Chapter Nineteen: Let Me Set the Record Straight First

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“Wow, I heard you wrote the lyrics in five minutes and arranged the music in ten!”
“What’s wrong? Was it difficult?”
“Don’t say that, it’s infuriating!”
“Actually, I just threw the lyrics together! She wanted me to make a fool of myself, saying she’d teach me how to kiss, but when she realized I wasn’t afraid, she got shy instead. Ridiculous... so I just scribbled something down to get her to leave!”
“Come on! Those lyrics are beautiful! Everyone praised them and said they were amazing!”
“When you make your new album, I’ll write you some lyrics too!”
“Sure! I’ll definitely come to you! But not just one song—I want you to help me create several! You know I love R&B. My last album wasn’t very successful… but I still want to do it!”
“Then forget it, just ignore what I said!”
“Hey… Deer…”
“But I don’t want to write songs for others!”
“Please help me, just one kiss, okay?”
“Oh my… you… rumors like that are deadly!”

It was the afternoon of April 4th, at the Stones Records event room. Today, the production team of Su Huilun’s new album was hosting a gathering—rumor has it that Stones often holds such small events where everyone can come casually to eat, take some snacks, and relax.

The so-called “hosting” meant laying out some pastries, egg tarts, fruits, chocolates, and the like—a so-called cold buffet party that didn’t cost much at all. Lin Jianlu hadn’t planned to come; after filming the MV for “Fairy Tale” yesterday, he had a day off today before flying to Hong Kong early the next morning. But Chen Shuhua called to invite him, so he showed up.

Once there, he got stuck with someone, whispering in a corner of the event room.

At Stones, two major rumors were flying around: first, Lin Jianlu’s first kiss was just taken by Liu Ruoying, yet he remained a virgin, very timid; beautiful ladies who like delicate, shy handsome guys should hurry up—there’s a chance. Second, Su Huilun exchanged one kiss for an elite set of lyrics, really cheap!

What kind of nonsense rumors are these!

“There are so many people here, I want to make a solemn statement to dispel rumors: my lyrics are not sold that cheaply, don’t think you can exchange a kiss for one of my songs... that’s a rumor!”

The event room wasn’t very big but nearly a hundred square meters, furnished casually with sofas and coffee tables scattered around like little salons. Over thirty people were eating and chatting inside.

As soon as Lin Jianlu spoke, the room erupted in laughter.

Everyone knew the rumors were false; it was just a joke. But everyone also knew that Lin Jianlu’s solemn denial was another joke in itself—it was really quite hilarious.

Su Huilun’s rare flush of embarrassment spread across her face.

When Lin Jianlu looked her way, she made a fierce face and shook her fist.

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“Deer, please help me!”
“Last time you said we’re already good friends! Write a few songs for me!”
“Let’s start with an EP, okay? If you help me, I think Brother Duan will even agree to let me make a full R&B album. But if you don’t help, he probably won’t agree at all. But an EP is doable!”

Oh dear… it seemed like the song “Lemon Tree” had triggered a broken-window effect, but before anyone else could speak, Chen Shuhua clung to him.

Can’t shake her off.

They had talked before, and even Old Xue mentioned it—at a small gathering at Li Zongsheng’s house, they discussed it.

Chen Shuhua had been obsessed with R&B for the past two years, desperately wanting to make a full R&B style album!

But within the company, none of the big shots were proficient in R&B.

Luo Dayou started with folk music; his later works were grand and sweeping, a kind of transcendent, culturally profound mastery. One could say his opening move carried the aura of a grandmaster.

Li Zongsheng’s specialty was in-depth understanding of women’s hearts; he was known online as the “godfather of scoundrels.” His love songs hit the mark every time—deeply affectionate, utterly soothing, truly sincere!

Xiao Chong also excelled at love songs, especially urban male love ballads.

Chen Sheng was similar—the so-called pop music has two main tracks: teenage pop and adult ballads. If they weren’t skilled at these, they wouldn’t be big names!

R&B as a musical style had been popular in America for more than a couple of years, but only in recent years did it start becoming a trend and a mainstream path. More and more Chinese-language music industry professionals were paying attention, many interested, but hardly anyone could write or produce it well.

Hence, Chen Shuhua had to look outside. Last year, she released an album called “Shuhua in Bloom,” featuring five songs—including “Love Deeper,” “Magic,” and “Neither Lover Nor Friend”—created and produced by a young man who had just returned from abroad. That person was named Tao Zhe.

The market response was not very good.

In some respects, it could even be considered a setback for Chen Shuhua, who had been at her peak in recent years. Musicians noticed, and gradually record companies and singers began experimenting, seeing R&B as one of the future development directions. But at present, the Chinese-language record audience was not very receptive.

Or rather, the Sinicized version of R&B was only just beginning, and no truly mature works had emerged to captivate audiences—right now in the Chinese pop scene, there were very, very few people who understood R&B, who could skillfully use R&B techniques to write songs that Chinese listeners liked.

It could almost be said there were none.

After all, Tao Zhe was not a singer and far from mature—just a behind-the-scenes producer tagged as “up-and-coming.”

As for that man… well, when he steps into the music scene, it might feel like a force has been stripped away?

But probably not, he’s talented!

I’ll just steal all his good songs, force him to write more great works, then I’ll learn and travel back in time, back to the original 2025… ah, people really need to time travel more…

*Clears throat*… got a bit off track.

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Because of this market situation, both Stones Records’ internal positioning and the industry’s evaluation after “Shuhua in Bloom” were that this album was an exploratory, experimental avant-garde record.

So you see, the princess!

No one blamed her! The company, critics, and fans all pampered her, allowing her to experiment, to have a flop album—it’s okay, come back, come back!

But Chen Shuhua refused to admit defeat; she still wanted to do R&B!

First, because she really liked it; second, she believed she had reached a peak singing adult ballads. Continuing on that path meant purely waiting for big names like Luo Dayou or Li Zongsheng to feed her more songs on their level—hits like “Awakening from a Dream” or “Rolling Red Dust”—to revive her glory. Otherwise, no further breakthrough or progress was possible.

But come on, Luo Dayou and Li Zongsheng were the only two giants in Chinese pop over the past twenty years, and their works were not always on the level of “Rolling Red Dust.” Otherwise, those would just be representative works, not the norm. Meanwhile, countless singers surrounded them, waiting to be fed…

So a transformation was necessary.

Caught in a dilemma.

What a coincidence—just at this moment, Chen Shuhua, exhausted and overwhelmed, suddenly encountered someone from the distant mainland. Listening to his album, she thought, “Oh my, isn’t this R&B!” And it sounded so good, without the awkwardness of American R&B forced into Chinese!

After getting to know him, she found out this man was not only talented and handsome but also witty and humorous, making people feel instantly comfortable and joyful working with him.

The key was... someone had broken the window!

Within five minutes of receiving the tune, he scribbled lyrics for Su Huilun on the spot.

That line, “A lonely afternoon, when the wind makes every tree want to dance,” was exquisitely beautiful. Of course, they had to talk more, “Help me out, three songs, just three, okay…”

Lin Jianlu leaned in as if to whisper something private.

Chen Shuhua, delighted, hurried over as well.

“Next time I come over, you have to pick me up at the airport!”

“Sure! No problem!”

“Don’t wear that long dress today, wear those tight jeans you wore last time!”

“Huh? Why?”

“Don’t ask why! Just say yes or no!”

“Yes, no problem!”