Love Variety Show: The despised me exploded in popularity

Chapter 146: Chapter 129: The Shabby Long Street, The Nostalgic Song

"How much do we owe?" he asked.

"Around ten million, and we've already paid over eight million," Lin Wanzhou counted on his fingers, "Sold a house and put in the money earned in the past two years."

"You've been in the industry for so long and only earned that much?" Xu Qingyan was stunned.

"I've been out for a long time, but I haven't been popular," said Lin Wanzhou with a wronged look, "It's only been since last year that I started to make some money, and that year was really the only time I earned a significant amount."

"This..." Xu Qingyan rubbed his forehead, "It's okay, we'll earn it back this time."

The recording studio was bustling, and the two walked side by side toward the inside as the automatic glass door slowly closed behind them. Their blurred reflections stretched out on the floor tiles like melting ice towers.

Noon.

Pei Muchan gazed at the empty seat in front of her, lost in thought.

Where is he?

Where is her dedicated lyricist and composer? How could such a big person just vanish into thin air?

Leaning back on her computer chair, she thought for a while and then remembered that someone had mentioned yesterday that he was going to visit Lin Wanzhou's recording session today...a date?

Alright, indeed he had informed her.

He went, just like that.

Three songs that she could have bought herself in one go, why did he have to sell them to Lin Wanzhou?

Too bad their relationship was just a clean partnership; she couldn't express dissatisfaction with his business decisions without seeming to lower herself.

After some thought, and mentally drafting a 1,000-word essay criticizing Xu Qingyan, Pei Muchan finally stepped out of self-doubt.

And she came to a conclusion!

Xu Qingyan, a money-grubber!

....

The recording work was already transferred to post-production yesterday, and this morning was just about practicing the song again, striving to get the best possible outcome, or even a breakthrough.

Even if there wasn't a breakthrough, it didn't matter. The main thing was to wait for the rushed post-editing to finish. Xu Qingyan just sat there, accompanying Lin Wanzhou as she waited for the results.

Whoever asked him how he felt, he would say there was no problem.

"I Miss" should have no issues, right? Its quality could absolutely stand the test; with the experiences gained from "Clear Skies" paving the way before, this song was truly unique in the Chinese music scene.

During lunch, he suddenly received a message from Pei Muchan.

"What time is the song release?"

He thought about it and replied with six in the evening.

By three in the afternoon, the recording studio had released the final version of the song's post-production. Lin Wanzhou's team, who were waiting on site, were notified to go pick up the song.

Everyone took turns listening, and after confirming there were no issues, Wen Yun quickly took the files and left. Lin Wanzhou didn't need to worry about the rest.

Lin Wanzhou turned to Xu Qingyan, and now only the two of them were left, staring into each other's eyes in the waiting room.

He should have left by then; he was intending to, but before he could say it, Lin Wanzhou suddenly spoke, "I'm a bit nervous."

"Yes, I'm nervous too. In another three hours, the new song will be released."

Lin Wanzhou slightly tilted his head, his apple muscles bulging; in his mind, there was only the new song!!! He seemed even more concerned than himself, feeling a bit used.

"I want to go out and have fun," she said softly, her voice becoming a murmur when she reached the word "play."

"The new song releases at six, shouldn't you be hunched over the computer anxiously waiting?" Xu Qingyan looked baffled, you can still think about playing when the new song is about to be released?

"Sister Yun and the others will be watching, I don't want to see," Lin Wanzhou said reluctantly.

"Are you nervous?" he asked curiously.

"My heart can't take it, and I get chest tightness," she said, pointing to her chest.

"Then..." he walked to the window and looked out into the distance. The midsummer afternoon sun was still scorching and dazzling, with the view ending at the battered long street.

"Go for a walk?"

"Okay, but Sister Yun can't see us."

Xu Qingyan: "....."

Why did it feel like his daily life revolved around nothing but arranging music and appeasing children? Pei Muchan was like that, and now with Lin Wanzhou it was the same.

One more childish than the next, sneaking out to play?

Reluctantly, Lin Wanzhou was a major client, one of the only two big supports he could count on. When dealing with VIP customers, even if reluctant, a bit of service mindset was necessary.

He originally planned on taking the black Audi, but before he could get close, Lin Wanzhou pulled him back.

"Use my car," she said.

"You still have a car? Didn't you sell it?" Xu Qingyan asked, puzzled.

"Sell the car? For what?" Lin Wanzhou was even more confused, "Can a car hold its value? Wouldn't selling it just be a direct loss? I don't understand much, I just followed Sister Yun's advice."

"Didn't you say you sold your house to make up the compensation?"

"Yes, but overall, it was a profit, wasn't it? I bought it last year for just over six million on Sister Yun's advice, and because I needed money for compensation, I sold it this year for seven million."

Hearing this, Xu Qingyan was dumbfounded. Having money sure was nice.

"It's just that there's not much flowing cash, and the money for new songs is all on credit. Almost everything else is lost." Lin Wanzhou said with a guilty face, "In the end, I still owe you money."

"No worries," Xu Qingyan said. "Sister Yun really has great powers, and she's so good to you."

