Chapter 13

Cheng Lang gave the person speaking below the stage a thumbs-up. This was a master.

"I truly didn't expect this," Cheng Lang said, clutching his guitar and sighing at the sky. "If I'd known you were all hidden masters, I wouldn't have dared show off."

The moment they heard that, cheerful laughter erupted from below the stage.

Cheng Lang had a bit of a headache. Listlessly, he said, "Then today, I'll sing two songs requested by the guests—"

"I'll request another one that fits the occasion." Another guest below the stage teasingly said, "Sing Men Cry, It's Not a Crime. I requested it especially for you. Can you feel my sincerity?"

Another wave of uproarious laughter broke out below the stage, with people slapping tables and stomping their feet.

Cheng Lang hugged his guitar and stared at the lights. He felt that what he was suffering now was not something a headliner should have to endure.

"You really are!" A guest below the stage couldn't help advising him, "Take it easy. I once went to Grand View Stage to listen to crosstalk. The headliner over there had it far worse than you. Compared to those guests, we're being pretty gentle with you."

Cheng Lang had nothing to say. They really had mistaken him for a crosstalk performer.

Clutching his guitar, Cheng Lang mournfully said, "I only learned today that gentleness could hurt this much."

The guests below the stage went wild with laughter again.

It was still that same person, continuing the banter. "It's fine. You brush us off with mass-produced gentleness, and we use devoted gentleness to set you off. We hurt each other. To the bitter end."

Cheng Lang shuddered. "It's late at night. Can we not do this?"

"Are you scared?" someone asked with a grin. "Don't be. I'll take you home tonight."

Cheng Lang looked despondent. "I'm an orphan. What home do I have? Just take me to XXX..."

Cheng Lang gave an address. The guest who had just been bantering with him found it increasingly familiar. Someone chimed in, "Isn't that a cemetery that was built last year?"

Cheng Lang nodded. "Don't let the fact that it's newly built fool you. The scenery is pretty nice. There's an old locust tree halfway up the hill behind it, and right under that tree, I..."

The guests found it more and more creepy and hurriedly stopped him. "Weren't you supposed to sing? Hurry up and sing! You've practically muddled through the whole two hours already."

Cheng Lang looked at the guest and summed it up. "Bad at it, but loves doing it."

Another burst of laughter rose from below the stage. The guest being roasted wasn't angry either and subconsciously ordered Cheng Lang a drink.

Cheng Lang glanced at the drink and was still hesitating when the female guest who had been teasing him suddenly spoke. "Two hundred thousand."

The female guest said calmly, "To request one song from you."

Cheng Lang was genuinely a little intimidated by this woman, who coveted his looks and soul at every turn. He began trembling timidly again as he hugged his guitar. "Th-there's no need for that. It's just one song."

"I'm talking about just one song." Lü looked at Cheng Lang. "Didn't you want to protect the price tag of White Jade Capital's headliner?"

At that, Lü couldn't help smiling. Even her voice was tinged with amusement. "In the entertainment industry, some up-and-coming third-tier artists charge more than two hundred thousand for a single song at a commercial event. Qin Dynasty Records signs White Jade Capital's headliners every year. With your qualifications, if you debuted, your fee for one song would definitely be more than two hundred thousand."

"I knew you had a good eye, Sister," Cheng Lang said, looking at Lü with admiration and a hint of shyness. "You're just like Brother Wang from our Entertainment Department. You both saw my hidden talents at a glance."

Brother Wang, standing below the stage, was caught completely off guard when Cheng Lang suddenly mentioned him. His face immediately darkened. "Fuck, this kid is slandering me again!" When had he ever seen Cheng Lang's hidden talents? All he saw was that Cheng Lang was a real show-off!

Lü couldn't suppress her laughter.

The male guest who had helped Cheng Lang out earlier raised an eyebrow. "What, President Lü? Thinking of signing him?"

Lü smiled. "That depends on whether he's willing."

The male guest looked at Cheng Lang. "What are you standing there for? This is President Lü of Qin Dynasty Records. Every resident singer at White Jade Capital dreams of becoming a signed artist under Qin Dynasty Records. Now that the opportunity is here, why aren't you grabbing it?"

Below the stage, Brother Wang's expression changed.

Cheng Lang reacted quickly. Looking at Lü, he suddenly understood. "You came to White Jade Capital today to sign Meng Tianye, didn't you?"

A flicker of amusement passed through Lü's eyes. She was growing more and more impressed with Cheng Lang. The kid was good-looking, sang well, was funny, and was clever too. "I can sign only one person. Or I can sign one more."

Then Lü seemed to remember something and said with a smile, "Don't worry. I respect your wishes. I'll let you sell your art, not your body. We can discuss the contract terms slowly."

After saying that, Lü tapped the tabletop with her slender fingers painted with red nail polish. "Two hundred thousand for one song is my show of sincerity. Of course—"

Lü looked at Cheng Lang, then changed the subject, half-serious and half-teasing. "If you're willing to give a little extra, I'm willing to pay extra compensation too."

"But I'm not willing." Cheng Lang hugged his guitar and looked at Lü with pleading eyes. "I'm a man destined to become a domineering CEO. Controlling the lifeline of the global economy and casually bringing down powerful families is my life goal. You're beautiful and kind, Sister. You understand, right?"

Lü looked at Cheng Lang and smiled. "You can be a domineering CEO's man right now."

Cheng Lang lowered his head, finally understanding why using one's own methods against them was such a supreme martial arts technique.

"Eww~"

Seeing Cheng Lang chicken out, the guests below the stage started egging him on again. But this time, Cheng Lang didn't dare keep pushing his luck. "It's getting late. Let me sing everyone some songs!"

"No rush! We're having a great time listening to your crosstalk."

"Keep talking!"

"Go on, be wild!"

Amid the guests' laughing cheers, Cheng Lang ignored them and sang with his guitar. After two songs, he finally got the atmosphere under control.

Probably because all that talking had worn out his voice, Cheng Lang's throat felt like it was on fire by the time he stepped off the stage.

"You really lived up to your name!"

Below the stage, Brother Wang looked at Cheng Lang with a complicated gaze that also held some admiration. "You actually dared to make jokes about me and Brother Chen. You've got some nerve!"