Wen Ying nervously sent a message to Xie Qian, explaining the real reason for her trip to Xiang Province — not the vague excuse she’d given Wen Dongrong.
Several minutes passed, and she wondered if Xie Qian had fallen asleep. Finally, he replied with a curt “Got it.”
Wen Ying stared at those three words for a long time, unable to tell if Xie Qian was pleased or not. Sometimes, the shorter the text, the harder it was to gauge emotions — unlike those who ramble on, revealing their true feelings. Xie Qian’s “Got it” reminded her of an ancient emperor’s “We have noted.”
Fine, whether he was happy or not, she’d face him when she returned to Rong City.
Oh, and her mother too!
Truly, no salary came easy — Yuan Fenghui’s 3,000-yuan wage was proving hard to earn.
Unaware of how many exam papers awaited her, Wen Ying braced herself and messaged Manager Chen, informing him she’d arrived in Xiang Province.
Manager Chen replied instantly: “Have fun, we’ll talk when you’re back!”
Fun?
She was here to work, wasn’t she?
And that message’s tone was clearly sarcastic!
Wen Ying began to regret giving Old Wen 500 yuan a month for pocket money. Was he slacking off, not properly covering for her?
“Hurry up, the car’s here.”
It was past midnight when they disembarked the plane, yet Yuan Fenghui was brimming with energy, like a general ready for battle.
Tomorrow, she’d fight a tough fight, so tonight she needed rest.
Tianjiao was newly established, with expenses piling up — Yuan Fenghui was usually frugal, but tonight she splurged, booking a five-star hotel.
“You two rest well tonight — we’ll handle things tomorrow,” she said.
Wen Ying and Li Mengjiao nodded firmly.
The five-star hotel bed was comfortable, but Li Mengjiao couldn’t sleep.
She acted relaxed in front of Yuan Fenghui, but inwardly, she felt pressure.
She feared failing to secure the endorsement, letting down Yuan Fenghui and Wen Ying.
Wen Ying tugged the blanket toward Li Mengjiao, “Sleep — do your best, Yuan-laoshi and I will try hard too — it’s about effort — as long as we all give our all, that’s enough.”
“Mm.”
Li Mengjiao thought, just trying wasn’t enough — she had to give everything.
Wen Ying couldn’t sleep either.
Yuan Fenghui never fought unprepared — before coming to Xiang Province, she’d tasked Li Zhentao with pulling every connection, even if his company had no dealings with the dairy giant — a friend’s friend might know a high-up. Yuan Fenghui didn’t expect them to pick Li Mengjiao outright, only to give her a fair shot.
Whether they’d find someone, Yuan Fenghui was still waiting to hear.
Who could truly sleep soundly that night?
…
While Wen Ying’s group arrived late in Xiang Province from Rong City, in a private club room, Young Master Cao’s nightlife was just beginning.
Xu Mei finished singing a song, and Young Master Cao clapped with a smile — but his face turned cold when he looked at Manager Guan.
“That dairy group — what’s their problem? Xu Mei was last year’s annual champion, on the rise — choosing her as their ambassador benefits both sides — why won’t they agree?”
Manager Guan lit a cigarette, taking half a drag before telling Young Master Cao the truth: “We’re not outsiders — you think I don’t want to push Xu Mei for the endorsement? Forget the fee — this is Xiang Province TV and the dairy giant teaming up — the ad campaign will be massive. Even a cow in that ad would gain fame!”
Young Master Cao thought the same.
The 2005 Super Girl contest shouldn’t use a celebrity unrelated to the show — the ambassador had to come from the top three.
Zhang Yangning’s vibe didn’t suit dairy ads — and with Young Master Cao around, such opportunities were Xu Mei’s, not Zhang Yangning’s.
Li Mengjiao, once Xu Mei’s biggest threat, had been blacklisted by Manager Guan — her album shelved, her only recent gig a minor TV drama — a ragtag crew, no threat. In a few months, even her diehard fans from last year’s contest would likely vanish.
If the dairy giant didn’t confirm an ambassador, the 2005 Super Girl contest couldn’t start.
The press release for the audition was ready but unannounced — the production team and even Xiang Province TV’s leaders were growing impatient.
Dragging this out helped no one.
Though Young Master Cao dismissed Zhang Yangning and Li Mengjiao, until the endorsement was finalized, variables remained — he wasn’t at ease.
Outsiders saw him as a playboy — he saw himself as a romantic. He’d had many girlfriends but was serious with each — now smitten with Xu Mei, he was determined to boost her. Beyond romance, he felt a thrill in her rise — watching her go from an ordinary contestant to annual champion, then to a rising star, with his involvement. His feelings for Xu Mei surpassed those for past girlfriends.
A star radiant on stage by day, yet different in private at night — that contrast was a delight he kept to himself.
“Manager Guan, no need for more talk — get Sister Liang to push harder — I’ll work some connections at the station — see if we can get a heavyweight leader to mediate and seal the endorsement deal!”
Young Master Cao’s “Sister Liang” was Manager Guan’s wife, Liang Dan, a Xiang Province TV executive who launched the Super Girl show. Unlike new talents like Zou Weijun, who got sidelined after small wins, Liang Dan kept a firm grip on the show, proving her prowess.
Even Yuan Fenghui was poached from Taiwan by Manager Guan at Liang Dan’s behest.
Liang Dan’s plan was to discover talent through the show and have Yuan Fenghui mold them — a talent pipeline and platform to ensure profits.
But Manager Guan let Li Mengjiao slip away — and Yuan Fenghui quit too.
By the time Liang Dan returned to Xiang Province, it was too late — she was furious but couldn’t undo it.
Liang Dan had wanted to bring Yuan Fenghui back, but she’d already joined the newly founded Tianjiao Film — Manager Guan said she’d found a new home fast, so Liang Dan had to let it go for now.
Since Yuan Fenghui’s departure, Liang Dan had been searching for a replacement.
When Professor Fang offered, Liang Dan didn’t agree.
Professor Fang was miffed, feeling that after crafting Xu Mei’s high-quality album, Manager Guan’s company had burned bridges.
Liang Dan left company matters to Manager Guan, avoiding direct involvement.
Manager Guan’s handling dissatisfied her — reliant on his strong-willed wife, their marriage was strained. Hearing Young Master Cao casually assign tasks, Manager Guan wasn’t pleased and was about to speak when the door opened — Liang Dan walked in, smiling.
“What are you all talking about?”
“Sister Liang, we were just talking about you.”
Young Master Cao was brash with Manager Guan but respectful with Liang Dan, standing as she entered.
