Chapter 15

（Thank you to classmate 'Qian Nian Deng Yi Lian' for the tip, thank you!）

When it was time for dinner, the man bid farewell, saying that as long as Wu Cheng worked hard, he would definitely become an outstanding pianist, and perhaps even a pianist.

Wu Cheng also felt that with such extraordinary memory and comprehension, becoming a pianist should be possible. However, being a pianist was not his ideal.

Deng Lijun, who had been observing everything, thought Wu Cheng was a little demon, with a learning ability that was terrifying, and could not be judged by ordinary standards.

After the male pianist left, the two of them ordered dinner and enjoyed it in the room.

"Big Sister Jun, are you leaving tomorrow?"

"The day after tomorrow! I have to go on a tour in Malaysia and release an album in Japan. I probably won't be back until the end of the year. There are performances here next year too! This time, I came back mainly to do a special feature for the TV station."

"Big Sister Jun is so busy, can your body handle it?" Wu Cheng was a bit worried, thinking about how the beautiful person would pass away due to illness twenty years later, and he felt regretful.

"It's fine! Although I sometimes feel tired, it's still quite fulfilling."

Wu Cheng nodded, took a few bites of the steak, and asked, "Big Sister Jun, how many years is your contract with PolyGram?"

"Originally, it was a five-year contract, but I thought it was too long, so I signed for three years! Why are you asking? Do you have some crazy idea again?" Deng Lijun took a sip of red wine and asked with a light laugh.

Wu Cheng nodded seriously, which surprised Deng Lijun.

"Are you thinking of starting a record company and signing me?" Deng Lijun laughed and asked.

Wu Cheng nodded seriously and said, "That's the idea. Seeing Big Sister Jun flying around so much, I feel tired for you. If I had a record company, you could do whatever you want, sing when you want to, rest when you want to, go wherever you want, and play as much as you want. Wouldn't that be great?"

Deng Lijun giggled and raised her glass, "The idea is beautiful, but reality is cruel. Here, for your good intentions, I'll toast to you. Cheers!"

Wu Cheng also laughed and took a sip of juice (this was the result of being treated like a kid by Deng Lijun) and then said seriously, "Big Sister Jun, wait for me! Within three years, I will definitely establish a record company. I'm not talking about a shell company, but a legitimate record company that handles production and distribution. At that time, if you're willing, I'll sign you."

"Little rascal, you have big dreams too!" Deng Lijun teased, "Alright! Big Sister will wait for you to sign me. Then, for my future, let's have another toast!"

"Big Sister, can I have some red wine?"

"NO! No way! If you get drunk, A Zhi will blame me! Just be a good little kid and don't try to drink like others!"

"That's discrimination, age discrimination! I protest! Strongly protest!"

"Protest rejected, protest invalid! Hehe..."

...

While Wu Cheng was having dinner with Deng Lijun, Zhao Yazhi came home from work and noticed Wu Cheng wasn't there. She then remembered he was learning piano from Deng Lijun.

She made a simple dinner, ate, and sat on the sofa to watch TV. However, Zhao Yazhi couldn't focus, feeling like something was missing. After some thought, she realized it was Wu Cheng who was usually sitting beside her, leaning against her, making her laugh, and commenting on the TV drama, which he called 'trolling'.

When Wu Cheng was around, she didn't notice anything, but now that he wasn't, she felt a lack of fun and found watching TV less enjoyable.

Thinking about Wu Cheng being alone with Deng Lijun and possibly making her laugh, Zhao Yazhi felt annoyed. She picked up a cushion from the sofa and started hitting it nervously.

After venting, she realized her behavior was childish and silly. She got up, went to the bathroom, took a shower to calm down, and then had a nice hot bath before humming a tune and going to bed.

When Zhao Yazhi turned off the light and went to sleep, Wu Cheng was already able to play beautiful melodies.

After practicing a few more times, a complete piano piece flowed from his fingertips.

Seeing him go from zero to playing a complete, beautiful melody in just five hours, Deng Lijun was shocked.

If it weren't for Wu Cheng's strange singing voice, Deng Lijun would have thought he would definitely have a place in the music industry. Unfortunately, his voice was a drawback.

However, Wu Cheng didn't think his voice was that bad. He believed his voice was just entering the changing period and had room for improvement.

Besides, he didn't need to rely on singing for a living. Learning the piano was just an excuse to get closer to his idol and show off his talent.

"What's this song? Did you compose it too?"

Seeing Deng Lijun's curious expression, Wu Cheng smiled, nodded, and cleared his throat, "I'll sing it for you. The song's name is one character—Silence, the silence of silence." As he spoke, his fingers lightly played the keys, and after a melody, he started singing.

