Chapter 107: You Will Definitely Regret Not Listening (5,000-Word Special Chapter, Requesting Monthly Votes)

Li He went to sleep, feeling quite content.

But the night had only just begun.

Jiang Qi, He Xier, Teacher He, Jiang You, and even Xie Shun—a highly respected master songwriter in the music industry—had all obtained the video of Li He singing from Wu Guang.

Wu Guang could understand why the others wanted the video, but he was baffled as to why a master like Xie Shun would join in on the fun. His perception of the industry crumbled; the dignified status of a master songwriter seemed to plummet in an instant.

"Jia Bei writes good songs, and he sings them even better. I’ll go back and listen again," Xie Shun said, his face neither flushing nor skipping a beat.

Once back in his room, he immediately called his old partner and sent the video. Xie Shun’s long-time collaborator was none other than another master lyricist of the Seventh Group: Master Yang Shu.

"There is a song I would like to discuss with you."

...

Meanwhile, in another room at the Mushroom House—the one reserved for guest stars—two sisters who knew each other extremely well were well aware of what the other would do in this situation.

Both were cunning foxes; there was no point in playing games. Being straightforward was the only way. Neither hid their intentions, and they even began discussing who would be the most appropriate person to share the video with.

"Sister Qiqi, I don't really have any friends in the industry. Who am I supposed to send this to?"

He Xier finally understood the meaning of the phrase "you only regret not having enough when you need them." She wanted to share it with a friend, but she had none to share it with. She originally had one, but that person was currently contemplating who *they* should share it with.

He Xier had entered the industry early as a child star, but she had only been with Shengshi Entertainment for a short time—about the same as Li He. They had both joined during the summer break, less than a month ago.

"Send it to your brother!"

Jiang Qi didn't even look up as she continued scrolling through her WeChat contact list. Her situation was different from He Xier's; while He Xier had no friends in the industry to send it to, Jiang Qi had too many people who had played her during the "Sorrow" incident, and she didn't know where to start.

"My brother?"

He Xier froze for three seconds before reacting, annoyed, "Sister Qiqi, you’re just repeating those rumors too. How long ago was that?"

This was a popular internet meme from June. He Luoluo and He Xier were biological siblings. There were two reasons for this assumption: first, they both shared the surname He. Second, their song release tactics were identical—they would both release only half a song, frustrating the listeners to the point of madness, before releasing the full version to compete for the charts. The infuriating part was that their songs were so good that netizens couldn't help but be addicted.

He Xier fell into deep thought. She didn't have many close friends in the industry. At the top of the list was Li He, followed by her good sister Jiang Qi, and her classmate He Luo, who barely counted. It seemed He Luo was the only option. As for whether Li He would share the singing video with He Luo, He Xier never even considered it. Li He was not that kind of person; he wouldn't do something to annoy others just to amuse himself, especially when the target was his best friend. Li He was always upright and righteous.

He Xier felt troubled. She had been happy for a long time when she requested the video from Director Wu Guang, but it turned out she could only send it to that guy, He Luo. If she didn't send it to him, there was no one else to share it with. She couldn't very well send it to her agent! He Xier didn't have the nerve for that.

Having made her decision, He Xier didn't hesitate. She opened the chat with He Luo and forwarded the video link.

After He Xier sent it, Jiang Qi followed suit, sending it to her close friend Chen Xueling. A second later, Chen Xueling replied.

Chen Xueling: "Is Sister Qiqi trying to drop some poison late at night?"

Jiang Qi raised an eyebrow. That brat was quite vigilant; she had actually anticipated her intention.

Jiang Qi typed back: "What poison? Didn't you say you liked the songs written by Teacher Jia Bei? The song in the video is a new one written by your idol, Teacher Jia Bei."

"Friendly reminder: the person singing is Teacher Jia Bei."

Chen Xueling: "Really?"

She clearly didn't believe it. Ever since she had sent that butchered version of "Sorrow" to her good friend Jiang Qi, a war of mutual sabotage had begun between them. She still remembered the torture of the butchered version of "Bubble"—that memory was still fresh and devastatingly painful.

Jiang Qi: "You know Shengshi is filming a variety show, right?"

