Chapter 38: Chen Yingying Arrives in the Capital!

After Liu Xiayu left, Liu Xiahui sat in his chair, his right hand tapping rhythmically on the desk with his fingers. After a long while, he finally smiled and let out a long sigh of relief.

He picked up the phone on his desk and summoned his secretary. “Draft a press release,” he instructed. “Announce that Yida Film & Television will enter a stock-swap agreement with Liu Xiayu’s Rainy Day Music, and the two will jointly establish Yida Rainy Day Music Co., Ltd. At the same time, the original Yida Film & Television will be split into Yida Film & Television Co., Ltd. and Yida Culture & Talent Agency Co., Ltd. We are taking steps to create Yida Media Group, with plans for a spin-off and separate public listing from the parent company.”

“Yes, sir!” The secretary nodded quickly, jotting down every word.

“Tomorrow, send this press release to major media outlets—New Beijing Daily, Jinghua Times, and the rest.”

“What about the headline?” the secretary asked.

“You suggest a few, let me hear them,” Liu Xiahui said, patting his forehead.

“Um…” The secretary considered for a moment. “How about, ‘Yida Acquires Rainy Day Music, to Establish Media Group and Plan for Public Listing’?”

“No, that won’t do,” Liu Xiahui said. “Write it as ‘Liu Xiayu Merges Her Own Music Label with Yida Film & Television in a Stock Swap’!”

The next day, praise for Liu Xiayu’s remarks about Gallen in interviews, as well as the news of her merging her personal music label with Yida, flooded the press.

There was no need for Yida to hire any internet marketing teams—the fervor of Liu Xiayu’s devoted fans was more than enough.

The contract between Yida and Rainy Day had been signed, and all the formalities were in motion. The new music company was about to be founded. Even Li Ronghao had left the recording studio to get involved, as he was set to become the new company’s general manager.

The new company was to be located on the floor below the original Yida Film & Television offices, which had previously housed the music production department. The once closed-off work areas had all been opened up, and employees bustled about, cleaning and organizing.

Gallen returned from the airport and decided to greet Li Ronghao first.

But when the elevator doors opened on the music production floor, he was greeted by a haze of dust. The air was thick with it, workers hurried in all directions, and the noise of construction was deafening.

Gallen paused, checked the floor number. This was the right level, but why had it become so chaotic?

“Brother Wu, what’s going on here…?”

Wu Zhaoyang just chuckled. “You’ll understand once you see Old Li.”

Puzzled, Gallen followed him to Li Ronghao’s office, only to discover even greater disorder there.

There was less dust than in the hallway, but the room was crowded with people and boxes were scattered everywhere—Gallen couldn’t even step inside.

“Gallen, you’re back!”

Li Ronghao was busy signing stacks of documents. When he spotted Gallen, he grinned. “It’s a mess in here—sit wherever you can find space!”

“Mr. Li, what’s happening here? Are we expanding?” Gallen didn’t sit, for there was nowhere to sit, and simply stood by.

Li Ronghao smiled. “You don’t know yet? Our new music company is about to be established!”

“Really?” Gallen was delighted—this was good news; at least things would be more professional now.

Wu Zhaoyang laughed. “Gallen, from now on you can’t call him Mr. Li—you’ll have to call him General Manager Li!”

“General Manager Li?” Gallen quickly caught on. “Mr. Li, you’ve been promoted?”

Li Ronghao nodded, unable to hide his joy.

“Congratulations, then!”

Gallen clasped his hands in a mock bow. No wonder—a general manager’s role meant shares in the company, and once the company was listed, those original shares would be worth a fortune.

After leaving Li Ronghao’s office, Gallen went straight to Liu Xiahui’s.

As soon as he entered, Liu Xiahui came forward and grasped his hand. “Gallen, you’re back! You must be exhausted from running around these past few days.”

“It’s not too bad,” Gallen replied.

“It’s all part of the job. As your fame grows, you’ll only get busier!” Liu Xiahui laughed.

Gallen felt a little embarrassed. “I really have to thank you for all this, Mr. Liu.”

“Nonsense, it’s your own talent!” Liu Xiahui waved a hand. “Besides, the smooth founding of the music company this time is partly thanks to you.”

“Oh, not at all…” Gallen said modestly, though inwardly he was confused. Wasn’t Yida’s plan to establish a music company already in the works? How could any credit fall to him? The bit of fame he’d accrued recently hardly brought much to Yida.

Liu Xiahui’s smile deepened, but he didn’t explain, instead changing the subject. “Anyway, take a good rest for the next two days! The day after tomorrow is the start of Golden Week, and you’ve got two music festival gigs ahead—give them your all!”

“No problem!” Gallen promised.

After a few more words, Liu Xiahui patted him on the shoulder. “Work hard, young man. When the company goes public in the future, a share of the original stock will be set aside for you!”

After leaving Liu Xiahui’s office, the company arranged a car to take Gallen home.

The moment he stepped through the door, the familiar scent made him take a deep, contented breath.

“Gallen? You’re back?”

He hadn’t even had time to savor the feeling of home when a startled cry rang out.

