Chapter 15: Hesitation

Chapter 15: Hesitation

After waiting for about two or three hours, which was right around the time Chen Feng was on his way home from work, Zheng Rou’s call came through.

“Mr. Chen, Chen Li thinks your song is quite good. If the rest of your work can maintain this level, she is willing to buy out all the copyrights for this song for two hundred thousand.”

“Ah, I see. Thank you, Sister Rou.”

“Mhm, that’s the offer. It’s not a super high price, but it’s decent for a new music producer. Whether to sell or not is up to you. Just give a reply tomorrow.”

Chen Feng nodded into the air, “Okay.”

“Mhm, if there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now.”

After hanging up, Chen Feng did not feel the expected excitement and joy in his heart.

This was clearly a good thing, he didn’t know what was wrong with him.

Two hundred thousand, it was almost two to three years of his salary. Combined with his savings, he could even make a down payment for a small apartment in the suburban counties of Hanzhou.

But strangely, he felt empty inside, not satisfied or fulfilled.

Searching his heart, Chen Feng didn’t think he was an overly nice person.

If he didn’t know Zhong Lei, if his relationship with Zhong Lei hadn’t improved at all, if he hadn’t heard her sobs yesterday, then Chen Feng could probably sell this song without any psychological barriers.

But there weren’t that many ‘ifs’.

He couldn’t lie to himself.

People often had a misconception: seeing bad people living well made them think they could easily become bad people too and live even better, just that they disdained to turn bad.

But when the moment came, Chen Feng realized that being a bad person wasn’t as easy as imagined.

Lying to oneself seemed simple, but it was actually one of the hardest things in the world; it required talent too.

In the evening, Chen Feng and Zhong Lei sat together at the Chuanchuanxiang restaurant near the entrance of the Weston residential area.

Chen Feng was treating for this meal, to celebrate the successful song sale.

However, there wasn’t a celebratory atmosphere at the table; instead, it was quite heavy.

When a man and a woman ate together, if one of them wasn’t good at interacting with the opposite sex, it was easy for the conversation to stall, let alone when both were like that.

There was one benefit, though: at least both of them felt quite comfortable in this state.

It might seem strange to others, but they felt at ease themselves.

Just eat, why chat?

Zhong Lei spoke first finally.

She raised her teacup, forcing a slight smile at the corner of her mouth, “Congratulations on selling your song successfully. Chen Li isn’t a top-tier star, but she’s a capable singer with many fans. After this works out, you can seriously consider changing careers. With your talent, you can make a living from this.”

Chen Feng really wanted to tell her, don’t force that smile.

You’re a singer, not an actor; it’s too fake.

Chen Feng: “Then I’ll thank you for your kind words first. What are your plans next?”

Zhong Lei pondered for a few seconds, “In a few days, I’ll go home first. I might not come to Hanzhou in the future. When the time comes, could you please help me with canceling my lease? It’s part of your job anyway.”

“Is that so?”

“Mhm.”

Chen Feng clearly remembered that in the years before Zhong Lei became famous, she had clearly been living in Hanzhou.

If she left now, it meant a major turning point in her life. Whether she could still become the person she was in history was uncertain.

No, I have to think of a way, can’t let her fail in Hanzhou like this.

“By the way, I have something I need to confess to you. Actually, I heard you practicing yesterday when I got back from work.”

“What! What else did you hear?”

Chen Feng forced his face to remain expressionless, “Nothing, just the song.”

“And then?”

“You sang really well.”

“Thanks for the compliment.” Zhong Lei wasn’t particularly modest; she knew her own level very well.

Compared to those famous singers, what she lacked wasn’t skill, just a suitable opportunity.

“Also, I noticed you added a new melody on top of the demo I recorded. Why didn’t you include it?”

Zhong Lei was stunned for a moment first.

She really wanted to expose Chen Feng.

When she was practicing yesterday, she had only added that new melody into the song during the last time when she lost control of her emotions.

How could he have only heard the song? He must have heard her crying too!

Damn it.

