Chapter 154: A Joke

"Tomorrow is the monthly evaluation, and I will have the Idol Project perform a single custom-made by me for them. I want to ask everyone present to vote. If even a single person feels this song cannot become a smash hit, I will say nothing more and abandon the idea of putting it on the album." When Cheng Xiaoyu spoke these words, he stood straight and tall, his posture exceptionally upright. Though slightly plump, his features were refined: a high bridge of the nose, slightly thin lips, and deep eyes resembling a fathomless starry night. Su Changhe looked at the fierce confidence radiating from Cheng Xiaoyu and felt a momentary trance. His facial features actually bore a striking resemblance to those of his mother, Cheng Qiuci. Su Changhe thought that if Cheng Xiaoyu were to lose weight, he would look even more like Cheng Qiuci, who back then had been hailed as the foremost of the Four Great Dan Actors.

So Su Changhe wore an expression of nostalgic fondness, smiled, and said, "Xiaoyu, you really should pay attention to your weight. You're a bit chubby now, but once you slim down, you're bound to be a fine young man. Your mother was so beautiful..."

Before he could finish, Cheng Xiaoyu interrupted him with a touch of annoyance, "President, we are discussing official business right now. As for personal matters, I don't think we've reached a point where they need to be resolved."

Su Changhe was not affected by Cheng Xiaoyu's sharp words. Instead, with a desolate air, he drew out another cigarette, flicked his lighter to ignite it, brought it to his lips for a few puffs, and gazed out the window at the azure sky and drifting clouds that seemed close enough to touch, falling deep into thought.

Cheng Xiaoyu watched the cigarette pinched between Su Changhe's fingers slowly burn down to ash, clinging to that lingering attachment as it tried to maintain its original shape. Yet, having endured the fire, they were no longer what they once had been; no matter how they struggled, they were destined to scatter into ashes and vanish into nothingness.

The two of them remained in silence. Cheng Xiaoyu stared at the cigarette glowing like a warning alarm, his mind in complete turmoil, completely unsure of what he was even thinking. All sorts of memories came flooding in. Through this agonizingly long stretch of time, until the cigarette burned all the way to the end like someone waking from a dream, he reminded Su Changhe, "Your cigarette."

Su Changhe snapped out of his daze and hurriedly pressed the cigarette—tipped with a long column of ash—into the ashtray. The gray powder scattered into the air like blossoms falling from the heavens, settling everywhere, clinging to everything just like memories that bore no weight yet enveloped you completely.

Su Changhe brushed some fallen ash from his trousers and said to Cheng Xiaoyu, "The evaluation—you want the Idol Project to perform your work, that's fine. I will go observe tomorrow, but I cannot guarantee that the final outcome will turn out the way you wish."

Cheng Xiaoyu nodded. To him, as long as Su Changhe gave him a chance to prove himself, he could use the music in his hands to create the turning point that would change everything. He stood up, bowed slightly to Su Changhe, and said, "President, then I'll be leaving."

Su Changhe nodded and pulled out yet another cigarette.

As Cheng Xiaoyu turned to leave, he couldn't help saying, "You really should smoke less. It's bad for your health." Without daring to look back, he quickened his pace and walked out.

Su Changhe held the cigarette in his hand for a moment before putting it back into the pack. He walked over to his desk, called his secretary to cancel her arrangements for the following afternoon, and instructed her to summon Cao Danian, the head of the planning department, to his office.

Back in the practice room, after a month of rehearsals, the members of the Idol Project were now able to execute the song and dance routine almost flawlessly. Cheng Xiaoyu stood quietly at the back, watching them finish the performance while whispering the lyrics under their breath.

Cheng Xiaoyu felt they had mastered this particular song quite well. As for the other, a slower ballad, the vocal difficulty was not excessively high, and their delivery was commendable; besides, further practice at this stage would not change much. He stepped forward to interrupt their upcoming rehearsal, clicked off the music player, and said, "Hey, girls! Tomorrow's evaluation is all about whether we can shock the world or not. Let's call it a day for today's practice. No matter what tomorrow's results bring, I am truly grateful to have met you. Over this past month, I may have wronged you, put you through hardships, and made you eat poorly and sleep even worse. But what I want to tell you is that the people you meet, the paths you walk, and the scenery you witness—whether good or bad—are all gifts from life. If you want to go far, you must learn to endure. If you want to appreciate more breathtaking scenery, you must be willing to pay the price. We are all swimming against the current in the torrent of life, and we must keep striving just to avoid drowning. When there is no one to hold you up, stand straight on your own. The road ahead is long, so let your retreating figure be a graceful one. Finally, to thank everyone for your perseverance and hard work this past month, big brother Xiaoyu is treating you all to a grand feast tonight!"

The girls broke out into cheers. Cheng Xiujing, her face flushed, pulled on Cheng Xiaoyu's arm and acted coquettishly, "Big brother Xiaoyu, I misunderstood you at first, but you should know I've been very well-behaved ever since! Don't keep holding those angry things I said against me!"

Xu Qinning slung her arm around Cheng Xiujing's shoulder like a buddy and laughed, "He just loves spouting pretentious literary nonsense, pay him no mind. Our Xiujing is so pretty and charming that no guy could bear to hold a grudge against you. We finally get to eat our fill today, Cheng Xiaoyu, you really are heartless! I begged you looking so pitiful, and you wouldn't even let me have a single bite of instant noodles. Today I'm going to eat you into bankruptcy!" Xu Qinning arched her brows, placed her hands on her hips, and threatened Cheng Xiaoyu fiercely.

Cheng Xiaoyu smiled and said, "Fine, then you aren't allowed to leave today unless you eat me out of house and home!"

Xu Qinning instantly backed down, "Tch, having money makes you great, huh? If you've got the guts, keep me as your kept woman!"

Cheng Xiaoyu grinned and replied, "As long as you can stand being bossed around by me like this, keeping you wouldn't be a problem at all!"

Xu Qinning's heart skipped a beat. Freud once said there are no jokes, and that all jokes contain a kernel of seriousness. The moment those words left her lips, she began to regret them—not for any other reason, but because she figured someone as erudite and multi-talented as Cheng Xiaoyu must certainly know Freud's quote. Putting up a strong front to mask the anxiety of having her inner thoughts exposed, she feigned indifference and said, "You're so petty, only Suzy could put up with you, always praising you every day. I think Suzy is the most suited for you."

Bae Suzy blinked in confusion and said, "But big brother Xiaoyu is a great person! Don't you all think so too?"

Before Bae Suzy's voice had even faded, Cheng Xiujing and Jing Xuexuan began hooting and teasing that Bae Suzy was Cheng Xiaoyu's little girlfriend.

Thick-skinned though he was, even Cheng Xiaoyu felt a twinge of awkwardness as he hurried the group of bantering, smiling girls off to shower and change.

They laughed and frolicked, while only Su Yuxi maintained a calm, serene smile. Quan Youli initially caught an unusual undertone in Cheng Xiaoyu's words, but with no time to dwell on it, she too was infected by the joyous atmosphere. In less than ten days after tomorrow's evaluation, they would officially debut, embarking on their journey of music shows across the country. Nothing was more worth celebrating than this. Though the future held uncertainties, setting forth was always a thrilling prospect, especially since they had such a steadfast backing.

Cheng Xiaoyu called to reserve a private room at a nearby Yangzhou restaurant, and the six girls went off to the washroom to shower and change.