Writing songs

"Writing songs?!" The two of them were astonished. Su Li could write songs too?

As though something had occurred to her, Cheng Sirong began to look forward to it.

After filling a sheet of paper, Su Li asked Cheng Sirong, "Sister Cheng, can you speak Cantonese?"

"Yes, I've sung Cantonese songs before!"

Su Li nodded. He had thought of a song that would definitely become a huge hit on short-video platforms and in all kinds of video edits.

Blue Star also had a short-video platform called Trembling Sound.

When he finished writing, he handed three sheets of paper to Cheng Sirong. "Sister Cheng, take a look at these three songs and see what you think."

Cheng Sirong took them and saw the title "Later" written on the first sheet.

The farther she read, the more astonished she became. The hands holding the paper began to tremble, and then she could not help humming it aloud.

An Hui and Chen Zhuo came over to look too.

An Hui had studied music and even released albums, so he could read it too.

He was also stunned. "This song... these lyrics, this melody-as long as it's released, it'll definitely dominate the charts for the year!"

Hearing Cheng Sirong hum, Chen Zhuo could not help marveling, "This sounds so good. It's hit-song material!"

She turned to the second sheet, which read "Painted Heart."

After reading it, Cheng Sirong said, "These lyrics and this melody are incredible too, but this song really demands vocal skill."

"Sister Cheng, are you not confident in your own singing?"

"No, I'm very confident I can sing this well!" Cheng Sirong looked forward to the next song even more.

The third song was "Kiss Everywhere."

"This one's in Cantonese," An Hui said as he read the lyrics.

Chen Zhuo hummed the tune, then his eyes lit up. "This song has a great style. I like it!"

"This is different from the style of my previous songs, but it suits me surprisingly well."

Cheng Sirong was already beside herself with excitement.

"What do you think, Sister Cheng?"

"They're fantastic. I haven't seen lyrics and melodies this good in years!"

"Xiao Su, sell these songs to me. I promise I'll make them hits all across the country. How about an eighty-twenty split, with eighty for you and twenty for me? The company can't dictate these things to me. I have the final say!"

She was far too excited. If these three songs were released, their quality and sing-along appeal would send her career soaring!

"Sister Cheng, I don't mind how we split it, but I hope you can give me some publicity. That way, I might qualify to enter the music industry." Su Li smiled bashfully.

Cheng Sirong waved a hand. "I'd do my best to promote you even without you asking, Xiao Su. Everyone should know about someone this talented. Besides, with your ability, I don't think even top-tier composers measure up to you, never mind just entering the music industry!"

"If you ever want to work with a record company, tell me. I do know a few people!"

Su Li smiled sweetly. "Then thank you, Sister Cheng. I think these three songs will sound wonderful with you singing them!" He had made his position clear.

"I'm the one who should thank you. I've waited so long for songs like these..." Cheng Sirong's voice grew a little choked.

Cheng Sirong folded the three sheets and put them away as though they were treasures. "Xiao Su, come guide me when I record them. You wrote these songs, and I'm afraid I won't understand them deeply enough to sing them perfectly."

"All right."

Chen Zhuo said excitedly, "Brother Su, you're amazing. You're this good at writing songs too?!" He really admired Su Li more and more.

"I really want Brother Su to write songs for me too." He felt his agency imposed far too many restrictions.

Su Li smiled at him. "I'll write some for you in the future. I have plenty more good songs." He was tempting Chen Zhuo.

Chen Zhuo's eyes widened. "Really?!"

"Really!"

Chen Zhuo resolved to convince his manager no matter what. Yes, once Sister Cheng released these three songs, Brother Su would be even more famous, and his manager would definitely agree then!

These would be songs with lyrics and melodies written by Brother Su himself! How wonderful would it be to sing them!

Despite Chen Zhuo's youthful looks, his voice actually had a rich texture and considerable versatility. He was also good at rap, so there really were quite a few songs that suited him.

Su Li also thought he could write something for An Hui in a while, such as that song that was a must for the New Year. Wouldn't that mean an endless stream of emotional energy?

After finishing the hot pot, everyone headed home. In her chauffeured van, Cheng Sirong showed the three songs to her manager.

Her manager was Gao Yiqing, a refined-looking man who had been her manager since before her debut.

He looked at the three sheets, utterly astonished. "Sirong, what genius wrote these?"

"A younger brother I got to know on the show, Su Li," she said proudly.

"Oh, him, that very handsome young man. So he's this talented. These three songs are so well written!"

Gao Yiqing was happy from the bottom of his heart. He wanted nothing but the best for Cheng Sirong. She had waited three years and finally found good songs!

"So I promised Xiao Su that I'd take twenty percent of the revenue from this song and he'd take eighty. The company's share will come out of my twenty percent."

Gao Yiqing certainly agreed. "I'm all for it, but the company's current executives... sigh."

"Let's take it one step at a time. There's only a year left on the contract anyway." Cheng Sirong pondered in silence.

Su Li returned to his apartment with Xiaoxue and Xiaohan. Zheng Xing was tidying up.

"Boss, you're back?" He quickly poured Su Li a glass of water.

"Yes. Thanks for your hard work." Su Li had not expected Zheng Xing to be this thoughtful.

He had already tidied the rooms and even replaced the water in the dispenser.

"It's my duty!" Su Li's praise filled him with enthusiasm.

Xiaoxue and Xiaohan seemed very curious about where Su Li lived, flying here one moment and there the next.

He settled into the sofa, picked up his phone, and opened Feibo. He discovered that An Hui and the others had all posted group photos of their hot pot meal and tagged him. Su Li liked their posts and made one himself.

Su Li Not Eating Pears v: Having hot pot with everyone! @An Hui v @Cheng Sirong v @DX Chen Zhuo v [image][image]

Aside from the instant replies from An Hui and the others, thousands of comments appeared immediately. It was clear that Su Li really was popular now.

[Now I'm hungry this late at night.]

[Zhuo Bao looks so happy. He's even showing his teeth!]

[Sister Cheng and An Hui too. They look so happy.]

[They're so close.]

[Why isn't Youyou there?]

[Isn't that normal? Those few are close. This is a gathering of friends, not a meal organized by the show.]

As he scrolled through the comments, a call came in on his phone. It was his manager, Zhou Jing.

He answered and turned on speakerphone. "Hello, Zhou Jing. What is it?"

"Xiao Su, congratulations!! You did so well on the show this time! You're really popular now!!" Zhou Jing sounded very excited.

"Thank you, Zhou Jing. It's all thanks to Director Wang giving me the opportunity."

"Um, there's something else. Your contract is expiring soon. What are your thoughts?"

"Of course I'm ending the contract. I want to start my own studio," Su Li said unhurriedly, looking at his fingernails.

"Start your own studio? Do you have enough money?" Zhou Jing had not expected Su Li to say that.

"There's no need to worry about that. Since I said I was going to start one, that means I have the ability to do it." Su Li spoke as though it went without saying, his voice cool and clear.

Zhou Jing felt that Su Li really did have the confidence now. After all, things were different from before. His popularity was skyrocketing, and he was close with a best actor, a singing queen, and a member of a popular boy band. That was a good thing too.

P.S. "Later" - music and lyrics: Tamashiro Chiharu; adapted lyrics: Shi Rencheng; original singer: Liu Ruoying

"Painted Heart" - lyrics: Chen Shaoqi; music: Fujiwara Ikuro; arrangement: Fujiwara Ikuro; original singer: Zhang Liangying

"Kiss Everywhere" - lyrics: Lin Xi; music: Mark Lui; original singer: Miriam Yeung