Chapter 11

"No need." Chen Mo shook his head. I've practiced this song so many times in the system that I'm sick of it. I never want to sing it again in this life.

Seeing Chen Mo insist, the staff member said nothing more and simply let him go in to prepare.

Putting on his headphones and facing the microphone, Chen Mo gathered his emotions slightly. As the gentle prelude of the guzheng and xiao began, he slowly sang, "In my dreams, Jiangnan's misty rain, beyond the northern frontier's wild sands..."

When most newcomers entered a recording studio for the first time, they struggled to adapt to the extreme quiet and the way every sound was amplified. It was easy for them to record unwanted noises while singing, such as breaths and panting into the microphone, or the little grunts and other habits many people unconsciously made while singing karaoke. Some would even go so off-key with headphones on that they might as well have sung up to the gates of heaven, or sing completely out of rhythm with the music... For a newcomer, all of that was perfectly normal.

So when the man in sunglasses heard that Chen Mo wanted to finish his first recording in one take, he did not believe it at all. This had nothing to do with singing talent. It came from accumulated experience, the recording engineer's guidance, and even bit-by-bit repairs in post-production.

They judged Chen Mo based on their past experience and measured him by the performances of every newcomer. Naturally, they believed he could never pull off something so monstrous. What they did not know was that Chen Mo's singing talent was actually quite ordinary, even with his cheat ability. What he relied on was repeated practice and correction in the system, tirelessly experiencing other people's lives, then slowly grinding away his own flaws like a sculptor polishing stone.

With such an information gap, everyone waited to watch Chen Mo make a fool of himself. Yet the moment he opened his mouth, everyone present, including Yang Qindong and the man in sunglasses, was stunned.

No one had expected Chen Mo's voice to be so clean and clear, nor that he would handle it so perfectly during recording. Never mind his pronunciation techniques—even his emotions were full and perfectly controlled. He was tender where tenderness was needed, passionate where passion was needed... In short, once the dry track was recorded, it did not need any post-production at all. It could be released just like that and still leave those idol singers whose voices had been edited beyond recognition eighteen streets behind.

Because Chen Mo's performance was so outrageously good, by the time the song was finished, including the time he had spent getting familiar with the studio and the recording engineer wrapping things up, less than twenty minutes had passed.

Chen Mo came out of the recording studio, packed up his things, and said to Yang Qindong and the man in sunglasses, "I'm done. It's yours now."

The man in sunglasses felt as though he had taken ten thousand points of damage. He could hardly believe it as he removed his sunglasses, then stared wide-eyed as he looked Chen Mo up and down. Raising his voice, he cursed, "Fuck, you actually did it! Are you even human?"

Only after the man took off his sunglasses did Chen Mo realize that he had cat eyes. When startled, his round eyes widened even more, while his long, curled lashes fluttered. They made his sharply defined, masculine face look unexpectedly adorable. As for the celebrity aura he had worked so hard to cultivate—

Fine, Chen Mo laughed viciously in his heart. No wonder he refused to take off his sunglasses indoors. It wasn't to show off—it was to maintain his cool image.

While Chen Mo was secretly letting his imagination run wild, the man in sunglasses had already slung an arm around his shoulders. He patted Chen Mo's back like some big brother and said, "Fine. Since you won, I'll keep my word. In two months, when I hold a concert in Huajing, I'll definitely invite you as a guest..."

Listening to the man ramble on to himself, Chen Mo finally rolled his eyes. He reached up and slapped the man's paw off his shoulder, then raised a brow. "When did I agree to bet with you? You were the one talking to yourself the whole time, okay? Forget it. I can't be bothered with you. I've recorded my song and done everything Director Zhang asked. I'm leaving."

Chen Mo pushed through the crowd and left on his own.

Just as he reached the elevators, Yang Qindong caught up from behind. Smiling warmly, he said, "You have such good qualifications. It would be a shame not to enter the industry. Huaxia Entertainment is the best talent agency in the country. As long as you're willing to sign with us, we'll definitely promote you heavily. We can make you a top-tier domestic star within two years. That's absolutely no problem."

Chen Mo suddenly felt a trace of helplessness. Looking at Yang Qindong, he said solemnly, "Of course I know I'm great. But that has nothing to do with whether I join the industry. Or taking a step back, even if I wanted to enter the entertainment industry, there are so many agencies and agents in China. Why would I have to sign with you?"

"Because I can give you what you want." Yang Qindong wore a confident smile. He had observed Chen Mo for so long and found him to be a very easygoing yet decisive person. He would not change his mind because of someone else's words, nor would he compromise himself for profit. But he was talented and handsome, so he had the capital to be arrogant.

And Yang Qindong believed in his own abilities as well.

So he tossed aside the contract he had prepared long ago and got straight to the point. "I can offer you the company's platinum contract. And I guarantee that the company will fully respect your opinions regarding any arrangements made for you. If there's work you don't want to take, the company won't force you. You'll arrange your own time. The condition is that you'll need to make a small concession regarding the initial profit split. After all, for our company to make someone famous, we also need to invest enormous funds and connections. What do you think?"

Chen Mo thought it over and felt somewhat tempted.

Seeing Chen Mo remain silent in thought, Yang Qindong smiled. "There's a café downstairs. You came all the way from the film studio to headquarters, then recorded a song. You must be hungry too, right? Why don't we talk while we eat?"

Chen Mo considered it, then nodded.

