Chapter Forty-Three: Visiting SM, and the First Meeting with Soojung (3)

"Well, Miss Krystal Jung, since I'm preparing to enter the entertainment industry, I spent a long time pondering how to address you. In the end, I felt it was most fitting to call you a senior in the entertainment world." Hearing Krystal's question, Chen Zhe stroked his chin and, after a moment of thought, shared the reasoning behind his choice of address.

"Oh, joining the entertainment industry? Chen Zhe, are you planning to become a trainee at SM Entertainment?" Krystal's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze tinged with curiosity as she looked at Chen Zhe.

After spending considerable time with Chen Yuqi, Krystal had learned a bit about her family background, and she knew it was anything but ordinary. Now, seeing her younger brother choose to enter the entertainment world, Krystal was somewhat perplexed. What could motivate Chen Zhe to become an artist and step into this tumultuous industry? Surely it couldn't be mere interest or a desire to stand on stage—those reasons seemed improbable.

Yet what Krystal didn’t know was that the very reasons she dismissed were, in fact, the true motivations behind Chen Zhe’s decision to join the entertainment world.

"Krystal, have you heard about that song 'Melody' that’s been really popular lately?" Just as Chen Zhe was about to answer, Seohyun, who sat nearby, suddenly spoke up, her tone laced with a hint of amusement as she turned the question back to Krystal.

"'Melody'? The one with the same name as my OST—the hit song that’s everywhere lately?" At Seohyun's mention, Krystal’s interest was instantly piqued. She had listened to the song on YouTube and found herself deeply intrigued by it.

Though it shared a name with her own song, the two were entirely different in style. If her "Melody" captured the fresh sweetness of a first love's flutter, then the other "Melody" told a story of parting: of failing to cherish someone until they were gone, realizing too late that love still lingered, but now irretrievably lost—a pain that swept through the soul, leaving wounds until, at last, one learned to let go, to accept, and eventually to move on.

Although she felt her words failed to fully capture it, Krystal actually preferred this post-breakup "Melody," because it struck straight to the heart, evoking a deeper resonance within the listener.

"Exactly, the 'Melody' that became famous on YouTube." Seeing the barely contained excitement on Krystal’s face, Seohyun’s lips curved into a smile, satisfied with Krystal’s reaction.

"I've listened to it countless times. The lyrics and melody are both wonderful—I adore that song, especially the way it resonates emotionally. The creator’s talent is truly remarkable!" At the mention of "Melody," Krystal’s enthusiasm surged, and she voiced her impressions of the song.

"Do you know the name of the performer—or rather, the creator—of that piece?" Noticing Krystal’s interest, Seohyun steered the conversation, prompting Krystal to recall the performer’s name.

"The performer’s name? Let me think... Oh, I remember—it was said to be a tourist from Huaguo named Chen Zhe!" With Seohyun’s hint, Krystal recalled the name the performer had introduced himself with. No sooner had she said it than she suddenly realized the significance.

She snapped her head toward Chen Zhe, her eyes widening in disbelief. With Seohyun’s careful guidance, she finally noticed that her friend Yuqi’s younger brother, Chen Zhe, shared the same name as the performer of "Melody." Studying his features, Krystal realized he looked remarkably similar to the musician in the video.

"Chen Zhe, you aren't by any chance the performer of 'Melody,' are you?"

(The previous segment I just wrote wasn’t satisfactory, so I deleted and revised it.)