Chapter 82: The Unheard Melody

Starflare Entertainment training base, a single practice room deep in the hallway.

Chu Yuyao sat on a high stool, holding a guitar.

Her air bangs were slightly damp with sweat, sticking to her smooth forehead. Ever since Hua Mu’ai restyled her hair, her clear, water-like eyes were finally no longer hidden.

Her long fingers, with thin calluses, gently plucked the strings. A beautiful melody echoed in the room.

“Even if the abyss swallows the starlight, you are still the only direction in my eyes…” Chu Yuyao hummed softly, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.

She stopped plucking, picked up a pencil, and crossed out a note on the paper.

“No, still not right. Not enough emotion, not enough impact.” She muttered to herself.

This flat singing style couldn’t convey the emotion at all.

Chu Yuyao closed her eyes. The image of the opening ceremony involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

The arena full of boos, the vicious insults from people around her. That suffocating feeling gripped her throat.

But just when she thought she would be swallowed by darkness, the starlight descended.

“Idiot, I let you advance as a special exception. I didn’t do it to watch you cry.”

It was a warm hug, and that little tsundere muttering, that pulled her back from despair.

Her goddess had been protecting her all along.

She absolutely couldn’t lose!

She wanted to prove to Mu’ai that she was no longer someone who could only hide in a corner and be bullied!

Opening her eyes, Chu Yuyao’s fingers plucked the strings again.

This time, the melody had no confusion. Instead, it had the determination of a butterfly breaking out of its cocoon.

Outside the door, Qin Xuzhi was holding up her phone to record. She had been standing there for nearly ten minutes.

Listening to the almost perfect chorus melody from inside, the coldness in Qin Xuzhi’s eyes almost became tangible.

It was maddeningly enviable.

How could such god-given talent and a soul-piercing voice exist in a useless person who can’t even speak clearly!

How could a country bumpkin get an embrace from Lady Tian Lanxing?

When the recording reached about ten minutes, the singing inside just came to an end.

Qin Xuzhi put the phone in her pocket.

Then she closed her eyes to adjust her emotions.

Two seconds later, when she opened her eyes again, the malice and jealousy were completely gone. Her gaze turned gentle. The considerate vice president was back.

Qin Xuzhi knocked lightly on the door.

“C-come in.”

Qin Xuzhi pushed the door open, a smile on her face.

“Yueyao, you’re here. I was passing by and heard a sound, so I came to check.”

Seeing it was Qin Xuzhi, Chu Yuyao visibly relaxed.

“Sister Xuzhi.” Chu Yuyao nervously twisted the hem of her clothes.

In all of Sacred Cherry Academy, Qin Xuzhi was the only one who had shown her kindness. When Zhang Li bullied her in the cafeteria before, Qin Xuzhi intervened and even took her to eat dessert.

In Chu Yuyao’s sensitive and inferiority-ridden heart, Qin Xuzhi was a gentle older sister. She was the only one, besides Hua Mu’ai, who didn’t look down on her.

“You’ve been practicing for a long time, haven’t you?” Qin Xuzhi handed her a bottle of water. “Drink some water to moisten your throat. Your voice is really beautiful.”

Hearing the praise, Chu Yuyao blushed.

“Th-thank you.” She took the bottle with both hands.

Qin Xuzhi pulled a chair and sat down opposite Chu Yuyao.

“I’ve never heard this song before. The melody is especially catchy, and the climax has great impact. The emotion is so full. Did the Starflare Entertainment teachers arrange this piece for you?”

Chu Yuyao quickly shook her head.

“No,” she said quietly. “Th-this is my own composition.”

Qin Xuzhi widened her eyes in feigned surprise. She had actually known long ago.

“Original?”

Chu Yuyao nodded, her face reddening even more.

“Mm, I actually had the melody for a while, but I never figured out the lyrics. These past few days… a lot happened, and suddenly I had inspiration. So I tried to write it out.”

“Yueyao, you’re really a genius!” Qin Xuzhi’s eyes were full of sincere admiration, as if she was truly proud of her.

“Have you finished the arrangement for this song?”

Chu Yuyao shook her head, her eyes dimming a little.

“Not yet. I can only play a little guitar. I can’t understand those professional arranging software at all, and I don’t know how to use them. I plan to learn online these days and try to make a simple accompaniment first.”

Hearing this, Qin Xuzhi immediately felt reassured.

She hasn’t even done the arrangement. Probably no digital file exists either.

Heaven is truly helping me.

“Don’t push yourself too hard.” Qin Xuzhi comforted softly. “If you need help, feel free to find me anytime. I know a few very good arrangers in the industry. I can ask them to do a rush version for you.”

“No need to trouble yourself. I can do it myself.” Chu Yuyao quickly refused.

Chu Yuyao didn’t want to owe too many favors, and besides, this was a song she wanted to dedicate to Tian Lanxing. She wanted to complete it entirely by herself.

Qin Xuzhi sneered inwardly. This was exactly what she wanted to hear. As long as the other party didn’t ask for help, no third person would hear this song before its debut on stage.

“Then when do you plan to sing this song?” Qin Xuzhi continued to fish for information.

“I want to sing it on the semi-finals stage.” Chu Yuyao’s eyes were firm. “I want to dedicate this song to Lady Tian Lanxing.”

When mentioning her idol, Chu Yuyao’s eyes sparkled as if there were stars in them.

“If it weren’t for Lady Tian Lanxing, I might have given up long ago. She told me that my voice has value. She pulled me out of the mire. I want to use this song to tell her that I won’t run away anymore!”

Looking at Chu Yuyao’s hopeful expression, Qin Xuzhi felt disgust.

Fool. Did she really think that being hugged by her idol and receiving a few casual compliments could turn a chicken into a phoenix?

An ant is an ant. Even if it puts on crystal slippers, it can’t hide the disgusting stench of mud.

She still maintained a smile on her face. “If Lady Tian Lanxing hears this, she will definitely be very moved. Yueyao, you’re a big star now. With this high-quality original, I think the championship is definitely yours.”

“Sister Xuzhi, don’t make fun of me.” Chu Yuyao waved her hands repeatedly. “I don’t aspire to be champion. I just want to sing well and let my idol hear it. Besides, Sister Xuzhi, you’re also very talented. You sing so well, you’re beautiful, and you have great temperament. You’re the most likely to win the championship.”

Qin Xuzhi smiled but didn’t respond.

The championship was definitely hers. She wanted to prove to her family that she was more capable than her brothers who only knew how to eat, drink, and play. That she was more qualified to be the group’s heir.

She wanted the spotlight!

So she would never allow a worthless piece of trash that had been trampled underfoot to climb to the top with a bit of ridiculous luck.

“Then keep practicing. I won’t disturb you. I still need to go find the dance teacher to work on moves.”

As she reached the door, she turned back and winked playfully at Chu Yuyao.

“Good luck, future superstar.”

“You too, Sister Xuzhi!” Chu Yuyao said gratefully.

The practice room door closed. The smile on Qin Xuzhi’s face disappeared completely. The gentle older sister was just an illusion.

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