The next morning started with a call from Shi Haoyou, asking Lixue if she could drop by and give them a snippet of her new song.
Lixue sighed, she felt that the song was still missing sothing but she would have to hear their thoughts first.
When she ca downstairs, she had gotten word from auntie Feng, that Mo Ran had already left but promised to send the dress before the party.
Lixue’s eyes darkened, she had almost forgotten about it "Thank you auntie Feng, I’ll be heading out now.." she dropped the cup of coffee and stood up, grabbing her bag and heading to the door.
"Have a good day young madam."
Lixue smiled and nodded, bowing slightly at auntie Feng.
Getting to the car, she spotted the driver next to it.
"Good morning young madam, the boss asked to drop you off today, he had to head to country C as early as 5am this morning.."
"..!!"
Lixue eyes widened, what had happened in country C that made him leave the country in a rush.
"Very well then, let’s head out..oh and what’s your na?"
Lixue asked as she got into the car, the man bowed slightly and got in after closing the door.
"Kong Junzhen.."
Kong?! She knew a Kong in high school and he had passed on during their last year.
Looking at Junzhen how could she not see he resemblance.
"Are you related Kong Qinzhen?"
Hearing his late brother’s na, Junzhen had to turn, the young madam knew his younger brother?
"Yes, he was my younger brother, he’s in a better place now.."
Lixue bit her lips, everyone knew the reason Kong Qinzhen commited suicide and it was even more painful that the bullies that had pushed him to his death, weren’t called to justice.
"I’m sorry for your loss, Kong Qinzhen..he.."
"It’s okay young madam, I know it’s the bullies that pushed Qinzhen to his death, as his older brother I thought I could be there for him, but I was working too hard and couldn’t see how much my brother was suffering. I’m working hard to get into boss’s favour, if I can get his help, I’m sure the bullies wouldn’t be able to use their influence to escape.."
Lixue’s chest tightened at Kong Junzhen’s words. She hadn’t known Kong Qinzhen well, but his tragic death had been a heavy shadow over her school years. Hearing Junzhen speak about his brother’s struggles brought back a rush of mories—Qinzhen’s quiet deanor, the way he avoided attention, and the cruel whispers that had surrounded him.
She glanced at Junzhen, his expression both resolute and pained as he focused on the road. "Kong Qinzhen was a kind soul," Lixue said softly. "He didn’t deserve what happened to him. None of it."
Junzhen’s grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, and he gave a curt nod. "Thank you, young madam. It ans a lot to hear soone say that. Most people just... avoided talking about it."
"I understand why you want to seek justice," she said, her voice steady. "If there’s anything I can do to help, let know."
Junzhen glanced at her in the rearview mirror, his eyes briefly reflecting gratitude. "Thank you, young madam. But this is sothing I have to handle carefully. Those people... they have powerful connections."
Lixue leaned back in her seat, her mind spinning. She hadn’t thought about Qinzhen’s bullies in years, but now that Junzhen had brought it up, a flicker of anger burned in her chest. The mory of how everyone had swept the incident under the rug, ignoring the pain and injustice, made her stomach churn.
"Sotis, power can’t shield people forever," she murmured, almost to herself.
Junzhen didn’t respond, but the way his jaw tightened told her he agreed.
When they arrived at Dream Entertainnt, Lixue stepped out of the car, her mind still lingering on the conversation. She paused by the car window. "Junzhen, I hope you get the justice you’re seeking. Qinzhen deserves that much."
He bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, young madam. I won’t give up."
As she entered the building, the familiar hum of activity helped ground her thoughts. Shi Haoyou was waiting for her in the lobby, his bright smile a sharp contrast to her somber mood.
She adjusted her mask as she greeted him a slight bow.
"Y.L! You’re just in ti. The team’s ready to hear the snippet," he said, ushering her toward the studio.
Lixue nodded, letting herself be pulled into the mont. She needed to focus on her work now—though a part of her couldn’t stop thinking about the Kongs and the unresolved pain surrounding their family.
