CHAPTER 125: CHAPTER 122: AT ALL COSTS

"Teacher Tong, shall we take a break? I’ve asked the auntie to prepare some northern dishes for you to try."

"No need to be so courteous. I’m here at Shuya’s request this time, and I didn’t expect to discover a gem like you."

In Tong Jie’s beautiful eyes, there flowed a certain expression that Lan Yening loathed.

That gaze—he saw it all too often in Zhang Shuya.

But to achieve his ultimate goal, he could only tolerate it.

Although Tong Jie wasn’t a magnate or a film industry mogul, she held significant sway in the mainstream music circle.

Zhang Shuya had gone to great lengths to invite her this time, so Lan Yening had to seize the opportunity.

"Sister Tong, you’re too flattering. How can I be considered a gem? At most, I’m unpolished jade in need of a teacher like you to refine me." Lan Yening smiled warmly, like the gentle waters of a spring river.

Tong Jie, long captivated by this almost otherworldly face, couldn’t help but laugh. "Xiao Ning, you really know how to talk. Aren’t you currently riding the wave of popularity? I’ve heard you’re doing well. Why the sudden interest in entering the mainstream circle?"

"The company wants me to take on a few meaningful dramas.

But as you know, I’m a traffic idol; the investors wouldn’t pick me.

So I thought of leveraging your influence to first establish myself in the mainstream music world, and then transition to acting."

Lan Yening spoke as he poured her a cup of aromatic Fen Jiu.

"I thought as much! If Shuya simply wanted to find you a good vocal teacher, she wouldn’t have needed to invite me." Tong Jie picked up the porcelain cup and downed the liquor in one gulp.

Lan Yening followed suit, drinking alongside her, before refilling her cup.

"Though others might have high-level skills, they can’t necessarily bring the same comfort to teaching as Sister Tong can." Lan Yening’s lips hinted at a smile, his eyes shimmering like a galaxy, sending waves of allure.

"Haha! Xiao Ning, your words are as sweet as honey. Shuya must be utterly smitten by you!"

Lan Yening didn’t answer directly, instead asking with a smile, "Sister Tong, do you also like honey?"

Tong Jie’s heartstrings were instantly plucked; she drank her cup of liquor in one swift motion.

The fragrant liquor slid across her tongue, warmed her throat, and entered her belly like a blaze of fire.

"Of course I like it, but I fear your honey might be laced with poison—I wouldn’t dare consume it."

"How could I ever harm you, Sister!"

Lan Yening stood and moved closer, sitting beside her, his gaze flowing gently, his lips carrying a faint smile as he stared steadily into her eyes.

A comforting warmth stirred in the air, surrounding and seeping into their breaths.

Though just past forty, Tong Jie’s emotions were like a disturbed string on a piano. She knew the young man before her must have an agenda.

Frankly, such dealings weren’t uncommon in this big fish pond. When Zhang Shuya arranged this meeting between her and Lan Yening, Tong Jie had anticipated scenarios like this.

However, she intended to keep things within boundaries—only accepting material benefits.

Her wariness toward situations like these ran deep, but the beauty of the boy in front of her was enough to shake her resolve.

He was as breathtaking as a rose after the rain, as pure as a washed-blue sky, as refreshing as a clear sweet spring.

Her heart raced, her blood burned, her reason crumbled bit by bit.

She couldn’t deny that she liked young people, loved the vibrant energy they carried, adored the way they looked at her—even if the gazes were insincere.

It brought her back to the time of her youthful prime, when countless "bees and butterflies" surrounded her.

"Xiao Ning, go ahead—tell me what you want. Let’s see if Sister can stomach your honey."

Lan Yening smiled, his voice intoxicating like fine liquor. "I’d like to play the male secondary lead in ’Voices Like the Clouds,’ the musical."

Tong Jie’s rationality returned upon hearing that. "I’m indeed responsible for the matter, but the decision for the male secondary lead isn’t entirely in my hands. Many are eyeing this production."

"I know, which is why I need Sister to push harder." Lan Yening said, taking out a delicate navy-blue velvet box from his pocket.

He opened it to reveal a blood-marked white jade thumb ring.

"From the Qing dynasty, authenticated already. I know Sister likes such things."