Seeing this, Yang Qindong pressed the elevator button while calling his assistant to prepare the contract terms. Reflected in the spotless elevator doors before them, Yang Qindong could not help admiring Chen Mo's handsome, refined features.

Handsome, good at acting, skilled in a fight, capable of writing songs, and able to easily win the favor of the company's king-level senior artists. Chen Mo was like Father Chen's signature braised pork—once he had the chance to be served on a plate, he gave off an irresistible aroma wherever he went.

Yang Qindong considered himself a top gourmand. Having discovered such a delicacy, how could he possibly let it slip away from his grasp?

Chapter 11

The café was located on the first floor of the headquarters building. Its overall décor balanced elegant surroundings and a peaceful atmosphere while retaining a touch of leisure and comfort for its guests. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, and soft piano music drifted through the air. Staying in such an environment for too long made one's whole body feel lazy.

The café's name was also unusual—it was called Take a Break.

It immediately reminded Chen Mo of how, whenever he watched a television drama or variety show and reached an exciting moment, a line would suddenly appear: "Take a break. We'll be right back after the commercials."

The association made Chen Mo curl his lips unconsciously. As expected of a café in Huaxia Entertainment's headquarters. Even its name has so much meaning behind it.

Yang Qindong noticed Chen Mo's smile and assumed he was pleased with the café's atmosphere. Smiling, he said, "This café is run internally by the company. It's called a café, but it's really just a large break room and isn't open to the public. You know how it is—there are so many artists in the company, and they're all so famous. It can be troublesome for them to appear in public places normally. The company did this to take care of its artists. Honestly, our company treats its employees quite well."

Chen Mo nodded indifferently and casually chose a booth beside the floor-to-ceiling windows. Outside, pedestrians came and went, while traffic on the street was packed so tightly it barely moved. Some drivers honked repeatedly in irritation, urging the cars in front of them onward. Meanwhile, he could sit here peacefully and enjoy afternoon tea. A sense of contentment called happiness rose naturally from the bottom of Chen Mo's heart.

Yang Qindong sat down across from Chen Mo with a smile. He unbuttoned his suit jacket, took it off, and carefully draped it over the sofa to avoid creasing it. Only then did he ask, "What would you like to eat?"

Chen Mo did not actually like Western food. But when there was no other choice and he was very hungry, he was not picky.

Taking the menu from the waiter, Chen Mo flipped through it with his head lowered and asked seriously, "What delicious dishes would you recommend?"

It was at that moment that Mu Yu noticed the people inside the floor-to-ceiling window.

Everyone in the world knew that Huajing's traffic was terrible during rush hour. What they did not know was that even outside rush hour, certain commercial districts could easily become congested because of their heavy traffic flow. The timing and locations of such jams were completely random as well.

Take Mu Yu, for example. He had merely accompanied an important client to a simple lunch, only to get caught in traffic on the way back. He had been stuck for more than half an hour without moving an inch.

Although he was already used to this situation, Mu Yu still felt a little impatient. He had to return to the company at two thirty to chair a meeting, and it was nearly two now. He did not know whether he could make it back in time.

Without changing his expression, Mu Yu placed the documents in his hands on the empty seat beside him and casually glanced out the car window.

The afternoon sunlight was scorching and bright, the blazing sun baking the earth without restraint. The temperature was so high that even the air outside the car windows seemed distorted.

His gaze drifted aimlessly over the pedestrians passing along the shopping street. Then, at a glance, Mu Yu spotted a boy in the café across the street. Dressed in jeans and a pullover, the boy was studying the menu in his hands with a serious expression. The person opposite him seemed to be saying something, and the boy responded absentmindedly. After casually setting down the menu, he propped his chin on one hand and looked out at the many different sights beyond the window with evident interest.

Golden sunlight poured through the glass, falling across his face and body in halos of light that made the boy's features appear even more exquisite. He gave off an aura completely at odds with the café, yet somehow blended into it in a strangely natural way. He caught one's eye at first glance without seeming abrupt or out of place.

What a beautiful boy.

That was what Mu Yu thought.

Looking at the blazing sun outside, Mu Yu suddenly felt that even with the air conditioner running, the temperature inside the car was a little high. He unconsciously loosened his tie, pressed his slightly dry lips together, and prepared to get out for a drink.

The next second, the car started moving. The traffic jam that had lasted more than half an hour had finally cleared, and the cars began to move slowly. Before long, the vehicle had left the café behind. Little Zhao knew that his boss had a meeting in the afternoon, so he stepped on the accelerator and hurried back to the company within the speed limit.

Mu Yu glanced through the rearview mirror at the café, which had long since disappeared from view, then nonchalantly lowered the hand he had moved to the car door.

"What are you looking at?" Yang Qindong saw Chen Mo resting his chin in his hand and staring intently out the window, so he could not help asking with a smile.

"The cars outside," Chen Mo answered casually.

Unexpectedly, Yang Qindong smiled with interest when he heard that. "Right. Boys your age all like luxury sports cars. But I believe that with your abilities, as long as you work hard, luxury cars and mansions won't be a problem."

After saying that, he smiled and asked Chen Mo what brand of car he liked. Chen Mo casually replied, "Ferrari." Yang Qindong did not hear him clearly and could not help asking again.

Coming back to his senses, Chen Mo changed the subject. "Weren't we supposed to be eating? Does the food here take this long to arrive?"

Yang Qindong smiled. Most people who came here did so to rest or discuss business. Who sat down and immediately started eating?

Still, considering Chen Mo's condition and mood, Yang Qindong urged the staff a few times.