Yu Hai never expected that someone would respond to the song he had just submitted in less than an hour.
Because he had forgotten to turn his phone back on, the other party had sent a message directly to his account on the Music Association’s official website.
"Hello, Mr. Whale Fall. We are very satisfied with the song 'Let's Go Our Separate Ways' that you provided. We would like to discuss the recording of this song with you. Do you have some time?"
Yu Hai was somewhat surprised by their courtesy. After all, the one million he received was a buyout; they were under no obligation to consult his opinion on the subsequent recording.
Yu Hai replied directly on the platform: "I have time."
The other party seemed to be waiting online, as they sent a message back immediately: "Do you have any recommendations for the singer?"
"No, but I suggest finding a female singer with a rich, resonant voice and a strong sense of explosive power."
"Understood. Thank you for your suggestion. Would you have time to supervise the recording?"
"Sorry, it is not convenient for me to go out."
"Very well. We will finalize the order today. Mr. Whale Fall, could you provide your contact information? We would like to consult you if any issues arise during the recording process."
Yu Hai thought about it and agreed, providing his Weibo handle.
The contract had already been signed on the music website when Yu Hai uploaded the track. Within minutes of the other party confirming the transaction, the payment—minus taxes—was deposited into his account.
He counted the string of digits in the text message notification.
Good, he now had the money to purchase a cemetery plot for his father and the original owner of this body.
Yu Hai drifted off to sleep, feeling quite content.
On August 20th, the awards banquet for the new round of the songwriting competition was held in Qingcheng. Many were disappointed that the gold medal winner did not attend, but this was hardly surprising; previous winners had skipped the event before. People merely remarked that the person was low-key and soon put it out of their minds.
On August 25th, Yu Hai finally awaited the trial of Su Yucheng.
By this time, the buzz on the internet regarding the top-tier celebrity Su Yucheng’s drunk driving and hit-and-run incident had cooled down. Naturally, there was little focus on the victim, Yu Hai, though reporters were surely staked out in front of the courthouse. To avoid trouble, Yu Hai did not attend. The court did not mandate his presence, though he had hired a lawyer to file a supplementary civil lawsuit. Because he did not appear, rumors circulated online that his injuries were too severe to attend, but as there was no further news, the gossip eventually faded into nothingness.
That evening, he received the verdict. Su Yucheng was sentenced to ten years in prison for drunk driving, the hit-and-run, and embezzlement. Additionally, with the compensation for Yu Hai’s various expenses and the proceeds from the songs, Yu Hai would receive roughly five million in total.
Many netizens were dissatisfied with the sentence, feeling it was too light. But the law was the law, and for Yu Hai, this matter was truly over.
The funeral for his father had not yet been held. After the verdict was delivered, he sent a silk banner of appreciation to the police station, then bought a plot in the best cemetery in Sucheng.
Yu Hai and his father had relied on each other since he was a child, with no other relatives, so the funeral was very simple. He chose a good spot in the memorial park and burned a copy of Su Yucheng’s judgment in front of the tombstone. He also brought the blood-stained composition notebook belonging to the original owner, burning it to ashes and scattering them around, effectively burying the original owner with his father so they would have each other’s company.
He sat silently before the tombstone for a long time, then knelt down with difficulty and bowed his head three times, truly and sincerely. He left without further hesitation.
The next day, he packed nothing but his phone and left home, boarding a train toward Haohan University. He had been looking at properties online for days, and after getting off the train, he moved slowly with his cane, flagged down a taxi, and headed straight for a place he had scouted.
He had considered whether a wheelchair would be more convenient, but the thought of it being too bulky for transport made him give up. He decided to treat the walking as strength training for his arms.
Viewing the property, signing the contract, paying the money—by dinner time, Yu Hai had moved into the three-bedroom, two-living-room apartment. He had originally intended to rent, but prices near Haohan University were not too high. With Su Yucheng’s compensation, he realized he could afford to buy a place outright. He decided buying was more convenient.
Because he needed to move in quickly, he chose a pre-owned property that was already renovated and fully furnished. It was said to have been a bridal home for a young couple, but the groom cheated before the wedding, the engagement was called off, and the bride sold the house.
The apartment and its furnishings cost just under four million. Since the court verdict had only just come down and the compensation would take a few days to process, Yu Hai paid the down payment first and received the keys. He would collect the title deed once the balance was cleared.
After dinner, he bought some household essentials and clothes at a nearby mall, having them delivered. When everything was settled, Yu Hai sat on the sofa, exhausted, and let out a long breath.
Spending several million in a single day—in both his past and present lives, this was his first time spending money with such abandon. He looked around the apartment; starting today, this was his home. Having a nest of his own in this world truly felt different.
With his mind drifting, he couldn't help but take out his phone and post on Weibo:
"Clear night, dustless; moonlight like silver. When pouring wine, fill it to the brim. Frivolous fame and profit only waste the spirit. Sighing at the galloping horse through the crack, the spark from flint, this body in a dream. Though I possess the skill to write, who is close when I speak? Let me be joyous and enjoy the pure truth. When shall I return to be a man of leisure? Facing a zither, a pot of wine, and a cloud over the stream."
This was from Su Shi’s "Xing Xiang Zi, Stating My Feelings" from the Song Dynasty. But it seemed this world didn't have this poem?
