Chapter 70: Yearning to Sing Old Songs

The group returned to the hotel.

Chen Ke invited Zhang Qiyang to join her and Li Xuan for a late-night snack in Li Xuan’s executive suite, hoping to use the opportunity to discuss the Tan Zhizhong matter with him. She was worried that Zhang Qiyang might be set up by Chu Entertainment.

Covered in sweat and feeling sticky, Zhang Qiyang went back to his own room to shower first.

Qin Xueyang took Li Xuan’s assistant, Xiaowei, out to buy snacks, ready to celebrate Zhang Qiyang’s triple championship with a feast.

In Li Xuan’s suite, only she and Chen Ke remained.

Li Xuan hadn’t slept well the previous night and had spent the whole evening filming; she felt a touch of fatigue and longed to shower as soon as she got back, just like Zhang Qiyang. But showering meant removing her makeup, which felt too troublesome.

She and Zhang Qiyang weren’t yet close enough for her to meet him without makeup. Even though she was naturally beautiful, with flawless features, there was always a considerable difference between a woman’s bare face and her made-up appearance. For reasons she couldn’t fully explain, Li Xuan simply didn’t want Zhang Qiyang to see her bare-faced.

So she skipped the shower, instead changing into a high-necked, gray long dress, removing the delicate white stockings and the safety shorts she’d been wearing, freeing her body from constraint.

When she emerged, she found Chen Ke standing on the balcony, her expression clouded as she smoked a slender lady’s cigarette.

Li Xuan brought her a cup of fresh pear juice, good for the throat, and asked, “What’s wrong, Coco? You seem troubled. Zhang Qiyang took care of Zhou Delin tonight—that’s good news for me.”

“I think Chu Entertainment is up to something,” Chen Ke sighed, stubbing out her cigarette to avoid irritating Li Xuan’s precious voice. She took Li Xuan back to the living room and said, “Tonight, Old Tan made trouble for Qiyang. You shouldn’t have spoken up for him.”

“I didn’t speak up for him. I just thought Tan Zhizhong went too far.”

“If you could see he went too far, that’s all the more reason not to intervene. Chu Entertainment is clearly trying to stir up trouble. Now I suspect that Tan Zhizhong fainting during the livestream was all an act.”

“What?” Li Xuan was startled. She recalled, “He was rolling his eyes when he fainted. How could that be staged?”

“People are unpredictable. I have a very bad feeling,” Chen Ke said darkly. “This time, Chu Entertainment is targeting us at Dong Entertainment. You must be careful. Whatever happens, don’t get involved again. Let Qiyang handle them. He has the background; no matter who he clashes with, he won’t suffer. No one can really harm him. But you’re different. You must protect your image at all costs.”

“I understand.”

“And another thing…” Chen Ke looked at Li Xuan with a meaningful gaze and reminded her, “Don’t get too close to Qiyang. It won’t do you any good.”

Li Xuan understood exactly what Chen Ke meant. She sipped her pear juice and smiled, “You’re overthinking it, Coco.”

Chen Ke realized she might indeed be overthinking things, so she changed the subject, chatting with Li Xuan about Zhang Qiyang’s performance that night.

Both women were amazed by the extraordinary musical talent Zhang Qiyang had suddenly revealed.

Chen Ke was convinced there must be a team of experts guiding him from behind the scenes. Li Xuan, however, insisted that Zhang Qiyang possessed an exceptional, innate musical gift.

Soon, Qin Xueyang and Xiaowei returned with enough snacks for a dozen people.

Knowing Zhang Qiyang must be truly hungry after tonight, Qin Xueyang immediately called him over.

Fresh from his shower, his hair still damp, Zhang Qiyang hurried to Li Xuan’s suite for the late-night feast.

With another championship to his name, Zhang Qiyang was in great spirits. Chen Ke didn’t want to spoil his mood, but the situation was pressing—she had to warn him, just in case he fell into Chu Entertainment’s trap that very night.

While Zhang Qiyang and Qin Xueyang were competing to see who could eat more noodles, Chen Ke explained to Zhang Qiyang that Chu Entertainment might be orchestrating the Tan Zhizhong incident to frame him and damage his reputation.

Zhang Qiyang listened calmly, showing little reaction.

