Early the next morning, Wang Qi went to Lin Qingye’s apartment to find him.

“The matter with Wei Jing is over. I’ve already spoken with him, and he won’t mention this incident to the public again.”

Lin Qingye glanced up. “You paid him hush money?”

“What else could I do?” Wang Qi said irritably. “At least the hush money worked. If this had gotten out, you were just recently the subject of gossip because of that high school video. If another scandal broke, do you think public opinion would still be on your side?”

“What about the police?”

“Don’t worry about that. The police officer who handled the case yesterday seems to know your little girlfriend—probably her uncle. Three days detention.”

Wang Qi frowned. “Is she okay? Was she frightened yesterday?”

“She’s fine.”

“That’s good, that’s good.”

Although Wang Qi didn’t have much contact with Xu Zhinan, he quite liked her. She seemed like an obedient, sensible young girl. He just couldn’t figure out how she had gotten involved with Lin Qingye.

They seemed to be from completely different worlds.

Lin Qingye had just washed his hair that morning. It was still half-wet, with water droplets trickling down his neck. He casually grabbed a blanket and wiped it off.

Then he sat down on the sofa, lit a cigarette, and asked calmly, “Three days detention—so that’s it for Wei Jing’s case?”

“What more do you want? I’ve seen the surveillance footage, and honestly, nothing serious shows up. The detention is only possible because you and that other tattoo artist are witnesses.”

Lin Qingye said nothing, his cheeks slightly hollowed as he took a deep drag of his cigarette.

The more Wang Qi watched him like this, the more annoyed he became. No other singer smoked as heavily as him, and he was only in his twenties.

“The girl was frightened and mistreated, and he just gets three days detention and that’s it?” Lin Qingye exhaled smoke as he asked.

“It’s three days’ detention because thankfully no substantial harm was done. Officer Fang said yesterday that they’ll make sure to protect Xu Zhinan going forward. He’s her uncle—of course, he’ll help her.”

“Stop smoking!” Wang Qi leaned forward and snatched his cigarette. “Take care of your voice!”

He stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray and tossed the pack on the table. “Fortunately, Wei Jing has agreed to keep quiet. Otherwise, do you think you’d be the only one affected if this news got out?”

“If you want to protect her, first make yourself strong enough. When these rumors can no longer affect you, then you’ll have the ability to protect her,” Wang Qi said. “I can see that the girl is beautiful and has a good personality. I’m sure plenty of men like her, so don’t assume you’re secure just because you’re Lin Qingye.”

He snorted and picked up his cup to take a sip of water, suppressing his urge to smoke.

He had never felt secure.

Wang Qi genuinely had Lin Qingye’s interests at heart. He ran his own entertainment company and produced shows not just for profit, but because he was truly invested in the industry.

When it came to singing, Lin Qingye was a rare talent.

And in the entertainment circle, he always felt that Lin Qingye would one day be an immovable evergreen tree.

But this was ultimately the young couple’s business, and he shouldn’t say too much.

So he changed the subject: “Did you talk to your parents afterward yesterday?”

Lin Qingye looked up. “About what?”

Wang Qi didn’t know what to say. Fu Xueming’s slap had come too quickly and unexpectedly, and what she had said was really…

He had originally thought the discord was just due to a lack of communication between mother and son, but now it seemed far more complicated.

“That incident wasn’t your fault. You should explain things properly to your mother. Mother and son are connected—you can’t stay at odds forever.”

“Mother and son are connected.” Lin Qingye laughed coldly. “Uncle Wang, do you believe that when she said yesterday ‘even if you died, you’d deserve it,’ she meant it from the bottom of her heart?”

Wang Qi frowned. “Don’t think like that. She’s still your mother after all.”

Lin Qingye’s expression was scornful, dismissing his words.

Wang Qi pressed his lips together and decided not to stay any longer. “I’ll be going then.”

“Fine.” Lin Qingye stood to see him out.

At the door, Wang Qi turned back to add: “Remember, your voice is for singing. Smoke less, and drink less too! You’re in the prime of your life!”

“I know.” He responded.

Wang Qi hadn’t expected this. He thought such advice would be met with a perfunctory acknowledgment, but instead received a three-word response.

He couldn’t help but give him another look.

Lin Qingye was tall, and Wang Qi had to tilt his head slightly upward.

“Uncle Wang,” he suddenly spoke.

“Huh?” Wang Qi was a bit confused.

“You mentioned making an album before. I want to start preparing now.”

Wang Qi paused. “Why the sudden decision? Didn’t you say you’d wait until after finishing the show?”

“You’re right—to protect her well, I need to achieve something myself.”

