Life countdown begins, ice queen bursts into security room

"Bang."

Mr. Zhou grabbed the crystal ashtray from the table and smashed it against the door.

Glass shards flew everywhere.

Old Li stood by the door, his neck hunched back half an inch.

"You still look down on him?" President Zhou stared at Old Li, tapping his fingers on the table.

"Star Girls made more money with this lousy song than we did in the entire quarter. Their performance fees increased tenfold this morning."

"What am I supposed to explain to the board?"

Old Li's Adam's apple bobbed twice, knowing that if he couldn't come up with a solution today, he'd have to pack his bags and get out of here.

"Mr. Zhou, my people at Universal Music told me that Zhang Yihan is releasing a new song in a couple of days." Old Li took a step forward, avoiding the shards of glass on the ground.

"I have a lot of dirt on Zhang Yihan from the past. I'll have someone release it online, and then we'll take advantage of that to release Jiang Wei's new song 'Nightfall.' That way, Star Overseas can climb to the top by stepping on them."

President Zhou leaned back in his chair.

I opened the drawer, took out a box of cigars, pulled out one, cut it open, and lit it.

"Go to the finance department and approve ten million for public relations expenses." President Zhou looked at Old Li through the smoke. "Go do it. If you mess this up again, you're fired."

"Don't worry, Mr. Zhou." Old Li turned and walked out the door.

Shanghai, Fanyin Studio.

Jiang Fan's phone vibrated on the coffee table, and the screen displayed a video request from Tang Yingxue.

He swiped up to answer the call.

In the video, Tang Yingxue is sitting in the boss's chair in the office of the chairman of Universal Entertainment.

She was wearing a black silk V-neck slip dress.

The phone was propped up on the table, with the camera pointed directly at her neckline, showing a large expanse of her fair skin in the frame.

"Boss Jiang, the performance fees for Star Girls have increased tenfold. The PR department's phone has been ringing since this morning."

Tang Yingxue leaned back in her chair, her fingers hooking the edge of the suspenders.

"Your song has turned Star Overseas' 50 million investment into a joke."

Jiang Fan looked at the woman on the screen, his gaze lingering below her collarbone.

"Is Zhang Yihan ready?"

"I will make an official announcement on Weibo at 8:00 AM tomorrow. Two days later, Zhang Yihan's comeback single 'Chasing the Light' will be released."

Tang Yingxue pulled the straps down a little with her fingers.

"Star Shine will definitely use Zhang Yihan's past scandals to their advantage."

Jiang Fan picked up the water glass next to him and took a sip.

"Let them publish it. The bigger the commotion, the better. Someone is doing our publicity for free, and we're saving money."

"Jiang Fan." Tang Yingxue leaned closer to the screen, her neckline low, revealing a clear view of what lay beneath.

"I've been sitting in this chair all day. My back is really sore."

Jiang Fan looked at her.

"You want me to go to Kyoto for an inspection tour?"

Tang Yingxue bit her lip and crossed her legs to change her position.

The black lace in the picture swayed slightly.

Are you coming or not?

"Busy. No time."

Tang Yingxue rolled her eyes, pulled the suit jacket that was next to her over her shoulder, and covered her chest with it.

"I'll come see you in a few days. Bye."

The next morning at eight o'clock.

Universal Entertainment's official Weibo account updates on time.

"Breaking free from the cocoon and transforming into a butterfly, walking towards the light. Zhang Yihan's comeback single 'Chasing the Light' will be released online in two days."

The accompanying image is a black and white poster.

Zhang Yihan was wearing a simple white shirt, looking up at a beam of light overhead, her left hand wrapped in thick gauze.

As soon as the news broke, public opinion on the internet began to ferment.

Star Shine Entertainment's public relations department acted extremely quickly.

In less than half an hour, major marketing accounts began to publish articles in unison.

"Zhang Yihan is making a comeback? That actress who rose to fame through suggestive content can sing again?"

"A review of Zhang Yihan's scandals since her debut. Multiple images ahead."

"After 'The Voice of China' lost to Shen Nian, it disappeared without a trace. Now it's trying to ride the coattails of 'Super Idol.' Does Universal Entertainment have no one left?"

Numerous photos of Zhang Yihan in revealing clothing and smiling obsequiously at drinking parties have been released.

In the photo, she is wearing a short skirt, holding a wine glass, and standing close to several bosses.

The comment section was full of insults.

"Boycott celebrities with bad records."

"Universal Entertainment must be starving; they're pushing all sorts of garbage out the door."

"What else can this woman do besides showing off her legs?"

Old Li sat at his desk scrolling through comments.

Millions of dollars were spent on public relations, and the results were immediate.

Universal Entertainment was branded as a disgrace for its vulgarity, and Zhang Yihan's reputation was completely ruined.

Old Li picked up his phone and sent a message to Jiang Wei's agent.

As long as Jiang Wei's new song surpasses Zhang Yihan's, his position at Star Overseas will be secure.

At 10 a.m., Jiang Wei, the leading actress of Star Shine Entertainment, posted an update.

"Music needs time to settle, it needs reverence. Tomorrow at 10 AM, my brand new single 'Nightfall' will be released, bringing you true music."

Lao Li quickly commented and shared below: "This is the voice that the Chinese music scene should have."

The online sentiment is overwhelmingly in favor of Star Shine Entertainment.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Kyoto, Universal Entertainment Headquarters, Recording Studio One.

Zhang Yihan stands in front of the microphone.

Today she was wearing a loose white sweater and ordinary jeans.

She wore no heavy makeup and simply tied her hair into a ponytail.

Tang Yingxue stood outside the glass wall, wearing listening headphones.

Standing next to him was Universal's chief recording engineer.

"Are you ready?" the sound engineer asked over the walkie-talkie.

Zhang Yihan inhaled, closed her eyes, and nodded.

The dark basement of the villa in the western suburbs, the cigar cutter held by Qin Wanhao's men—scenes flashed through my mind.

As the accompaniment began, a soothing and clean piano prelude flowed through the recording studio.

Zhang Yihan opened her eyes and moved closer to the microphone.

"If you were fireworks on the sea..."

During the brief pause in the sound, the recording engineer's fingers stopped on the mixing console.

Tang Yingxue also stopped what she was doing.

Zhang Yihan's voice no longer has that deliberately sweet quality she used to have.

All that remains is the exhaustion after being torn apart, and a cleansing after being driven to the brink of death.

"I can follow behind you, like a shadow chasing the light in a dream."

In the chorus, Zhang Yihan did not use any flashy high notes.

She sang calmly, each word coming from the depths of her heart.

Tang Yingxue looked at Zhang Yihan inside the glass room.

Standing here now is a woman who has died once.

After the song ended, the recording studio remained quiet for a long time.

The sound engineer took off his headphones and exhaled.

"Chairman Tang, that's amazing. The emotion, the infectiousness. One take, no need for auto-tuning at all."

Tang Yingxue nodded, pushed open the glass door, and went inside.

Zhang Yihan's face was covered in tears.

She squatted on the ground, covering her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking.

Tang Yingxue walked over to her and handed her a tissue.

"Get up when you've cried enough." Tang Yingxue's voice was cold and forceful. "Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock. I want you to trample that Jiang Wei from Xinghui under your feet."

Zhang Yihan took the tissue, wiped her face haphazardly, and stood up.

"Don't worry, Chairman Tang." Zhang Yihan looked at Tang Yingxue. "My life was given to me by Mr. Jiang. I will never dishonor this song."