Jingxing: I Came to Thousand Stars City for Three Things

"P47..." the Robin repeated, his eyes wide, trying to make sure he hadn't misheard, "P47 in the company?"

"Hmm." Jingxing nodded.

"I remember the department heads were only P47, right?"

"Yes."

The Robin withdrew its hand from the table and sat up straight.

Her gaze towards him changed, now filled with a cautious scrutiny. "When did you become P47 in the company? Was it because of what you did over the past year?"

Jingxing then told what he could: more than 700 years ago, he signed his name on the company's roster; at that time, the company had just been established, Fleming gave him the treatment of a P47; later he disappeared into the past, his position remained unchanged, and his salary was never touched; last month, Fleming personally issued a notice, bringing him out of history and placing him in the Traditional Projects Department.

"Traditional Projects Department," Robin repeated. "I remember Interastral Peace Entertainment... belongs to them."

"Yes, they're the ones who cover it all," Jingxing said. "That's why I can sit at this table today."

The Robin was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Are you telling me this to make me happy, or to...?"

Should I accept you?

"No, that's not it." Jingxing shook his head. "I wanted you to know—from now on, regarding your contracts, your schedule, and those things that people are preventing you from doing, the company can help you with that."

The Robin looked at him, her eyes slowly welling up with tears. She quickly lowered her head and pressed the back of her finger to the corner of her eye.

"Do you know how much I've suffered this past year," she said? "Because of that trip to Vesna IV, the company has been monitoring me much more closely. Even my brother agrees with their measures."

"Several times, I had to apply a month in advance just to see someone else's performance, and I would be surrounded by a lot of people. Even when I went up to talk to them, they would stare at me. Not only was the other person embarrassed, but I was also extremely embarrassed."

"It won't happen again," Jingxing promised.

The Robin raised its head, took a very soft breath, and forced back its tears.

"P47 can do a lot of things," Jingxing said. "For example, the restrictions on your charity event can be withdrawn with just my signature."

The Robin's eyelashes fluttered.

"But I won't be that autocratic," he said. "The decision is entirely yours, Robin."

The Robin looked at Jingxing and remained silent for a long time.

After a long silence, she nodded gently. "Mm."

"There's one more thing," Jingxing said. "I didn't phrase that sentence well."

Which sentence?

"That line, 'I won't let go.'" Jingxing moved the cup aside and turned to look at her.

"This past year, I've seen many dead people, and many people desperately trying to live. But every time I see those struggling, I always think, if you were here, you would surely comfort them better than I could."

The Robin pursed its lips.

"I used to think that liking someone was something for later. I could wait until I finished my painting, finished my journey, and had no more debts to anyone before talking about love." Jingxing shook his head. "But this year has taught me that there aren't so many 'later's'."

"Robin," he called her name, "I want to be with you. Not just sneaking a meeting today and returning to your rehearsal hall tomorrow—it's about being there every time you go on stage; clearing a path for you every time you get blocked. It's about sharing my emotions with you every day, and listening to your singing every morning."

"I know, because of Fu Xuan." Jingxing paused. "If you want to call me greedy, I'll accept it. But I can't stay silent just because I'm afraid of upsetting you."

The private room was so quiet that you could hear the soft creaking of the cables outside.

The Robin lowered its head, its fingertips twirling the edge of the tablecloth.

When she looked up again, her eyes were wet, but she had a smile on her face.

"You know what," the Robin, extending his hand, "I was just really regretting what I did over the past year."

She placed her hand in his palm. "But as expected, I was the first one here, wasn't I?"

Jingxing gripped her hand tightly and leaned closer.

She closed her eyes briefly. The kiss was very light, as if afraid of breaking something.

When they parted, the Robin's ears turned bright red, and she raised her hand to punch him on the shoulder.

"Forty minutes are almost up," she said softly, then paused and added, "Does Fu Xuan know I'm here?"

"I know."

"If I dwell on her, it would only make me seem petty." The Robin's cautious look gradually faded.

"As for Mr. Sunday," Jingxing didn't change his mind for the time being, "I won't go to see him without your permission. We'll talk about it when you're ready."

"Even if you don't go to see him, he'll come looking for you first," the Robin muttered. "He probably already knows I arranged to meet someone here."

"Then let him come," Jingxing said, "But I have more important things to do now."

"What's up?"

I'll arrange a meeting with your agent tomorrow.

The Robin paused for a moment. "Ofila?"

"Ofila," Jingxing said, "After all, your itinerary and charity events all go through her."

"She's just a gofer," the Robin said. "She can't make decisions. If you talk to her, she'll just report back verbatim."

"That's all I want is for her to submit it." Jingxing shrugged.

The Robin looked at him, its brow slowly furrowing. "What do you want?"

"Three things," Jingxing said, pressing down each finger one by one. "First, from now on, all your contracts, schedules, what songs you want to sing, and whether you want to take on any events, must be approved by you personally. She can ask, but she can't agree on your behalf."

"Secondly, those restrictions that are holding you back—the closed rehearsal hall, the limitations on charity events, the need to report even to see someone else's performance for a month—you should relax and let go of them."

"Third," he lowered his hand, "I will let them know that I have you behind me, and that you are someone that Interastral Peace Entertainment must serve with all its might."

The Robin pulled the scarf up a bit, pinching one corner between its fingers for a while before letting go.

"You're putting me in a very difficult position," she said. "The people in the company hate it most when their subordinates bypass them to find powerful backers."

"So what?" Jingxing curled his lip. "A bunch of guys who aren't even P45s. No matter how much they dislike me, they can only put up with it."

She opened her mouth, but no words came out. After all, P47 and such... even on Sundays, she usually only dealt with P46.

"Unbeknownst to me, Jingxing has surpassed me in status and become someone I have to rely on..." the Robin thought.