SWNOVELXO Chapter 161: May Your Wishes Come True
"Sister Zhou Zhou, this is delicious."
Qi Ting, who had originally been joking around to liven up the atmosphere, grew silent upon noticing Xu Qingyan answer the phone from the corner of her eye.
In the private room, you could hear a pin drop.
The voice on the other end of the phone was gentle, and each word was enunciated with exceptional clarity.
"I am Lin Chuan, today's guest performer assisting Teacher Hou on the program."
Upon hearing this, Pei Muchan, who was drinking warm water, paused and involuntarily glanced at Xu Qingyan. Lin Wanzhou's eyes fluttered, filled with a hint of curiosity.
Qi Ting glanced at Xu Qingyan first, not particularly surprised by this unexpected phone call.
It was common for artists to call each other; after all, songwriters who could compose and write their own music were rare in the industry. Today, they might act aloof and unapproachable, but tomorrow, they might be out of your league.
Having apprenticed with a veteran like Hou Xueheng, Lin Chuan was considered half a student already.
Starting the conversation by mentioning Hou Xueheng proved that Hou Xueheng was aware of this matter. This was akin to Lin Chuan proactively offering him a small favor, establishing a connection.
"Hello, I'm Xu Qingyan, I'm still at the dinner table, may I know what this is about?"
He didn't care about what Lin Chuan had said at all; the face given by Hou Xueheng meant nothing to him. Unless the two really connected, the favor would count for nothing.
Others could just wash their hands of the matter saying they knew nothing about it, and his joy would be all in vain.
On the other end of the line, Lin Chuan paused for a moment, quickly clarifying the logical relationship in the blink of an eye.
Since Xu Qingyan could answer the phone directly at the dinner table, it indicated it wasn't a formal occasion. But the fact that there was no background noise on the phone meant he was the main focus of the dinner, likely a private gathering.
His phrase "still at the dinner table" implied that he didn't appreciate such small favors. If there was business to discuss, get straight to the point succinctly.
"Sorry, sorry, I was presumptuous," Lin Chuan responded quickly and sincerely, "I've listened to 'Qing Tian' when it was released, and admired it even more after hearing 'Late Marriage' on the program today.
"It's like this, I have a somewhat presumptuous request. Although I'm a singer by profession, I also write lyrics and music, and I really admire your work, so I wanted to invite Teacher Xu for a meal to learn more."
The first response from Lin Chuan was an apology, also carrying a double meaning. Formally, he apologized for interrupting his dinner, and it also suggested an apology for trying to use Hou Xueheng's favor as a brush-off.
The tone was sincere and the attitude respectful.
Xu Qingyan's tone softened, "I have heard of you, I enjoy your songs as well, and just the other day I was listening to 'Stepping on the Moon.' It's rare to hear pop-singing with a classical technique; it's quite refreshing."
"However, it is unfortunate that today I have to return to Xinghai, and I probably..."
He was about to refuse when suddenly he heard Pei Muchan cough lightly. His leg was gently nudged from under the table, and the words that almost reached his lips were swallowed back.
Feeling Xu Qingyan's gaze upon her, Pei Muchan did not speak. She just stared at him for a moment, then nodded her head before looking down to fiddle with the greens in her bowl.
Out of trust in Pei Muchan, Xu Qingyan immediately changed his response, and the tone of his voice grew much warmer.
"Ahem, but we're all peers; you don't have to call me Teacher Xu, I really can't take it. Call me Old Xu, Little Xu, or Brother Xu would do."
"That... I will be back in Jianye for a program recording next week. If you have time, let's set up a meeting to have dinner together, whenever it's convenient for you."
On the other end, upon hearing his words, Lin Chuan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and chuckled.
"There's no need to wait until next week. I'll just happen to fly to Xinghai the day after tomorrow for an event. If Brother Xu isn't busy then, we can arrange a time to meet up?"
"Okay."
After hurriedly hanging up the phone, Xu Qingyan was about to ask something when he suddenly sensed that the atmosphere was a bit off.
Turning his head, Lin Wanzhou's gaze was fixed on the tabletop, her expression clearly unhappy. Pei Muchan continued to play with the greens in her bowl, her eyes slightly downcast.
