"My name is Eden, I am twenty-four years old, and I am a student... recently graduated from university.
I was born into a family of musicians and received a good artistic education from a very young age.
My family was harmonious and, to be honest, I had a privileged and happy childhood, perhaps?
Hmm... how should I put it?
The reason I say 'maybe' is because something... probably a ghost, intruded into my privileged and happy childhood.
Although he presented himself as a spirit or something like that...
Well…
Now that I think about it, that guy has been by my side for as long as I can remember...
When I was barely old enough to understand things, my parents almost admitted me to a psychiatric hospital because of that guy.
Well... it's not that I hate him.
That guy is a ghost, something totally unscientific, and yet, surprisingly, he speaks of science.
His knowledge was so vast that I felt something didn't add up when he became a ghost; even my university professors seemed to know less than him.
Sometimes I wonder if it's because this guy is too scientific and too wise that God disliked him and turned him into a ghost, a completely unscientific being.
In short, although this ghost has brought me some trouble, he is... quite good, you know?
Even if it's hard to admit, sometimes that guy is more reliable than parents; well, from another perspective, it's like being haunted by a ghost.
That is very bad luck...
Furthermore, speaking of being haunted by ghosts, since I was old enough to understand it, I've been quite afraid every time I go to the bathroom, take a shower, or go to sleep, because even if he is a ghost... he is a male ghost.
Sometimes I feel really annoyed.
But, on the other hand, at least he is not a perverted ghost.
With this guy around, my personal safety is more than guaranteed; at least, I don't think any human being can defeat a ghost.
On the other hand, despite the numerous complaints, that guy, as a ghost, was so perfect that it was hard not to feel satisfied.
He is handsome, knows how to cook, and is intelligent.
Although he doesn't understand art, he knows how to listen very well...
Perhaps his only flaw is that he has no body.
I would love to see how the clothes that male celebrities wear on TV would look on that guy... they would probably look even better on him, right?
After all, some male celebrities have questionable taste in fashion...
If I designed it myself...
"Eden, writing in your diary again?"
"Could you knock before entering a girl's room, Mr. Tian?"
Eden slammed the diary shut on the table and glanced sideways at the ghost half-peeking through the door.
"Besides, this is not a diary, but simply a summary of a certain stage of life."
"Don't call yourself a girl if you are 24 years old."
Tian Shi sighed as he gazed at the now elegant red-haired woman before him.
"Wouldn't it be even more serious to enter a woman's room without permission?"
"Mmm... that seems true, but twenty-four years old is no longer being a girl, Eden."
Tian Shi floated into the room.
"Speaking of the so-called life stage summary... what exactly does it summarize?"
"A simple review of the past, some complaints about Mr. Tian, and finally, a look toward the future."
"Why are you complaining about me...?"
"I really hope that Mr. Tian can have some of the self-awareness that occupied half of my childhood."
Eden turned to look at Tian Shi from the chair, with her arm resting on the diary and her forearm supporting her head.
"Where is your other half?"
"Of course, it's art."
"Then why not complain about art?"
"Of course, it's because I have already achieved great success in the arts."
Eden smiled, narrowing her eyes.
"Mmm, this statement is incredibly arrogant for a recent college graduate. Why don't you use the remaining space to reflect on yourself?"
Tian Shi pursed his lips.
"And don't talk about me as if I were a stain on your life; at least you were able to graduate with honors, and I deserve half the credit, don't I?"
"Mmm... maybe?"
"Eden, what you said hurts me a lot. You're so grown up already..."
Slap!
Slap!
Eden clapped her hands.
"Please, Tian, don't talk to me like my mom or my dad."
"Well, Eden, could you speak to me in a softer, more operatic way?"
"Be kinder?" Eden smiled somewhat inexplicably, softening her tone.
"Allow me to refuse... like this?"
In the end, Eden's voice returned to normal.
"For a moment, I really can't discern if you are refusing or accepting."
