Chapter 131: Hand in Hand (2) |
Shen Qing mustered the courage to face the past and finished explaining the matters that concerned Wei Hongsi. When she looked up, she met his somewhat burning gaze and couldn't help but say with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance, "These things had better actually be useful for your research!"
"Of course!" Wei Hongsi nodded, then immediately began introducing her to the "Cognitive Restructuring Method" and "Emotional Reshaping Method" used to treat the "Psychological Virus."
To make sure Shen Qing could understand, Wei Hongsi's explanation avoided professional knowledge that would be hard for an outsider to grasp. Instead, he used common analogies from everyday life, trying his best to make it accessible and easy to understand.
After listening, Shen Qing said with considerable interest, "Your research sounds really interesting. Can music actually cure the 'Psychological Virus'?"
Wei Hongsi smiled. "Aren't you the best example?"
Shen Qing blinked. "Can I participate in your research?"
"Of course, I couldn't ask for more!" Wei Hongsi was practically overjoyed.
He had introduced these concepts to her precisely because he intended to invite her to join the research. He never expected her to volunteer on her own.
Earlier, when Shen Qing had recorded eight musical phrases containing different emotions for him, Wei Hongsi had already entertained this idea. But back then, all he wanted was a musical talent—someone who could meet the requirements, no matter who it was.
Shen Qing's self-cognitive restructuring mechanism and her musical emotional reshaping process were themselves the focus of this research. She herself could be regarded as a successful sample.
It could be said that the role she could play in this research was irreplaceable.
When Shen Qing heard Wei Hongsi say this, she seemed absolutely delighted, her eyes narrowing into crescents as she smiled. "Then it's settled!"
Wei Hongsi didn't know why she was so enthusiastic, but that didn't matter. He nodded. "It's settled!"
Tang Jinxia said, "Qingqing, let me have a word alone with Teacher Wei."
Shen Qing looked at her suspiciously. "What do you want to talk about?"
"Oh, it's not like I'm against it," Tang Jinxia said with a smile. "If you're going to talk cooperation, I should at least ask about the terms, right?"
Shen Qing said, "Then ask. Why can't I listen?"
Tang Jinxia coaxed her a bit more, and Shen Qing stood up somewhat reluctantly.
Wei Hongsi knew that if he wanted Shen Qing to join, Tang Jinxia was unavoidable. He said, "Teacher Tang, let Shen Qing stay here for now. You and I can step outside—there are still people working overtime at this hour."
"Alright." Tang Jinxia stood up immediately, letting Shen Qing sit back down.
Wei Hongsi led Tang Jinxia to the break room, where a few tables and chairs allowed employees to sit and rest. Naturally, no one was there at this hour.
He invited Tang Jinxia to sit down and asked, "Would you like something to drink?"
Tang Jinxia glanced at the coffee machine on the counter. "Black coffee, please."
Wei Hongsi had never used the machine. He looked at the operating instructions printed on it—it wasn't complicated. He followed the steps, and before long, he poured a cup of coffee into a disposable cup and handed it to Tang Jinxia.
Tang Jinxia took a sip, set the cup down, and said, "Teacher Wei, when I first met you at the Paradise ad shoot, were you already investigating this so-called 'Psychological Virus' back then?"
Wei Hongsi was a bit surprised. He hadn't expected Tang Jinxia to connect these dots. There was no need to deny it, so he said, "Yes."
Tang Jinxia smiled knowingly. "I figured as much. Director Ji isn't the type to do things without reason. You're not related to him, so there had to be a reason he was polite to you. So, you were the one who first discovered there was something wrong with that ad, right?"
Wei Hongsi nodded.
Tang Jinxia said, "So you've already helped our Shen Qing before. I can't very well object to her participating in your research. Of course, Shen Qing also has her own musical philosophy, and I support that. But still, there are some conditions I need to lay out."
Wei Hongsi said, "Please go ahead, Teacher Tang."
Tang Jinxia said, "If Shen Qing joins your research, the inviting party must be an official institution. Can you make that happen?"
Wei Hongsi nodded. "Yes."
Tang Jinxia said, "Good. That's the main prerequisite. Second, when this research yields results, Shen Qing's name must appear on the list of contributors."
Wei Hongsi said, "That goes without saying."
Tang Jinxia said, "Third, I want this content to be promoted on Shen Qing's personal account."
Wei Hongsi shook his head. "I'm afraid that's not possible. This research—at least at this stage—needs to remain confidential. You should know, Teacher Tang, this is related to the case."
Tang Jinxia thought for a moment, then said, "Then let's change it. I hope Shen Qing can receive an official commendation through her participation in this research."
Wei Hongsi considered this as well, then said, "That should be doable."
Tang Jinxia was a bit surprised. "Can you make these decisions on your own?"
Wei Hongsi smiled. "As for the three conditions you've laid out so far, I can handle all of them."
Having received Director Liang's promise that very morning, Wei Hongsi naturally had plenty of confidence. Tang Jinxia just wanted to secure some recognition for Shen Qing, and given the contributions Shen Qing could make, these requests weren't excessive at all.
Seeing that Tang Jinxia still seemed a bit skeptical, Wei Hongsi said, "Teacher Tang, if I can't fulfill these conditions, you're free to refuse Shen Qing's participation in this research."
Tang Jinxia couldn't help but study him for a moment. Seeing Wei Hongsi's unwavering confidence, she thought to herself, This young man really does carry some weight. She said, "Then I feel reassured."
Wei Hongsi asked, "Any other conditions, Teacher Tang?"
Tang Jinxia said, "The rest are just small things. Mainly these three."
Wei Hongsi was a bit surprised. "Nothing about compensation?"
Tang Jinxia chuckled. "This isn't a commercial performance. How much money could there be? We can join on a volunteer basis, or get paid according to the work done—whatever. As long as it follows the rules."
Wei Hongsi smiled. "Then there shouldn't be any issues. To be honest, if we were talking about additional compensation, I'd have to report to my superiors before I could make any decisions."
He had originally expected Tang Jinxia to bring up commercial terms. If that were the case, he would have had to note down her requests and relay them to the company or the authorities. If Tang Jinxia had made exorbitant demands, the whole thing might have fallen through.
He hadn't expected Tang Jinxia to be different from the agents he'd seen in the news—she knew how to pick her battles.
Tang Jinxia laughed. "Companies have their own rules. Let's head back." She picked up her coffee cup and stood up.
Shen Qing was lounging on the sofa, twirling a strand of hair around her finger while humming a recently composed tune. Hearing the door open, she quickly sat up straight.
Seeing the hint of smiles on both her aunt's and Wei Hongsi's faces, she asked, "Did you finish your talk?"
Tang Jinxia nodded. "All done."
Shen Qing said, "Then I want to talk to Wei Hongsi alone too."
