Mysterious Assistant of the Washed-Up Queen-Chapter 495 - 323: Preparing for the Concert_2

Such days were interrupted by an unexpected phone call.

The call came from Zhao Fengsheng. Since the end of the Spring Festival Gala, they had maintained some contact and gradually become familiar with each other. The key was that Zhao Fengsheng had previously asked Xu Qingqiu for help with some matters, which was the most important factor.

"What’s wrong? What did Director Zhao say?" Seeing Xu Qingqiu hang up the phone looking somewhat confused, Chu Tian quickly asked.

"Ah? I’m not sure either. Director Zhao just said he wants to treat us to a meal. Do you think something’s up?"

"Treat us to a meal?" Chu Tian was initially surprised, but after a moment’s thought, he quickly guessed what it was likely about. If I’m not mistaken, it’s probably related to that previous matter.

Back during the Spring Festival Gala rehearsals, Zhao Fengsheng had vaguely mentioned to Xu Qingqiu that he wanted to get in touch with ’Youmeng,’ saying there was an event for which he needed help. What help could ’Youmeng’ possibly provide? Nothing more than writing songs, of course. If it were anything else, Chu Tian might not be certain, but writing songs or similar tasks posed no real difficulty for him; after all, he had the resources of an entire world at his back.

As expected, things unfolded just so. The New Year had just passed, and the first month of the lunar year wasn’t even over, when Zhao Fengsheng sent an encrypted file to Xu Qingqiu’s studio. Aside from a few selected individuals, no one else was allowed to see it. At least, that was the case on the surface. Judging from the circumstances, it seemed to be some undisclosed event, but given such a basic method of confidentiality, it probably wasn’t a very important one.

After all, who had the authority to view it? And who made that decision? So, in such situations, it all boiled down to discretion, as long as the file wasn’t casually disseminated. But if someone stubbornly posted it online or blabbed about it everywhere, they shouldn’t be surprised when trouble came knocking.

In the end, besides Xu Qingqiu, the only ones who saw the file’s contents were Chu Tian and Sister Hua. And the contents weren’t any highly guarded secret. To summarize, it was an internal military commendation ceremony that also incorporated some celebratory elements.

The crucial point was that the director of this event was, once again, Zhao Fengsheng. Furthermore, the higher-ups had stipulated that the event’s theme should be aimed at military personnel, with content focused on encouragement. It needed to be positive and uplifting, urging soldiers to train diligently and remain constantly prepared for battle, among other things.

However, the collaborators for the event were mostly internal organizations like performing arts troupes, and their performances consisted almost entirely of outdated material. How could this possibly work? Zhao Fengsheng wondered. If I actually go through with this, never mind being accused of cutting corners, even the leadership won’t be pleased. Therefore, I need to introduce some novelty, ideally some fresh performances, or at the very least, a few new songs. The existing military songs have been heard so often they’re tiresome; if a new song were introduced now, everyone would surely love it.

That’s why he had brazenly sought to establish a connection with Xu Qingqiu’s side, making it easier to ask for help later. Even if he was a strong-willed person, he knew when to be diplomatic. Under these circumstances, the document detailing the event’s requirements eventually landed in Chu Tian’s hands. He had written a song for Zhao Fengsheng and sent it over back at the beginning of March.

Now, with May approaching, Chu Tian had long forgotten about it. He never expected Zhao Fengsheng to suddenly contact them with an invitation to dinner. Considering the timeline, the event has probably concluded, and this is his way of expressing thanks?

Regardless, they were definitely going. After agreeing on a time, Xu Qingqiu and Chu Tian dressed meticulously. Without bringing anyone else, Chu Tian drove her to the chosen restaurant.

As soon as they arrived, Zhao Fengsheng cheerily ushered them to their seats. "You’re here! Sit, sit," he said, already pouring tea while chatting casually. "Two months have flown by! I heard you’ve been busy with award ceremonies. How did it go? A good haul, I trust?" Director Zhao’s perceptive assistant director had already excused himself to arrange for the dishes to be served.

Xu Qingqiu, clearly uncomfortable in such settings, replied reservedly, "Not at all, just a few awards. I still need to keep working hard."

