For years, you’d been building experience in music production, despite the discouragement from those around you. No one really expected you to land a job as the producer of a newly formed band that quickly gained popularity thanks to their talent and visuals.

The members were mostly easy to work with, unlike some of the horror stories you’d heard from other producers. Liu Xiao was always willing to help when you needed it and never complained when you asked him to work on something. Li Tianxi was just adorable, often volunteering to help you move things or keep you company when you worked alone, fiddling with the items around your office as she watched you work.

But then there was Li Tianchen. He was the one who caused you the most trouble. It didn’t help that he was younger than you, either. One time, when you noticed his lips were dry from the cold, you suggested he use some lip balm. Without missing a beat, he turned it around on you. “Staring at my lips, huh? I didn’t know you looked at me like that,” he quipped. He used the lip balm anyway but made sure to act like he was doing it on his own terms, just to avoid seeming too obedient. “You should lend me some of your stuff, whatever you’re using to hide those wrinkles.” And, of course, he would never pass up an opportunity to take a jab at your age, often exaggerating it without batting an eye.

During the recording process, you deliberately left his parts for last. Though they were among the first in the song, you knew it would take longer than necessary to finish the track if he went first. When you finally got to his recording session, you had to stop him after his first verse. His delivery was all wrong. You asked him to sing more softly and with a breathier tone on his first line.

Instead of simply following your direction, however, Tianchen smirked and leaned into the microphone connected to your control room. “You want me to whisper? Couldn’t wait until we’re alone?” He was testing your patience again.