Chapter 121: But Then Again

Everyone present rose to their feet almost involuntarily, their eyes fixed fervently on Shen Xian.

The quality of this lyric was something they had never encountered in their lives!

How could a graduate of a music department have written poetry of such beauty?

His stepmother looked at Shen Xian with incomparable delight.

“People have their joys and sorrows, their reunions and separations; the moon waxes and wanes, grows full and fades. Such things have been difficult to reconcile since ancient times.”

Wasn’t this line telling Ning Zheng that the past should remain in the past, that joy and sorrow, reunion and separation, were simply part of life, and that some things could never be made perfect?

The “thousand miles” in the previous lyric had been filled with desolation and grief.

But the “thousand miles” in this one spoke of a love stronger than gold, enduring forever.

“May we live as long as the moon, and share its beauty across a thousand miles. What a beautiful lyric…” his stepmother murmured, feeling the knot in her heart finally loosen.

Especially since Shen Xian had said that this lyric had been written for her alone.

She wished she could acknowledge Shen Xian as her son on the spot.

Having a son like this would truly be a blessing.

The way Ning Zheng looked at Shen Xian had changed.

He had never imagined that Shen Xian’s mastery of poetry could reach such heights.

“Ten Years, Life and Death Apart” had brought the atmosphere down to freezing point.

Then “When Did the Bright Moon Begin?” had lifted it once more to its peak.

The crucial thing was that Shen Xian had composed them on the spot. Could someone truly be this gifted?

Jiang Tianji kept exclaiming, “Incredible!”

“Young Shen is incredible!”

“Absolutely incredible!”

He repeated himself several times, his face filled with utter astonishment.

Whether they were members of the national poetry association or researchers from the institute, Shen Xian’s three moon poems had crushed them all into dust.

Ning Cai gazed at Shen Xian with shining eyes. Her expression held complexity, shock, and a trace of tenderness.

Ye Yun凝—Ye Yun凝 widened her beautiful eyes and stared unblinkingly at the handsome, refined Shen Xian standing there, her gaze filled with震撼.

What kind of talent was required to write a lyric like “When Did the Bright Moon Begin?”

It was simply inconceivable!

Qi Zhengqing’s expression remained calm. He said nothing, merely applauding mechanically.

Su Rulong narrowed his small eyes, his expression turning cold.

He might be a pervert, but that did not mean he enjoyed watching his romantic rival steal the spotlight.

Three years earlier, Ning Cai had fled from their engagement hotel, leaving him utterly humiliated.

Later, he had discovered that striking at an enemy while harming himself in the process could also be rather entertaining. Whenever someone crossed him, he would simply drug them.

Qi Zhengqing, for example.

It disgusted others while gratifying himself—a perfect two-for-one.

So Su Rulong began considering how he might drug Shen Xian.

In short, everyone at the dinner table wore a different expression.

“How was it?” Zhou Yanshi asked Jiang Tianji.

Jiang Tianji let out a sigh. “My students did not lose unjustly.”

Ning Zheng asked solemnly, “Then, regarding the establishment of the institute in our country…”

“I agree,” Jiang Tianji said. “But I have one condition.”

“Please, go on,” Ning Zheng replied.

“He must take up a position at the institute as a visiting professor.” Jiang Tianji pointed toward Shen Xian.

Ning Zheng nodded. “That can be arranged.”

This time, Shen Xian was the one who objected. He smiled and said, “Secretary Ning, I haven’t agreed yet.”

He still had plenty of things to do.

He had to purchase and renovate the stadium. He also needed to invest in Yuyan Media and cultivate several top stars. Once he achieved financial freedom, he planned to teach at an elementary school.

At the institute, he would be teaching people who were either wealthy or powerful. Their paths in life had already been laid out, and they did not need his guidance.

Elementary school students were different.

He was already incredibly busy. Where would he find the time to serve at an institute?

Ning Zheng’s expression did not change as he looked at Shen Xian. “You’re unwilling?”

Shen Xian’s smile held not the slightest hint of aggression. “Secretary Ning, refraining from interfering with another person’s life and choices is the most basic form of respect.”

