The recording studio was colder than the hallway.
Not in temperature.
In atmosphere.
Producer Kai Jin stood near the main console, headphones resting around his neck, eyes sharp and observant behind thin-framed glasses. The faint glow of the mixing boards reflected off the glass divider.
When Lily stepped in, he turned.
"Miss Lily Liang?" His voice carried quiet authority.
Lily straightened immediately, polite and composed. "Yes. It's an honor to meet you, Producer Kai. I've followed your work for years. Working with someone of your reputation is… honestly overwhelming."
Kai Jin's stern expression softened slightly. "Flattery won't improve your pitch."
She gave a small, respectful smile. "Then I'll let my singing do that instead."
A faint approving hum left him.
Behind her, Jinhai leaned against the soundproof glass, arms crossed casually.
"Careful, Producer Kai," he said lightly. "She bites when she's nervous."
Normally she would have shot back something witty.
Normally she would have laughed.
But today, Lily put on a stiff smile not even looking at him.
Silence lingered half a beat too long.
Jinhai's smile faltered, just slightly.
Kai Jin clapped once. "Positions. We'll start with Jinhai."
The first note left Jinhai's lips like silk poured into air.
Warm.
Controlled.
Effortless.
The studio seemed to lean in to listen.
Kai Jin's fingers moved quickly across the console, adjusting levels, nodding to himself. "Again. Hold the third note longer."
Jinhai did.
Perfectly.
Hours passed.
Take after take.
High notes that climbed and settled like sunrise over water. Low notes that wrapped around the room like velvet.
Lily sat quietly on the couch in the corner, hands folded over the lyric sheet, watching everything.
The way he closed his eyes when he sustained a note.
The way his fingers twitched slightly when he prepared for a transition.
The way Kai Jin's eyebrow lifted whenever something pleased him.
She memorized it all.
For when it would be her turn.
But her mind wasn't entirely on technique.
An aquarium.
One knee.
Serious.
Her chest tightened again.
Maybe it made sense.
Jinhai and Lui Ran.
They were from the same world. Same industry. They had so much in common.
She was just...
A commoner. A thorn in his side.
She inhaled slowly.
Maybe they were meant for each other.
Maybe what she felt had just been…
proximity. Gratitude. Misplaced comfort.
She had no right to feel bitter.
No right to feel hurt.
Her lips curved into a small, controlled smile.
Fine.
She would stop.
She would draw the line properly this time.
Professional. Polite. Acquaintances.
Nothing more.
From the other side of the glass, Jinhai laughed at something Kai Jin said.
The sound made her heart twist, but she swallowed it down.
"Good," Kai Jin finally said, removing his headphones. "We have Jinhai's part."
Jinhai stepped out of the booth, slightly flushed, hair falling over his forehead.
"Your turn," he said, softer now.
Lily stood.
Before she reached the microphone, something flew toward her.
She caught it instinctively.
A bottle of water.
"You'll need it," Jinhai said. "High notes get dry."
She looked at him.
And smiled.
Not the distant one.
A smaller, warmer one.
"Thank you."
Then she turned away.
Jinhai blinked.
Was she… back to normal?
Or was that just politeness?
He couldn't tell.
Lily stepped into the booth.
Headphones on.
Lyrics in hand.
Kai Jin's voice came through the monitor. "Relax your shoulders. Don't chase the note. Let it come to you."
She nodded.
The instrumental began.
Soft piano.
A subtle string swell.
She closed her eyes.
And sang.
Her voice wasn't as powerful as Jinhai's.
But it carried something else.
Fragility.
Emotion.
A quiet ache threaded through every word.
Jinhai leaned forward unconsciously, resting his forearms on the console table, watching her through the glass.
He gave her a small thumbs-up when she hit the first high note.
She saw it.
From the corner of her eye.
Her heart stumbled.
Don't look at him.
If she met his gaze, she would forget the lyrics.
So she kept her eyes fixed forward.
Focused.
Professional.
But her voice trembled, just slightly, on a line about unspoken love.
Kai Jin noticed.
"Again," he said gently.
She nodded.
This time steadier.
Jinhai stayed quiet, but he never stopped watching.
Never stopped silently cheering her on.
And just as she finished the final note, the studio door opened.
The studio door swung open.
A short, stocky man hurried in, clutching a thick stack of papers to his chest like they might fly away if he loosened his grip. His breathing was slightly uneven, and he scanned the room quickly before heading straight for Jinhai.
