Chapter 53: Shen Xian’s Past

Xiao Yang immediately thought Shen Xian had lost his mind—a concert in that place? The tables and chairs were old, the facilities completely inadequate, and the sound system was an utter joke. Only a celebrity with a screw loose would go to a small town to hold a concert.

“Are you running a fever?” Xiao Yang pressed his hand to Shen Xian’s forehead. “Forget it, I’m not selling.”

Shen Xian spoke earnestly, “Trust me. Remember when I said Wang Tianqi would win the competition? What happened? Wang Tianqi passed every round and now he’s immensely popular, unbeatable.”

Xiao Yang replied, “But you can’t rely solely on Wang Tianqi. If you buy that place, you’ll need at least a dozen concerts a year just to break even.”

Shen Xian smiled faintly. “And what if I turn out a dozen superstars, several dozen top-tier talents?”

Xiao Yang was convinced Shen Xian was crazy. He grabbed Shen Xian’s hand, intent on dragging him outside. “Come on, I’m taking you to a doctor. You’re really not well.”

Shen Xian shook off his hand. “Xiao Yang, I asked you here tonight because I’m ready to grant your KTV exclusive rights to all of Wang Tianqi’s songs!”

Unaware of recent happenings in the entertainment industry, Xiao Yang was skeptical. “You think a few songs from Wang Tianqi can revive my KTVs?”

He knew those men well enough. Who ever went to a KTV just to sing? Wasn’t it all about flirting with the girls?

Back when regulations were lax, his KTVs’ alcohol sales depended entirely on the girls. The hostesses had to not only keep up with the drinking but also persuade the customers to drink more—let the big shots walk into the private rooms sober and stagger out in a daze, that’s how they made their money.

“And if I say it can?” Shen Xian asked.

“If just a few lousy songs can bring my customers back, I’ll call you godfather from now on!” Xiao Yang declared.

Shen Xian laughed heartily. “Here’s what you do—go back and put up banners at every location: ‘Postman and Wang Tianqi’s New Songs Now Exclusively Licensed and Available on Our KTV System.’ One week later, tell me the results!”

Though unconvinced, Xiao Yang agreed to Shen Xian’s proposal.

They started drinking together.

“Shen Xian, after all this time, have you ever thought about finding your family?” After several rounds, Xiao Yang hesitated, then asked.

Shen Xian set down his glass, a glimmer of confusion in his eyes. “I don’t know. My memory stops at that fire. I have no memories from before I was five.”

“I went to Haicheng with my father on business. There’s a middle-aged man there who looks very much like you. He lost a son, too, around the same age as you were then,” Xiao Yang said.

Shen Xian nodded. “I know. I’ve seen him from afar. But I’m not ready to meet him yet. Give it some time—maybe I’ll go see him eventually.”

“And what about romance? You’re twenty-six now, any plans?” Xiao Yang asked.

Shen Xian was silent for a moment before answering, “I’ll look. But so far, I haven’t met a woman who truly moves me—except for Liu Ruyun. Sadly, just as my heart began to stir, she crushed it.”

Xiao Yang spoke seriously, “I really think you should see a therapist. You’ve got some deep psychological issues.”

What kind of man isn’t attracted to beautiful women?

“I already have,” Shen Xian downed his drink in one gulp. “The doctor said I have an emotional disorder.”

Xiao Yang thought he was talking nonsense.

In truth, Shen Xian really was.

His feelings had been numbed by childhood experiences and the coldness of the world.

Yet in his youth, there had been a girl who moved him deeply. At fifteen, he felt his heart pounding, fully aware he was falling.

She wore a white dress, about his age, and shone in his life like a ray of moonlight.

But the difference in status was insurmountable.

At sixteen, he had to leave the orphanage and fend for himself, working odd jobs to survive.

He would never forget her birthday—he’d bought her a thirty-dollar stuffed animal with his earnings from sorting parcels, waiting for her at the school gate.

It was a torrential, rainy afternoon. Drenched to the bone, he offered her the gift.

She sat in the back of a Maybach, rolled down the window, tossed the stuffed animal into the downpour, and watched as the driver’s heavy foot buried it in the mud.

She said something wholly out of place for her age: “I played with you only because you were a novelty. Now that the novelty’s gone, you can leave. But I don’t understand—how could you ever think you could pursue me?”

“To me, you’re no different from a pet dog.”

“To my father, you’re no better than livestock.”

In that instant, all of Shen Xian’s dignity was trampled into the mud.

It was experiences like these that made Shen Xian who he was now.

Only Xiao Yang knew his history. He also knew the girl—she was now the billionaire CEO of Shencheng.

Perhaps she had long since forgotten Shen Xian, or perhaps she would never know that by crushing a boy’s pride, she had scarred his ability to love.

Xiao Yang’s eyes reddened as he watched Shen Xian. “Shen Xian, it’s all in the past. If you’re ever short on money, just tell me. If it comes to it, I’ll introduce you to my sister. Then we’ll be family—you’ll be my brother-in-law, I’ll call you brother, how about that?”

Shen Xian looked at him curiously. “You have a sister?”

“Of course. She’s studying piano at a conservatory overseas—she should be back soon.”

“Enough joking around. When you get back, do as I said—put up those banners, understand?” Shen Xian reminded him.

Xiao Yang nodded. “I’ll do it, brother-in-law!”

“Get lost, you idiot.” Shen Xian laughed and cursed. “I’ll be inspecting your stores in the next couple of days to make sure you’ve done it.”

That night, the long-legged girl came again to pick up Xiao Yang, helping him out.

As Shen Xian stepped out into the night, the cool breeze cleared his muddled head.

His phone chimed—a message from Zhou Wan.

It came as no surprise; Zhou Wan had been facing difficulties recently, and as expected, reached out to him when she had nowhere else to turn.

“Mr. Postman, are you busy?” Zhou Wan asked.

“I just finished dinner. What is it?” Shen Xian replied.

The typing indicator lingered for several minutes—obviously, Zhou Wan kept composing and deleting her message, struggling to find the right words.

Finally, only a single sentence appeared: “May I commission a song from you? Something positive and uplifting, with the right message.”

Shen Xian replied directly, “Of course. I’ll send you the audio file in an hour.”