SGSHE79

The van was cornered by entertainment reporters, and countless camera lenses were thrust right in their faces.

Xiao Chen skillfully opened the door and used his body to carve out some space.

Through the forest of lenses, a long leg stepped out of the vehicle, followed by a man in a white shirt and black trousers who commanded the frame with his imposing presence.

He was tall and lean, standing a full 1.85 meters, and managed to turn an incredibly simple outfit into a high-fashion statement worthy of the runway.

His face was strikingly handsome. His peach blossom eyes tilted upward at the corners, and his brows were slightly furrowed, betraying a lingering trace of anger.

Jing Heguang was in a foul mood, a result of the scum behavior exhibited by the original owner of the body he now inhabited.

The reporters frantically snapped photos while clamoring with questions. If they could get a scoop from the popular Jing Heguang, it meant clicks, traffic, and ultimately bonuses!

“Mr. Jing, are you here to sign a contract with Green Channel? Will you be a mentor or a PD?”

“Jing Heguang, are you dating your junior colleague, Hu Yue?”

“You’ve set up your own studio, does that mean you’re leaving Huaxing Entertainment?”

Xiao Chen cleared the path ahead, while the driver stepped in to assist from the rear.

As he walked, Jing Heguang paused for a moment.

On a sudden impulse, he glanced at the reporter who had asked about the relationship and replied, “No.”

Then, escorted by Green TV staff, he coolly vanished from the reporters’ sight.

***

Xiao Chen didn’t quite understand why his boss had chosen to answer that specific question about his love life.

Given his boss’s usual style, didn’t scandals generate buzz? There was no need to explain them away.

Still, regardless of whether he understood, one of Xiao Chen’s strengths was knowing when to keep his mouth shut. That was precisely why he had managed to stay by his boss’s side even after the previous manager had been fired.

***

A staff member politely escorted Jing Heguang to the door of the studio’s best conference room.

When Jing Heguang entered, the other three mentors invited for Voice of Heaven had already arrived.

The three mentors were chatting amongst themselves.

The eldest mentor, Zhang Qi, a veteran queen of romantic ballads, sported short hair and a warm, friendly smile.

Seated next to Zhang Qi was Chu Chu, a female idol who had skyrocketed to fame this year, with her long, curly hair, expressive eyes, and soft pink lips, she was truly captivating.

The only man among the mentors, Xu Kaiwen, known for his dashing looks and great sense of humor on variety shows, had just cracked a joke that left the two ladies beaming.

Upon seeing Jing Heguang, Xu Kaiwen looked momentarily taken aback before calling out a greeting: “Hey there, handsome!”

As he greeted him, the words his agent had drummed into him, ‘extremely difficult to get along with’, flashed through Xu Kaiwen’s mind.

Chu Chu’s smile faltered.

She had once lost a lipstick endorsement deal to Jing Heguang. It wasn’t even because of fan influence, the company’s CEO had simply remarked that she didn’t look as good wearing the lipstick as the man did!

As for Zhang Qi, she wasn’t from the mainland and had no prior dealings with Jing Heguang, so she simply offered a friendly smile.

Jing Heguang suppressed the anger he felt toward the original owner and greeted the three people who would be his colleagues for the foreseeable future.

He smiled and extended his hand: “Hello, brother Kaiwen!”

Xu Kaiwen was momentarily stunned. He shook Jing Heguang’s hand, then stared in bewilderment as Jing Heguang proceeded to shake Zhang Qi’s hand with gentlemanly grace.

Xu Kaiwen: …This wasn’t at all like what he’d heard.

“I really love Sister Qi’s song ‘May We Last Forever’. It’s such a beautiful track, it’s on my repeat playlist.”

Zhang Qi smiled and said, “Jing Heguang, you’re even more handsome in person than in photos! If I were twenty years younger, I’d definitely be a fan of yours.”

Jing Heguang smiled at her and quipped, “We can still follow each other right now too.”

After greeting Zhang Qi, only Chu Chu remained.

Upon seeing Chu Chu, Jing Heguang felt a brief moment of awkwardness, reminded of the lipstick incident.

He then offered a smile: “Hi, Chu Chu. That milk you’ve been endorsing lately is actually really good.”

