On their way home, Lu Chen held Ei's hand as they strolled through the sunset-lit streets.
They stopped in front of a bookstore.
The twilight cast a golden hue over the storefront, and from inside came the gentle tones of a xylophone, accompanied by a chorus of heavenly female voices.
"What is it?" Raiden Ei noticed Lu Chen staring into the store and curiously looked over.
"Doesn't it sound familiar?" Lu Chen smiled.
Though the music was faint, it drifted through the bookstore's clear floor-to-ceiling windows, lingering in Lu Chen's ears.
Every time he heard this song, it reminded him of that day by the sea.
The deep blue sky and ocean, the white dress fluttering in the breeze, and that beautiful melody.
It was the first track—and title song—of Venti's music album.
Starlight Music sure worked fast. No wonder Venti hadn't seemed busy these past few days—the album had already been completed.
Raiden Ei also recognized Venti's composition. Their eyes lit up with interest.
Hand in hand, they walked into the bookstore together.
With the decline of traditional records, few physical stores still sold albums—most were now digital releases online.
But in a corner of the store, stacked neatly, was the debut album of the mysterious musician V.T, released by Starlight Music.
Lu Chen spotted the promotional poster. It showed a photo taken by the sea—three rows of girls in white dresses singing toward the waves. The scene was poetic and serene, but Venti was nowhere to be found.
"Ode to the Sea"
Lyrics: V.T
Composition: V.T
Vocals: V.T; Haizhou Academy Music Department Students
Not only was Venti absent from the photo, but even the name "V.T" was shrouded in mystery. Starlight clearly wanted to brand him as a reclusive artist, focused on music over fame.
In stark contrast was the album by the celebrity Gu Cheng. The store had given his release a massive display, while Venti's was crammed into a corner.
Gu Cheng's poster was several times larger, plastered across an entire wall—his magnified, flawless face staring down at passersby.
It seemed like the main selling point of Gu Cheng's album… was his looks?
To be fair, both albums were launched by the same company, yet the treatment they received couldn't be more different.
Maybe classical-style music just wasn't popular anymore. Gu Cheng clearly had more commercial appeal.
Lu Chen figured he was probably right—just then, a few girls walked over holding hands, snapping selfies with Gu Cheng's massive poster, likely for their social media.
And their buying power? Impressive. They bought over twenty copies on the spot...
Raiden Ei and Lu Chen exchanged a glance.
Lu Chen looked up at the enlarged poster. "Is he really that good-looking...? Wouldn't Venti be more popular if he just showed his face?"
The image was edited so heavily there wasn't a pore in sight. Those girls were clearly infatuated, but Lu Chen just didn't see the appeal.
Raiden Ei gave Gu Cheng's poster a brief glance, then looked away.
"You're more handsome."
"Really?!"
Lu Chen squeezed her hand. Whether she was just seeing him through rose-colored glasses or he really was more attractive than Gu Cheng, it felt good to hear and warmed his heart.
"Hmm..." Lu Chen raised his other hand, holding his index finger and thumb close together. "That Gu Cheng is just this much better-looking than me!"
Just a tiny bit...
(Fingertip Universe)
They wandered around the bookstore for a bit, then headed to the counter.
Those girls earlier had bought twenty albums—Lu Chen wasn't about to be outdone. He was going to support Venti's rankings, even if he didn't care about them.
"Boss, I'll take these."
The shopkeeper saw Lu Chen hauling over forty copies of Ode to the Sea, and his hand shook slightly as he adjusted his glasses.
What was going on today? Was this tiny bookstore finally hitting the jackpot?
One customer bought twenty just minutes ago, and now someone was doubling that. At this rate...
The owner dared not imagine.
"That'll be 5,600. You can scan here to pay."
Lu Chen pulled out his phone and paid without hesitation. Honestly, the price wasn't bad—Gu Cheng's album right next to it cost twice as much.
But even with the higher price, Gu Cheng's songs were no match for Venti's.
Venti's music blended classical foundations with pop elements. Lu Chen had listened to all ten tracks early—and every one of them was top-tier.
As the payment processed, the owner smiled. "You've got good taste, young man."
"Yeah?" Lu Chen grinned sheepishly.
"I mean it. I like this album too."
And he wasn't just saying that to flatter him—the store was currently playing the first track from Ode to the Sea.
After hearing the entire song, the owner had immediately chosen it as the bookstore's background music.
The song was soothing, calming, like standing on a quiet beach...
And in that boyish voice at the end, there seemed to be a hidden emotion...
The literary-minded shopkeeper thought it perfectly matched the bookstore's vibe.
...
Back home, everyone was stunned to see Lu Chen carrying forty albums.
"What are these?" Yae Miko asked curiously. "Light novels?"
"Is it the newest kind of coconut milk?" Qiqi hopped off the couch.
"..." Lu Chen figured he was about to disappoint them both.
"Wait, aren't these my albums?" Venti recognized them instantly and looked at Lu Chen in confusion. "Why'd you buy so many?"
"I saw your album getting completely overshadowed by that colleague of yours. Couldn't stand it!" Lu Chen stacked the albums neatly on the new coffee table.
Everyone grabbed a copy, curiously examining them.
"My colleague?" Venti thought for a moment. "Someone else releasing an album now... Could it be..."
"Gu Cheng?" The name finally clicked.
"Exactly," Lu Chen nodded.
"He had a falling out with Tony and went solo. We're not coworkers anymore."
"Huh?"
Lu Chen hadn't expected that. So Gu Cheng had left Starlight already? That had to be big news in the industry, but he'd heard nothing about it.
Normally, the gossiping duo in the back row would've been chattering nonstop about something like this—he'd hear it even if he didn't want to.
Then again, today he'd been preoccupied with everything about Ei. He hadn't been paying attention to what anyone else was saying...
"So..." Lu Chen continued, "You two are actual rivals now?"
From the looks of it, Venti's album couldn't even compete with Gu Cheng's...
Venti gave a helpless shrug. "Compete for what? Didn't we agree? I'm focused on making music. Whether it sells well or not... who cares?"
He could tell Lu Chen was trying to stand up for him. It made him feel a bit helpless—but also genuinely touched.
"Okay~ If someone likes it, they're a kindred spirit in music. If they don't... I won't force it. It's that simple."
"Alright..." Lu Chen muttered.
"But..." Venti's emerald eyes sparkled. "Thanks."