Volume Two: Shadows of the Past Chapter Twenty-Eight: Molly’s Dependence

Lin Xi and Lin Zitan had naturally heard Zhang Qishan’s invitation to Chen Jing as well.

Lin Zitan had hoped Chen Jing would turn it down. She truly felt that taking on this kind of role was far too dangerous. But she also knew it was an excellent opportunity for him. Especially now that Chen Jing was planning to step into film and television, refusing it outright would mean missing out on a rare opening.

Seeing Chen Jing look her way, Lin Zitan pressed her lips together and said nothing. Instead, she turned to Lin Xi beside her. Since she did not know what to do, she would leave the decision to Sister Xi.

Lin Xi was not particularly opposed to Chen Jing accepting Zhang Qishan’s invitation. She glanced at Chen Jing too and found him looking back at her. Their eyes met briefly.

After a moment’s thought, Lin Xi said, “Director Zhang, we are certainly honored that you would go out of your way to design a role for A Jing and invite him to your production. But you know that Chen Jing’s main focus is still music. We do not want him getting hurt on set. So I hope you can agree to one condition: the scenes arranged for him must not be as dangerous as today’s. Even if there are any, they must be done by a stunt double.”

Zhang Qishan nodded. He could still guarantee that much. “Of course. Nothing as dangerous as today will happen again; I can promise you that. For the rest of the shoot, Chen Jing will only need to film some ordinary dialogue scenes. He will not need to handle any more explosive sequences.”

Hearing Zhang Qishan’s firm assurance, Lin Xi finally relaxed and said with a smile, “All right, then thank you, Director Zhang, for giving Chen Jing this opportunity.”

Zhang Qishan waved a hand and laughed. “Haha, it is hardly patronage. It is just a mutual collaboration. Maybe I will even borrow Chen Jing’s popularity to help promote the film later.”

Seeing that Lin Xi had agreed, Chen Jing was naturally delighted as well. When he heard Zhang Qishan mention borrowing his popularity for promotion, an idea flickered through his mind. Smiling, he said, “Director Zhang, how about this—does your film already have its score?”

“Oh? Not yet. Why? Do you have an idea?”

Chen Jing grinned. “Heh, if you trust me, why not let me handle the score? That way it counts as a collaboration, and the film’s promotion will have even more buzz.”

After hearing Chen Jing’s suggestion, Zhang Qishan fell into thought. In truth, he had already lined up a music team; it was just that the film had only just begun shooting, so the score had not been done yet. If he agreed to Chen Jing’s idea, he would have to let the other team down.

Still, having Chen Jing personally compose the score did sound worth disappointing one other team for. At worst, he could forfeit the deposit or treat them to a meal later. After all, with Chen Jing’s current standing in the music world, countless people would jump at the chance to work with him and never get it.

Thinking of this, Zhang Qishan decisively nodded. “All right. Then the film’s score will be in your hands, A Jing.”

“Great. No problem. Then on set, I’ll have to trouble Director Zhang to look after me.”

“Haha, absolutely. It’ll be a pleasure working together!”

“Pleasure working together!”

After the meal, since Chen Jing had also had a bit to drink, Lin Zitan drove him back to the apartment.

“Remember to be careful when filming on set. Don’t push yourself. Leave any dangerous shots to the stunt double. And when there are explosive scenes, keep a good distance from the blast point. Who knows whether the effects crew might have another accident...” On the way back, Lin Zitan kept chattering away with reminders as she drove.

Chen Jing sat obediently in the passenger seat, nodding all the while with the meek look of a good listener. Since he was earnestly taking instruction right now, he naturally had to behave a little more docile.

Lin Xi sat in the back seat, watching the two of them with interest. That kind of warm, family-like atmosphere was something she had never experienced before.

By the time they got back to the apartment, it was already past ten. Chen Jing opened the door and found Zhang Jingzhi watching television in the living room.

“You’re back, A Jing,” Zhang Jingzhi said with a smile. Since returning from the Imperial Court headquarters with Chen Jing, she had been staying here with him. It was also to help look after Molly, since Chen Jing truly had very little time to spend with her.

Because Zhang Jingzhi’s ability had already reached the level of a fourth-rank controller, the Imperial Court had agreed to let her join. She was now one of their outside members.

For the time being, the Imperial Court was still in the process of familiarizing her with everything, so she did not need to do much. In truth, higher-ups had specifically instructed that she do nothing at all and simply stay at Chen Jing’s home to care for Molly. Otherwise, she would already have been sent off for formal training.

“Jingzhi, is Molly asleep?” Chen Jing asked quietly as he entered the living room.

“Yes. She only fell asleep a little while ago.”

“Oh, I’ll go check on her.” With that, Chen Jing headed into Molly’s bedroom.

He switched on the light and saw Molly lying quietly in bed.

