Chapter 32: But only Xu Mi could give her that kind of warmth. Part 1

When she stepped out of the elevator, Qu An’ge secretly dialed Xu Mi’s number. Seeing that Xu Mi picked up, she discreetly slipped the phone into her bag.

Xu Mi rested her chin on her hand, watching her own video, while hearing muffled voices coming from Qu An’ge’s end—

“…How can I let Sister Wang pay for this dinner? It has to be me.”

“How much money can you have? You still owe a huge amount of money, right? Don’t be so formal with me. If worst comes to worst, you can treat me when you’re rich later.”

“Sis, you’re really too good to me.”

“I see you have the potential to become popular. I’m making an early investment, so don’t make me out to be too wonderful. Enough talk, we’re almost there, just ahead.”

Xu Mi shifted her chin to her other hand, feeling a bit sickeningly sweet inside.

She didn’t really like this kind of social nicety. She always felt these words were… somewhat fake.

But listening to Qu An’ge and this Wang Jia talking, it somehow sounded quite genuine.

She couldn’t figure it out, so she went to browse the comments on her computer. At noon, they had uploaded the “A Bite of Instant Noodles” video online. Whether it was expected or unexpected—it was a huge hit.

The views and comments were both climbing rapidly, and the follower count was growing astonishingly. But Tan Zhenzhen said this wasn’t enough; it’d be best to find a few key opinion leaders to repost it. When this came up, she asked, “Is Qu An’ge willing to repost? Right now, her reach is probably top-tier in the whole network.”

By that time, Qu An’ge had already gone out. Xu Mi said, “No, that account of hers… is probably also owned by the company.”

Tan Zhenzhen then said, “That rotten company! Fine, it’s quite good like this right now. Steady growth.”

Thinking of this, Xu Mi went to check Qu An’ge’s Weibo. Right now, the top comment under the hot topic was—

【Some people can’t even properly copy a song, yet someone writes original music and won’t admit it. What’s wrong with this world?】

The second was—【Spotlight issued a statement. Your name is Qu An’ge? With a name like that (lit: song/composition & song), just listening to it, you’re a naturally talented songwriter.】

Clearly, the majority didn’t believe her statement.

Xu Mi, however, thought the statement was quite truthful. Even though it was a bit far-fetched, she understood Qu An’ge. Qu An’ge couldn’t even read sheet music, even though her name was full of “compositions” and “songs.”

Xu Mi scrolled further down and suddenly saw someone say—【I’m her high school classmate. Please, she was completely tone-deaf in high school, and now she’s suddenly a talented songwriter?】

Xu Mi was instantly displeased. She clicked into that person’s profile and looked through it, finding it completely empty save for a few reposts. She didn’t know if it was a burner account or if this person didn’t usually use Weibo and had specifically registered just to comment on Qu An’ge’s post.

From any angle, this was a petty, spiteful person.

Xu Mi took a screenshot. I’ll find out who you are sooner or later, she thought. She then went back to her own Weibo. Just at that moment, besides the intermittent chatter of Qu An’ge and Wang Jia, another voice sounded over the phone.

That voice wasn’t loud, but it sounded incredibly bold and direct. Without any preamble, it said, “Pretty, definitely pretty.”

Xu Mi frowned and stopped what she was doing.

Qu An’ge was also taken aback by Qiu Shuiyi’s appearance. For no other reason than the other looked completely different from ten years later. Ten years wasn’t a long time, but it wasn’t short either. For example, Wang Jia looked practically unchanged from a decade later. Zuo Qingyuan was more capable and sharp later, more green and inexperienced now, which was an expected change. But Qiu Shuiyi was different.

She had… she had a whole head transplant.