Yu Hai thought fuzzily, tossed the idea aside, put down his phone, washed up, and fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, he woke up naturally. Perhaps because he was happy about the move, he hadn't had any nightmares. He felt refreshed.
Lying in bed, he planned his day: go to the hospital for a check-up, buy some books to learn about the history of this world, and look for a recording studio nearby—he had decided to submit a piece for the sports meet opening ceremony. That was it.
Once the plan was set, he submerged his consciousness into his mind to check the results of the past day. The result was far better than expected. Five colorful fruits hung among the green leaves, making him salivate.
What was going on? Yu Hai was stunned. After the "Rice Fragrance" boom ended, the fruit maturation had slowed to a trickle; it used to take days to grow a single one. How did so many appear today?
He immediately sat up and pulled out his phone. Opening Weibo, he saw 99+ private messages; the post from last night already had tens of thousands of likes and thousands of comments.
"This poem is written so well!"
"Is this the talent of Whale Fall? I love it!"
"I really love 'Rice Fragrance,' and the new 'Let's Go Our Separate Ways' is also great. Following."
"Great at writing songs, didn't expect the poetry to be so amazing, too!"
...
Yu Hai scrolled through the comments and finally understood the situation.
Around 8:00 AM, the crew of the movie "Goodbye, Ex-lover" posted: "Theme song 'Let's Go Our Separate Ways.' Please say goodbye to your exes. Thank you to Teacher Whale Fall @Whale Fall Returns to the Sea for creating this song. Let us meet on September 15th, see you there."
Attached was the movie trailer.
Yu Hai hadn't expected a single post to increase his follower count by tens of thousands in a few hours. He vaguely recalled a crew member asking for his Weibo handle; he had given it without a second thought, and now he was no longer an invisible nobody. He would have to be more careful about what he posted from now on.
Curious, he clicked on the trailer.
At the start, the heroine frowned at the hero and said, "Let's break up!" Their expressions were bitter, and then a rich, mellow female voice rose in the background:
"Give me a hug,
Just pretend we were never together.
Is that alright?
It's already too late to explain..."
The scene shifted, and as the song flowed, the characters’ emotionally charged crying scenes rendered an incredibly sorrowful atmosphere. From meeting to separating, from pleading to letting go, the frames flashed by. The singer hired by the crew was excellent; her voice contained a suppressed helplessness and pain, as if she were saying goodbye to a relationship.
The comments on the trailer proved the song's success:
"This song with the trailer is so relatable."
"I want to see the movie now."
"Only those who have experienced it know the lethality of this song."
"Only after listening to this did I realize I still can't let go."
"I'm fine, it's just really time to go our separate ways."
...
Seeing so many people express interest in visiting the cinema after hearing the song, Yu Hai felt relieved. He casually reposted the update and stopped worrying about it. The money was settled, the song was bought out, so no matter how popular it became, it would not generate further income for him.
After breakfast, Yu Hai took a taxi to the hospital. Checking in, getting scans, and examinations kept him busy all morning, and he finally returned home.
Yu Hai was intentionally keeping himself from idling. His depression would cause his mind to drift into aimless thoughts whenever he was still. Refusing to take medicine, he could only keep himself busy.
After lunch, he sat in his study to ponder the choice of a piece for the sports meet opening ceremony. Unlike Earth, the opening ceremony in this world was very short, and the process was simple. Usually, only one performance was scheduled, lasting under ten minutes, intended to stir the athletes' enthusiasm. Many countries hosting the games would have a top national singer perform an impassioned song to cheer the athletes on, then showcase their national culture at the closing ceremony.
Yu Hai recalled the requirements for the opening piece. He searched through his system’s exchange interface, muttering, "It needs to be grand, majestic, and inspiring..."
Suddenly, a song came to mind.
"Victory."
It was known by Earth’s netizens as an epic, divine melody. The rhythm was grand, magnificent, and heart-shaking—wasn't this exactly the effect he wanted?
Without a second thought, Yu Hai exchanged it. The piece cost him twenty gold coins. He felt a pang of heartache as he looked at the single-digit balance in his system, but he comforted himself: it was worth it.
And it was worth it. After exchanging it, he not only learned the piece but also mastered the various instruments required to play it. Though he wasn't an expert, it was enough for him.
After writing down the score, he went online to find a nearby recording studio. He was determined to record the piece and submit it before school started.
Recording "Victory" was much more troublesome than the previous songs. Yu Hai gritted his teeth, rented the most expensive studio, and spent gold coins on a one-hour trial card for an item called "Heavenly Sound."
The piece featured an incredibly beautiful high-pitched vocalization in the middle. Not knowing anyone who could help him sing it, he had to grit his teeth and do it himself.
Yu Hai had been salivating over the "Heavenly Sound" item for a long time. It was an effect achievable only when one's vocal conditions reached 100 points. He couldn't afford the permanent version, so he spent five gold coins on a one-hour trial card.
Then, Yu Hai was stunned by his own voice.
"How could such a beautiful voice exist in this world?"
He left amidst the murmurs of the recording studio staff.
On August 30th, Yu Hai finished recording the piece, filled out the form as usual, attached the sheet music and a brief introduction, and clicked submit.
Done.
Yu Hai let out a long sigh; the last few days had truly worn him out.