"I like it better than the fifth version, but..." Michael said, turning to look at her. "Toward the end, it feels lonely. It's as if you're hiding something."
"Lonely?" Song Meiqi frowned in confusion.
Michael nodded, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. "How do I explain this? When I first heard your demo and read your lyrics, I saw a girl who endured countless hardships to chase her dream. And…By the final line, she was smiling as she stepped into the spotlight."
His gaze drifted toward the monitor, his expression thoughtful.
"But now..." he continued quietly, "I see a girl who's trying to hide her pain just to keep chasing that dream. Someone who's exhausted... beaten down... and tired of pretending she's okay."
He paused, letting the silence settle between them.
"It's Lonely. Sad."
Turning back to her, he met her eyes.
"Tell me, Song Meiqi..." His voice remained calm, yet unusually gentle. "Which one is the real you? The girl who's genuinely happy... or the one who's been pretending all along?"
His question left Song Meiqi speechless.
She leaned back against her chair, lowering her gaze as she searched for an answer she couldn't seem to find.
She loved music. She loved standing on stage. More than anything, she loved the people who had stayed by her side and cheered for her through the years.
Yet after everything that had happened recently, she couldn't deny the truth.
There was still a darkness buried deep inside her.
A darkness she kept pretending didn't exist because ignoring it was the only way she knew how to keep living as though everything was normal.
Michael studied her in silence for a long moment before speaking again.
"This is your solo debut," he said quietly. "So you need to know which version of yourself you want people to see. What kind of artist do you want to be?"
Song Meiqi slowly lifted her head to meet his gaze, but no answer came. For the first time in a long while, she didn't know.
Michael clicked his tongue softly.
"Why don't we take a short break?"
Song Meiqi could only nod.
Without another word, Michael stood and quietly left the studio to grab a cup of coffee, leaving her alone with nothing but the soft hum of the recording equipment.
The silence seemed to close in around her as his words replayed over and over in her mind.
By the time Michael returned, they resumed recording, trying version after version. Take after take, she sang the chorus, yet something still felt missing. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't capture the emotion she was searching for.
Three hours later, Song Meiqi finally decided to call it a night.
Fortunately, Michael didn't mind. He simply reminded her not to overthink it before seeing her off.
On the drive back to Willow Park, the silence inside the car was almost suffocating.
Song Meiqi lets out another sigh.
As the car continues down the road, her throat begins to feel dry, and she finds herself craving a cold beer to clear her mind. Spotting a convenience store near her residence, she pulls over before heading inside to grab a few cans.
As she placed the cans of beer on the counter to pay, she suddenly heard a familiar voice from behind.
"Drinking again, are we?"
Song Meiqi glanced to her side. Her gaze landed on a broad shoulder before slowly trailing upward, meeting the familiar piercing eyes behind a pair of silver-rimmed glasses.
Standing a head taller than her, Wang Zi Rui gazed down at her. Song Meiqi's eyes widened for a brief moment before the surprise quickly faded as she realized it was him.
A teasing smile curved on her lips.
"Then... want to join?" she asked.
The corner of Wang Zi Rui's lips lifted into a faint smile.
"Why not?"
Moments later, Song Meiqi reached for the light switch, and the apartment lit up, illuminating every corner of the room. She stepped inside while Wang Zi Rui followed behind, quietly closing the door.
"Sorry, Mr. Wang, for my humble home," Song Meiqi teased as she gestured for him to sit on the couch.
"It's alright," Wang Zi Rui replied flatly. "I don't mind."
Song Meiqi chuckled softly before making her way to the kitchen to get some cups. Besides the beers they had bought earlier, she also took out a bottle of velvet cocktail and placed everything on the counter.
As she busied herself in the kitchen, Wang Zi Rui's gaze slowly wandered around the apartment.
"Compared to the last time I came here, your house is much cleaner."
His sudden remark made Song Meiqi pause for a moment.
A faint blush crept onto her cheeks as she turned to look at him.
"Well... can you not remember that? My apartment is usually clean."
Carrying the cups over, she lowered herself slightly and placed them on the coffee table before looking up to meet his gaze.
"Oh" Wang Zi Rui responded.
Song Meiqi frowned.
"You don't believe me."
"No... I believe you," he replied indifferently.
She narrowed her eyes at him. Somehow, his expression made his words sound far less convincing.
Pressing her lips together, Song Meiqi turned on her heel and headed back to the kitchen to prepare a few light snacks.
"Mr. Wang, you do know your face doesn't seem to reflect your words."
"Mm... I know."
The brief reply left Song Meiqi at a loss for words.
A few minutes later, she returned to the living room carrying a plate of snacks, which she carefully set down on the coffee table. Beside them sat a bottle of Velvet Cocktail and several cans of beer.
"Which do you like?" she asked, gesturing toward the drinks.
"Beer."
Without hesitation, Wang Zi Rui reached for one of the cans and pulled the tab open with a crisp hiss.
Watching him, Song Meiqi picked up the bottle of Velvet Cocktail instead. Compared to beer, it contained less alcohol, making it more to her liking. She poured herself a shot before setting the bottle back on the table.
"Cheers."
The rims of their can and glass met with a soft clink before they each took a sip.
"So..." Wang Zi Rui said, lightly swirling the beer in his hand. "Ms. Song, do you usually invite a man over to drink at your apartment?"
The unexpected question caught Song Meiqi off guard. She nearly choked on her drink, coughing lightly before turning to look at him.
Meeting those calm golden-brown eyes, she fell silent.
Her first instinct was to tell him that she knew he wasn't interested in women, so the thought of him being dangerous had never crossed her mind.
Yet as the words lingered on the tip of her tongue, she realized that wasn't the only reason.
Somehow, being around Wang Zi Rui simply felt... easy.
She never had to wonder what he truly meant behind polite smiles or carefully chosen words. If he had something to say, he said it. If he didn't, he remained silent.
Though he could be intimidating at times, unlike everyone else around her, he never seemed to hide behind pretense.
And perhaps that was why, without even realizing it, conversations with him had become surprisingly natural.
"No." Song Meiqi shook her head. "Normally, I wouldn't invite anyone."
Her gaze gradually fell to the glass in her hand, as though a memory had suddenly surfaced.
"Right now... my apartment is my only safe space."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Silence settled over the room as Wang Zi Rui's gaze lingered on her for a brief moment. There was something different about her expression this time.