Qu An’ge still remembered the first time she met Qiu Shuiyi ten years later. The other had stepped gracefully out of a car. Medium-long, curly hair cascaded over her shoulders. She wore an apricot-colored skirt suit, pointed-toe red-soled heels, thin, arched brows, and red lipstick. Her figure was full and curvaceous—a woman among women. Qu An’ge had thought she had great presence precisely because of this exterior; a face like that, paired with a cool, distant expression, made her seem like an untouchable flower of wealth and status. But now? The other had this unkempt, shoulder-length-or-shorter hair tied into a tiny bun at the back of her head. She was wearing jeans and a leather jacket… with studs. She was extremely thin. Combined with a rather angular face, she looked like a young boy.

What was this? A butch turning into a straight girl?

Qu An’ge was stunned speechless. After a long moment, she finally said, “Pres… President Qiu?”

Qiu Shuiyi came over and extended her hand. “A pleasure, a pleasure. How should I address you?”

Qu An’ge forced herself to snap out of it. “I’m Qu An’ge. Just call me Little Qu.”

It was too much of a shock. She didn’t realize Qiu Shuiyi’s gesture was a handshake, so she didn’t reach out her own hand.

Qiu Shuiyi didn’t mind either. She clapped her hands, then pointed her index finger at Qu An’ge, saying, “How can that be? You’re the future big star of our company. I’ll call you An’ge.”

Qu An’ge: “…”

She licked her somewhat dry lips and glanced at Wang Jia. Wang Jia didn’t dare look at her; she just coughed dryly into her fist.

At this point, she could only rely on herself. Qu An’ge gave a stiff laugh. “President Qiu has already decided to sign me? My contract with my previous company is still a messy, unresolved account.”

Qiu Shuiyi said, “Absolutely no problem. How much is the penalty fee? I’ll pay it for you. All you have to do is sign an agreement with the company to earn back the penalty fee within three years. Once you earn it back, the matter is over!”

The other looked like a scatterbrain, but she wasn’t one to take a loss, it seemed.

Qu An’ge’s mind, stuffed full of absurdity, finally regained a shred of reason. “And what if I don’t earn it back?”

Qiu Shuiyi looked shocked. “That can’t be possible, you’re so pretty.”

Qu An’ge: “…There’s always a ‘what if’.”

Qiu Shuiyi said, “Well, that…”

She then turned towards Wang Jia. “Then what? Or should we add another double penalty fee?”

Wang Jia said, “Let’s eat, let’s eat first. We’ll talk slowly. There’s plenty of time.”

The three of them sat down around the table. Qu An’ge felt a bit uneasy. She thought the future Qiu Shuiyi was quite reliable, but the current Qiu Shuiyi just seemed off every way she looked at it. For example, right now, the other was staring fixedly at her face with an appreciative expression, utterly unbridled.

Qu An’ge was a little embarrassed. She looked up and said, “What is it, President Qiu?”

Qiu Shuiyi said, “I’ve looked at so many of the little artists they introduced to me. You are, by far, the prettiest. You have the aura of a big star. I’m optimistic about you. How much is your penalty fee? I’ll pay it for you.”

Qu An’ge said: “…Two million.”

Qiu Shuiyi looked surprised. “That’s not much.”

Qu An’ge: “…”

She felt the conversation was excruciatingly difficult.

Wang Jia quickly smoothed things over. “Eat, eat the food. The Imperial Bright Tower’s Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish is especially famous. It won’t be good if it gets cold.”

Xu Mi, on the other end of the phone, was restlessly chewing on her pen cap.

She didn’t know the exact situation there, but just from listening to the conversation, she felt uncomfortable.

First of all, that boss was too sleazy. Second, if she really signed with another company, wouldn’t she be walking further and further down the road of no return in the entertainment industry?

Xu Mi thought for a moment, then sent Qu An’ge a message—【This boss sounds incredibly unreliable. Could she be a scammer?】

After a few minutes of awkward chatting, Qu An’ge saw this message. She was also speechless. Now she understood why Glory Entertainment had so much money in its early days yet still couldn’t succeed. It was definitely linked to Qiu Shuiyi’s unreliable nature.

But the problem was, Qu An’ge knew this company was indeed reliable. Since Qiu Shuiyi didn’t understand the business, did that mean she could leverage Glory Entertainment’ funds to achieve success faster?

