Second Take On Romance - The A-List Actor Wants Me-Chapter 239 : Happy Birthday, Yan Renzhong (4)

Shen Jingwei knew something went wrong when he saw Yan Renzhong pacing at the sun deck instead of packing up to leave.

Even his suitcase still lay open on the polished wooden floor, its content out of order.

Shen Jingwei silently rolled his suitcase into the living area and began packing up on Yan Renzhong’s behalf.

By the time Yan Renzhong finished his phone call, Shen Jingwei too was done with packing.

"What happened?" Shen Jingwei asked, and Yan Renzhong responded with a long sigh.

"Do you remember the single which music video I shot before we left on this trip?"

"Yes."

"Wu Jin stole my entire concept and used it for his single. He released it several hours ago."

"..."

He did it deliberately.

On Yan Renzhong’s birthday, to boot.

"That scoundrel," Shen Jingwei snapped. "What are you going to do?"

"Initially, we planned to release the single within two days. We can’t do it now. We need to think about a new concept and film it. The release is going to be delayed for a week at last."

In his infuriation, Yan Renzhong smacked his hand against the wooden door frame.

Shen Jingwei rose to his feet and walked toward him.

"I am so sorry, Renzhong..."

Yan Renzhong circled an arm around Shen Jingwei’s waist and gave him a kiss on the forehead.

"It’s fine. We trip him up a lot, and now they retaliate with a dirty tactic."

"Is a week delay going to affect your sales a lot?"

"It is, if we cannot come up with a more fitting concept in time."

"... Oh."

Yan Renzhong breathed against Shen Jingwei’s forehead, blowing warm air at the latter’s skin.

"The quinquennial Kunlun Snow Lotus Award ceremony is going to take place at the end of this year.

If I am not mistaken, it will also mark the end of the long rivalry between Shang Ruohai and Shang Ruohan.

The new CEO of CNC Studio will take his position at the beginning of next year."

"... So, Shang Ruohai might lose this race just because of a song?"

"No, not necessarily. It’s just that we fail to pull the brake on Wu Jin. If Wu Jin’s newest single is popular enough, he might be selected to sing the opening soundtrack of Dance Of The Dragons’ second season, and that’s another win in his pocket."

Shen Jingwei sighed.

He was cognizant of the escalating rivalry between the two brothers, yet the covert conflict they engaged in remained obscured.

This was a battle only Yan Renzhong and Wu Jin knew of.

Unfortunately, Yan Renzhong’s newest single had to take the fall.

And it had to be the song Yan Renzhong wrote himself, too.

Shen Jingwei already listened to it when they were flying above the ocean.

In fact as he recalled the sentimental lyrics in his mind, they stirred a cascade of memories within him.

They reminded him of a walk along a serene beach, where the gentle lapping of waves and the salty sea breeze offered solace.

They evoked the joy of a long-awaited reunion, a couple rekindled after years of separation, a love blooming anew amidst life’s challenges.

"..."

Shen Jingwei turned silent and stared off into the distance.

"Anyway, let’s go back now. We don’t have time to lose."

Yan Renzhong loosened his hold around Shen Jingwei, but Shen Jingwei grabbed his arm urgently.

"Say, Yan Renzhong. I have a great idea, but I don’t know if it will work out. Will you hear me out?"

"... Sure? What is it?"

"Close your eyes."

"..."

Yan Renzhong was confused, but he did as he was told.

Shen Jingwei guided him onto the sun deck and made him sit at the edge.

Yan Renzhong’s long legs dangled from the edge, touching the cold water from time to time.

Shen Jingwei then replayed the new single from his phone.

"Now, imagine this... What if..."

Yan Renzhong listened intently as Shen Jingwei outlined a new music video concept, one that he thought might match the song’s ambiance.

"Well?"

Shen Jingwei ended his little speech with a hopeful question.

"Can you use it? Will it help your situation?"

Yan Renzhong pondered about it for a while. Crossing his arms before his chest, he hummed to himself.

"We could explore a reunion theme, where a couple meets after years apart. But, we will need to shoot several scenes outlining the couple’s past."

"Yes, we could focus on a common college romance and breakup, perhaps filming on a nearby campus?"

"Hmm..."

Yan Renzhong furrowed his brows in contemplation.

"It might work, but I need to run this idea by Shang Ruohai first," he decided after a while.

Shang Ruohai’s agreement was crucial before they could move along with the new concepts.

The rejection came swiftly as soon as they got into a phone conference with Shang Ruohai.

"No."

Shang Ruohai, on the other end of the line, heaved an annoyed sigh before he spoke next.

"Your lyrics are all very poetic. Snow upon a branch here, plum blossom petals over the stone steps there... That’s why we chose to adopt the classic Chinese love story concept, about love blooming during the feudal war time, remember?

How can a puppy love story in a college compare? If you insist on adopting this new concept, you are going to butcher a good song fairly quickly."

Shen Jingwei sank in his seat in disappointment.

Yan Renzhong let his head hung in dejection.

"But, I like the reunion at the beach concept," Shang Ruohai continued. "That one can be used. We just need to think about a better concept for the past romance."

They all fell in silence.

"Actually, you know what? There is something we can use," Shang Ruohai said after a while.

"Which is?" Both Yan Renzhong and Shen Jingwei asked in unison.

Shang Ruohai shifted his sitting position and smiled to himself when he spoke next.

"By the way, Shen Jingwei, how confident are you if I ask you to record a duet with Yan Renzhong?"

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