"YL, YL..YL!"
Lixue raised her head as she saw Haoyue shaking his head, she imdiately apologized with a smile "Sorry I was thinking about sothing.."
Shi Haoyue nodded and asked her to enter the studio, Lixue nodded and stood up, getting to it, she bit her lips, she had actually never sang in front of this many people before.
As Lixue stepped into the studio, the weight of countless expectant eyes fell on her. Producers, sound engineers, and even a few executives from Dream Entertainnt were seated behind the glass, their expressions a mix of curiosity and anticipation.
As Lixue stepped into the recording studio, her chest tightened. The dim lighting, the massive soundboard, and the glass wall separating her from the producers felt daunting. This was her first ti in a professional recording booth, and the weight of the mont wasn’t lost on her.
Shi Haoyou, sensing her hesitation, gave her a reassuring nod from the control room. "YL, just rember—it’s your voice, your story. No one else can tell it the way you do."
She swallowed hard, nodding back as she adjusted the mic stand and slipped on the headphones. The studio felt like a world of its own, isolating yet exposing.
The soft instruntal began to play, its lody wrapping around her. It was a tune she had written in her quiet monts, never expecting anyone else to hear it, let alone perform it in a studio.
Her hand hovered over the mic for a mont before she took a deep breath. Closing her eyes, she let the music guide her. Her voice was hesitant at first, like a bird testing its wings.
But as the words flowed, her confidence grew, and the emotions she’d poured into the song began to shine through.
The lyrics spoke of yearning and vulnerability, of finding strength in the midst of uncertainty. Her voice, though unpolished, carried a raw authenticity that resonated with everyone listening.
In the control room, the producers exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from skepticism to admiration.
When the last note faded, there was silence. Lixue opened her eyes, her heart racing as she waited for a reaction.
Then the intercom buzzed, and Shi Haoyou’s voice ca through, warm and proud. "Lixue, that was... incredible. For a first ti, you couldn’t have done better."
Her cheeks flushed, and she bit her lip, unsure of what to say. "It’s not perfect," she murmured, glancing down.
"It doesn’t have to be," one of the producers said, stepping into the booth. "What you just gave us wasn’t just a song—it was real. And that’s what people will connect with."
Lixue looked up, her eyes wide with surprise. She hadn’t expected such positive feedback, especially with how nervous she’d been.
Shi Haoyou entered the booth next, clapping her lightly on the shoulder. "I told you, didn’t I? You’re going to blow people away with this. This is only the beginning."
As they left the studio, Lixue felt a mix of relief and exhilaration. She’d faced her fears, and while there was still so much to learn, she’d taken her first step into a world she’d once thought was beyond her reach.
Shi Haoyou walked beside her, his enthusiasm contagious. "We’ll polish the track, work on the harmonies, and tweak the arrangent. But honestly, Lixue, your voice is what’s going to make this song unforgettable."
She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. For the first ti, she felt like she might actually belong here.
"We’ll end things here since you still have the week off.."
Shi Haoyue smiled as he passed a file Lixue, it was a acting role, he didn’t know she would be willing to branch out to the acting side of the industry.
"Thank you.."
Lixue accepted the file and left his office, now she had the Yu family gathering to worry about.
As Lixue stepped out of Dream Entertainnt, the afternoon sun ward her face. The bustling city noise was oddly comforting after the stillness of the recording booth.
She took a deep breath, feeling both exhausted and energized. Her first session in the studio had been nerve-wracking, but there was a sense of accomplishnt in finally taking that step.
Kong Junzhen was waiting by the car, opening the door as she approached. "How was it, young madam?" he asked, glancing at her with a faint, curious smile.
Lixue slid into the backseat, setting her bag down beside her. "It was... interesting," she said thoughtfully. "Nerve-wracking, but not as bad as I thought it would be. They seed to like what I did, so that’s sothing."
Junzhen nodded as he started the car. "First tis are always the hardest."
Reviews
All reviews (0)