“Yuan Fenghui’s reputation isn’t great!”
Wang Shuang hadn’t expected Li Mengjiao to pick Yuan Fenghui. He’d gathered so much information and analysed it for ages, but Li Mengjiao hadn’t even listened.
This goofball, completely carefree, was going to drive everyone around her mad with worry.
Wang Shuang glared at her. Li’s mother chuckled, “Look how anxious Wang Shuang is. Tell us, why did you choose Yuan Fenghui?”
Wang Shuang thought Li Mengjiao was clueless, but Li Mengjiao thought Wang Shuang was the clueless one.
It was just an album producer.
“I only signed a contract for this one album with the company. Whether we work together after this is up in the air. Whether Yuan’s good or bad has nothing to do with me. She can’t control me, so what power does she have over me?”
As long as the person had professional skills and could produce a good album, that was enough.
Li Mengjiao wasn’t sure yet if she’d enter the entertainment industry. If she didn’t, this album would be her only work in the industry, a memento for her fans. She didn’t want to churn out a shoddy album just to cash in.
Even if she did enter the industry, a high-quality debut album would only benefit her. Why would she refuse that?
Li Mengjiao’s reasoning was sound, and Li’s mother was not only convinced but felt a faint pride. Old Li always said their daughter was naive and easily fooled, but wasn’t she seeing things clearly? The biggest gain from this talent show wasn’t the pile of fans or fame, but Mengjiao’s maturity.
Wang Shuang’s mouth hung slightly open, as if meeting Li Mengjiao anew, his gaze filled with curiosity and surprise.
Li Mengjiao looked up at him, her face brimming with a smug “praise me already” expression.
The girl’s face still carried a youthful softness, her baby fat not yet gone, but when she tilted her chin, the graceful line of her neck was striking. Wang Shuang stared, momentarily entranced.
Even when Li Mengjiao shone on stage in performance outfits and makeup, radiating brilliance, Wang Shuang had never felt this odd sensation.
It was as if a faint electric current brushed him, and in a fluster, he turned his head away.
Oblivious, Li Mengjiao assumed Wang Shuang was awed by her wisdom, lifting her chin higher: you think I’m impressive now? Just wait, I’ll be even more impressive!
The three reached a consensus to choose Yuan Fenghui as the producer for Li Mengjiao’s debut album.
Now, a new issue arose.
Would Yuan Fenghui agree?
Wang Shuang reckoned that Yuan Fenghui, having jumped ship to Hunan, was clearly aiming to reach new career heights on the mainland.
“She’s definitely out to prove herself, to show her old agency and former team that losing her was their mistake. What better way to prove her worth than creating a new star? Her first project with the company has to be a hit.”
Wang Shuang analysed Yuan Fenghui’s mindset.
Li Mengjiao was brimming with confidence, “Then she’s even more likely to pick me!”
Li’s mother wasn’t so sure.
Though her daughter had high popularity, she hadn’t signed a long-term contract with the company.
Yuan Fenghui was indeed eager to make a splash with her first project post-move, but if the star she painstakingly crafted didn’t sign with the company, future projects wouldn’t be under her control. Why waste effort on Mengjiao when she could settle for Xu Mei or Zhang Yangning?
Fearing Yuan Fenghui’s rejection might upset Li Mengjiao, Li’s mother voiced this possibility.
Li Mengjiao stood up, “Guessing back and forth is a waste of time. Why not just ask Producer Yuan directly?”
All the scheming was exhausting.
Being straightforward felt much easier.
If Yuan Fenghui looked down on her, she’d let it go.
Yuan Fenghui was her first choice, Huang Yongjuan the fallback, and Professor Fang wasn’t even in the running.
If both Yuan Fenghui and Huang Yongjuan rejected her, honestly, Li Mengjiao hadn’t considered that scenario.
Both producers dismissing her?
Then she’d talk to the company.
It was supposed to be a mutual choice, so why force an assignment?
True to her word, Li Mengjiao left the lounge and headed straight to Yuan Fenghui’s office.
Everyone at the company knew the top three were there to select songs that day.
The three contestants were assigned to different studios, and though song selection hadn’t started, undercurrents were already swirling.
Xu Mei and Zhang Yangning kept their plans discreet, relying on trusted allies to act for them. Li Mengjiao, however, marched openly to knock on Yuan Fenghui’s office door, leaving everyone gobsmacked.
“How dare she?”
Xu Mei shot up from her seat, fury written across her face. “Does she have no sense of rules?”
The company had its rules, the industry had its norms, even a fan-voted talent show had unspoken “under-the-table” practices. Xu Mei had always played by the industry’s rules, but meeting someone like Li Mengjiao, who didn’t follow the script, infuriated her.
It was like playing poker. In the first round, Xu Mei played a pair of threes to test her opponent’s hand. Her opponent, clearly holding a pair of fours that could beat her, didn’t play them, instead slamming down a pair of jokers.
Was that how you used a trump card?
Was there something wrong with Li Mengjiao’s head?
Xu Mei’s expression was grim.
Li Mengjiao had set her sights on Yuan Fenghui.
Xu Mei wanted Yuan Fenghui as her producer too.
She’d already reached out to Yuan Fenghui privately.
Though Yuan Fenghui hadn’t committed, she’d shown a clear inclination toward Xu Mei.
With that thought, Xu Mei slowly sat back down.
Fu Jing smiled, “What are you worried about? She’s breaking the rules. Producer Yuan will surely put her in her place. As long as Yuan doesn’t agree, even if she makes a fuss to the company’s higher-ups, it’ll be for nothing. She’s so bold now, but in the end, Professor Fang will produce her album. And when Professor Fang realises she was a last resort, she won’t exactly be thrilled with her!”
