Chapter Ninety-Six: Plans Never Keep Up with Change (Eighth Update, Please Support the First Subscription)

The layout of Wang Ying’s studio ran north to south, with a small bend at either end, so that from above it looked like a stretched-out letter U. The elevator sat in the middle, while the recording room and the instrument room were set apart at the two ends.

Yang Qing and the others came out of the recording room, chatting and laughing all the way to the elevator doors, and waved goodbye to Director Wu.

“Hey, Brother Yang, you’re moving a little too fast there.”

After Director Wu left, everyone present was one of their own, and Wang Ming immediately began to complain with easy familiarity.

“You finished what should have taken three days in just one. That’s a pretty bad deal for me.”

Yang Qing: ...

He was immediately struck speechless.

The way Wang Ming put it made him feel even more uneasy. He had already felt guilty using someone else’s resources for his own gain this time, and if he did not work quickly, he feared he might lose his nerve and back out once the soundtrack was done.

Of course, perhaps it was also a form of self-deception. If he put it politely, finishing quickly would save time and money, and at the very least, he could feel a little better about it and get through the matter with some peace of mind.

“You’re the one taking the loss?”

Just then, Qin Xue’s voice rang out.

She shot Wang Ming an exasperated look and said, “I booked your recording studio for three days and paid in full. And now you’re saying Qingzi finished too fast and you’re the one losing out? Are you going to refund me?”

“Heh heh... No refund, of course.” Wang Ming chuckled. “Besides, whether it takes three days or one, as long as Brother Yang gets the music your show needs sorted out, you’re not the one losing, right?”

“That does make sense.” Qin Xue nodded, then looked at Yang Qing and smiled. “Qing, we’ve already recorded two songs, and there’s still one left. Why don’t we do that one this afternoon?”

As she spoke, she smiled again. “We might as well use this time to let the little ones come and sing and record a bit too. We’ve already paid, and they won’t give the money back anyway. We can’t be the ones losing out, can we?”

As soon as Qin Xue said that, Fang Du, standing behind her, was instantly dumbfounded, and Yang Qing’s expression stiffened awkwardly.

After a moment, he looked at Qin Xue, who was smiling all over her face, and lowered his head in embarrassment.

“Xue, I’m sorry. I... I lied to you.”

“Huh?”

Qin Xue froze. “You lied to me? About what?”

Yang Qing hesitated. “Actually...”

“Ahem! Brother Yang, um... you two take your time talking and come along later. We’re going to the lounge first.”

Just as Yang Qing was about to tell Qin Xue the truth, Wang Ming coughed and interrupted him. Then, the three of them, along with Fang Du and Li Dongning, took off running.

“Uh... what’s wrong with them?” Qin Xue asked, looking at Yang Qing in confusion.

“No idea.”

Now that the three had fled, Yang Qing relaxed as well. Looking at Qin Xue, he said, “Actually, I don’t just have three pieces for the show’s music. I have... five.”

“Five?”

Qin Xue was stunned. She stared at Yang Qing in disbelief. After a long moment, she suddenly threw her arms around him and pressed her red lips against his cheek.

Yang Qing was completely dazed by her sudden attack and stood there frozen, blank and unmoving.

“Giggle... Come back to yourself!”

Seeing his expression, Qin Xue found him adorable and laughed shyly. “That’s your reward.”

“Oh... oh, right.” Yang Qing came back to himself. Feeling the lingering warmth on his cheek, he blushed and for the moment did not know what to say to Qin Xue.

“All right, let’s go see the little ones.” Qin Xue took the initiative and smiled. “This doesn’t count as you deceiving me. It’s a surprise.”

“No... that’s not it.”

Yang Qing took a deep breath, suppressing the stirring in his heart, and then began to explain to Qin Xue everything he had originally intended to do.

At the same time, after returning to the lounge, Wang Ming and the other two looked at one another in silence.

After a while, Wang Ming turned to Fang Du and said helplessly, “Didn’t you say your team leader had principles? Is that what you call principles? She just came right out and said to let the little ones record songs. I really...”

Fang Du was equally helpless. “She really does have principles. So why did she suddenly change today? That makes no sense.”

“Heh...” Li Dongning shook his head and laughed. “You youngsters really don’t understand women. Team Leader Qin is a woman who has developed feelings for Yang Qing, so... anything is possible.”

“Uh...”

Hearing that, the other two froze. Then they understood.

“Ah!” Fang Du sighed. “Brother Yang must have spilled everything. That means our plan is ruined.”

“No.”

Hearing this, Li Dongning shook his head with a smile. “Not only won’t it be ruined, it’ll actually move our plan forward faster.”

“Uh, what do you mean?” Fang Du asked, puzzled.

But Wang Ming seemed to have thought of something. A moment later, his eyes lit up.

“Right! Team Leader Qin finding out is a good thing, and I can’t keep this from my sister either. I need to tell her about it.”

“Exactly.” Li Dongning smiled. “The two of them have far more influence than we do. With their help, I’m seventy percent confident in the final goal of our plan.”

“Mm, that’s good news!” Wang Ming nodded with a smile.

Fang Du was baffled. “What are you two talking about? How did this suddenly become a good thing again? Xiaoming, you still want to tell your sister. That’s not what we agreed on earlier.”

“Idiot.” Wang Ming shot him a look. “What’s our final plan?”

“Getting Brother Qing to take part in this instrument exchange event.”

“Exactly. Then does Brother Yang know about this plan?”

“Uh...” Fang Du hesitated. “No, he doesn’t.”

“Since he doesn’t know the plan, what do you think he’ll say to Team Leader Qin? What can he say?”

Fang Du thought for a moment. “He’ll tell the team leader that he’s working with us to use the time set aside for recording the show’s soundtrack to have the little ones record songs, and that he’ll also record a few tracks himself.”

“Mm, what you said is both right and not quite right.” Li Dongning spoke up at this point. “Yang Qing will tell Team Leader Qin that he’s going to record tracks and songs, but he won’t tell her that he worked it out with us. He’s not that kind of person.”

“Oh, right, right. I used the wrong wording.” Fang Du nodded quickly.

Then understanding seemed to dawn on him. Looking at Wang Ming, he said thoughtfully, “If the team leader knows, your sister will definitely know too.”

“Exactly!” Wang Ming nodded with a smile. “Since my sister and Team Leader Qin both know, what will they do? They’ll certainly help Brother Yang! And that’s the same as helping our plan!”

Wang Ming grinned. “That’s far better than doing it ourselves, and it’ll spread faster and reach a wider audience!”

“Yes,” Li Dongning added with a smile. “That way, we only need to make our move at the very last step.”

“Mmm! It’s just a pity...” Wang Ming sighed. “Too bad the points I’ve been farming with my sister and Ke’er will end up being much lower. Truly, plans can’t keep up with change.”

“Hey... my Jin...”

“Your what?”

Just as he was about to say the name, Yang Qing’s voice suddenly came from the doorway, and Fang Du immediately clamped his mouth shut.

“What are you all talking about? You look so mysterious.”

Yang Qing and Qin Xue had come in. He looked at the three of them, who were all keeping quiet, and asked curiously.

“Nothing much. Just chatting nonsense, heh heh... Here, have some water.”

Wang Ming smiled as he handed them water, then said, “Since you’re here, let’s go to the dance room or the instrument room. I figure the little ones should be there playing around.”

“Mm, then let’s go.” Yang Qing nodded with a smile. “Xue and I already talked it over. We’ll record the show’s soundtrack first, then record songs and tracks for ourselves.”

“Haha... Fine by me. As long as you two have no problem, I have no problem either,” Wang Ming said with a laugh.