Chapter Thirty-Three: An Answer Across the Years

An Tinghan glanced at Xi Yuanyuan but paid her no mind.

In terms of beauty, she thoroughly outshone Xi Yuanyuan.

In terms of figure, there was no way she would lose to someone so doughy.

As for status and position, Xi Yuanyuan was simply no match for her.

Seeing this, Xi Yuanyuan bit her silver teeth, her gaze growing even more hostile.

An Tinghan gripped Chen Fang’s arm, her eyes filled with longing as she gazed at him. “Chen Fang, I want to hear the entirety of ‘As You Wish’.”

I never said I wouldn’t sing, did I? Chen Fang was taken aback.

But soon, he sensed a chill in the air.

Xi Yuanyuan’s frosty gaze swept over An Tinghan, lingering as she glared at Chen Fang.

Chen Fang looked at Xi Yuanyuan with amusement and teased, “Jealous?”

He was too embarrassed to tease An Tinghan—after all, they weren’t close—but teasing Xi Yuanyuan was fair game.

Xi Yuanyuan sneered, “Mind your manners, or you’ll wake up to scandalous rumors tomorrow.”

An Tinghan replied nonchalantly, “I don’t mind. Chen Fang is so handsome and talented; there’s nothing for me to lose.”

Chen Fang glanced at An Tinghan’s chubby face and discreetly withdrew his arm.

He liked curviness, but not on the face.

A properly curvy beauty should be full where it counts and slim where it matters.

Clearly, An Tinghan did not meet the mark.

“I have indeed finished composing this song,” Chen Fang admitted outright.

Upon hearing this, An Tinghan’s face lit up with joy.

“But whether you get to hear the rest depends on how our negotiations go. If talks fall through, there’s no reason for me to sing it for you.” This was a businessman’s instinct—to always act in one’s own best interest. That way, even if you don’t profit, at least you won’t lose.

Chen Fang was shrewd.

Negotiations with Tong Qin seemed to have stalled.

Qian Youlai glanced at Chen Fang from time to time.

Noticing this, Chen Fang asked, “Is there something you need?”

Qian Youlai and Tong Qin stepped forward. Qian Youlai looked a bit embarrassed. “Miss An and Ms. Tong are willing to pay ten million for the performance rights to this song. The composition rights remain yours.”

Chen Fang was stunned.

That good?

Although “As You Wish” was certainly worth the price, the problem was that Chen Fang was a newcomer.

So, at most the song should fetch a few million.

Ten million was exorbitant.

He looked at Tong Qin, confusion written in his eyes.

He understood the logic—surely Tong Qin, as a top agent, would too.

The next moment, Qian Youlai continued, “But they have one condition.”

“What is it?” Chen Fang asked.

Qian Youlai glanced at Tong Qin; it was more appropriate for her to explain.

Tong Qin picked up the thread. “I hope to purchase three songs from you for that ten million. Besides ‘As You Wish’, we’d like you to compose two more. Of course, Dreambuilder Entertainment will fully cooperate with your creative process, and you will retain all composition rights. We only want the performance rights.”

Full cooperation—what did that mean?

It meant Dreambuilder would agree to any of Chen Fang’s requirements.

More importantly, he would keep the composition rights.

Ten million for the performance rights to just three songs.

Chen Fang raised an eyebrow, somewhat admiring Tong Qin’s audacity. “What if the songs I write next turn out to be terrible?”

“Then we’ll accept it,” Tong Qin replied without hesitation.

Chen Fang smiled and said nothing.

After a moment, he nodded. “Alright, I accept.”

It was clear Tong Qin was betting on him, wagering that the quality of his future works would not disappoint.

Of course, three songs were not difficult for Chen Fang.

That was one reason he agreed. If he thought it would be hard, he wouldn’t have forced himself.

At this, Tong Qin and An Tinghan both smiled.

“Let’s go print the contract,” Tong Qin said. “Let’s sign it today.”

She was always decisive.

Soon, the contract was delivered to the recording studio.

Music contracts followed a standard template; only the amount and a few additional terms needed amending before use.

Tong Qin and Xi Yuanyuan each checked the contract, confirmed there were no issues, then signed their names before asking Chen Fang and An Tinghan to sign theirs.

“Looking forward to working together,” Tong Qin said with a smile, shaking Chen Fang’s hand.

An Tinghan could hardly wait, urging, “Hurry up and finish singing ‘As You Wish’!”

Ten million!

According to his B-level contract with the company, with a 50-50 split, Chen Fang would pocket five million.

It seemed like a loss at first glance.

But in truth, it wasn’t.

Future Star would handle all his publicity and hype. After all the deductions, there wouldn't be much left of the five million; if they ramped up promotion, it might not even be enough and Future Star would have to cover the deficit.

But Future Star was eager to do so.

What they lacked was not money, but reputation.

Only by gradually restoring their reputation could the company have hope for the future.

After signing, Chen Fang looked around the room and asked, “Aren’t you all leaving?”

Qian Youlai and the other executives exchanged glances, then unabashedly found places to sit. “We won’t get in the way—let’s listen in.”

Tong Qin and An Tinghan had no objections.

Seeing this, Chen Fang turned his attention back to the piano.

Should he pick up where he left off?

No, better to start again from the beginning.

Stopping midway through a song always felt uncomfortable, and resuming from the middle was even worse.

Chen Fang played the prelude to “As You Wish” again, singing the first part a second time. For An Tinghan, Tong Qin, and Xi Yuanyuan, it was the second hearing, but for the others, it was their first taste of this heavenly music.

“A masterpiece.”

“Undoubtedly a masterpiece!”

“How does Chen Fang’s mind work? Writing songs is as easy for him as eating or drinking!”

“Comparisons are odious and infuriating.”

...

The others muttered quietly.

With Chen Fang around, the company almost didn’t need any other musicians.

Soon, the song reached its second part.

You are the river of years,
The sky kindled by distant stars.
I am the one who looks up, singing you into song.
You are my origin,
And the return of my heart,
All roads in this world lead me back to you.

The singing was plaintive, as if weeping.

Even though Chen Fang’s voice wasn’t ideally suited for the song, his male rendition gave it a unique flavor.

He was like a whisperer, recounting the stories buried deep in the river of time, telling the tales of the parent generation one by one.

The melody was divine.

The lyrics, equally so.

“My origin. The return of my heart.”

These two lines were steeped in profound cultural depth, not something an ordinary person could compose. More importantly, this slightly literary style didn’t feel awkward here at all.

True cultural depth wasn’t about ornate words, but about perfect harmony with the scene.

It was like a satisfying slap in a popular novel—how to strike the villain so that the reader feels a rush of satisfaction without a trace of embarrassment.

That was an art.

An Tinghan’s gaze toward Chen Fang changed. Such talent ought to be kept by her side, writing songs for her every day.

Letting him stay at Future Star was a waste.

“Should I try to poach him for Dreambuilder?” An Tinghan mused.

Was it worth it?

Absolutely. Even paying a hefty penalty for his contract would be worthwhile.

She just didn’t know whether Chen Fang himself would be willing to switch companies.

Lost in thought, her reverie was broken by the sudden intensity of the piano, like a massive hammer pounding the eardrum and the heart.

Peaceful rivers and mountains, ordinary days,
But your gaze, as you wished, looks far ahead.
Children, sleep soundly in your dreams,
Just as you once loved so deeply.

Chen Fang’s voice soared, no longer singing for those in the room but for those elders who now slept in eternal rest.

Now the land is peaceful, the homeland flourishing.

Here, the song gave the answer to the question of the parent generation.

This—this was truly “as you wish.”