Chapter 67 The Days You Were Not Here

  In the evening when eating, Su Yifan really brought someone over, Neil that dead skin and thick face doesn't count, Zhang Yao also came together.

  Cheng Shui Xin's good impression of Zhang Yao is greater than Yang Bingbing. Yang Bingbing has a kind of unspeakable noble and elegant temperament, although most of the time she is enthusiastic towards people, that calm and composed aura cannot be hidden no matter how hard one tries. Cheng Shui Xin feels that her own cleverness is a bit dull compared to Yang Bingbing.

  Cheng Shui Xin rarely showed her intelligence and talent in front of Su Xiao Qing, instead making an effort to show a more lovable and even weak side as an ordinary female student. She was very aware that the gap between herself and Su Xiao Qing could no longer be bridged by her own limited experience.

  Yang Bingbing also gave Cheng Shuiyan this feeling, she was very indifferent to everything, but her demands for fairness and justice were a bit high. Such a girl, although unwilling to talk about her own family, can also guess that her growth environment must be very enviable.

  Only Zhang Yao was different, Zhang Yao was like a frightened little animal, who had never been good at talking to people, but also wouldn't make people feel threatened. Cheng Shuiheng sometimes even felt that being with Zhang Yao was much more comfortable than being with her so-called good friends.

  As for Nell... Cheng Shui Xin has been trying to ignore this British little girl, she made it clear that she likes Su Yi Fan and won't leave no matter how much she is driven away.

  The one who was stared at by Niel didn't have any self-awareness, and actually used the computer to search for restaurants on Dianping during evening study.

  "The budget is limited, don't be too expensive."

  "Don't worry, I'll find someone who charges five yuan per person." Su Yifan is now starting to joke around too, which makes Cheng Shuiyan feel a bit more at ease.

  Last night, after taking into account everyone's tastes and hobbies, we decided to go for a spicy hot pot. It's not expensive and delicious, the girls all like it.

  Nell is one of the least able to eat spicy food, she muttered a few sentences in English in protest, but everyone pretended not to understand and she endured. Su Yifan, however, took pity on her inability to eat spicy food and ordered a slightly milder dish called "point-point-spicy".

  Zhang Yao secretly sent a text message to Su Yifan: "Beiqi will say something again when she sees you eating these things."

  Su Yifan smiled indifferently and said, "It doesn't matter, it's not like it can really destroy the food structure."

  Three beauties with different styles, including a foreign girl, surrounded by a young man, the scene was so tempting to burn Su Yifan to death. Many people in and out of the spicy pot shop couldn't help but stare at their table for a while.

  Zhang Yao couldn't stand the frequent gaze, constantly wanting to shrink behind Su Yifan. Cheng Shuihan looked at Zhang Yao's adorable appearance and couldn't help but pinch her little sister: "Don't be afraid, the more you're afraid, the more they'll stare at you nonstop."

  Zhang Yao was even more embarrassed, but finally stopped twisting and turning, lowering her head to eat in silence.

  Nina lined up a row of drinks on her left hand side, eating one mouthful and drinking two mouthfuls of water, constantly exhaling from her mouth. This caused everyone to burst out laughing.

  Having laughed enough, Su Yifan finally spoke seriously to Cheng Shuiyi: "I have something I'd like to ask of you."

  Cheng Shui Xin didn't expect Su Yi Fan to speak to her in such a serious tone, and hastily said: "Go ahead and say it."

  Su Yifan hesitated for a moment and said: "In a few days, I'll be on vacation. I'm going to the United States for a trip, so I might need to take a few days off before coming back."

  "Go to America?"

  "I'm going to visit my sister's company," said Su Yifan. "Mainly to see relatives and learn something by the way."

  Nell, who was still drinking water non-stop, shouted loudly: "I'm going too! I don't need a visa to go to the United States!"

  "Shut up, Briton," Cheng Shuiying said irritably. "Let Su Yifan finish speaking."

  Su Yifan smiled: "Actually, it's nothing big, I want to take this opportunity to ask you to help me write a few lines of lyrics."

  "Write lyrics?"

  Zhang Yao's ears perked up immediately as she lowered her head to eat, resembling a slightly timid little rabbit.

  Su Yifan said with embarrassment: "It can't be explained to you now, but it's very important. I have a good friend who wants to write some songs, but hasn't got any ideas yet, and now he wants to ask you for a few lyrics to get a feel."

  "That's no problem." Cheng Shuiying didn't hesitate, "However, I'm not sure your friend will like what I write, and I don't think my level is very good either."

  "It's definitely better than Chen Qizhen." Su Yifan smiled, "As long as you agree, just write with feeling, follow your own personality. Best if there are moving sentences."

  Cheng Shui Xin nodded: "Okay, I'll try my best."

  "Thank you."

  "You don't have to be so polite with me," said Cheng Shuiheng. "If you really record a song, just let me hear it."

  Su Yifan thought for a moment: "That won't do, according to the market price, you have to pay."

  Cheng Shui Xin couldn't help but laugh: "So serious? What price are you going to tell me?"

  Before that, Su Yifan had discussed this issue with Su Xiaqing and immediately replied: "Now it's not possible to give too much, one song can only be set at $1,000 for the time being."

