Chapter 199: Xingzai's Departure

Zhang Yadong stared at the seven scores on his computer screen, his fingers trembling slightly. After a long while, he raised his head and looked at Xiang Fei and Zhou Huimin standing by the mixing console.

"This......" Zhang Yadong's voice was a little hoarse. "Is it really for me?"

Xiang Fei smiled and patted his shoulder: "Yadong, these seven songs—I'm leaving the entire production to you."

Zhou Huimin stood to one side, her fingertips tapping lightly on the table, her gaze falling on the lyrics of "Wanjiang"—

"The red sun rises in the east, its great road filled with glowing clouds......"

Her voice instinctively began to hum along, the clear tone echoing through the recording studio.

Zhang Yadong took a deep breath and pushed his glasses up: "President Zhou, shall we try recording 'Ruyuan' first?"

Zhou Huimin nodded, walked into the recording booth, and put on the headphones.

Behind the soundproof glass, Zhou Huimin closed her eyes as the piano notes of the prelude flowed gently.

"You are the distant road, a lamp in the mountain mist......"

Her voice was gentle yet firm, carrying a faint, almost imperceptible catch. The lyrics of this song seemed written for herself, and also for those who still refused to give up in the depths of despair.

Zhang Yadong held his breath in front of the mixing console, his fingers flying to adjust the parameters.

Xiang Fei leaned back on the sofa, his gaze never leaving Zhou Huimin.

Three takes, completed in one breath.

"Perfect!" Zhang Yadong slapped the table excitedly. "President Zhou, this is absolutely the best vocal performance of your career!"

Zhou Huimin took off the headphones, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly: "It's because the song was well written."

Xiang Fei walked over and handed her a cup of warm water: "It's because you sang it well."

The two exchanged a smile, the atmosphere in the recording studio warm and full of unspoken understanding.

At noon, Xiang Fei's phone suddenly rang.

Caller ID: Zhou Xingxing.

He frowned slightly, walked out to the corridor outside the recording studio, and answered.

"Fei-ge......" On the other end of the line, Zhou Xingxing's voice was hesitant. "I...... I've left Yongsheng."

Xiang Fei was silent for two seconds: "Where did you go?"

"Li Xiuxian's Wanneng Film Company." Zhou Xingxing paused. "He promised me a box-office share on every film, and let me direct my own......"

Xiang Fei tightened his grip on the phone, his gaze drifting out the window.

He had long known this day would come—Zhou Xingxing had ultimately left Yongsheng and joined "Wanneng," the company of Li Xiuxian, who in his previous life had been Zhou Xingxing's benefactor. And Li Xiuxian had given him a bigger stage; he had no reason to hold him back.

"Go," Xiang Fei finally said, his voice calm. "I won't stop you."

On the other end of the line, Zhou Xingxing seemed to freeze for a moment, then said softly: "Thank you, Fei-ge."

After hanging up, Xiang Fei stood in place, motionless for a long time.

Zhou Huimin pushed the door open and walked out, holding two cups of coffee.

"What's wrong?" She handed him one, keenly sensing his mood.

Xiang Fei took the coffee and gave a wry smile: "Xingzai's gone. He went to Li Xiuxian's place."

Zhou Huimin gave a soft "mm," leaning against the wall beside him: "You knew all along you couldn't keep him, didn't you?"

Xiang Fei nodded: "His ambitions go beyond being an actor."

"Just like you back at Shaw Brothers." Zhou Huimin smiled. "Who wants to work for someone else their whole life?"

Xiang Fei turned his head to look at her: "Are you trying to comfort me?"

"I'm telling you," Zhou Huimin took a sip of her coffee, "true friends don't change because of distance."

The afternoon recording went even more smoothly.

The sweeping grandeur of "Heaven and Earth Dragon Scales," the fiery passion of "A Young Man's Say on China"—Zhou Huimin's voice moved with ease through songs of different styles.

Zhang Yadong was as excited as a child: "Teacher Zhou, your voice really is a gift from heaven!"

Zhou Huimin smiled and shook her head: "It's because Director Xiang writes well."

Xiang Fei sat to one side, his fingers lightly tapping a rhythm on his knee, though his gaze kept drifting to his phone.

Zhou Xingxing leaving Yongsheng—to say he felt no regret would be a lie. But he knew better than anyone—some people were destined to fly toward higher skies.

Back home, Xiang Fei sat at his desk, opened his computer, and began drafting the new screenplay for "Tang Renjie Detective 2."

Zhou Huimin came in carrying a cup of hot milk and set it beside his hand: "Don't stay up too late."

Xiang Fei caught her hand: "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For not asking me today whether I'm upset."

Zhou Huimin laughed, leaned down, and kissed his forehead: "Because I know that for you, what matters more is what you do next."