Chapter 198: Visiting the Queen of Pop
The movie ended, the popcorn finished, and Yu Linna, satisfied, was ready to return to the hotel. Hong Kong’s accommodation fees were exorbitant, far more expensive than on the mainland. It was a testament to the Huo family’s newfound wealth that they could afford to stay here. Ten years ago, it would have been unimaginable.
But to Yu Linna, money was still money. Why not be more frugal?
“Did you enjoy the movie?”
“It was okay. The romance was a bit weak, but the special effects were good, and the fight scenes were well-choreographed.”
“I hope there’s a sequel.”
“Me too. It was a good movie. A sequel would be great.”
Yu Linna’s review of the film was surprisingly insightful. As a novelist, she understood the importance of story, that even the best characters and special effects were ultimately in service of the narrative.
Battle Angel, in her opinion, was a decent film, its flaws minor, its overall impact positive. She even considered incorporating a similar cyborg setting into her own work.
“Enough with the movie. Let’s get something to eat. We’re in Hong Kong, after all. Let’s have some Cantonese food.”
“Okay.”
Yu Linna’s easy agreement delighted Huo Ningning, their friendship blossoming, a glimmer of hope for a full reconciliation.
This was the outcome Huo Ningning had been striving for, her efforts finally bearing fruit.
She had regretted her childhood actions for years, her words a constant source of guilt. Finding Yu Linna again had been a relief, a chance to make amends, to finally apologize.
She had been so young, so foolish, her words careless, her actions thoughtless. She had tried so hard to find her, to reconnect, even though Yu Linna had forgotten her, her persistence unwavering.
Now, her efforts were paying off. She wouldn’t give up; she would keep trying.
“Huo Ningning, what are you smiling about?”
“Huh? Was I smiling? Ahem… no, I wasn’t. Let’s go eat.”
“…”
Her denial was unconvincing.
Did she really enjoy her company that much?
Meanwhile, on the mainland.
Ye Zhiyun sneezed, rubbing her nose, a slight chill running through her.
She was in Sanya, negotiating a deal with an important client, her youth and inexperience offset by her reliability and expertise, her clients unconcerned by her age. In this era, ability trumped all else.
After finalizing the deal, she yawned, her body weary from days of sleeping only three or four hours a night. But to achieve her goals, to follow in her father’s footsteps, to be as successful as her brother, she had to persevere.
Her phone rang. It was her father, the man who, despite their close relationship, often infuriated her with his meddling.
“Dad.”
“Zhiyun, busy?”
“Of course, I am. I haven’t seen the sunrise in days.”
“Zhiyun, I want to talk to you about something.”
“What is it? If it’s about setting me up with another designer’s son, I’m not interested.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. This is about your aunt.”
Her aunt? Ye Zhiyun was surprised to hear her name. She remembered her aunt as a strong, formidable woman, a force to be reckoned with in the business world, yet always kind and generous to her, often bringing her expensive treats.
But it had been years since she last saw her, since she moved out and started her own career. She had heard her aunt was busy with new projects.
“My aunt? What about her?”
“She’s planning to acquire the rights to a novel, for a film adaptation. And she’s looking at authors in Guangnan City.”
“Guangnan City? What’s so special about Guangnan City? It’s not exactly a hub for famous authors.”
She was surprised her aunt was venturing into the film industry, a path Ye Zhiyun herself wanted to pursue. She had always dreamed of owning her own film production company, of adapting a novel into an animated film, of building her own empire, not just following in her father’s footsteps, his real estate and e-commerce businesses not her passion. She wanted to create something of her own.
But her progress had been slow. Though she had made some profitable investments in low-budget films, it was a far cry from her ambitious goals. To start a company, to acquire copyrights, to produce films… it was a long and arduous journey.
“Your mother just called. Your aunt is coming to Guangnan City. She’s interested in acquiring the rights to a novel from Wenqing.”
“Wenqing?”
Wasn’t that Nana’s publisher? What was her aunt doing there? Shouldn’t she be targeting Qidian?
