He… had he run out of inspiration?
Chen Xiaoxi and Li Yue exchanged uneasy glances.
"Um… A-Chen, these songs of yours…"
Chen Xiaoxi trailed off, unsure how to continue.
Li Yue's face twisted like someone suffering from constipation.
Neither of them had forgotten that Zhang Yichen was dealing with depression. What he needed was acceptance and encouragement.
But what they did forget was that Zhang Yichen was a genius — a man who could compose music on the spot.
He knew exactly how good, or bad, his own songs were.
They were overthinking it.
"Say what you want," Zhang Yichen said casually, sweeping his gaze over the two women and instantly noticing their hesitation.
"I just want to hear your honest opinions."
His calm, confident tone left them no room to hide behind polite words.
Chen Xiaoxi tightened her grip on the music sheets, her brows furrowing as she carefully searched for the right words.
"A-Chen, these songs… the melodies are catchy, but… but…"
She hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering. "They feel like they're missing something."
Li Yue nodded in agreement. "Yeah, they'll definitely be popular, but still…"
"Heh…" Zhang Yichen chuckled faintly.
He understood what they meant perfectly. Their taste hadn't dulled one bit.
"You're trying to say these songs are shallow — that the lyrics sound pretentious, lack real meaning, and even if they go viral, they won't stay popular for long, right?"
He said it so directly that both women were caught off guard.
"A-Chen…"
"You knew?" they said at the same time.
Chen Xiaoxi wanted to deny it, but Yue blurted it out without thinking.
"Of course I know," Zhang Yichen replied evenly. "I wrote them myself — do you think I don't understand what they are?"
He leaned back slightly. "Tell me, do you know what fast-food culture is?"
Chen Xiaoxi frowned slightly, her fingers brushing across the sheet music.
"Fast-food culture? You mean… these songs are like fast food — they satisfy people quickly but lack depth and nourishment?"
"Pretty much." Zhang Yichen smiled faintly, gazing out the window.
"The music world today isn't what it used to be. This isn't an era where one hit song can feed you for a lifetime."
"So… what are you saying?" she asked softly.
"I'm saying I've created a new genre for them — I call it Internet Songs. I don't care if they're classics. I only care that they're popular."
Silence filled the room.
Chen Xiaoxi's fingertips tapped lightly against the paper, making a faint rustling sound. Her eyes grew distant as she repeated his words under her breath.
"Internet songs…"
She frowned slightly, as if trying to digest the unfamiliar concept.
"So you're saying these songs don't need deep meaning — as long as people remember them and sing them for a while, that's enough?"
"Exactly." Zhang Yichen nodded firmly.
"Life moves too fast now. People crave quick, fleeting pleasure. These songs exist to give them exactly that."
Li Yue leaned against the desk, tilting her head with a smirk.
"You brat, have you already figured out the whole market? No wonder you're so confident."
"Sister Yue, is that a compliment?" Zhang Yichen asked innocently.
"Compliment my foot!" she rolled her eyes. "I'm just saying your brain's full of wild ideas."
Chen Xiaoxi lowered her head, unconsciously fiddling with the corner of the sheet. Her voice was soft and hesitant.
"But… A-Chen, if you're only catering to the market, doesn't that mean you're losing your original passion?"
Her words were gentle, but they rippled through the room like a pebble dropped in still water.
"Alright, then let me ask you this, Sister Chen Xiaoxi — what is your original passion?" Zhang Yichen asked calmly.
"My passion? It's to make good music — music that reaches more people," she answered instinctively.
"Good. Then what is good music?" he pressed.
"Good music is…" She paused, unable to finish.
"Good music," Zhang Yichen said with a faint smile, "is the kind people love to listen to."
He leaned slightly forward. "Tell me, Sister Chen Xiaoxi — do you prefer listening to one golden hit on repeat forever, or a hundred new songs that keep changing?"
Her fingers froze mid-motion, and her eyes grew distant, as if lost in old memories. She pressed her lips together, thinking deeply.
Li Yue's curious gaze flicked between the two.
"I like songs I can listen to over and over again," Chen Xiaoxi finally said softly. "Songs that reveal something new each time — where every lyric tells another story."
Zhang Yichen's expression softened. His tone grew gentler.
"But Sister Chen Xiaoxi, have you ever thought about it? No one stays in the same place forever."
Li Yue interjected, "You mean Internet songs are like fast food — not fancy, but they satisfy most people's tastes?"
"Exactly." Zhang Yichen nodded, his gaze steady.
"I won't deny that deep, classic music has irreplaceable value. But it's too rare. And as I step into the entertainment world, the first thing I need to consider is — how do I let more people hear my voice?"
Chen Xiaoxi still looked conflicted, torn between ideals and reality.
"Sister Chen Xiaoxi," Zhang Yichen continued, "as the internet evolves, you'll see this fast-food culture everywhere — not just in music, but in film and television too."
"Why's that?" she asked, still puzzled.
"I'll explain," Li Yue said, puffing out her chest. "Nowadays, most dramas are carefully produced — every scene perfect. But no matter how good they are, people still finish them, or don't have time to watch at all. Life's too busy."
"So then, there'll be new kinds of shows — story-driven ones. They won't care about acting, backgrounds, or props. They'll be cheap, mass-produced, and—"
Her eyes lit up. "A total goldmine!"
"Exactly." Zhang Yichen nodded approvingly. "Didn't think you'd actually get it, Yue."
She grinned proudly. "Heh, don't underestimate your big sister!"
Zhang Yichen chuckled. He wasn't wrong about her — she might act goofy at times, but her insight was sharp. What she described was almost identical to the short dramas that exploded in his previous life.
And those short dramas? They made money fast. The market was worth hundreds of billions each year.
Naturally, they'd be part of his future business empire.
He would use Today's Hot Trends and Happiness to find good-looking newcomers to act in short dramas.
"See? You should know by now who you're dealing with," Li Yue said smugly.
"Alright, A-Chen, Yue," Chen Xiaoxi sighed. "You two are way too optimistic. Aren't you afraid the traditional artists will try to suppress you?"
"Sister Chen Xiaoxi, you're worrying too much," Zhang Yichen said with a confident grin. "Did you forget? I've still got plenty of hit songs up my sleeve. If anyone tries to suppress me, I'll crush them with music."
He had a mountain of golden hits in his mind — enough to fear no one in the industry.
"Oh, right… how could I forget that?" Chen Xiaoxi sighed, rubbing her forehead helplessly.
She couldn't help it — she cared too much.