Chapter 52

August 23rd, Monday, morning.

Wang Jingsnow opened her eyes as she vaguely felt the car stop.

The Wu Xing Wu Suo group often took on numerous commercial performances almost every month. This time, they had gone to several cities in the south for a total of seven shows. Additionally, they had stayed in HN for a few days to make a cameo as models in a drama. The whole trip took about two weeks.

Unfortunately, the promoter was too stingy and bought them tickets for the early hours of the morning, which left the girls yawning continuously after the flight. They fell asleep one by one in the company's minivan that picked them up from the airport.

As usual, after returning from a trip, they always had to check in with their agent, Ms. Wu. This time was no exception. It was just past nine, and everyone had returned to the company to freshen up and wash their faces. Ms. Wu had already arrived. However, seeing how exhausted they were, she simply waved them off and gave them the day off.

Commercial performances brought in money quickly, but the constant travel was truly exhausting.

After the group dispersed, everyone quickly went their separate ways. Wang Jingsnow, as usual, was the last to leave. She tidied up her small locker in the dressing room and then took the key to go to the underground garage to pick up her car and head home.

As she passed by the practice room, she noticed a crowd gathered at the door, discussing something while looking at it. She realized that the weekly sales chart had been posted, and it suddenly dawned on her that it was Monday.

However, she looked at her watch and saw that it was almost ten. She couldn't help but feel puzzled: usually, everyone in the company would have finished looking at the chart by this time. Why were there still so many people gathered around?

She knew that something unexpected must have appeared on the chart, which was why everyone was discussing it so enthusiastically.

Wang Jingsnow was also curious about what had happened, but she didn't like crowding into such lively places. Besides, she had slept poorly on the plane last night and felt extremely tired. She decided to wait until the next morning to take a look.

She drove her small Changan car carefully and headed home, stopping by a supermarket near her apartment complex to buy some vegetables. By the time she got home, it was almost eleven.

The house was very clean, which made Wang Jingsnow very satisfied. Er Ya sometimes got lazy, and when they were at home, she had often scolded her for it. However, Er Ya seemed to have grown more diligent since they moved to BJ. At least during the two weeks she was away, the house had been well-maintained.

She put down her keys and handbag, placed the vegetables in the fridge, and then saw a note on the coffee table:

"Sis, I made some millet porridge and left a bowl for you in the rice cooker. Remember to eat it. By the way, I cooked some peanuts and pickled some celery according to Mom's method. They're all mixed and in the fridge. The peanuts were a bit burnt, but I picked out the burnt ones, hehe ^_^"

Wang Jingsnow smiled.

Then, she saw the CD that had been under the note.

"Liao Liao."

Wang Jingsnow's lips curled into a smile. She knew that Er Ya was reminding her: "You haven't even opened the CD I gave you yet!"

She put down the note, went to the kitchen, and opened the rice cooker. She tasted the millet porridge with a spoon; it was still warm but not hot enough. She turned on the power to heat it up a bit more. Once it was hot enough to scald her mouth, she turned off the power, poured it into a bowl, and filled the inner pot with water. She then took a pair of chopsticks and carried the bowl to the dining table next to the kitchen.

She put down the bowl, opened the fridge, and found the pickled celery and peanuts that Er Ya had made. She put a small amount in a bowl, added some sesame oil, and mixed it. Then she sat down to enjoy her breakfast.

She had always had a cold stomach and couldn't eat cold food. Eating too much would cause indigestion and diarrhea. Therefore, she had always had a bowl of millet porridge every morning to nourish her stomach.

The millet porridge was warm and fragrant, and the homemade pickles from the fridge were a bit cold. After traveling for over ten days, this was a rare treat for her. The peanuts did have a slight burnt taste, but they weren't burnt, so Er Ya must have picked them out one by one.

As she finished the bowl of millet porridge, she felt her stomach warm up, and the discomfort from the flight seemed to ease.

After eating, she wiped her mouth, washed the bowl, the chopsticks, and the inner pot of the rice cooker, then took off her clothes and went to take a shower.

After the shower, she sat on the sofa in a bathrobe, thinking about the gains from this trip. There wasn't much to think about, as Huage was one of the top music companies in the country and was very dominant with ordinary artists. The contract they signed when the five of them joined the company was quite harsh.

This time, the cameo in the drama was just for exposure, and they didn't even get paid for it. For the commercial performances, they earned 280,000 yuan in total, but the company took 50%, the agent took 10%, and after taxes, the remaining 40% was split among the five of them, leaving each with about 15,000 yuan.

Compared to most people of their age, this income was quite high. However, in the music industry, especially for singers, this income was among the lowest. There were even worse cases, but those singers were often on the fringes of the industry and not considered professional singers.

