Chapter 34: Wang Tianqi Withdraws from the Competition?

“Could you give me the postman’s contact information?” Liuyun asked. “The quality of his songs is excellent. If I had them, they’d become even more popular.”

Shen Xian rolled his eyes. “You talk as if you’re some big shot.”

Ignoring his sarcasm, Liuyun pressed on, “After all, we were in love for three years. You’ve already delayed me for three years—are you really willing to watch me fall behind bit by bit?”

“And we’ve already paid the eighty million penalty. Let’s call it even, shall we? Can’t we just let bygones be bygones?” She looked at Shen Xian with genuine sincerity, her tone earnest.

“Sorry, but I haven’t forgotten how you hurt me. And let me give you some advice: never regret your choices. If you want to contact the postman, figure it out yourself—don’t come to me,” Shen Xian replied.

Liuyun’s face flushed with anger. “Shen Xian, don’t go too far! Do you think you ARE the postman? I refuse to believe I can’t find him without you. What are you so smug about?”

Shen Xian gave a disdainful laugh. “Let me tell you something: if you want the postman to write you a song, that will never happen in this lifetime!”

“You just got lucky and found the postman on the Original Music Base. I don’t believe he’ll keep writing songs for you forever,” Liuyun retorted in a low, tense voice.

Shen Xian glanced at her as though she were an idiot, said nothing, and walked off with Wang Tianqi.

Ning Cai appeared at his side. “Shen Xian, let’s go. Have dinner with me tonight.”

She ignored Liuyun entirely, addressing Shen Xian directly.

Instantly, Shen Xian’s demeanor changed; he became like a devoted puppy. “Of course, Director Ning. Whatever you feel like eating tonight, I’ll accompany you.”

Seeing this, Liuyun’s anger only deepened as she glared at his retreating back.

That evening, Shen Xian brought Wang Tianqi, Liu Sheng, and Ning Cai to a Chinese restaurant. They reserved a private room. Liu Sheng opened a bottle of baijiu, pouring the first glass for Shen Xian and then a half-glass for Ning Cai. “Tianqi, you’d better not drink tonight. You have a tough battle tomorrow.”

“I won’t drink either. You all go ahead,” Wang Tianqi replied.

Shen Xian thoughtfully handed a napkin to Ning Cai and poured her a cup of warm water. “If you’re not used to it, or if you’re allergic to alcohol, there’s no need to force yourself.”

Ning Cai thoroughly enjoyed being waited on by Shen Xian—it was pleasing, almost aesthetically so. It felt a bit like hiring a male model for the evening.

“Director Ning, this toast is for you. Thank you for giving my studio this opportunity. Without your recommendation, who knows where we’d be now,” Shen Xian said, standing.

Though Ning Cai wasn’t particularly sentimental, she understood basic etiquette and stood to respond. “Thank you for your hard work.”

Shen Xian downed his drink in one go, while Ning Cai only took a delicate sip.

“Director Ning, have some water. It’ll settle your stomach. And the fish soup is good—I’ll get you some.” He took her bowl, ladled in the soup, and added the tenderest fish from the belly. “I specially asked the kitchen to save this part for you. I remember it’s your favorite.”

“Be careful—it’s hot. Drink slowly.” Shen Xian gently placed the soup in front of her.

At that moment, the emotional value Shen Xian provided was overwhelming.

Watching this, Liu Sheng could only sigh in self-deprecation. If he’d been as attentive as Shen Xian, would he ever have lacked a girlfriend?

Ning Cai sipped the soup, her eyes curving into crescent moons as she looked at Shen Xian’s profile. Her neck gradually flushed red. She suddenly realized her heart was racing, as if her system had overloaded and was running hot. This human “AI” had been given too much emotional input from Shen Xian and was struggling to process it all.

After serving Ning Cai, Shen Xian filled a bowl of fish soup for Wang Tianqi and even ordered him a bottle of yogurt. “Tianqi, I got you a bottle of flavored yogurt. I remembered you like it.”

Ning Cai suddenly noticed that Shen Xian wasn’t just attentive to her—he was considerate toward everyone. Or perhaps, he was just a genuinely good person: attentive, gentle, always considering others’ feelings. A man like this would make an excellent husband.

Liu Sheng could hold his liquor, and so could Shen Xian. The two began clinking glasses.

“Director Ning, I really envy Director Shen. He can handle any situation,” Wang Tianqi said.

He knows how to deal with non-drinkers, with women, with drinkers—and he keeps the atmosphere light and pleasant.

“Him?” Ning Cai looked at Shen Xian, who was now laughing and carousing with Liu Sheng. “He’s a very good man.”

Just then, the door to the private room burst open. Wu Fan staggered in, clearly drunk, and slammed the door behind him.

“Director Ning, I hope you’ll arrange for Wang Tianqi to withdraw from the competition tomorrow!” Wu Fan announced, reeking of alcohol.

The room fell silent.

Ning Cai’s expression turned icy. “Why?”

Why indeed? Wu Fan was at the bottom of the rankings for this round. Tomorrow was the third round, with five contestants left and only three spots. He felt he couldn’t win. The quasi-superstar Zhang Cheng’an and the gold-chart singer Tan Jie were like two mountains he couldn’t surpass. No matter how hard he tried, the best he could hope for was third place.

But the crucial issue was that Wang Tianqi had the postman’s songs backing him—Wu Fan had no confidence he could win against him. As for Liuyun, he thought he still stood a chance.

“Is this your idea, or is it Chen Feng’s or Liuyun’s?” Ning Cai narrowed her eyes.

Wu Fan didn’t bother to hide it. “All of us.”

None of them—Wu Fan, Liuyun, or Chen Feng—wanted Wang Tianqi to compete tomorrow. If they beat him, it would just be expected; but if they lost, it would be a humiliation.

“And if I refuse?” Ning Cai asked.

Wu Fan chuckled. “Doesn’t matter. If you refuse, I’ll just quit—and not alone. More than twenty people from the Artist Department will go with me. Do you believe it?”

Ning Cai rose slowly. “Are you threatening me?”

At present, Yugan Media had more than twenty actors and more than twenty singers. If Wu Fan could really take over twenty people with him, the company would be severely wounded.

Wu Fan, his gaze bleary, looked at her. “Let me tally it up for you. Right now, those willing to leave with me include… top singer Old Lin, gold-chart regulars Old Chu and Old Wang, gold-medal producer Old Zhao, several well-known screenwriters…”

Shen Xian set down his glass and looked at Wu Fan, about to speak.

But Ning Cai merely nodded. “Fine. Anyone who wants to leave—submit your resignation after the show’s over.”

Wu Fan was stunned. “You’d give up all of us just for one Wang Tianqi?”

Ning Cai replied coldly, “Those who don’t want to stay, I won’t keep. Those who want to stay, I can’t hold on to. That’s enough—go amuse yourself elsewhere. Don’t interrupt our dinner.”

Wu Fan lingered for a moment, glared viciously at Shen Xian and Wang Tianqi, then left the room.

Ning Cai sat down again, her expression unchanged, but Shen Xian saw a trace of violent emotion flicker in her eyes.

“I’m full,” Ning Cai said. “I’m going out for a walk. You take your time.”

With that, she left the room.

Shen Xian turned to Liu Sheng. “Brother Liu, could you take Wang Tianqi back to the hotel later? I’m going to check on Director Ning.”

Liu Sheng nodded. “Of course.”

Shen Xian hurried after her. Ning Cai was already wandering aimlessly down the main road, her figure appearing a little lonely.