Chapter 43: Secret

"Who says only those standing in the light count as heroes…"

As the final syllable slowly faded, Wang Rui, Li Chengru, and Kan Xuehua could not help but rise slowly to their feet, deeply moved.

In Cheng Chen's song, they seemed to see the public security police officers fighting on the front lines.

The true heroes are often not the ones standing in the light, but in places we can see or cannot see.

There are always them silently guarding, their backs to the light, marching into the darkness.

They stand ready at all times, keeping order in the streets and alleys, protecting the safety of the people.

They load their bullets, fight in the darkness, and strangle danger in its cradle.

"What's this song called?"

Wang Rui stared at Cheng Chen and asked.

"'Lonely Warrior.'"

Cheng Chen answered.

"Lonely Warrior… Lonely Warrior, wonderful, the lyrics are especially well-written, and they fit our drama perfectly!"

Li Chengru savored it carefully and said with deep feeling.

"'To the sobbing and roars in the dark night…' truly excellent, the mood is superb."

Kan Xuehua looked at Cheng Chen, her expression full of admiration.

When Cheng Chen was singing this song, what came to mind were the public security police officers from his previous life who fought against the epidemic and silently protected the people.

Although this is the theme song of a game-adapted anime, it fits those heroes in the darkness remarkably well.

At the same time, he also thought of the song's lyricist, who, suffering from a serious illness, wrote her reflections on struggling against fate.

"I want this song. How much?"

Wang Rui suddenly asked.

Cheng Chen smiled faintly, looked at Wang Rui, and said slowly:

"No charge."

Now it was Wang Rui's turn to be in a dilemma. As everyone knows, the free things are the most expensive!

As for why Cheng Chen, the currently red-hot "big star," would give him this song for free, Wang Rui knew perfectly well in his heart.

Wang Rui looked at Li Chengru, then at Kan Xuehua. After a long while, he slowly nodded:

"Alright, thank you very much. Here's to a pleasant collaboration between us in the future."

Cheng Chen smiled and nodded, and the great stone in his heart finally fell to the ground.

Li Chengru also smiled. He certainly did not want to fall out with the director over an actor.

Now that Wang Rui had accepted the song Cheng Chen gave for free, it meant this was a subtle hint to him.

The role of Zhang Xiaoqi was Cheng Chen's for sure!

Afterward, Wang Rui also generously stated that although the song was given by Cheng Chen for free, they would not take advantage of it.

The song would still be sung by Cheng Chen; they only wanted the copyright for the TV drama's theme song. As for the rest, Cheng Chen was free to do as he wished.

Cheng Chen agreed. When leaving the room, Kan Xuehua insisted on personally seeing him out.

The group of actors outside the door saw this scene, and their hearts instantly chilled.

Even Wang Xiaoyi, who had been internally confirmed by Wang Rui, had not enjoyed the treatment of being personally seen out by the Assistant Director, yet this young man before them had managed it.

What does this say?

……

Leaving the audition location, Cheng Chen hurried without stopping to Tianhai Records.

Not far from the company, he saw three or five entertainment reporters holding cameras, staking out the entrance.

These guys really are relentless.

Cheng Chen called Wang Tianxiao and arranged to meet her at a coffee shop near the company.

"My little ancestor, how dare you still show your face? Didn't you see the reporters have completely surrounded the company?"

At the coffee shop, after Wang Tianxiao found Cheng Chen, she had just sat down and immediately launched into a tirade of complaints.

Cheng Chen leisurely sipped his coffee and said with a smile:

"Then you should thank me, for giving the company unprecedented exposure."

Wang Tianxiao glared at him and said angrily:

"And don't even mention it, the exposure has increased, but none of it is good. Those old-timers from the Huayu Yinyuehui have started smearing you again.

They say you show no respect for your elders, that you're getting cocky relying on a few songs with questionable values that inexplicably went viral, and that you don't take these music predecessors seriously at all.

They told you to issue a statement and apologize, but you stayed silent. They say morality is declining and people are no longer what they were, and that you're a pest in the music scene, a destroyer of Huayu music!"

Hearing Wang Tianxiao's words, Cheng Chen nodded indifferently and joked:

"Black-red is still red! Don't pay attention to these old-timers."

Seeing that Cheng Chen didn't care, Wang Tianxiao said anxiously:

"You absolutely must not have this attitude. That group has already escalated from attacking your songs to attacking your character.

If the public mistakenly thinks there's a problem with your morals, how will you sell your albums in the future? Your acting career will also suffer a severe blow!"

It is now 2002. Fans still follow stars quite rationally and have not yet become the brain-dead fan armies of later eras.

Especially for a singer like Cheng Chen who has just risen and whose fans lack strong loyalty, once negative news breaks, fans will drop off in an instant.

Three people make a tiger; rumors kill people. This is no joke.

That is why Wang Tianxiao is so anxious. Now Cheng Chen is the company's "pillar." If he falls, Tianhai won't last much longer either.

"My Director Wang, just put your heart at ease! Take a look at this."

Cheng Chen smiled and handed the manuscript he had just finished writing to Wang Tianxiao.

"Is this... a new song? 'The Lone Warrior'?"

Wang Tianxiao looked down at the lyrics, and after a long while, raised her head.

"No wonder it's you, Teacher Cheng!"

Wang Tianxiao's eyes brimmed with admiration as she gave Cheng Chen a thumbs-up.

The melody goes without saying—Wang Tianxiao had always thought Cheng Chen's composition skills were top-tier.

But the lyrics this time are truly excellent.

The lyrics are simple to the point of bluntness, instantly conveying positive energy.

Their meaning runs deep, their vision vast, and their height remarkable.

"Are you trying to use this very 'upright' song to dispel public doubts about you? This is indeed a good strategy!"

Wang Tianxiao spoke after a moment of thought.

"It's more than that—I'm about to star in 'The Story of the Criminal Investigator,' and this is its theme song!"

Cheng Chen looked at Wang Tianxiao and pointed to the paper in her hand.

"Brilliant!" Wang Tianxiao suddenly slammed the table, her face lit up with excitement.

"Those old bastards kept saying your songs are morally corrupt, lowbrow trash that ruins kids!"

"But once 'The Lone Warrior' comes out, and we announce it as the theme song of 'The Story of the Criminal Investigator' along with your joining the cast, all those rumors against you will collapse on their own!"

Although Wang Tianxiao didn't know what 'The Story of the Criminal Investigator' was, she didn't need to—just from the name, she knew it was definitely an 'upright' drama.

"It's not just that—this is only my first move; there's more coming!"

"What else? Are you not going to release the news right away, but instead enter this song into the Huayu Yinyuehui's Singer Competition and slap their faces with it? Hmm, that's a great idea!"

Cheng Chen stared at her in surprise—Wang Tianxiao was truly a businesswoman; she grasped things instantly, corporate-level understanding!

"How about it? Wasn't I right?"

Seeing Cheng Chen's stunned expression, Wang Tianxiao said proudly.

"I am indeed entering the Singer Competition, but not with 'The Lone Warrior'—I've prepared another song!"

"A new song? What is it? Tell me quick!"

Wang Tianxiao said eagerly.

Cheng Chen smiled mysteriously:

"Secret."