When Xia Mo heard Junyuan’s words, her heart pounded.
She looked at the man in the driver’s seat. Actually, his appearance was not striking like Young Master Huo at first glance, but belonged to a type where he was clean, handsome and looked better the more one looked at him. He had a straight nose, lips with a pleasing shape and long eyelashes that made people envy him upon closer inspection.
Xia Mo dug her fingernails into her palm, reminding herself not to be charmed by his sweet words.
“I like Sister Yanran and Sister Tangtang. Me helping her has nothing to do with you.”
Junyuan could not help laughing, the dimple in his right cheek deepening. Xia Mo quickly turned her head away, not looking at him. “Doctor, don’t think I’ll kneel in front of your pants because of your flirting.”
“I seldom wear formal pants.”
Xia Mo glanced at him subconsciously. He was wearing casual pants and his legs looked like that of a model’s. “I don’t care what pants you wear, what I meant was I won’t graze on the same pasture twice.”
Junyuan looked at Xia Mo. “You haven’t eaten me before.”
Xia Mo’s ears turned hot. “Don’t misinterpret my words.”
Junyuan raised his hand and touched Xia Mo’s hot ears. “I know. I’ll chase after you properly, but I’ve never chased a girl before, so please be understanding.”
Xia Mo huffed and turned her face towards the car window, but the corner of her lips could not help lifting up.
…
Inside the competition room of Imperial Entertainment.
Five judges were sitting below the stage and one of them was Young Master Huo, Huo Ze.
He wore a blue suit with the first two buttons unbuttoned with no tie. His hair was carefully styled, showing his forehead and his bangs were combed up, looking fluffy, fresh and slightly mature. He sat with his legs crossed and when he was looking at his phone, the expensive platinum watch could be seen on his left wrist.
Among the several shareholders, he was the youngest and most outstanding.
A sweet and beautiful looking trainee gave Young Master Huo a cup of milk tea and smiled sweetly. “Young Master Huo, please treat me kindly.”
Although Young Master Huo was someone unrestrained usually, he did not like flattery during work. As soon as the woman came close, he frowned.
That perfume was really pungent.
After the girl went out, he tapped on the table with his pen. “This one, out.” Then, he threw that cup of milk tea into the bin.
The biggest shareholder sitting beside was Young Master Huo’s childhood friend and was used to his bad temper. He called his assistant over, asking him to inform that trainee that there was no need for her to come in for the competition.
…
In the makeup room.
That trainee who had given Young Master Huo the milk tea was surrounded by several girls. “Qiaoqiao, you’re so bold. You even dared to give Young Master Huo milk tea.”
“Qiaoqiao is the most outstanding among all of us trainees. Young Master Huo must be impressed with her.”
Ye Qiaoqiao was indeed the most outstanding among the group of girls. Although her voice and talent were inferior to Xia Tang, she was prettier than Xia Tang. Xia Tang was always wearing glasses, too thin and small and was not eye-catching at all on stage.
But Xia Tang’s voice was too good, so the shareholders would surely view her in a different light after listening to her. Ye Qiaoqiao deliberately caused Xia Tang to have a rash on her face and the supervisor also drove her away.
Ye Qiaoqiao was happy as she had one less competitor!
“Oh my god. Is that Xia Tang?”
“Xia Tang did not qualify for the competition, you’re seeing things!” Ye Qiaoqiao glanced over at the entrance and saw a girl wearing a dress and exquisite makeup standing there. She was stunned and when she looked carefully, it was really Xia Tang.
Oh my god, Xia Tang looked so beautiful after taking off her glasses and putting on makeup.
Deep down, Ye Qiaoqiao knew Xia Tang was not ugly. She was slender and fair, and considered those dainty types of girls where her shoulders were so slender that it could be crushed by a man. Her face was small and sharp, her eyes were large. In the past, Ye Qiaoqiao had bought over the makeup artist, so each time Xia Tang went on stage, the makeup artist would put plain makeup on her, or style an ugly hairstyle for her so that she wouldn’t stand out at all.
Xia Tang usually did not care much about her appearance and thought that it was enough with just a good voice.
Not only was Ye Qiaoqiao shocked, the other trainees were shocked too.
“Xia Tang, didn’t the supervisor ask you to go home? Do you think you can continue to compete by dressing up like this?” Ye Qianqian looked at Xia Tang unhappily.
Ye Qianqian was sociable, plus her results were outstanding for every competition, so many trainees sucked up to her in private and thus formed an exclusive clique.
All the girls in the group along with Ye Qiaoqiao, excluded Xia Tang.
“The supervisor has allowed me to continue to compete. If you have any doubts you can ask the supervisor directly.”
Just as Ye Qiaoqiao wanted to say something, the President’s assistant came over and announced, “Ye Qianqian, you don’t have to participate in the competition anymore.”
Ye Qiaoqiao was stunned. “What? You must have made a mistake. I’m one of the most popular contestants!”
“You’ve offended Young Master Huo. He doesn’t like the smell of your perfume.”
Ye Qianqian was speechless.
So, under the surprised eyes of the trainees, their popular contestant Ye Qiaoqiao was brushed off like that.
When Ye Qiaoqiao was pulled away by the bodyguards, tears were streaming down her face and she was hysterical.