In the entertainment industry, what mattered most was proving your ability.

Relying on fans might give you temporary influence, but fame can be both a blessing and a curse. There were plenty of trending young celebrities whose normal lives had been constrained by their fans.

Although Lin Qingye never intended to pursue the route of popularity, he was indeed becoming trendy now. If yesterday’s incident had been exposed under these circumstances, Xu Zhinan would inevitably become the subject of public discussion, perhaps even facing a barrage of abuse and criticism.

Only if he achieved success and broke through those constraints could he properly protect Xu Zhinan.

Wang Qi had known Lin Qingye for some years now, although they had only become familiar after recording the show. He never expected to hear such words from him.

“I didn’t realize you liked her that much.”

Lin Qingye smiled and gave a soft “Mmm.”

Early the next day, Xu Zhinan received a call from Fang Houyu. She didn’t know how he had obtained her phone number, but as soon as she answered, he introduced himself and told her about yesterday’s incident resolution.

“Yes, thank you, Uncle Fang. Sorry for the trouble.”

“It’s no trouble at all. You’re Yuan Wen’s daughter. I promised him I’d look after you and your mother.”

Hearing her father’s name from someone else’s mouth again made Xu Zhinan feel a bit dazed.

Her father had been gone for many years, and even her mother intentionally avoided mentioning him in front of her, though Xu Zhinan knew she often cried at night thinking of him.

“Was that boy yesterday your boyfriend?” Fang Houyu asked. “He seems to be a celebrity.”

“He’s not my boyfriend. He used to attend Pingchuan University too.”

Since she put it that way, Fang Houyu didn’t think more about it and continued, “What about this Wei Jing—has he harassed you before?”

“No, I recently participated in a competition, and he was also in it. We only exchanged a few words yesterday.”

Later, Lu Xihe had also told her that given Wei Jing’s personality, he might play small tricks or use underhanded tactics, but he probably wouldn’t dare to do anything illegal.

As for last night, his intention to flirt and have impure motives was certain, but in Lu Xihe’s opinion, Wei Jing wouldn’t have dared to go further.

But they couldn’t rule out the possibility that he might have been blinded by her beauty, so it was better to be careful.

“I see.” Fang Houyu frowned slightly. “Anyway, save my number now. If you ever face any danger, call me immediately.”

“Okay, thank you, Uncle Fang.”

“Why are you always so polite, young lady?” Fang Houyu said with a laugh. “By the way, remember to buy some self-defense tools. They’re available online. When Wei Jing is released, I’ll have someone keep an eye on him for a few days. But for a pretty girl like you, taking self-protection measures is important. Try not to walk alone at night, avoid shortcuts, and preferably walk with friends.”

He chatted on like a concerned relative.

Xu Zhinan smiled and thanked him again.

Though summer mornings weren’t cool, Xu Zhinan wore a thin nightgown as she stood on the balcony. Having just left her warm bed, she couldn’t help but shiver.

Before hanging up, Xu Zhinan asked, “Uncle Fang, is there any progress on the case my father was investigating back then?”

The other end was silent for a while, then Fang Houyu sighed. “Not yet. We haven’t received any information about that beast committing another crime.”

Years ago, Xu Yuan Wen had died in the line of duty while investigating a kidnapping case, but the perpetrator had never been caught.

Later, the police speculated that perhaps Xu Yuan Wen had discovered something crucial about the case and was silenced at a critical moment.

“If there’s any new information in the future, please let me know, Uncle Fang.”

“Alright, but A’Nan, your father died in the line of duty many years ago. Leave justice to us—you need to live your own life well.”

“I will,” Xu Zhinan said. “By the way, Uncle, please don’t tell my mother about yesterday’s incident. With her temperament, she would worry herself sick.”

“I understand. Your mother hasn’t had it easy these past years. But make sure you take proper precautions. Get those self-defense tools I mentioned and keep them in your bag.”

After hanging up, Xu Zhinan opened the balcony door and entered the dormitory. Jiang Yue had just gotten up.

Preparing for graduate school exams was mentally exhausting. Jiang Yue had stayed up late last night listening to political science lectures after lights out, and now she was barely functioning, mechanically walking into the bathroom to wash up.

Xu Zhinan sat at her desk and obediently searched for self-defense tools on Taobao.

There were all kinds of styles.

After browsing for a while, Xu Zhinan bought a smart alarm with positioning and recording functions that could automatically alert authorities, as well as a self-defense pen with a sharp tungsten steel needle knife.

Just after placing her order, her phone rang—it was Gu Congwang.

“What are you doing?” Gu Congwang’s voice was casual.

