Chapter Forty-Three: Let Him Keep Showing Off (Please Vote for Me)

(Thanks to “Bihuang” for the monthly ticket, thank you.)

Music swirled through the air, the melody bright and lively. As the song reached her ears, Qin Xue’s previously agitated and irritated mood began to settle. Fang Du’s expression, on the other hand, was a twisted mix of awe and frustration; part of him hoped the piano he heard was played by Yang Qing, and another part of him secretly wished it wasn’t. After all, it was almost too overwhelming. How could one person be so talented—so outstanding in everything?

Little Chu, the bespectacled girl, still looked as though she might burst into tears, caught up in her own guilt over a mistake at work.

Clip-clop, clip-clop…

Each lost in their thoughts, the three of them arrived backstage at the recording studio. But as they caught sight of the two figures on stage, their expressions changed instantly and dramatically.

“Holy—! It really is Yang! No way!” Fang Du’s mind was a tumultuous sea, and a shocked expletive slipped out before he could stop it.

Little Chu’s mouth fell open in pure disbelief.

Staring at Yang Qing seated at the piano, listening to the cheerful music, she was rooted to the spot, tears suspended in her eyes.

Qin Xue unconsciously clenched her slender fingers. Her gaze softened with affection as she looked at Yang Qing, but when her eyes shifted to Wang Ying, who was singing beside him, they were frosted with cold scrutiny.

Her shifting expression betrayed the emotional storm raging within her. In that fleeting moment, a single glance at the stage shattered whatever calm had remained in the hearts of the three observers.

“Hey, Xue, what are you doing here?” Lin Xiuyue had been startled by Fang Du’s outburst. She turned to the trio, bewildered.

“Lin,” Qin Xue replied with a gentle smile. Then, pointing to Yang Qing at the piano, she dropped a bombshell: “He is…my man.”

“Your…man?!” Lin Xiuyue stared at Qin Xue in utter disbelief.

Everyone else backstage was dumbstruck, their jaws slack.

“Yes! My man!” Qin Xue repeated, her tone now resolute and unyielding.

For a moment, the room was filled with stunned silence.

Fang Du’s face twisted with a mixture of shock and delight. His eyes darted back and forth between Qin Xue and Yang Qing, but after a moment he broke into a broad grin.

What good news! The beautiful team leader had just claimed Yang as her own—didn’t that mean Jin’er was now—well, well, well... This was fantastic!

His mood soared; he paid no mind to the others still stunned by the scene. He sidled up to Qin Xue and grinned, “Boss, Yang is just incredible! Absolutely insane! I swear, there’s nothing he can’t do except—well, except give birth!”

Qin Xue shot him a sidelong glance. “Why do you look so pleased?”

Fang Du put on an innocent expression. “Oh, come on, I’m just happy for you and Yang! A perfect match—talented man and beautiful woman, a union made in heaven!”

“Oh, really?” Qin Xue’s gaze was cool. “Or are you just glad that with Qingzi out of the running, you’ve got an open shot at Jin’er?”

Fang Du’s face fell.

Damn! Beautiful women really are terrifying—she saw right through him!

Backstage was frozen in awkward silence, while onstage, the music and singing blended in harmony, and the audience was all smiles.

Ding, ding, ding…

At last, as Yang Qing’s ten fingers danced across the keys, the quick and joyful melody brought the song to a close.

“Goddess! Goddess! Goddess!” As the final note faded, the audience erupted, leaping to their feet and shouting. The tidal wave of excitement threatened to overwhelm everything.

Yang Qing was startled by the sudden outburst. Watching Wang Ying beside him, basking in the adoration, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy.

At that moment, a delicate hand reached out to him. He froze in surprise.

“What are you standing there for? Come on, let’s go thank the audience for their love and enthusiasm,” Wang Ying said, her eyes brimming with laughter.

“Oh,” Yang Qing replied, swallowing nervously as he stood up, awkwardly placing his hand in hers.

Noticing his stiffness, Wang Ying smiled and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

“Nervous, are you?” she teased.

“Yeah…a little.”

“First time holding a girl’s hand?”

“N-no, I hold Qiu’er and the others’ hands all the time.”

“And besides your little sisters?”