Moreover, although their agent, Ms. Wu, hadn't said anything, the girls in Wu Xing Wu Suo could feel that their appearance fees were getting lower, their treatment was getting worse, and the conditions for their appearances were becoming more stringent. For example, in the seven commercial performances, three required them to wear tight tank tops and mini skirts. In essence, they were invited to ignite the audience's hormones with their legs, and no one cared much about the songs they sang.

This wasn't surprising.

Their first album, released last year, had only sold about 300,000 copies in over a year. The market impact was limited, and it was said that many people bought the album not for the music but for the sexy dance in the MV. As a result, the company wasn't very enthusiastic about preparing their second album, which was only half done.

Wu Xing Wu Suo was one of only two female groups in the country, created to compete with Xin Da Records' "Sisters" group. The "Sisters" group mainly followed a cute route, while Wu Xing Wu Suo was initially positioned to follow a sexy route.

So far, it hadn't been very successful.

Even the "Sisters" group, the pioneers, had only sold a few hundred thousand copies of their first two albums, far from being considered successful. It was even rumored that Xin Da Records was considering disbanding the group.

She sighed and relaxed on the sofa.

Glancing over, she saw the CD on the coffee table. Hesitating for a moment, she picked up the CD case, gently tore off the packaging, and took out the CD.

After signing the contract and releasing their album, the girls finally started earning more than their meager monthly salaries. Some bought big houses, some bought luxury cars, but Wang Jingsnow didn't. She still lived in a small rented apartment. With the money she earned, she bought a used Changan car for less than 40,000 yuan and a piano. She also spent over 10,000 yuan on a basic Hi-Fi system.

She turned on the power, put the CD in, and sat back on the sofa.

The music and singing started.

Wang Jingsnow had heard Liao Liao's single before, and now, listening to her songs, she had to admit that the girl's voice and singing skills were truly excellent. There was something in her voice that could immediately capture your attention and touch your heart!

In comparison, Wang Jingsnow felt that her singing skills were on par, but her voice was slightly at a disadvantage. Traditionally, a voice like hers was considered the best—clear, high, and powerful, suitable for both fast and slow songs, sweet and emotional songs. However, with Zhen Zhen's sudden rise to fame, people's perception of a female singer's voice had shifted. They now believed that a female singer's voice must be like Zhen Zhen's to be considered good!

Well, this wasn't surprising, and even Wang Jingsnow agreed.

Zhen Zhen's voice was powerful and unrestrained in the high range, like a mighty river. Her mid-range was full and broad, like a thousand drums sounding together. Her low range was rich and dense, like a lover's whisper—simply impossible to ignore.

Compared to her, Liao Liao's voice was no less impressive!

In Wang Jingsnow's opinion, if she had to compare the two, Liao Liao's voice was slightly weaker in the high range, though her slight rasp was very moving. However, it lacked the grandeur of Zhen Zhen's voice. In the mid-range, they were evenly matched, each with their own strengths and characteristics. In the low range, Liao Liao had the upper hand, with a more compelling storytelling quality in her voice!

With such a distinctive voice, even Wang Jingsnow felt that Liao Liao would eventually become famous.

However, thinking about her current situation, Wang Jingsnow felt a headache coming on. Before leaving, the producer and agent Ms. Wu had agreed on a new song for Wu Xing Wu Suo. When she saw the lyrics, she almost lost her temper.

The lyrics were filled with blatant sexual innuendos from start to finish!

But... what could she do?

She rubbed her forehead, forcing herself to put these thoughts aside and focus on the music.

However, to be honest, the song wasn't particularly outstanding. The only standout was Liao Liao's voice and singing skills. Otherwise, it was a typical urban love song—many had sung it, many were singing it, and many more would continue to sing it in the future.

Perhaps it was the lack of appeal in the song or the poor sleep from the night before, but Wang Jingsnow started dozing off on the sofa while listening to the song.

Until... she suddenly heard that passionate and unrestrained voice!

"My hometown is not beautiful, with low thatched cottages and bitter well water. A small river that often dries up, winding around the village. On this barren land, we harvest meager hopes, living year after year, generation after generation..."

Wang Jingsnow's eyes snapped open.

This... was a folk song!

The lyrics were truly excellent!

Of course, the melody was also very good! The tune was unrestrained yet delicate, and Liao Liao's voice handled it effortlessly.

As the saying goes, "A child does not despise its mother's ugliness, nor does a dog despise its home's poverty." The poverty and barrenness of the hometown did not diminish the beauty of the word "hometown." Instead, it made the love and passion for the hometown in the song even more touching!

This was a great set of lyrics!

This was a great song!

A work of this caliber would have been top-tier even during the peak of folk songs a decade ago!

...

The song ended quickly, but Wang Jingsnow immediately picked up the remote and rewound to the beginning. As she listened to the arrangement, she couldn't help but pick up the CD case and flip to the fourth page to find the lyrics. However, when she saw the lyrics, she was immediately stunned—

The song's title was followed by the same name twice.

Lyricist: Li Qian.

Composer: Li Qian.

Wang Jingsnow's eyebrows furrowed.

