Chapter 37

Jessica followed the plot as arranged by Jin C, walking over to hug Li Jingming from behind, pressing her body against his back. Li Jingming, who was sitting in a chair, was not much shorter than Jessica. Jessica comfortably rested her chin on Li Jingming's shoulder, her small face peeking out to look at the computer screen, while the letter had already been closed by Li Jingming.

"OPPA, why are you smoking again?" Jessica really seemed like a caring wife worried about her husband's health, "Didn't you quit?"

"Nothing much, just received a letter from an old friend." Li Jingming slowly smiled.

"Is that so." Jessica gently picked up the cigarette from Li Jingming's hand and put it back in the box, rubbing her cheek against Li Jingming's face, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.

The camera pulled back, Jessica's long hair falling on Li Jingming's shoulder, their figures merging together. Gradually, the perspective moved out of the study, where two cute children were playing on the living room sofa. The camera continued to move, and the post-production CG effects would take the audience's perspective to the sky, showing that this was just a small building in a vast city. Everyone is merely a leaf in the forest, a grain of sand in the sea.

"Cut! It's done." This time it passed in one take.

Jin C was the first to stand up and clap. He ultimately adopted Li Jingming's suggestions. Last night, he watched many romantic works and thought a lot. Now that the work was completed, he had a deeper understanding. Jin C looked at Li Jingming, who was bowing to the staff, and had the illusion that this 22-year-old young man was more mature than himself. Playfulness and a love for laughter and fun are not signs of immaturity; maturity is reflected in one's perspective on things. In this regard, Li Jingming was more "mature" or "worldly" than Jin C, the idealist obsessed with perfection.

Jessica's role was minimal, just a ten-second scene, but in those ten seconds, she perfectly portrayed gentleness. Li Jingming was amazed; this girl who often said "ya" and liked to throw punches could be so gentle. Not only was he surprised by Jessica's character transformation, but also by her figure. She looked small and delicate, but in fact, she was well-endowed. He could clearly feel the size when her chest pressed against his back.

The meaning of this short scene at the end was self-evident. The 500 words of confession in the lyrics, which were not said to the previous beloved, could be said to the person in front of them. One doesn't need to live in the past, as it would make the current lover unable to have a complete you. Jin C looked at Li Jingming, thinking that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. He planned to tidy up his work here and go to the United States in the next few days.

The MV was completed, and a meal was naturally to be provided. Li Jingming actually didn't plan to release the song "Confession" so soon, as he would be enlisting soon, and debuting at this time was not a good choice. However, Jin C, seeing the potential, took on the work himself, and Li Jingming didn't want to dampen his enthusiasm. "If it's meant to be, it will be; if it's not, it won't. Let it be." This was his insight from sitting on Wudang Mountain, where the world is like white clouds and black dogs, constantly changing, seemingly without rules, but all is predetermined.

Li Jingming was daydreaming about returning to Wudang Mountain, looking at the scenery and suddenly gaining profound insights, breaking through to a new level, when he was slapped on the back. He almost choked on his own saliva.

Li Jingming turned his head and saw Jessica, who was pouting at him: "Is this all I get?"

"Hmm, what's wrong?" Li Jingming guessed that Jessica might be dissatisfied with her role.

"It's too little." Jessica pouted.

Li Jingming found it amusing, "This is so easy. Do you want me to talk to the director to add more scenes for you?"

"No." Jessica saw that Li Jingming misunderstood her, "Just for this little role, you bought me such expensive clothes and took me to get a makeover..."

Li Jingming looked at Jessica in mock surprise, "Is there anyone who complains about being overpaid?"

"I don't like it, it feels like I'm getting something for nothing." Jessica had her reasons.

Li Jingming patted Jessica's shoulder, "Aren't we friends?"

"Who's friends with you?" Jessica's tsundere nature kicked in.

"Then why do you call me Jamie? Don't you call me senpai?" Li Jingming put on a serious face.

That expression had no effect on Jessica, who rolled her eyes at Li Jingming: "Hmph!"

Li Zhixian didn't hear their conversation, but she saw them "touching" each other. It seemed that Li Jingming was closer to this Jessica than to herself. Of course, she didn't know that Li Jingming and Jessica had known each other for as long as she had.

The crew was small, with fewer than ten people, so arranging a meal was not difficult. The cameraman, feeling embarrassed, left with his children. The children had called their mother to report their father's "improper behavior," which didn't exist. The cameraman, receiving his wife's command, obediently went home. This cameraman, who was well-liked by many women in the crew, was not afraid of his wife but treated her as a treasure. The more he did this, the more other women liked his character, so his wife had to use her influence to keep him in check.