Qi Ting had an awkward smile on her face as she looked down and ate her vegetables.
The scene left him baffled; what had happened in the span of a phone call? He'd only been reminded by Pei Muchan for a moment and had changed what he was about to say.
"That... " Xu Qingyan picked up his chopsticks, "I'm relatively new to the industry and not very familiar with some singers. Do you guys know Lin Chuan?"
"Teacher Xu, did Lin Chuan contact you?" Qi Ting pretended to be surprised, even though she had listened to the whole conversation, she still said, "Is it the Lin Chuan from the show we just recorded?"
"Hm?" He was momentarily taken aback, thinking she had been the most attentive listener just now, "Yes, him. But I don't have much of an impression of him; I've only heard a song called 'Stepping on the Moon'."
As soon as he finished, not only was Qi Ting taken aback, but Pei Muchan and Lin Wanzhou also looked up at him.
"You haven't heard of Lin Chuan before? That's unbelievable, Teacher Xu! He's really popular, known as 'the voice kissed by an angel,'" exclaimed Qi Ting with her jaw nearly hitting the floor.
"I really didn't know, uh..." Xu Qingyan didn't know how to explain.
"Lin Chuan participated in a talent show a couple of years ago and was discovered by Hou Xueheng, who nurtured him carefully," Pei Muchan said. "Didn't you ask me what the mainstream circle was like?"
"The literary and entertainment circles aren't two different places. Once you're in, you're basically like the national team's reserve. Hou Xueheng helped Lin Chuan put one foot into that circle."
Xu Qingyan, still confused, pulled out his phone and checked it twice before raising his head to ask.
"Is it difficult to get into that circle?"
Pei Muchan: "… it's complicated, it depends on fate."
"There are many factors at play, including a singer's background and their career development direction," Lin Wanzhou explained. "Of course, it's great if you can get in, but it's not a big deal if you can't."
"So, does Lin Chuan have official support?" Xu Qingyan asked curiously, "But I don't seem to have seen him at the Spring Festival Gala; am I wrong?"
"The Spring Festival Gala isn't that simple. Lin Chuan is indeed very popular now, but he's not at that level yet," Qi Ting added. "He's quite good at covering songs, and the ones that made him famous are mostly covers."
"His voice is unique; barely anyone can imitate it or produce that special quality, which makes him stand out in the industry. Plus, he's a graduate from a top university, so he's taken a very straight path."
"Straight?" he asked, puzzled.
"He's protected by someone, groomed as a representative of the new generation, following the path of art," Pei Muchan interjected. "But he doesn't lack songs, he might genuinely just want to be friends."
"I see," Xu Qingyan nodded.
He understood once he heard that: Lin Chuan was now with one foot in the entertainment circle and another stepping into the literary circle. In short, there was just one word to describe it, famous!
The four of them silently ate, chatting sporadically. Most of the time, it was Qi Ting and Xu Qingyan talking, while Pei Muchan and Lin Wanzhou occasionally interjected.
The atmosphere wasn't too awkward. As the saying goes, familiarity breeds comfort, and slowly they all opened up.
The only odd thing was that Xu Qingyan kept receiving pouting emoji stickers from Lin Wanzhou during the meal. A pink teddy bear throwing a tantrum on the ground, yet when he looked up at her, she acted as if nothing had happened.
Huh??
10:30 pm.
The plane took off from the runway, slowly distancing itself from the city and ascending into the midnight sky. Inside the dim cabin, through the pitch-black windows, one could vaguely see layers of clouds and night mist.
Looking down from an altitude of 10,000 meters, the city's splendor was all in view, resembling strips of light laid out across the land.
Their seats were right next to each other. Pei Muchan rested on the inside seat. She wore an eye mask, her breathing steady, and in the dim light, the contours of her face appeared even softer.
Perhaps the heavens also favored beauties more, not leaving any blemish on her.
"Are you... staring at me?" she said without warning.
In the dim environment, any small sound was amplified. Like a speaker thrown into a bucket, her voice sounded muffled in the cabin.
