Chapter Sixty-Nine: You Remind Me of Someone from the Past

A very tall woman?
For a brief moment, Chen Fang thought of someone.
Wang Situ.
Among all the women Chen Fang knew, Wang Situ was without a doubt the tallest—there was simply no one else like her.
He did a quick calculation.
Exactly two days had passed.
It seemed Wang Situ had come to claim the promise with five thousand yuan in hand.
Chen Fang said he’d be right there, then hung up the phone.
“Xi Bun, time to get up!”
Chen Fang gently shook Xi Yuanyuan, but she didn’t wake.
He shook her several more times before she finally opened her eyes, a harmless, innocent look on her face as she gazed at him. “Is the song over?”
Chen Fang: …
She really slept deeply!
“It ended ages ago. You can go home now.”
“Oh.”
Xi Yuanyuan sat up from the sofa.
The next moment, she staggered.
Although Chen Fang had adjusted her sleeping position, she’d slept so long and tossed about so much that her legs were still numb when she woke.
Chen Fang quickly caught her by the waist, a faint floral scent drifting into his nose.
He had to admit—
Xi Yuanyuan’s waist was remarkably slender.
It felt soft and delicate in his hands.
“Are you alright?”
Chen Fang turned his head slightly, asking the woman in his arms.
He was so close to Xi Yuanyuan that his lips were almost at her ear; instantly, her ears burned a bright red.
Xi Yuanyuan tried to stand up, but her legs wouldn’t cooperate at all.
“Could you put me down first?”
Her voice was so soft that Chen Fang almost missed it.
He helped her sit back down on the sofa.
“You moved around in your sleep and pressed on your legs.”
“I just need a moment to recover.”
Xi Yuanyuan lowered her head, not daring to look at him.
Chen Fang was a bit surprised. He’d only touched her waist, yet her reaction was as if he’d taken great advantage of her.
A minute later—
Feeling slowly returned to her legs, though she still moved with some difficulty.
Chen Fang kindly asked, “Do you need me to help you?”
“No!”
Xi Yuanyuan shook her head quickly.
Chen Fang shrugged and walked out of the recording studio.
Seeing this—

Xi Yuanyuan hurried to her feet.
Her legs still tingled with numbness, causing her to limp as she walked.
Along the way to the reception,
People in the company stared in shock.
Why was Xi Yuanyuan limping?
Could it be that the two of them… in the office…
In an instant!
The company’s group chat at Future Star Path exploded with gossip.
“Xi Yuanyuan’s walk looks strange!”
“They were in the office all afternoon—did something happen in there…”
“Xi Yuanyuan doesn’t seem like that kind of bold person.”
“That’s the appeal of contrast! Men love it, you know? Trust me, I’ve been there.”
“It’s just guys’ quirks. They like sweet, obedient girls in public, but wild, sexy ones in private.”
“Is that for real?”
“Just learn, it’s all knowledge.”
…
The group chat got a bit risqué.
Still,
The employees were savvy enough not to gossip in the main work chat or larger groups, but rather in private small groups.
Of course,
Many felt this kind of talk was inappropriate.
Some even pointed out that spreading such rumors was not only immoral but also illegal.
After a few reminders in those private chats, the gossip finally died down.
Even so,
The whole company now believed Chen Fang and Xi Yuanyuan’s relationship was anything but ordinary.
For a time,
Most people eyed them with knowing, ambiguous looks.
Chen Fang ignored it, striding quickly to the front desk where he saw a towering figure over 1.8 meters tall standing there, looming like a wall. The receptionist looked positively dwarfed beside Wang Situ.
“You’re quite punctual.” Chen Fang smiled, greeted the receptionist, and turned to Wang Situ.
Yes…
She looked exactly as she had two days ago.
Wang Situ never wore makeup, always appearing bare-faced.
If you wanted contrast,
Wang Situ’s was the most striking of all.
Just by her face, she resembled a classic beauty—delicate, refined, especially with those black-rimmed glasses that gave her a scholarly air.
But looking down at her body, it was as if a delicate beauty’s head had been placed on a warrior’s frame.
Such a physique—what a waste on singing.
She’d make a fine fitness coach.
Chen Fang withdrew his gaze and extended his right hand. “Where’s the five thousand?”
At this,
Wang Situ rummaged in her pockets and produced a pile of small bills and coins. “Five thousand, not a penny more or less.”
Chen Fang didn’t bother to count it. He trusted Wang Situ not to cheat him, and besides, his real goal was never the money—it was to see just how much effort she was willing to put in to achieve her goal.
Nearby,
Xi Yuanyuan was bewildered.
She had no idea what was happening.

Of course, she knew Wang Situ—
One of the five contestants who had advanced in the third round of auditions.
But she couldn’t figure out what connection Chen Fang had with Wang Situ.
She wasn’t the only one; the rest of the staff also watched curiously, trying to guess their relationship.
“How did you earn it?”
Chen Fang asked.
“By singing at bars, performing on the street, and selling some recyclables I collected. That’s how I scraped it together.” Wang Situ’s tone was calm; she didn’t find scavenging shameful in the least. After all, she hadn’t stolen or robbed anyone.
Chen Fang looked at her.
The dark circles under her eyes were pronounced.
She must have slept little these past two days.
And this five thousand was likely all she had to her name.
“Have you eaten?”
Chen Fang glanced at the scattered pile of cash and pushed it back toward her.
Wang Situ looked surprised, but answered honestly, “No.”
Chen Fang turned to Xi Yuanyuan. “Xi Bun, give this USB drive to the publicity department. It has two finished songs on it. Work out the promotion and release with them—I won’t get involved.”
With that, Chen Fang walked toward the exit. “Wang Situ, come with me. I’ll get you something to eat.”
Wang Situ’s eyes flickered.
She hesitated for a few seconds, stuffed the loose bills back into her pocket, and followed him.
Xi Yuanyuan wanted to follow as well, but Chen Fang’s demeanor made it clear he wanted to talk privately with Wang Situ.
It wasn’t that she worried about Chen Fang and Wang Situ having an affair—
It was just that,
There were too many people outside.
If a paparazzo caught them together, rumors would surely spread by the next day.
“Be careful of the paparazzi.”
Xi Yuanyuan reminded him.
Chen Fang nodded and left the company with Wang Situ.
He picked a random restaurant, ordered some homestyle dishes, and once the food arrived, Wang Situ began eating ravenously.
Goodness!
Had she not eaten for days?
Chen Fang poured her a glass of water and handed it over.
He himself barely ate, having had a large lunch and still not feeling hungry.
It was no wonder Wang Situ was so tall and strong; she ate double what Chen Fang, a man with a hearty appetite, could manage.
Only after Wang Situ was nearly finished did Chen Fang finally say, smiling, “Are you interested in joining Future Star Path?”
“Will you write songs for me?”
“I will.”
“Then I’ll join.”
Wang Situ didn’t hesitate for a second, her tone unwavering.
At that moment, in Wang Situ’s resolute gaze, Chen Fang saw the shadow of an old friend.
Sadly, that friend was on Earth, not in China.