  The people around who were still eating heard Su Yifan's arrogant words and cast their eyes over here.

  Someone who can give $1,000 for a song will eat mala xiangguo here? There are several young people's eyes with undisguised disdain, thinking that this kid is relying on such deceitful lies to let three beauties sit with him.

  The most violent reaction was Zhang Yao, who had just refused to lift her head. The little girl with a mouthful of bright red chili color lifted her head and stared at Su Yifan with a terrified gaze.

  Su Yifan gave Zhang Yao a reassuring look and explained to Cheng Shuiyan, "In this industry, pay is calculated based on qualifications. You're new, so there's no way we can give you more..."

  Cheng Shuiyan, sitting across from Su Yifan, was still in shock. A reward of $1,000 per poem was exaggerated for her. China is a country that has never been very good at treating creators well, and Cheng Shuiyan had heard that even writing lyrics for a bar singer could only earn 300 to 500 yuan per song.

  "This price... is a bit high." Cheng Shui Xin hesitated for a moment, then quickly regained her composure. "I can't accept it. I'll write one first and see how you like it. If it's good, we can settle on $300 per song lyrics."

  No one noticed that Zhang Yao's terrified expression had disappeared by half and she lowered her head to start eating again.

  Nell asked with a smile beside her: "Su, do you want the lyrics in English? One thousand US dollars per song, I'm tempted."

  "I don't know how good your English writing skills are." Su Yifan's attitude towards Nier became much more casual, "Don't follow him and cause trouble."

  Nier fell silent again and started drinking her beverage with a tongue-out expression.

  Cheng Shui Xin said seriously to Su Yi Fan, "I roughly know the industry price for writing song lyrics. This price is really too high for me. I'll write some first and let you take a look. If you really think they're usable, don't give me such a high price."

  "Why won't you accept?" Su Yifan wondered, "I think this price is fair for you."

  Cheng Shui Xin looked at Su Yi Fan and calmly said, "Getting it too easily will make me lose myself. Actually, $300 per song lyrics is already too expensive for me, if you can't accept this condition, I won't write it."

  Su Yifan smiled: "Of course I accept, a lower price isn't a bad thing, and I believe you won't lower the quality of your work just because the pay is less."

  Cheng Shui Xin raised her drink with some excitement: "You still understand me."

  "Sue is a gentle gentleman." Nell muttered beside her, mumbling with her tongue.

  At night, everyone went back to their own homes and found their mothers. Su Yifan walked with Zhang Yao again this time.

  "I have something to say to Zhang Yao."

  No one would say anything with such an explanation, Cheng Shui Xin believed that Su Yi Fan didn't have any strange ideas about Zhang Yao, and Nier also seemed to be very indifferent. After saying goodbye, Su Yi Fan first sent off Cheng Shui Xin and Nier into the car, only then did he turn around to face Zhang Yao whose cheeks were flushed red.

  "Is it cold?"

  Zhang shook his head.

  "How about taking a walk first?"

  Zhang Yao nodded.

  "I took the liberty today, don't be angry." Su Yifan apologized to Zhang Yao first, "This price was decided by me and Qing after discussion, I think good lyrics can inspire your creative inspiration. Cheng Shui Xin's experience is so rich, you should actually have more contact with her."

  Zhang Yao lowered her head and listened quietly, saying nothing and making no response.

  Having gotten used to this feeling, Su Yifan said again: "I'm going to leave for a few days. When I'm not around, you have to take good care of yourself. If anything happens, go and tell Cheng Shuiyan about it. She should be able to help you."

  Zhang Yao followed closely behind Su Yifan, occasionally looking up at him with a hint of reluctance in her eyes.

  Su Yifan continued: "In the next few days when I'm not around, you can think about what kind of song you want to write, and how to create music that touches people's hearts. I think you can do better than those singers whose songs you've been covering. You're the best female singer I've ever heard."

  Listening and listening, Zhang Yao's face turned red again, and she turned her head away, not daring to look at Su Yifan.

  "Also..." Su Yifan hesitated for a moment, but still decided to say what he wanted to say. "When I'm not around to have dinner with you, take good care of yourself and eat well too. Can you promise me that?"

  Zhang Yao stopped in her tracks, gazing into Su Yifan's eyes, nodding slightly.

  The two people walked for over ten minutes, and Su Yifan kept talking nonstop. Zhang Yao just listened quietly, occasionally nodding or shaking her head, but never taking out her phone to type something to show Su Yifan.

  The weather was still a bit cold, Su Yifan hailed a car to send Zhang Yao home. Under the streetlights of that old and worn-out neighborhood, Zhang Yao suddenly stopped in her tracks, reached out and tugged on Su Yifan's clothes.

  "What's wrong?" Su Yifan habitually wanted to take out his phone to check for messages.

  Zhang Yao stared at Su Yifan, took a deep breath, and suddenly opened her mouth.

  "Come back early..."

  Su Yifan was stunned, and he grunted a response to the girl who was tugging on his hem.

  "Believe me, it will be back soon."

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  Ah, as I write and write, I find that I still like writing about little girls' stories the most...