---- "Lucas' two original singles have broken KK Music's records and topped the charts for a whole week!" "Lucas' ballads move people to tears, but his rock songs are just as soul-stirring. Truly, he's a rising star of songwriting!" One of his staff members cast me a disdainful glance. "Unlike some people who flaunt the title of songwriter yet engage in theft." I forced a smile. "Lucas is certainly a rare talent. Since that's the case, could you tell us why you chose a minor key for your first original piece?" Lucas didn't answer immediately. Instead, he exchanged a look with Winnie. "Matthew, enough!" Winnie defended him, her face red with anger. "Lucas graciously invited you to this party, and yet you're adamant about causing trouble!" In that instant, clarity struck me. Winnie must have known the truth all along. "Isn't he a talented songwriter? Why can't he even ---- explain his own reasons?" I challenged. Pushing Winnie aside, Lucas finally spoke up. " There's nothing to hide. Major keys are light and cheerful, while minor keys convey sadness and tenderness. 'A Flicker in the Dark' is meant to be played at 0.75x speed. When you slow it down, you'll see it's not a joyful tune at all. Hence, a minor key suits the mood of the song better." My heart pounded. Lucas' explanation matched my thought process exactly when I wrote the song, especially the 0.75x speed adjustment. This was a hidden detail I had embedded in the track. How could he possibly know about it? Asense of darkness washed over me. "Thank you for the explanation. I have some matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave." I turned to exit the private room. The moment I stepped out, Winnie hurried after me. "What did you mean back there? Why did you have to embarrass Lucas in front of everyone?" she ---- demanded. I stared at her, feeling a wave of disappointment. I no longer wanted to be caught up in her web. "Let's break up. I'm kissing the music industry goodbye and heading back home. I wish you and Lucas all the happiness in the world." "Why are you being jealous again?" she scoffed, her eyes flashing with mockery. "What are you going to do back home? Do construction work with your dad, the contractor?" "Do you really think your dad can afford to pay off your penalty fees?" she mocked. I shrugged and smiled, indifferent to her jabs, as I walked away. She had no idea that I was a real rich kid. Sure, my father may have been a contractor over a decade ago, but he had struck gold at the right time and was now a prominent real estate mogul. The hefty penalty fees she mentioned? Those would only cost him a few properties. ---- Even if I couldn't continue making music, I still had a family business waiting for me to inherit. I was looking forward to seeing how Lucas planned to maintain his so-called "creative genius" without my work to steal. Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!