Chapter 36: I Want to Go to the Grasslands with You

"We aren't married yet, and our parents aren't at an age where they need you to take care of them. Why live so exhaustingly?"

"Please be kinder to yourself. At the very least, learn to rest. Don't live like a machine, numb and repetitive. Humans are carbon-based lifeforms, not silicon-based..."

"If you have the chance, please go out and explore!"

This was the end of the video, the final sentence spoken by its protagonist. At the very end of the clip, she was riding a white horse, galloping freely across the grasslands.

"It’s truly gone viral!" Chen Jiang couldn't help but exclaim. "The speed at which information spreads on the internet nowadays is simply too fast."

"What’s the situation on the QQ Music charts?"

Yi Yunxue opened the app to take a look. "It has already surpassed 'Loving You Needs No Lies'."

"It's now ranked first on the New Songs Chart, and its position on the Hot Songs Chart is still climbing—currently at twenty-first. Shen Xingyuan's song is sitting in fifth."

Chen Jiang smiled and asked, "Have you told Ma Ya?"

"I did. I just called her, and she was stunned." Yi Yunxue smiled, revealing two small dimples. "Chen Jiang, let me ask you a question."

"Hmm?" Chen Jiang was slightly taken aback. "What question?"

"Do you want to go to the grasslands for a trip?" Yi Yunxue looked at him with anticipation.

"You want to go?" Chen Jiang countered.

"Yes, don't you think the grasslands are beautiful?" Yi Yunxue said, filled with longing. "When we have time, how about we go together!"

Hearing her words, Chen Jiang fell into deep thought. In this life, he hadn't really been anywhere. Before his rebirth, he had been forced to bury himself in work due to the pressure. Now that he was financially independent, he hadn't considered traveling, mostly because he had always been alone.

Going to the grasslands actually sounded quite nice.

Chen Jiang recalled scenes he had seen in movies from his past life, including the iconic line that left a deep impression on countless people: "Old Xu, do you want a wife?"

Boundless grasslands, a blue sky, and clouds like cotton candy. Fresh air, herds of cattle and sheep, horses galloping. And those simple, honest herdsmen.

Most importantly, he would have someone to go with!

So, he nodded. "Sure, I'm always free. When you have some time off, I'll go with you."

"Who will I meet, what kind of dialogue will we have..." At that moment, Yi Yunxue’s phone rang.

"You use your own song as your ringtone?" Chen Jiang couldn't help but chuckle.

"Of course! I think my own song is the best!" Yi Yunxue tilted her head, hands on her hips. She picked up her phone and glanced at the caller ID—[Mom].

"Shh, it's my mom calling, keep your voice down," Yi Yunxue cautioned.

"Hello, Mom," she said, answering the call.

"Xiao Xue, I've arrived at your place, why don't I see you?" Li Fangru’s voice came through.

Yi Yunxue panicked. "Mom, you went inside?"

"Yes, why aren't you home?" Li Fangru asked, puzzled.

"I... I'm at the office!" Yi Yunxue explained instinctively.

"Alright then. Is Xiao Chen at home? Your dad made some cookies, and I came to drop them off for you. If you're not there, I'll just give them to Xiao Chen to try."

"No, Mom, just leave them there—" Before she could finish, the call was disconnected.

Yi Yunxue: ...

"Your mom is coming down to find me?" Chen Jiang asked, stunned.

A moment later, they heard footsteps outside. "Ding-dong!" The doorbell rang.

"My mom is here, I'm going to hide!" Yi Yunxue jumped up in a panic.

"Your shoes are still outside," Chen Jiang reminded her.

Outside the door, Li Fangru stood holding a bag, her gaze landing on the shoe rack by the entrance. "Aren't these slippers Xiao Xue's?"

With a click, the door opened.

"Auntie, you're here?" Chen Jiang greeted her.

"Xiao Chen, your uncle made some cookies. See how you like them." Li Fangru looked around, her eyes finally settling on the couch. "Xiao Xue, why are you here? Didn't you say you were at the office?"

"Mom, I..." Yi Yunxue felt awkward, her eyes darting away.

"If you're at Xiao Chen's place, just tell me. There's no need to lie about being at the office. Coming to see Xiao Chen isn't anything to be embarrassed about." Li Fangru looked at Chen Jiang and smiled. "Here, Xiao Chen, have a taste."

She took an iron tin out of the bag and opened the lid, revealing it was full of cookies. Chen Jiang tried one and praised, "Mmm, delicious, Auntie! Uncle's skills are truly impressive! Auntie, you have some too."

"As long as they're good. Xiao Xue loves your uncle's cookies the most," Li Fangru said with a beaming smile. "Xiao Xue has learned quite a bit of your uncle's craft, too. Maybe she can make some for you in the future."

Hearing this, Yi Yunxue's face turned beet red.

...

Tianxing Entertainment. General Manager's office.

Looking at the video his assistant had sent him, Zhou Weimin felt his mood sour instantly. The song that was ranked behind Shen Xingyuan on the New Songs Chart had actually gone viral on a short-video platform! It had over ten million views and three million likes.

There were hundreds of thousands of comments. Many people were asking in the comments section what the background music was and where they could listen to it.

Zhou Weimin checked the QQ Music New Songs Chart, and sure enough, Shen Xingyuan’s "Loving You Needs No Lies" had been pushed to second place. The top spot on the New Songs Chart was clearly Ma Ya's "Wild Child."

Zhou Weimin checked the Hot Songs Chart; "Wild Child" had already surged into the top ten, sitting at eighth place, while "Loving You Needs No Lies" was at fourth.

"It looks like it will have no trouble entering the top three on the Hot Songs Chart."

"This 'Wild Child' has such fierce momentum, and it's a newcomer's song? Dream-Start Studio has really made quite a name for themselves this time."

It was a pity he didn't know this Chen Jiang. Otherwise, no matter the cost, he would have made him write a song for Shen Xingyuan. But it was clear that Chen Jiang and Yi Yunxue had a special relationship. Given the previous conflict between Tianxing Entertainment and Yi Yunxue, it was practically impossible to get him to write a song.

"That 'Skin-Flaying Lin' is really something; even after getting locked up, he’s still causing trouble for the company!" Zhou Weimin cursed inwardly.

He sent a message to Shen Xingyuan: [Don't pay too much attention to that "Wild Child." Your song is no worse than hers; she just had better luck.]

[Even though you've lost the top spot on the New Songs Chart, as long as you can make it into the top three of the Hot Songs Chart, everything we promised you will remain unchanged.]

...

Seeing the message from his boss, Shen Xingyuan quickly replied that he wasn't affected. After sending the reply, he rubbed his temples, feeling a sense of reluctance.

"This luck is just too bad!"

He never expected to be surpassed by a newcomer! And such a lucky newcomer at that—going viral on a short-video platform.

But fortunately, the boss's promise hadn't changed. It wasn't that he wasn't good enough; it was just that the other party had better luck. He picked up his phone and searched for the song. Before this, he had never taken the song seriously. Although he knew it was written by the author of "Meet," the singer was a newcomer, so he hadn't paid it much mind.

After listening to it once, he put the phone down and sighed. "I didn't lose unjustly."

The talent was strong, and the luck was better than his own. In particular, this song easily resonated with contemporary workers. It had practically voiced their innermost thoughts.

"You really can't underestimate the newcomers these days!"

Shen Xingyuan accepted his defeat with grace.