Wang Shu, having signed the contract, also left Longwen Pavilion Publishing House.
However, as he was heading downstairs after finishing up, he happened to encounter the old man who had looked down on him downstairs in the elevator.
The old man had just been criticized by those masters and was now looking dejected and extremely disappointed.
But he didn't expect to run into Wang Shu again at this moment.
"Yo, you're leaving so soon?"
When Wang Shu saw the old man, he couldn't help but ask with a hint of amusement.
"What does that have to do with you? I'll leave when I want to leave!"
The old man moved his manuscript behind him, as if afraid of being seen by Wang Shu, and put on a poker face, saying.
Seeing this, Wang Shu shrugged helplessly.
"How about you give me that manuscript?"
Wang Shu couldn't help but say to the old man.
"You want it?"
The old man was stunned for a moment and looked at Wang Shu with confusion, not understanding what he meant.
"Our village is short on paper."
Wang Shu said.
"You!!!"
Upon hearing Wang Shu's words, the old man almost spat out a mouthful of blood from anger.
This kid looked harmless, but his words were so hurtful!
...
It was already afternoon when he returned to Hangzhou.
For several consecutive days, he had no contact with the outside world.
Even Su Yao wasn't quite sure what her boss was up to.
However, during these few days, Zhang Liangying successfully rose above all her opponents in the revival round with Wang Shu's song and advanced to the finals.
He Yue had also completed the final production of the song, and the promotional work was ready.
"The Most Dazzling National Style" was also ready to be released at any time.
Bian Yuan was also invited as a guest on a variety show, receiving a performance fee of 200,000 yuan.
Wang Shu was very happy to hear this news from Su Yao.
In the evening, an unfamiliar phone call came in again.
After Wang Shu answered, he realized it was Li Lang.
Li Lang's voice was somewhat low on the phone as he said he wanted to see Wang Shu.
Wang Shu agreed and arranged a meeting place with him.
Li Lang and Wang Shu agreed to meet at a small pub.
This time, Wang Shu did not bring Su Yao with him, as he felt Li Lang might have something to discuss with him privately.
When he arrived at the small pub, as Wang Shu entered the door, he saw Li Lang on the pub's resident stage, holding a guitar and singing loudly.
There was a bottle of whiskey beside him, and Li Lang would take a big gulp after singing a few lines.
Wang Shu did not disturb Li Lang. After entering the pub, he found an empty seat and sat down.
He quietly enjoyed Li Lang's singing.
He hadn't really listened to Li Lang sing before. The last time he thought of recruiting Li Lang was simply because he felt Li Lang was talented in music post-production.
To his surprise, Li Lang's singing skills were no less inferior to some well-known singers.
After Li Lang finished a song, Wang Shu sent him a message.
Upon receiving the message, Li Lang looked around and then saw Wang Shu sitting in the corner.
"Sorry, I drank a bit too much and unconsciously lost track of time!"
Li Lang said, scratching his head awkwardly.
"Where's An Ran?"
Seeing that Li Lang was alone, Wang Shu couldn't help but ask curiously.
"His mother picked him up!"
Upon hearing Wang Shu's question, Li Lang was stunned for a moment and then pretended to be relaxed, saying.
"Isn't the custody in your hands?"
Wang Shu asked Li Lang with some doubt.
"It is in my hands, but she's found a rich husband now and insists on fighting for custody with me!"
Li Lang downed the wine in his hand and leaned back against the chair, saying dejectedly.
"Without An Ran, what will I do in the future! Wuwuwu!"
Li Lang suddenly burst into tears, holding his head.
"Did you call me just to see me like this?"
Wang Shu asked Li Lang.
Li Lang continued to cry, holding his head.
"Do you want to muddle along like this for the rest of your life? Letting your daughter have someone else's surname?"
Wang Shu continued to say.
"No! I can't let my daughter call someone else dad!"
Li Lang immediately stopped crying and said to Wang Shu with a serious look.
"Then do you want to become a star? Do you want to get An Ran back?"
Wang Shu continued to ask.
"Yes! Tell me what to do?"
Li Lang looked at Wang Shu with curiosity.
Wang Shu didn't speak, but directly got up and walked towards the stage where Li Lang had been singing.
He then picked up the guitar leaning against the side and sat on the chair Li Lang had just occupied.
Although the pub was not large, it was quite crowded.
No one even noticed when Wang Shu walked onto the stage.
"Hello everyone, today I'm going to perform an original song. I hope you'll like it!"