"Consider it an agreement."
"That is a really bad answer."
Tian Shi felt helpless at Eden's response.
"Anyway, I've already prepared dinner, remember to eat it before it gets cold."
Eden seems to be less self-sufficient than Mobius...
"I understand... By the way, Tian, do you think I will succeed in my interview tomorrow?"
Eden nodded first and then called out to Tian Shi, who was about to leave through the door.
"An interview... If I remember correctly, it's an interview for a singer, right? I really don't understand why you don't use your family's resources and insist on moving out."
"Of course, it's to prove my ability and I also have my pride."
Eden smiled at Tian Shi.
To whom is she trying to prove her ability?
Of course, it is to Tian Shi...
Eden felt that the only thing in which she could catch up to Tian Shi was in art.
Since she was a child, she has often wondered why a 'perfect' spirit like Tian Shi would appear in her life.
If he appeared alongside other scientists, wouldn't it be easy to create world-renowned scientists?
If he had been by the side of a martial artist, martial arts probably wouldn't have decayed to this point.
If he appeared in the works of female programmers, female architects, female soldiers, etc.
Even if Tian Shi appeared alongside the magician, it would be more significant than if he appeared alongside her.
Eden felt really uncomfortable about this; only in the realm of art did she and Tian Shi have practically nothing in common.
"I think this kind of thinking is completely unnecessary."
Tian Shi looked at the somewhat stubborn Eden with a sense of helplessness.
"Family resources only represent the lower limit; the upper limit depends on each person. I think, Eden, your artistic potential is more than enough to reach the top. There is no need to complicate your life."
"If I remember correctly, Tian, you said something very similar when I was filling out my university application, right?"
Eden smiled again.
During her college days, she wanted to study engineering.
After all, art can be practiced in one's free time.
However, engineering is a very specialized field, and if she missed that opportunity, it would probably be too late to change her mind and study it.
To have more in common with Tian Shi, Eden was willing to take a break from her art studies during university, mainly because she was very confident in her artistic talent and felt she could recover even if she neglected it for a few years.
However, when it came to choosing a career, even if Eden could hide it from her parents, she couldn't hide it from Tian Shi, with whom she spent every day.
So, naturally, he convinced Eden to stay away.
Everyone says you should take advantage of your strengths and avoid your weaknesses, but how can you take advantage of your weaknesses and avoid your strengths?
Tian Shi said that, if he really let Eden follow the path of a scientist, wouldn't he be ruining a person?
Eden's scientific talent is not as good as Hua's!
Then Tian Shi said to Eden: "Your talent for science is terrible, really terrible, but your talent for art is something even I admire."
Although Tian Shi did not force Eden to change, Eden changed on her own after hearing Tian Shi's words.
Being bad at something...
Eden thought about it and realized that, instead of disappointing Tian Shi, it seemed better to continue on the path of art, especially since she felt no passion for science.
However, due to this incident, Eden has occasionally shown her displeasure toward Tian Shi since then... but it's more that she is being stubborn with herself, and strictly speaking, it is not directed at Tian Shi.
Hearing these words from Tian Shi again, Eden's determination not to depend on her family's resources only grew stronger.
She wanted to prove to Tian Shi that she deserved his praise.
Since he had said she could be at the top of the art world, she should defend it on her own merits!
"So, Tian, what do you think of my interview tomorrow?"
"The interview... it could go terribly or something like that."
Tian Shi stroked his chin and thought for a moment.
"Nowadays everyone likes pop music, but Eden, you are good at classical music, right?"
"I can also sing pop songs... but personally, I think pop music lacks artistic elegance."
In short, not even dogs would sing it; although that's not an exaggeration, it's more or less what Eden meant.
"Well, then you might receive a very cruel rejection from the interviewer."
"Rejection..."
"According to my market research, classical music has absolutely no market right now," Tian Shi continued to criticize.
"Okay, then I'm going to practice pop music."