"Hard work is for later," Zhao Fengsheng said. "You’ve already come so far; there’s no need for modesty." After some more idle chat, he finally got to the main point.

"This time, I really must thank you," Zhao Fengsheng began. "It’s a shame Teacher Youmeng isn’t here. If he were, I’d insist on having a couple of drinks with him!" At this, Zhao Fengsheng seemed to recall something amusing and launched into an animated account, gesturing enthusiastically. "You should have seen it! From the moment the song started, it completely captivated the audience. Those young lads were absolutely riveted!"

"And the song is so easy to learn! I stood there, listened a few times, and memorized it. Now, it feels like I can sing it at the drop of a hat!"

"’It’s a bright morning, the sound of pigeon whistles mixed with the réveille~’" Zhao Fengsheng sang.

Wait, he’s actually singing now? Chu Tian suppressed a smile. One shouldn’t assume some people are so high and mighty. When they clock off and shed that aura of authority, every last one of them is just an ordinary person. What’s singing, anyway? Never mind singing; some people, after a few too many drinks, insist on painting. They’ll jab a brush haphazardly at the paper, and if they get really into it, they might even spit on the canvas and let out a howl—more ridiculous than a shaman’s trance. The crucial part is, even if the result is a pile of dog crap, there will still be people fawning over it and cheering.

"’Soldier brothers, are you ready? When that day truly comes~’"

After singing a full verse, Zhao Fengsheng sat back down, his face alight with excitement. "This song, ’When That Day Comes,’ is truly exceptional! Fantastic!"

"Not only are the music and melody superb, but the lyrics are also excellent—very fitting for the nation’s current situation."

"Those little rascals are always stirring up trouble nearby, and things are so chaotic abroad these days. Who knows when a real conflict might erupt? That’s why I say this song is just perfect!"

Hearing this, everyone finally understood the main purpose of today’s gathering. Previously, Chu Tian had dashed off "When That Day Comes" for Zhao Fengsheng in his spare time, not giving it much thought. He’d felt such a song might not have much commercial value, but in a military context, it would be incredibly compelling.

"Come, come, we must have a drink to this! I want to toast you both. Without your song, relying solely on the performers from the Song and Dance Ensemble wouldn’t have cut it. You can ask them to put on a show, and they might manage, but expecting any kind of breakthrough from them is asking too much."

Hearing this, Chu Tian felt a twinge of awkwardness. It’s one thing for them to downplay their own people, but what standing do I have? I’m just an ordinary outsider. Saying too much could easily stir resentment.

In the end, the meal was a resounding success, with both hosts and guests thoroughly enjoying themselves, and their relationship deepened further.

After returning from their dinner with Zhao Fengsheng and just as they stepped through the door, Chu Tian spotted several young women huddled excitedly by the elevator, clearly up to something. However, the moment they saw Chu Tian and Xu Qingqiu approach, they scattered like mice seeing a cat, heads bowed as they turned to flee.

"Hey, why are they running off?" Chu Tian asked.

Yiyi, who seemed to grasp the situation perfectly, replied, "What else could it be? They’re afraid of you two."

"Afraid? Afraid of us? Why?" He pondered. I haven’t been around much lately, and Xu Qingqiu has been with me. What’s there to be afraid of?

"What else? They’re worried you’ll catch them slacking off."

"Slacking off?"

"Well, not exactly slacking off. Do you know who they were waiting for by the elevator just now?"

"How would I know? I’m not a mind reader."

"Hehehe, they were waiting for Li Guang to come back."

Li Guang? Chu Tian now had a good idea. Those girls must be fans of Xu Guang. This outcome, at least, showed that Li Guang had genuinely become popular.

It wasn’t entirely unexpected. Earlier in the year, they had to make way for Xu Qingqiu’s new album, so artists like Li Guang and Yang Lin had to take an early break. But since the start of this year, once the timing seemed right and the New Year holiday was over, the buzz around Xu Qingqiu’s album had settled to a relatively stable level. This was a godsend for other singers. Chu Tian had then crafted songs specifically for each of them, tailored to their unique styles.

"Exactly, Li Guang! You have no idea how popular he is now. So many girls are absolutely crazy about him."

"And with his new song, that guy has just exploded in popularity, becoming a breakout star!"