176: Chapter 176: I got my "salary," but why am I still unhappy?

After reading, Lu Li exchanged glances with Shen Qingxue.

Shen Qingxue nodded slightly.

"Alright, then we'll take the proposal back to study it."

Lu Li closed the folder and put it away on his side of the desk.

"How about we give you an answer within three days?"

Chen Yuan smiled and nodded.

"Great, then I'll wait for good news from the two of you."

He paused and added another sentence.

"However, I still hope we can have the opportunity to collaborate."

Lu Li chuckled softly.

"I hope so too."

The three of them chatted for a while longer, the topic shifting from the collaboration proposal to the music itself, and the atmosphere relaxed a lot.

Chen Yuan was very interested in Lu Li's creative process and asked several questions about traditional Chinese style songs.

Lu Li didn't hide anything either, picking out some things he could talk about and sharing them.

Shen Qingxue occasionally added a few words from the side, and the three of them had a rather congenial chat.

...

About half an hour later, the two of them prepared to get up and take their leave.

Chen Yuan also stood up, shook hands with Shen Qingxue again, then turned to Lu Li and proactively extended his right hand.

"Teacher Lu, looking forward to our cooperation."

Lu Li shook hands with him.

"Mm, wait for our good news."

The two quickly walked out of the coffee shop.

Lu Li stood on the steps at the entrance, narrowed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

"How was it?"

Shen Qingxue walked down and stood beside him.

"What do you mean?"

"Tianlai Music's terms."

Lu Li thought for a moment and then spoke.

"I feel they're quite sincere, especially that splash screen ad promotion; they really spared no expense."

"Mm."

Shen Qingxue nodded.

"I think so too, but Penguin Music and Cloud Music haven't officially made an offer yet. No need to rush; let's wait for their move."

Lu Li turned his head to look at her and grinned.

"Alright, I'll listen to you."

The two of them slowly walked forward along the sidewalk, preparing to hail a taxi to go home.

After walking for about dozens of meters, Lu Li suddenly slowed his pace and glanced sideways at a black car parked by the roadside.

That car had been parked there before they came out of the coffee shop.

Just now, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a figure flickering behind the car window, as if dodging something.

Shen Qingxue noticed his action and also stopped.

"What's wrong?"

Lu Li withdrew his gaze and frowned slightly.

"It's nothing, I probably saw wrong."

But he still took another look at the car and memorized the last few digits of the license plate number.

Before long, that car had started up, slowly drove into the main road, merged into the traffic, and quickly disappeared at the intersection ahead.

Lu Li withdrew his gaze and shook his head.

Maybe he was overthinking it. Today he wore a suit, plus sunglasses, making him feel a bit like a mafia member.

That's why he always felt like someone was looking at him?

"Let's go."

Although Shen Qingxue thought Lu Li was a bit weird, she didn't think much of it either. She followed him to the roadside and hailed a taxi.

...

By the time they returned home, it was already past three in the afternoon.

The most fatal thing was that they hadn't recorded a song yet today.

Lu Li changed out of that suit, slipped back into his T-shirt and big shorts, collapsed onto the sofa, and instantly felt entirely comfortable.

"I'm exhausted. Can today's traditional Chinese style song chain be canceled?"

Shen Qingxue sat opposite him, holding a water cup, and gave him an exasperated look.

"No."

"Why?"

"Before ghosting, you should at least ask for leave a day in advance. Otherwise, it always feels a bit unfair to the fans who have been waiting bitterly."

Shen Qingxue thought for a moment and said.

Fans who are frequently ghosted: Family members, someone is finally speaking up for us.

Lu Li curled his lips. What Shen Qingxue said indeed made sense, and he was powerless to refute it.

If he had known it would be like this, he would have sent a leave notice yesterday.

Afterwards, he resignedly stood up from the sofa and dragged his feet toward the equipment area.

"Let's go, let's record. If I don't record until you're satisfied today, I won't take the surname Lu!"