Jinhai turned when he heard the footsteps.
The moment he saw the man, his face lit up.
"Feng Qian!" he called out warmly. "Where have you been hiding? It's been ages!"
The man stopped in front of him and bowed deeply.
Too deeply.
Jinhai's smile faded slightly.
"Hey, hey," he said, reaching out to pull him upright. "What's with the formalities?"
Feng Qian straightened slowly.
Up close, Jinhai could see it clearly now.
The man looked exhausted. His eyes were red-rimmed, his usually neat hair slightly disheveled.
Something was wrong.
"What happened, Feng?" Jinhai asked, his voice softer now.
Feng Qian hesitated, gripping the papers tighter.
"Jinhai… I'm afraid I won't be able to continue working as your manager."
The words landed like a stone in still water.
Jinhai blinked.
"What?"
"I'm really sorry," Feng Qian continued quickly, bowing again. "My mother… she's very ill. She lives alone in our village, and I'm her only child. The doctors say she may not have much time left. I need to be there for her."
The room fell quiet.
Jinhai studied him for a moment.
Then he placed a firm hand on Feng Qian's shoulder.
"I understand."
Feng Qian looked up in surprise.
"You should go to her," Jinhai said simply. "Take care of your mother. Nothing is more important than that."
"But my job..."
"I'll keep your position open," Jinhai interrupted gently. "If it takes months, it takes months. If you need a year, take a year. I'll hire someone temporarily."
Feng Qian's eyes immediately filled with tears.
"You really are the best boss."
Jinhai grimaced. "For the last time, stop calling me boss."
Feng Qian laughed weakly, wiping his eyes.
"I should leave now."
"I'll walk you down," Jinhai said. "Come on."
The two of them left the studio together.
Twenty minutes later, the recording session wrapped up.
Headphones were removed. Equipment powered down. Staff began packing things up.
Producer Kai Jin walked over to Lily, holding his phone.
"You have a very interesting tone," he said thoughtfully.
Lily blinked. "Thank you, Producer."
"We may work together again," he continued, already opening his contacts. "Give me your number."
For a second Lily wondered if she had heard correctly.
Her heart practically burst.
"Of course!"
They exchanged numbers.
When he left, Lily stood there for a moment grinning like an idiot.
This can't be real.
The legendary Kai Jin had just saved her contact.
After the last technician left, the studio finally fell quiet.
Lily pulled out her phone.
She turned toward the microphone that had just recorded her first professional song and lifted the camera.
"This deserves a picture," she murmured to herself.
She angled the phone carefully.
Click
The studio door suddenly opened.
Lily jumped.
The photo came out completely blurry.
She lowered the phone slowly.
Please don't let anyone have seen that.
A laugh exploded behind her.
"Were you taking pictures with the mic?" Jinhai said between laughs. "That's adorable. Should we take one together next?"
Lily frowned instantly.
She moved toward the door to leave.
But Jinhai stepped inside and leaned against it, blocking the exit.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Warmer.
He crossed his arms and looked down at her, his expression curious.
"What?" Lily muttered, her throat strangely tight.
"You tell me," he said. His eyes searched her face carefully. "You've been upset with me since the elevator."
Her stomach twisted.
"Was it something I said?" he asked.
"No."
"Did you get lost because I didn't wait for you?"
"No, I-"
"I ran into my friend after a long time," Jinhai rushed to explain. "I walked him to the studio. I was going to come back for you, I swear. I didn't kno-"
"It's not that, Jinhai," Lily interrupted, "That's a very petty reason to be angry."
"Then what is it?" he asked quietly.
His voice softened.
"Tell me. We're friends, aren't we? Friends don't hide things from each other."
The words hit her like a punch to the chest.
She caught him gulp and let out a shaky breath from his mouth as he looked to the floor and squeezed his eyes for a fraction of a second as if punishing himself.
Friends don't hide things.
How ironic.
When he was hiding the biggest thing of all.
And maybe, from his reaction just now, he knew that he was hiding something from her.
Lily inhaled slowly.
Fine.
If he wouldn't say it himself, she would make him.
"What were you doing last night?" she asked.
Jinhai blinked.
"What?"
He looked like she had pulled out the carpet from under his feet. He had been at a shoot and had rushed home to save his brother from his father's wrath after his brothers disastrous 1st dinner with Lily.
"Had she found out. No no no... " was all Jinhai could think as he looked at her frozen.
And just then, the universe had its way of doing things because the lights went out.
The studio plunged into complete darkness.