Though still working for the boss, this was the feeling of being valued by him.
Zhong Ziyan took the pen Fang Nan handed over and signed her name in one swift stroke, showing no hesitation.
This was practically the company rewarding its top employee with a quarterly bonus—why refuse?
"Is this the gift you mentioned yesterday?" she asked as she handed the folder back to Fang Nan.
"Just a whim," Wei Hanyun replied.
Fang Nan then passed Zhong Ziyan a second folder, noticeably thicker than the first.
Zhong Ziyan’s heart raced like a six-year-old sprinting toward a Christmas tree on Christmas morning. Holding her breath, she opened the folder and was immediately met with the words "private jet."
"A private jet!" Zhong Ziyan’s hands trembled slightly. "The kind where the entire interior looks like first class?"
"If you prefer a helicopter, we can switch."
Zhong Ziyan was deeply moved but refused. "A private jet is perfect." Military helicopters had lost their novelty, often coming with life-or-death risks.
A private jet, however, was the ultimate status symbol for the ultra-wealthy.
"There’s more," Wei Hanyun prompted.
Zhong Ziyan flipped through a few more pages and found a yacht listed next.
She discreetly glanced at the price tag—28 million.
Zhong Ziyan: "..." No wonder the boss had been hung up on the 428 yuan she spent yesterday. She’d been dragging down his prestige.
With these two major items setting the tone, the rest of the miscellaneous gifts didn’t feel as overwhelming.
Still, she couldn’t help asking, "Why are you suddenly giving me all this?"
"You only bought the island. I’m just filling in the necessary additions," Wei Hanyun explained considerately. "Or should we hold the wedding there?"
"A wedding on the island?" Zhong Ziyan hadn’t given the wedding much thought and paused to imagine it. "We’re actually having a wedding?"
For a contractual marriage, wasn’t a quick certificate enough?
"Yes," Wei Hanyun answered succinctly.
Zhong Ziyan had no qualms about fulfilling reasonable requests from her boss. "Why the island? We could do it on land too."
Wei Hanyun smiled meaningfully. "After all, it’s the island you bought for me—bearing my name."
Zhong Ziyan understood. This was about flaunting a love that didn’t exist. "No problem."
When the car pulled over at a stopping zone, Zhong Ziyan glanced back to see another vehicle silently halting behind them, clearly signaling a parting of ways.
Clutching the folder, she opened the door and bid Wei Hanyun goodbye, not feeling the least bit like she was being kicked out.
If being "kicked out" came with a deluge of property deeds, Zhong Ziyan hoped it would happen daily until Wei Hanyun ran out of gifts.
"Have fun with your side job," Wei Hanyun said as a final remark.
Zhong Ziyan cheerfully boarded the second car, stroking the folder in her hands. Of course—she was now the largest shareholder of Houtu Entertainment.
She worked for herself.
Changes in equity couldn’t be hidden.
Even if it had happened overnight and the documents were freshly signed, the Bai family had already caught wind of it.
"Yu Qianshan’s visit was clearly for business," Bai's Father said grimly. "Who knows who the new arrival will be."
"Second Young Master Yu left without a word yesterday. Was he upset?" Bai's Second Son scratched his neck nervously. "If only Lingling had played better last night!"
Bai's Father pondered for a moment. "No rush. It’s just a new shareholder parachuting in. We’ll assess the situation once their identity is revealed. They’ll have to show up at the company eventually."
News of Houtu Entertainment’s new high-ranking executive spread like wildfire.
Even Li Ye, who usually avoided socializing, overheard the gossip. He scoffed dismissively and pushed open the recording studio door. "Any luck contacting them?"
Luo Yin, seated inside, looked up from the precious handwritten score in his hands. "Brother Xu is working on it."
Brother Xu was his excitable manager.
"Still not tired of staring at that?" Li Ye leaned against the doorway, cigarette in hand. "I told you, this isn’t a song—it’s not meant to stand alone. Barely anyone would dare write lyrics for it. Hand it back."
Luo Yin didn’t respond but dodged Li Ye’s reaching hand.
He understood that a melody alone didn’t make a song. He’d written music himself.
But this score was flawless. Luo Yin had spent a whole day trying to envision lyrics and come up empty.
Had the composer ever intended for anyone to add words? Luo Yin couldn’t help wondering.
"You’re really treating it like treasure now?" Li Ye snorted. "I already claimed this from her. Give up."
When Li Ye made a second grab, Luo Yin didn’t resist.
Watching Li Ye carefully fold the pages and tuck them into his coat like a prized possession, Luo Yin suddenly asked, "What kind of person is she?"
"An elf straight out of Lord of the Rings," Li Ye quipped.
Luo Yin: "..."
Brother Xu burst in at that moment. "I got it! I got the contact info!"
Luo Yin: "The composer?"