A clever person would act dumb at this point, pretending nothing happened, but Zhong Lei wasn’t good at pretending. She felt somewhat ashamed and angry inside, and displeasure immediately showed on her face.

She said gloomily, “This is your song. I shouldn’t casually add things to it.”

“But I think the melody you added is very good, so I plan to use the rhythm you sang for the subsequent parts.”

Zhong Lei refused outright without hesitation, “How can that work! It would ruin the cohesion of your entire song. Everyone has their own creative style. If you use mine, it naturally won’t fit.”

Chen Feng felt like laughing inside. Come on, you’re overthinking it, and you’re really being humble.

It was all yours originally!

“It won’t. The part you added completely fits the feeling I wanted. I’ve already decided. I believe it will make this song better, even if you disagree.”

Chen Feng said firmly.

The original composition was like this anyway. If he didn’t use this, how could he change it then?

Not allowing him to use it meant not allowing him to play at all.

“You…”

Zhong Lei was a bit angry.

She wanted to say that was my inspiration, how can you just take it.

But then she thought again, her inspiration was built on the foundation Chen Feng laid. In a sense, it indeed counted as Chen Feng’s intellectual property.

“This two hundred thousand, here’s what I plan to do. Since I’m using your melody, you don’t need to charge a fee for recording the demo, but I have to give you a separate share of the money, let’s say… fifty thousand.”

When saying this, Chen Feng felt a slight sting of pain.

But this made him feel a bit better inside. Letting her earn fifty thousand could probably keep her in Hanzhou.

Unexpectedly, Zhong Lei suddenly flared up.

She raised her voice, somewhat out of control, and shouted loudly, “No! I don’t want your money!”

Her voice was so loud that others in the Chuanchuanxiang restaurant couldn’t help but turn to look.

Fiery gossip flames rose from the diners’ hearts.

The looks people gave the two of them became very meaningful.

Tsk tsk, this man doesn’t look very rich.

This girl doesn’t want his money, probably because it’s too little.

Chen Feng and Zhong Lei noticed the strange looks from others. Chen Feng felt somewhat awkward, but Zhong Lei didn’t care at all.

Chen Feng gritted his teeth and continued, “No, this is what you deserve. Why are you refusing?”

“Enough! I said I don’t want your charity or pity.”

After saying that, Zhong Lei threw down her bowl and chopsticks, got up, and left.

By the time Chen Feng paid the bill and chased out, she was already nowhere to be seen.

This person was inexplicably stubborn, no wonder she would stay single her whole life in that other Timeline, serves her right.

When he got home, he went to knock on Zhong Lei’s door again.

An angry shout came from inside.

“You helped me before. I also sang the demo for you. Now we’re even. You don’t owe me anything, and I don’t owe you anything. What I do is my own business; you don’t need to concern yourself. Don’t bother me anymore, or I will really complain about you.”

Chen Feng believed that giving Zhong Lei money was an equal exchange, because the song “Dullness” was originally hers.

But Zhong Lei didn’t know this.

She thought she had only written a bit of melody, and Chen Feng wanted to give her fifty thousand.

This was clearly charity, looking down on her.

There was no essential difference between him and those men who wanted to keep her.

Better to draw a clear line early than to have an even worse falling out later.

She had returned to her stubborn, untamed ways. Chen Feng didn’t know what else to say, so he simply left.

Back in his room, feeling bored, Chen Feng picked up the Guitar and gently played the intro of “Night Has Grown Deep”.

Just like the name of the song, outside the window, the lights of the city had indeed come on. Chen Feng put down the Guitar and looked back outside the window.

He was very seriously and solemnly considering a question.

Zheng Rou said Chen Li needed a reply tomorrow, so he had to make the final decision tonight.

To sell, or not to sell?

Selling the song was his original intention, and he had worked hard for it for over two weeks.

He had faced many setbacks, thought he couldn’t succeed, but then things took a turn for the better.

Now, he just needed to nod, and it would be done.

But when the moment arrived, he hesitated again.