"Eh? Mmm... Eden, aren't you going to insist a bit more?" Tian Shi, who was trying to dissuade Eden, seemed surprised by Eden's change of mind.
"There is nothing I can do; after all, this is advice you give me from the heart, Tian."
Eden responded with a laugh.
"Since you've put it that way, naturally I am willing to follow your advice."
"Eh... Eden, you could have held out a little longer."
"Didn't you always say: 'Follow advice and you'll have a full stomach'?"
For Eden, seeing Tian Shi in such a distressed state was unusual; his expression was as if he were examining a work of art.
"Now I am very obedient to advice."
"Well, actually I want to say that continuing to listen to classical music is quite good."
Tian Shi raised his hands in surrender, not noticing Eden's dejected expression, but realizing that he had been tricked.
This feeling was truly unpleasant.
"There is too much homogenized pop music nowadays, and the quality is going from bad to worse... out of tune. If you, Eden, can sing a classical piece good enough, then, besides becoming an instant success, it is not impossible to revive the glory of classical music."
Tian Shi reflected for a moment and realized that the difference between classical and popular culture was simply a matter of subverting established patterns.
Classical music used to be formulated, but it was overtaken by pop music, which subverted that formula.
Then, pop music became popular and formulated, while classical music became the anti-formula.
Given Eden's innate qualities, as long as she perseveres, achieving fame is only a matter of time.
For Eden, perseverance has never been a problem; rather, problems could arise if Eden lowered her standards and decided to join the world of pop music…
After all, sometimes inner conviction is very important.
"I'd rather not try to revive the glory of classical music, I simply like classical music... In fact, I can sing pop music, but I think I would undoubtedly perform better in classical music than in pop under the same circumstances."
Eden now focuses on youthful exuberance.
To be frank: I am a level 100 classical musician and a level 99 pop musician, and you won't let me use my level 100 classical music skills, but you want me to use my level 99 pop music skills? Do you want to start a fight?
"Well, Eden, don't even think about passing the interview."
Tian Shi changed the subject, and then Eden's face darkened, something unusual for her.
"Are you cursing me so hard that I'm not going to pass?"
"They are businessmen and you are a musician, you think they are judging your music, but in reality, they are only judging your commercial value. Unless you meet a special person, there is no way to reason with them."
Tian Shi's words left Eden speechless.
"Then I might as well open a clothing store and sell them."
Eden was not discouraged by Tian Shi's comments about music, but now the subject of the interview has completely defeated her.
After Tian Shi said that, Eden immediately lost confidence.
"Selling clothes… I don't mind, Eden, your talent as a designer is top-notch anyway, but you wouldn't settle for that, would you?"
This time, it was Tian Shi's turn to observe Eden's dejected expression as if he were examining a work of art.
"Of course, I am not willing to accept this..."
Eden looked at Tian Shi with a hint of resentment.
I would be a fool if I accepted this situation!
If it's just a bad player, no problem, but it's too tragic to be defeated by someone who has no good judgment!
"...I think studying popular music wouldn't be a bad idea."
Tian Shi's description of reality was too bleak, causing Eden to doubt herself a bit.
However, Eden subsequently abandoned the idea.
Bowing to reality? Bowing is impossible, absolutely impossible in this life.
Classical music does not completely lack a defined path, so why change course?
As Tian Shi himself stated, with her talent she could become an overnight sensation.
So, is being 'dazzling enough' a problem for her?
As for how long it will take to become an overnight sensation... she is only twenty-four years old, is time really a problem for her at that age?
As I just said, in the worst case, I can sing and open a clothing store at the same time.
I'm not going to starve, am I?
Fashion design is, at least, my second best hobby.
"Oh, I have the feeling that you are only here to annoy me."
Eden looked at Tian Shi's smiling face and couldn't help but sigh, although she knew that guy was only using reverse psychology...
Tian Shi shook his head upon hearing this.
"No, I am inviting you to dinner."