Shen Qingxue followed behind him, the corners of her mouth curling slightly. In her heart, she felt a little bit secretly delighted, but quickly suppressed it.

...

The recording of orchid pavilion preface only took a little over two hours before it was successfully completed.

Shen Qingxue was completely shocked.

As the sole witness on the scene, she only then discovered.

It turns out that in order to rest earlier, someone's efficiency can truly multiply several times over. This is definitely not bragging.

Of course, this was also because she didn't know that Lu Li had already listened to the original version of orchid pavilion preface thousands of times.

"How is it? I told you, if we don't record until you're satisfied today, wouldn't I change my surname?"

Lu Li finished the last gulp of yogurt in one breath, accurately threw the carton into the trash can two meters away, then turned his head to look at Shen Qingxue and raised an eyebrow.

Shen Qingxue was lowering her head to export the orchid pavilion preface recorded just now. Hearing this, she didn't even raise her head, but the corners of her mouth curved into a soft smile.

"Mm... Then why do you still have the surname Lu?"

"Hey... Why are you such a stickler for details? When I said satisfied, I meant I was satisfied, it doesn't mean you're satisfied."

Lu Li said righteously and self-confidently.

Shen Qingxue gave him an exasperated glare.

"Quibbling."

Afterward, she clicked on the exported audio file and listened to it from beginning to end.

Lu Li didn't say anything more, and the living room quieted down.

Soon, the prelude to orchid pavilion preface slowly began to play.

Lu Li leaned against the armrest of the sofa, arms crossed, his gaze falling on Shen Qingxue, quietly waiting for her evaluation.

Shen Qingxue closed her eyes, her fingers gently tapping rhythmically on her knees.

She didn't speak, but the slightly upward arc at the corners of her mouth exposed her true thoughts.

After listening to the song, she opened her eyes, put down her phone, and looked at Lu Li.

"It sounds good."

Hearing this, the corners of Lu Li's mouth immediately curled up.

"Alright then, you rest for a bit first. I'll go get the video and copywriting ready, and send it out right at eight o'clock tonight. After sending it, the two of us will go play "yuanshen"."

Shen Qingxue looked at his appearance and couldn't help smiling and shaking her head.

"Sure, but you have to accompany me to reconcile this month's accounts."

The smile on Lu Li's face instantly froze. He abruptly sat up from the sofa with a dumbfounded expression.

"Ah? Reconcile accounts? What accounts?"

"Income accounts. Why don't you look at anything?"

Shen Qingxue smiled helplessly, then conjured an account book from somewhere, opened it, and pushed it in front of him.

"Take a look, Douyin creator earnings, Qishui Music's share... Adding all the bits and pieces together, I've made a summary. Have a look over it."

Lu Li looked down and saw the account book densely packed with numbers, ranging from tens to thousands of yuan, which made his heart palpitate a bit.

Subconsciously, he pushed the account book back.

"Forget it, forget it. Just handle it however you see fit. I trust you."

Shen Qingxue glanced at him, but didn't persist further, instead taking back the account book.

"Then I'll organize it first, and transfer your share to you then."

"No need!"

Lu Li's voice suddenly became a bit heavy.

When he came to his senses, he subconsciously scratched his head.

"Uh... My meaning is, you can hold onto it first. Anyway, I don't spend much money, and keeping it with you is safer than keeping it with me. If I have money in my hands..."

Shen Qingxue looked at him curiously.

It's a pity there was no continuation; Lu Li just smiled at her and shook his head.

"It's nothing."

As his voice fell, Lu Li stood up and walked toward his room.

Leaving a bewildered Shen Qingxue scratching her head in confusion.

What's the situation? (⊙ x ⊙)

On the other side, as soon as the bedroom door closed, Lu Li sat dejectedly on the bed and couldn't help sighing.

So payday has arrived.

However, why was he a bit unhappy?