noveldepot Chapter 20, "Remaining Sins," is now available online.
Chapter 20, "Remaining Sins," is now available online.
A grilled fish restaurant in the bustling city center was still packed with people even after 11 p.m.
The chili oil sizzled on the charcoal fire, releasing an enticing spicy aroma.
Qi Yue and Guo Fan led Li Qing to a window seat. This was the first time they had actually sat down since "Yu Zui" was released two weeks ago.
In just two weeks, the number of views exceeded one billion, and word-of-mouth continued to spread. Li Qing's "Chasing the Light" swept across major music charts, and the unfamiliar name "Tongfan Studio" also began to be mentioned in the industry.
"Come on! To 'Yu Zui'! Cheers!"
Guo Fan raised the glass filled with ice-cold beer, his lips curving upwards like a dragon king.
"Cheers!" Li Qing quickly picked up her juice, her face flushed.
Qi Yue also smiled and raised his glass.
After working day and night for several months, we finally achieved a pretty good result.
After eating most of the grilled fish, the chubby owner brought over a plate of smashed cucumbers, his eyes lingering on Li Qing's face for several seconds.
Suddenly, a light shone.
"Oh my, you are...you are Li Qing, the one who played Lin Yujing and sang 'Chasing the Light'!"
Li Qing was startled and nodded somewhat flusteredly.
The boss immediately became incredibly enthusiastic: "Oh my! My daughter loves you! She listens to that song of yours on repeat, and she even has your poster on the wall! Hahaha, what a coincidence! This meal is on me!"
Li Qing quickly declined, but the boss insisted.
"It's just a meal, Ms. Li, could you... sign an autograph for my daughter? Just write: 'Wishing you academic success,' is that alright?"
Li Qing had never experienced anything like this before, and looked at Qi Yue somewhat helplessly.
Qi Yue smiled and nodded: "Sign it, consider this your treat for us."
Li Qing then took the paper and pen handed to him by the boss and carefully and nervously signed his name and a blessing.
The owner was overjoyed and left with profuse thanks, even instructing the waiter to add two more cold dishes before leaving.
"Our Li Qing is a big star now, she'll have to wear sunglasses when she eats from now on," Guo Fan joked.
"Guo Zhi, please stop making fun of me..." Li Qing blushed even more, lowered her head, but felt a warm glow in her heart.
She stole a glance at Qi Yue and saw that he was smiling as well, which made her even more excited.
The door to the grilled fish restaurant was pushed open.
Several well-dressed figures, out of place in the noisy environment, walked in.
The leader was a man in his fifties with his hair neatly combed and a somewhat complicated expression.
His gaze swept around the store and quickly locked onto Qi Yue and the other two in the corner.
He adjusted his expression, forcing a seemingly kind smile.
"Director Qi, Director Guo, Ms. Li, what a coincidence!"
He Ming's voice wasn't loud, but it instantly chilled the atmosphere around the small table.
Qi Yue put down his chopsticks, his smile fading. This guy had been bothering him for days, and he never expected him to come looking for him in person today.
"Mr. He, it's quite a coincidence," Qi Yue said calmly. "I didn't expect you to come to a place like this to eat."
He Ming's smile faltered for a moment.
"Director Qi, you are very busy. To be honest, I came here specifically to see you."
As he spoke, he actually plopped down in the empty seat opposite Qi Yue, next to Guo Fan.
"Now that 'Yu Zui' has achieved such remarkable success, everyone at Juli, especially General Manager Xu and I, is truly overjoyed!"
Under the slightly greasy lights of the grilled fish restaurant, listening to Mr. He's sycophantic praise almost made Guo Fan choke on his beer.
Qi Yue put down his chopsticks and wiped his hands with a napkin.
"Mr. He, you flatter me." Qi Yue's voice was calm. "The success of 'Yu Zui' today is also inseparable from Mr. He's support."
Guo Fan almost burst out laughing at these sarcastic remarks, but He Ming pretended not to understand the underlying meaning at all.
"Yes, yes, Director Qi is right! Excellent content combined with meticulous operation is what creates miracles!"
He gave a wink, and his assistant immediately presented him with a folder.
He Ming took it and almost handed it to Qi Yue with both hands:
"Director Qi, to make up for some regrets from our previous collaboration, we drafted this strategic cooperation framework agreement overnight. The terms are absolutely generous! We hope that Juling can join hands with 'Tongfan Studio' again in the future to create a better future!"
He adopted an extremely humble posture, as if the vast resources of the giant would be immediately opened to them as long as Qi Yue nodded.
Guo Fan and Li Qing couldn't help but look at Qi Yue.
Qi Yue didn't take the agreement. He didn't even glance at it, his gaze remaining calmly fixed on He Ming's oily face.
"Mr. He," Qi Yue said slowly, each word clear and distinct, "we appreciate Juli Media's kindness, but we have already made our choice regarding the future partners of 'Tongfan Studio'."
He Ming's smile froze.
Qi Yue continued, "Before 'Yu Zui' was released, when we needed support and trust the most, someone reached out to us. Now we trust each other and share the same goal. We are very satisfied with the current state of cooperation and have no intention of changing our plans for the time being."
These words were like ice water poured over his head, completely extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in He Ming's eyes.
His outstretched hand froze in mid-air, the agreement he had offered seeming like a hot potato.
The fawning and eagerness of the previous moment instantly froze into awkwardness and embarrassment.
His facial muscles twitched a few times, and He Ming could only reluctantly withdraw his hand and hand the agreement to his assistant.
He struggled to maintain his last shred of dignity, forcing out a smile that looked more like a grimace:
"Well...that's a real shame. But congratulations to Director Qi and Tongfan Studio. If you ever need anything in the future, Juli's doors are always open to you."
"Thank you." Qi Yue nodded slightly and said no more.
Knowing that staying any longer would only bring him humiliation, He hurriedly said, "I won't disturb your meal," and left the grilled fish restaurant with his men looking disheveled, their backs even appearing somewhat flustered.
Only after that unsettling figure had completely disappeared did Guo Fan breathe a sigh of relief and raise his glass:
"Damn, that felt so good! Did you see his face? It turned green! Serves him right for looking down on us back then! Qi Yue, that line you just said, 'No changes to the plan for now,' was brilliant! 'For now,' hahaha, it left so much to the imagination, yet it also completely shut him down!"
Li Qing smiled slightly, her eyes shining as she looked at Qi Yue.
Qi Yue shook his head, picked up his chopsticks again, and took a piece of fish: "Eat. It's getting cold."
His reaction was indifferent, as if he had merely shooed away a buzzing fly.
The collaboration with Xu Wei was a well-considered decision, based on shared goals.
The olive branch from Juli came too late, and the change in attitude was too utilitarian, holding no appeal for him.
Some people, whose paths diverge, will not work together.