Tong Jie picked it up and examined it closely. Coming from a family of connoisseurs, she realized it was genuine—worth at least 300,000 yuan.

"Haha! The piece is exquisite, but Sister has no power to take it." Tong Jie smiled faintly, placing the ring down.

"Sister, I understand the rules. Regardless of the outcome, I would never hold it against you."

"Very well, but you’ll also need to handle Captain Zhang—you surely know what he likes, don’t you?"

"Thank you, Sister." Lan Yening suppressed the disgust churning within him, maintaining a warm smile.

In this industry, after signing the "contract of servitude," there were no alternatives.

You either fought tooth and nail to rise to fame and power or got ruthlessly discarded once your value was drained.

Zhang Shuya was watching them from another villa.

Her stunning face was frosted in ice, her fiery eyes brimming with jealousy.

BANG!

The crystal glass she held was flung to the ground, shattering to pieces, its crimson wine splattered everywhere.

Zhang Shuya hadn’t wanted Lan Yening to resort to such tactics, but she understood that binding Tong Jie was the only way to avoid her reneging.

Thus, she had "sacrificed" Lan Yening, but now that things had escalated to this point, the bitterness gnawed relentlessly at her soul.

At the same time, she perceived that Lan Yening seemed to be deliberately provoking her, making her uncomfortable, humiliating her.

Because his demeanor toward Tong Jie appeared genuinely affectionate.

"Xiao Ning, I hope you’re just playing along. I don’t want you to become someone I hang on my wall."

Zhang Shuya’s face twisted with ruthlessness, her cold, dark eyes flashing ominously.

Base

At the practice base, sixteen groups of girls were breaking down a song’s lyrics.

Yuwei’s group was assigned "The Language of Huaxia," a fifteen-year-old classic that was also one of their mentor Tian Jiaxuan’s breakout hits.

Her group members included Wei Xin, Ni Chunshu, Du Jiayu, Simona, and Wang Na.

At this moment, the entire team was in a deadlock.

Yuwei held the lyric sheet, quietly observing. She had proposed her ideas for splitting the lyrics earlier, and while the others were neutral, the modeling agent had voiced her opinion.

"I think the first verse of the song has to be sung strikingly, to really hook the audience." Wang Na’s face wore a warm smile, but her eyes burned with ambitious flames.

"Sister Wang is absolutely right. The opening verse needs to shine, to make a deep impression on the audience for them to love it." The team’s center, Yuwei, responded cheerfully.

"So this verse is crucial. I suggest we vote and decide who sings it," Wang Na said with a smile.

She was clever; she wouldn’t directly propose herself, knowing full opposition would follow. Instead, she pushed the issue onto the group, inciting a scramble.

Yuwei smirked inwardly, fully aware of Wang Na’s schemes.

If her suggestion succeeded, it would cast her as a resourceful leader who fought for the group’s best interests—an image perfectly suited for leadership.

Even if she failed to secure the opening lines, her "leadership aura" could still help her land other key lyrics.

The other girls stayed quiet. They weren’t close enough to Yuwei to openly support her, and many preferred watching the drama unfold.

"As a team, unity and democracy should come first," Yuwei smiled lightly.

Wang Na’s dusky face changed at once, revealing a flash of triumph as she thought, "This young girl is still too green. When I was grinding my heels in the industry, she was probably still drinking from a bottle!"

Du Jiayu, who had trained under brutal conditions with a semi-isle girl group, took a subtle glance at Wang Na.

She didn’t believe Yuwei would bend under such bullying. Back in Galaxy—a group with over 300 girls—anyone who clawed their way to the top could never be just another weak flower.

Sure enough, Yuwei continued, "There’s a rule in girl groups: when the agency doesn’t interfere, the captain has the right to assign lyrics. But if you all want to vote on it, I won’t object."

Wang Na’s face darkened instantly. Yuwei’s words had transformed the issue—from her being proactive to fight for group’s interests to Yuwei’s generous decision to let everyone have a say.

"Yuwei, this isn’t a girl group, and girl group rules don’t apply here." Wang Na immediately refuted, only to realize her statement was ill-advised.

She wasn’t from a girl-group background, so her words had slipped out naturally, but she overlooked the fact that this was a competition show.