Shivering, Xia Tang made a mental note that she must stay far away from that Young Master Huo in the future. Whoever he was, he was too scary.
…
The competition began.
The trainees came out one by one and Huo Ze held his forehead from time to time. He was even starting to regret investing and becoming the shareholder of Imperial Entertainment. Why wasn’t there a voice which could enter his ears?
No matter how bad the ones in front were, the next one was even worse.
She was too nervous to even sing a word.
Huo Ze raised his head and looked at the girl on stage.
She had a classic appearance, slender and fair, but could she sing? Was she so nervous that her eyelashes were fluttering so violently?
It was the first time Xia Tang did not wear her glasses on stage. Although she was wearing contact lenses, without her glasses, why was she feeling so nervous and uncomfortable?
She tried to sing the first line, but her voice cracked immediately.
Xia Tang’s face turned red in an instant.
One judge knocked on the table and Xia Tang heard the voice of Imperial Entertainment’s President. “Next.”
Xia Tang’s heart sank. She was being eliminated directly already.
If she could not continue the competition, she might be faced with accompanying the investors or paying a huge compensation. Xia Tang grabbed the microphone tightly and did not get off the stage.
“Why are you still standing on stage? Stop wasting our time,” another judge said.
Xia Tang raised her eyes and glanced at the judges below the stage. Seeing a pair of sunglasses on the leftmost side of the judges’ table, she mustered up her courage and got off the stage, bowing to the judge at the far left.
Huo Ze had on a lazy expression and his lips twitched when Xia Tang suddenly came down the stage and bowed.
Was this girl stupid or doing it on purpose?
When she bowed, her chest could be seen.
Before he could look, she had straightened up and took the sunglasses from the table in front of him.
Huo Ze raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips slightly. This was the first sign Young Master Huo was getting angry.
When the President of Imperial Entertainment saw this, his eyes darkened. “Number 26, didn’t you hear that I asked you to leave? Or do you want someone to take you away?”
Xia Tang turned around and walked towards the stage.
The President raised his hand and his assistant rushed towards Xia Tang.
At this moment, an ethereal, relaxed and touching voice sounded in the air.
Good lord.
The judges’ gaze were attracted by that voice, including Huo Ze. He raised his beautiful long upturned eyes and looked at Xia Tang, who had gone back on the stage.
Xia Tang sang a song written and composed by herself. Her voice was like a swallow singing, her tone gentle and it was also like a clear mountain spring, ethereal, beautiful and natural. It felt comfortable to listen to her and it was really a voice from the heavens.
Even the assistant who was about to take Xia Tang down from the stage, was stunned. This girl’s voice was really good.
Xia Tang was wearing Huo Ze’s sunglasses and she was no longer afraid, putting all her soul into her singing. Although it was strange wearing a man’s sunglasses, it did not affect her singing.
After the song, it was so silent one could have heard a pin drop.
Somebody started clapping, followed by the warm applause of all the judges.
It was clear Xia Tang had passed the shareholders’ round.
After the competition, Xia Tang planned to go back to the dormitory to give Junyuan a call, but Sister Jin from the management company called and asked her to go to Red Leaf Clubhouse as she wanted to talk to her about her contract.
Xia Tang did not even have the time to change and was taken away by the assistant of Sister Jin.
The assistant took Xia Tang to a room in the clubhouse.
There were many people in the room, some were playing mahjong, while some were drinking on the sofa. Xia Tang even saw a number of popular stars.
“You’re lucky to be liked by the master here and to sing a song for them.”
Xia Tang breathed a sigh of relief. So she was here to sing.
“Be good and don’t make trouble for Sister Jin. Don’t be so stubborn. Who would throw red wine on the person who touched your hand or pinched your waist? The people in this room are big investors, if you offend them, you’ll have to pay the termination fees!”
The assistant pushed Xia Tang into the room, closed the door and left.
Xia Tang stood by the door and no one noticed her. She could neither advance nor retreat.
Suddenly a man who was playing mahjong glanced at Xia Tang. “You, come here. We’re short of one person. You can take over.”
Xia Tang pointed at herself. “Me?”
“Yes. Come, come.”
Xia Tang remembered the words of Sister Jin’s assistant. She walked over and under the urge of the man, she sat on a vacant seat at the table.
“You’re Young Master’s female companion, right?”
Xia Tang furrowed her eyebrows. “I don’t know who your Young Master is.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen Young Master finding such a slender one, and you don’t seem like you can handle him. Young Master is powerful and impressive.”
Xia Tang pursed her lips. “I’m really not. Later when Young Master comes and sees me sitting here, he might be unhappy.”
“It’s fine. You’re a beautiful girl so Young Master will treat you nicely.”
Xia Tang could only put on a bold face. She had a good memory and had a photographic memory. She could remember what tile was put out and what tiles were left. Although she lost the first two rounds, later, she won every round.
When Huo Ze came in, he found that those chips he had lost had been won back and he had also won many more chips.
He stood behind Xia Tang with a cigarette between his lips, looking at her beautiful and fair butterfly bone, his eyes narrowed.
Just when Xia Tang was about to draw a tile, a long hand suddenly reached out from behind and drew a two dots. Then, a lazy and magnetic voice sounded from above her head. “Full flush, self-drawn.”