Wang Shu said, holding the microphone in front of him.
His voice then spread throughout the entire pub.
The patrons of the pub looked up at the stage in surprise at the sudden announcement.
"Who is this guy? An original song, acting like he's a star!"
"Can't see clearly, probably drunk and trying to show off!"
"This is interesting, what's going on in this small pub today, with so many people spontaneously singing."
The pub was dimly lit, and the guests couldn't see Wang Shu's face clearly, and Wang Shu was also wearing a mask.
Therefore, many guests thought that Wang Shu, this young man, was deliberately trying to show off and attract the attention of young girls.
Li Lang, on the other hand, looked at Wang Shu with curiosity, not quite understanding Wang Shu's intentions.
After Wang Shu finished speaking, he gently strummed the guitar strings.
"She is the one I miss day and night and love deeply.
How should I express myself?
Will she accept me?
..."
As Wang Shu sang a few lines, his voice reached every corner of the pub.
For a moment, the guests who had initially thought Wang Shu was just showing off turned their attention back to him.
"This is interesting, it sounds pretty good!"
"These lyrics, this melody, doesn't sound like an amateur!"
"I think it's great, I didn't expect this little pub to have hidden talents."
The guests discussed amongst themselves. They had initially thought the young man was deliberately showing off.
But after hearing the first few lines, they dismissed their earlier thoughts. It seemed this young man did have some skill.
"Perhaps I will never tell her those words.
Destined for me to wander the world,
How can I have any worries?
...
Dreams are always out of reach,
Should I give up?"
Wang Shu continued to sing with deep emotion, his eyes even welling up with tears.
Many of the patrons drinking below became quiet and began to listen to the song in silence.
"Flowers bloom and fall, another season passes.
Spring, where are you?
Youth is like a rushing river,
Gone in an instant without time to say goodbye.
Only a numb me remains, without the passion of those days."
As the song reached its climax, Wang Shu directly raised his voice an octave, singing out the passion in his heart.
This song, "Old Boy," was one he and his roommates sang most often after many drinks during his university days.
Although the song might not have been suitable for their age at the time, thinking back now filled him with memories.
When he was young, he liked to pretend to be mature and say things he didn't fully understand.
He deliberately acted mature, so no matter the occasion, if there was a chance to perform, someone would surely sing this song.
Singing this song again now brought back countless memories in his mind.
"This young man, so young, how can he sing a song that makes me, a forty-year-old uncle, cry!"
"Yes, youth is fleeting. I feel like I'm old without even having had a good time."
"Wuwuwu, I'm reminded of the class beauty I liked in my sophomore year. I never dared to confess to her!"
At this moment, many middle-aged uncles and aunts had tears in their eyes.
Men do not shed tears easily, only when they are truly heartbroken.
They might have weathered decades of hardship in society and never cried.
But upon hearing this song, they were reminded of their lost youth, and the tears and laughter of that time.
...
In the corner, Li Lang, upon hearing Wang Shu's song, also recalled his college days with his wife.
He remembered the happy times when they graduated and got married, and the joy he felt when he saw his daughter.
In a daze, he felt as if he had returned to that time.
But in the next moment, everything before his eyes vanished without a trace.
"Looking up at the starry sky,
The star that accompanied me back then.
Do you still remember the stories here?
If there is a tomorrow, I wish you well, my dear.
..."
The song ended, and Wang Shu put down his guitar.
"One more time! One more time! One more time!"
As Wang Shu prepared to get off the stage, suddenly, many of the patrons in the previously quiet pub stood up and said to Wang Shu.
The pub owner also emerged from the spell of Wang Shu's song. Seeing the strong demand from the customers, he quickly walked up to Wang Shu and said:
"Handsome, why don't you sing it again? Look how enthusiastic they are! I can pay you!"
"Li Lang, I hope you can think clearly, whether to sink or be reborn. I await your answer!"
Wang Shu ignored the owner. He stood up, picked up the microphone, and spoke to Li Lang in the corner.
Then, he walked off the stage and headed towards the exit of the pub.
"Who is this guy?"
"His back looks familiar, could it be that we both know him?"
"He looks familiar to me too, I just can't remember where I've seen him!"
Looking at Wang Shu's retreating figure, the patrons in the pub couldn't help but feel puzzled.
Because they had all been captivated by the singing and lyrics and hadn't paid much attention to the singer.
It was only now that they were reacting and looking at the departing figure, feeling a sense of déjà vu, as if they had seen him somewhere before.