Life countdown begins, ice queen bursts into security room

Shanghai, Tianyu Media Building.

Chen Lan slammed a photocopy onto the coffee table, her expression grave.

"Found it." Chen Lan pulled up a chair and sat down. "The second round of 'Rising Star' will be a 1v1 challenge within the same track. Players ranked lower will have priority in choosing. Zhao Tianyu will choose Jiang Fan."

Xu Qingya leaned back on the sofa, her gaze sweeping over the list.

"They hired a top producer overnight to tailor a song specifically for Zhao Tianyu. Plus, Sheng Hai's Hua Xingyu was on the judging panel. This was an open conspiracy; they wanted to rightfully crush Jiang Fan on stage."

Xu Qingya remained silent.

She picked up her phone and took a picture of the match list.

Click send.

Chen Lan frowned as she watched her actions, but ultimately did not speak to stop her.

She can't see through Xu Qingya, let alone the mysterious Jiang Fan.

Penguin Hotel, Shenzhen, Room 1208.

Jiang Fan opened WeChat and glanced at the picture Xu Qingya had sent.

A 1v1 challenge? Tailor-made?

He chuckled, closed WeChat, and his mind stirred slightly.

The translucent system panel unfolds on the retina.

Current lifespan: 9100 points

[Remaining lifespan: 11 days]

He opened the skill shop, his gaze immediately bypassing the basic skills with a few hundred points, and locking onto the option at the top that emitted a dark golden light.

[Master-level singing skills: 5000 lifespan points.]

[Description: Top-tier vocal techniques in the Chinese music scene. Absolute pitch, superior resonance, and mastery of the entire vocal range.]

Jiang Fan didn't hesitate and immediately "exchanged".

[After deducting 5000 life points, remaining life points: 4100.]

boom!

A surge of scalding heat instantly rushed into the back of his head, completely different from the infusion of basic skills; this was a violent physical modification.

His vocal cord muscles are reorganizing, becoming stronger and more flexible, and the resonance channels in his chest, head, and nasal cavities are being forcibly widened.

Jiang Fan gripped the bed sheet tightly, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

The modification lasted a full three minutes.

As the heat subsided, Jiang Fan loosened his grip, revealing that his shoulders and back were covered in sweat.

He opened his mouth and tried to utter a syllable.

His voice was steady and deep. Then, his tone changed, and his voice instantly rose to a high pitch, clear and bright, without any sense of strain.

He now has a feeling that as long as he stands in front of the microphone, he is a god.

Back by the bed, Jiang Fan picked up his phone and opened Douyin (TikTok).

The seventh trending topic: #Looking for Brother Xiaochou#.

Clicking into the topic, all the videos were from that night at the Blues Bar.

Despite the blurry image quality, the soul-stirring lyrics and melody have made this song a complete sensation online.

The cumulative number of views has exceeded 80 million.

Countless online singers have tried to cover the song, but none of them can capture the poignant sense of loss and hardship.

No one knew that "Sorrowful Brother" was Jiang Fan, who amazed the audience on the first stage of "The Rising Star".

Even fewer people knew that this musical genius was just a few days ago getting his car parked in the underground parking garage of EE-Media.

Jiang Fan closed the Douyin interface. Since Shenghai Capital wanted to play big, he would give them a big surprise.

……

8 PM. A private French restaurant on the Bund in Shanghai.

Xu Qingya, dressed in a black haute couture evening gown, sat by the window.

A man in his forties was sitting opposite me.

His hair was neatly combed, and he wore a Patek Philippe watch on his wrist, but his eyes revealed an undisguised greasiness.

Chen Weiyang is a top producer at EE-Media and a prominent figure in the Chinese music scene.

"Qingya, the white truffles at this restaurant are excellent. I specially had them flown in by air."

Chen Weiyang picked up his wine glass and gently swirled the Romanée-Conti inside.

"Teacher Chen, you've gone to so much trouble." Xu Qingya didn't touch her wine glass. "The new album is still missing two singles. Sister Lan said you already have a first draft?"

Chen Weiyang smiled, put down his wine glass, and leaned forward slightly.

"The songs are finished. But Qingya, as you know, songwriting requires emotion. I feel that the arrangements for these two songs are still missing something."

Chen Weiyang's gaze swept unabashedly over Xu Qingya's exposed collarbone.

"I'm going to Sanya next week. I have a yacht there. Come with me for a week to gather inspiration. When we get back, these two songs will definitely be hits of the year."

Xu Qingya's grip on the knife and fork tightened slightly.

