Chapter 51 I'll Help You

“As night falls, the air grows cool, and countless blossoms drift to the ground, turning to frost.”
“You gaze from afar, exhausting all the dusk’s last glow.”
“Though I try not to think of you, it’s impossible to forget.”
...
“The chilly night turns my longing for you into a river.”
“It becomes the spring earth that nurtures me.”
“Gentle years brush across my lover’s sleeves.”
“Petals in full bloom drift into the flowing water.”
...
“When will those ten miles of chill bloom with spring again?”
“Once more, I see a lone lantern beneath the tree, flickering in the wind.”
“Falling flowers long to stay, but the flowing water is indifferent.”
“Don’t let the tangled debts of love and hate chill the purity of those blossoms.”
“My only wish this life is to be tethered to mortal dust...”
The cool, tranquil night paired with Su Chen’s “The Chilling Song” left Yan Mi utterly entranced.

In her daze, scenes from “Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms” played in her mind, one after another. Yan Mi saw the countless heartbreaks and tribulations in the drama, yet also witnessed a warmth in its ending.

Just like the lyrics of “The Chilling Song,” it left her with a feeling both cold and warm, a gentle balm amidst sorrow.

“Hah... This is the perfect fit, as if the song existed first and inspired the story of ‘Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms’ itself.”

At last, Yan Mi calmed the emotions within her, opened her eyes, and spoke to Su Chen.

“...‘The Chilling Song’ should be a duet, right?”

Su Chen nodded. “Yes. After I watched the story, I thought it would be even better if the theme song were written from both the male and female perspectives.”

“Now it seems my approach was right, but Sister Mi, it’ll be a bit tricky for you to find the right singers.”

“After all, for a duet, not only must both singers suit the song, but their voices have to complement each other.”

Yan Mi listened carefully to Su Chen’s words, committing every phrase to memory.

After all, now that the theme song was settled, she’d have to find the original singers herself.

She said to Su Chen, “Let’s go with ‘The Chilling Song!’ I’m certain—it’s the theme I’ve been searching for!”

“Tomorrow, I’ll get all the paperwork and contracts ready for you to sign!”

Su Chen nodded, then raised the disposable cup from the table with a smile, toasting her.

“Then let me wish you, Sister Mi, a runaway hit with your new drama!”

“Hehe, I’ll take your blessing, Brother Su!”

In the end, Su Chen and Yan Mi finished their midnight snack as birds began to chirp on the branches outside.

Su Chen returned to the hotel, and by the time he finished washing up, dawn was already breaking. He put on an eye mask and earplugs and finally surrendered to a long-delayed sleep...

Bang, bang, bang!

“Chen, are you in there?”

Bang, bang, bang!

“Chen!”

Lying in bed in his hotel room, Su Chen was startled awake by the knocking.

After staying up all night, his body ached and his head throbbed, making him frown involuntarily.

He had no idea how long he’d slept; at some point, the eye mask and earplugs had fallen off. Otherwise, he guessed, the person outside could have shouted themselves hoarse and he’d never have woken up!

Bang, bang, bang!

“Chen? ...Damn, Chen, you didn’t just drop dead in there, did you?! No way... I’d better get the front desk to open the door!”

Hearing the voice outside, Su Chen’s face darkened, and he immediately shouted, “Wait! I’m coming to open the door now!”

He quickly threw on some clothes and, face stiff, went over to open the door.

Standing outside was none other than the oddball Wang Yilong!

The moment the door opened, Wang Yilong launched into a tirade.

“Damn! Chen, what were you doing in there? It’s almost one in the afternoon and you’re just getting up? I called you more than ten times and you didn’t answer once!”

“You... you didn’t order ‘room service,’ did you?”

As he spoke, Wang Yilong craned his neck, peeking suspiciously into the room.

Su Chen: “...”

Suppressing the urge to strangle him, Su Chen pressed a hand to Wang Yilong’s head and forced out his words.

“Can’t you think about something normal for once? I didn’t get back till almost dawn last night. By the time I finished washing up and got in bed, it was nearly six. Is it so strange to sleep until now?”

Wang Yilong gave an awkward grin. “Hey, how was I supposed to know!”

He clung to the “ignorance is innocence” defense, his face as thick as ever, leaving Su Chen at a loss for words.

Su Chen sighed helplessly. “So, what’s so urgent that you had to find me?”

The question stumped Wang Yilong.

“Oh right... what was it I wanted again?”

Su Chen: “...”

He frowned and thought for a while. Just as Su Chen was about to shut the door, Wang Yilong suddenly slapped his forehead. “I remember!”

“Chen, the thing is, I was planning to head back this morning. I thought I’d have a meal with a friend before leaving, but since I got eliminated in the first round, I didn’t meet anyone—except you, that is. So I came to say goodbye.”

Su Chen was slightly taken aback.

“You’re leaving this morning?”

“But... isn’t it already afternoon?”

“Yeah... I changed my flight twice just to wait for you...” Wang Yilong cast a pitiful look at Su Chen.

Now it was Su Chen’s turn to feel embarrassed.

“Ahem... It’s fine, there’s still time to leave this afternoon!”

“Come on! Lunch is on me!”

Su Chen patted Wang Yilong on the shoulder, then turned and headed back into his room.

Wang Yilong looked puzzled. “Aren’t we going to eat lunch? Why are you going back in?”

“You’re not planning to order takeout for me, are you? That’d be way too stingy!”

Su Chen’s face darkened, and a pillow flew out of the room.

“Don’t I need to wash up and get dressed first?!”

“Hehe... hehehe...”

Ten minutes later, Su Chen and Wang Yilong found a small, bustling local restaurant and ordered some specialties from Shashi. As they ate, they chatted.

“What will you do when you get back? Look for other opportunities?” Su Chen asked.

Wang Yilong shook his head. “No. After I was eliminated yesterday, my company didn’t even wait for you to go on stage—they immediately terminated my contract.”

Su Chen’s expression grew complicated at this.

Wang Yilong’s contract termination weighed on him. Wang Yilong had risked his future to speak up for Su Chen, and while Su Chen felt helpless, he was also grateful.

Wang Yilong talked a lot and maybe wasn’t the most likable person, but his sincerity was rare in this industry.

So rare, in fact, that Su Chen didn’t want to see him stay in this polluted circle, nor did he want to see him change.

After all, it’s nearly impossible to stay pure in the mud.

Still, since this all started because of him, Su Chen decided to give the fool a hand.

“Do you still want to sing?” Su Chen looked Wang Yilong in the eye.

Wang Yilong wore his trademark look of befuddled cleverness.

“...Huh?”

Su Chen: “...”

“I said, do you still want to sing? Do you still want to be a star?”

“If you do, I’ll help you.”