“Just got up. Why are you up so early?”

He yawned on the other end. “When is your semifinal?”

“It’s already over! I competed yesterday and got first place in my group.”

“What? Why didn’t you ever tell me about it?”

“You’ve been busy with school matters recently, so I didn’t mention it.”

“That’s not fair of you. But getting first place is good enough,” Gu Congwang laughed. “Are you going to win the championship in the finals?”

“It’s not that simple. The winners from the other groups are all very strong.”

“Let’s not think about that, then. Want to hang out later?”

“I need to go to the shop today. Because of yesterday’s competition, the shop was closed all day. I have an appointment with a customer to do a sleeve tattoo, which will take quite a while.”

“How about dinner after you finish?” Gu Congwang asked. “I’m heading back to school soon.”

“Sure, when does your semester start?”

“I bought a plane ticket for the day after tomorrow.”

“That’s so soon.”

“I could have gone back a week later, but my rent in England expires, so I have to go back and move.”

Xu Zhinan laughed. “I’ll call you when I finish today.”

Ji Yan and the other two band members only learned about Lin Qingye’s incident from the previous night the next day, when Ji Yan ran into Wang Qi on the street.

That evening, Ji Yan, Guan Chi, and Shi Si bought a bunch of takeout and went to Lin Qingye’s apartment together, calling it a band gathering.

They hadn’t told Lin Qingye they were coming beforehand. The three of them stood at his apartment door and rang the bell.

Lin Qingye opened the door wearing a casual white shirt and black pants. His forehead hair was messy and swept back, with a pen cap between his lips and a black pen in his hand.

Shi Si was stunned for a moment, looking him up and down, and had to admit that Lin Qingye looked handsome even in this state.

“Captain, what are you doing?”

“Writing lyrics.” Lin Qingye stepped aside to let the three in. “Why did you all come over?”

Guan Chi held up the bags of takeout. “Thought you might be free today, so we came to have dinner together.”

Lin Qingye had been writing lyrics at the living room table, and the papers were still spread out. Ji Yan went over to take a look—the lyrics were new, and so was the melody.

She hummed the tune in her mind. It sounded good.

“A new song?” Ji Yan turned and asked.

“Mm-hmm.”

Shi Si also became interested and went over to look.

Lin Qingye hadn’t written a new song in a long time. He was quite casual about making music and never set goals like writing a song within a month. He relied entirely on inspiration.

“Is this for the show?”

“No, it probably won’t be ready in time,” Lin Qingye leaned against the wall. “I’m planning to make an album.”

All three were stunned.

Lin Qingye had released several songs before, but they were all singles, and all free—he would just produce them and upload them to music apps.

It wasn’t that no one had asked him to make an album before, but he had always refused. This was the first time.

“Planning to make it all original?” Shi Si asked.

He smiled. “Yes.”

Shi Si gave him a sincere thumbs up. “Awesome.”

The album production process is very complex, mainly divided into three major parts: early planning and positioning, song collection and selection, and production.

Many singers don’t write their lyrics or compose their music. The production team selects songs based on the singer’s vocal characteristics. In the music industry, being able to independently complete an entire album makes one a true all-rounder in the field.

And Lin Qingye could be considered such an all-rounder.

Ji Yan went over to take out the takeout boxes one by one. The three of them were used to being informal—instead of eating at the dining table, they sat cross-legged on the floor with the food laid out on the coffee table.

They asked about what happened last night, but Lin Qingye didn’t say much, briefly touching on it.

Learning that the matter had been resolved, they were relieved and didn’t probe further into the details. The topic circled back to the album.

“What style are you planning for the album?”

“Haven’t decided yet. There might be a few songs with a band style. Lin Qingye took a sip of alcohol. “I might need you to come over when it’s time to record.”

The three didn’t speak for a moment, exchanging glances before promptly agreeing.

His words stirred memories for Guan Chi, reminding him of their once-unknown little band and the excitement they felt when they learned they had won the Golden Melody Award.

Now, thinking about it again, it feels like so much time has passed.

So much time had passed that of the original four members of the Locust Tree Band, only Lin Qingye was still singing, while the other three had settled into ordinary lives.

“Hey, Captain, have a drink. Why are you drinking so slowly today?” Shi Si said, picking up the bottle to pour more for him.

“Need to protect my voice for singing.”

Everyone: “…”

While it’s perfectly normal for singers to protect their voices, Lin Qingye had always been casual, relying on his natural talent. This was the first time they’d seen him show such awareness.

But since he had spoken up, Shi Si naturally stopped urging him to drink and asked another question: “Captain, are you serious about pursuing a career in the entertainment industry?”

