The guitar is probably the easiest instrument to pick up.
Luo Ming knew how to play because his college roommate was a huge folk music fan. At the freshman welcome party, that roommate performed an acoustic cover of “The Once You Were” and basically secured his dating rights for the next four years.
The guy had been a hardcore fan of LZ back in the day, but after LZ disappeared from the scene, he threw himself fully into his own pursuits. He started a guitar club at school, and by the time graduation rolled around, the club had nearly 150 members.
Luo Ming’s dorm mates all joined for various reasons—some for the easy credits, some hoping to impress girls with their guitar skills. Over three years of spare-time practice, they actually picked up a thing or two. At the very least, they could read simplified notation, tune a guitar, and sing while playing—all the basics were covered.
Now, to record a demo of Light Years Away, he’d definitely need a guitar.
But Lin Shuwen didn’t have one at home. She played piano—had learned since childhood—and there was a piano sitting right there in the house. Unfortunately, Luo Ming couldn’t play it.
Just then, makeup artist Chen Junmiao was called over by Sister Shan, and Lin Shuwen’s assistant, Chen Sichu, came along with her cousin.
“Chuchu, can you find me a guitar? Just a regular acoustic one will do,” Luo Ming said, turning his head while Chen Junmiao worked on his makeup.
“Sister Wen, there’s no guitar at home. Should I go buy one?”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
“Should I get a good one?”
“Mm. A cheap one costs a few hundred bucks, but a decent one won’t break the bank either. Just don’t let them rip you off.”
Chen Sichu nodded and headed out.
Half an hour later, Luo Ming’s makeup was done, and he’d swapped his pajamas for a plain T-shirt and shorts.
Around the same time, Chen Sichu returned with three acoustic guitars in hand.
Luo Ming tried each one, adjusted the strings, and gave them another go before settling on the one with the clearest, brightest tone.
Chen Sichu quietly put the other two away, but inside, she was a little surprised. Not that Lin Shuwen could play guitar—guitar is a relatively simple instrument, and since Lin Shuwen was already skilled at piano, it made sense she’d know guitar too.
What caught her off guard was that Lin Shuwen actually knew how to tune the strings herself. That meant she’d spent some time playing guitar before, but Chen Sichu had never once heard her mention it.
Now that he had the gear, Luo Ming started recording the demo.
He picked up the guitar and was just about to begin when Chen Junmiao couldn’t help but say, “Sister Wen, isn’t that posture a bit… ungraceful?”
“Hm? Is it?”
“It’s a little too rough.”
Luo Ming looked down and immediately understood what she meant.
It was just the way he was sitting!
He thought for a moment, then crossed his fair, jade-like right leg over his left.
“Better now?”
Chen Junmiao nodded. Still, she couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but something about Sister Wen today just felt… off.
Luo Ming took a deep breath, settled his mind, and began to pluck the strings.
To be honest, Light Years Away isn’t really a song suited for acoustic guitar accompaniment, but Luo Ming didn’t know how to play any other instrument.
So he played and sorted out the simplified notation at the same time, and before he knew it, the whole morning had slipped by.
Meanwhile, over on Lin Shuwen’s side, she had just met up with Rong Mu.
“Dude! Er Ming, what the hell happened to you?”
“Huh? What do you mean? Is something wrong with me?”
“Everything’s wrong with you!”
Rong Mu was starting to get a toothache from gritting his teeth. Since when did Luo Ming learn to sway his hips when he walked?
Luo Ming had always been the impatient type—used to stride around in big, hurried steps. But now his steps were tiny and delicate, and his upper body stayed still while his hips moved—it was like watching someone walk a runway.
“Er Ming, be honest with me. Did you get… taken yesterday?”
Lin Shuwen was completely lost. She had no idea what “taken” meant in this context.
It wasn’t until she followed Rong Mu’s gaze to where he was staring that her entire face flushed bright red.
“Wha—what are you even talking about!?”
Rong Mu was even more alarmed now. Had he actually hit the mark?
If he hadn’t, why would Luo Ming react so defensively?
Wait… did that mean Luo Ming had that kind of preference?
Rong Mu stumbled back a few steps in shock. He was a perfectly normal straight man, thank you very much.
“Huff…” Lin Shuwen took a deep breath and repeated to herself several times: Don’t get mad, don’t get mad—anger only gives the devil a foothold. Only then did she calm down.
“Would you stop talking nonsense! I just walked too fast coming down the stairs, took a step that was too big, and…”
“Pulled a muscle down there?”
Lin Shuwen nodded.
“Damn! I told you ages ago, you need to fix that impatient streak. Other people walk—you practically sprint everywhere. See? Today you paid the price!”
“I was just too excited! Listen, Wood, we don’t have to grovel before this investor. We just need to fight for our own interests as much as possible. If he’s not the right fit, we’ll find someone else. I’ve already got a surefire investment lined up—five million, no less.”
“Five million! For real?”
“Of course it’s real!”
“You went to talk about this yesterday?”
“More or less.”
Rong Mu broke into a grin. He’d been fully prepared to play the humble beggar for that two million investment, but it looked like he wouldn’t have to after all.
Wait a minute…
The way Luo Ming was walking today… he didn’t trade his virtue for that investment, did he?
To be fair, Luo Ming was quite handsome—but in a rugged, masculine way, with a darker complexion that gave him a bit of a valiant, soldierly vibe.
That kind of good-looking guy could definitely trigger some… conquest urges in certain circles.
With that thought, Rong Mu patted Lin Shuwen on the shoulder. “Er Ming… forget it. I won’t say anything. I know what you’ve sacrificed.” With that, he gave her a firm, determined look and strode into the restaurant.
He would not let Luo Ming’s sacrifice go to waste!
Lin Shuwen, on the other hand, was utterly baffled. She had no idea what Luo Ming had supposedly sacrificed—wasn’t the five million coming from her?
Completely confused, she followed Rong Mu into the private dining room.
They’d agreed to meet at 12 o’clock. It was currently 11:40. Rong Mu sat down, pulled out his phone, and started scrolling through some forum—without saying a single word to Lin Shuwen.
She was even more lost now. She could tell that Rong Mu and Luo Ming were close—they clearly trusted each other—but why were they sitting in the private room like total strangers, not exchanging a word?
Was this just how men interacted?
At exactly noon, the other party arrived right on time.
Two people walked in: a lean, middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, accompanied by a woman in a well-tailored business suit.
The woman looked about twenty-five or twenty-six, with delicate features and a faint smile on her face.
“Sorry, Mr. Luo, Mr. Rong—traffic was a bit heavy on the way here. I’m late. Let me introduce myself: I’m Bai Jingwen, manager of Shanghai Feiyu Venture Capital, and this is my assistant, Jiang Man,” the middle-aged man said with a smile.
“Nice to meet you, Manager Bai. I’m Rong Mu, and this is my partner, Luo Ming.”
With that, Rong Mu shot Lin Shuwen a glance. She stood up with him, and they both shook hands with Bai Jingwen before taking their seats.