Jing Heguang wanted to establish a good rapport with them.

That way, he could ensure that the trainees he favored wouldn’t face unfair treatment in the upcoming show.

Chu Chu was even more startled than Xu Kaiwen had been!

This was the tough guy who had even kicked his own manager to the curb and yet, here he was, trying to be friendly with her?

Chu Chu was momentarily stunned, then extended her hand to shake his: “Hello, brother Jing.”

She had debuted through a talent show and relied on her looks for a living, whereas Jing Heguang had not only the looks but also a solid body of work to back him up!

Besides, Jing Heguang was even more famous than she was, it was decent of him to take the initiative to smooth things over.

***

After the four of them had exchanged greetings, the program’s person-in-charge, the director, and the producer arrived, and everyone sat down to discuss the details.

The other three had all brought their managers along, but Jing Heguang had only brought Xiao Chen.

Therefore, whenever Jing Heguang had a request, he had to voice it himself.

When the discussion turned to specific details, Jing Heguang spoke up. He said, “There’s a preliminary contestant I’d like to recommend. Is that possible?”

The director scratched his balding head and said with a headache, “Jing, of course you can make a recommendation. However, regarding the results, our production team intends to keep things completely transparent this time without any interference, I hope you understand.”

No matter how variety talent shows are run these days, they are inevitably controlled by capital.

Yet, some investors do want to try something different. The investors for this show specifically mandated that the voting process be transparent.

Naturally, the director wanted to do the same. The contestants who eventually made it big through their own talent and the show’s platform would become his professional connections. If he were forced to promote ‘capital-backed’ favorites, those people would belong to the investors, not him!

Jing Heguang smiled confidently. “I certainly don’t mind. I’m also very interested in seeing a completely transparent talent show.”

“So, who is the person you’re recommending?”

“A newcomer from my studio.”

At this, the three savvy individuals, including Zhang Qi, felt they understood exactly what was going on.

— No wonder he was treating them so well, it turns out he wanted to promote his own people!

Only Xiao Chen, who was actually an insider in Jing Heguang’s studio, was filled with confusion.

Since when did the boss’s studio have a new recruit?

Hadn’t the studio only been established three days ago? They had only rented the office space yesterday!

He had even hastily drafted the recruitment notice himself just this morning before heading out!

Xiao Chen looked at his boss, Jing Heguang, with a bewildered expression.

The boss wasn’t yelling or losing his temper today, and he was suddenly talking about a new recruit, had he been put under a spell or something?

***

After finishing the discussion meeting, Jing Heguang let Little Yellow Peach review the contract and point out a few issues, then simply played the part of the handsome heartthrob.

Green Channel was investing heavily and aiming to produce a top-tier show. Since various parties had already been in talks, the preliminary contract was finalized quickly.

Once settled, the person in charge naturally organized a meal. Jing Heguang tagged along and was even forced to have a few drinks.

By the time he returned to the van, Jing Heguang was slightly tipsy.

He leaned back in his seat with his eyes closed, a faint pink flush tinged his fair skin, and combined with his outfit for the day, he looked incredibly dashing and alluring.

Xiao Chen glanced at his boss’s face in the rearview mirror, thinking that if the fans saw this, it would surely trigger a frenzy of squealing.

Seeing that Jing Heguang was in a good mood, Xiao Chen asked, “Boss, when did our studio sign a new person?”

He had to ask. It looked like the boss intended to promote him to manager, a position that would double his salary!

As a man who had found his perfect match and was expecting twins, Xiao Chen was eager for a raise and didn’t want any unexpected variables disrupting the studio.

Jing Heguang replied, “I don’t know.”

Xiao Chen: ???

Xiao Chen looked so bewildered that the confusion was practically written all over his face. Jing Heguang thought about how hard the other guy’s life had been, constantly berated by the original owner, and added, “I don’t even know if he’ll sign yet.”

Xiao Chen felt even more bewildered: Huh?

Nothing was even set in stone yet, and his boss was already negotiating terms with the production team…

“But I’m definitely going to promote him,” Jing Heguang said. “We aren’t going back to the villa today. Drive to where I used to rent a place, over by Luoshui.”

