Chapter Sixty-Five: Farewell... Li Mengya's Choice!

"Brother, I'll miss you!" Jiang Yun was caught off guard by the genuine emotion in Zheng Ling's eyes. He held her right hand. "Sister Ling, I'll miss you too!"

Once again, it was time to say goodbye. Jiang Yun, He Ling, and Huang Kang accompanied Zheng Ling and her companions to the fork in the road. The three women climbed into a Cadillac. Zheng Ling poked her head out the window and called, "Brother, I'll miss you! If you ever make a movie, I'll play a cameo for you, no charge!"

Jiang Yun was stunned once more—this time not because of Zheng Ling's frankness, but because, out of everyone, she alone had remembered his talk of making movies. Everyone else had long since forgotten.

"Alright! Sis—" Jiang Yun cupped his hands around his mouth to amplify his voice, for the car had already started.

He Ling came up beside him. "What's wrong? Feeling sentimental?"

"I'm alright," Jiang Yun replied.

He had already recorded three episodes of "Yearning for Life," and had parted ways at the end of each. Yet, for some reason, the farewell at the close of this fourth episode filled him with a bittersweet melancholy.

Jiang Yun and He Ling returned to the Mushroom House. The three remaining hosts began to clean up the house, as the housekeeper had taken leave that day.

They busied themselves with chores, waiting for the next episode to begin.

"Jiang Yun, it's time for us to leave too. Your car will be along soon," said Huang Kang.

"Alright, Teacher Huang, Teacher He," Jiang Yun replied.

With Huang Kang and He Ling gone, Jiang Yun found himself alone at the intersection, a lingering sadness settling in his heart.

At that moment, the director appeared and asked, "So, Jiang Yun, how are you feeling right now? Care to share with us?"

Jiang Yun looked into the camera. "Is there a guitar around?"

"Yes, just a moment!"

A crew member dashed toward the Mushroom House and returned five minutes later, guitar in hand.

"Here you go—the guitar," said the staffer, handing it to Jiang Yun.

Jiang Yun took the guitar, closed his eyes, and let old memories swirl in his mind. Though he was hardly an expert, he chose to rely on himself in this moment.

He strummed awkwardly. Even the director, an outsider to music, could tell something was off, but Jiang Yun didn't care—his manner was casual, almost careless.

He played, singing softly, "I'm afraid I won't get the chance to say goodbye to you, because maybe I'll never see you again."

"Tomorrow I will leave
This familiar place and you.
The moment we part, tears will fall from my eyes.
I will remember your face forever,
I will treasure the longing you left behind.

These days will never fade from my heart."

With a casual yet profound air, Jiang Yun continued, "I can't promise you whether I will return. I will walk on, never looking back..."

There was no audience, no stage, only the production team. Yet the director and crew erupted in applause.

A staff member, eyes red, wiped away tears. "What's the name of that song?"

The director, eyes moist, also asked, "Jiang Yun, can you tell us the name of this song?"

"'Goodbye.'"

"Alright, I understand! Thank you for your performance, Jiang Yun. Your car has arrived; you can go now."

Jiang Yun nodded, returned the guitar, and climbed into the waiting Cadillac. As the car pulled away, he gazed out the window, a gentle smile on his face.

He returned to Magic City by the afternoon. He hadn't been in touch with Li Mengya for some time, not since they met briefly on his birthday.

He decided to give her a call.

Ring... ring...

"Hello?" Li Mengya answered.

"How have you been, superstar?" Jiang Yun asked.

She sighed. "Not too well."

"What's wrong?" Jiang Yun frowned. In his eyes, Li Mengya was one of his few true friends. When he was still unknown and struggling, it was her choice that helped him through his hardest times. If she needed anything, he would help without a second thought.

Li Mengya fell silent.

"What happened? Tell me. I'll do everything I can," Jiang Yun said.

"Jiang Yun..."

"Yes? I'm listening."

"I'm afraid you can't help with this."

"Come on now, don't keep me in suspense," Jiang Yun said with feigned annoyance.

The playful tone, and the image of him anxiously waiting, warmed Li Mengya's heart.

"It's like this. The company is going to shelve me and shift resources to promote a new girl group trainee."

"What?" Jiang Yun jolted upright and began pacing the living room.

"Boss, what are you doing? You're distracting me from my show," came a voice.

"Shh." Jiang Yun gestured for silence.

"Oh!" Li Lulu quickly covered her mouth with both hands, miming zipping her lips.

"How long is left on your contract with your agency?"

"A year."

Jiang Yun let out a breath. "That's not so bad. I was worried it was three or five years."

"If it comes to it, just terminate the contract—come join my company."

"Your company?" Li Mengya was surprised. "Which company is that?"

"I started my own company. I haven't made it public yet—only a handful of people know," Jiang Yun replied.

"You started your own company?" She was even more surprised.

"Yes, and I already have an artist under contract."

"But breaking the contract would require a penalty. Even with only a year left, it would cost at least ten million," she said.

"I see." Jiang Yun frowned. "Let me handle the penalty."

"It's fine," Li Mengya refused. They were neither relatives nor lovers, and she didn't want to owe him.

What she didn't know was that Jiang Yun already considered her a friend.

She turned him down, and Jiang Yun respected her choice.

They chatted a while longer and then hung up.

Jiang Yun's mind was still on Li Mengya. Her troubles weighed on his heart.

After some thought, he sent her a message: "Get out of your contract as soon as possible. The entertainment industry changes fast—no one has a year to wait. In a year's time, everything could be different, and who will remember you then?"

He hit send and set down his phone.

A message soon arrived.

"You're right. Thank you for your advice. I've made up my mind—I've been too exhausted these past years. I'll take a year off to rest and travel. When the contract ends, I'll make a comeback and sign with your company. Don't turn me away then!"

Jiang Yun frowned slightly. Well, whatever Li Mengya decided, he would respect her choice.

A year from now, who knew how much the entertainment world would change, or how many fans would still remember her? He made a mental note to help her with her comeback when the time came.

Jiang Yun sent a message to Mao Yi, asking about the progress of his album. Then he opened his computer and continued serializing today's chapters of "Swordsman" and "A Perfect World."

The next morning, Jiang Yun took a taxi downstairs to the city's best-equipped recording studio.