Chapter 11: Debuting with Strength

Facing the glare from the other person, Xiao Chi smugly raised the lamb chop in his hand, skewered a piece, and took a bite. The lamb chop was pan-seared with red wine, tender and juicy.

Ji Chenxuan ignored him and turned to continue his conversation with a business partner, though he swiftly and decisively used his small fork to push aside the bear head and ate it in one bite.

Xiao Chi noticed his little movement and clicked his tongue. “Such a childish man.”

Meanwhile, Wen Anran was chatting with Shang Quan, but her eyes occasionally, almost imperceptibly, glanced towards Ji Chenxuan.

“Brother Wen, what are you looking at?” Bai Qing, sitting next to Shang Quan, followed his gaze and happened to see Ji Chenxuan eating pudding.

“That CEO from Huanyi, the one who always gets his way.” Shang Quan gave a fleeting glance at his prized disciple. “I heard you went to Huanyi before, but why didn’t you sign with them?”

Bai Qing shifted uncomfortably and raised his eyebrows. “Master, did Li Mingyue really make the introduction? Li Mingxun, their music director, is her brother, right? I didn’t even meet him, and the message just disappeared into thin air.”

Shang Quan frowned slightly. “Did you not even attend the national star show competition?”

Bai Qing wrinkled his nose, putting down the wine he found unappealing and crossing his long legs. “Master, that kind of competition is for grassroots newcomers. If I went, it’d be beneath my dignity.”

Shang Quan was about to say something when Wen Anran intervened. “Master Shang, Bai Qing has a point. He’s your disciple and already well-known among newcomers. If he went, winning the championship wouldn’t be surprising. But if people started saying he’s overshadowing the real newcomers, it would cause trouble.”

“Exactly,” Bai Qing nodded in agreement, carefully watching his master’s expression. “What if, since President Ji is here now, I go and meet him?”

Wen Anran paused his wine tasting, raised his eyelids, and gave Bai Qing a sidelong glance, as if just remembering something. “Oh, right, I saw him this afternoon with a young man in his early twenties. That looks, that figure—tch, look, he’s still inseparable from him.”

“Oh? So Ji Chenxuan has a thing for this type? No wonder there hasn’t been a single rumor about him in all these years.” Bai Qing’s expression turned odd as he squinted and glanced over again, curling his lips in disdain. “Look at today’s newcomers—no real talent, just relying on looks to get ahead. Looks like this year’s national star show competition is already decided. Even if I go, I’ll just be a runner-up.”

Wen Anran smiled knowingly. “Yeah, Bai Qing’s debut will be based on strength, not like those who rely on their looks.”

Bai Qing paused, then understood, chuckling inwardly.

Wen Anran took a cigar from his box, lit it, and handed it to Shang Quan, changing the subject. “In today’s world, those with real talent are kept out, while those who play dirty get ahead quickly. Sigh, if it weren’t for the competition from others back then, Master Shang, you would already be a giant in the music industry. Now, Bai Qing is still young and has you looking after him, so in the future…”

“Ha, don’t bring up old stories,” Shang Quan said, not taking the cigar but instead taking a puff from the one offered to him, narrowing his eyes in enjoyment.

He was flipping through the latest issue of a fashion music e-magazine, pretending not to notice the silent exchange of glances between the two. But Wen Anran’s words struck a chord in his heart.

If he didn’t take the opportunity today to give his disciple a push, tomorrow some young star might rise up and surpass him.

“Other people’s faces are out there for everyone to see, so it’s easy for them to get ahead. Where’s your talent hidden? If you don’t speak up, how will anyone know?”

Bai Qing reluctantly nodded. “Master’s right.”

“Come with me to see Ji Chenxuan.” Shang Quan stood up with a stern expression, smoothing out the wrinkles in his clothes. “My disciple isn’t someone who can be kept out, especially not by these people.”

Bai Qing quickly stood and followed behind, obediently.

“Take it easy, don’t get too serious,” Wen Anran said with his hands in his pockets, trailing behind, wearing a look that was more about stirring the pot than offering advice.

When Shang Quan and his disciple found Ji Chenxuan, he was happily discussing lamb chops with Xiao Chi.

“President Ji, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Shang Quan, the editor-in-chief of Fengshang Music.” Shang Quan, in his fifties, had three deep frown lines across his forehead. Standing before someone young enough to be his junior, he had to look up at him, which was, to say the least, not a pleasant experience.

“Hello, nice to meet you.” Ji Chenxuan looked down at the hand extended towards him, shook it briefly, and let go.

“President Ji, you’re so young, yet you’re already in charge of the giant Huanyi. Meanwhile, this old man like me is still scrambling with a small music magazine. The younger generation is truly impressive.”

Ji Chenxuan wore his usual polite, detached smile. “Mr. Shang is too kind.”

Over to the side, Li Mingyue and the others noticed their conversation and perked up, eager to eavesdrop.

