Chapter 516: Wen Ming 6
"Setting aside the law and speaking purely from a moral standpoint, Old Jiang is truly terrible when it comes to relationships."
Old Yan concluded, "That’s why a guy like Old Jiang needs someone like the wind to put him in his place—someone no one can catch, someone even more free and unrestrained than he is."
"Are you talking about Wen Ming?" Old Huang shook his head. "She has extremely high moral standards. Do you really think she and Old Jiang would have anything in common?"
"Not necessarily. Talented people are often drawn to one another," Old Yan said, perfectly at ease. "Besides, I’m not trying to play matchmaker. I just think Wen Ming is an interesting person."
"A playboy like Old Jiang needs someone to take him down a notch. You think he could come out on top if he went up against Wen Ming?"
"Now that you mention it, I’m suddenly looking forward to it," Old Mo chimed in with a laugh, his smoky voice full of character.
Tan You left with a spring in her step. When she got back to the apartment the company provided, she crashed into bed, completely ignoring the storm brewing in the outside world. Just as she’d said, she had done everything she could. The rest was up to fate.
’That said, my very first album can’t possibly be a total flop, can it?’
In the first week after the album’s release, all of a sudden, Tan You found that she could hear her songs playing everywhere she went. It had been completely quiet before, but then, in a flash, it was as if everyone knew who she was.
Old Yan said, "You don’t know? Aze promoted your song. He’s a very famous radio host. His vocal tone is excellent—very clear and bright—but it’s hard to produce an album for him because it’s so difficult to find songs that suit his voice."
"His natural talent is just *too* good. It’s hard for producers to write lyrics and music tailored specifically for him."
Tan You understood. She knew a singer like that in her previous life—a classic late bloomer. Tan You herself was a big fan of this singer, who was extremely demanding when it came to music.
’I wonder if this Aze is anything like the singer I knew?’
"Aze also goes to Ye Se to sing. It’s just a matter of whether you can run into him. He’s an introvert, a very quiet person. But if you talk to him about music, he has a lot of his own ideas."
Old Yan saw what she was thinking. He was tempted by Aze’s talent too, but there was nothing he could do. Without lyrics and music that suited Aze, he could only look at the singer and sigh in regret. But now, wasn’t there Tan You? If she could manage to reel Aze in, the result would be far greater than the sum of its parts.
Tan You understood Old Yan’s meaning, and she had to admit, she was definitely interested in Aze now.
"I’ll ask Ye Li. If Aze is going today, I’ll head over."
The reply from Ye Li came quickly. "Aze is coming over today. Has he caught your interest? A lot of people have been singing your songs at the bar these past few days, but none of them can quite capture your unique style."
"When are you going to come and sing one yourself?"
Tan You toyed with her phone. "Well, no time like the present. I’ll head over in a bit. I want to hear his voice for myself, too."
Ye Li laughed. "Alrighty then! Looks like I’m going to sell a ton of booze tonight. I can’t even imagine how many people have been dying to storm my little tavern."
Old Mo said, "If you set your sights on Aze, the other artists at the company are going to be upset. Who doesn’t want to sing one of your songs?"
Tan You waved her hand dismissively. "My songs aren’t for just anyone. They have to go to the best."
"Well, you certainly have high standards," Old Yan said. "Where are you going to find someone with vocal skills as outstanding as yours? Any singer from your generation will just end up overshadowed by your brilliance."
"Look at the charts right now. All of your songs are on it. Number one is ’Nirvana,’ number two is ’Shi Shui,’ and number three is ’Siren.’ You’ve completely swept the board."
Tan You really hadn’t been paying attention. "Really? Sounds like it’s doing well."
Old Huang scoffed. "Doing well? It’s doing better than well! Your old rivals must be furious. Nobody expected a dark horse like you to come out of nowhere. Qi Ying... he’s probably the most furious of all. He finally managed to gain more popularity with Ah Rong’s help, and in the blink of an eye, you’ve completely eclipsed him."
Tan You was in a particularly good mood. "That’s fantastic. The thought of him being so crushed by me he can’t even breathe just makes me feel even better."
Old Mo remarked, "You really hold a grudge. Are you sure you don’t still have feelings for him?"
"Don’t be disgusting," Tan You said, grabbing an orange and tossing it at him. Old Mo caught it nimbly. "I just think he lets his bit of talent go to his head. He’s arrogant and Taiching, and completely irresponsible."
"It’s actually very easy for men to change their roles in life. Whether it’s becoming a husband or a father, they can do it without paying almost any price."
"Society is just that much more tolerant of men, but it’s different for women. Sometimes, you only get one chance. If you miss it, your entire life could be wasted."
"And once a woman chooses to become a mother, the sacrifice she makes is enormous. Her career will likely come to a halt. The most terrifying part is that after a woman has gambled everything she has, the man can just turn around and walk away without a second thought. That’s what’s most unfair."
Old Mo observed, "From the sound of it, you seem to be afraid of marriage."
Tan You smiled. "I barely managed to escape that sunless life. Why would I walk right back into a trap? Marriage is a besieged city; everyone is wandering around, either inside or out. And those who have already gotten out have no desire to walk into another one."
"Well said! Insightful!" A somewhat deep voice rang out. The newcomer pushed open the office door and strode over to Tan You. "I just got back, and I’m already hearing Teacher Wen’s songs on every street corner. Hello, I’m Jiang Hua."
Tan You shook his hand. Seeing the interested look in his eyes, she smiled. "Mr. Jiang, don’t fall in love with me. It won’t end well."
Jiang Hua coughed lightly. "Teacher Wen is quite perceptive, huh."
Tan You spread her hands. "I’m just giving you a heads-up. Besides, Mr. Jiang, you’re not my type."
Everyone’s curiosity was piqued. "What is your type?"
Tan You thought for a moment. "Someone who can handle the dazzling crowds but also endure the quiet moments, who doesn’t flirt or have a wandering eye, who’s loyal to just one person, and has high moral standards..."
"PFFT," Old Yan was the first to burst out laughing. He slapped Jiang Hua hard on the back. "That’s the complete opposite of you."
Jiang Hua gave a bitter smile. "Sigh. Rejected the moment we meet. Is anyone more pathetic than me?"
Tan You pushed the fruit bowl toward him. "If you want to be a playboy, then be a playboy forever. You can’t just settle down for a while and then start missing your old Huahua world. No woman can accept that kind of life."
"I can’t give you anything else, so just have a few more oranges."
Old Mo asked, "Say, those are all requirements for a person’s character. What about wealth and status?"
Tan You was indifferent. "He just needs to be able to support himself. It’s highly unlikely he’d earn more than me anyway."