August 23rd, Monday, morning.

  When she felt the car stop in a daze, Wang Jingxue opened her eyes.

  They, the five members of our group, almost every month have to attend a lot of business performances. This time we went to several cities in the south and had seven shows. In addition, for a play, they also stayed in HN for a few days as guest models, so it was about two weeks in total.

  Unfortunately, the show's organizer was too stingy and booked their return flight for the second half of the night. As a result, the sisters in the group were yawning non-stop after getting off the plane, and soon fell asleep one by one as soon as they sat down in the company's business car that came to pick them up.

  As always, after going out for a circle and coming back, they would first go to Agent Wu's place to punch in. This time was no exception. The time had just passed 9 o'clock, and everyone returned to the company to tidy up and wash their faces. Agent Wu had already arrived. However, looking at them one by one with tired expressions, she simply waved her hand and gave them a day off.

  Making money from business performances comes quickly, but running back and forth is really tiring.

  After the dispersal, everyone quickly went their separate ways. Wang Jingxue was still left behind, tidying up her small locker in the rest room before taking out the key to head to the underground garage to pick up her car and head home.

  As she passed by the practice room, she found a crowd of people gathered at the entrance, watching and discussing something. She knew that it must be last week's sales rankings posted again. It was only then that she suddenly realized that today was actually Monday.

  She raised her wrist to glance at her watch and found that it was almost ten o'clock. She couldn't help but feel a little puzzled: usually at this time, everyone in the company had already finished watching, why were there still so many people surrounding today?

  She knew that there must be something extraordinary on the list that was beyond everyone's imagination, so they would discuss it with such enthusiasm while reading.

  Wang Jingxue was also curious about what had happened, but she never liked squeezing into such crowded places. Moreover, she had slept poorly on the plane last night and now felt exhausted all over, so she thought it would be better to come back tomorrow morning instead.

  She went downstairs, got in the car and carefully drove her Changan CS35 home. On the way, she stopped by a supermarket near her community to buy some vegetables. By the time she arrived home, it was almost 11 pm.

  The house is very clean, which makes Wang Jingxue very satisfied. Er Ya sometimes gets lazy and when she's at home, she hasn't hesitated to scold her for it. However, maybe as she grew older, since coming to BJ this time, she found that Er Ya has become much more diligent. At least in the past half month when Wang Jingxue wasn't home, the housekeeping was maintained quite well.

  She put down the keys and handbag, put the vegetables in the refrigerator, turned around and saw a note left on the coffee table.

  "Sister, I cooked millet porridge and left a bowl for you in the electric rice cooker to keep warm. Don't forget to drink it. By the way, yesterday I boiled some peanuts and pickled celery according to mom's method, all mixed up and stored in the fridge. Just that when boiling the peanuts, I added too little water, so they're a bit sticky, hehe ^-^"

  Wang Jingxue rarely smiled.

  Then she saw the CD that was originally under the note.

  Liao Liao

  Wang Jingxue's mouth slightly curled up, and she smiled again.

  She knew that Er Ya was reminding herself: The CD I gave you has not been opened yet!

  She put down the note and came to the kitchen, opened the electric rice cooker, took a spoon to taste the millet porridge, it was still warm but not hot enough, so she turned on the power again and heated it slightly, feeling that it should be scalding, only then did she turn off the power, scooped it into a bowl, and rinsed the inner pot of the electric rice cooker with water, before taking a pair of chopsticks to hold the bowl back to the dining table beside the kitchen.

  She put down the bowl and opened the refrigerator to find Wang Jinglu's pickled celery and peanuts, took out a small bowl and scooped out a bottom, then poured some fragrant oil and stirred it up before sitting down to enjoy her own breakfast.

  She had a slightly cold stomach since she was young, and didn't dare to eat cold food. If she ate a little more, it wouldn't digest well and would cause stomach trouble. So from childhood to adulthood, every morning, a bowl of millet porridge for nourishing the stomach was something that she never skipped.

  The millet porridge was slightly burnt and fragrant, paired with the homemade pickled vegetables that had just been taken out of the refrigerator and were a bit cold... After rushing around for over ten days, this was indeed a rare treat for her - hmm, the peanuts did have a slightly charred flavor, but she hadn't found any burnt ones, probably because Er Ya had carefully picked them out one by one.