At that, Yang Qing’s face flushed crimson. “You…you’re the first.”

Wang Ying laughed, her voice as bright as spring. “Then let’s go—the audience can’t wait any longer.”

She led him, stiff as a board, to the center of the stage, where they began to thank the crowd.

Backstage, Qin Xue’s face turned icy as she saw their hands entwined.

“Director Lin, what is she doing? Is this part of your show?” she demanded coldly.

Lin Xiuyue, only just recovering from the earlier shock, was once again stunned by Qin Xue’s icy aura.

“No…no, it isn’t.”

“No? Then what is she doing?”

“I…Xue, she’s a superstar, she—”

“Superstar or not, she has to follow the rules!” Qin Xue snapped. “Edit this out after recording! It’s not to be aired!”

Lin Xiuyue hesitated. “I…I can’t make that decision myself.”

Qin Xue’s tone turned even colder. “Oh? So you’re either not in charge, or you’re hoping to use this for ratings. If it’s the former, I’ll find someone who does have authority. If it’s the latter, I suggest you think very carefully about the consequences.”

Her words sent a chill through everyone present, and all shrank back in alarm.

Fang Du stared at Qin Xue in awe. He’d always suspected his team leader was powerful, but he hadn’t expected her to confront a show director so directly—and win!

Sure enough, after a long pause, Lin Xiuyue finally relented with resignation. “Fine, I’ll make sure that part is cut and not broadcast.”

“Good.” Qin Xue nodded lightly, then watched with frosty eyes as Yang Qing and Wang Ying finished thanking the audience and exited the stage together, still holding hands.

“Oh boy, this is about to get messy!” Fang Du thought, hurrying to catch up.

“What a mess! This man… Ay!” Lin Xiuyue sighed in her heart, then shot a frustrated glance at the still-stunned Little Chu before following as well.

Back in the wings, Yang Qing was still stiff as a board, whispering nervously to the beaming Wang Ying, when Qin Xue suddenly appeared before them.

His mind went blank. He was frozen in place.

“Let go.”

Qin Xue’s voice was icy as she glared at Wang Ying.

“Oh? And if I don’t?” Wang Ying’s smile vanished in an instant.

The two women, both breathtakingly beautiful, now wore matching icy expressions. Their eyes locked, and the temperature in the room plummeted.

“Ahem… Um, Ms. Wang, you’ve worked hard—so have you,” Lin Xiuyue interjected awkwardly, stepping in to separate their joined hands and shaking each of theirs in turn. “Why don’t we all go to the lounge for a bit?”

“Thank you, Director Lin, but there’s no need,” Wang Ying replied with cool elegance. “Qing and I have plans. We’ll be heading out.”

Lin Xiuyue froze in embarrassment, just as Qin Xue’s frosty voice cut in.

“Plans? With whose permission?”

Without waiting for a reply, she turned to the still-stupefied Yang Qing, suddenly smiling. “Qing, are you done strolling around? If so, let’s get going. We have important matters to attend to.”

“Uh, I…” Yang Qing began, but Wang Ying interrupted him.

“Qing, didn’t you say there were some flaws in the arrangement for my second song? Weren’t you coming to my studio to help fix them?”

With that, she fell silent, both women now fixing their gazes on Yang Qing.

“I…I…”

Even Yang Qing, usually dense and slow, understood exactly what was happening now. His survival instincts kicked in, and he looked pleadingly at Fang Du.

But Fang Du…

Tsk. He was busy messaging Wang Ming. Since they both liked the two girls who frequented Yang Qing’s shop, they’d kept in touch.

Amid the tense standoff, Fang Du’s phone was alive with rapid taps.

Fang Du: Where are you? What are you up to?

Wang Ming: I’m helping Ke’er practice dancing. Why?

Fang Du: Helping? More like watching! Stop pretending and get to the TV station! Your sister and my boss are at it again!

Wang Ming: What? Again? Why this time?

Fang Du: Why do you think? Yang’s here too! He played piano for your sister!

Wang Ming: … He really is something.

Fang Du: Quit joking and get over here! The situation’s about to blow up!

Wang Ming: Blow up? Damn, then I’m not going! Let him keep showing off!

Fang Du: ?!?!

Damn!