Chapter 25: Lang, You Wouldn’t Want All Our Efforts to Go to Waste, Right?

“Lang, what exactly is this between us?”

After their intimate moment, Meng Ziyi whispered the question.

Shen Lang countered, “What do you think?”

“Are we… back together?” she ventured.

Shen Lang sighed inwardly. Time for honesty.

“Ziyi, let me tell you a story about a friend of mine…”

“Your friend?” Meng Ziyi’s eyes widened as she stared at him.

Don’t think I don’t know that internet trope.

Ignoring her expression, Shen Lang continued, “After my friend broke up with his ex, he dated a few times—all short-lived. His ex knew about it, but that’s not the point…”

“The point is, my friend recently got sponsored by a wealthy older woman!”

“What?!”

Meng Ziyi was stunned. “You got kept by a sugar mommy?”

“Lang, how could you? You always said you’d make it on your own!”

“And now you’re doing so well—”

Suddenly, it clicked. Her voice trembled. “Wait… did all those opportunities come after the arrangement?”

“Nonsense!”

Shen Lang flatly denied it. “My uncle Shen Teng lined up those gigs. Trump Card? His doing. You know he’s got pull.”

“But the songwriting? Are you sure it’s not ghostwritten?” Meng Ziyi pressed.

“Who would hand over a hit song for free?”

“I’ve never seen it, but money talks…”

As she spoke, her conviction grew. Shen Lang was someone’s boytoy.

“Oh god. It’s Da Sweet, isn’t it?”

“I heard she’s been chasing you. How could you? You know her background—”

Unable to bear more, Shen Lang silenced her in the most effective way possible.

The Next Day

They left the hotel and returned to campus.

After a night to reflect, Meng Ziyi decided to drop the matter—for now. Facing Da Sweet’s influence, she felt outmatched.

Besides, Shen Lang had a surprise waiting for her once The Untamed filming began.

Unbeknownst to her, Meng Ziyi herself was cast as one of the drama’s female leads. Though The Untamed centered on a male duo, decorative love interests were still required.

She had no idea Shen Lang had landed the male lead role. He kept it quiet, saving the revelation for their first day on set.

Back at School

The following days passed uneventfully—except for one trip to The Wandering Earth’s post-production studio.

Shen Lang presented director Guo Fan with “Starry Sea”, the theme song he’d composed. “Does this work for you?”

Guo Fan: “…”

I asked for something passable, not a magnum opus.

Yet the more he considered it, the more “Starry Sea” fit the film’s interstellar odyssey theme.

“Lang, you’re something else.” Guo Fan gave a thumbs-up. “Record the promo track when you can. Once the Lunar New Year films finish their run, we’ll start marketing.”

“We’ve got six months, but prep never hurts.”

“Oh, and we’ll need pickup shots. Stay available.”

Shen Lang grinned. “Just say the word, Director. I’ll clear my schedule.”

Only a fool would refuse. The Wandering Earth’s success meant his own stardom rising.

“Good! I like your attitude!”

Guo Fan clapped his shoulder, delighted with this unexpected windfall. He’d only cast Shen Lang as a last resort after the original lead bailed—now it might be his luckiest break.

Suddenly inspired, Guo Fan added, “Lang, submit Starry Sea for the Spring Festival Gala auditions. Use your uncle’s connections.”

“Broaden the theme beyond sci-fi—make it about national pride, historical legacy… you get me?”

The suggestion was brilliant.

Repositioned as a patriotic anthem, Starry Sea would breeze through the gala’s selection process.

“Remember how Monster Hunt 2 was promoted during this year’s gala? Smashed opening day records.”

“Shame the script and effects wasted that potential.” Guo Fan sighed for his peers’ misfire. “Our Wandering Earth has the substance. Now we need the hype.”

“Lang… whether we get prime Lunar New Year screening slots depends on you now.”

“You’ve no idea how many investors bailed when they heard ‘sci-fi’. You and Wu Jing stuck by me.”

“Lang… my career redemption hinges on this. Get us that gala spot!”

Shen Lang: “…”

The man’s already planning next year’s marketing—and this year’s gala just ended!

Then Guo Fan deployed the killshot:

“Lang… you wouldn’t want all our efforts to go to waste, right?”

…Director, are you secretly a fan of Japanese educational films?

The question almost slipped out. Shen Lang bit it back.

In his past life, “Starry Sea” had been repurposed as a Communist Party centennial theme. But 2019 marked the 70th anniversary of the PRC—an equally monumental milestone.

After three days of intensive planning (and only leaving when his sugar mommy summoned him), Shen Lang departed with one certainty:

This song would be heard nationwide.