"You can see with that thing on?" Xu Qingyan asked in surprise, lowering his voice.
"Of course." She turned her head but didn't take off the eye mask, asking Xu Qingyan beside her, "You've been staring at me the whole time, what's so interesting to look at?"
The scent that wafted over as she turned felt like flowers blooming on a chilly morning.
"I'm not really staring; I'm just curious." Xu Qingyan glanced at her, "I've heard that lighting is the best cosmetic, able to cover up all imperfections on someone's face."
Upon hearing this, Pei Muchan couldn't help but pull down her eye mask, frowning.
"What imperfections do I have?"
Indeed, women can't accept even the slightest imperfection on their faces.
Xu Qingyan propped his hand on the little table, just looking at her. Black hair, fair skin, flawless. A smile appeared in his eyes as he shook his head.
"None."
Pei Muchan's lips curved into a slight smile, which quickly flattened out. With his disturbance, any chance of sleep was definitely gone. She simply took off the eye mask and started a conversation with him.
"Do you think the show will modify my contract now that I've advanced?"
"They should, though I don't know in what way," Xu Qingyan's eyes slightly drooped, realizing something, he seemed to have not yet congratulated her on her successful advancement.
"That... Pei Muchan."
"Hmm?"
She was still frowning over what Xu Qingyan had said previously, wondering whether to go to Jianye next time. If she faced difficulty again, she probably wouldn't get paid.
Suddenly hearing him call her, she reflexively turned her head. What her gaze encountered was a pair of bright eyes, the pitch-black pupils like solid ink.
"What is it?" Her heart momentarily felt like it was pricked by a needle.
"Nothing much, congratulations on advancing, you've fought a good fight," Xu Qingyan's eyes reflected a bright, cheerful sparkle, "I wish you success in everything you desire from now on."
Pei Muchan was taken aback by those words, feeling burned again by the phrase "everything you desire." It was the most sincere blessing she'd ever received. The world was grand, the only wish was to achieve what she desired.
Her mind revisited the experiences of the past two months, and the softest part of her heart quivered involuntarily. He had told her more than ten times that she had a promising future.
Indeed, that was the truth. Ever since 'Love Synth', her career had been like hitting the reverse button. Not only did 'Qing Tian' help her regain her reputation, but her studio also managed to survive.
There was someone to accompany her when she was sick, someone to take her out for meals, and even someone to occasionally talk to at work.
Life seemed to become gentler and less fierce. The symptoms of insomnia lessened a lot, the inner restlessness calmed down, and everything was moving in a better direction.
He was right; there was indeed light in life. With his light, she found her way out.
Everything desired...
"Mhm." Pei Muchan responded, turning to look at him again.
The lights in the cabin seats were dim, as if there was only a filament that could go out at any moment. With his back to the light, the illumination from the aisle faintly outlined his body's contour.
Most of his face was hidden in the shadows, flickering in and out of visibility, with only his eyes shining clearly.
"Not all wishes have come true though," she suddenly spoke up, her voice a bit raspy, like the last faint crackling of charcoal before it extinguishes.
The yellow halo of light rested over her head, her skin soft, bearing no mark of age. Even at twenty-six, she still resembled a young girl.
"Which didn't come true?" Xu Qingyan's voice sounded puzzled as he turned to her, "You came second, just a few votes away from beating a veteran group in their fifties."
"Back then I asked you how many votes I could get, and you said seven hundred and forty," Pei Muchan's gaze shifted slightly, her raspy voice surprisingly carrying a hint of coquettishness.
Very faint, like a fish swimming just beyond the sunlit stones, darting away just as quickly as it appeared.
Huh?
Was she coquettish? It didn't quite seem so. Had he misheard?
To be honest, Xu Qingyan was somewhat confused.
"Uh... that was just something I blurted out, seven hundred and forty votes aren't that easy to come by."
"Oh." Pei Muchan sounded a bit disheartened, with emotions so intense they nearly spilled from her eyes.
The lighting was too dim for Xu Qingyan to make out clearly. He could only vaguely sense that Pei Muchan seemed to have unspoken words, and also seemed to be a little...
Sad?