Arc 1.8

The song was a lullaby and its duration was not long, however, it was enough to cause everyone's opinion of Shen Jiyu to change at once.

The trainees who had been eyeing this new addition sat upright as they gazed at this new competition. Both the old man and the female agent narrowed their eyes as they looked at each other and they looked at Nian Zhen, as expected of the child he brought.

Shen Jiyu's voice was not the most outstanding that they had ever seen in the industry but it was clear and had a unique quality of pulling someone under. He had sung a lullaby and yet it was as if he had painted the picture of a mother as she gently put her child to sleep even as the storm raged around them. The most important thing was that his voice had a distinct flavor; among the hundreds of voices in the country, it would surely stand out.

The woman glanced at him one more time, "As expected of the trainee, Zhen ge scouted."

Nian Zhen's gaze was fixed on Shen Jiyu. The smile at the corner of his lips suddenly became a little stiff and the hand on his side tightened without any notice. 

The old man stopped scowling, "Young man, you did not submit a portfolio so tell us about yourself. Which skills do you have? Can you act? Can you dance?"

As Shen Jiyu opened his mouth to answer, Nian Zhen regained his composure and turned to the old man, "Old Gu, that would not be necessary. I have already decided that I would choose him."

The Old man scoffed, "Why then did you come here to raise these trainees' hopes? He had never liked Nian Zhen. How could a truly good and kind person be able to raise so many A-grade stars? The entertainment industry was not that clean. 

"Zhen ge, you promised that you would let me choose first this year." The agent said coquettishly, causing Shen Jiyu's eyes to darken. He stood even straighter as he looked down at her.

The agent noticed Shen Jiyu's hostility and chuckled, "I understand. Every trainee wants to be signed under Zhen ge golden care."

Nian Zhen chuckled and under the envious look of other trainees, he led Shen Jiyu away. The moment they left the room and entered the elevator, Shen Jiyu decided to make it clear, "She is wrong. I don't want to be signed under you."

"Oh!" Nian Zhen muttered, he clicked on the button for the 14th floor, not at all offended by Shen Jiyu's words, "How have you been?" He asked kindly.

Shen Jiyu moved away from him, leaning against the wall as he crossed his arm, "Do you mean after you chased me out? I have been great."

The nineteen-year-old boy was at the peak of his physical fitness and appearance. The sleeves of his uniform were rolled up to the elbows, his entire body exuded a very aggressive scent.

He was really a little tiger cub.

"I am glad..."

Seeing that the boy was about to retort, he placed a finger on his mouth, "Shh! The first thing that I would teach you before you sign a contract. Take care in your speech, the wall has ears. We would discuss it in my office. Is that clear?"

Shen Jiyu did not take orders well, he was never good with them, the more you told him to do something, the more he would do the opposite just to prove that no one could control him, "A clear conscience fears no persecution."

Something flashed in Nian Zhen's eyes and he smiled softly, "A very interesting perspective." And a very naive one.

Having shown that he was not afraid of breaking the man's rules, he kept quiet as they walked into the office.

Nian Zhen's assistant was a young and beautiful woman who smiled at him and handed him a cup of coffee, "Zhen ge, drink some coffee." 

Shen Jiyu regarded her calmly before he glared at Nian Zhen. He did not stop glaring even as Nian Zhen led him into the inner office and gestured for him to sit down.

"Why do they all call you Zhen ge?" He asked, leaning back on the chair.

"The artists that are signed under me call me that, so the name spread through the company. You can call me that if you wish."

When Jiyu rolled the name on his tongue but as he thought about the entire multitude that was calling him that, he declined, "I don't want to. Mr. Nian works just fine with me and don't call me Xiao Yan, call me Lu Yan."

Nian Zhen sat opposite him, the glass table the only thing separating them. "Is that not too formal?"

"We are in a formal relationship."

"Oh!" Nian Zhen looked at the youth before him, who was staring at him with an intense gaze. "Lu Yan. That lullaby you played earlier, where did you hear it from?"

The moment he heard that lullaby, he was shell-shocked. From the moment he could recall, whenever he was in his darkest or loneliest times, he would hear a tone ringing in his head.

Back then, the Nian family was still powerful so he had sent a lot of people to search for the song to no avail. 

And today, he heard it once again from the lips of those odd youths. The lyrics were perfect for the tone, there was no doubt in his head that this is the song he knew.

"My mother." Shen Juyu was not really concerned about the question. He had to bear some hardships as a child because he began to cultivate early so his mother always sang it to him, to help him sleep. Apart from him, his mother, and MianMian, that little fox that suddenly disappeared, no one knew about the song.

If not that, the other songs he knew are powerful scriptures and might shatter this realm if he could sing another song, why would he sing his mother's song in public? 

"My mother."

"It is a beautiful song." Nian Zhen commented sincerely and Shen Jiyu preened. Nian Zhen watched that face that seemed to have a permanent frown when he looked at him relax as he raised his shoulders as if he was a peacock showing off its feathers. 

Nian Zhen felt amused and chuckled, "You did not write it, what are you so proud of?"

It really felt odd sitting opposite Feng Mian as they both had a conversation. He wondered if Feng Mian regained this piece of soul, what would he think?

Thinking of the question, Shen Jiyu tapped his nose, "Seeing as my family's sins are mine to bear, it is only fair that their glory be ascribed to me as well." After answering, he leaned on the soft couch, closing his eyes for a minute.

A strange emotion filled Nian Zhen's chest with those words. It was painful and at the same time so annoying. Nian Zhen raised his hand for a second wishing he could just tear out his heart. 

At this moment, Nian Zhen's eyes lost their gentleness, they glittered with a cold light as if soaked in an icy fire.