Can't help but become a stubborn fish

Swimming alone against the current to the bottom

The vows made in youth with devout faith

Silently sink to the depths of the sea

Relive a few times

But still lose you

I am sentenced to lifelong loneliness by love

Not retaliating, not letting go

The circle that can never be completed

The karma that can never be filled

It's you

Why does love sentence all beings to loneliness

Can't escape, can't run away

The knot that can't be untied from the frown

The calamity that can't be avoided in fate

It's you

...

When Wu Cheng finished the song, he noticed Deng Lijun had a strange look on her face.

"Such a good song, but it's a waste with you singing it!" Deng Lijun covered up her 'distracted' expression and couldn't help but comment.

"..." Wu Cheng looked embarrassed and then looked at Deng Lijun with a hurt expression.

"Hehe, I'm joking, continue! Continue!"

"My heart is hurt, I can't love anymore, I can't sing!"

"Petty!" Deng Lijun didn't expect him to throw a tantrum and laughed, "How should I comfort your little hurt heart?"

Wu Cheng pointed to his cheek and said, "Kiss me!"

"Little rascal, you have too many demands! Alright, alright, don't pout, I'll comfort you!"

Deng Lijun laughed and came to his side, leaning down to kiss his cheek.

But what she didn't expect was that just as she was about to kiss Wu Cheng, he suddenly turned his head, and her kiss landed directly on his lips.

The two of them stared at each other, dumbfounded.

After a while, Deng Lijun came to her senses, stood up, and lightly slapped his head, scolding, "Naughty monkey, are you satisfied now?"

If Wu Cheng were an adult, Deng Lijun would have been truly angry. But looking at his innocent face, she couldn't be mad.

"Really soft, really fragrant!" Wu Cheng, instead of being angry, had a smug smile. "Big Sister Jun, this was my first kiss, you have to take responsibility!"

Deng Lijun blushed and scolded, "Naughty monkey, if you keep being silly, Big Sister will be angry!"

"Alright! Then I'll write down the song, and you can sing it?"

"No, this song is too sad. A person with a deeper voice should sing it. Write a lighter, happier song. If you can't, Big Sister won't forgive you!"

"Big Sister, who forces people to the brink like that?"

"Are you going to write it or not?"

Wu Cheng's eyes twinkled, and he smiled, "If I write it, will there be a reward?"

"No!"

"Then I have no motivation, definitely not!"

"What reward do you want?"

"Kiss me again!"

Deng Lijun's eyebrows shot up, and she laughed, "Alright!"

"Really? I mean a real kiss!"

"Really! I won't lie to you!"

"Can I have it in advance?"

"Get lost!"

"Then I'll play first!"

Wu Cheng cleared his throat, shook his fingers, and started playing. He played the song "Little Town Story" that she would release a few years later. Wu Cheng had not only heard it but also analyzed it in music class when he was very young.

Deng Lijun was already numb to Wu Cheng's musical talent, constantly marveling at how this little demon could produce a classic with any song.

Even more astonishingly, he played and sang at the same time, as if the song had been composed long ago. No, it must have been composed long ago, otherwise, he wouldn't be so familiar with it.

The first time he played, it was a bit choppy, but the second time, it was quite smooth. This couldn't possibly be an unfinished song.

Although it wasn't a new composition, it deeply moved Deng Lijun. A kid who only knew simple notation could create such a beautiful song—how talented must he be!

"Big Sister, how about it? Is it good now?"

"Good! Then Big Sister will reluctantly kiss you once!" Deng Lijun leaned down to kiss Wu Cheng, but just as she was about to kiss him, she used her hand to block his lips and kissed her own hand instead.

She giggled and ran away, saying, "Alright! Are you satisfied now?"

"Big Sister, that's cheating!" Wu Cheng complained.

"Big Sister is learning from you! You cheated before."

"No way, I have to punish you! Don't run, stop!"

"You can't catch me, hehe, you can't catch me!"

Who would have thought that the legendary superstar, who was so graceful in public, could be so playful and adorable in private! Wu Cheng felt lucky.

After a while of playing, they both collapsed on the sofa. Wu Cheng was pretending, while Deng Lijun was genuinely out of breath.

"Kids really have so much energy!"

Deng Lijun looked at Wu Cheng, who had already calmed down, and sighed.

Wu Cheng shook his head, "Big Sister, not all kids are like this. I've been trained since I was little. My grandfather forced me to practice martial arts from as far back as I can remember."

Wu Cheng looked at her, his eyes brightening, "How about it, Big Sister, I can teach you Tai Chi桩 (a form of standing meditation in Tai Chi). It's very good for your health!"

"Oh? Is it difficult?"

"Not difficult, but also not easy! It depends on how you understand it!"

"How so?"

"Easy to start, hard to master!"

"Then let's try!"

...