Chen Xueling, lounging on the sofa, paused. What did Teacher Jia Bei have to do with a variety show? How did the conversation shift so suddenly? She must be feeling guilty... Chen Xueling became even more convinced that there was something wrong with the link. It was probably a video shared by a food blogger or a clip from a horror movie.

Jiang Qi: "I'm a guest on the first episode of this show."

Her good friend was currently very popular and was an artist from her own company; it was normal for her to be invited as a guest for the first episode... Chen Xueling didn't reply, waiting for her friend to continue.

Jiang Qi: "And the planner for this variety show is Teacher Jia Bei."

Upon seeing the message, Chen Xueling sat up from the sofa with a jolt. Teacher Jia Bei planning a variety show? It sounded so much like a lie. Writing songs and planning variety shows were completely different fields, miles apart.

"Next time you make up an excuse, make it more believable. Please put some effort into it, sister."

Chen Xueling didn't believe it for a second. Did she really think she was a three-year-old? The excuse was too fake and lacked any sincerity.

Jiang Qi: "Believe it or not, but this must not get out. It’s confidential until the show airs."

Jiang Qi: "For the sake of our years of friendship, I’ll tell you a top-secret piece of information."

Jiang Qi: "In the first episode of the show, Teacher Jia Bei appears on camera and sings. It’s the song in the link I sent you."

Hm? Teacher Jia Bei appeared on camera? Not only did he plan a variety show, but he also appeared and sang a new song? That sounded so dreamy!

Chen Xueling lay back on the sofa, wanting to click the link but not daring to. She was deeply conflicted. What if she clicked the link and a female ghost popped out? Would she even be able to sleep tonight? Her good friend had done such inhumane things to her many times before. Of course, she hadn't gone easy on Jiang Qi either.

To click or not to click, that was the question.

"If it really is a singing video of Teacher Jia Bei, and a new song at that, won't I miss out if I don't listen?"

Chen Xueling was torn. After thinking it over, she decided to click. She turned on all the lights in the living room to bolster her courage, then clicked the video link at lightning speed and flipped her phone face down on the table.

What greeted her was not a spooky, terrifying sound, but the sound of a guitar solo.

"Is it really singing?"

Chen Xueling was pleasantly surprised. She quickly grabbed her phone and lay back on the sofa. Her friend hadn't tricked her this time. The video quality was very clear. Chen Xueling was certain that a video with such clarity at night must have been recorded with high-end equipment.

"Could everything my friend said be true?"

It certainly seemed that way. Moonlight, stars, a farmhouse courtyard...

...

That night, there were many who suffered from insomnia, and many who slept very soundly.

Jiang Qi went for her morning run, feeling full of energy, and ran into Xie Shun, who was out for his morning exercise. Xie Shun looked refreshed; he must have slept well last night, perhaps even having a pleasant dream just like she did.

"Good morning, Teacher Xie Shun!" Li He greeted him politely.

"Morning," Xie Shun replied with a smile, then added, "When you return to the company, Yang Shu will probably come looking for you."

Yang Shu?

Li He stopped running and thought carefully. Soon, he remembered. Yang Shu was the master lyricist of the Seventh Group and a long-time partner of the master composer Xie Shun.

Why would he come to see him?

As if sensing Li He's confusion, Xie Shun laughed, "Nothing major. He just heard that the Seventh Group has produced an incredible talent who can both write lyrics and compose music, and he wants to meet you."

Li He instinctively felt something was off. Xie Shun was definitely hiding key information from him. What could Yang Shu possibly want with him? He had no connection with him and had never even met him. If he really wanted to see him, he should have come sooner.

After parting ways with Xie Shun, Li He sent a message to Wu Guang: "Did Teacher Xie Shun ask for the singing video?"

Wu Guang replied quickly: "He did."

Heh! The old master wasn't so honest himself.

In an instant, Li He understood what was going on. Xie Shun had shared his singing video with his old partner, pleasing himself while dragging his partner into the trap. Then he shifted all the blame onto Li He. If Yang Shu wanted to hear the second half of the song, he would have to go to the company to corner him.

The old master was really not acting like an old master! Li He understood Xie Shun's intention. Forcing him alone wasn't enough, so he had to drag Yang Shu into it. With the master lyricist and master composer of the Seventh Group both involved, they could provide help with any issues in the songwriting. With both lyrics and composition covered, the second half should be written, and the full version should be sung, right?

