Chapter Ninety: A New Song in Duet

Liu Qingshan had already intended to show his gratitude to the director of The Great Song Case Cracker, Kan Weiting. Besides, Sun Chun had told him that this man placed great importance on saving face.

This time, coming to Hengdian, he had brought quite a few fine gifts for him. In Huaguo, life runs on favors and connections; no one can do anything without a network of relationships.

Jin Xiushan found his words reasonable and sat down at once. Obediently she listened, though in truth she was quietly pleased by Liu Qingshan’s maturity.

Liu Qingshan, however, did not relax even a little. He simply pulled up the phone number Sun Chun had given him and dialed it.

It took a good half-minute before someone answered on the other end. It was Kan Weiting’s assistant, and from the voice it sounded like a young girl.

He explained who he was and extended an invitation to dinner in a couple of days, making a point of mentioning that Jin Xiushan would bring back the gift he had left for him.

He still could not be sure of the exact time for now; everything would depend on the schedule of the crew.

Jin Xiushan, listening from the side, was even more delighted. Before she knew it, the warmth in her expression had grown ever more obvious.

Kunal noticed this change clearly and became even more determined to flatter and curry favor.

“Attorney Wang found me a female assistant, so I thought I should give you a heads-up here.”

Jin Xiushan nodded with a bright smile. “I know. Sister Huizhen told me everything.”

“She and Sister Xuanji are in a hurry about their matter. The state broadcaster has been waiting all along for MCC’s reply. As for the specific renewal terms, are you satisfied?”

“I haven’t had time to discuss it in detail with Sister Huizhen yet, but the plan you made should be right.”

“You trust me that much?”

“If I don’t trust you, whom should I trust? You’re alone here, and I’m your only confidante at the moment. Would you ever harm me?”

Liu Qingshan felt another surge of warmth in his heart. This reunion seemed to have made Jin Xiushan soften greatly toward him, and that had been the thing he feared most all along.

In truth, from the moment she had only mildly objected before no longer stopping the others from calling her sister-in-law, he had already understood what was in her heart.

Kunal, meanwhile, was not idle for a moment. In his not-quite-fluent Huayu, he told his future sister-in-law everything that had happened in the meantime.

Meeting in front of so many people, the two of them had no great opportunity for private conversation. Learning what the other had been doing was, without doubt, the most fitting topic.

Thus a dinner plain in substance yet rich with the joy of reunion passed in a blink amid a harmonious atmosphere.

Before parting, she was driven back to the hotel. Though it was not far, the leather bag carrying Liu Qingshan’s gifts was exceptionally heavy.

Just before getting out of the car, Jin Xiushan cast him a meaningful glance. “When will you come to visit the set? Our crew is very humane; unless something special comes up, they wrap at six in the afternoon.”

“I can’t guarantee that. The reason the production started more than a month early was because of me. They’re certain to concentrate on filming my scenes, so I’m afraid there’ll be plenty of overtime.”

“Then I’ll come visit you on set. Anyway, the whole matter about us has been making a huge fuss lately. Coming to see my life-saving benefactor won’t start any rumor about an affair.”

“That works too. I’ll leave Shishi’s number with you, and we can call each other then.”

He still had to hurry back for the crew’s opening banquet, and also introduce Kunal and the others to Uncle Ping and the rest. Things like this could be relayed by word of mouth, but a face-to-face introduction was indispensable as a mark of respect.

By the time the banquet ended, it was already past ten at night. After taking leave of everyone, Liu Qingshan returned to his lodging with Chen Zuming.

Li Qi and the others had family in the area, while Yu Yi and the rest were arranged on another floor.

Because of his unusual background, Chen Zuming had earned the privilege of sharing a room with Liu Qingshan, whereas Liu Qingshan himself was not even eligible for a suite.

Just after he finished washing up, Jin Xiushan called, as though they had arranged it in advance.

After a bout of whispered conversation, Liu Qingshan remembered the song.

“You mean you’ve written another song, and you want the two of us to sing it?”

On the other end, Jin Xiushan was clearly overexcited. Her loud voice carried so clearly that even Chen Zuming, cigar between his fingers and a glass of red wine in hand in the foyer, heard every word.

“Yes. I registered the copyright online yesterday. Want me to sing it for you right now? It’s a pity I don’t have a guitar, so I can only sing it a cappella!”

To his surprise, Chen Zuming rushed in from outside in just a few steps. “Shanzi, I never knew you could play the guitar. Wait a second, I can get one for you right away!”

With that, he darted back out like a gust of wind, off to borrow one from who knew whom.

“What kind of song is it? Did you write it for me?”

Hearing this, Liu Qingshan honestly felt a little embarrassed.

He was not capable of composing songs at present; since things had been stolen from the Super Star-Making Device, he could hardly attach the original creator’s name to them.

Fortunately, he did not think that the device from the future could possess intelligence equal to a human’s, so it would presumably not look down on him in its heart.

That was why he could brazenly claim it as his own: “The song is called If You Know, You Know. The lyrics were inspired by the Northern Song genius Li Qingzhao’s song Like a Dream, Last Night the Rain Was Light and the Wind Was Sudden. The whole lyric is meant to portray a woman’s hardships and struggles, expressing the idea that men and women should weather suffering together, hoping for harmony and beauty in the end, only to arrive at that bleak outcome of luxuriant green and fading red.”

“So it’s a tragedy after all. Then it doesn’t seem to have been written for me?”

“I only drew inspiration from Li Qingzhao’s poem. But although the meaning of the words doesn’t mention you, all the arrangement was composed with your vocal qualities in mind!”

“Wow, that’s wonderful. Hurry up and sing it for me! Oh right, Chen Zuming hasn’t brought the guitar yet, has he? I heard everything just now!”

She was not surprised that Liu Qingshan could play the guitar. Since he could compose independently, it was only natural for him to master one or two instruments.

“Still, the whole lyric may be a bit obscure for you. I’ll send it to you first. Listening while following along should make it clearer.”

He already had the lyrics on his phone, finished in boredom during the flight.

“That’s true. I barely understood a few lines.” Jin Xiushan quickly read the message. “Shanzi, I suddenly feel like I may not be worthy of you. Look at you—you not only can compose, you can even write such profound classical lyrics.”

“Sister Xiushan, don’t say that. We just happen to know different things. As for acting, I couldn’t even begin to catch up with you.”

While they were speaking, Chen Zuming burst in with a thud and handed over a guitar. “I already saw one at the front desk. They said it was left behind by a previous guest.”

Liu Qingshan took it, and just a few casual plucked notes left Chen Zuming staring in stunned silence.

He had done this on purpose, intending to deal a blow to Chen Zuming, who had always claimed to be a musical prodigy, so as to spur him onto the right path from now on.

It was not enough to make him turn over a new leaf on the spot, but at least it could make him deeply feel that, aside from being a second-generation celebrity, he was good for nothing, and that the former arrogance of looking down on everything would no longer remain in his heart.

After a few simple chords, the melody he hummed softly at once drew both Jin Xiushan and Chen Zuming into it completely.