142: Chapter 142 No one can predict the future.

Lu Li leaned back on the sofa, scrolling through the comments one by one, the corners of his mouth unable to help but curve slightly upward.

To be honest, seeing these once supremely classic songs loved by so many people, that sense of achievement really felt great.

"What are you looking at?"

Shen Qingxue walked out of the room, having changed into a light blue dress with her hair flowing loose and light makeup on her face.

"Looking at the comments."

Lu Li handed her his phone.

"A clean sweep of positive reviews. It looks like we're in the clear this time. Following this trend, maybe we can even win a Golden Melody Awards or something this year."

Shen Qingxue took the phone, lowered her head to glance at the comment section, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly.

"Mm, the response is good, but as for winning an award, you shouldn't hold out too much hope."

She handed the phone back to Lu Li.

"Do you have anything to prepare for the interview this afternoon?"

Lu Li thought for a moment and shook his head.

"There's nothing much to prepare. The interview is mainly for you; at best, I'm just a behind-the-scenes person."

Shen Qingxue glanced at him, hesitated for a moment, and still spoke up.

"But... during the interview, they might ask you some questions."

"Ask me?"

Lu Li froze for a second before coming to his senses.

"Oh, you mean they might ask about the relationship between us?"

Shen Qingxue nodded.

Lu Li leaned back on the sofa, resting his hands behind his head, and thought about it.

"Let them ask if they want to. I'll just say we are business partners, and living together is for work convenience."

Shen Qingxue stared at him for two seconds.

"Are you sure you want to say that?"

"Sure."

Lu Li wore a matter-of-fact expression.

"Otherwise what? Could I say we are together?"

Shen Qingxue turned her head away, refusing to look at him, her tone indifferent.

"Whatever you want."

Looking at her slightly red earlobes, a strange impulse suddenly surged in Lu Li's heart.

He wanted to tease her.

"However... if we really were together, it wouldn't be a bad thing."

Shen Qingxue's body visibly stiffened.

She tilted her head to look at Lu Li, her expression still aloof, but her eyes carried a trace of tension.

"What do you mean?"

Lu Li also realized something was a bit off and subconsciously averted his gaze.

"I don't mean anything by it, I was just saying it casually."

Shen Qingxue stared at him for two seconds, then withdrew her gaze.

"Boring."

Although her tone was still indifferent, this time it carried a trace of an elusive sense of loss.

Lu Li didn't speak again either. He just maintained one posture, repeatedly refreshing the Douyin page on his phone.

He wasn't even looking at it, just purely refreshing.

...

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

The competition's official interview team arrived on time.

One producer, one cameraman, and a lighting guy—three people in total. The equipment wasn't much, but they looked very professional.

Lu Li opened the door.

"Hello, are you Teacher Lu Li?"

The producer was a woman in her early thirties wearing black-rimmed glasses, with a very professional smile.

"Mm, it's me. Come in."

Lu Li stepped aside to let them in.

The three of them changed their shoes and walked into the living room, their eyes subconsciously sweeping around the room.

The living room wasn't large, but it was cleaned very neatly. A few photo frames were placed on the display rack, and two cups of water sat on the coffee table.

Shen Qingxue walked out from the kitchen carrying a fruit platter.

"Hello everyone, you've worked hard. Have some fruit."

The producer hurriedly waved her hand.

"It's not hard at all, Teacher Shen is too polite."

Shen Qingxue placed the fruit platter on the coffee table and sat down on the sofa.

The cameraman and the lighting guy began setting up the equipment, while the producer took out a notebook and sat opposite Shen Qingxue.

Lu Li leaned against the single sofa nearby, crossing his legs while sipping coconut milk, leisurely watching them busy about.

Soon, the equipment was set up and the lighting was adjusted. The producer glanced at the time and nodded.

"We can begin."

The cameraman made an OK gesture.

Facing the camera, the producer put on a professional smile.

"Hello everyone, welcome to this episode of the competition's special interview. Today, the person we have invited is the highest-scoring winner of this year's Original Song Creators Competition, Teacher Shen Qingxue!"

The camera turned to Shen Qingxue.

Shen Qingxue bowed slightly, revealing a faint smile.

"Hello everyone, I am Shen Qingxue."

The producer smiled and took over the conversation.

"Teacher Shen, first of all, congratulations on achieving a great score of 9.8 in the semi-finals. How are you feeling right now?"

Shen Qingxue thought for a moment and began to speak.

"I'm very happy and very grateful. Thank you everyone for the recognition, and I also want to thank my partner, Lu Li, for writing such a good song."

The producer nodded and continued to ask questions.

"Speaking of Teacher Lu Li, we know that you formed the Rock Sugar and Pear Duo, and recently released several very popular works..."

"So, can you share with us how you two came together?"

Shen Qingxue's gaze subconsciously glanced at Lu Li next to her.

Lu Li was leaning on the sofa sipping coconut milk, his expression casual with no particular emotion discernible.

She withdrew her gaze, her tone still indifferent.

"We met on the show Heartbeat 72 Hours. After the show ended, both of us terminated our contracts with our respective former agencies, and then feeling that our creative philosophies matched well, we decided to make music together."

The producer's eyes lit up.

"So you decided to collaborate only after terminating your contracts?"

"Mm."

Shen Qingxue nodded.

"At that time, neither of us had a company, a team, or anything at all, but instead we felt even freer."

The producer smiled and shifted the topic.

"Then... regarding some rumors on the internet, such as you living together, would it be convenient for you to respond to that?"

The atmosphere in the living room changed subtly.

Shen Qingxue's fingers curled slightly, but her expression didn't change at all.

"We are indeed in a co-renting state because it's convenient for work. Furthermore, both of us are free agents without the constraints of a company, which allows us to communicate and create at any time."

The producer pressed on.

"Then is the relationship between you and Teacher Lu Li merely that of business partners?"

As soon as this question came out, even the cameraman's gaze subconsciously glanced sideways at Lu Li.

Lu Li still had that leisurely look, showing not a shred of emotion.

Shen Qingxue was silent for a second, then spoke.

"For now, yes."

The producer was stunned for a moment.

"For now?"

Shen Qingxue turned her head to look at Lu Li, then withdrew her gaze, the corners of her mouth curving slightly.

"Who can say for sure what the future holds."

As soon as these words were spoken, the three members of the interview team exchanged glances, seeing a trace of excitement in each other's eyes.

If netizens could see this interview right now, they would probably have exploded.