Li He just wanted to say that they were overthinking it. The song "The Ordinary Road" would be recorded after the show officially aired.

He smiled and glanced at his watch. It was 6:50 AM, still early. Li He didn't have his phone. After sending the video link to the cold and elegant goddess Zhang Yang last night, he had turned his phone off... or rather, it had run out of battery and turned itself off.

If it were just the "old comrade," Li He wouldn't be particularly worried—at most, he would just ignore Old Qin's calls and WeChat messages. But with Zhang Yang added to the mix, everything was different. Jiang Qi, Xie Shun, and the others were similar; they hadn't turned their phones off, but they had disconnected from the internet and muted their phones for the night. Jiang Qi had checked her WeChat in the morning and saw that there were over 99 new notifications. Her mood instantly improved.

...

At Shengshi Entertainment, Zhang Yang arrived at the office with dark circles under her eyes. Soon after, Liu Kang, sporting the same dark circles, hurried into her office.

As soon as he entered, Liu Kang asked, "What's the deal with that video you sent me last night? Who sang it? Who wrote it?"

He had been fast asleep when he was woken up by a phone call from the "traitor," and his wife, who was also woken up, had watched the video link together with him. The result was that they both suffered from insomnia. Later, he tried calling Zhang Yang, but only got a busy signal. Zhang Yang had turned her phone off. Liu Kang was stunned, and then almost driven mad with fury. Was this something a human would do? Even a dog wouldn't be this "dog-like."

"So you watched it!" Zhang Yang laughed, her morning irritation vanishing. "How was it? Was it good?"

Liu Kang poured himself a glass of cold water and drank it in one gulp. He was afraid he might lose control and try to fight the "traitor." Zhang Yang was even more amused.

"Who wrote the lyrics and music? Was it Jia Bei?"

He had found the voice very familiar last night, and after listening to the half-song "Friends" again, his suspicions were confirmed, though it only made his sleepiness vanish further. Zhang Yang crossed her legs, smiling as she watched her former boss lose his temper, feeling quite pleased.

"You already guessed it, so why come and ask me!"

It really was Jia Bei. Another new song, a high-quality new song. The new song wasn't the point; the point was Jia Bei's singing ability. The previous song, "Friends," had proven that Jia Bei had a great voice and a unique tone, making him perfect for the singer's circuit. But when Li He sang "Friends" back then, he had been a bit intoxicated, and his technique and emotions weren't fully unleashed.

But this time was different. Li He had poured his true emotions into the song. Especially since he had inherited Pu Shu's singing skills and was singing "The Ordinary Road," the effect was off the charts.

"Jia Bei should pursue a career as a singer. His voice is a gift, and his singing skills are remarkable. It would be a pity if he didn't pursue that path." Liu Kang was heartbroken, blaming the "traitor" for her despicable act of snatching him away.

"Alright, alright." Zhang Yang didn't fall for her former boss's act. "Jia Bei is part of the songwriting department, and no one can change that."

"By the way, Xie Shun and Yang Shu both appreciate Jia Bei."

A threat. A naked, shameless threat.

Liu Kang snorted. He knew it was impossible to get Jia Bei back; he was just venting his frustration. He was the one who made the decision to sign Jia Bei, and he was the one who broke the rules to increase his benefits, yet in the end, the man had become the "traitor's" right-hand man. Whenever he thought about it, Liu Kang was filled with anger.

After his morning frustration had dissipated, Zhang Yang became serious and brought up the main point: "You've heard the song. Setting aside the singing for a moment, what do you think of the quality of the song itself?"

Liu Kang said seriously, "As long as the second half doesn't fall apart, it won't be inferior to 'Ten Years'."

He had been stunned last night. Jia Bei's speed of releasing songs was one thing—that was acceptable—but for the quality to be so high at the same time was simply absurd. It was as if inspiration was free for Jia Bei; whenever he wanted to write, he just wrote. It was easy, casual, and simple.

Zhang Yang nodded, agreeing with Liu Kang. "Xie Shun and Yang Shu said the same thing. They will come to the company together after Li He returns to help him finish the song."

