. Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I want to give it a try." Zhang SanSan's response was firm, "And I have confidence in my story."

Shen Xingsui smiled gently. His song, "Break Through," at its core, represented a love unaccepted by society. This unwavering movie, 'Lone City,' seemed destined to support one another.

"Alright, I'll take a look," Shen Xingsui agreed. "I'll let you know."

Zhang SanSan was elated, not expecting Shen Xingsui's agreement. Trembling with excitement, he extended his hand, "Great! I look forward to your response. I hope we can collaborate."

At this time, Zhang SanSan was not yet the famed director who would later be immortalized by "Lonely City."

He was still very young and shy.

Shen XingSui responded with a smile, "You're too kind. I'm genuinely interested in the script."

On his way home, he never thought he would be captivated by a script's story, much less shed tears for one. "Lonely City" was exceptionally written, and even though it had two male leads, the suppressed yet steadfast love amidst chaos deeply resonated with Shen XingSui. He finished reading the script in one night, finding it hard to sleep.

Early the next morning, Zhang SanSan received a call.

"Hello?"

"Is this Director Zhang?" Shen XingSui asked, "I've decided to offer 'Emergence' to 'Lonely City'."

Zhang SanSan, elated, responded, "Really?"

Shen XingSui continued, "But I have a condition."

Zhang SanSan, curious, asked, "What is it?"

"Can I audition for a role in 'Lonely City'?" Shen XingSui was deeply taken with the script. "Although I have no experience in acting, I'd love to be closer to this story..."

Zhang SanSan was overjoyed, "Absolutely! To be honest, no one was willing to take roles in 'Lonely City.' If you're interested, that would be wonderful!"

Shen XingSui smiled, "Alright, I'll discuss it with my agent. Can we schedule a meeting?"

Zhang SanSan quickly agreed but felt obligated to confess something crucial, "There's something I must tell you. I've sold my house and car to fund the movie. Although we've secured the location and equipment, we've exhausted most of our budget. So, regarding your acting fee..."

Shen XingSui hesitated, "It's okay, my agent is quite understanding. Just offer the standard fee."

Zhang SanSan cleared his throat, attempting to hide his embarrassment, "I'm afraid we might not even have the 'standard' fee."

After pondering for a moment, Shen XingSui gently said, "Give me a figure so I can prepare mentally, and see if Manager Wang would accept."

After a long pause, Zhang SanSan finally spoke, "Would 3,000 a month be acceptable?"

"..."

Now it was Shen XingSui's turn to remain silent.