Right, her aunt’s company was likely new, with limited funds. Hiring a director, a producer, a crew, actors, not to mention the costs of special effects and post-production… it was a massive undertaking. Qidian’s copyrights were expensive; her aunt probably couldn’t afford them. Wenqing was a more realistic option.
“Alright, I’ll help my aunt. I’m planning to go back to Shanghai in a week.”
“Okay. And remember to visit your aunt when you get back. Oh, and she mentioned she’s interested in a novel by an author named Shion.”
“…”
“Anyway, that’s all. Talk to you later.”
Ye Zhiyun was starting to think her father was deliberately tormenting her.
He wasn’t just meddling; he was actively trying to sabotage her. What kind of father did this? Usually, it was the children who caused trouble for their parents, but here, it was the other way around.
Shion… that was Yu Linna. And he wanted her to sell her rights to her aunt? It was an impossible situation.
Ye Zhiyun felt a headache coming on.
In Beijing, after the gaokao, Nangong Ying had returned to filming, her schedule packed with work and preparations for her upcoming concert. She and Li Yuexin visited the renowned queen of pop, Zhou Shilan, a major figure in the entertainment industry, a talented singer and songwriter who had debuted at a young age and was still at the peak of her career, her only ambition now to find a husband before she turned thirty.
Li Yuexin’s band, formed less than two years ago, was her true passion. She had always wanted to be a singer, not an actress, but after her original band disbanded, she had turned to acting to maintain her popularity, unexpectedly finding success in television.
Zhou Shilan, though not conventionally beautiful, had a captivating charm, her features growing on you with each glance. And her… assets… were enough to make any man swoon.
“Miss Li, I’ve seen you on television. I love your show, Slave Agent. When is the second season coming out?”
“Haha, you’re too kind, Miss Zhou. You’re the true senior in this industry. I’m a big fan of your songs, ‘Bruce’s Nunchucks’ and ‘A Milkshake for You.’ I used to save my allowance to buy your albums in high school, much to my parents’ disapproval.”
They exchanged pleasantries, Zhou Shilan even complimenting Nangong Ying on her rising star status in the film industry. Then, Li Yuexin explained the purpose of their visit: to ask for help with their upcoming concert.
“Yuexin, you want to hold a concert? That’s not a problem. You and Nangong are both popular; you could easily draw a crowd. And your band did the soundtrack for The Storm Chronicle, so you have some recognition.”
“But we have a major problem. We don’t have a good songwriter. Though we both have our roles in the band, neither of us can write songs.”
Her intentions were clear: she wanted Zhou Shilan to write a song for them. It was a long shot, asking a superstar like Zhou Shilan, who had been writing songs since she was sixteen, to write for a small, relatively unknown band.
She was just trying her luck.
Zhou Shilan didn’t refuse outright, her gaze shifting to Nangong Ying.
“Nangong, you were the winner of last year’s National Singing Competition, weren’t you?”
“Yes, Senior. I was lucky. I’m not as talented as you.”
“Don’t be so modest. Winning the National Singing Competition is a huge honor. I never even had a chance to compete. You have real talent. And I heard you hadn’t sung in years. I’m curious, why did you choose to become an actress, especially an action star, when you could have pursued a singing career?”
Zhou Shilan wasn’t the only one who was curious. Nangong Ying had had many options, yet she had chosen the most difficult path.
“Being a star is my dream. Whether I’m a singer or an actress, as long as I can reach the top, it doesn’t matter which path I take.”
“You’re ambitious, much more so than I was at your age.”
“But, Senior, I… I can’t seem to write the songs I want to sing. I can’t express my feelings through music. Senior, I hope you can… write a song for me.”
“Oh?”
Zhou Shilan’s interest was piqued.
She had seen a flicker of ambition in Nangong Ying’s eyes, and something else… guilt, a longing for someone she had lost. This girl had a story, a story that could inspire a song. Zhou Shilan, having not written a new song in a while, felt a sudden surge of inspiration, a desire to create something new, something powerful, from this girl’s pain.
