Being a gigolo was too much for him, so he had to become a music superstar.

Fang Yizhou's words were still ringing in my ears: "Once you're on the official stage, no one will give you extra points because of your story."

This is just the beginning. The preliminary rounds are the easiest part. The official stage, the elimination rounds, and the finals—each one is ten times harder than this.

He only got an admission ticket.

Only.

Lin Buyi took out his phone, opened WeChat, and sent a message to Su Nianwei.

"Passed."

After sending the message, he put his phone back in his pocket. Then he took it out again to check—the other person hadn't replied yet.

Just as he was about to put his phone away, the screen lit up.

Su Nianwei replied with an emoji.

An orange cat with its head tilted to one side, a fish in its mouth, and a thumbs-up. It looks very smug.

Lin Buyi stared at the emoji for two seconds.

What does she mean? Is she praising him, or praising herself?

Then another text message came in:

"When you come home for dinner tonight, I'll have someone make that sauerkraut fish that you said was alright last time."

Lin Buyi's lips twitched slightly.

When did he ever say that the pickled fish was alright? He just took a couple more bites last time they ate together.

What's wrong with this woman's observation skills? She even remembered that he took two extra bites?

Should we praise her for being thoughtful, or say that she's too controlling and even monitors her meals?

He thought for a moment, then typed two words back.

"OK."

Then I locked my phone, hailed a ride-hailing car on the street, and gave them the address of the Yujingwan Villa District.

In the car, Lin Buyi leaned back in the seat with his eyes closed.

What kept replaying in his mind wasn't the competition, but Xue Xinghe's last words.

"Technique can be practiced, and musicality can be cultivated. But whether you're truly sincere when you sing—it's either genuine or not. You can't fake it."

This person is really direct.

But it is indeed accurate.

Lin Buyi recalled the scene that flashed through his mind when he sang the line "I just wanted to say I'm sorry to her".

It's not Su Nianwei.

It is Lin Qingxue.

It was the expression on his sister's face when she held his hand in the hospital bed and said, "Brother, don't push yourself too hard."

Around 7 p.m., Lin Buyi pushed open the villa's door.

A rich aroma of pickled fish hit my face. It was tangy, slightly spicy, and had a smoky, hearty flavor.

There were only two sets of bowls and chopsticks on the long table in the restaurant. In the middle was a large bowl of steaming pickled fish, served in an enamel pot, with three or four small dishes of cold dishes on the side—crushed cucumber, cold black fungus salad, sweet and sour radish, and a dish of edamame.

Su Nianwei was leaning back in her chair across the dining table, scrolling through her phone, when she heard the door open and looked up.

"I'm back."

She glanced at him, her tone indifferent, almost as if she were saying the weather was nice today.

But Lin Buyi noticed something was amiss.

She changed her clothes.

When Su Nianwei is at home, she usually wears one of two outfits—either a silk nightgown or a workout set. Since she doesn't go out, she's too lazy to bother with different looks.

But today she wore a gray dress, well-fitting, with the neckline just below her collarbone. Her hair had also been styled; instead of a casually tied ponytail, it was loose, curled, and neatly draped over her shoulders.

She even wore light makeup.

She doesn't usually wear makeup at home.

Lin Buyi's gaze swept across her face and then moved away.

He didn't bring it up.

Su Nianwei didn't explain either.

The two of them tacitly pretended that nothing had happened. Lin Buyi sat down opposite her and picked up his chopsticks.

"Eat it, it won't be good if it gets cold." Su Nianwei put down her phone.

Lin Buyi had been starving all day, only having drunk a bottle of mineral water in the waiting area since morning. He picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth; it was tender, smooth, sour, and spicy—the taste was indeed quite good.

He lowered his head and ate a few bites, while Su Nianwei across from him also picked up her chopsticks and slowly picked up a slice of cucumber.

She took a couple of bites, put down her chopsticks, picked up the juice glass next to her, took a sip, and then spoke in a casual tone:

"So, how did you get through it?"

Lin Buyi finished chewing the fish in his mouth and swallowed it.

"Of the three judges, two didn't pass me. The third used his special recommendation power to let me pass."

Su Nianwei's chopsticks paused in mid-air.

"You haven't given them either?"

"Um."

"Didn't you almost get rejected?" Her voice rose slightly by half an octave.

"Almost." Lin Buyi nodded and continued picking up fish.

Su Nianwei watched him eat so calmly, and she couldn't quite describe her feelings.

She thought that with the spot she had secured and all the conditions she had prepared for him, he should pass smoothly. But he was kicked out just one vote short?

She mentally adjusted her assessment of Lin Buyi's abilities—he was still an amateur, and passing was purely due to luck.

But for some reason, another thought popped into my head: But he still went too far.

She suppressed that thought and changed the subject.

"Who was that judge who gave you a special recommendation?"

"Xue Xinghe".

Su Nianwei paused in her act of drinking juice.

She put down her cup and looked at Lin Buyi.

Xue Xinghe?

Xue Xinghe, who is known in the entertainment industry for his sharp tongue, keen eye, and lack of respect for others, and who made three contestants cry last season—did he use his special recommendation right?

Use it on him?

She subtly adjusted her assessment once again.

The amplitude wasn't large, but the direction changed. Maybe this kid really does have something special.

But she wouldn't say it out loud.

"Xue Xinghe," Su Nianwei picked up her chopsticks and slowly picked up a slice of edamame, "He's probably just bored after sitting all day, so he picked this randomly. Don't take yourself too seriously."

Lin Buyi looked up at her.

This woman is here again.

He was slowly starting to figure out Su Nianwei's communication pattern—what she said and what she thought were basically the opposite. Saying "don't take it seriously" meant she thought the matter was interesting but wouldn't say it aloud.

"Yes, I know," he replied cooperatively, then lowered his head and continued eating.

Su Nianwei glanced at him but didn't say anything more.

The two of them finished their meal in silence.

After finishing her meal, Su Nianwei asked the maid to clear the table, and then took a glass of red wine and moved to the sofa in the living room.

Lin Buyi followed and sat down on the sofa opposite.

The living room lights were on, but Su Nianwei only turned on the floor lamp in the corner, which cast a warm yellow light that wasn't very bright.

She leaned back on the corner of the sofa, legs crossed, slowly swirling her wine glass. A thin layer of red wine clung to the glass, swirling around and around with her movements.

Lin Buyi sat opposite him, leaning against the sofa, and closed his eyes for a while. He was indeed tired; his nerves, which had been tense since morning, were finally relaxing.

Then Su Nianwei spoke.

"Junior student."

"Um?"

He opened his eyes and looked at her.

Su Nianwei didn't look at him. She kept her head down, looking at the red wine in her glass, her fingers idly twirling the stem.

"Have you considered how many days you've failed to... honor our agreement?"