Xiao Chen felt like he was starting to piece things together.

From that ‘no’ regarding the dating rumors to the declaration that he was ‘definitely going to promote him’, something felt off about the whole situation.

His boss had either been put under a love spell or had fallen in love!

***

The car drove all the way to the Luoshui residential complex.

Jing Heguang put on a hat and sunglasses, then dashed into the complex alone.

Xiao Chen knew his boss hadn’t visited this place in ages. On the rare occasions he did drop by, it was just for a quick stop, apparently to see a junior from his school days.

The car drove away, with instructions to return at ten the next morning to pick him up.

Jing Heguang entered the complex just as it was quiet, he ran into an elderly man walking his dog but managed to avoid being recognized.

He took the elevator to the twelfth floor, walked up, turned right, and found two adjacent doors.

One was 1225 and the other was 1227, 1226 was directly across the hall.

Jing Heguang clenched his fist to cheer himself up: I wasn’t the one who acted like a jerk, so why do I feel so guilty?!

Then, he raised his hand and knocked on the door of 1225.

***

Inside, a young man with a round face sat cross-legged on the sofa, looking hesitant as he stared at a webpage on his laptop.

The page displayed a call for original song submissions, and Luan Xing’an was feeling tempted. He had given most of the songs he wrote to his close friend, Jing Heguang. Yet, seeing his own creations completely detached from his own name, Luan Xing’an felt his sense of dejection growing day by day.

He was about to graduate, and he wanted to have a work released under his own name.

He just didn’t know if his friend, Jing Heguang, would agree.

Luan Xing’an sighed, then heard a knock at the door.

Startled, Luan Xing’an widened his eyes and shuffled over to the door in his tiger-shaped slippers.

Luan Xing’an was a bit timid, yet he loved reading horror and suspense novels. Once his imagination started running wild, his courage shrank even further.

Thus, Luan Xing’an first checked the peephole, pressing his eye against the tiny lens to look outside.

Upon seeing the familiar face of his visitor, Luan Xing’an happily opened the door.

“Brother Jing, what brings you here? Come on in!”

His friend Jing Heguang had become a major star. Between his high-profile status and his busy career, Luan Xing’an hadn’t seen him in a month.

Luan Xing’an had a small, round, delicate face, so when he smiled, his two dimples would appear.

Seeing him, a thought suddenly sprang into Jing Heguang’s mind.

— He was looking for someone, that someone is his Xingxing.

And looking at Luan Xing’an, Jing Heguang became almost instantly certain: Luan Xing’an was the person he was looking for! After all, didn’t Luan Xing’an’s name contain the character for xing(star)?

As for why he wanted to find Luan Xing’an, a deep-seated feeling told Jing Heguang that they were meant to be lovers who had been forced apart.

As for why he had no memory of being with Luan Xing’an, and why Luan Xing’an didn’t seem to know him either, there had to be some sort of conspiracy at play!

Jing Heguang secretly began to suspect the system, Little Yellow Peach.

How else could one explain the system being so kind? Between the scavenger persona, the weight-gain aura, and the perks being handed out…

Fortunately, his goals didn’t conflict with the system’s: the system wanted him to reform the scum top, while he simply wanted to be with Luan Xing’an and treat him well.

So, the most important thing right now was, how to make Luan Xing’an like him.

Looking at Luan Xing’an, the rosy flush that the wind had previously swept from Jing Heguang’s face, lingering from the alcohol, crept back onto his cheeks.

Jing Heguang felt the original owner must have been blind. The Luan Xing’an before him was far better-looking than in his memories!

Luan Xing’an wasn’t fat at all, his face was round, yes, but it was also quite small.

Perhaps it was the new short haircut, but Luan Xing’an seemed to radiate a newfound vitality.

His large, black-framed glasses looked adorable and endearingly dorky, reminding Jing Heguang of Luan Xing’an’s nickname, Xingbao.

Luan Xing’an had only mentioned the nickname Xingbao once, bringing it up to the original owner while feeling sad and thinking of his grandmother. The original owner, in high spirits after landing his first song, had played along and called him that a few times, which was how the name stuck in his memory.