But Qin Xueyang became agitated. “Those people can’t be that shameless, can they? It was that Tan guy who provoked our Qiyang, and he didn’t even say much back! If Tan fainted, it’s his own health that’s to blame—how can they pin that on Qiyang?”

Zhang Qiyang laughed. “If he dares blame me, I’ll pay for his funeral expenses. Isn’t it all just to disgust people? I’m not afraid of them.”

His words startled both Li Xuan and Chen Ke, who were peeling lychees together. Xiaowei, who hadn’t had much contact with Zhang Qiyang, looked as if she’d seen a tiger—her face changed.

Chen Ke quickly interjected, “Don’t do anything rash. Don’t let them get you tangled up. Chu Entertainment’s media offensive is powerful, even more so than ours. If they get a hold on you, it’ll be a long, drawn-out mess.”

“Hah, I was just joking. I wouldn’t really do that, don’t worry.”

But Chen Ke still felt uneasy. Was the young master really joking? If he lost his temper and actually paid for Tan Zhizhong’s funeral, the scandal would be immense!

Qin Xueyang, who knew Zhang Qiyang’s temperament, also tried to persuade him. “Boss, things are looking good for you right now. Don’t let those petty people drag you down.”

“I know they’re trying to use me for their own gain. I just won’t respond.”

Swallowing his last bite of noodles, he wiped his mouth and hands with a wet napkin, then leaned back contentedly, patting his full stomach. “Let them do what they want. The breeze still brushes the hills; the bright moon still shines over the river.”

As she nibbled on lychees, Li Xuan’s eyes lit up—she silently praised how eloquent Zhang Qiyang was.

Chen Ke understood his meaning and nodded in approval.

She hadn’t expected Zhang Qiyang’s mindset to become so philosophical.

Qin Xueyang, however, was confused. She mixed her third bowl of noodles and asked, “What are you even talking about?”

“With your IQ, there’s no point in explaining. You wouldn’t get it anyway, so don’t ask.”

Li Xuan couldn’t help but laugh at Qin Xueyang’s exasperated expression and explained, “To put it simply, Qiyang means ‘let them do as they please,’ right?”

“Exactly. Whatever they do is just their own humiliation. As long as they don’t cross my bottom line, I won’t bother with them.”

Xiaowei adjusted her somewhat old-fashioned black-rimmed glasses and, curiosity piqued, asked, “But what if they do cross your bottom line?”

“Then I’ll turn Chu Entertainment upside down! There’s nothing more to say.”

Zhang Qiyang sprawled comfortably on the sofa, not sitting up straight, but his words were firm. “Do they think I’m someone to be trifled with? If ordinary people slander me, I’ll let it go—just give them some amusement. But if anyone with ill intentions dares smear me, I’ll make sure they regret it.”

Xiaowei, inexperienced in the ways of the world, suddenly felt that this young master was truly imposing! No wonder he was the child of the richest man—he spoke with such assurance!

Chen Ke, however, felt a headache coming on. She had just thought Zhang Qiyang had come to terms with things, even quoting poetic lines. But listening to him now, he was still clearly ready for a fight!

Given his temperament, there was no point in trying to persuade him further right now. She’d better make preparations in advance and not give Chu Entertainment any opportunity.

Switching topics, Chen Ke informed Zhang Qiyang and Li Xuan, “I heard that next week’s challenger on ‘I Sing’ is a highly talented new female singer secretly groomed by Chu Entertainment. To pave the way for her, Chu Entertainment is likely to stir up plenty of trouble. I suggest you both take next week’s competition very seriously and aim to claim the top three spots. I think Zhou Delin is in top form right now and should also be able to get into the top three. That way, Chu Entertainment’s newcomer will be eliminated.”

After a moment’s thought, Chen Ke added for Li Xuan, “Xuan, I think you’d better not sing ‘Penghu Bay’ next week. Prepare an even stronger song. You must win in one blow.”

Hearing this suggestion, Li Xuan looked visibly conflicted.

“You’re singing ‘Penghu Bay’ next week? That song is ancient!” Zhang Qiyang was surprised by her choice.

He still had the memories of the original host and knew “Penghu Bay” was a popular song from the 1970s in Taiwan, still somewhat popular on the mainland, especially among the older generation, but young people had long since lost interest in such slow, old tunes.

Li Xuan hesitated, then softly explained, “Next Saturday is my grandmother’s birthday. She loves that song, so I want to sing it for her.”