When Nan Yu sent a message, she never expected Tan Linyuan to reply instantly.
Tan Linyuan: Chanting scriptures.
Nan Yu stared at the message that suddenly popped up on the screen. Involuntarily, the scene of him sitting in meditation and chanting scriptures alone in that study room flashed through her mind.
It was really strange. She had only stayed at his place for a few days, yet the scenes from that time were still vivid in her memory.
It was as if she had lived with him for many years.
Holding her phone, Nan Yu replied: Why do you always chant scriptures at night?
She had seen the study illuminated throughout the night on many occasions.
Tan Linyuan replied: To calm my mind.
Nan Yu asked again: Can't you calm your mind now?
Tan Linyuan replied: Yes.
Nan Yu: ... Do you only reply with two - word answers?
Tan Linyuan: No.
... Nan Yu gave up struggling and changed the question: Is it because of me that you can't calm your mind?
Tan Linyuan's reply this time was even more concise: Mm.
But it was just this single word that made Nan Yu's cheeks flush. She recalled every night she had spent with him. Tan Linyuan had never stayed the night beside her.
She used to think it was just his habit, or perhaps he wasn't used to sleeping with others. Now she belatedly realized that maybe it was because he couldn't calm his mind.
With this speculation in mind, she sent another message out of mischief: "So, after... before, you went to chant scriptures because you couldn't calm your mind too?"
The words "typing..." appeared on the screen and then quickly disappeared.
Nan Yu waited for a long time but didn't receive a reply. Only then did she realize that he had decided not to answer at all.
Imagining the scowling face on the other end of the phone, Nan Yu hugged her phone and laughed so hard that she almost dropped it on her face.
How come she never noticed before that Tan Linyuan could be so adorable and proud?
...
Thanks to the previous movie, Nan Yu, as a film musician, had also gained popularity. With her fan base growing, many shows had extended invitations to her.
Sister Min joked, "I told you that our line of work has one foot in the entertainment industry. You just didn't believe me."
Nan Yu smiled and asked if Hu Chang's band had entered the entertainment industry.
"They don't play those games. And with Hu Chang's personality, she'd be blackmailed out of the circle in a few days." Sister Min replied with a helpless smile. "They just take on performances and release new music albums."
Nan Yu nodded, thinking that this was indeed Hu Chang's style.
After chatting about some other things, Sister Min shifted the topic back to Nan Yu. "There are a few activities other than composition recently. One is a piano event promotion, one is a show interview, and there's also an advertisement for a brain - tonic liquid. Which one are you interested in?"
"What the hell is brain - tonic liquid?" Nan Yu was incredulous. "Do they even invite me for an ad like this?"
"Since creative work usually gets inspiration at night, brain - tonics are definitely a necessity." Seeing Nan Yu's shock, Sister Min couldn't help but explain with a smile. "You don't need to say the advertising slogan for this ad. You just need to let the brain - tonic liquid appear in the video."
Nan Yu understood. "It's a soft advertisement, right?"
Sister Min said with a smile, "Smart."
"Before, Hu Chang even took on ads for chewing gum and breath fresheners. The reason was that as the lead singer, her breath had to be fresh." Sister Min still found this incident quite amusing as she recalled it. "Hu Chang was so angry at that time. She said she was going to fight the advertising company. She wondered why they said she had bad breath."
Nan Yu didn't really care whether she was interested or not. After all, when she joined the company, she was supposed to make money for it.
But what she was interested in was the show interview.
"This is a personal column interview live - show. It used to have average popularity, but last week, a big variety - show star became a regular guest. Its popularity has been quite good recently. Coupled with your increasing popularity, they want to take it to the next level."
"Live - show? Do I have to show my face?" Nan Yu asked the crucial question.
"Of course. After all, it's a TV show. If you're really averse to it, our company can replace you with another musician. Anyway, we'll respect your opinion."
In terms of work, Sister Min always respected Nan Yu's feelings.
Nan Yu shook her head. This was exactly what she wanted. "Can I decide the content of this show's interview myself? I want to introduce a friend to everyone. She used to be in the music industry. She's a singer."
"... You're going to help someone else gain popularity?" Sister Min couldn't understand at all. "This show has a great influence. It might just make your friend famous. And all these also need the company's approval..."
"My friend has already retired. She's about to give birth soon. I thought I could send her my sincere blessings on the show." Nan Yu said understandingly. "If it's inconvenient, it's okay."
She could wait for the next opportunity.
Sister Min hesitated for a moment. " ... I'll apply to the company. Do you have to introduce her as a singer? Can you just say she's a friend of yours?"
"Sure. I was just worried that if the show mentioned someone irrelevant, it might affect the show's effect. If this background isn't necessary, it's okay."
Anyway, her goal was to let Wen Ying appear in front of the public in her pregnant state.
Only in this way could Shen Suhai be pushed to the forefront.
Nan Yu really wanted to see if her engagement with Shen Yanche could still go ahead after everyone knew that Wen Ying was pregnant with the Shen family's child.
Seeing that Nan Yu wasn't insistent on introducing her friend's identity, Sister Min breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "I'll apply to the company. After the company approves, I'll discuss the interview content with the show crew."
"Thank you, Sister Min."
Sister Min said with a smile, "It's really a blessing to be your friend. When you fall in love in the future, your partner will be even more blessed."
As their relationship grew closer, Sister Min would occasionally tease her with some harmless jokes.
But Sister Min didn't ask about that night. She just reminded Nan Yu not to offend the big shots. Their company was just a small one. She didn't want the "boat" to capsize and for everyone to lose their business.
Nan Yu knew that Sister Min was hinting at her not to offend Tan Linyuan.
Even if no one said it, everyone was well - aware of Tan Linyuan's status in Jiangcheng.
Offending him was like seeking death.
Nan Yu thought to herself that she had been disrespectful to Tan Linyuan many times. If Sister Min heard about it, she might be so scared that she'd terminate the contract with her overnight.
Recently, she really hadn't contacted Tan Linyuan because she was either too busy with work or short on time.
But that sense of unworthiness and the fear of losing him had disappeared completely that night.
There was a distance of a hundred steps between her and Tan Linyuan.
As long as she was sure that he was willing to take one step towards her, she was willing to take the remaining ninety - nine steps on her own.
She didn't care if there was an ending.
---
On the day of the interview live - show, Nan Yu called Wen Ying in advance. The two of them clarified the specific plan and arrangements on the phone. They encouraged each other and told each other not to be nervous.
In this battle, only success was permitted, failure was not an option.