Chapter 14

Father Chen was saying this when he suddenly realized something was wrong and hurriedly changed his tune. "But—"

"Sure!" Chen Mo cut him off before he could change his tune. "I'll send you the company address. When you come tomorrow, go wait for me at the company first, so you don't get locked out of the residential complex."

Hearing this, Father and Mother Chen immediately breathed a sigh of relief and quickly agreed. They reminded Chen Mo to go to bed early and get some proper rest before finally hanging up.

Early the next morning, when Chen Mo arrived at the company after getting changed, Yang Qindong was already there.

When he saw Chen Mo, Yang Qindong first asked whether he had slept well and exchanged a few pleasantries before taking him to Yuan Haobin's rehearsal room. The speakers inside were blasting. Yuan Haobin and several backup dancers were rehearsing in front of a wall of mirrors. Yuan Haobin's manager, Sister K, was there as well. When she saw Yang Qindong bring Chen Mo in, Sister K raised an eyebrow and looked Chen Mo over from head to toe before asking, "This is the newcomer you're managing?"

Yang Qindong reached out and patted Chen Mo on the shoulder, smiling. "What do you think? Not bad, right?"

Sister K smiled but said nothing. She actually had some issues with Chen Mo. Over the past few years, whenever the company wanted to promote a newcomer, they always tried to take advantage of A-Bin. Before, A-Bin had ignored those little schemes, but now he had taken the initiative to invite Chen Mo to be a guest at his concert. After learning about it, Sister K couldn't help feeling as though the company had arranged for Yang Qindong and the newcomer to join forces and deceive A-Bin.

Because of this, even before meeting him, Sister K had already labeled Chen Mo as someone with "deep scheming."

Sensing Sister K's unfriendly attitude toward him, Chen Mo merely smiled unconcernedly and turned his face away. A-Bin had spotted Chen Mo long ago, but he had not finished dancing to the song, so he did not come over to greet him.

As soon as the song ended, A-Bin strode over to Chen Mo, threw an arm around his shoulders, and said with a grin, "You're pretty hard to invite. I called Dong several times before I finally managed to dig you out. By the way, can you dance? Can you rap? I've already planned it out. The two of us will sing a duet at the concert, then I'll give you time to perform a solo song. What do you think?"

The moment those words came out, Sister K's expression changed. She had never expected A-Bin to go to such lengths to support Chen Mo. What kind of love potion had he taken?

As she thought this, Sister K discreetly glanced at Chen Mo.

Chen Mo, however, looked somewhat disgusted as he slapped away Yuan Haobin's sweat-soaked arm from his shoulder. "I don't think that's a good idea. Don't forget I'm still a senior in high school. Where would I find the time to mess around with you like this? How about this? Don't you need accompaniment when you sing? Is there a piano? I'll accompany you for one song. Just remember to promote Director Zhang's drama when you introduce me."

"How could that work? As the saying goes, a bet is a bet. Since I lost, how could I brush you off like this?" A-Bin raised an eyebrow. Then he glanced at Sister K and said directly, "If you like playing piano, that's fine too. Play the piano when you come onstage, then sing a duet with me, and after that sing a solo. It's settled. The press releases have already gone out. I don't want people saying I'm a sore loser."

Those words were clearly meant for Sister K. She had been A-Bin's manager since his debut. Although her abilities were limited, she had worked conscientiously over the years. A-Bin was also someone who valued loyalty and gratitude. Even after becoming hugely popular, he had never considered changing managers out of appreciation for her. Still, Sister K's limited vision could really be a headache sometimes.

Take today's matter, for example. A-Bin had been the one to bring it up in the first place. Although it was partly because he felt an instant connection with Chen Mo, since Sister K had agreed, she should have handled it gracefully instead of wearing a sour face the whole time. Wasn't that just making them a laughingstock?

Sister K understood what A-Bin meant as well. Her expression shifted slightly as she turned to Chen Mo and asked, "You can play piano too? How well? What grade are you?"

