CHAPTER 93: CHAPTER 89: CHU TIAN, ENTHUSIASTIC PLAYER

Looking at Chu Tian’s innocent face, Xu Qingqiu felt completely deflated, and her voice lowered significantly.

"Chu Tian, are you really not Youmeng?"

"Huh? Youmeng? Are you looking for Youmeng? How could I possibly be him?!"

"Isn’t he the one who writes songs for you? Don’t you know who he is either?"

Xu Qingqiu pouted in annoyance and said, "How would I know? He always appears and disappears mysteriously. I thought he was..."

"Thought he was what?"

"Hmph~ It’s nothing. Let’s go back."

"Oh, okay. But do you really need to go to such lengths to find Youmeng? Hiding in the bushes in the middle of the night—quite an idea you had there."

"It’s just me. Imagine if it were someone else. What if they had a heart condition or something? That would be a big problem, wouldn’t it?"

Along the way, Chu Tian babbled incessantly. Xu Qingqiu, already in a bad mood, finally couldn’t stand it anymore.

"Oh, stop it! How would I know what you were doing in the office in the middle of the night instead of being home?"

"I fell asleep there!"

"You’re unbelievable, Chu Tian! Anyway, have you eaten yet?"

"Not yet. Are you treating?"

"..."

As the two walked away, the commotion gradually settled down.

Little did they both know, each harbored their own calculations.

After parting ways post-dinner, Chu Tian watched Xu Qingqiu leave and smugly curled his lip.

This girl, trying to catch me in the act! Luckily, I noticed in time, and fortunate that I didn’t rush to send the rest of the songs. Otherwise, I might have really been exposed today.

Originally, he planned to write a few songs from his memory for her to help compile an album. However, he then felt there was no need. Bypassing the system like that wouldn’t grant him any Reputation Points. Right now, he wasn’t in any particular need to spend money; rather, he needed more Reputation Points. So, why bother going to the trouble of writing songs for her himself? In a few days, Xu Qingqiu’s recorded songs would be released, which would bring another wave of Reputation Points. He could directly exchange them for finished products—lyrics, sheet music, arrangements, demos, everything would be included. Wouldn’t that be much easier than him painstakingly composing the tunes and laboriously creating the musical accompaniment? He wasn’t a masochist looking for trouble. Was he stupid?

Shaking his head, Chu Tian walked towards home, his pace slow and Youyou.

Meanwhile, Xu Qingqiu, driving back, was also not at peace.

For some reason, I didn’t meet Youmeng today, but it doesn’t matter; I have plenty of time. From past indications, Youmeng is most likely to appear at night. He even left a message saying he’d send a few more songs. Plus, he hasn’t taken the bank card for the money transfer yet. One way or another, he’ll have to make a trip, right? Given this, I don’t believe I can’t catch him!

Xu Qingqiu gripped the steering wheel tightly, psyching herself up. The gloom on her face was swept away, as if she could already see herself meeting Youmeng.

「...」

The next morning, as soon as Chu Tian arrived at the office, he saw workers bustling about at the entrance.

Xu Qingqiu stood beside them, arms crossed, enthusiastically directing their work.

"What’s going on here?"

Upon hearing Chu Tian’s voice, Xu Qingqiu glanced at him, eagerly pulling him over to explain, "See? I called last night and arranged for the latest wireless charging surveillance!"

"It comes with its own battery, doesn’t need a network, has its own signal, and can be used even when the power’s out. Plus, there’s only one corridor here, so you can see whoever comes through. How Is It? Pretty impressive, huh!"

"Impressive, very impressive..."

Chu Tian forced a bitter smile, feeling utterly helpless.

Was it really necessary? Installing cameras inside the company was one thing, but outside too? All this wireless and charging technology, just to find Youmeng? Anyone in the know would understand she wanted to find out who he was. People who didn’t know any better might think she was trying to catch some notorious fugitive. Her dragnet is even tighter than the Heavenly Net, isn’t it?

Now Chu Tian was really in a bind. If she gets these installed, doesn’t that mean I can’t send her songs? Or rather, if I do, I’ll basically be exposing myself the moment I make a move? Isn’t that a bit too unsportsmanlike?

"Boss..."

"Hmm? What’s up? Do you think I’m really impressive?"

"Ah? Yeah, it’s impressive. But, you know, one camera after another... isn’t that inappropriate? After all, those people installing the cameras... who knows what kind of people they are."

"Have you ever seen a celebrity’s studio with surveillance cameras?"

That was indeed a fact. Normally, celebrity studios were completely devoid of any surveillance equipment.

Cameras used to be installed, but after too many incidents, both domestically and internationally, celebrities were constantly embroiled in scandals leaked from studio surveillance.

Some people were so unscrupulous that if a celebrity met another male or female star in the studio, it would be headlines the next day.

After all, with the development of the internet, who knew how many people were watching behind a camera? To install cameras, it was necessary to network with the relevant departments, and the installation companies also had access to the feed, which meant there was virtually no confidentiality.

So, eventually, celebrity studios generally banned any surveillance equipment. This was true in Chu Tian’s original world, and it was the same in this world. That was why Xu Qingqiu’s studio initially had no cameras.

Because it was too invasive of privacy, Sister Hua had strongly objected when Xu Qingqiu decided to install them. However, Xu Qingqiu had stood her ground in the end.

Faced with Chu Tian’s question, Xu Qingqiu casually waved her hand and said with a smile, "I thought about that, so I had the inside ones removed. Just keeping this outside one is enough, right?"

What does she mean, ’just keeping the outside one’? That’s even worse than having them inside! It’s just this one corridor; anyone who comes will be seen.

"It’s almost set up; it’s already lit up. See that red light? They said that with that light, it can see clearly even in pitch darkness!"

Watching Xu Qingqiu boasting with such pride, Chu Tian almost laughed out of frustration.

Alright, so she wants to play it this way, huh? I refuse to believe it!

Originally, he hadn’t cared much. If he was exposed, so be it; he would just ask her to keep it a secret.

But seeing Xu Qingqiu like this, it was clear she was hooked. This wasn’t about catching Youmeng anymore; she was treating it like a game.

This approach of hers actually ignited Chu Tian’s competitive spirit, something he hadn’t felt in a long time.

You think this is quite fun, don’t you? In that case, let’s really play! You have your Strategy, and I have my counter-tactics. It’s just surveillance, right? Let’s see if it really works!

"No wonder it’s high-tech; this surveillance is really impressive!"

"Right? This is what they call ’The Heavenly Net is vast, but it misses nothing!’"

"Alright then, Boss, you carry on. I’ve got to slip out..."

"Where are you going?"

"To work, what else? You don’t expect me to stay here and watch people install cameras, do you?"

"What work? It’s almost done anyway. Come with me to record a song; there’s still one left!"

"Oh right, there’s still one more song. Let’s go then."