A field trip?

Having been in the entertainment industry for ten years, she had heard this kind of subtext far too many times.

Relying on his talent and status, Chen Weiyang has taken advantage of many newcomers in the industry through unspoken rules.

He used to be quite polite to Xu Qingya, after all, she was a superstar.

But this time, with the release date of her new album fast approaching, Chen Weiyang saw that she desperately needed a lead single and finally showed his fangs.

Looking at Chen Weiyang's smug face, Xu Qingya suddenly recalled the image of Jiang Fan sitting on the stage, softly singing "The Ordinary Road".

A strong sense of disgust welled up inside me.

"Teacher Chen," Xu Qingya put down her knife and fork, took a napkin to wipe her mouth, and said, "My schedule is full next week. You'll have to find someone else for the field trip."

Chen Weiyang's smile froze.

"Qingya, are you disrespecting me?" Chen Weiyang leaned back in his chair, his voice turning cold. "That Lin Shishi from the company just called me yesterday, crying and begging me to write songs for her. If I give her these two songs and promote them with the company's resources, I'm afraid the position of Tianyu's top female artist will be taken by someone else."

A naked threat.

Xu Qingya stood up and picked up the Hermès handbag next to her.

"Then give it to her."

Xu Qingya looked down at Chen Weiyang.

"This meal is on me. Enjoy your meal, Professor Chen."

After saying that, Xu Qingya walked towards the restaurant door in her high heels without looking back.

Chen Weiyang remained seated, his face ashen.

He slammed the wine glass on the table, splashing red wine all over the floor.

"You're asking for it! Fine, Xu Qingya, remember this choice you made tonight."

Xu Qingya walked out of the restaurant.

The night breeze from the Huangpu River made her eyes sting.

She stood by the roadside, looking at the bustling street, and suddenly missed Jiang Fan.

There are still two days before recording.

Xu Qingya opened the car door and got into the nanny van.

"To the airport."

Yang Lele, who was sitting in the passenger seat, suddenly turned around.

Her mouth was half open, and the schedule tablet she was holding almost slipped onto the foot mat.

Flying to Pengcheng in the middle of the night?

Yang Lele's throat bobbed, wanting to ask, "Does Sister Lan know?", but when her gaze fell on Xu Qingya's tense profile, she swallowed the words.

Last time, she secretly reported Jiang Fan's matter to Chen Lan, and Xu Qingya's gaze towards her afterwards was chilling.

She dared not risk this misfortune again.

Yang Lele swallowed hard, silently turned around, and gestured to the driver.

……

One o'clock in the morning.

The Carlton Hotel, located three kilometers from the Penguin Hotel, features a top-floor executive suite.

Jiang Fan pushed open the slightly ajar door.

The only light in the room was a dim floor lamp shining through the French windows.

Xu Qingya stood barefoot on the carpet, holding a half-glass of red wine in her hand.

Hearing the noise, she turned around and threw herself into Jiang Fan's arms.

Jiang Fan then put his arm around her waist.

"Why did you suddenly come over?" Jiang Fan looked down and smelled the faint fragrance in her hair.

"Annoying." Xu Qingya buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled. "People in this industry are disgusting."

Jiang Fan didn't press for details, but simply gently soothed her back with his palm.

Xu Qingya raised her head, her eyes filled with weariness.

"Chen Weiyang used the title track of his new album to block me, asking me to go to Sanya with him for research. I refused. If this album isn't released, EE-Media might cut off all my resources for the second half of the year and promote Lin Shishi to the top."

This is the operating logic of capital.

If you cannot create value, or if you are disobedient, someone can replace you at any time.

"Just because of two songs?" Jiang Fan's tone was mocking.

Xu Qingya gave a bitter smile: "In the Chinese music scene, one good song can sustain you for a lifetime. Chen Weiyang may be a scumbag, but he can certainly write songs that the market will buy."

Jiang Fan turned around and pressed her against the glass of the floor-to-ceiling window.

The stark contrast between the coldness of the glass and the burning heat of Jiang Fan's chest caused Xu Qingya's breath to catch in her throat.

"Who does Chen Weiyang think he is, to dare to choke you?" Jiang Fan lowered his head, his lips close to her ear, his voice deep yet carrying an undeniable arrogance, "You're short of a hit single, aren't you? You don't need to beg anyone else."

Xu Qingya suddenly raised her head and looked into his eyes, which were so close to hers.

Jiang Fan lifted her chin with his fingers, his gaze slowly descending.

"I'll take your new album."