Chen Mo folded his arms across his chest and said calmly, "More than enough to accompany him."

That single sentence nearly choked Sister K to death.

Yang Qindong smiled faintly to himself. With Chen Mo's personality, even if you treated him with the utmost respect and warmth, he might not bother with you. Showing him that sour face was practically asking to get shut down.

A-Bin had long since seen this side of Chen Mo. He smiled with interest and pointed to a piano in the rehearsal room. "Then let's start now. I do have a song that needs piano accompaniment. I originally asked one of the band teachers, but if you play, it'll be much more interesting."

Without saying a word, Chen Mo walked over to the piano. Looking at the sheet music already laid out on top, he raised an eyebrow and asked, "This song?"

A-Bin nodded with a grin.

Chen Mo sat down, tested the tone first, then played through the entire piece with an expressionless face. He neither deliberately showed off his technique nor tried his hardest to convey emotion. Yet the notes flowing from his hands seemed to possess a will of their own, gently stirring people's feelings. Yuan Haobin unconsciously followed the melody and sang through it once.

When the piece ended, Yuan Haobin looked at Chen Mo with lingering fascination and mild surprise. "I really didn't expect you to play so well."

Before Chen Mo could respond, Yuan Haobin added, "Let's do it again."

Chen Mo did not mind. Without even looking at the sheet music, he played it again. The smooth melody flowed through the room like a babbling stream. Yuan Haobin's clear, affectionate voice slowly rose, set against the bright and gentle piano notes. It was like a cool breeze brushing across one's face, instantly sweeping away all weariness.

When the song ended, Yuan Haobin was even more intrigued. He waved at the miscellaneous people in the rehearsal room and said directly, "You all go out first. I want to discuss this properly with Chen Mo. I want to write a new song."

Yuan Haobin was already a king-level singer, and his greatest strength was writing his own lyrics and composing his own music. But even the most gifted singer needed creative inspiration. Hearing A-Bin say this, Sister K immediately led everyone out, leaving the space to Chen Mo and Yuan Haobin.

The two of them tinkered around in the rehearsal room for most of the day. Most of the time, Chen Mo played whatever came to mind while Yuan Haobin held paper and pen, writing and sketching. Chen Mo had written songs before, so he naturally understood the feeling of inspiration hitting like a burst dam—something that could not be interrupted.

Yuan Haobin lay on the floor agonizing for a long while. Inspiration seemed to strike out of nowhere, and he felt as though he was just about to seize it, yet he was always a tiny bit short. Frustrated, he scratched his head, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, took one out and held it beneath his nose to smell it. "Did you bring a lighter?"

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow. "You smoke without carrying a lighter?"

"Sister K confiscated it. She says I'm a singer, so smoking all the time is bad. Besides, I've been rehearsing lately, and the concert is coming up soon. I need to protect my voice even more."

Chen Mo was unimpressed. "She sure has a lot to say."

Holding the cigarette, Yuan Haobin lay on the floor as if life had lost all meaning. "Sister K's actually a good person. Her brain just doesn't work too well sometimes."

Chen Mo glanced at Yuan Haobin and raised an eyebrow. "Do you really want to smoke?"

Yuan Haobin looked at Chen Mo and nodded pitifully. But Chen Mo did not take out a lighter. Instead, he sat before the piano, relaxed his shoulders as though stretching, and shook out his arms and fingers. Finally, he took a deep breath and placed both hands on the black-and-white keys.

The next second, like raindrops battering the earth in a violent storm, like a swarm of wild bees pounding against a window, like large and small pearls pouring onto a jade plate, a torrent of notes so rapid they dazzled the eye suddenly burst through the room beneath Chen Mo's hands.

Yuan Haobin stared in astonishment at Chen Mo sitting before the piano, his fingers striking the keys in a dizzying blur. The unbelievable speed made Yuan Haobin feel as though his eyes could not keep up. Countless afterimages truly appeared before him.

