Having stepped off the stage, Xu Qingqiu still felt a lingering thrill from the performance. Today's act had completely immersed her; if someone hadn't reminded her, she would have forgotten to leave the stage. It had truly been too long since she last stepped onto a formal one.
Since becoming a Queen, the company had deliberately kept her away from various performance venues, focusing all their efforts on commercial activities. Plainly put, they no longer valued her personal growth but were fixated on monetizing her, using her to continuously make money. It had been over a year since she last graced a formal music stage. She had barely released any new songs, let alone an album.
That was still acceptable; after all, the company had invested a considerable amount in her training, and she didn't have strong objections to making money for them. However, when the previous chairman, Jiang Wangtao, was hospitalized, a sudden major reshuffle began within the company. Colleagues she had been on good terms with either resigned or moved to other companies. The musicians she had collaborated well with also left, one by one.
New songs completely dried up, no one valued her opinions, commercial performances became increasingly frequent, and the company began accepting any kind of engagement for her, regardless of its quality. Can you imagine a Queen singing at a wedding in a small county town? Yes, she had been reduced to performing at such events, and for one such trip, she was only paid 50,000 yuan. This was no longer about making money; it was an insult!
Xu Qingqiu's last shred of illusion was completely shattered. She was kind-hearted and rarely made a fuss, but that didn't mean she was foolish. So, she decisively resolved to part ways with the company, even if it meant exhausting all her savings.
Today was the first time in a long while that she had stood on stage again, and the song "The Original Dream" felt as if it had been tailor-made for her. Her entire being and emotions were poured into it, reaching a state of complete self-forgetfulness.
This would be her new beginning. She always remembered her dream from when she first joined the girl group: to sing, and to sing for more people. She loved the stage, loved standing there singing different stories, different lives. At this moment, she was utterly content, joy filling her heart, making her steps much lighter.
As she walked, she happened to run into Hua Ruyue, the Singer who had performed before her.
"Wow, you look so happy! Seems like you really got into your song, huh?" Hua Ruyue remarked.
"Ah? Teacher Hua, hello! I'm sorry, I didn't see you just now," Xu Qingqiu said, slightly flustered.
Hua Ruyue, now thirty-eight years old, was a junior compared to the older veterans in the industry, but to Xu Qingqiu, she was already an established senior.
"It's fine. I heard you from backstage. You sang really well, already no worse than I am. The song is also good. It's good to have dreams. Never forget your original aspirations, and you will achieve your goals. Keep it up!" Hua Ruyue encouraged.
Xu Qingqiu hadn't expected Hua Ruyue to be so easygoing; she was incredibly warm and gentle. Xu Qingqiu had heard rumors that Hua Ruyue was once the closest to becoming a Queen, but at the peak of her career, she suddenly retired to marry and raise a family. Xu Qingqiu had assumed Hua Ruyue would be a very assertive person, but unexpectedly, she was so gentle and even seemed to particularly like her.
"Thank you, Teacher Hua! I will keep it up!"
"That's great. Let's walk together," Hua Ruyue suggested.
The two chatted leisurely as they walked back to the audience seats in the main viewing area. They were happy, but the person currently on stage couldn't share their joy.
It was unclear whether Qin Xiao was simply unprepared or had been affected by Xu Qingqiu's performance, but his singing was completely below his usual standard. Ordinary listeners might not have noticed, but the professionals present could immediately tell there were quite a few minor flaws. Even the chief director couldn't stand it and had him sing it again. This time was slightly better, but not by much. Seeing that time was running out, the director could only reluctantly let it pass, figuring they could touch up the audio in post-production. They had to move on.
Time passed imperceptibly, and by evening, the group was still hungry.
Chu Tian, listless, was slumped against the back of his chair, texting Xu Qingqiu to complain.
"What kind of production team is this? They don't even provide a meal? Do they have to be so stingy?"
Xu Qingqiu was busy being introduced to a group of seniors by Hua Ruyue and had no time to check her phone.