Turning, he saw Wang Qilin, neatly dressed and dragging a suitcase, standing in the doorway of Gallen’s bedroom, staring at him in shock.

“Gallen’s back?” Next, Cai Fei came running from his own room. Seeing Gallen, he rushed over and gave him a bear hug. “Damn! You left without a word! We all thought you’d disappeared and were about to call the police. Then we saw the news and realized you’d gone off to Chang’an to sing!”

“Nicely done! You’ve made us proud. Now all my classmates know you’re my roommate and pester me for your autograph every day. Don’t leave again—sign them all before you go!”

Wang Qilin dashed back to his room and returned with a stack of stationery. “Fill every page with your signature!”

Gallen laughed. “Just leave them here. I’ll be home for a few days, so I’ll sign them when I have time.”

He gestured to Wang Qilin’s luggage. “Where are you off to?”

“Home!” Wang Qilin replied. “School’s closed for Golden Week, and something came up at home, so I have to go back for a bit.”

“Are you heading back too, Cai?” Gallen asked.

“Yep!” Cai Fei nodded. “I thought you wouldn’t be home for Golden Week either, so I already bought my plane ticket.”

“You rich guy!” Gallen teased. “A drive from Beijing to your hometown is just half a day, and you’re flying?”

Cai Fei grinned sheepishly, then looked worried. “You’re sort of famous now—are you moving out? Will we still be able to live together?”

“I’m not moving!” Gallen smiled. “Even if I wanted to, I’d have to save up for a house first. Do you know how expensive a place in Beijing is? I’ll have to work hard for a few more years at least!”

“Damn!” Wang Qilin exclaimed enviously. “You’ll be able to buy a place in a few years? That’s what being famous gets you. Ordinary folks couldn’t afford even a bathroom in Beijing with a lifetime’s earnings!”

“Hey, I’m no celebrity—just a guy with a name!” Gallen waved him off. “No need for that among brothers. Are you two in a hurry? If not, let me treat you to a meal.”

“Oh, I can’t!” Wang Qilin checked his watch. “I’m taking the train and it’s almost time—I’ll just leave a couple of days early.”

“I’m good,” Cai Fei said. “My flight’s tomorrow morning.”

“Perfect! Let’s go have a proper meal together,” Gallen said.

Seeing this, Wang Qilin sighed. “If I’d known, I’d have booked my ticket for tomorrow.”

“Why don’t you return it and buy one for tomorrow?” Cai Fei suggested.

But Gallen interrupted him. “Don’t! With the Golden Week rush, you won’t get a train or even a plane ticket tomorrow. We’ll all get together when you’re back.”

“Right,” Wang Qilin nodded, putting on a pitiful face. “Okay, brothers, I’m off. Aren’t you going to see me out?”

“We are!” Cai Fei said. “We’ll walk you to the gate, all right?”

“Let’s go! We’ll help with your bags.”

Wang Qilin didn’t have much—just a small suitcase and a bag, probably filled with gifts for his family and relatives.

After seeing him into a cab, Gallen and Cai Fei found a nearby restaurant and drank into the night, singing and laughing as if life were but a fleeting dream.

That night, the two returned home drunk and collapsed into bed.

The next day, around noon, the shrill ring of a phone woke Gallen from his deep sleep.

It was Chen Yingying calling.

Gallen instantly perked up and answered in a crisp, formal tone, “Hello! How may I help you?”

There was a laugh on the other end. “Why are you being so silly?” Chen Yingying said.

“Ha! Nothing, I was just thinking of you and then you called.”

“Yeah, right…” she replied, feigning annoyance. “I bet you were sleeping. I wonder who you were dreaming of? Anyway, I’m almost at the capital—are you coming to pick me up?”

“What?” Gallen sat up with a start. “You’re almost here?”

“Hmph! You don’t care at all! I told you yesterday, I’m on the 8 a.m. train. Didn’t you count the time?” Chen Yingying complained.

“Ah, sorry, I really overslept…” Gallen began, then paused, “Wait, did you just say… girlfriend?”

“What? What are you talking about? Hurry up and come get me, I’ve already passed Yanshan!”

“Wait! Did you just say—”

“Oh no, the signal’s bad—I can’t hear you… beep beep…” The call cut off.

Listening to the dial tone, Gallen shook his head, unable to stop smiling.

He jumped out of bed and rushed to wash up and get dressed, all in less than five minutes.

Just as he was about to leave, he remembered Cai Fei. But when he checked his room, it was empty.

Recalling that Cai Fei’s flight was this morning, Gallen guessed he was probably already home by now.

He hurried downstairs and out of the building, flagged down a cab. “To West Station, please!”

“Hey there, in a rush to catch a train?” the driver asked, merging into traffic at a steady pace.

Gallen shook his head. “No, I’m picking someone up.”

“Oh, that’s good. I’ll tell you, with the Golden Week rush, the capital is packed with tourists…”

Gallen wasn’t sure if there really were that many people, but the driver certainly had plenty to say.

Meanwhile, the cab’s radio was playing a familiar tune—“Those Flowers.”