Li Zhen's new boss was none other than Lu Chen: the most famous young vagabond singer in the Mainland, lead actor in two highly rated TV dramas and an A-list celebrity who commands a million-dollar price tag for his projects.
Li Zhen's friends listened, utterly dumbfounded, as if hearing a mythical tale.
It all felt utterly surreal.
At their first meeting, Lu Chen made a striking first impression: he was a truly handsome man with undeniable charisma and a native of the Mainland.
His refined speech and warm, approachable manner instantly won them over, making him seem like a friendly boy next door.
Xueni was immediately smitten and boldly 'confessed her affection.'
However, what none of them expected was that Lu Chen had a girlfriend and seemed to be riding on her coattails.
This revelation drastically lowered Li Zhen's friends' opinion of him.
Lu Chen's stunning, self-accompanied singing performance on stage had made him an overnight sensation. Yet he was telling everyone he was a major star, a fact they found hard to believe.
Li Zhen felt helpless. Even if she tried to hide the truth, it wouldn't remain concealed for long. When the truth inevitably came out, it would make things even more awkward with her friends.
"Seriously, I'm not lying!"
Confronted with her friends' skepticism, Li Zhen had no choice but to elaborate. "Just search his name online; you'll see. My boss's girlfriend is Chen Fei'er; you must know her, right? He starred in the TV dramas 'Autumn in My Heart' and 'Full House' with her. I highly recommend you all watch them!"
As she spoke, a faint blush crept across her cheeks.
Until recently, Li Zhen and her friends had only cared about the news and gossip of Hong Kong's entertainment industry. She watched TV dramas and variety shows produced by Hong Kong Television Broadcasts Limited and only browsed local bulletin board systems online.
This was a common affliction among Hong Kongers: most lacked an understanding of mainland China and showed little interest in learning more about it.
Back then, Li Zhen felt that she and her friends were like frogs at the bottom of a well, confined to Hong Kong's small world and oblivious to the vibrant, vast world beyond. They were narrow-minded and ignorant.
"His girlfriend is Chen Fei'er!"
Xueni covered her face, playfully scolding, "A'Zhen, you're so mean! Why didn't you tell me earlier and save me from embarrassment?"
While few mainland celebrities were well known in Hong Kong, Chen Fei'er was one of them. She had performed concerts at the Hong Kong Coliseum and released albums there, which had given her considerable recognition.
No matter how confident Xueni was, she wouldn't dare claim to be able to compete with Chen Fei'er.
Li Zhen chuckled wryly. "Who told you to get so horny so quickly? I'm telling you now, aren't I?"
Xueni grabbed her in a tight hug. "Out of the question! You owe me!"
The two women burst into laughter, playfully teasing each other. On stage, Lu Chen handed the guitar back to the band's guitarist.
The guitarist took the instrument, his face brimming with admiration, and gave Lu Chen a thumbs-up. 'Damn sharp!'
Lu Chen chuckled. "Thank you for the guitar."
Just then, Ye Xuan strode onto the stage and approached Lu Chen.
"Hello!"
Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, he held out his hand to Lu Chen. "I'm Ye Xuan."
"Hello." Lu Chen shook his hand. "I'm Lu Chen."
Eagerly, Ye Xuan asked, "Who wrote this song? Who's the original singer?"
Although he might not have reached the pinnacle of the pop music scene, Ye Xuan was a seasoned vagabond singer from Hong Kong with impeccable credentials. A graduate of the Kowloon Conservatory of Music, he had an unparalleled discerning ear and extensive experience, not to mention vocal prowess.
Ye Xuan had never heard Lu Chen's performance of 'Favorite in Life' before, which piqued his curiosity. He knew that if any Cantonese song of such exceptional quality had ever been released, it would undoubtedly have crossed his path.
"This song shouldn't be unknown!"
Driven by his insatiable thirst for truth, Ye Xuan disregarded the public setting and boldly returned to the stage to find out more. He was desperate to know the composer's identity.
His instincts as a vagabond singer told him that this could be a golden opportunity.
'If he could acquire the rights to this song…'
Ye Xuan fixed his gaze on Lu Chen, his eyes burning with anticipation for the answer he craved.
"Uh..."
Lu Chen was slightly taken aback by Ye Xuan's rapid-fire questions. "Shall we talk downstairs?" he suggested.
Ye Xuan suddenly realized that his behavior had been quite inappropriate. His face flushed red with embarrassment, and he quickly agreed. "Yes, of course," he said.
The two walked off the stage together.
Most of the bar's patrons remained unaware of what had transpired. Seeing Ye Xuan shake hands and exchange pleasantries with Lu Chen, they assumed that the renowned singer had recognized Lu Chen's talent and had come on stage to offer him encouragement.
They burst into spontaneous applause.
Ye Xuan immediately invited Lu Chen to sit at his table.
Lu Chen didn't refuse. After nodding briefly to Li Zhen, he calmly took a seat beside Ye Xuan.
Ye Xuan's friends scrutinized Lu Chen with curious gazes.
One young woman, Xueni, studied him particularly intently. Before Ye Xuan could introduce them, she suddenly blurted out, "You... haven't you been in a TV drama?"
Lu Chen smiled and nodded. "Yes, I have."
The girl's eyes lit up instantly, and she asked eagerly, "Was it 'Autumn in My Heart'? Are you Lu Chen?"
Lu Chen touched his nose instinctively and replied, "That's me."
"Ah!"
The girl let out a sharp squeal, and her eyes shone like stars in the night sky. "It's really you! It's really you!"
"My name is Yin Junxi! I'm your biggest fan!"
Her face flushed crimson with excitement, radiating the fervent enthusiasm of a die-hard fan meeting their idol. Had the setting been more appropriate, she might have lunged forward to hug Lu Chen on the spot.
Ye Xuan and the others exchanged bewildered glances. Ye Xuan couldn't help but ask, "A'Fang, you said he's an actor?"
The girl nodded emphatically, her gaze never leaving Lu Chen. "Yes! When did you come to Hong Kong?"
Lu Chen smiled gently. "Just a few days ago."
Ye Xuan had to interrupt their conversation. He realized that the situation was spiraling beyond his control.
"Lu Chen, about that song you sang earlier..."
Lu Chen replied, "I wrote that song myself, and this is the first time I've performed it publicly."
He understood Ye Xuan's intentions, but he didn't want to sell the song to anyone else.
Ye Xuan was stunned.
When A'Fang had mentioned earlier that Lu Chen was an actor, Ye Xuan hadn't paid much attention. But hearing Lu Chen confirm that he had written 'Favorite in Life' left Ye Xuan genuinely stunned.
A'Fang chuckled. "Brother Lu Chen is very famous in the Mainland! He started out as a wandering singer and has already released two albums, hasn't he? All the songs on his albums are original compositions. He's a truly talented singer!"
Her knowledge of Lu Chen came entirely from the internet, specifically from researching him after watching Autumn in My Heart.
Ye Xuan finally realized that he had underestimated Lu Chen!
(End of Chapter)
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