After leaving Lin Yi's company, Liu Yutong didn't go straight back to the hotel. Instead, she asked the driver to pull over by the roadside, wanting to take a walk and get some fresh air.
She strolled slowly along the sidewalk, and before she knew it, she had wandered near a commercial square.
The square was bustling with activity. Older women were dancing in groups, children were chasing each other around, and a few young people sat in a corner playing guitars and singing.
Just as Liu Yutong was about to head into the mall, a heated argument suddenly reached her ears.
"Can you stop being so childish!"
"How am I being childish? I'm worried about you!"
"... "
One of the voices sounded familiar.
Liu Yutong stopped in her tracks and turned to look.
Near an inflatable castle children's play area in the square, a young man carrying a guitar and a woman in elegant attire were arguing fiercely.
The man wore a denim jacket, and his bangs were a bit long, covering half his face—it was quite the edgy look.
But Liu Yutong recognized him at once.
It was the resident singer from the bar that night.
She only remembered his surname was Zhou; couldn't recall his exact name.
"Zhou Ran, can you just wake up!"
"Do you have any idea what level of company Star Media is? Them being willing to sign me is my luck. Do you know how many people are dying to get in?"
"Xiaoya, listen to me. When I was competing, I overheard some staff talking about that company. They said... Star Media has problems."
"What kind of problems?"
"They... they make newcomers drink with clients, attend social events, and—"
"Where did you hear such nonsense?"
"It's true!"
The woman's expression shifted from anger to disappointment and impatience.
"Zhou Ran, are you insane?"
"Xiaoya..."
"You actually believe what those people say? Who do they think they are? Just a few staff members gossiping about Star Media!"
"No, they were very specific. I think it's better to be safe than sorry—"
"Enough!"
The woman exploded, yanking her hand out of his grasp.
"Zhou Ran, do you know how much I've sacrificed for this opportunity? I've been studying singing for eight years, auditioning for talent shows for three years, getting rejected over and over again. Now, finally, someone is willing to sign me, guaranteeing I'll make it to the finals, and you're telling me not to go? All because you overheard some random staff talking about a so-called 'casting couch'?"
"Do you have any proof?"
"And you'd rather believe those unsubstantiated rumors than trust me? I honestly don't know what's going on in your head."
"Or is it that you're afraid I'll get famous before you do?"
Zhou Ran was left speechless, unable to find the words to defend himself.
He truly had no proof.
He had overheard those conversations in a bathroom stall during the second round of the competition.
Of course, he wasn't even sure if what those people said was true.
He just thought—what if?
What if it was true?
Xiaoya was so innocent, so beautiful. If she ended up in a place like that...
"Xiaoya, just give me a little more time. Let me find out the truth—"
"Don't bother."
The woman's voice suddenly turned cold—eerily calm, with a tone of finality.
"Zhou Ran, we're breaking up."
Zhou Ran froze.
"What... what did you say?"
"I said we're breaking up!"
"We've been in the capital for almost five years now, haven't we? Back then, you said you'd make it soon, asked me to give you time. I waited—one year, two years, three years, four years, now almost five. And what's the result?"
"The result is we're still living in that dark, cramped basement, and sometimes you can't even afford the rent!"
"Zhou Ran, you can't even see your own future clearly. What right do you have to try and arrange mine?"
"This time, whether it's true or not, I'm going to take the chance. This is my opportunity, and no one is going to stop me!"
With that, she turned and walked away, utterly resolute.
Zhou Ran reached out to grab her, his hand hovering in the air for a moment, then dropped limply to his side.
He just stood there silently, watching her figure grow distant until she disappeared into the crowd.
Then he slowly crouched down, burying his face in his knees.
The music from the square continued to play. The children in the play area kept laughing. The setting sun still cast its golden light over everything.
Everything was so lively.
Only him, as if forgotten by the world.
Liu Yutong stood nearby, quietly watching the scene.
She wasn't the type to meddle in other people's affairs.
But this young man surnamed Zhou had left a good impression on her before.
After a moment's thought, she walked over with Yun Cheng.
"You okay?"
Zhou Ran looked up, about to say "I'm fine," but when he saw who it was, he froze.
"You... you're the boss from the bar that night?"
"You remember me?" Liu Yutong said.
Zhou Ran nodded, straightening up nervously. "I've been performing at that bar for six months. You're the one who tipped me the most, so of course I remember."
Liu Yutong pulled a pack of tissues from her bag and handed them to him.
"Here. A grown man crying doesn't look good."
Zhou Ran took the tissues, wiping his face awkwardly. "Sorry you had to see that."
Liu Yutong added, "You can't force these things."
Zhou Ran let out a bitter laugh. "I know she's right. I really am useless—can't even support myself. Why should she have to suffer with me? I just... I just didn't want to see her walk into a trap."
"You really think that company is shady?"
"I don't know."
Zhou Ran shook his head. "I just heard it during the competition's second round. No proof. Maybe Xiaoya's right—I'm too naive, too idealistic, believe everything I hear."
"What's the name of that company?" Liu Yutong asked.
Zhou Ran thought for a moment. "I think it's... Star Media."
Star Media.
Liu Yutong couldn't help but feel exasperated upon hearing that name.
How many times had she heard it today?
That Chu Junlin really was relentless.
"What's your girlfriend's name?" Liu Yutong asked again.
"Lin Ya."
"She's also a singer?"
"Yeah."
Liu Yutong nodded, making a mental note.
"Zhou Ran."
Zhou Ran was startled. "How do you know my name?"
"You just said it yourself."
"Did I?" Zhou Ran scratched his head, unsure.
Liu Yutong didn't dwell on it. "What's the name of the competition you were in?"
"Show Me, but I was eliminated in the second round."
Zhou Ran felt even more dejected mentioning that. He thought it was probably the last straw that broke his and Lin Ya's relationship.
Liu Yutong asked, "Since you're out, doesn't that mean you can sign up for other shows?"
Zhou Ran replied, "You mean The Voice of China? But the auditions are already over. I have no way to register, and I don't have any fame..."
Liu Yutong pulled out her phone from her bag, scrolled through a contact number, wrote it down on a sticky note, and handed it to him. "Keep this number. Call him later and just say Miss Liu recommended you. He should be able to arrange for you to go straight to the blind audition stage."
Zhou Ran was stunned, finding it hard to believe. "You... you... who exactly are you?"
Liu Yutong said, "Just an ordinary college student."
"College student?" Zhou Ran was baffled.
Were college students these days really this impressive?
With just one sentence, she could skip the preliminary rounds and get him directly into the main competition's blind auditions for The Voice of Dragon Kingdom.
That show was one of the hottest music competition shows being debated online recently.
Liu Yutong continued, "I'm not helping you for nothing."
"I'm helping you get into the main competition with a condition. In return, I need you to do something for me when the time is right."
Zhou Ran asked, "What is it?"
Liu Yutong replied, "You'll find out when the time comes."
Zhou Ran wanted to ask more questions, but Liu Yutong turned and walked away without another word.
After taking a few steps, she stopped without turning back and added, "Oh, and you might want to adjust your voice. There's no need to force that gravelly tone. Sure, that world-weary sound works well for folk songs, but I think you could try using your natural voice."
Zhou Ran was stunned by her words, standing still for a long time.
"My natural voice... huh?"
