Chapter Sixty-Five: The Apartment and the Rising Wind-Starlight Shines on the Peninsula(A traveler in a green robe wanders through misty mountains veiled in rain.)

“President, I understand that. I was just sighing in amazement that I get to film a drama even before my official debut!” Hearing Jin Jung-min’s words, Chen Zhe was momentarily taken aback before realizing that Jin Jung-min had misunderstood the meaning behind his earlier musings. He couldn’t help but feel both amused and helpless.

“Haha, there will be plenty of dramas for you to film in the future, Ah Zhe. Just don’t complain about being too tired!” As Chen Zhe’s words fell, Jin Jung-min realized his mistake and awkwardly patted Chen Zhe’s shoulder, half-joking to smooth over the earlier awkwardness.

Knowing Jin Jung-min was trying to move past the previous topic, Chen Zhe didn’t bother to expose him. He simply smiled and nodded in agreement. With this, the conversation shifted, and the group began discussing other matters. After another half hour, they finally excused themselves, citing the need to move, and left the president’s office with Lim Soo-ho.

“Hello, is this Director Kim Cheol-ryul? I’m Jin Jung-min, president of LOEN.” Watching the door close behind Chen Zhe and his companions, Jin Jung-min fell silent for a moment. He then picked up his phone, scrolled through his contacts, and stopped at a name marked “TVN Director Kim.” After some hesitation, he pressed the call button. The phone rang twice before it was answered.

While Jin Jung-min was conversing with TVN’s Director Kim Cheol-ryul, Chen Zhe and his group reached LOEN’s parking lot. After some hesitation, Chen Zhe chose to ride in Lim Soo-ho’s car, citing the need to bond with colleagues.

“Soo-ho, you must be a top student from Sungkyunkwan University. Why did you choose to become a manager at LOEN? If it’s a secret you can’t share, just pretend I never asked.” Chen Zhe was curious why someone hailed as a brilliant graduate from Sungkyunkwan University would end up as a manager at LOEN.

“It’s not really a secret—many people in the company know. If you stay around long enough, you’ll find out too.” Lim Soo-ho, who was driving, noticed Chen Zhe’s curious expression. He smiled and shook his head, his tone tinged with self-mockery.

“Oh? Now I’m even more interested!” Chen Zhe’s eyebrows rose with renewed curiosity. His eagerness was apparent as he pressed for the story behind Lim Soo-ho’s decision.

“It’s nothing major. I once promised someone that if she debuted, I’d be her manager. But she eventually gave up and left, while I, who grew to love this job, chose to stay.” Though Lim Soo-ho spoke lightly, Chen Zhe could sense a kind of resignation and acceptance in his words—much like the feeling in his own song, “Melody.”

“But your ‘Melody,’ Ah Zhe, I really love it. That song feels like my own story; I can completely immerse myself in it.” Having finished his explanation, Lim Soo-ho seemed to realize the mood had turned somber. He smiled and shifted the topic to Chen Zhe’s music.

“‘Melody’? I originally wrote it in Mandarin. The Korean version came later, after I tinkered with it out of boredom. I still feel the Mandarin version expresses its meaning better.” Chen Zhe understood that Lim Soo-ho was trying to lighten the mood. Mentioning “Melody” lifted some of the heaviness from his heart.

He genuinely enjoyed discussing the song, since the original “Melody” was written in Mandarin by Teacher Tao. While Chen Zhe’s Korean version was produced after a Korean singer bought the rights and rewrote the lyrics, he always felt it lacked something compared to the original.

“Oh, is that so? Am I lucky enough to hear the Mandarin version from you, superstar?” The conversation was meant to shift the mood, but Chen Zhe’s remarks piqued Lim Soo-ho’s interest. He grinned and asked, half-joking.

“Ahem, well then, I’ll reluctantly allow you to enjoy the performance, Soo-ho!” Chen Zhe crossed his arms, pretending to be proud, playfully revealing his quirky side.

“I finally understand you’ve become a memory,
No words can explain it when others ask,
Composed a melody with no ending,
Unable to continue any further.
Like some lingering scent on a street corner,
Passing by, it brings back old laughter and tears.
Suddenly, the pain becomes impossible to suppress,
Turns out I never truly forgot...”

——Time flew swiftly by——

After returning to the Grand Hyatt, retrieving his luggage, and checking out, Chen Zhe and the others drove two cars to the residential complex where LOEN’s artists lived. Chen Zhe’s new home was in a high-end complex called “Emerald Lake,” with excellent landscaping and facilities.

Perhaps because it was an upscale area, or maybe due to the number of celebrities residing there, the security was strict about who entered. However, since LOEN had notified the property management, Lim Soo-ho was able to show his employee ID, and their car was quickly let through.

Entering the company-arranged apartment, their first impression was of grand yet minimalist decor, creating a fresh and natural atmosphere. Upon closer inspection, it was a standard three-bedroom, two-living-room layout, with the master bedroom having an en-suite bathroom, two guest bedrooms, a walk-in closet, a utility room, and a shared bathroom.

Both Chen Zhe and his sister Chen Yuqi were very pleased with the apartment. As it was getting late, Lim Soo-ho said his goodbyes after arranging to pick up Chen Zhe the next day, leaving the siblings and Choi Soo-young to unpack.

While the three were busy unpacking, they had no idea that, after Chen Zhe joined LOEN, the company’s resources had already begun working for him, aiming to further boost his popularity and attract more fans.

LOEN first released a demo of Chen Zhe’s song, paired it with a photo of him and Lee Ji-eun, and added a caption: Rising star, creator of “Melody,” singer-songwriter Chen Zhe, debut countdown.