Volume One, Chapter Six: The Farthest Distance Is When the One You Seek Is Right Beside You

“Help out?”

“Why not say it plainly? As Miss just mentioned, the current situation in the music industry is rather bleak, with online audiences full of frustration and hoping that our nation's singers can stage a brilliant comeback in the finals!”

“We at the Eastern Group are making preparations as well, though we’ve just passed the preliminary selection. Fortunately, Miss Lu is about to enter the finals. If I can be of any help, I am at your service,” said Chen Tianxiong with a nod.

“Thank you for your support and trust, President Chen.”

“However, it seems there’s an idle person here. Could you have him leave first?” He Lian’s gaze swept over to Su Le as she smiled. “This matter is very important.”

Chen Tianxiong glanced back, momentarily puzzled.

He couldn’t quite understand why He Lian referred to Su Le as an idle person. Moreover, from the moment Lu Yaoyao entered, she saw her own husband but didn’t even greet him, as if he were a stranger!

“Miss He, to whom are you referring?” Chen Tianxiong inquired.

“That man surnamed Su—do you have no sense of propriety at all? Must I call you out?” He Lian’s tone grew sharp as she addressed Su Le, who remained unresponsive. “We are discussing an important collaboration with President Chen. Please leave!”

“Why should I leave? What business is it of yours?” Su Le had hoped that by keeping silent, the situation would pass quietly. He hadn’t expected them to pick a fight deliberately.

“Of course it concerns me! Your presence is already interfering with our discussion!” He Lian sneered when Su Le dared to retort.

“Su Le, please step out for a while. We do have urgent matters to discuss with President Chen. Stop making a scene, will you?” Lu Yaoyao suddenly interjected.

At that moment, Su Le laughed.

“I’m making a scene? How amusing!”

“So the great Lu Yaoyao expects everyone to step aside at her arrival?”

“Is your business the only thing that matters? Sorry, but I also have matters to discuss with President Chen.” Su Le sat back in his chair, crossing his legs, showing no intention of moving.

If they hadn’t provoked him, he would never have retaliated. Yet he had said nothing, and they had already begun to find fault. Did they really take him for a pushover?

“You have business with President Chen? Ha! Su Le, must you inflate your own worth?”

“Who do you think you are, a master songwriter?” sneered Yang Wei from the side. “Don’t make a fool of yourself here. Otherwise, when President Chen has security throw you out, the embarrassment will be yours alone!” He glanced at Chen Tianxiong, certain that his words would prompt the president to expel Su Le immediately.

“Gentlemen, is there some misunderstanding here?” Chen Tianxiong attempted to smooth things over with a smile. “Miss Yaoyao, Mr. Su is not an outsider. If you have something to say, speak openly.”

He was evidently saving face for Su Le.

“President Chen, Su Le and I are already divorced.”

“This was a private matter I didn’t wish to bring up—but I fear you’d continue to misunderstand, and what we wish to discuss is truly important,” Lu Yaoyao said, glancing at Su Le, her disappointment deepening as she looked at him.

“We’re here to commission a song from you.”

“We hope the composer of ‘The Big Fish’ can create an original piece tailored for Yaoyao to perform in the finals!” He Lian’s face was alight with anticipation.

“Rest assured, President Chen, we only wish to commission a song from this master. We won’t make private contact—everything will go through you,” Lu Yaoyao quickly added, not wanting any misunderstanding. After all, anyone who could create a masterpiece like ‘The Big Fish’ must be an expert retained by the Eastern Group, not someone outsiders could access. This was a commercial secret.

“President Chen, whatever the terms, whatever the price, we’ll do everything to satisfy this master’s demands!” Yang Wei chimed in, eager to showcase his status in front of Lu Yaoyao. “Now that Miss Lu has signed with our Phoenix Entertainment, our companies are like brothers, all working for the Jiuzhou Group.”

Suddenly, Chen Tianxiong understood. So, Su Le and Lu Yaoyao were divorced. No wonder things had felt awkward earlier. But why go in such circles just to ask Su Le to write a song?

He instinctively glanced back, seeing Su Le standing silently by the window, and hesitated.

“Miss Yaoyao, I recall that Mr. Su wrote songs for you in the past. Even though you’re now… divorced, as long as you ask, I believe Mr. Su wouldn’t refuse, would he? Why go to such lengths?” Chen Tianxiong kept glancing at Su Le, also testing Lu Yaoyao and the others.

He wanted to verify something—a rather absurd suspicion: that Lu Yaoyao, as Su Le’s wife, had no idea that the composer of ‘The Big Fish’ was Su Le himself.

Even Su Le narrowed his eyes when he realized their intent.

“Him? President Chen, you must be joking.”

“To be honest, Su Le was once talented and wrote me many folk songs. But those so-called folk songs never made it to the big stage—their ceiling was too low, and they limited my development. Besides, he hasn’t written anything in three years!” Lu Yaoyao replied.

“President Chen, you overestimate him.”

“A washed-up songwriter, penning pedestrian folk tunes—at best, he’s fit to perform at a pub. Our Yaoyao is destined for the international stage; how could she be confined by a folk singer?” He Lian added disdainfully, her gaze toward Su Le full of scorn.

At this, Chen Tianxiong fully understood—they truly didn’t know ‘The Big Fish’ was composed by Su Le. How utterly ridiculous!

Now he saw clearly why Mr. Su and Lu Yaoyao divorced.

“I think Miss Yaoyao must have misunderstood Mr. Su. I won’t get involved in this—matters between husband and wife should be discussed privately,” Chen Tianxiong said, returning to his desk.

Seeing this, He Lian and Lu Yaoyao began to panic.

“Su Le, do you see? Your presence is affecting President Chen’s decision! Why won’t you leave?” He Lian shifted all the blame onto Su Le.

“President Chen, we wouldn’t ask for your help in vain! As long as the composer of ‘The Big Fish’ is willing to write a song for me, I’ll meet any demand!” Lu Yaoyao was desperate to achieve success in the singer finals, willing to pay any price.

Hearing this, Su Le let out a cold laugh. So after all this time, they wanted him to write a song!

“Miss Lu, since you’re so sincere in wanting to commission the composer of ‘The Big Fish,’ let me offer some advice,” President Chen said with a smile.

Everyone looked elated, and Lu Yaoyao nodded eagerly.

“Go ahead, President Chen!”

Chen Tianxiong walked over to Su Le’s side.

“My suggestion is this: if you want the composer of ‘The Big Fish’ to write for you, the first requirement is to apologize to Mr. Su. Otherwise, no one can help you.”

“And I want to ask you directly, Miss Yaoyao—do you really not know who the composer is?”

Though Su Le said nothing, Chen Tianxiong was determined not to let him suffer the slightest indignity. It was laughable that the person they were so desperate to seek was right in front of them, yet they didn’t even realize it.

How pathetic.

Hearing Chen Tianxiong’s inexplicable words, Lu Yaoyao was stunned—so were the others, their faces full of confusion.

To commission the composer of ‘The Big Fish,’ they had to apologize to Su Le? What kind of logic was that?