This wasn't surprising. When Er Ya bought the CD and gave it to her, Wang Jingsnow had already guessed that it probably contained a song that Li Qian had sold to Liao Liao. While the exact amount wasn't clear, it was confirmed that he had indeed sold a song.

However, it shouldn't have been this song!

How old was he? The same age as Er Ya, so seventeen.

A seventeen-year-old boy... writing such a song?

Leaving aside other aspects, just the lyrics of this song suggested that the writer must have been from the northwest or had a deep connection and affection for the region. But Li Qian was from Jinan!

He was only seventeen and probably hadn't left home yet!

She looked down again, and it was the same—

Lyricist: Li Qian.

Composer: Li Qian.

Her eyebrows furrowed, and she shook her head slightly.

The song played again.

The next song was a typical urban love song. Wang Jingsnow only listened to it once before flipping through the lyrics. Sure enough, the next song was called "Persistence," and the lyricist and composer were both Li Qian.

The lyrics, with their stubborn tone, seemed more like something Li Qian would write, but compared to his age, the song still seemed too mature!

Just then, the previous song ended, and after a short interval, the sound of a guitar played.

Liao Liao's voice, with its lazy yet stubborn quality, immediately captivated Wang Jingsnow!

Then, she was surprised to realize that this was a light rock song!

But it was really good!

In a daze, she suddenly remembered the scene she had seen before leaving the company that morning. She immediately understood: Liao Liao's album must have been a huge success!

Another female singer was rising to fame!

She took a deep breath and flipped to the next page of the lyrics.

Wildflowers.

Lyricist: Li Qian.

Composer: Li Qian.

...

She flipped another page—

Cheers, Friends.

Lyricist: Li Qian.

Composer: Li Qian.

...

Around six in the evening, Wang Jinglei came home from school.

Seeing her sister's high heels, she quickly changed into slippers and entered the house. Seeing her sister busy in the kitchen, she didn't even put down her bag and bounced to the kitchen door, saying, "Sis, sis, did you drink the millet porridge I left for you? How were the celery and peanuts? Were they as good as Mom's?"

Wang Jingsnow turned off the stove, dished out the food, and said casually, "Yeah, they were similar, just a bit burnt."

Wang Jinglei laughed and went to put down her bag.

Two minutes later, she ran back, looking at Wang Jingsnow with surprise, "Sis, sis, did you listen to the CD? How was it? How was it? Was it good?"

Wang Jingsnow nodded, turning to ask her to bring the dishes while she dished out the rice, "Yeah, it was good. Liao Liao's singing skills are great!"

After a pause, she finished dishing out the rice and saw Wang Jinglei staring at her. She smiled and said, "Li Qian's songs are also good! Maybe he really did sell them for 400,000 yuan. I take back what I said before."

"Yay!"

If she hadn't been holding a dish, Wang Jinglei would have jumped for joy.

But soon, her joy faded as she looked at Wang Jingsnow's eyes and said worriedly, "Sis, why are your eyes so red? Did you not sleep well last night? Did you sleep much after getting home?"

Wang Jingsnow smiled and said, "Let's eat first."

At the dining table, Wang Jingsnow clearly had something on her mind several times but held back. Finally, Wang Jinglei stopped eating and looked at her sister, "Sis, is there something bothering you?"

Wang Jingsnow looked at her, forced a smile, and shook her head, "No, nothing."

"Okay." Wang Jinglei continued eating.

But soon, Wang Jingsnow stopped eating and asked, "Is your training class almost over?"

Wang Jinglei nodded, "Two more days." After a moment, she added, "Sis, after the class is over, I want to go home. I miss Mom."

Wang Jingsnow nodded, "Sure, go ahead."

Wang Jinglei asked, "Will... will you come with me?"

Wang Jingsnow thought for a moment and slowly shook her head, "We're rehearsing a new song. I went to the company this morning, and the agent said the choreographer has already prepared the dance for the new song. You know, we'll be practicing the dance soon."

Wang Jinglei, though disappointed, nodded.

After they finished eating, Wang Jinglei offered to wash the dishes, and Wang Jingsnow only helped clear the table before sitting back on the sofa.

Watching Wang Jinglei through the glass sliding door, hearing the sound of the running water, she subconsciously turned to look at the CD case and lyrics on the coffee table.

She picked up the lyrics, wanting to open them, but ultimately put them back in the CD case.

She got up, put the CD on the bookshelf, and looked at the name "Liao Liao," sighing softly.

***

When I first started writing, I didn't know if anyone would read it. I was worried every day, thinking my writing wasn't good enough, so I wrote very slowly. Strangely, most of the comments in the book review section were full of disdain, criticism, and complaints about the slow pace, but no one complained about the slow updates. Recently, I've been writing 4,000 to 6,000 words a day, much faster than the two chapters every three days back then, but now the entire book review section is complaining about the slow updates. Sigh...

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