  As she finished a bowl of millet porridge, she clearly felt her lower abdomen warm up, and the discomfort on the plane that night seemed to have been greatly alleviated.

  Then she wiped her mouth and washed all the bowls, chopsticks and the inner pot of the rice cooker before taking off her clothes to take a bath.

  After washing the bath and sitting on the sofa with a towel, she began to calculate the gains of this trip - actually there was nothing to calculate. Huage is one of the top music companies in China, and it's natural for ordinary artists to be extremely strong. The contract signed by the five of them when they were signed by the company was also quite harsh.

  This time out, the guest appearance in that play was purely for show, not to mention getting paid, but rather having to pay the crew money, and the remaining commercial activities, a total of 280,000 yuan in performance fees, the company directly takes away 50%, the agent takes away another 10%, and after taxes, the remaining 40% is split among five people, with each person getting around 15,000 yuan.

  To be honest, compared to the vast majority of people of the same age, this income is naturally quite high. However, in the music circle, especially for singers, this income is basically just enough to scrape by. There are even more miserable ones, but those singers are often still wandering on the periphery of the professional circle and can't be considered professional singers.

  Moreover, although agent Wu didn't say anything, the several sisters of Wuxin Suyu could all feel that their appearance fees were getting lower and lower, and their treatment was also getting worse and worse. The conditions for their appearances were also becoming more and more stringent. For example, this time, out of the seven commercial performances, three of them required them to wear tight-fitting vests and ultra-short skirts on stage. In short, they were invited over just to have their long white legs set off a hormonal explosion in the audience, and as for what songs they sang, nobody paid attention.

  It's actually not strange at all.

  Their first album, released last year, has been out for over a year now and has only sold around 300,000 copies. The market influence is limited, and it's said that many people who bought the original version didn't do so to listen to the music, but simply to watch the sexy dance in the MV disc. So when the company was preparing their second album, they weren't very enthusiastic, which is why the second album has only been half done until now.

  In addition, as one of the only two all-female groups in China at that time, Wu Xiu Bo and her sisters were originally meant to follow in the footsteps of "S.H.E", a popular girl group from Taiwan. However, while S.H.E was known for their cute image, the strategy set by the company when they signed Wu Xiu Bo and her sisters was to take on a more sensual route.

  It doesn't seem successful so far.

  Of course, it's not clear whether the Chinese people are still unwilling to accept the relationship between singing groups. The first two albums of the "Sister Combination" group, which was just established, only sold a few hundred thousand copies and were far from successful. In fact, it is said that there are already internal discussions within Shengda Records about disbanding the group.

  She let out a sigh and completely relaxed her body, slumping onto the sofa.

  With a glance, she saw the CD on the coffee table again. After hesitating for a moment, she picked up the CD case and gently tore off the outer packaging, taking out the CD.

  After signing the contract and releasing an album, the sisters finally started to have income apart from the meager monthly salary given by the company. Everyone had a lot more income than before, some bought big houses, some bought luxury cars, but Wang Jingxue didn't. She still lives in a small rented apartment until now. After getting her own money, apart from spending less than 40,000 yuan to buy a second-hand Changan CS35 for transportation, her biggest expense was buying a piano, and another more than 10,000 yuan spent on a HIFI sound system that wasn't even entry-level.

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

  The music starts, the singing starts.

  I've heard Liao Liao's single before, but now listening to her songs again, even Wang Jingxue has to admit that this girl's vocals and singing skills are really great! Especially, there seems to be a certain quality in her voice that can grab your ears and touch your heart at the first moment.

  In comparison, Wang Jingxue felt that her singing skills were not inferior to hers, but in terms of tone, she was slightly at a disadvantage. However, it's a pity that people traditionally think that voices like hers are the best - clear, bright, and piercing, suitable for fast or slow songs, sweet or emotional ones. But with Zhen Zhen's sudden rise to fame, people's perception of female singers' voices suddenly shifted, and everyone started thinking that a good female singer must have a voice like Zhen Zhen's.

  It's okay, this isn't strange, even Wang Jingxue herself thinks so.

  Zhen Zhen's voice, the high-pitched area is loud and unrestrained, like a mighty river rushing forward, the mid-range area is full and expansive, like thousands of drums beating in unison, while the low-pitched area is rich and dense, like a lover's gentle whispers... it's simply impossible not to be moved.

