9 p.m.
The moon is bright and the stars are sparse; magpies fly south.
"Good! That's it, I declare 'A Slight Smile Overwhelmingly Alluring' has wrapped perfectly!"
"Everyone's worked hard these days!"
Clap clap clap——
At a bustling film set.
With Director Wang Jing's one command (^o^)/~~~, the crew let out a collective cheer and congratulated each other with applause.
Two and a half minutes later.
A fair-skinned man with features tending toward delicate and androgynous walked over to Director Wang Jing, who was packing up.
This was Tang Chuan, the lead of the TV drama 'A Slight Smile Overwhelmingly Alluring,' a currently quite well-known pretty-boy in the entertainment circle....
He was also Lin Xuan's younger male cousin.
"Director! For this drama, didn't you say you'd contact boss [L] to tailor a theme song? Have you reached him?"
"Oh? Young Master Tang... that's a bit hard to arrange!"
Director Wang Jing turned his head; seeing it was the Tang family's third young master; his tone became more respectful.
The young man before him had an extraordinary background—not only the show's lead, but he had also invested capital into the production.
Even as a famous director, he still had to maintain due respect before such a top-tier rich second generation.
......
"[L] is a dragon whose head we glimpse but whose tail we don't! I tried contacting Lin Group, but every message I sent sank without a trace."
"I'll find time these next two days to pay a personal visit."
"Hopefully [L] will give us some face! If [L] would tailor a theme song for our drama,"
"That would be stronger than any online promotion by a thousandfold, ten-thousandfold."
"This would absolutely be a sure-win, no-loss deal; it would be worth it no matter how much money we spend...."
"......."
Mentioning the musical prodigy [L], Director Wang Jing was full of praise.
In this despairing world where only brainworm tunes like [Chicken You Are So Beautiful], [Big Trees Catch the Wind], and [Cancer] were popular,
The sudden rise of [L] was like injecting a shot of adrenaline into a Chinese music scene that was about to go cold, giving it new life.
And every one of [L]'s songs was a divine track—hit after hit—his fame blanketed all of China, with countless fans.
The only pity.....
To this day no one knew [L]'s true face; he seemed to live in people's imaginings, shrouded in a veil of mystery......
"Director Wang Jing, I want to go too—remember to bring me along!"
"I want to get an autograph from my idol, written by his own hand!"
Hearing that Director Wang Jing would visit [L], Tang Chuan's eyes lit up at once, insisting he be brought along.
He was [L]'s most loyal fan—an ultimate stan.
The song the other party had just released not long ago, 'Exclusive Memory,' had been on his loop for the past two days, and he'd already broken several pairs of headphones listening.....
"Mm.....(o′ω`o)? Alright! If I get in touch, I'll call and let you know."
Director Wang Jing pondered a moment and finally nodded.
He first considered Tang Chuan's identity and felt it was hard to refuse, and then thought that if the Tang family's third young master accompanied him, perhaps Lin Group would show more leniency on the Tang family's account....
With that, Tang Chuan left the set in a cheerful mood.
As soon as he walked out the gate, just about to get in the car to go home.....
A familiar voice came from behind.
"Tang Chuan, congratulations! Since you've finished filming, how about a few drinks to celebrate?"
Turning in surprise, he was delighted to see a man with a chiseled face sitting in a wheelchair beside a yellow Lamborghini watching him from not far away.
It was his close friend... Huo Qichen!
"Brother Chen, how do you have time to drop by?"
"Nothing to do—out for some air. I happened to hear you were filming nearby, so I came by to see you. Well? Shall we go have that long-overdue drink!"
"Of course! Since you've invited me, Brother Chen, I have to give you face."
"Good, then get in the car!"
........
Red Rose Bar.
As soon as the two got out of the car, the lobby manager led them with utmost respect into a lavish, gold-and-jade supreme VIP room.
Under the manager's expectant gaze, the two rich young masters casually ordered some pricey foreign liquor, draft beer, and fruit plates.
After sending the deferential lobby manager away, they began to drink and make merry.
"Come on, Brother Chen. A toast to you!"
"Cheers."
"By the way, Brother Chen. My idol [L] released another new song recently—super good. Have you heard it?"
"Of course... Whenever [L] drops a track, it spreads across the whole net at once. Though I don't want to admit it, that person's musical talent truly has no equal."
"Hahaha... worthy of being my idol [L]! Maybe only he in this world could make you, Brother Chen, feel inferior!"
"......"
Tang Chuan heaped praise on his idol.
Then he picked up the microphone and soulfully sang a song by [L].
But being tone-deaf by nature, his voice sounded like a drake's quack, making Huo Qichen frown so hard his brows practically formed the character "川" (river).
Yet in order to use Tang Chuan to get specific intel on projects from his father.....
The domineering CEO ultimately chose... to endure!!!