"Uh..."
Wen Tingxue didn't know how to answer.
Han Xianyun saw through her at a glance, "Tell me the truth."
The police station entrance was extremely bright, yet it couldn't penetrate the emotion in his eyes.
Wen Tingxue's heart sank and she said, "He likes Xie Jinyi, has for many years."
Even if she didn't say it, he would find out.
But once he started investigating, who knew what he might uncover.
"Oh," Han Xianyun exhaled a thin stream of smoke, "a suitor."
"..."
Wen Tingxue carefully observed his expression, "Are you... jealous?"
Han Xianyun scoffed, "What's there to be jealous about? After so many years without success, can he still poach my partner?"
That's true.
Someone of his status would never deign to notice Wen Bin.
Yu Wenli and Mo Yichen descended from first class one after another.
Walking between the two was a producer.
He was well-known in the industry, having produced several critically acclaimed variety shows.
"It's rare for us to be together, how about we go for a drink?" the producer suggested with a smile.
Mo Yichen's face held his usual gentle and refined demeanor, "We'll follow Teacher Yu's lead, I'm fine with anything."
All eyes turned to Yu Wenli.
Yu Wenli paused for a moment, then nodded, "No problem."
In the entertainment industry, connections were everything.
Often, skill wasn't the most important factor; it was connections.
Therefore, he couldn't refuse such invitations.
"If that's the case, Teacher Yu can ride in my car," Mo Yichen said with a smile, "to avoid any unnecessary trouble."
Unnecessary trouble?
Yu Wenli sneered.
He still didn't know who was behind the incident where he was chased by sasaeng fans last time, and it was so widely publicized.
And now he was being bad-mouthed to the producer.
Truly... bored to death.
The producer, remembering the news online, chuckled with lingering fear, "Teacher Mo is indeed thoughtful."
His implied meaning was agreement.
Yu Wenli intended to cooperate with the producer, but he wasn't a pushover.
"Indeed, when it comes to being chased by cars, Teacher Mo seems to have more experience. After all, Teacher Mo is more popular than me. With your new song released, your fans must be eager to see you, right?"
Mo Yichen had been chased a few times during his peak popularity, and the two biggest incidents nearly resulted in car accidents.
However, he wasn't chased by sasaeng fans, but by anti-fans.
And it was the same now.
The faint smile in Mo Yichen's eyes immediately vanished, his lips even turning downwards involuntarily.
Sensing the shift in atmosphere, the producer quickly excused himself, "You two chat, I'll go book a table."
As soon as he left, the two instantly parted ways, each looking at the other with distaste.
They didn't even bother to pretend.
However, exiting through the VIP passage,
Mo Yichen insisted on getting into Yu Wenli's car.
This meant he had something to say.
Yu Wenli raised an eyebrow. He was curious to see what other tricks he had up his sleeve.
In the car.
Mo Yichen didn't beat around the bush, stating directly, "The competition is nearing its end, and I hope you will cast your vote for Mo Zha."
Mo Zha, Mo Yichen's cousin, had entered the industry in the last two years.
He had released several popular songs.
But it was the songs that were popular, not the artist.
Furthermore, many musicians considered them to be superficial and unrefined.
Yu Wenli had happened to hear a couple of them and found them mediocre at best.
He could be an internet singer, but he was far from being a professional.
"Do you think he's worthy?"
Regarding fairness and the future of multiple contestants, Yu Wenli didn't mince his words.
Mo Yichen wasn't surprised by his attitude, merely smiling and saying, "After all these years, hasn't Teacher Yu learned yet? Often, worthiness isn't important; it's about whether you can obtain it that matters."
Yu Wenli sneered, "Like how you took my inspiration to apprentice back then?"
"Yes," Mo Yichen said with an unblinking face, even shamelessly smiling, "at least I succeeded, didn't I?"
"Heh."
Yu Wenli let out a short, contemptuous laugh and averted his gaze.
As if looking at him for another second would dirty his eyes.
Xiang Bei, sitting in the passenger seat, was very curious. In his impression, although Yu Wenli was cold and not very talkative,
He never displayed such overt dislike towards anyone.
At least, in the months they had worked together, no matter how difficult the other person was, he always handled it with ease.
Only when facing Mo Yichen did he make no attempt to conceal his emotions.
Xiang Bei was puzzled, as he didn't know the history between Yu Wenli and Mo Yichen.
This had to be traced back to their childhood...
They knew each other very early, much earlier than everyone thought.
To put it this way, when little Wenli was still crying in his swaddling clothes, Mo Yichen had already held him.
There was a seven-year age difference between them.
At that time, Yu Wenli's maternal grandparents were still working in the capital.
They were so busy that they barely had time to stand.
Fearing they couldn't take care of little Wenli, they specifically hired a nanny.
That nanny was Mo Yichen's mother.
After such a long time, Yu Wenli couldn't recall her face.
He only vaguely remembered that she was a very kind woman.
She was efficient, had a good temperament, and was always smiling.
Sometimes, when his grandmother lost her temper and spoke harshly to her, she would accept it with a smile.
So, after about half a year, they became friends.
Mo Yichen, who often visited their home, was also very sweet-tongued, and his grandparents' impression of him grew increasingly positive.
They treated each other almost like family.
Even when little Wenli was around one year old and his maternal grandfather decided to resign from the research institute and move to Jiangcheng with his grandmother and little Wenli, he was still considering their housing situation.
After all, it was a widowed mother and child who had only recently arrived in the capital. It wouldn't be easy to survive in this vast city.
His grandmother, being soft-hearted, immediately decided not to sell the house.
They would let Mo Yichen and his mother live there.
They would collect a symbolic rent each month.
And then they would consider selling the house once everyone was settled.
Mo Yichen's mother was extremely grateful.
Every time little Wenli visited the capital with his grandmother for a short stay, she would tidy up the room immaculately.
Even when she went to work, she would prepare breakfast.
At that time, little Wenli and Mo Yichen had a good relationship, like brothers.
Mo Yichen also took good care of little Wenli.
Whatever delicious food or fun toys he had, he would save them for when little Wenli arrived in the capital so they could share.
Until Yu Wenli was five years old, by chance, he overheard Mo Yichen's conversation with someone else.
But everyone's style was unique.
No matter how Mo Yichen adapted it, the soul of the music remained the same.
Three years later, Yu Wenli appeared with his work.
The moment he played and sang, Jiang Chengyuan knew he had misjudged someone and accepted the wrong apprentice.
But three years had already passed.
He couldn't admit his mistake and lose face.
So, he had to continue in error.
However, Yu Wenli was unwilling to accept this and refused Jiang Chengyuan's invitation to become his apprentice.
Jiang Chengyuan felt it was a pity, so they collaborated on writing songs.
They collaborated for many years.
Yu Wenli didn't know what Mo Yichen had said in the interim, but judging by Jiang Chengyuan's attitude towards him, Mo Yichen had definitely added fuel to the fire.
...
"You don't have to cooperate with me."
After a long silence, Mo Yichen spoke faintly, with a hint of threat.
"But these photos..."
He took out ten photos from the inner pocket of his suit jacket and threw them into Yu Wenli's arms.
With a smile, he said, "They will be exposed."
Yu Wenli lowered his gaze.
"You are so protective of Miss Wen, you wouldn't want her to be gossiped about, would you?" Mo Yichen smiled with certainty, and it was infuriating.
The photos that landed in Yu Wenli's arms were, without exception, all taken in Jiangcheng.
At that time, his little lady had just arrived in Jiangcheng.
Her features were still young, with an obvious timidity.
Cheng Xi had secretly followed her and taken these photos one by one.