"Yeah, Sister Yun is the best to me." Lin Wanzhou smiled and handed the car keys to Xu Qingyan, his eyes dimming for a moment, "It's all because I insisted on terminating the contract, that's why Sister Yun..."

When he took the car key and looked, damn, a Pala Mela, another car priced over a million?

Forget about Sister Yun resigning for now, Xu Qingyan looked at the car key in his hand, his heart experiencing a great shock, famous singers really make money, huh!

Damn it, I want to earn too!

If Lin Wanzhou knew what he was thinking now, he would surely be spitting blood.

"No worries, Sister Yun believes in you, and I also believe you'll reach the top again." Xu Qingyan walked towards the black jade-like Pala Mela, swallowing hard.

Who can withstand this? The color is even my favorite black, damn it! Could this be fate, this car seems like it was custom-made for those who live off women.

Luckily, I am resolute. If it was someone else, they might have already given in.

"No, it's not that." Lin Wanzhou gently slammed the car door and hesitated as he buckled his seatbelt, "Sister Yun believes in you, she thinks your talent won't just stop here."

"What?" He had just started the sports car, the sound of the engine was pleasing, resonating up to his crown.

"Sister Yun believes in your talent and buys your songs, sooner or later, I can reach the peak as a diva." Lin Wanzhou said with a grin, his eyes wide, his gaze bold and direct.

"Impossible, that definitely wasn't her original words." Xu Qingyan pouted, and lightly stepped on the gas pedal, the corner of his mouth revealing the joy of getting a big toy, "Do you think I'm a three-year-old child?"

The car stopped in an old street, Lin Wanzhou got out holding a parasol.

Looking up, he saw a piece of unfamiliar scenery, an old long street, with a black stray dog squatting at the street corner. It wagged its tail at the sight of people, and then ran off to chase after a stray cat.

"Where is this?" he asked.

"Don't know. It's engraved on that stone tablet over there, Huanghuai Street." She walked past, holding an umbrella, and took out her phone to check, "The map says it should be here."

"Jade? You have this interest, too?" He followed her.

"I only buy handicrafts, they just have to be real and look good." Lin Wanzhou said, "Ting Ting is good at buying stones, she even hit the jackpot with a big one previously."

Qi Ting?

He carefully recalled, during the reality show, she really did have great ability. An outsider's assistant, actually squatting and smoking with the staff.

The barbershop at the entrance of the long street had closed down, and a few other old shops were still open, mainly selling flowers, birds, Buddha, and fish. Looking around, it was just an abandoned old market.

At the end of the road, there was a security booth, with an aging figure leaning against it.

Upon entering this street, it was as if the two were pulled into another dimension. The yellowed posters on the wall featured an elegant Shanghai lady wearing a qipao, her hair done up.

Almost instantly, a melodious tune appeared in Xu Qingyan's mind.

All around were low houses, and suddenly, a handsome and beautiful pair appeared in this old street, shockingly conspicuous. The shopkeepers on both sides cast glances but harbored no ill will.

After wandering around, they finally reached their destination.

A small handcraft shop with a signboard featuring sharply carved wood, bearing just two words.

Mu Chan.

It was unclear what they sold, but as they got closer, it became apparent. A heap of neatly arranged workshop tools were placed to one side, with calming incense wafting outside the shop.

The owner was a man in his thirties, lying in a rocking chair at the entrance, basking in the sun, his face covered with a fisherman's hat.

Seeing visitors, he greeted them casually.

"There are instructions on the wall, if you like, you can try, if not, feel free to come back next time."

Who would come back if they didn't like it?

Xu Qingyan rolled his eyes inwardly and led Lin Wanzhou past the owner. This laid-back attitude, definitely a artsy youth who had been duped by poetry and distance.

After glancing at the instructions on the wall, Lin Wanzhou decided to make a scented sachet for Xu Qingyan. The steps were simple: pick your favorite spices, then sew a cloth bag and knit a cord.

Xu Qingyan decided to make one of those wooden peace amulets that high school boys liked, the kind that girls would dislike for being too straightforward, but he really loved it.

Etch the initials of a girl's name in the middle, damn straightforward.

After finishing, he couldn't stop laughing, extending his hand to shake it in front of Lin Wanzhou. She was still knitting the cord, aiming for a more complex design.

"Does it look good?"

She looked up and glanced at it, "It looks good."

A gift actually has no hierarchy of value, what she made was also an inexpensive trinket. It's really about the joy of giving it away at that moment, and not about how much it's worth.

In Lin Wanzhou's heart, as long as it was something Xu Qingyan earnestly handcrafted, it was as valuable as gold.

"Here you go, a peace sachet." She extended her hand to pass it, her nose lightly sweating.

"Thanks." Xu Qingyan suddenly felt a little embarrassed, "Mine is a bit ugly, you can keep it, uh... the more I look at it, the uglier it seems."

"Not at all, I really like it." Lin Wanzhou looked up and smiled.

As the light gradually faded, they checked the time before leaving the shop, and it was exactly 6:01 pm. Xu Qingyan had just finished paying, and the owner said a perfunctory thank you.

The speaker outside the shop paused before changing the song, a familiar nostalgic prelude rang out, echoing down the dimly lit long street.

"I wonder why~ that girl sends me text messages."