"No, your newest superfan!" Brother Xu beamed. "The fan club says she just joined and already spent hundreds of thousands!"
Luo Yin lowered his eyes, unimpressed.
Though not an idol, he had no interest in private interactions with fans.
"I’ll reach out right away!" Brother Xu waved his phone excitedly. "Someone who spends this lavishly might be a wealthy heiress. Building a connection could bring us resources!"
With that declaration, he rushed out again.
Li Ye let out a mocking "Ohhh~"
Luo Yin eyed him. "Director Li, if you have something to say, say it."
"Nothing to say." Li Ye raised an eyebrow, patted the score in his pocket, and returned to his workstation, cigarette dangling from his lips.
Soon after, Brother Xu stormed back in. "I got the composer’s number! The big spender said the composer’s willing to write a song for you!"
Luo Yin’s head snapped up. He pressed his lips together. "Really?"
"Absolutely!" Brother Xu thumped his chest, grinning smugly at Li Ye. "And she said Director Li should produce it."
"...Since when did I agree to this?!"
Li Ye had barely finished cursing when he pulled out his phone and angrily opened his private messages.
Sure enough, the account [Still Trying to Spend Money Today] had sent him a note: "Produce Luo Yin’s new song, and I’ll give you the remaining three chapters."
Li Ye: "..." His fists clenched.
As a renowned producer, even at the start of his career, he’d never been strong-armed like this.
But...
Li Ye took a deep breath and, for the sake of the music, replied: "Fine. Send them tomorrow."
Zhong Ziyan, online at that moment, immediately scanned and sent two files.
[Still Trying to Spend Money Today: One for you, one for Luo Yin.]
Li Ye cursed under his breath as he received the file and closed the chat window, but the moment he opened the scanned document, his stream of expletives abruptly died in his throat.
This song’s gonna blow up—Li Ye could feel it in his gut.
Having produced albums for countless A-list stars, he’d developed an almost inexplicable intuition as a producer.
Li Ye clicked print on his computer, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he glanced at Luo Yin with his one visible eye, unobscured by his bangs. “Kid, you’ve got some damn good luck.”
Luo Yin lifted his head wordlessly to look at him, his delicate features resembling those of a shoujo manga protagonist.
“This song’s for you. Take it.” Li Ye yanked the two freshly printed pages from the tray and slapped them onto the table. “I’m just the messenger.”
Brother Xu lunged forward like lightning, scooping up the sheet music as if it were treasure and tucking it protectively into his jacket. “Thank you, Director Li! So, about the production arrangements…?”
Li Ye rolled his eyes skyward. “I’ll handle it. I’ll get Song Xi to write the lyrics.”
Song Xi was the most sought-after lyricist in the industry—a notorious procrastinator, but his words were priceless, with a waiting list stretching three years.
But everyone knew Li Ye and Song Xi were close. He could cut in line.
Brother Xu eagerly stepped forward to light the man’s cigarette. “Director Li, you’re too kind.”
“Get lost.” Li Ye irritably sent another file via email, printed a copy for himself, then deleted the downloaded document.
After a moment’s thought, he opened Weibo and messaged Zhong Ziyan: “Going out of your way to help Luo Yin—you got a crush on him or something?”
[Today Also Trying to Spend Money: I’m married.]
Li Ye wasn’t particularly surprised. “Then what’s the reason?”
[Today Also Trying to Spend Money: He reminds me of an old friend.]
His curiosity satisfied, Li Ye also felt a twinge of awkwardness.
He wasn’t stupid. The way Zhong Ziyan phrased it made it clear this “friend” was either gone or estranged.
Socially inept, Li Ye hastily replied, “Got a meeting. Hit me up if you need anything.” Then he shut off his phone and fled the conversation.
On the other end, Zhong Ziyan was lost in memories.
When she first saw Luo Yin, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her.
Doppelgängers existed, sure, but she’d never seen one this uncanny before.
Luo Yin looked exactly like a teammate she’d once fought side by side with in the Infinite Space—the only difference being a few years in age.
Beyond the excuse of “fangirling burns through cash,” Zhong Ziyan’s assistance was partly an extension of affection.
After all, very, very few made it out of the Infinite Space alive. Unable to reunite with the comrades she’d trusted with her life, she couldn’t help but show a little extra favor to Luo Yin, who bore that face.
Zhong Ziyan sighed softly and closed the chat window with a click of her mouse.
Side gig done. Time for her main job.
She picked up the tablet her butler had just delivered, displaying several high-end designer proposals for the island’s renovation.
Since the wedding was to be held on Cloud Island, the entire venue—buildings, facilities, grounds—needed a complete redesign.
Zhong Ziyan took a sip of her freshly brewed milk tea, swiped to the last page of the first proposal, and glanced at the estimated cost without batting an eye.
This is it?
Not even as expensive as the private jet my boss gifted me.
