One in the morning.
Jiangrong Satellite TV.
A conference room.
The core members of the Pure Voice production team had gathered together.
The mood was bleak.
Chen Xin had just told them that one of the show's mentors might be in serious trouble.
Then she'd asked everyone to find a suitable replacement before daybreak.
Ideally, they needed to settle on someone immediately!
The third episode was scheduled to be recorded in three days.
There was no time left.
"Director Chen, we need someone who won't charge too much, but still has star power, knows our show, has experience as a music critic, and is available. Where are we supposed to find someone like that at this hour?"
The team had racked their brains, but no one could come up with an answer.
The main problem was that they were in such a rush. It was impossible to find someone who met all those requirements!
Chen Xin's expression was dark as she tapped her knuckles on the table.
"If we can't settle this before daybreak, we might as well shut the show down!"
Everyone went pale with fright. No one dared ask which mentor had gotten into trouble or why it was such a big deal.
Someone muttered, "It's the middle of the night already. Where are we supposed to find anyone?"
Li Lan prayed to the heavens. "I hope someone just drops out of the sky and saves us!"
Just then, Chen Xin's phone rang. She picked it up and saw that it was Liu Qiang.
Chen Xin's brows twitched. Why was Liu Qiang calling her in the middle of the night?
Could it be...
She answered. Liu Qiang said cheerfully, "Director Chen, sorry to bother you so late."
Chen Xin managed a smile. "Not at all. We happen to be working late. Was there something you needed, Teacher Liu?"
Liu Qiang replied politely, "It's nothing major. I happen to have some free time coming up, so I thought I'd ask you. You have plenty of connections, Director Chen. Is there a suitable show you could recommend me for?"
Chen Xin was silent for a moment, then seemed to finally make up her mind. The gloom on her face lifted, and she smiled.
"There is a show that would suit you quite well, Teacher Liu."
"Oh? Please point me in the right direction, Director Chen!"
"You're too kind, Teacher Liu. Actually..."
Chen Xin looked around at the members of the production team, all watching her, and said slowly,
"I wonder if you'd be interested in coming back to Pure Voice as a mentor?"
An excited, unsurprised voice immediately came from the other end. "I'd love to!"
Chen Xin and Liu Qiang discussed a few details. They'd worked together during the first season, so they were already familiar with each other.
They reached an agreement quickly. Meanwhile, someone from the production team sent an electronic contract to Liu Qiang's agent.
A little after two in the morning, both sides signed.
Liu Qiang officially replaced Zhou Yiyi as a mentor on the second season of Pure Voice.
As for Zhou Yiyi, his contract with the production team included a clause:
"If a guest causes the show to suffer losses for personal reasons, this contract will be automatically terminated, and the guest will be required to compensate the show for all losses."
With that clause in place, if Zhou Yiyi's scandal came to light, his contract with the show would be automatically terminated.
Choosing Liu Qiang wasn't the best option for Pure Voice.
But he was undoubtedly the most suitable choice at that moment.
Everyone was relieved to see the problem resolved so miraculously and quickly.
"Someone really did drop out of the sky! Sister Lan, your wish must've come true!"
The team relaxed and started joking with Li Lan.
Chen Xin quietly left the conference room and sent Liu Qiang a message:
"Teacher Liu, who told you?"
The question seemed to come out of nowhere, but Chen Xin knew Liu Qiang would understand.
She'd only just started looking for someone to fill in, and Liu Qiang had called right after.
What were the odds?
Chen Xin didn't like feeling as if someone were pulling her strings.
A few minutes later, Liu Qiang replied, "Director Chen, let's just call it fate."
In Kyoto, thousands of miles away.
Liu Qiang slid across his living room floor on his knees, grinning with excitement.
"Hahaha! Liu Qiang is making his comeback!"
Last year, his popularity had taken a major hit after his ex-wife cheated on him.
He'd fallen from an A-list star to a B-lister, and from a mentor on Pure Voice's national Top 100 competition to a judge for the regional auditions.
The difference in their status was obvious.
Liu Qiang had thought he'd never get the chance to rise again.
He hadn't expected this opportunity to land in his lap today, a year later.
No!
It hadn't landed in his lap. Brother Long had given it to him!
It had clearly been the right decision to give Brother Long a thank-you payment and build a good relationship with him.
Liu Qiang had a vague feeling that although Brother Long was unknown, his influence in the entertainment industry might rival that of the biggest stars.
His influence wasn't visible on the surface. It was hidden beneath it.
That kind of concealed power might be the most frightening of all.
Liu Qiang immediately transferred six hundred thousand to Brother Long's account, then sent him a message on QQ:
"Brother Long, I've signed with Chen Xin. I'll be following your lead from now on. Just point me east, and I won't take a single step west!"
"Brother Mu, Liu Qiang just transferred another six hundred thousand to us."
"That guy's loaded."
In Jiangrong, in a small three-bedroom apartment of just over seventy square meters in an ordinary residential building,
Zhang Hen was reporting on Liu Qiang to Lin Mu.
Lin Mu sat on the sofa, head bowed as he did something on his phone. "Go withdraw it tomorrow. Same as usual—two hundred thousand each."
Fat Tiger said, "Brother Mu, you gave me one hundred and fifty thousand of your own money last time. I'll give you back one hundred and fifty thousand this time."
Lin Mu glared at him. "Cut the nonsense. Your dad still needs treatment, doesn't he?"
Fat Tiger wanted to say more, but Lin Mu waved him off. "That's enough. Everyone's tired today. Go to bed."
Lin Mu had rented the apartment.
The company had staff dormitories, but they were too small, and it wasn't convenient for the Sky Curtain Trio to come and go. So Lin Mu had rented a place of his own.
It served as Sky Curtain's second base.
"Then we'll go to bed, Brother Mu. What about you?"
Fat Tiger and Zhang Hen headed toward a bedroom. When they saw Lin Mu still focused on his phone, they couldn't help asking.
"I have a few things to take care of. Don't worry about me."
Lin Mu replied coolly.
Zhang Hen was about to ask more, but Fat Tiger hurriedly pushed him into the bedroom.
"What are you doing?"
Zhang Hen asked unhappily.
"Are you stupid? Brother Mu's obviously chatting with someone. Let's not bother him."
Fat Tiger said.
"Who's still talking business with Brother Mu this late? Let's go check. What if he needs our help?"
Zhang Hen started toward the door.
Fat Tiger grabbed hold of him. They struggled for a bit, then both fell onto the bed.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you so thick-headed? Watch out or Brother Mu will beat you up!"
"Let go of me, Fatso! If you don't, I'll kill you!"
"Come on, then! Let's see who gets who!"
The bedroom was filled with the peaceful atmosphere of a fierce battle.
Outside, Lin Mu looked annoyed as he typed a reply to Feng Bingbing, who'd been messaging him nonstop:
"Are you going to keep this up? It's late. Go to sleep already!"
Feng Bingbing sent back a voice message, giggling. "I'm not sleepy! Senior, I just got out of the shower. Want to see the new nightdress I bought? It's got lace and cutouts!"
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