Xu Mei and Zhang Yangning had already reached an understanding.
Xu Mei wanted Yuan Fenghui to produce her album, while Zhang Yangning chose Huang Yongjuan.
Wang Shuang thought Huang Yongjuan’s temper was a problem, but Zhang Yangning didn’t mind at all.
Zhang Yangning was a fan of Huang Yongjuan. Even before the competition, she’d collected every album he produced. Her biggest gain from the show wasn’t placing in the top three, but the chance to have Huang Yongjuan produce her album!
A bad temper? Even if Huang Yongjuan chewed her out, Zhang Yangning would take it gladly.
When Xu Mei previously leaked Li Mengjiao’s album deal to Zhang Yangning, though Zhang Yangning felt it was unfair, she held back and didn’t cause a scene as Xu Mei had hoped.
But this time, when Xu Mei approached Zhang Yangning to collaborate, she let her choose her producer first as a show of sincerity. Unable to resist the chance to work with her idol Huang Yongjuan, Zhang Yangning gave in and allied with Xu Mei.
The two had an agreement to leave Professor Fang for Li Mengjiao.
Zhang Yangning would never let Huang Yongjuan go to Li Mengjiao.
If Yuan Fenghui chose Li Mengjiao, Xu Mei would have to compete with Zhang Yangning for Huang Yongjuan, a consensus they’d reached early on, if Zhang Yangning wanted Huang Yongjuan, she had to help Xu Mei push Li Mengjiao to Professor Fang!
Sure enough, when Li Mengjiao went straight to knock on Yuan Fenghui’s door, it wasn’t just Xu Mei who tensed, Zhang Yangning’s expression shifted too.
Xu Mei was refined, Li Mengjiao was charmingly cute, and Zhang Yangning went for a cool-girl vibe, singing English songs during the competition, often sporting combat boots and a jacket, exuding a distinct edge.
Fans who loved her hyped her to the skies, while those who didn’t found her unrelatable. With so many Chinese hits out there, what was with always singing foreign songs? A fake Westerner!
Neither Xu Mei nor Li Mengjiao were professionally trained singers, but Zhang Yangning was, with vocal skills surpassing both. Yet, average TV viewers couldn’t tell, voting based on preference. Li Mengjiao didn’t win the championship because she didn’t sign, but Zhang Yangning’s third place was fair, her skills were strong, but her popularity lagged.
Xu Mei followed the company’s arrangements to the letter, while Zhang Yangning had a stubborn streak. Though signed, she didn’t act like she’d sold her soul to the company. She initially didn’t want to get mixed up with Xu Mei, but Xu Mei hit her weak spot.
Zhang Yangning hadn’t expected Li Mengjiao to be so direct!
Something occurred to her, and her tense expression suddenly gave way to a faint smile.
Her assistant was confused.
What was up with Yangning?
“Li Mengjiao went to Yuan Fenghui, and Xu Mei’s side—”
Xu Mei would make a fuss.
The assistant was a bit worried.
Zhang Yangning whispered, “Li Mengjiao’s straightforward attitude is kind of to my taste. No wonder she has so many fans. Her going to Producer Yuan? The one who should be worried isn’t us, it’s Xu Mei.”
Zhang Yangning didn’t like getting tangled in scheming, but that didn’t mean she was naive.
After the initial shock, she saw this as a good thing.
Teacher Huang Yongjuan wasn’t just hot-tempered, he was also fiercely proud.
Talented people don’t share the spotlight. Once Teacher Huang learned Li Mengjiao had gone straight to Yuan Fenghui, with his pride, he’d never consider her.
Before, there were two competitors. With Li Mengjiao out, Zhang Yangning only had to compete with Xu Mei, so she was pleased.
Teacher Huang Yongjuan was talented, and the artists he worked with all had distinct personal styles, he had preferences!
Li Mengjiao’s boldness might just appeal to Huang Yongjuan.
Xu Mei, on the other hand, was good at everything, which meant she stood out at nothing. The chances of Huang Yongjuan picking her were slim.
Realising this, Zhang Yangning not only relaxed but wanted to laugh, “We need to let Teacher Huang know about this. Let’s give Li Mengjiao a hand!”
Her assistant caught on, nodded vigorously, and left the lounge.
…
When Li Mengjiao knocked on Yuan Fenghui’s office door, she wasn’t overthinking it, she was just doing what she wanted.
Others, however, read too much into her actions, their minds racing.
Even Yuan Fenghui herself was quite surprised to see Li Mengjiao.
“What’s this about—”
Li Mengjiao bowed, “Teacher Yuan, I’d like you to produce my album. Do you think that’s possible?”
The girl’s cheeks were flushed.
Great skin.
Petite frame.
A natural idol face.
In Taiwan, Yuan Fenghui would’ve cast her as the lead in an idol drama, paired with two male models, and followed it with a soundtrack album, she’d be a guaranteed hit.
But this wasn’t Taiwan, it was the mainland, and Li Mengjiao hadn’t signed with the company, she wasn’t one of Yuan Fenghui’s artists.
Among the top three, Xu Mei had discreetly reached out to Yuan Fenghui, Zhang Yangning hadn’t made a move, and only Li Mengjiao was this direct, openly coming to her office to pitch herself.
Yuan Fenghui leaned back in her chair.
“You haven’t even signed with the company. Why should I produce your album? If I pour my effort into you, only for someone else to reap the rewards, I’ve already made that mistake once. What makes you think I’d be foolish enough to do it again?”