Walking to the bedside, Chen Jing gently stroked her head.

“Daddy.” Molly opened her sleepy eyes and called out when she saw him.

Seeing her wake, Chen Jing apologized softly. “Lily, did I wake you? I’m sorry.”

Molly shook her head, then turned over, got out of bed, and nestled into Chen Jing’s arms, falling back into a deep sleep. Chen Jing looked down at her in his arms, his gaze especially tender.

Ever since they returned from the Imperial Court headquarters, Molly had begun calling him Daddy. Her obedient, sweet little manner made Chen Jing want to stay by her side every moment of the day.

But he knew he could not let Molly become too dependent on him. He did not even know how much longer he could remain with her. If all of her feelings were tied to him and he were gone one day, how heartbroken would she be?

Now that he had finally eased some of the wounds in her heart, he could not allow them to deepen again. Chen Jing still hoped that even without him, Molly could grow up healthy and happy. That was why, as a precaution, he had Zhang Jingzhi stay and help care for Molly all this time. He wanted Molly to have another person to lean on emotionally. Then if the day ever came when he truly had to leave, Molly would not be left alone and helpless. At the very least, Sister Jingzhi would still be there to comfort her...

The next day, just after Chen Jing finished breakfast and was about to head to the set, he received a call from Huang Wenhao.

“Hello, Brother Hao. Morning!”

“Morning, A Jing. Are you free right now? I’ve already finished recording Lonely Sandbar, Cold. Do you want to come listen to it?”

Chen Jing was surprised. “That fast?”

“Had to be. We’re planning to release it tomorrow night, so of course we had to move quickly.”

Huang Wenhao intended to release Lonely Sandbar, Cold as a single. He could not wait around to make a full album. Producing an album would require about ten songs, and he could not find that many tracks of even roughly the same quality as Lonely Sandbar, Cold in such a short time. Besides, he had no patience left. He urgently needed to release a song to maintain his popularity; it had been far too long since he put out any real hit, and his fans were practically starting to forget him.

So after discussing it with Chen Jing, they decided only to avoid colliding with Ling Ruohan’s album release next week. He might as well release it in the next couple of days and not wait any longer.

“Tomorrow night? Didn’t you say the day after tomorrow?”

On the other end of the line, Huang Wenhao shrugged. “We decided to move it up by a day. Otherwise next week would be Ruohan’s album release, and that will definitely be when her album is hottest. So if I can move mine up by a day, I will.”

“All right. Wait for me, I’m coming over.” Chen Jing hung up and decided not to go to the set just yet. After all, he had no scenes today. The only reason he had wanted to go was to see more, gain some on-set experience. It would not count as breaking a promise; he could just call Zhang Qishan and tell him he would be at the set in the afternoon.

When he arrived at the company, Chen Jing went straight to the recording studio.

“A Jing, you’re here?” Huang Wenhao greeted him with a smile.

Chen Jing nodded to Huang Wenhao and his assistant beside him, Li Xinru. “Brother Hao, Sister Li.”

“Come, come. Hurry and see whether the song I recorded sounds good.” Huang Wenhao pulled him eagerly into the studio.

Helplessly, Chen Jing followed him inside.

After listening to the finished track once, it was fine. There was no real difference from the version in his previous life.

Chen Jing took off the headphones, nodded at Huang Wenhao, and smiled. “It’s good, Brother Hao. The recording turned out very well. Your singing is still as strong as ever.”

Hearing Chen Jing approve of the finished work, Huang Wenhao finally let out a breath of relief, then grinned proudly. “Heh heh, of course. I’m still in my prime, all right? I’m nowhere near being past my peak.”

Chen Jing winked at him. “Haha, Brother Hao really is still sharp and unreduced, isn’t he?”

Beside them, Li Xinru blushed. She always felt that Chen Jing was implying something.

Huang Wenhao coughed awkwardly twice. “Ahem, naturally.” He of course understood what Chen Jing was hinting at. They were both old hands at this.

“The song is being released tomorrow night, right? Then later I’ll also help promote it on my Weibo.”

“Okay. Thanks, A Jing.” Huang Wenhao patted Chen Jing on the shoulder. He would remember this favor.

Chen Jing shrugged. “No big deal.”

After taking care of Huang Wenhao’s song, Chen Jing was about to return to his office when, just as he stepped out of the recording studio, he ran straight into Li Manru and her assistant.

Li Manru also saw Chen Jing coming out of the studio and hesitated for a moment. In the end, she still smiled pleasantly and said, “A Jing, what a coincidence. You’re here too.”

She was no longer as haughty toward Chen Jing as before.

In just two months, Chen Jing’s status had become entirely different from before. Perhaps as a singer alone, he would not have been enough for Li Manru to treat him this way. But Chen Jing also had the identity of a composer, and that was what made Li Manru have no choice but to treat him with courtesy.