With years of experience, Shang Quan was never one for subtlety or indirect approaches, he went straight to the point. “President Ji, this is my disciple, Bai Qing. He has a good voice and works hard. I think his abilities are enough for him to step out on his own. I heard that Huanyi is currently recruiting new talent. Do you think this young man has a chance?”

Ji Chenxuan glanced briefly at Bai Qing’s face, his expression unreadable. “The process for newcomer auditions is quite thorough, and I usually don’t get involved in that. If Mr. Bai is interested, he can apply and give it a try.”

Shang Quan didn’t expect that, with his influence, Ji Chenxuan wouldn’t even bother to offer a polite response. He scoffed and self-deprecatingly smiled. “I see. A small magazine like Fengshang, President Ji probably wouldn’t be interested in my old bones…”

Before Ji Chenxuan could say anything formal, Shang Quan’s gaze shifted to Xiao Chi. His expression changed slightly, and he smiled broadly. “This is the new talent Huanyi is promoting? I’m curious—what direction are they planning to go? Are they good at music?”

Xiao Chi smiled modestly. “I’m good at all directions.”

Ji Chenxuan couldn’t help but cough quietly.

Xiao Chi glanced at him in confusion. “Is your throat uncomfortable?”

Ji Chenxuan: “…”

Shang Quan and Bai Qing exchanged a knowing look and chuckled in unison. “Good at all directions? The newcomers today certainly have big egos.”

“Good at all directions?” Bai Qing lifted his chin and examined Xiao Chi from head to toe, then pointed to the band at the music pit with a warm smile. “You probably play all the instruments, right? Since you’re so confident, how about an impromptu performance to liven things up?”

Seeing that Xiao Chi didn’t object, Bai Qing politely added, “I don’t play much, just a few years of piano and violin, and I’m not great with the guitar. I’m not really good enough to perform.”

Li Mingyue, leaning against a nearby counter, held a tall wine glass, the bright red nail polish glinting faintly as she admired her new manicure. With a lazy smile, she remarked, “Is that really ‘not much’?”

Bai Qing cautiously asked Xiao Chi, “Will you pick something?”

Xiao Chi wore a nonchalant expression. “Anything’s fine.”

Ah, still pretending.

Bai Qing’s smile deepened. “In that case, I’ll start. Just a little warm-up, so to speak.”

Seeing that Xiao Chi had agreed, Ji Chenxuan felt it wasn’t his place to interfere. He could only watch from the side, pretending to remain calm, though his eyelids twitched involuntarily… This guy just never made things easy.

The lively conversation slowly died down as people’s attention subtly shifted towards the music pit, awaiting the next performance.

Bai Qing stepped down into the pit and exchanged a few words with the band. When the band members heard about the impromptu performance, they were more than happy to watch the drama unfold.

The music stopped, and more and more guests began to turn their attention toward the music pit, curious to see what would happen next.

The ceiling of the music pit was adorned with a giant crystal disco ball, spinning while casting lazy, dreamy lights that dappled across his figure.

Bai Qing immediately became the center of attention at the gathering, surrounded by countless industry elites and capital magnates. He knew this was a rare opportunity. As his master had said, if you don’t showcase your talent, who will know of it?

And just like a beautiful flower needs the green leaves to complement it, clearly, Xiao Chi, the new talent who had “risen to fame with his looks” and shamelessly lacked humility, was the perfect ^[1]“green leaf” refers to something that complements or supports something more prominent, like how leaves enhance the beauty of flowers.”green leaf” for him.

Bai Qing sat at the black triangular lacquered piano, his fingers lightly brushing across the black-and-white keys. He tested a few notes, closed his eyes to think for a moment, as if he were waiting for an improvisational inspiration to form.

In barely half a minute, his fingers were already moving gracefully across the keys, playing a smooth and beautiful melody, flowing like a sprite humming through the forest.

Although it seemed like an impromptu performance, in fact, the melody was part of the chorus of a new song Bai Qing was preparing to release. After several months of refinement and guidance from his master, Shang Quan, the song was nearly perfected.

He played with ease, his fingers flying across the keys. The guests, drawn by his music, gathered around, some closer, some further away, all watching intently.

Every now and then, Bai Qing’s gaze swept over their appreciative expressions, and he felt more confident. He finished the piece with composure, standing up gracefully, like a nobleman from medieval Europe, and bowed to the guests.

The applause came at just the right moment. He smiled slightly, walking toward Xiao Chi, and made a gesture inviting him to take part.

His tone remained humble and gentle. “I hope you don’t mind. It’s been a while since I’ve performed in front of so many people, so I’m a little nervous. I asked the band, and they have many instruments. You can choose whichever one you’re familiar with. Since you’re ‘good at everything,’ let’s open our eyes and see your skills, so no one misunderstands you as just boasting. What do you think?”

Author’s note: 

Small interruption:

Xiao Chi: Takes out a small notebook and writes down performance fees.

Bai Qing: ???