Chapter 102: Taking Root and Sprouting

After registering the account for the online singer, the two finally realized that EastNet imposed very strict restrictions on newly registered unsigned online singers. Not only did they have to spend three days completing real-name verification, but any future uploads of original works would undergo a seven-working-day review period. Only after confirming the song was indeed original and not plagiarized would EastNet officially release the work.

Of course, if you were an EastNet signed singer and had EastNet launch your single, like Zhang Qiyang and Li Xuan, you wouldn’t have to deal with all these troublesome procedures.

Zhang Qiyang and Qin Xueyang’s excited plan to release a song that very night was dashed.

Nevertheless, Zhang Qiyang’s enthusiasm for cultivating Qin Xueyang into a top-tier vocalist remained undiminished.

He decided that once his Cobbler Studio was established, he would build a new artist team, let Qin Xueyang transition into this team, and then send her to East Entertainment’s music training program for a solid period of study, to strengthen her foundational skills and develop formidable vocal technique.

If East Entertainment’s training program was not prestigious enough, Zhang Qiyang would pay to send Qin Xueyang to a higher-level music academy, even an overseas institution if necessary.

He intended to sign Qin Xueyang under Cobbler Studio and make her one of its pillars in the field of singing, doing everything he could to nurture her into a world-class singer like Adele.

In this other world, although Adele had won many awards in the pop category, in reality, she was an academic powerhouse. Adele’s global appeal was rooted in her innate vocal talent, but her cultivated, academic-level singing ability was also a crucial factor.

Adele’s live performances were among the most outstanding of any pop female singer in this world. Though she’d had some mishaps on stage, most of her live shows were flawless. In fact, hearing her live was even more enchanting than listening to her CDs.

Qin Xueyang had some academic foundation, but it was still shallow, developed only from singing in the school choir. Yet, even so, the powerful potential she displayed was enough to stir hearts.

If she could one day achieve the solid, commanding vocal prowess of Adele, this chubby girl would surely astonish the world!

Zhang Qiyang believed that as long as Qin Xueyang was willing to work hard and delve into singing, she had a great chance of becoming a top-tier vocalist.

Once things calmed down, Zhang Qiyang was determined to have a heartfelt conversation with Qin Xueyang, to guide her, correct her foodie worldview, and spur her on. He wouldn’t let her continue being a silly foodie who thought ignorance was harmless; she needed to set a great goal and forge ahead.

That night, after Zhang Qiyang’s persuasive talk, Qin Xueyang found herself quite interested in singing.

She scrolled through Weibo deep into the night, past three o’clock.

She kept reading the comments under Zhang Qiyang’s Weibo, those praising her singing—

“Who’s singing this song? Someone dig it up, it’s so good!”

“I thought Zhao Ziqi was already stunning, but who knew even a random busty girl around Gunner would sing so well? It’s just unfair!”

“Does anyone think Gunner’s wife’s singing has even more flavor than Zhao Ziqi?”

“Gunner, stop hiding your beauty in a golden cage and let us have a taste! Just tell us who this busty girl is, will you? I want to download her song! Is she a professional singer? I adore her voice!”

“Offering 500 bucks for the busty girl’s personal info! I want to ‘admire’ her ‘For a Lifetime’!”

“Gunner’s wife’s voice is so magnetic, rare among professional female singers. Listening to her songs is like hearing gripping stories, so full of depth.”

“A guitar, a story, an accident. The moment I saw this bra and heard this voice, I knew my life was meant for her.”

…

Such comments were countless, numbering in the thousands, filling Qin Xueyang with a long-missed sense of accomplishment.

The more she scrolled, the more addicted she became, overjoyed and unable to stop.

Eventually, her eyelids battled each other, and no matter how she rubbed them, it was useless. She was so sleepy that she didn’t even notice when her phone dropped onto her face. Only then did she finally fall asleep.

But she hadn’t slept long before she woke herself up laughing from her dreams.

It was only then that Qin Xueyang realized how deeply she craved recognition and praise from others!

Though she still didn’t want to step into the public eye or give up her job as Zhang Qiyang’s assistant—a position that let her live in luxury, eat gourmet food, enjoy plenty of perks, and have ample free time—the seed of singing, watered by Zhang Qiyang and all those netizens, began to take root again in the heart of the chubby girl.

Hating the name “Adele,” that night, not long after Zhang Qiyang had returned to his room, Qin Xueyang went to EastNet and changed her stage name.

She insisted on being called “The Cutest Foodie Girl.”

This didn’t come to light until two days after they’d returned to the Imperial City, when Zhang Qiyang took Qin Xueyang to EastNet to record “Chang’an County” and “Chang’an Night.” He wanted EastNet to upgrade Qin Xueyang’s account, only to discover she’d changed the name from Adele.

Qin Xueyang was especially unwilling to let outsiders know she was becoming an online singer, not even wanting the EastNet staff to know this account belonged to her.

So, threatening to jump from the first floor, she forced Zhang Qiyang to promise he wouldn’t divulge this secret to anyone at EastNet.

Though naturally optimistic and living rather carelessly, Qin Xueyang could be quite stubborn when she was serious, especially about avoiding the spotlight and keeping people from knowing her.

It wasn’t insecurity—she was never insecure—but she didn’t want her identity exposed and her father’s story broadcast everywhere.

Seeing how resistant Qin Xueyang was, Zhang Qiyang stopped pushing her.

Some things, the more you force someone, the worse the outcome.

He’d wait for a proper time to gently guide her.

Until then, he wouldn’t push Qin Xueyang to sing.

As for releasing “For a Lifetime” online, that would have to wait. Training Qin Xueyang as a top-tier vocalist then having her release a joke song like “For a Lifetime” would be inappropriate, and future ridicule was inevitable.

It was fine if it had already been posted on Weibo—there was no name attached, so no one knew it was Qin Xueyang singing.

Even if someone later identified the voice as hers, they could always deny it to the end.

That week, Qin Xueyang spent most of her time as an assistant, helping Zhang Qiyang coordinate appearances.

Although Zhang Qiyang hadn’t managed back-to-back wins last week, Zebra and several other video streaming platforms still offered him seven-figure appearance fees, hoping he would show up and do live broadcasts on their programs.

A few TV shows also wanted Zhang Qiyang as a guest, including some high-rated talk shows offering impressive prices.

But after his setback on “My Song,” Zhang Qiyang didn’t want to appear on any show.

Except for Chen Ke, who secured him as a guest for the final episode of “Infinite Challenge” at a fifty thousand after-tax fee, Zhang Qiyang temporarily declined all other invitations.

He wanted to focus his energy on “My Song.”

And focus his energy on helping Li Xuan challenge Zhao Ziqi.

On Tuesday night, after recording new songs at EastNet, Zhang Qiyang drove straight to Li Xuan’s music studio, accepting her invitation to custom-make new shoes for her.