Jing Heguang stepped into the room, feeling inexplicably flustered. “I realized I hadn’t seen you in a long time, so I came over as soon as I finished work.”

“It’s been about a month, hasn’t it?”

As he spoke, Luan Xing’an led Jing Heguang, who had changed into slippers, further inside.

However, upon reaching the entrance to the living room, Luan Xing’an saw his open laptop, and his face instantly went pale.

Seeing his face turn pale, Jing Heguang grabbed Luan Xing’an’s arm in concern and asked anxiously, “What’s wrong?! Why did you go pale all of a sudden? Are you not feeling well?”

The evident concern on Jing Heguang’s handsome face made Luan Xing’an think…perhaps Jing Heguang wasn’t intentionally stopping him from publishing his work, as he had recently suspected.

After all, Jing Heguang had always treated him quite well. When his grandmother passed away, it was Jing Heguang who comforted him and kept him company on his birthday. When his roommates ostracized him, Jing Heguang was the first to step in and help.

Jing Heguang was even like a grandmother, he would cook for him!

Luan Xing’an glanced at his laptop, then lowered his head to stare at his slippers, murmuring in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz: “It’s not that I’m feeling unwell. I…I was looking at an event calling for original song submissions…”

Hearing that nothing was wrong, Jing Heguang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Jing Heguang let go of Luan Xing’an’s arm and asked, “Do you want to submit a song?”

At Jing Heguang’s question, Luan Xing’an held his breath and answered softly, “I do want to submit one.”

Looking out of the corner of his eye that Jing Heguang was walking toward the laptop, Luan Xing’an felt a surge of apprehension.

He was afraid Jing Heguang would find another excuse to stop him from submitting the song. He wasn’t good with words, there was no way he could persuade Jing Heguang.

He knew Jing Heguang was afraid, afraid that the fact he was writing songs for him would be discovered, and he understood the anxiety that came with the fear of slipping up.

Yet, he also wanted his songs to bear his own name and personal stamp.

Luan Xing’an explained, “Brother Jing, if I submit songs externally, I’ll switch up my composing style and use a different lyrical style, too. No one will be able to tell.”

Jing Heguang sat down at the laptop and scrolled through the webpage, giving it a cursory glance.

Then, looking up with a frown, he said, “But with this kind of submission event, they’ll have someone else sing your song, and there’s no guarantee of quality.”

Jing Heguang held a rather low opinion of the event featured on the page.

In the previous life, Luan Xing’an had merely mentioned it in passing to the original owner and never actually showed him the webpage.

Jing Heguang hadn’t realized Luan Xing’an’s requirements were so modest, he simply wanted credit for the lyrics and composition.

Moreover, before returning to this timeline, Jing Heguang had already mapped out a promising path for Luan Xing’an: having him participate in the show Voice of Heaven.

Luan Xing’an could write lyrics and compose music, and he could sing well, too. It was just that his lack of self-confidence meant he had never sung in front of others or received any positive feedback. Voice of Heaven is a singing competition show that enjoyed considerable popularity during its previous season.

This time, Green Channel has blended it with the format of an idol survival show to create fresh, innovative appeal, and the mentors they’ve invited are all currently trending stars.

It goes without saying that the second season is bound to be a hit among young people.

Jing Heguang’s initial thought had been to make amends to Luan Xing’an, feeling primarily that the original owner owed Luan Xing’an a debt.

But now, his mindset has shifted. He wants to give Luan Xing’an the very best!

That scumbag, the original owner, how dare he bully Luan Xing’an?!

Even though Jing Heguang hadn’t raised his voice or spoken harshly, the refusal implied in his words made Luan Xing’an afraid to even breathe loudly.

Clutching the hem of his pajamas tightly with both hands, Luan Xing’an stammered, “Brother Jing, please don’t be angry.”

Just as Luan Xing’an was resigning himself to the situation, Jing Heguang spoke up: “Xingbao, you have a great singing voice! Why not participate in this season of Voice of Heaven?”

“It’s a major variety show, a fantastic platform for a newcomer to gain exposure, and the voting process is completely transparent this time.”

“I’m a mentor, so I can recommend you! I can even give you some extra coaching on the side!”

Luan Xing’an looked up, bewildered. “Huh?”