Teacher Liang was both happy and a bit conflicted. "Li Zi, we can’t just keep shearing the same sheep. After spending so much time with you, I feel like I’m starting to lose my own tune."

"Let me catch my breath, let me catch my breath."

Tan You wasn’t offended. "Okay, how about this? I’ll give you the lyrics later, and you can help compose the music?"

Teacher Liang suggested, "Why don’t you learn arranging? If you’re interested, I’ll teach you step-by-step!"

Director Liu found it funny. "Are you trying to find more work for yourself?"

Tan You thought about it and agreed. "Alright. Later, Teacher Liang can recommend some books for me. I’ll start by teaching myself. But you can’t refuse me this time. It’ll take me a while to even get the hang of it."

This was one of her weaknesses. Tan You knew she wasn’t a fast learner. It was already difficult for her to focus on learning one thing at a time, and she had never dabbled in music arrangement before. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Teacher Liang also thought it was a good idea. "How about this? I’ll make a version myself first, and we can discuss it later."

Director Chen asked curiously, "So how do you two usually collaborate?"

Teacher Liang glanced at Tan You, and seeing she didn’t seem to mind, he smiled and explained, "It’s just as you’d expect. She brings me the lyrics. I make a draft of the arrangement, and then I sing it for her."

"She’ll point out which parts don’t feel right, and then I’ll revise them."

"Teacher Liang is being too modest," Tan You said, not shying away from the topic. "I’m genuinely tone-deaf. I know how it’s supposed to sound in my head, but what comes out is completely different. When Teacher Liang heard me sing a few lines, I almost threw him off-key too."

"So eventually, we just had Teacher Liang sing while I listened from outside the booth."

Director Chen imagined the scene. "That sounds like quite a sight."

Tan You laughed too. "It’s because Teacher Liang is so broad-minded. If it were anyone else, a ’singer’ like me would have probably been kicked out long ago."

Teacher Liang said, "Of course not. Even if Li Zi’s singing is horribly off-key, given your exceptional talent, we can still collaborate often."

"We just need to take a few days off in between. I never thought I’d be the one standing in a recording booth one day."

Everyone chatted and laughed, clearly finding the story amusing. Watching this, Ye Qian suddenly felt the scene was incredibly heartwarming. She had been in the industry for a few years and had long since seen through the fickleness of human relationships, but with Tan You, all she felt was warmth.

On the way back, Ye Qian mentioned this to Sister Hu. Sister Hu smiled and remarked with some emotion, "That’s because of Director Tang’s talent. Sometimes, capital can indeed control everything, but Director Tang’s talent is great enough to overcome capital."

"That’s why what you see is so harmonious. If Director Tang’s talent weren’t so outstanding, believe me, we’d still be warming the bench at our old company."

Ye Qian thought about it. "You’re right. Not everyone is like Director Tang. Sister Hu, sometimes when I see all this, I start to wonder if my life right now is even real."

"I feel that sense of unreality a lot."

Sister Hu said, "It’s not just you; I often feel the same way. You have to stay busy with filming, but you also have to meet Director Tang’s requirements. We need to work hard and seize every opportunity."

Ye Qian clenched her fist. "I know. I won’t miss opportunities like I did before. An actress’s prime is only so long. I’ve already missed out once, and I won’t miss out a second time."

Sister Hu said, "To be honest, I really disapproved of you getting married and having a daughter right after your show became a hit."

"My judgment was clouded back then. I just thought love was the most important thing, and everything else could be sacrificed. But looking back now, after the initial hormones fade, love is just... love. It all eventually settles into something ordinary."

"And it’s only then that you can see each other more clearly. We... we just weren’t on the same path. It’s a good thing we’re separated now."

Ye Qian gave a self-deprecating smile. "Let’s not talk about him. That unhappy marriage is still a part of my life’s journey, and I won’t completely deny it. Right now, I just want to focus on my career. Like Director Tang says, a career-driven woman is forever young."

Sister Hu said, "Good! That’s exactly what we should do. Let’s show those people that we’re capable too!"

The place emptied out as everyone went their separate ways. After parting ways at the elevators, only Tan You and Mr. Wang remained. He twirled his car keys. "Let me give you a ride back. I know your car is in for maintenance."

Tan You didn’t refuse. "Sure, thank you, Mr. Wang."

Mr. Wang sighed. "Don’t mention it. You’re the company’s cash cow. Of course I have to take good care of you."

Tan You just smiled. The two rode in silence. Just as Tan You was about to open the car door to get out, Mr. Wang suddenly said softly, "Text me when you get home. I’ll come pick you up at seven tomorrow morning?"

Tan You’s hand on the door handle froze. She suddenly pulled it back and settled back into her seat. She turned to look at Mr. Wang. "Sometimes I wonder if you actually like me or not. If I say you like me, you act all hot and cold. If I say you don’t, you take such good care of me at work and in my personal life, far beyond the boundaries of a professional relationship."

"When I take a step forward, you immediately take several steps back. But if I act cold, you quickly come forward to shower me with attention. All your actions make you seem incredibly contradictory."

"Now I finally understand. What you enjoy is this ambiguous push-and-pull. But I don’t. I like a stable happiness that I can hold firmly in my hands. I want the other person to be resolute."

Mr. Wang hadn’t expected Tan You to be so direct, and for a moment, he was stunned.

Considering he was her boss, Tan You’s words were still relatively restrained. "Right now, I only want to focus on my work. I don’t want to play ambiguous games with anyone and waste my time for no reason."

"I’ll take a taxi to the company tomorrow, so you don’t need to pick me up. I won’t be texting you either. That’s all. I’m leaving now."

Closing the car door, Tan You’s demeanor was perfectly composed. She wouldn’t get angry over someone like Mr. Wang. Setting aside his emotional ambiguity, he was undoubtedly a good boss. ’So, I’ll just treat him like a boss, without mixing in any other feelings.’

Watching Tan You’s figure retreat, Mr. Wang sat in silence for a long time before starting the car and driving away. But the more he thought about it, the more unsettled he felt. If he had been gently rejected by Tan You before, this time, she had been completely direct.

Meanwhile, after Tan You got into the elevator, her expression shifted. ’You’re awake?’

’Yeah, I’m awake,’ Tang Li’s voice sounded in her mind. ’The first thing I see after waking up is you ruthlessly rejecting Wang Mingyu. To be honest, it felt pretty damn good.’

Tan You’s lips curled slightly. ’I thought you’d be reluctant to let him go. Haven’t you two been in this ambiguous state for years?’

A bitter laugh seemed to echo from Tang Li. ’It was just an ambiguous flirtation. At first, I thought the feelings were mutual, but later I realized he just enjoys this hot-and-cold, ambiguous feeling. I wanted to make things clear with him, but then I had my accident and never got the chance.’