But would Qiu Shuiyi be willing to listen to her?

Even though the other looked young and unreliable, since she managed to keep the company running later, she couldn’t be an idiot. Lightly trusting her was probably not going to happen.

She thought, this matter couldn’t be rushed. She still needed to stall for time.

When the meal was nearly finished, Qu An’ge finally spoke up. “Regarding the penalty fee… I’m actually working on it myself, and it’s almost gathered. The main problem now is I don’t know if Spotlight Media will try to block the contract termination. An individual like me still finds it very hard to resist a large company. I don’t want to offload my troubles to the next company. For now, I plan to dissolve the contract first before signing with a new company.”

Qiu Shuiyi raised her eyes to look at her, a thoughtful expression on her face.

Qu An’ge smiled. “Thank you, President Qiu, for extending this olive branch to me. Once my contract is dissolved, I will definitely contact you first thing, or your assistant?”

Qiu Shuiyi spread her hands. “Am I being rejected?”

Qu An’ge put on a very serious face. “Absolutely not. In my heart, your company will always be my first choice.”

She said this with sincerity, but Qiu Shuiyi clearly wasn’t happy anymore. She said, “Maybe I said something wrong earlier. Sorry, I just got back from abroad. I really don’t understand all these twists and turns of yours. Wang Jia said you’re in trouble, I’m willing to help, but you’re not willing. What exactly do you mean?”

The atmosphere froze. No one touched their chopsticks. The air was like a bomb, ready to explode at the slightest touch.

Qu An’ge then decided to be direct too. “I just signed an unfair contract that gave me a massive headache. I’m definitely going to be more cautious about the next contract. I hope you can understand.”

Another silence.

Suddenly, Qiu Shuiyi clapped and laughed. “Oh, so that’s it. I was overthinking it. As you should, as you should. How about this, let’s just consider today as getting to know each other? Here’s my business card. Feel free to contact me anytime if anything comes up.”

Qu An’ge accepted the card and expressed her thanks.

The meal ended on that flat, uncordial note. As soon as Qiu Shuiyi left, Qu An’ge apologized to Wang Jia, saying she’d wasted her goodwill. Wang Jia, however, waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t mind it. It’s my fault. I really didn’t expect President Qiu to look so young and straightforward, but be so sneaky underneath.”

Qu An’ge also nodded. “She did it on purpose, right? Pretending to be easygoing and clueless, but actually just hoping I’d sign the contract without asking for too many terms.”

Wang Jia said, “She’s a new company, and honestly, doesn’t have much to offer. If you were really going to sign, it’s not unreasonable to have higher standards. But… do you really have the money to pay the penalty fee?”

Qu An’ge recalled the numbers she’d seen last time at Zuo Qingyuan’s place. “I feel like it won’t be a big problem.”

Wang Jia was a bit embarrassed. “Then it’s me who was sticking my nose in unnecessarily.”

Qu An’ge quickly said, “But dissolving the contract with Spotlight isn’t just about money. There are too many troublesome things involved.”

Wang Jia said, “Don’t worry. If you ever need anything, I’ll definitely help.”

It was getting dark. Wang Jia drove Qu An’ge all the way to the entrance of her residential community. Qu An’ge got out of the car, took out her phone, and realized the call was still connected. She put the receiver to her ear and said, “Hello?”

Xu Mi’s voice quickly rang out. “Back? Did you eat enough? Do you want anything else?”

A warm current surged in her heart. Qu An’ge suddenly realized again just how important Xu Mi was to her. In fact, over the past ten years, what she had missed was precisely this feeling—the feeling of always having a lamp lit for you at home by someone waiting. Maybe, ten years later, after her success, many people would be willing to flatter her and take care of her, but only Xu Mi could give her that kind of warmth.

She said, “I’d like… a bowl of Plain Noodles.”

The phone call that had lasted several hours finally ended. Xu Mi hummed a tune as she headed to the kitchen. Tan Zhenzhen was in the living room watching TV. She looked up in surprise upon hearing the humming. “So happy, Mimi? Did something good happen?”