Chapter 7

A week later, Chang Xun happily drove Qi Wu to the filming location of the talent show.

“Filming will last three months in total. From now on, how far you’ll go depends on you.”

When he saw that Qi Wu was absent-mindedly staring out of the car window, Chang Xun gritted his teeth, knowing full well why she wanted to compete in the show. He then decided to give her a strong dose of encouragement.

“Someone on the inside said that the top three leaders of the entertainment industry have invested in this show. Hence, the rewards will be exceptionally generous. The longer you stay on the show, the better you’ll be paid.”

Finally, Qi Wu reacted to Chang Xun’s words.

“Will that money be enough for Jin Si?”

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The corner of Chang Xun’s mouth twitched. While he was starting to get used to Jin Si always being on Qi Wu’s mind, he still felt like a dog that had been unexpectedly kicked.

“The rewards might be generous, but they are far inferior compared to how much Jin Si earns every year. He might not be a good man, but he is very talented.”

Qi Wu thoughtfully nodded.

She had interpreted what Chang Xun said as a declaration that she needed to work a lot harder in order to fully pay Jin Si back.

*

The filming location for “Rookie Assembly” was in an area populated with villas by the shores of Jingdu Bay with Jingdu Stadium, the recording venue for the concerts, located nearby.

There were many cars parked outside the stadium. Some of the newcomers participating in the show might not have made their official debut yet, but they had already signed on with an agency.

However, most of the industry newcomers were those who had not been lucky enough to be selected by a patron. Their eyes were filled with longing and passion as they stared at the spacious and tall building in front of them. This was where their dreams could come true.

As a top-tier talent manager in the industry, Chang Xun would be recognized by many of those present. As he did not want to attract unnecessary attention to Qi Wu, he did not get out of the car.

After she stepped out of the car, he was still worried, so he carefully rolled the window down slightly to say, “Don’t feel too pressured. You just need to show what you can do.”

Either way, she just needed to stand there, and half of the battle would have been won.

Chang Xun had a lot of confidence in her beauty.

He waited until Qi Wu nodded in response before driving away.

Qi Wu watched the car disappear from her view before turning around to face the stadium. Instead of heading straight toward the reception counter within the stadium, she observed the woman standing alone on the edges of the crowd hovering around the reception.

Compared to the woman who was dressed in an elegant and youthful outfit with her face covered in eye-catching makeup, Qi Wu looked rather plain with no makeup on her face and wearing only a simple white dress.

When the woman curiously glanced at her, Qi Wu openly stared back.

It was the woman who first caved in to the urge to walk over.

The woman glanced in the direction Chang Xun’s car disappeared off to and clicked her tongue. “Are you a newcomer Chang Xun took on?”

Qi Wu tilted her head for a moment before shaking her head.

That made the woman stare at her with even more intense curiosity.

“You’re not? For a top-tier talent manager to drop you off… Could it be you’re a relative of Chang Xun? No way. He could never be related to someone as ethereal as you.”

She then let out a chuckle.

“Whatever. There’s no way you’re under Jin Si, right?”

The entire time, she had been mumbling softly to herself. Due to her disbelief, she decided to give up on guessing who Qi Wu was.

“My name is Xuxu, Jiang Xuxu. What’s your name?” the woman asked with her hand graciously held out.

“Qi Wu.”

Qi Wu then shook Jiang Xuxu’s hand.

Although Jiang Xuxu was a woman herself, Qi Wu’s palm was so delicate and soft that she could not resist a brief caress of Qi Wu’s hand before letting go.

“What’s your skincare routine? Your skin is so soft!”

Qi Wu tilted her head and solemnly answered, “I don’t have a skincare routine.”

The meek look on her face melted Jiang Xuxu’s heart, giving her the strong urge to pat Qi Wu on the head.

“Little One, let me treat you to a meal one day.”

Jiang Xuxu’s curiosity was piqued when Qi Wu’s face remained blank upon hearing her name. Qi Wu did not even show any signs of revulsion or hatred.

“Aren’t you going to do something? Especially since you know my name now,” Jiang Xuxu asked.

Visible confusion flashed in Qi Wu’s eyes. “Huh? Did we need to do something after we’ve exchanged names?”

Jiang Xuxu was at a loss for words. “Well, I… Forget it. It’s good that you don’t know anything.”

There was nothing for Jiang Xuxu to explain when it came to the slanderous rumors being spread about her. A clear conscience fears no accusation.

At first, Jiang Xuxu had only noticed Qi Wu because Chang Xun had dropped Qi Wu off. Hence, she wanted to seize this chance to find out more about the situation. Still, there was no denying that she had somehow been enthralled by how genuine Qi Wu was.

She grabbed Qi Wu by the arm and pulled her toward the reception counter. “Let’s go. It’s time for us to go inside.”

Jiang Xuxu pulled Qi Wu over to the reception counter.

Their appearance caused the crowd to whisper about them.

“Isn’t that the famous streamer who was exposed for having a sugar daddy? She’s actually participating in the competition,” someone commented.

“Tsk! None of the female influencers have any skill. I think she’s here because she has no choice since she boasted about coming in her stream.”

“Who’s that next to her?”

“Look at her beauty. Is she a new talent from an agency?”

The entire time, Jiang Xuxu had been keeping an eye out for Qi Wu’s reaction.

Those people in the crowd had deliberately spoken louder than usual so that Jiang Xuxu would hear them. That meant Qi Wu definitely heard them as well. However, Qi Wu did not react at all.

Upon seeing that, Jiang Xuxu let out a soft sigh of relief.

If this ethereal-looking woman despised her, Jiang Xuxu would be extremely upset over the first time she ever tried to proactively befriend someone.

“After signing in, please head inside where a staff member will be waiting to guide you around.”

As soon as Qi Wu finished signing in, Jiang Xuxu impatiently dragged her into the stadium.

“I haven’t seen a dance stage as big as this before. Let’s go check it out already!”

Qi Wu briefly glanced around the area before turning her attention away from the decor.

The Central Temple she had to pray in every single day was much more lavishly decorated than this place.

*

Meanwhile, Chang Xun called Jin Si not long after leaving the filming location of “Rookie Assembly”.

It was a long wait before he finally heard an icy voice impatiently snapping over the phone, “Tell me.”

Chang Xun shivered.

He knew just how bad Jin Si’s temper was after being woken up. He had taken the brunt of Jin Si’s anger several times during the start of their partnership. Since then, he rarely sought Jin Si out in the morning.

Even so…

That morning when he went to pick up Qi Wu, Jin Si was still in the mood to cook breakfast for Qi Wu.

However, that retort was not something Chang Xun would ever dare say to Jin Si.

“I’ve dropped her off. She looks like she’s interested in acting. When we were at the office, she kept staring at your movie posters. Still, this show will not make its contestants choose a category until the third episode. They would not even stream the event until the third round of the competitions when the streams would be started at random times of the day, after some editing, of course. Song Qi really knows how to have fun.”

Chang Xun had rambled for a few long minutes, but there was only one thing Jin Si actually registered in his mind.

“She was staring at my movie posters?” Jin Si repeated.

Chang Xun fell silent.

Is that even the point I’m trying to make, mister?

Suppressing the urge to shoot back a sassy retort, Chang Xun casually replied, “Perhaps Qi Wu might change her mind in the future when she has seen more of the world.”

Jin Si softly chuckled. “She won’t.”

His voice rang with cast-iron resolution.