Lin Qingye’s wrist hung loosely as he picked up a piece of food. “Since I’ve joined a show and entered this circle, I might as well make something of it.”

He spoke very calmly, as if making a simple statement, but his ambition was like the edge of a sharpened blade—forceful and convincing. No one doubted his words.

“Alright.” Ji Yan was the first to raise her glass. The four clinked glasses. “I won’t say any polite words of blessing. You were born for this. Even without trying, you succeed, not to mention when you put your mind to it. If you need anything from us for the new album, just ask.”

Lin Qingye took a sip of his drink. “Will do.”

“You should think of a name for the new album, too. We’ll help promote it.”

“I’ve already thought of one.”

“What is it?”

“Nan Nan.”

Ji Yan: “…”

Shi Si was slow to react. “Nan Nan? Why?”

Ji Yan immediately slapped him on the forehead. “Are you stupid or what?”

With that slap, Shi Si finally realized—it wasn’t “Nan Nan” but “Nan Nan.”

Chinese phonetics are profound. Looking at the two characters “喃喃” (Nan Nan) alone doesn’t seem inappropriate. It has a tender, lingering connotation, like whispering in someone’s ear—quite alluring and would make people want to buy the album.

If Lin Qingye hadn’t previously asked people to retweet Xu Zhinan’s voting post, and if there hadn’t been later interviews about Su Zheng and the Locust Tree lyrics, they might have interpreted it that way.

But now it was different. This “Nan Nan” was not just any “Nan Nan.”

Ji Yan thought of the half-written lyrics she had just seen and suddenly felt that naming the album this way might mean these songs were written for Xu Zhinan.

Nan, Nan.

The first is a verb, the second is a noun.

Ji Yan, being a woman with delicate sensibilities, had already figured it out, but Shi Si was still confused.

He was confused about Lin Qingye’s sudden change in character.

He couldn’t accept it.

This was Lin Qingye, after all!!!

The Lin Qingye who shone brilliantly on stage, surrounded by screams and cheers from the audience!!!

“Captain.” Shi Si’s face was full of disbelief. “Have you been bewitched by the Light of Pingchuan? Did she recite some strange incantation to you?”

Shi Si was so shocked that he had lost all logic. As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Yan stepped on his foot and glared at him.

What was wrong with this guy?!

How did writing an album to confess to a girl he liked turn into this in his mouth??

Had he not seen Lin Qingye for so long that he’d forgotten his temperament??

Fortunately, Lin Qingye wasn’t angry.

Pondering Shi Si’s words, he even laughed.

He looked somewhat lazy, leaning against the sofa, his long, bony fingers holding the wine glass, his wrist drooping, eyes half-closed.

“She would have to be willing to bewitch me first,” he said with a subtle smile, swirling his wine glass gently. “Even if she dug a pit for me, I’d jump right in.”

Shi Si: “…”

Crazy, crazy, crazy!

Xu Zhinan worked late today, finishing around seven in the evening before having hot pot with Gu Congwang near the school.

After leaving the hot pot restaurant, Gu Congwang wanted to buy some school supplies, so they went to a mall together.

They walked and talked, looking like a handsome guy and a beautiful girl from a distance, turning many heads.

Wang Qi came to pick up a custom-made suit he had ordered earlier, and ran into Xu Zhinan as he was leaving.

He was about to wave and greet her when he caught sight of the young man beside her.

After observing for a moment, alarm bells rang in his head.

This wasn’t good.

This was not good.

The two were chatting and laughing as they walked, and Wang Qi followed them for a while.

He recalled how just that morning, Lin Qingye had told him he wanted to achieve something to have the ability to protect his girlfriend.

But now?

His girlfriend was happily shopping at the mall with another guy. Although there was no inappropriate behavior, it still looked heartbreaking.

Right now, Lin Qingye was probably at home working hard on lyrics!

How tragic!

Just as Wang Qi was thinking this, Xu Zhinan looked back and suddenly caught sight of him in her peripheral vision. She took the initiative to greet him: “Producer Wang.”

“Oh, hello, hello.” Wang Qi hurriedly responded.

After some casual pleasantries, Xu Zhinan’s phone rang.

Wang Qi quickly glanced at it—the caller ID showed: Lin Qingye.

Full name and everything.

Yet that boy had gotten a tattoo with “A’Nan”…

Xu Zhinan said, “I’ll take this call,” to Gu Congwang and walked to the side.

Wang Qi and Gu Congwang were left staring at each other. Wang Qi looked at Gu Congwang and couldn’t help but shake his head internally.

Lin Qingye was truly too pitiful.