Liu Kang was startled. "Those two are teaming up again? With them involved, the second half of the song should be fine."

After a pause, Liu Kang smiled. "This guy Jia Bei hasn't even been with the company for a month, yet his status is skyrocketing. He’s faster than a rocket."

For a master lyricist and a master composer to team up to help a newcomer complete a song was a phenomenon that had never occurred in the industry before. Li He was truly a newcomer. It had only been four months since the release of "Sorrow."

Four months.

Once "Ten Years" was released, Li He's status in the industry would be extraordinary, and his position at Shengshi would rise accordingly. And now, there was another song that was no less than "Ten Years."

Zhang Yang agreed, "He's about to take off, and Shengshi will escort him all the way to the highest peak."

"Indeed," Liu Kang said with a smile. "What are Jia Bei's plans for that butchered... cough, half-song video?"

Jia Bei should be an expert in how to handle this.

Speaking of which, Zhang Yang's anger, which had just subsided, flared up again. That kid had actually turned his phone off.

"Let's release it as a teaser for 'Longing for Life'!"

She had asked Wu Guang over the phone. When He Xier asked if she could share the singing video with her friends, she was told that it could be released on the internet as long as it was labeled as a teaser for the show. This was the reason Li He shared the video with Zhang Yang—to spread it outward through her.

"Agreed," Liu Kang said. "Our promotion for 'Longing for Life' was not as good as 'Slow Tempo,' but with this song, we can turn the tables."

It wasn't that Shengshi didn't care about the promotion of "Longing for Life"; on the contrary, Shengshi had invested heavily in this variety show, almost as much as they had for the movie "Guardian." The reason their promotion was weaker than Brothers Entertainment's "Slow Tempo" was simply because Brothers Entertainment had been promoting it for too long. Shengshi's promotion time was too short. Or perhaps, Shengshi never intended to make a variety show from the start. Who could have imagined that a movie with such a large investment would flop, both in reputation and at the box office? They were forced to turn to variety shows, only for Brothers Entertainment to stab them in the back, teaming up with Brilliant Entertainment—who was not on good terms with Shengshi—to squeeze them out.

Shengshi acted quickly. Once Liu Kang and Zhang Yang finalized the plan, the promotion department began drafting the strategy.

...

At 10:00 AM, the official Weibo and Douyin accounts of Shengshi released a short video. It was accompanied by a uniform caption: "Jia Bei's new song, meeting you on 'Longing for Life'."

Immediately after, the artists under Shengshi began forwarding it. At 11:00 AM, Teacher He also forwarded the video, adding: "I heard it live, and it was so good I wanted to cry."

A large number of singers in the music industry forwarded the video, which immediately caught the attention of fans. There were many singers under Shengshi, including several "Kings" and "Queens" of music, and the fan effect generated by so many artists combined was terrifying. The influx of fans also brought in many passersby.

"Jia Bei's new song? Jia Bei released another new song?"

"Is this new song being sung by Shameless Person? Shameless Person hasn't been active for a long time. Has Teacher Jia Bei forgotten about him?"

"The new song must be sung by Qiqizi."

"No way, no way, no way. Does anyone really think Teacher Jia Bei would let someone else sing his new song? Listen to 'Friends' to know how Teacher Jia Bei's voice sounds. The new song must be sung by Teacher Jia Bei himself."

"Teacher Jia Bei's new song must be sung by my Kun Kun, or I’ll be an anti-fan for life."

"Haha, the person above is brain-dead, verified..."

Some people finished watching the video and then broke down. When they opened the comment section, they found that most comments were discussing who would sing the new song, and people were arguing over it.

As a result, those who had finished watching the video left comments with a tacit understanding:

"I’m blown away by this song. It’s too awesome, absolutely incredible."

"Nothing more to say, Jia Bei is the GOAT, Jia Bei 666..."

"If you don't listen to this song, you'll regret it for the rest of your life. Scrolling past it will be your life's greatest regret."

"This song is Jia Bei's masterpiece."

"Holy cow, this is a work of art!"

"You'll definitely regret not listening to it, definitely regret not watching it."

The fans who were still arguing about who would sing the new song were stunned by the sudden influx of comments. Following that, they all clicked on the video to play it.