Chapter 12: A Producer from Yinxing Entertainment
1334 Words
Seeing the audience’s enraptured expressions, Lu Yao’s face turned slightly sour. This was her special performance, yet someone else had stolen her spotlight—and no one would be happy about that. Worse still, she’d clearly invited Tang Shiyun up to duet, but Tang Shiyun had sung all her lines, turning it into a solo.
To make matters worse, the audience’s reactions made it seem like she was just the accompanist, and Tang Shiyun was the real star.
Normally, she might have let it slide, but not today—there was someone crucial in the audience, someone who held the key to her future.
With that thought, her fingers slipped slightly as she plucked the guitar strings. The smooth accompaniment was suddenly interrupted by harsh notes, jolting the audience out of their immersive mood.
“What was that?” The audience voiced their dissatisfaction.
Lu Yao quickly apologized, “Sorry, I made a mistake just now.”
“Perfect timing—we didn’t get enough of that!” someone called out. “Little girl, sing it again from the start!”
Lu Yao felt even more uncomfortable. If Tang Shiyun sang again, what would happen to her? She immediately glanced at a man in a suit standing backstage.
Catching her signal, the host hurried onto the stage, smiling broadly. “Ladies and gentlemen, the show has a schedule to follow—and the duet segment is over. Thank you for your wonderful performance, young lady.”
Tang Shiyun’s cheeks flushed as she handed back the microphone. She then ran over to Ling Chen like a flash, her voice a mix of nerves and eagerness. “Brother Ling, how did I sing?”
“Just listen to the audience,” Ling Chen said.
Right on cue, a thunderous round of applause erupted, lasting for ages.
Even the pockmarked man couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up. “Little girl, that was amazing—I’m already a fan of yours!”
Tang Shiyun smiled shyly, clinging tightly to Ling Chen’s arm in a familiar gesture.
The pockmarked man sighed in envy. “Dude, you’re so lucky to have such a great girlfriend.”
“You bet I am,” Ling Chen beamed, his opinion of the pockmarked man shooting up instantly.
After Tang Shiyun’s outstanding performance, Lu Yao’s subsequent songs received only lukewarm responses. Fortunately, her fans were polite enough to stay until the end of the show before leaving.
As they walked out of the bar, Ling Chen checked the time—it was almost 10 PM. If they didn’t head back soon, Tang Shiyun’s mom would definitely start worrying.
Just as they were about to hail a taxi, a well-dressed middle-aged man hurried after them from behind.
“Excuse me, both of you—may I have a moment?”
Ling Chen glanced at him. “Who are you?”
The man handed over a business card and introduced himself. “Hello, my name is Zhu Yansong. I’m a producer at Yinxing Entertainment.”
“Just say what you need—we’re in a hurry to get home,” Ling Chen said.
“I heard this young lady sing inside the bar just now,” Zhu Yansong explained, his eyes lighting up as he looked at Tang Shiyun. “Her vocal talent is exceptional. With proper training, she could go very far in the industry.”
“Young lady, you have a rare gift,” he continued earnestly. “I hope you’ll take this chance—don’t let such talent go to waste.”
“I… I…” Tang Shiyun stammered.
“Mr. Zhu!”
At that moment, Lu Yao rushed out of the bar. Spotting Zhu Yansong at the door, she ran over in her high heels.
“Mr. Zhu, I’ve been looking everywhere for you—I can’t believe you’re here!”
As she spoke, she noticed Ling Chen and Tang Shiyun beside him. Her expression shifted, and a twinge of discomfort stirred in her chest.
Zhu Yansong was a top-tier producer in the entertainment industry. With his support, she could skyrocket to stardom in no time.
She’d gone to great lengths to get him to attend her performance.
Yet after the show, Zhu Yansong hadn’t come to find her—instead, he’d rushed over to this random girl. It made her seethe with resentment.
She’d sacrificed so much to bring him here—why should someone else benefit for free? The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, and her gaze toward Tang Shiyun filled with jealousy.
Zhu Yansong’s attitude toward Lu Yao was far from the warmth he’d shown Tang Shiyun. Instead, he was cold—even a little disgusted.
Given his status, he never would have lowered himself to watch Lu Yao’s performance voluntarily. But his company’s boss had ordered it, so he couldn’t refuse. And as for how Lu Yao had convinced the boss… the answer was obvious.
“Ms. Lu, go home first,” he said. “We’ll discuss your matters another day.”
“Mr. Zhu…” Lu Yao protested.
“Is what I said not clear enough?” Zhu Yansong’s tone turned impatient.
Afraid of angering him, Lu Yao quickly apologized. “I’m sorry—I won’t disturb you anymore.” She turned and walked back into the bar.
After taking a few steps, she couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder. The sight of Zhu Yansong smiling warmly at Tang Shiyun only stoked the flames of her jealousy.
“Well, if it isn’t Ms. Lu,” a voice called out as she re-entered the bar.
Several men approached, and the middle-aged man leading them waved at her.
When Lu Yao saw who it was, she immediately put on a sweet smile and leaned into him coquettishly. “Brother Sheng! When did you get here? I didn’t even see you.”
The man, Yang Sheng, was a local g**g leader and the owner of this bar. Before Lu Yao’s debut, she’d often sung here and had dealt with Yang Sheng many times. He’d helped her a great deal in getting where she was today.
“I’ve been here a while—was in a private room discussing business,” Yang Sheng said.
He wrapped his arm around Lu Yao’s slim waist, and his hand slid down to give her hip a rough squeeze, his face twisting into a lecherous grin.
Lu Yao pretended to pout, her eyes glistening with flirtation. “Brother Sheng, that’s not nice—I’m still a pure girl, you know.”
“Is that so?” Yang Sheng laughed. “I closed a big deal today, so I’m in a good mood. Spend the night with me, and I’ll make it worth your while.”
“How could I say no to you, Brother Sheng?” Lu Yao purred.
“That’s my good girl,” Yang Sheng said, his desire flaring up at the thought of her.
“Brother Sheng, I don’t mind staying with you… but I need a small favor,” Lu Yao added.
“Name it. If I can do it, it’s yours.”
Outside the bar, Zhu Yansong was still trying to convince Tang Shiyun.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Zhu, but I’m still a student,” Tang Shiyun said. “I don’t want to think about this right now.”
“Little girl, that’s not a problem!” Zhu Yansong hurried to reassure her. “I promise it won’t interfere with your studies at all.”
“Mr. Zhu, this is a big decision for her future,” Ling Chen interjected. “You can’t expect her to decide on the spot. Why not give her time to talk it over with her family first?”
“You’re right—you’re absolutely right. I was too hasty,” Zhu Yansong said. He handed Tang Shiyun his card. “My phone number and the company address are on here. Call me anytime if you change your mind.”
- Writer
