Chapter 69


    Ashley did not reply to Matthew’s message.


    She looked at Laura and asked, “Laura, is Matthew also releasing a new album in a month? Are our schedules shing?”


    Laura frowned at the mention of this. “Matthew was supposed tounch his album in two months, but he suddenly brought it


    forward to next month, causing a sh in our schedules.


    “You know how popr Bryce is. Every move he makes is being watched, and Matthew, a hit singer, is no exception. With both


    of them releasing music at the same time, people are already secretlyparing their sales.”


    In reality, Bryce was releasing an EP with only three songs.


    But the album released by Matthew contained ten songs.


    Given the pricing of three dors per song, even if more fans purchased Bryce’s EP, the total sales revenue would likely still fall


    short of


    Matthew''s.


    Ashley pondered briefly and smiled, “Laura, I’ve decided to write a song for Bryce.”


    Laura was surprised. She chuckled, “You’ve agreed? That’s wonderful.”


    Bryce raised an eyebrow in surprise, ncing at her. “Why did you suddenly agree?”


    Ashley smiled slightly, yfully throwing his words back at him. “I changed my mind, and now | want to. What can you do about


    it?”


    Bryce was speechless.


    ‘Damn,’ He murmured.


    Bryce licked his teeth and looked at Ashley intently.


    Laura tapped on the table, saying, “About the EP, let''s discuss the details. Bryce, which song are you still missing the melody


    for?”


    Bryce leaned back on the sofa, twirling a ring on his right finger with hist left hand. “The hardest one.”


    “The hardest one?”


    10:25


    Laura immediately understood, pulling up the song’s outline on her phone and walking to Ashley. “Ashley, take a look.”


    Ashley scanned it briefly, noticing it was a dark-themed song.


    It was indeed interesting.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Her interest piqued, Ashley responded confidently, “Okay, | think | got it.”


    Bryce looked surprised for a moment. “You''re sure? When can you have it ready?”


    Ashley answered, “Tomorrow night, I''ll give it to you.”


    Bryce was taken aback.


    That was fast!


    Not only Bryce but even Laura was surprised by the rapid development. She quickly interjected, “Ashley, don’t forget, you have


    to spend a whole day on set tomorrow.”


    Ashley spread her hands nonchntly. “That’s why | said I''ll give it to him tomorrow night.”


    If it weren’t for the filming, Ashley would review the script tonight and give the music to Bryce tomorrow morning.


    Bryce remained silent.


    Laura, too, was speechless.


    Suddenly, Bryce stood up, facing Ashley directly.


    He leaned slightly forward, his ne swinging in the air, the silver lock of hair on his forehead making him look strikingly


    rebellious.


    “Ashley, can you really do it? | don’t want a hastily-made piece. Are you. sure you''re not deceiving me?”


    Ashley met his gaze, unfazed. “Well... What if | am lying to you?”


    After a few seconds of silence, Bryce burst intoughter. “What can | do? | can’t do anything if you lie to me, bu...”


    Before he could finish, Laura pped the back of his head. “Watch your mouth.”


    Bryce stood up, his face contorted with frustration. “Alright, alright, I''ll


    watch my mouth. | meant | offered her a fancy meal to inspire her songwriting.”


    Ashley brushed off the suggestion. “Skip the meal. How about a pole dance for some fun?”


    Bryce was at a loss for words.


    Not this again!


    Why did pole dancing alwayse up?


    Laura gave a few more instructions before letting the two leave.


    The next day, Ashley, apanied by Laura, filmed her cameo in the


    TV show.


    The shot was from morning till afternoon.


    In the final scene, the character yed by Ashley who was in white and holding a harp, died from an arrow to the chest, falling


    on the stage on which she usually dance.


    She twirled to the ground, her white dress spreading like petals, stained. with striking sshes of red.


    Astreak of red blood graced her lips, her stunningly beautiful face wearing a faint smile.


    Yet her eyes were lonely and numb, staring nkly upwards.


    Slowly, a tear slid down her cheek.


    But the smile still lingered on her lips.


    The director, standing behind the camera, watched Ashley''s performance and immediately turned to Laura to praise her, “Ms.


