Chapter 43: The Natural Changes

Chapter 43: The Natural Changes

When Chen Feng arrived home, Zhong Lei was not there.

Zhong Lei was even more restless than Chen Feng. Whenever she had the chance, she would never stop moving forward.

She wanted to perfect the accompaniment for “Monotony,” but was limited by the current shortage of funds. So she came up with an idea: to personally learn the instruments that might be used in the accompaniment, and then complete the score as much as possible relying only on her own abilities.

For every additional instrument she could play herself, she could save a sum of money.

When Chen Feng first heard this idea of hers, he was really shocked.

The accompaniment for “Monotony” used as many as sixteen different instruments.

Although many of the instruments were just embellishments, given Zhong Lei’s perfectionist and obsessive degree of demanding perfection, she definitely wouldn’t stop at a superficial level when learning any instrument.

Even if it was only a few notes, she would surely master that instrument thoroughly.

Chen Feng admired her crazy drive, but that was as far as it went.

For him to learn from Zhong Lei’s drive was absolutely impossible.

In the evening, Chen Feng received two phone calls one after another.

One was from Mai Hui. The contract over there was signed, and the commercial performance went smoothly.

To thank Chen Feng for making an important concession at the critical moment, giving him and He Jiaqi a way out and smoothly securing the new contract for Kelai Apartment, the two of them wanted to treat him to a meal.

The other call was from Zeng Guanlin, for a similar reason. Perhaps the keen-sensed Zeng Guanlin picked up something more from Mai Hui and He Jiaqi’s high regard for Chen Feng, and planned to personally test the depths of this former employee, Chen Feng.

Chen Feng thought for a few seconds and decided to decline Zeng Guanlin’s invitation.

He had worked at Kelai Apartment for more than half a year and had never spoken a word to the big boss Zeng Guanlin in a private setting.

As for sharing a meal, he had never even hoped for that.

After all, their former status and positions were too far apart; they were people from two different worlds with no intersection.

Frankly speaking, receiving Zeng Guanlin’s invitation gave Chen Feng a little secret delight and smug satisfaction.

The former big boss, who used to pass by him without even the interest to spare him a second glance, now proactively called him wanting to treat him to a meal.

He began to appreciate the feeling of so-called higher-level life.

Because he could write songs, He Jiaqi and Mai Hui had to view him differently.

Because of He Jiaqi and Mai Hui, Zeng Guanlin now had to pay attention to him.

The days when even a mere Lin De could lord it over him were gone forever.

Chen Feng began to feel more truly and clearly the changes and influence that the benefits gained from his dreams had on his own life.

This was the taste of social status, very real.

But he successfully restrained this secret delight, only saying that he already had plans for today, thanking Boss Zeng for his kindness, and suggesting they get together another day when he was free.

Before going out, Chen Feng went online again to check the situation of “Dullness.”

Only another day had passed, and the accumulated listens had already exceeded three million, with cumulative paid downloads breaking through three hundred thousand. It left all competitors far behind on the new song charts, unmatched.

Apart from the Q Music platform itself, the song’s popularity on many other public platforms also continued to grow rather than decrease.

Chen Feng also saw a complaint on the Weibo of a famous music TV show host.

It turned out this program wanted to invite Zhong Lei for a TV interview, partly to slightly lift her veil of mystery, and partly to help promote her new song.

But Zhong Lei refused without hesitation, leaving this host infinitely hurt, so confused it gave him a headache, to the point he complained about it on Weibo.

Chen Feng was not surprised at all by this.

Compared to these forced public appearances, Zhong Lei would definitely prefer to spend her time on music.

Although appearing more on TV and shows could gain her higher fame, perhaps making her songs sell better and earn more money.

But Zhong Lei surely thought like this: if she became more skilled, sang better, and wrote better songs, wouldn’t she also earn more money?

Anyway, in her way of thinking, learning music, practicing music, and trying to create better music had to be the top priority.

Over there, He Jiaqi and the other were still waiting. Chen Feng quickly changed his shoes and opened the door, only to find Zhong Lei standing right outside.

It was unclear what she had just been doing. She was murmuring to herself, like chanting a sutra, but just wouldn’t come in.

The moment she saw Chen Feng, she opened her mouth and asked, “Huh, where are you going?”

Chen Feng replied, “Going out to eat with He Jiaqi. I plan to sell “Night Has Grown Deep” to her.”

“Oh.”

Zhong Lei looked slightly disappointed, but quickly perked up again. “Actually, I really like this song too, but I can’t always rely on you. I still have to write my own songs. Maybe I’ll try to follow your style and write a song in a similar style later.”

Chen Feng knew it would be like this. “Don’t worry, you definitely can. By the way, I just saw online that a TV station wanted you to do some promotion. Why didn’t you go?”

Zhong Lei shook her head vigorously. “Not going. It’s so annoying.”

Chen Feng asked, “Aren’t we… short on money?”

Zhong Lei nodded. “Yes, so that’s why I’m learning instruments by myself, right? Once I learn all these instruments, naturally we won’t need to spend so much money. Saving money is earning money! Just now I was recalling the saxophone rhythm I learned today. That saxophone melody you added before the chorus was really the finishing touch.”

Chen Feng thought to himself, just as expected.

He asked again, “Do you want to come to dinner with me now? I can introduce you to He Jiaqi.”

“No, I’m not selling songs. What’s the point of knowing so many people? I also don’t really like He Jiaqi’s songs; they’re quite mundane.”

As expected, Zhong Lei still refused.

Chen Feng took a taxi, crossing nearly half the city, arriving at a very famous commercial district in downtown Hanzhou City.

Next to this commercial district, there was a European-style backstreet.

Unlike the bustling and lively commercial district, this street seemed quite deserted, with only occasional groups of two or three people passing by.

Chen Feng had heard of this place before but never dared to come.

Even though it didn’t look popular, it was well known that the shops on this street didn’t rely on foot traffic to make money at all.

What they sought was the ambiance of tranquility within the hustle and bustle.

The shops here were ridiculously expensive, one outdoing the other. At least over eighty percent of Hanzhou’s top private kitchens, bistros, and various private clubs were located here.

Chen Feng looked around east and west, arriving in front of a closed two-story villa-style building, unsure if this was the place.

Suddenly, the door opened, and someone came out. “Sir, who are you looking for?”

This person seemed to be a waiter, wearing a gold-trimmed uniform and a small cap.

Chen Feng thought for a moment; this was a bit tricky to answer.

He didn’t know under whose name Mai Hui and the other had made the reservation. If he gave He Jiaqi’s name, he wasn’t sure if this celebrity had used her real name.

Celebrities had many considerations when going out for a meal.

Chen Feng didn’t know, so it was hard to respond.

Seeing he didn’t speak, the waiter put on a very professional but emotionless smile. “Well, if there’s nothing, sir, please don’t linger around the front of our store. We only accept reserved clients; we are not open to the public.”

Just then, a tall figure brushed past the waiter with a wave of fragrance.

“Mr. Chen, you’re here! We’ve been waiting for you for so long. Jiaqi and I were getting anxious, worried you were stuck in traffic.”

Hmm, it was Mai Hui, not some long-legged beauty.