"Then, one final question: what kind of person is Mr. Mu Zi'ang?"
In Shanghai, a flagship talk show hosted by the renowned Luo Xin was recording a new episode. The hot celebrity Luo Xin had invited this time was Chen Yijie, a Hong Kong artist who had become wildly popular across the country.
"We all know that Mu Zi'ang is a very mysterious songwriter. Not only has he hidden his personal information on the copyright protection association's website, but he's also kept his other unreleased songs under wraps," Luo Xin explained to the camera.
She was nearly fifty but had aged gracefully. On stage, she still radiated brilliance, elegance, and intellect, which continued to earn her male fans across different age groups.
"A songwriter this talented, who can still hold onto his inner peace and refuse to be disturbed by the outside world—it's truly rare in our entertainment industry today. So we're very curious: what kind of person is he?" Luo Xin said with a smile.
Chen Yijie scratched at his hair, which his stylist had made somewhat trendy. In private, he wasn't someone who paid much attention to his appearance, so as he scratched, his hair got a bit messy. He wondered if the stylist backstage wanted to kill him.
"How should I put it? I've been entrusted by Mr. Mu Zi'ang not to disclose his personal information to the public," Chen Yijie said, looking a bit troubled.
"That's fine! We can talk about some trivial details within acceptable limits, right? It's also to fulfill the wishes of so many fans!" Luo Xin laughed.
The audience invited for the show were students from a nearby film and television academy. They got to enjoy the program up close while also playing the role of planted audience members, so they unhesitatingly shouted, "Right!"
"Alright, alright!" Chen Yijie clasped his hands together and smiled. "Since I'm on Luo Xin's show, I have to give something up. How about this: you ask, and I'll answer what I can. If I can't, I'll sing a song to make up for it, okay?"
This had all been discussed beforehand, and Chen Yijie was following the script.
"Okay, Mu Zi'ang is 'Mr.,' so he's definitely male. But let me make a small guess first. From his lyrics, the emotions expressed are quite deep, full of the melancholy charm of a mature man! Of course, our Eason's performance is also outstanding!" Luo Xin laughed. "So I guess Mr. Mu Zi'ang should be a middle-aged man. Am I right?"
This was something he could say. Chen Yijie shook his head with a smile and said, "No, Mr. Mu Zi'ang is a young man! Much younger than me!"
"Oh, a young man! Then his fans are really lucky!" Luo Xin pretended to be exaggerated, which drew cheers from the female audience, as if they were thrilled to hear Mu Zi'ang was young.
"He's relatively young, but also very steady. You can tell from his lyrics," Chen Yijie added.
"Is Mu Zi'ang handsome?" In the camera, Luo Xin acted like a fangirl, her eyes seemingly sparkling as she pressed on.
"Handsome! He's even more handsome than me!" Chen Yijie answered without hesitation, then laughed at himself.
"Oh, Eason, don't sell yourself short! You're the most handsome in my eyes!" Luo Xin laughed too. The show's effect was perfect!
To be honest, Chen Yijie wasn't really associated with handsomeness. Compared to the Four Heavenly Kings of Hong Kong, he had climbed to the throne purely through his singing voice. When he said someone else was more handsome, everyone laughed knowingly.
"Let me ask a side question: I'm still puzzled. Since he's a young man who's both handsome and musically talented, why would he choose to hide his identity instead of seizing this good opportunity to debut? We all know that in the entertainment industry, countless young people are desperate to break in, but they don't have Mu Zi'ang's current popularity, nor do they get the attention of entertainment companies," Luo Xin asked.
At this point, the audience fell silent, all eyes fixed on Chen Yijie. They were among the young people Luo Xin mentioned—eager to enter the entertainment industry but lacking a way in.
"Could it be because he's been hurt by love?" Luo Xin asked. "This song seems to tell a very painful story of a breakup."
"Regarding matters of the heart, that's quite personal. I haven't asked Mr. Mu Zi'ang about it. But as for why he didn't choose this path, I think everyone has their own aspirations?" Chen Yijie paused thoughtfully before saying, "When we met at his shop, Mr. Mu Zi'ang gave me the feeling of a recluse. Sorry, I need to use Cantonese to express this: he's a master who hides his greatness in the city!"
"Maybe his past isn't simple either. Perhaps elsewhere, he's experienced great upheavals, but now Mr. Mu Zi'ang truly enjoys his peace and the joy of being accompanied by music."
Luo Xin, being the seasoned host she was, immediately caught the clue in Chen Yijie's words and pressed on abruptly: "His shop? What kind of shop did Mu Zi'ang open in Jiangcheng?"
"He, ah, opened a shop in Jiangcheng... Mm!" Chen Yijie had just been getting emotional and nearly blurted out the answer to Luo Xin's question. Luckily, he caught himself quickly and covered his mouth. "Luo Xin, you tricked me! I can't reveal any more of this!"
Luo Xin made a frustrated expression, spread her hands, and said to the camera, "Mu Zi'ang's fans, I can only help you this far! Mu Zi'ang has opened a shop in Jiangcheng. Look carefully, and you might just find it!"
"Alright, since you can't say, Eason, you'll have to sing as a penalty!" Luo Xin laughed.
"No problem! What does everyone want to hear?" Chen Yijie was carefree as he stood up from the sofa, microphone in hand.
No need to guess—the audience was already shouting!
After all, what other Mandarin song from Chen Yijie's new album could everyone understand?
The scene shifted. The interview sofa was removed, revealing a spacious stage. Under the skilled hands of the lighting technician, it transformed into a small concert hall. Surrounding accompaniment began to play, and Luo Xin swayed along with the standing audience below...
"I came to your city..." Chen Yijie stood center stage, opening his voice with deep emotion.
...
At this point, it was already past eleven at night. Xixi had long since fallen asleep. Yang Yi, after his usual "transcribing" of some drafts in the study, turned off the computer and walked out.
"Huh?" The living room was still brightly lit. Yang Yi walked over and saw a solitary silhouette standing on the large balcony.