    Mitchell, you''ve truly found a gem. Ashley has the makings of a superstar and shows no signs of stage fright at all!”


    It wasmon for neers to feel intimidated in front of the camera, often getting so nervous they couldn''t even deliver their


    lines.


    But Ashley was different. She not only performed beyond expectations. but did it in one take.


    She embodied her character so well, making her performance incredibly impactful.


    This kind of talent had the potential to be a superstar. Ashley would be hugely popr if she kept the right path.


    The director couldn’t stopplimenting Laura about Ashley. “She’s stunning. That face is wless from every angle. She might


    even overshadow our lead beauty in the show, haha.”


    Laura modestly smiled, “If there’s a fitting role in the future, feel free to


    contact us.”


    The director nodded vigorously. “Absolutely!”


    After finishing her cameo, Ashley and Laura left the set.


    It was only the afternoon, and Laura suggested Ashley rest. Later in the evening, she would visit the office to deliver the


    composed music to Bryce.


    That evening, in Laura’s office...


    Bryce couldn''t wait anymore and arrived early.


    Ashley hadn''t arrived yet, leaving Bryce waiting on the sofa anxiously. Unable to sit still, he stood up and paced around the room.


    In a resigned tone, Laura advised, “Just sit down, Bryce. Ashley has been filming all day. | asked her to rest a bit. She''ll be here


    soon.”


    Bryce refused to sit. “Had | known, | wouldn’t have rushed this. Giving her a couple more days wouldn''t have hurt.”


    Looking at some documents, Laura remarked, “That''s not what you said. yesterday.”


    Bryce narrowed his eyes with one hand in his pocket and the other tossing and catching his phone.


    “Yesterday, | said that if Ashley couldn’t write the song, I’d admit it, but...”


    Before Bryce could finish, the office door swung open, and a crisp voice interrupted, “Who says | can’t write it?”


    Bryce raised an eyebrow and pocketed his phone. “So you''ve finished writing it?”


    Ashley looked at him with a bright smile and handed over the music score. “See for yourself.”


    Chapter 69


    Bryce quickly took it over.


    Laura also walked over.


    At first, Bryce nced at the music sheet with an indifferent air. As he read on, his expression grew more serious. By the end, his


    face was utterly expressionless.


    However, his pupils were trembling ever so slightly. “This piece of


    music...”


    He had never seen anything like it before...


    That such music even existed in the world...


    Laura didn’t quite understand music theory. She hurriedly asked, “Bryce, what do you think?”


    Holding the music sheet, Bryce’s fingers were trembling slightly. His eyes, fixed on the sheet, finally spoke after a long pause.


    “It''s far beyond my expectations.”


    Was


    Laura immediately felt relieved upon hearing this. Bryce always proud and fearless.


    His reaction meant that this dark-themed piece was truly extraordinary.


    Bryce then looked up at Ashley, his lips trembling as he asked, “What is the name of this piece?”


    Ashley smilednguorously and replied, “At first, | thought of naming it ‘Die if You Don’t Love Me, but considering its distribution, |


    decided on ‘Dark Faith’ instead.”


    Dark Faith...


    Upon hearing the name, Bryce nodded without hesitation. “Yes, let''s call it ‘Dark Faith’!”


    Looking at the music score in his hands, Bryce was profoundly moved. He took out his phone and eagerly posted a tweet.


    [New song of the month featuring a mysteriousposer! Stay tuned!]


    Bryce, already a sensation, caused a stir with this tweet. Terms with hashtags like “Bryce’s new song” and “mysterious


    composer’ instantly trended.


    10.26)


    Chapter 69


    Netizens began to specte.


    [Mysteriousposer? Who is it?]


    [By the way, who do you think will have higher sales, Bryce or Matthew? They will release new songs at the same time.]


    [Definitely Matthew! He’s a professional singer, and he does songwriting all the time. He’s surely better than Bryce!]


    [Matthew will win not just in sales but in total revenue, too! He’s releasing an album with ten songs, while Bryce only has three.


    There’s noparison!]


    Meanwhile, Matthew saw the tweet and scoffed.


    He thought, “What mysteriousposer?


    ‘Unless Ashposed for Bryce, there’s no way his sales could surpass mine!”


    But how could Ash possiblypose for Bryce?