Chapter 45: You Are Destined to Astound the World!

Morning.

A ray of dawn light fell upon the rented room.

Shen Hu returned to the rented room with his guitar.

The room was empty.

Shen Long was not in the rented room; at this moment, he and Chen Jianfeng, along with the original cast of the movie “Sun Wukong vs Superman 2,” were forming the project team for “The Traveler: Hero Reboot.”

He saw Zhou Yang…

“Zhou Zong…”

“Mm.”

Zhou Yang was writing a screenplay on the computer on the desk.

Shen Hu did not look at the screenplay; instead, he quietly sat on the bedframe and stared silently at his guitar.

Time dripped away, second by second.

Only the sound of Zhou Yang’s fingers tapping the keyboard filled the room.

Two hours later, Zhou Yang finally turned to look at Shen Hu.

“Play the melody from yesterday again…”

“Oh…”

Shen Hu trembled slightly, then nodded.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and felt a steady stream of state surge forth—his emotions instantly aligned!

Just as he was about to unleash his voice in a heart-wrenching cry, Zhou Yang stopped him.

Zhou Yang stared at him: “Play it. Don’t sing.”

“Huh? Not sing?”

Suddenly interrupted, Shen Hu felt suffocated—a torrent of artistic emotion trapped inside him, unable to be released.

But seeing Zhou Yang’s increasingly serious expression, he finally nodded.

Moments later, he picked up the guitar and silently played, under Zhou Yang’s intense gaze.

A strange melody…

Lingered throughout the room.

Though sunlight streamed through the window, a chilling sensation grew stronger.

As if the music itself carried a cold, icy dread.

Yet at this moment, Zhou Yang’s eyes grew brighter and brighter!

“You said you had another song called ‘The Stage,’ right?”

“Yes!”

“Play it for me—no, play it for me.”

“I might feel it more if I sing…”

“Play it!”

“Ah? Okay…”

Shen Hu trembled slightly, intending to suggest singing again, but seeing Zhou Yang’s even more solemn expression, he finally nodded.

He played “The Stage,” the new song he had composed yesterday—strictly, without any emotion, without any feeling.

As a sorrowful melody rose…

The room filled with an even colder, heavier atmosphere.

Zhou Yang listened intently to the melody from the guitar, and faintly, an image surfaced in his mind.

Midnight.

An empty stage.

A cold wind blew.

Faintly, the wind carried a strange, chilling chant…

As if…

A ghost was singing…

…

After the final note of “The Stage” faded, Zhou Yang continued staring at Shen Hu.

“Play ‘Jiu’er’ next!”

“Also play?”

“Play!”

“Alright!”

Shen Hu nodded again, picked up the guitar, and began playing “Jiu’er…”

“Jiu’er” was a song Shen Hu had composed while caught in the rain, gradually feeling inspiration—it told the story of a wandering singer, bitter and unfulfilled…

But…

As he played…

Even he himself felt as if he were conducting a funeral.

…

The song ended.

Zhou Yang fell into a long silence.

Then, without looking at Shen Hu, he turned his head away, as if struggling to recall something.

After an indeterminate length of time, he saw Zhou Yang suddenly seem to grasp an idea, then turned back and began typing furiously on the computer.

Shen Hu saw, beside the title “Lin Daiyu vs Lu Zhishen,” a faint subtitle—something like 【Mountain Village Elder…】

Moments later, he saw a brief synopsis…

【After Ah Ming’s four companions died mysteriously following a spirit-summoning game, Ah Ming and his eccentric friend Mao investigated and discovered the water they drank was poisoned.】

Much later…

He saw Zhou Yang save the screenplay onto a USB drive and carry it with him.

Then he turned to Shen Hu: “Let me see your lyrics.”

“Huh?”

Though confused, Shen Hu nodded and handed over the lyrics.

Zhou Yang took the lyrics and studied them for a long time, as if running calculations.

After about ten minutes, he saw Zhou Yang set the paper aside and pull a notebook from his chest.

Shen Hu leaned in slightly, glancing briefly.

The notebook contained a series of names and addresses…

After flipping through several pages, he saw one name—then Zhou Yang closed the notebook.

“I want these songs. Will you give them to our company?”

Hearing this, Shen Hu jolted and quickly nodded: “Zhou Zong, you can have them anytime!”

“Good. Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“To record.”

“Ah? I’m not ready… I was drunk yesterday, my voice is still off—can’t we wait until it recovers a bit, then…”

“Not you recording.”

“???”

As Shen Hu, both excited and awkward, heard these words…

His face froze.

Then he went blank.

Not…

Me?

…………………………

Nine a.m.

The door of the “Yue Lai Hotel” on the edge of Zhongguancun opened.

The waitress Zhang Jiali, dressed as usual, silently bent her head and swept the floor.

Zhang Jiali was twenty-one.

She came from a remote village in Guizhou Province.

Although she had excelled academically and been accepted into a prestigious high school, her family’s preference for sons meant the opportunity to study was given to her younger brother instead.

She came alone to Yanjing to stay with fellow villagers and eventually found work as a waitress at this “Yue Lai Hotel”—a job that was hard and exhausting, but included meals and lodging.

The salary was low—only five hundred yuan a month—but it covered food and housing.

Just after finishing sweeping the entrance…

As she turned to go back inside, she suddenly saw a familiar figure walking toward her.

Seeing that figure…

She froze.

She quickly put down the broom and walked over.

“Zhou Zong!”

“Hello…”

“Zhou Zong, why are you here today?”

Life at [Yue Lai Hotel] was lonely.

Zhang Jiali saw no hope, and the guests, seeing how beautiful she was, always found ways to take advantage of her…

The boss saw it, said nothing, and instead burst out laughing.

Even her fellow townsman didn’t help her—he tricked her into going to a KTV to drink with customers.

More than a month ago, after being forced to drink at the KTV and seeing the lecherous look in the customer’s eyes, she was terrified, screamed, and ran away from there.

Gazing at the brightly lit, unfamiliar city, she missed home terribly and felt deeply wronged—she couldn’t help but cry.

And at that moment, a young man in a sharp suit sat beside her and handed her a napkin…

Later…

Gradually, they grew familiar with each other.

He said he was the boss of an entertainment company, looking for the right role…

But though he was clearly the boss of an entertainment company and seemed wealthy, he always came over under the pretense of chatting with her—just to have meals with her…

Everyone said Zhou Zong was a scammer, just freeloading—even stealing her employee meals—and warned Zhang Jiali not to be fooled.

But Zhang Jiali felt a softness toward Zhou Zong…

Especially when she saw him talk about his dreams.

She always felt he glowed with light.

…

But…

For a long time now, Zhou Zong hadn’t come at all.

…

“I came today to talk with you…”

“Me?”

“You said you had a dream of singing, didn’t you?”

“I… I can’t sing well… you know that…”

“Don’t belittle yourself—it’s beautiful!”

“Huh?”

“I have songs, but I need the right person to sing them—I thought of you.”

“Huh?”

“And… would you consider quitting and working with me?”

“Huh?”

“I have a movie—and a role. After careful thought, I believe you’re the perfect fit!”

“???”

Zhang Jiali stared blankly as Zhou Yang handed her a screenplay and three songs…

She was stunned.

Me?