Chapter 69: Integrity and Money (Dad Figures, Please Follow)

The two of them chatted as they walked, descending again to the underground parking garage.

"I'll drive," Fang Hong said.

Liu Tianxian asked instinctively: "You got your license?"

"Got it, two years ago."

Fang Hong remembered his mother had paid for it, hoping to get ahead of others by securing his future in society.

"Good."

Liu Tianxian was happy to relax, pulling the car keys from her bag and handing them to him.

She then walked around the car and got into the passenger seat.

Fang Hong slid into the driver's seat; the interior carried a faint, pleasant fragrance, similar to Liu Tianxian's own scent.

He ran his hand over the steering wheel—it felt high-quality, luxurious; no wonder the rich woman's ride was more opulent, more fragrant than others'.

He looked left and right, curious: "Where's the start button?"

Liu Tianxian sighed, reached over, and pressed it—the car ignited. "Do you even know how to drive?"

"I do, I'm just unfamiliar with luxury cars. Let me get used to it," Fang Hong said.

Liu Tianxian rubbed her forehead; she realized letting this man drive was a mistake.

Fang Hong slowly reversed out of the parking spot; at first he was unaccustomed—he rarely touched cars since his rebirth.

Liu Tianxian kept glancing side to side, tense, afraid he'd hit another car.

Only when the car cleared the garage did she relax.

"Drive slowly!" she warned.

"Okay!"

The moment Fang Hong spoke, he slammed the accelerator—the car shot forward like a wild leopard.

Liu Tianxian's body involuntarily arched backward, pressing tightly against the seat.

"Are you trying to kill me?!" she snapped.

"Sorry, your car's too powerful—I lost control of my strength for a second," Fang Hong said, his words carrying ambiguity.

"Slow down, or I'll beat you," Liu Tianxian threatened fiercely.

"Okay!"

The moment Fang Hong spoke, he slammed the accelerator again.

Dongxi Music was Dong Dongdong's studio name, located near San Jian Fang in Chaoyang District.

The area was a residential zone, with houses facing each other door-to-door.

But Dong Dongdong had his own small house, separate from the others.

After all, musicians needed quiet surroundings—and quiet themselves; disturbing neighbors was unacceptable.

As soon as Liu Tianxian stepped out of the car, she kicked Fang Hong.

"You drive like you're flying a plane."

She couldn't hit him in the car, but on the street, she didn't care.

What could Fang Hong do? He took it.

Entering Dong Dongdong's house, the walls were hung with many musical instruments—mostly for decoration.

Artists always did this, as if it proved their professionalism.

Entering the foyer, a melodious piano melody drifted through the air; following the sound, the two entered a practice room.

Dong Dongdong was playing piano; beside him stood a woman with refined poise—presumably his girlfriend, Chen Xi.

The scene between them was tender, harmonious as lute and zither!

Nothing like Liu Tianxian—she was anything but gentle, fiercely cute.

Fang Hong didn't interrupt, gesturing for Liu Tianxian to sit against the wall and wait—he recognized the song he'd written.

He'd only given the lyrics, no melody, but he'd sung it to Dong Dongdong, who'd managed to reconstruct it from his vocal tone.

That was impressive.

Liu Tianxian couldn't tell the difference—piano playing meant nothing to her, as good as cotton-picking.

But she noticed the man beside her listening intently, nodding his head to the rhythm, utterly absorbed!

She nudged him with her foot and whispered: "You understand this?"

"Of course I do—I wrote it," Fang Hong said.

"Didn't you tell me you didn't understand music?"

"I only wrote the lyrics. The melody's his," Fang Hong said.

"Oh, I see!"

Liu Tianxian understood—she'd thought this man was lying, pretending to know everything; that was too abstract.

It's hard enough for one person to master even one thing.

The piece ended; Fang Hong stood and stepped forward, clapping loudly: "Brilliant!"

Then he greeted Chen Xi: "Sister Chen, hello!"

He said it warmly; Chen Xi smiled politely, then nodded to Liu Tianxian behind him.

She hesitated to call him "brother" or "sister."

"Forgive the delay—it took longer than expected. What do you think of the piece?" Dong Dongdong rose.

"Excellent!"

Fang Hong had feared Dong Dongdong was withholding the track over money—but clearly, creation simply took time.

Previously, "Those Years" had been simple enough.

He pulled out a check from his inner pocket: "Senior brother, I just got paid—I'm truly sorry to have kept you waiting so long. Take this."

Dong Dongdong took it, glanced at the number: 100,000!

He was startled: "This is too much."

A single song isn't worth this much now—good ones go for ten or twenty thousand at most, and besides, the lyrics weren't even written by you.

Songs aren't worth anything these days!

Also, the soundtrack for Those Years had no original music—just downloaded tracks with copyright fees of a few hundred yuan.

"Not too much. It's worth this price for your talent," Fang Hong pushed his hand back, urging him to take it.

When he first entrusted Dong Dongdong, they never discussed money!

Besides, we still need to produce the dubbing for Lost in Love 33 Days and fix Liu Tianxian's vocals—this payment is well worth it.

We'll be working together long-term anyway!

Dong Dongdong looked at this junior brother; once he'd thought the man was slick and deceitful, but now he seemed much more agreeable.

This is the power of integrity and money!

He handed the check to his girlfriend beside him, Chen Xi, then said: "Since my junior brother says so, I won't refuse."

He hadn't called him "junior brother" before—now he started.

Chen Xi took it and put it in her own pocket—clearly the household manager.

"Will this song be sung by you, junior brother, or will you find someone else? If someone else, tell them to come directly for recording," Dong Dongdong began discussing business.

"She'll sing."

Fang Hong pointed to Liu Tianxian beside him.

Dong Dongdong turned to Liu Tianxian: "Are you free now? Let's start right away!"

"I'm free," Liu Tianxian nodded.

The four went to the recording studio, where glass divided two rooms—one control room, one recording room.

Dong Dongdong pulled out a sheet of paper and handed the sheet music to Liu Tianxian: "You can read sheet music, right?"

"I can read it."

Liu Tianxian glanced at the sheet music, then looked up—the song title was: Chasing Light!

She had studied music in Japan once, back when she'd wanted to sing.

"Then let's begin."

Dong Dongdong gestured for her to enter the recording room.

Liu Tianxian was far better than Fang Hong's junior brother—his junior brother couldn't even read sheet music; he had to explain every single note.

Liu Tianxian entered the recording room, then noticed Fang Hong following her in. She turned back: "Why are you coming in?"

"To listen to you sing," Fang Hong said.

"I don't want you listening."

Liu Tianxian made a motion to push him out.

"Hey, don't be like that."

Fang Hong caught her wrist as she pushed: "I'm the director—I need to give feedback on this song. Of course I have to listen."

"Then behave yourself. Don't mess around beside me," Liu Tianxian warned.

"I'm doing my job. When have I ever messed around beside you?"

Fang Hong was puzzled—he was being perfectly serious.

Liu Tianxian smiled faintly; she'd only been teasing—he actually believed her.

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(End of Chapter)