Chapter Fifty-Seven: This Chest—Something Feels Off!

Chen Fang had thought that the [Beginner Acting Card] would finally come in handy. But he didn’t agree immediately.

To be honest, though plenty of songs floated in his mind, if none fit Xi Dong’s requirements, he would be at a loss. As for relying on the system’s “loot boxes”… that was unreliable. The items from those boxes were far too random. Unless you paid a premium for custom orders, the unpredictability was just too high. No matter how you calculated it, you’d end up on the losing end.

“Uncle Xi,” Chen Fang asked, “could you give me a rough outline of the script?”

It was an awkward request, admittedly. After all, the show hadn’t even started filming yet; if the script were leaked, it could have serious consequences. But to write a fitting theme song, he needed at least some sense of the story.

Chen Fang thought this would put Xi Dong in a difficult position. Unexpectedly, Xi Dong began explaining without hesitation.

Of course, dinner shouldn’t be delayed. The two of them discussed the matter over their meal, and before long, Chen Fang had a general idea.

The script was a bit clichéd—a sprawling fantasy romance in an ancient setting. Just hearing the genre, Chen Fang felt little inclination to listen further. These kinds of dramas always shared a common flaw: weak storytelling. The appeal lay not in plot but in the attractiveness of the leads, following the well-trodden path of idol dramas.

Originally, Xi Dong hadn’t wanted to make such a show. But the higher-ups insisted this genre was immensely popular with young viewers and, more importantly, highly profitable.

“In essence, it’s a tragic love story,” Xi Dong summarized. “The main couple endures three lifetimes and countless hardships before finally coming together.”

Chen Fang felt a strange sense of familiarity. Three lifetimes? It sounded just like a certain popular show. He hadn’t read Xi Dong’s script, so he couldn’t tell if it differed from the one back on Earth, but from the description, it seemed much the same.

“What are your requirements for the song?” Chen Fang pressed on.

Xi Dong appreciated his diligence, setting aside his chopsticks. “I want a strong ancient flavor—a traditional arrangement with plenty of classic instruments. Since it’s a period piece, using too many modern instruments would feel off. Also, since the story is fundamentally a tragic romance, the song needs to carry a somber tone.”

The requirements weren’t too demanding. At least, Chen Fang didn’t find them difficult.

Seeing Chen Fang momentarily silent, Xi Dong assumed he was feeling pressured and added, “The show won’t begin filming until the latter half of the year, so there’s no rush with the theme song. Take your time.”

Chen Fang nodded. “Uncle Xi, I’ll give it a try.”

Xi Dong raised an eyebrow, smiling. “I haven’t even mentioned payment yet, and you’ve already agreed?”

Chen Fang smiled back. “I’m just a musician. As for the fee, you can discuss that with my agent.”

Xi Dong couldn’t help but laugh. Wasn’t that letting him negotiate with his own daughter? If it were anyone else, Xi Dong might have tried to haggle, but if he was dealing with his own child, he would only be tempted to raise the price. Truly, Chen Fang was a clever one.

The meal was a pleasant affair, and Chen Fang enjoyed his conversation with the whole family. Afterward, the housekeeper served tea, and Xi Dong, settling on the sofa, brought up a third matter. “Chen, would you be interested in acting?”

There it was! Chen Fang’s heart skipped a beat. It seemed the beginner acting card hadn’t been wasted after all. Still, Chen Fang felt it was too soon to cross over into acting.

“Uncle Xi, I have no plans to act for now,” Chen Fang declined.

Perhaps in the future, but not now. His focus should remain on singing; participating in variety shows was only a means to establish himself in the music scene.

Xi Yuan Yuan said nothing, respecting his decision. She, too, felt he should concentrate on his singing career. If he got greedy and tried to juggle acting as well, his music might suffer, and that would be a great loss.

Xi Dong understood, but he was genuinely interested in Chen Fang and hoped he’d give acting a try. “You have time to think. I’m preparing a film for next year—it's only June now. If you change your mind, just let Yuan Yuan know.”

Chen Fang raised an eyebrow. “You’re not worried about my acting skills, Uncle Xi?”

“With your smarts, you’ll pick things up in no time. Acting is the same—practice and experience will hone your craft,” Xi Dong replied, clearly optimistic about Chen Fang’s potential.

This surprised Chen Fang, and he felt grateful. He could tell Xi Dong truly wanted to bring him into the film world, not just as a formality.

He stayed at the Xi family’s home until evening. Xi Dong and Liu Ke tried to persuade him to stay for dinner, but Chen Fang was mindful of Ji Mei back at the villa and politely excused himself. Besides, he needed to call Pang Tong. Having been gone all day, his chubby friend was probably worried.

Night in the capital was ablaze with lights. The rain had yet to let up.

Few people were out, which spared Chen Fang the trouble of wearing a mask.

Busy times lay ahead. The official launch of “Starlight Road” was likely two weeks away, but the dating show “Let’s Fall in Love Together” would premiere in just a few days.

With this in mind, Chen Fang called Tong Qin to inform her of his participation in the dating show. She acted quickly, contacting the production team and shifting the CP (couple pairing) buzz from An Tinghan and Cheng Jie to Chen Fang and An Tinghan.

Of course, Chen Fang also called Pang Tong to let him know he was safe.

He bought a heap of food and hurried back to Ji Mei’s villa.

“I’m home,” he called as he entered the bedroom.

But there was no one there. From the bathroom, the sound of running water reached his ears.

He set down the food, slipped out of his clothes, and quietly crept toward the bathroom.

A graceful, misty silhouette was faintly visible behind the frosted glass. Chen Fang felt a bit puzzled—had Ji Mei gotten thinner? It was hard to tell from outside.

He didn’t dwell on it. After all, this was Ji Mei’s villa. There couldn’t possibly be another woman here.

Creak—the bathroom door was gently pushed open.

Naked, Chen Fang stepped through the steam, came up behind the beauty, and suddenly embraced her from behind, his hands naturally cupping the softness before him.

Hmm? Her chest seemed smaller as well.

He gave a gentle squeeze. Ji Mei’s figure had always overflowed his grasp, but now the feel was markedly different.

“You…” Chen Fang began.

The woman in his arms went rigid.

In the next instant, she spun around and began pounding his chest, shouting furiously as she struck him.

“Pervert!”

“Freak!”

“Lecher!”

Chen Fang was stunned.

This woman… was not Ji Mei.