With a small group, Li Jingming generously invited everyone to a beef dinner, a luxury in Korea. Jin C, acting as a senior, paid the bill. This was a celebration for the hard work everyone had done for Li Jingming, and also a good opportunity for Li Jingming to win their favor. Don't underestimate these freelancers who work for various TV stations; their high mobility means they can spread good word of mouth. Many staff members from the three major TV stations have connections with them, and Li Jingming could win their approval, which would gradually spread.

Jin C, admiring Li Jingming's talent and character, always wanted to help him. If Li Jingming were a simple newcomer, struggling to make ends meet, Jin C would have taken on a big brother role to support him. However, with LAD Company in place, Jin C was well aware of Li Jingming's financial capabilities, so he let Li Jingming build his own network, which would be more solid.

Li Jingming and Jin C sat at the far end of the long table, as they had more to discuss.

"When will you have time to go to the United States, bro?" Li Jingming asked in a low voice.

"The film score is almost done. Once I wrap up here, I'll have time." Jin C had been looking forward to the trip to the United States, where a Grammy-level music producer was waiting. For a musician, the Grammy is the most coveted award on the planet.

"Didn't you say you were joining the 'Two Days One Night' production team?" Li Jingming couldn't just send Jin C for two days; he needed to bind Jin C to his cause by making him dependent. Experiencing the completely different music world in the United States would give Jin C new ideas.

Jin C said nonchalantly, "That starts in September, or even October. I have at least two months." Jin C didn't say that for him, music always came first.

"Come to LAD next Wednesday to pick up your ticket." Next Wednesday was three days away.

Jin C, with food in his mouth, grumbled, "Don't you have the money for the ticket? You have to go to your place to get it. How long can I stay?" Jin C knew that LKM had its own work schedule and wouldn't let him stay indefinitely. He wanted to know how long he could stay, naturally hoping for as long as possible.

"Two weeks. They are working on a regular album, and you're coming at the right time." Li Jingming made Jin C take out his phone and input a number: "This person is called Ahn Hanjin, my junior and the acting manager of my company. Call him when you get there, and I'll brief him on the rest."

"Knowing that, I'm reassured. I'm going there to learn, so don't assign me anything I can't handle." Jin C was very humble, though he wanted to learn from experts, he knew his limits. As an independent musician, he was self-taught, and his management company was a friend's venture. The people there were from major music giants like Warner.

"Don't worry." Li Jingming saw that Jin C was in a good mood, his tired look fading. He continued, "Don't put my album aside just because you're in a hurry to leave." Li Jingming always aimed for the best, not just "good."

"Don't worry, the recording will be fine. Your previous version was already perfect. The rest can be handled by your company." Li Jingming's previous version was excellent, but Jin C thought it was too free. Now that the MV was completed and he was convinced by Li Jingming, the previous version was the most fitting. As for quality, it was recorded at LKM, supervised by Ken Kary, with better equipment than here, ensuring top-notch quality. The flash version was for convenience, and Li Jingming had already given the CD version to Jin C.

Each country strictly regulates the publication of works. From the creation of the work to the production of a simulated version, the simulated version is submitted to the relevant authorities for review, and the review results are distributed to subordinate units, granting publication permission, with various approval marks on the work. Theoretically, the review period can be up to 60 days. In Korea, if a company has connections, an excellent work can get approval in one day. For individuals without connections, they might have to wait 60 days, and there's no guarantee of approval.

As for the common scenario where the protagonist suddenly sings a song on the street one night, records it, and sells it on the square, and then the album sells 100,000 or even a million copies in a few days, and becomes a national singer, these are the plots of fantasy novels. If someone really did this, the authorities would soon find them for producing and selling illegal publications.

LAD had the right to publish, with a registered capital of 100 million won, and the equipment and venue were recognized by the relevant authorities. After signing a pile of documents, they obtained the publication license, which Li Jingming got through family connections. LAD's works still needed to be reviewed, and Li Jingming's single album "Confession" would be simulated in the afternoon and submitted for review. Even with the Li family's influence, Li Jingming estimated he would get the result by Monday, which was why he wanted Jin C to stay until Wednesday, just in case something went wrong and they needed to redo it.

After talking with Jin C, Li Jingming finally had time to look at the two beautiful women next to him. He realized that even eating, beautiful women looked good. Jessica ate slowly and meticulously, her small mouth making her face puff up like a cute hamster. Li Zhixian also ate