  Compared with her, Liao's voice was in no way inferior!

  In Wang Jingxue's opinion, if you must compare the two, in terms of high-pitched areas, Liao Liao's vocal performance should be slightly weaker. Although her slight huskiness is really moving, it doesn't quite match Zhen Zhen's majestic voice like a mighty river flowing eastward. As for mid-range tones, both can be considered evenly matched, each with their own strengths and characteristics. In the low-pitched range, Liao Liao surprisingly excels, her voice conveying a sense of storytelling that surpasses even Zhen Zhen's!

  With such a distinctive voice, even Wang Jinglu felt that Liao Liao would become popular sooner or later.

  But thinking of her current situation, Wang Jingxue couldn't help but feel a headache: before leaving this time, the producer and agent Wu Jie had already agreed to give them a new song, "Wu Su", after getting the songbook, how others thought she didn't know, but first of all, she herself was resistant to the point of almost bursting out.

  The lyrics of that song are full of naked sexual provocation from start to finish!

  But... what can be done about it?

  She rubbed her eyebrows and forced herself to put these aside for the time being, focusing on listening to the song.

  To be honest, this song doesn't have too many outstanding parts. Probably the only outstanding things are Liao Liao's voice and singing skills. Apart from that, this song is just a very normal urban love song - many people have sung it before, many people are still singing it now, and in the future there will also be many people who will continue to release songs like this one.

  It was unclear whether the song was too unattractive or if she hadn't slept well last night, but as Wang Jingxue leaned against the sofa listening to the music, she found herself dozing off without realizing it.

  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, lingering around the village. On a barren land, harvesting thin hopes, living year after year, generation after generation."

  Wang Jingxue suddenly opened her eyes with a jolt.

  This is... a rural ballad!

  This phrase is written really well!

  Of course, this song is also very good! The melody is bold and elegant, free-spirited yet delicate. Liao Liao's voice handles it effortlessly, with ease and finesse.

  It is said that "a child does not despise his mother for being ugly, a dog does not despise its home for being poor". The poverty and barrenness of one's hometown cannot tarnish the word "hometown", but rather makes the love and passion for one's hometown in the song all the more moving!

  This is what I call good lyrics!

  This is what I call a good song!

  This level of work would have been absolutely top-notch even during the peak of rural ballads ten years ago!

  …………

  Before long, the song was over, but Wang Jingxue immediately picked up the remote control, selected the previous track, and listened to the arrangement from the beginning. At the same time, she couldn't help but pick up the CD case on the tea table, pull out the lyrics book inside, flip through it quickly to the fourth page, and find the lyrics of this song. However, as soon as she saw the lyrics clearly, she was stunned again -

  Next to the song title, two identical names were written.

  Lyricist: Li Qian.

  Composer: Li Qian.

  Wang Jingxue's eyebrows furrowed instantly.

  It's not surprising, as early as when Er Ya bought this CD for herself, Wang Jingxue had already guessed that it probably included a song that Li Qian sold to Liao Liao. Although it's hard to determine how much money was involved, it seems that selling songs is indeed true.

  But he shouldn't be selling this song!

  How old is he? He should be the same age as Er Ya, which is seventeen.

  A seventeen-year-old boy... wrote this kind of song?

  Let's just talk about this song. If you're not from the northwest or extremely familiar with and emotional about the region, can you write such lyrics?

  Ke Liqian is from Jinan!

  He's only seventeen years old and probably hasn't left home until now!

  She lowered her head and looked again, no mistake —

  Lyricist: Li Qian.

  Composer: Li Qian.

  Frowning and shaking head slightly.

  The song played for the second time soon.

  The next song is also a common urban love song. Wang Jingxue only listened to the first time, and took the lyrics book to flip back, sure enough, the next song was called "Determination", the lyricist and composer were both Li Qian.

  The lyrics, at first glance, have a strong and stubborn tone between the lines, which is more like Li Jian's style than the previous Northwestern folk song. However, compared to his age, this song still seems too mature!

  Just then, the previous song ended and after a very short interval, a guitar sound started.

  Liao Liao's voice came out, and the lazy tone revealed a strong feeling, which shocked Wang Jinglu immediately!