Chu Tian didn't mind. He was just idly venting, hoping to scrounge a meal off his boss.
After all, doesn't a free meal always seem better than one you pay for yourself?
However, he hadn't noticed that Zhouzhou, a program assistant, had just come over to inform Xu Qingqiu about something. Not seeing Xu Qingqiu, Zhouzhou was about to ask this handsome guy when she happened to see the words he was typing on his phone. She stood there awkwardly, unsure whether to stay or go.
Chu Tian turned his head and saw someone standing right beside him, making him jump. Even with his damaged voice, he managed to let out a muffled grunt.
Shit! he thought, having mentally cursed hundreds of times already.
Seeing the innocent look on Zhouzhou's face, he angrily took out his phone, furiously typed a message, then shoved it in her face.
"What's wrong with you? Why were you standing behind me without making a sound? Trying to give me a heart attack? Or are you after my brain or something?!"
Zhouzhou was momentarily stunned. We're face to face, why is he typing?
Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly realized and asked with surprise, "Can't you speak?"
Chu Tian typed back: "Duh! If I could talk, would I be typing? I'm not crazy!"
Seeing the phone screen held up to her face again, Zhouzhou read the message. A wave of complex emotions washed over her—pity, sympathy, and perhaps a touch of regret.
"I thought you just didn't like to talk," she said. "Wait, then why can you hear? Isn't it said that those who are mute also have poor hearing?"
He typed: "My throat is injured. I'm not deaf and mute, okay? Besides, who told you that all mute people are also deaf?"
"Ah? Is that so?" Zhouzhou's eyes lit up. "How did you injure your throat? Was it from singing? Are you a Singer?"
Zhouzhou looked as if she had discovered something fascinating. Instantly forgetting her actual task, she transformed into a human question mark, firing off one query after another.
Chu Tian was exasperated, having rolled his eyes countless times, but the young girl seemed oblivious. He could only continue typing.
"You're asking too many questions, and I refuse to answer. Besides, don't you have work to do? Won't your supervisor dock your pay for gossiping on company time?"
Having read the message, Zhouzhou looked up and caught sight of the director on stage scanning the area below. This flustered her. "Oh, right! I still have things to do," she blurted out as she hastily turned to leave. "Can't talk now; I have to get busy!" And with that, she scurried off.
Watching her retreating figure, Chu Tian dismissively pursed his lips.
Tch. People who slack off at work and gossip are the worst. This little brat, daring to slack off right in front of me, and even trying to pry into my business? The absolute nerve!
What? You say I slack off and gossip too?
Please, that's totally fine. He just dislikes it when others do it, not when he does it himself. After all, being lenient with oneself and strict with others is his favorite pastime.
What's the point of being young if you don't have double standards? Where's the fun without them? And how can you benefit yourself if you're not selfish?
Hmph.
Smugly, Chu Tian unlocked his phone, intending to browse online for some new juicy gossip. But before he could even open the browser, a small hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.
"Chu Tian? Let's go. It's finished here. Let's head back," Xu Qingqiu said.
Huh? It's over already?
Chu Tian looked up to see Xu Qingqiu standing beside him. She was still in her dazzling formal attire from the show's recording, but his mind was entirely preoccupied with what to have for dinner.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Xu Qingqiu asked worriedly, seeing him staring at her with an unfocused gaze.
Chu Tian quickly shook his head to indicate that he was fine.
The boss is this gentle? My memory of her is just like this: seemingly aloof, but actually mild-tempered, with a kind of go-with-the-flow attitude.
Yet, at her core, she's an incredibly strong person, never bowing to difficulties, even enduring illness to complete her grueling daily training without fail.
Recalling these memories, Chu Tian felt somewhat dazed. This blend of familiarity and strangeness made him very uncomfortable. The familiarity stemmed from the countless shared memories in his mind, while the strangeness was because he wasn't originally from this world; he truly couldn't get used to it.
Oh well, best to just let things take their course.