Just as he never interfered in anyone else’s life or decisions—not even Ning Cai’s.

Ning Cai had her own path to walk. Whether she liked it or not, entering politics was the path best suited to her.

That was why he disliked other people interfering in his own path, just as Ning Zheng was doing now.

As a powerful regional official, Ning Zheng naturally did not lose his temper. He merely nodded calmly. “Understood.”

This time, Jiang Tianji and Xu Zijian were the ones who grew anxious.

To let a prodigy like this devote himself to music would be the greatest waste imaginable.

What sort of people were the young scholars studying classical literature in the country nowadays?

Certainly, some genuinely loved the field, but they remained hidden among the common people.

As for the young classical-literature researchers who held numerous prestigious titles in public, what were they really doing?

Polishing their credentials.

Secretary-general of a poetry association, vice president, even president, visiting professor…

They would first acquire a title, and then what?

Enter politics.

That was the reality in the country.

And what about those at foreign research institutes?

Their ancestral roots lay in the country, though they held foreign citizenship.

Their families were enormously wealthy or wielded considerable influence overseas, so they conducted their research in earnest.

That was why the difference between domestic and foreign institutions was so great.

In classical literature, the country currently had no one capable of carrying the banner. One could even say that a break in the tradition had already emerged.

Xu Zijian had always been deeply worried about this state of affairs. He felt that he might not live long enough to see any future for the field.

But now Shen Xian had appeared, and all at once, he could see hope.

Ning Zheng’s perspective differed from Xu Zijian’s.

Xu Zijian saw the establishment of an institute in the country as a way to promote the discipline. Within two or three decades at most, the overall standard would rise—perhaps even sooner.

After all, a gifted young genius emerged every few years.

But Ning Zheng thought differently.

If you were unwilling, then so be it. There was no shortage of people in this country—only people. If one person refused, someone else would naturally agree.

That was why Ning Zheng remained so composed.

“Young Shen…” Xu Zijian prepared to persuade him. “Why not give it some consideration?”

Shen Xian smiled and shook his head. “Professor Xu, I’m sorry, but I’m rather busy in Nanzhou…”

Before he could finish, Jiang Tianji suddenly cut in. “For a visiting professor of your caliber, we’ll pay you two hundred thousand in cash for every lecture. Your annual salary will be calculated separately!”

“How much?”

“Moreover, each of your poems and lyrics will be incorporated into the institute’s textbooks and distributed nationwide. You’ll receive royalties, and overseas edition rights will be paid separately. We’ll cover everything.”

Shen Xian’s eyes lit up. “Although I’m usually quite busy, now that I think about it…”

There he went again with “now that I think about it”!

Had this fellow fallen into a pit of money?

He would not even spare Ning Zheng’s dignity, yet he was willing to join the institute for money?

“But now that I think about it, time is like water in a sponge. If you squeeze hard enough, there’s always some to spare.” Shen Xian rose from his seat and clasped Jiang Tianji’s hands. “Professor Jiang, please make absolutely sure that I can join your institute. I’m willing to devote myself to its work, to help promote classical literature, and to contribute whatever modest strength I possess!”

Jiang Tianji: “Impressive.”

Ning Zheng: “Impressive.”

Xu Zijian: “Impressive.”

Ye Yunning: “Impressive.”

Everyone at the table: “Impressive.”

His stepmother covered her mouth and laughed sweetly. Shen Xian’s behavior suited her temperament perfectly—spontaneous and utterly free of affectation.

“Is he really that short of money?” Ye Yunning asked, somewhat speechless.

“I don’t know,” Ning Cai replied.

After speaking, Shen Xian once again turned toward his stepmother. “Auntie, there’s another song I’d like to dedicate to Ning Cai. I think she’ll certainly like it.”

As he spoke, he glanced toward Ning Zheng. “I believe Secretary Ning will like it too.”

His stepmother’s eyes brightened. “Oh? Now I’d like to hear it. The music hall is right next door, and there’s a piano inside. Why don’t we all go and listen?”