  Then she was shocked and her eyes widened... This is actually a light rock song!

  But it really sounds good!

  In a daze, she suddenly remembered the scene she saw before leaving the company in the morning, and her mind suddenly cleared up: Liao Liao's album must have been a huge hit!

  Another female singer is rising!

  She took a deep breath and turned to the next page of her songbook.

  Wildflower.

  Lyricist: Li Qian.

  Composer: Li Qian.

  …………

  She turned another page——

  Cheers, friend.

  Lyricist: Li Qian.

  Composer: Li Qian.

  …………

  It was past six in the afternoon when Wang Jinglu returned home from school.

  As soon as she entered the house, she saw her sister's high heels and quickly changed into slippers. She saw her sister busy in the kitchen, didn't even put down her bag, and jumped to the kitchen door, saying: "Sis, sis, have you drunk the millet porridge I left for you? Are the celery and peanuts delicious? Is it similar to mom's pickling?"

  Wang Jingxue turned off the fire and scooped out the dishes while saying lightly: "Hmm, it's almost done, just a bit too sticky."

  Wang Jinglu smiled secretly and turned around to put away her bag.

  Two minutes later, she ran over again, looking at Wang Jingxue's back with a surprised face. "Sister, sister, have you listened to that CD? How is it, how is it? Is it good?"

  Wang Jingxue nodded, while turning back to instruct her to serve the dishes, and serving herself a bowl of rice, saying: "Hmmm, not bad after all. Liao Liao's singing skills are great!"

  She paused, finished serving the rice, turned around and saw Wang Jinglu still staring at her, suddenly smiled and said: "Li Qian's songs are not bad either! Hmm, maybe he really sold 4 million copies, I take back what I said before."

  "Hurray!"

  If it weren't for holding a plate of dishes in her hand, Wang Jinglu would have jumped up this time.

  But soon, she couldn't be happy again, staring at Wang Jingxue's eyes carefully and said with concern: "Sister, why are your eyes so red? Didn't you sleep well last night? You didn't sleep for a while after going home?"

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

  In the end, when they sat down at the dinner table, Wang Jingxue obviously had several times where she wanted to speak but stopped herself. Finally, Wang Jing put down her chopsticks and looked at her sister, asking: "Sister, is there something on your mind?"

  Wang Jingxue looked up at her, forcing a smile and shaking her head, saying: "It's nothing."

  "Oh." Wang Jinglu continued eating with her head down.

  But soon, Wang Jingxue stopped her chopsticks and asked: "Your training class is about to end?"

  Wang Jinglu nodded and said: "There are still two days of class." After thinking for a moment, she said again: "Sister, after the course is over, I want to go home again. I miss my mom."

  Wang Jingxue nodded and said, "Alright, you can go back."

  "Then... are you going back with me?"

  Wang Jingxue thought for a moment, slowly shook her head and said: "Recently, I've been working on a new song. This afternoon when I got back, I went to the company first. My agent said that before I left, the new song had already been choreographed by a dance teacher. You know what's next, we're going to start rehearsing the dance."

  Wang Jinglu heard this and although she was helpless, she could only nod her head in agreement.

  The two sisters finished their meal, Wang Jingluo very obediently volunteered to wash the dishes, and Wang Jingxue only helped clean up the dinner table before returning to the sofa to rest.

  Through the glass sliding door, she watched Er Ya busy over there, listening to the gurgling sound of water, and subconsciously turned her head to look at the CD case and lyrics book on the coffee table.

  She picked up the lyrics book, wanting to open it, but ultimately put it back in the CD box.

  She got up and put the CD on a small bookshelf, looking at the two words "Liao Liao", she couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.

  ***

  It's said that when I first started publishing my book, I didn't know if anyone was reading what I wrote. Every day, I worried about this and that, thinking that what I wrote wasn't good enough here or there, so I wrote very slowly. What's strange is that at the time, most of the comments in the review section were all sorts of disdain, looking down on me, and complaining about the slow pace causing them to lose interest, but no one said I was updating too slowly. But recently, I've been writing 4,000 or 5,000 or 6,000 words a day, which is much faster than my previous rate of two chapters every three days, yet the entire review section is complaining that it's still too slow...