Gorgeous notes leaped through the air at breakneck speed. The visual and auditory impact of such limit-breaking performance left no room for reaction. The faster Chen Mo struck the keys, the faster sweat dripped from his forehead and face. Beads of sweat the size of soybeans fell one after another. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, refracting the sweat into colorful glimmers that formed hazy rings of light around Chen Mo.

Looking against the light, Yuan Haobin could not make out Chen Mo's expression. He could only stare helplessly at those hands, now leaving countless afterimages, unaware that his cigarette had fallen to the floor.

When the piece ended, Chen Mo withdrew his hands and took a light breath. He rose, walked to Yuan Haobin, bent down to pick up the cigarette from the floor, then returned to the piano and held it against the heated strings. The next second, both cigarettes lit up. Chen Mo handed one to Yuan Haobin. "Here. Smoke."

Only then did Yuan Haobin come back to his senses. He looked in disbelief at the cigarette in Chen Mo's hand, then at the piano. Suddenly, he exploded with profanity and shouted like a madman, "Fuck, could you not do something so insanely ridiculous with such a calm expression? Will you die if you don't show off? Will you? Will you? Did you ever consider my feelings? Did you ever consider how I feel? Feel? Feel? Feel? Feel? Feel?!!!"

With a click, Yang Qindong's action of pushing open the door interrupted Yuan Haobin's meltdown. Speaking on the phone with his head lowered, he said to Chen Mo, "Your parents have arrived at the company. Do you want to—"

The next second, Yang Qindong looked strangely at the sweat-soaked Chen Mo, then at Yuan Haobin, who was lying on the floor roaring like a lunatic with a cigarette still between his fingers. After a long silence, he carefully asked, "...What exactly did you two... do just now?"

"What kind of expression is that?" Chen Mo looked at Yang Qindong with utter disdain and raised an eyebrow. "What did you just say? My family is here?"

"Uh..." Yang Qindong hung up the phone and pointed outside with one hand. "They're downstairs. I had the receptionist take them to the café to rest."

Then he pointed at Yuan Haobin, still sprawled on the floor, and asked suspiciously, "But what exactly... happened between you two?"

"He wanted to smoke but didn't have a light, so I helped him light two cigarettes. Then he started making a huge fuss." Chen Mo shrugged unconcernedly. Just as he was about to put the cigarette in his mouth, Yang Qindong snatched it away.

"Kids shouldn't smoke. Didn't your parents teach you that?" As Yang Qindong spoke, he put the lit cigarette into his own mouth. Then, in an especially showy manner, he blew a smoke ring at Chen Mo, earning a disdainful "Tch" from him.

That sound, however, set off Yuan Haobin, who was lying on the floor. In a flash, he sprang up, pointed at Chen Mo, and shouted, "You only helped light two cigarettes! You make it sound so easy! Is that how anyone helps light cigarettes? And you still dare say I'm making a fuss? Why don't you tell him how you lit those cigarettes just now?"

Seeing Yuan Haobin's hysterical appearance, Chen Mo frowned in distaste. He said to Yang Qindong, "Looking at him, he probably can't rehearse right now. I'll take my family back to the apartment and get them settled first. I'll come back this afternoon."

Yang Qindong nodded and patted Chen Mo on the shoulder. "Remember to come back on time."

Seeing this, Yuan Haobin's eyes widened in disbelief. He hurried forward, grabbed Chen Mo's arm, and demanded loudly, "Hey! Where are you going? You did something like that right in front of me, and you still dare act like nothing happened? You think you can just dust yourself off and leave? What a joke! Do you really think I'll let you walk away like this? Like this? Like this? Like this?!!!"

"Are you sick?" Chen Mo looked at Yuan Haobin in disbelief as well. He reached out and touched Yuan Haobin's forehead, saying speechlessly, "You don't have a fever, but you still don't look normal. Fine, I'll leave you to him."