99. If at first you don’t succeed, try again until you do.

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Shen Zhiyao hesitated for only a moment before making a decision.

As a professional manager, she couldn’t stake her artist’s future on a newcomer whose depth and potential were unknown.

Even if that newcomer came from a family with a certain standing in the entertainment industry, even if her talent was universally admired.

At this moment, she had no choice but to let her go.

“Shen Zhiyao! Don’t even think about it!” Lu Tianyu looked at Shen Zhiyao with a guarded expression.

Having worked together for many years, Lu Tianyu knew this manager’s intentions almost instinctively; a single glance was enough to understand her plans.

“It’s because of what that Song Qing said. If I don’t step forward to clarify things, how is Fanxing supposed to face this alone?

She doesn’t have a management company or PR support; there’s no way to handle this kind of public opinion!” Shen Zhiyao said with some helplessness. Lu Tianyu, who had been in the industry for years, focused solely on his career, refusing any hype, without scandals or expressions of special feelings for anyone. Yet now, he repeatedly defended Ji Fanxing.

“Young master, then tell me, given the current situation, what do you want to do?”

“At least, listen to the song Ji Fanxing sent,” Lu Tianyu said, shaking his phone. The email from Ji Fanxing was right there in the inbox.

Since the collaboration with Ji Fanxing was unplanned, Shen Zhiyao had given her email address to Lu Tianyu simply so he could enjoy the music privately, leaving the decision to release it for later.

But after this exposure, they found themselves in a difficult position.

Reluctantly, Shen Zhiyao took Lu Tianyu’s phone. She hadn’t expected Ji Fanxing to act so quickly; now it would be harder for her to deny working with Ji Fanxing.

She was a little annoyed. “The competition just ended yesterday, and today she’s already sent a song. What kind of good work could come from such a rush?”

Grudgingly, Shen Zhiyao clicked on the file titled “Drowning.”

...

Four minutes later, the song had finished playing, and Shen Zhiyao, still holding the phone, remained motionless for a long time.

After a while, she finally pulled herself together.

“That’s not right, I didn’t hear it clearly. Let me listen again.”

Three minutes later...

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“This song... this song! I’ll listen to it once more!” Shen Zhiyao’s face lost all reluctance, her trembling hand pressed the play button again.

Ten minutes later...

“Shen Zhiyao, tell me, is there anything wrong with making Ji Fanxing’s song the lead track of my album?”

“Nothing wrong at all!!!” Shen Zhiyao’s expression became passionate as she thrust the phone into Lu Tianyu’s hand and pulled him toward the recording studio. “Now! Don’t do anything else! Record this song immediately!!”

For the first time, Shen Zhiyao, the top manager of Jiangshan Entertainment, the biggest entertainment company in China, realized how narrow-minded she had been.

Her previous concerns seemed like a joke in the face of Ji Fanxing’s talent!

The song “Drowning” was absolutely worthy of being the lead single for Lu Tianyu’s album—indeed, it could elevate the album’s quality to an entirely new level!

Having instructed Lu Tianyu to record the song within a day, Shen Zhiyao calmed down.

She smirked at Song Qing’s account and the desperate online trolls stirring up trouble, sending one instruction after another to her PR team.

“Keep an eye on Song Qing, and expose her scandals during the competition.

Release a statement confirming that Lu Tianyu indeed watched the ‘All-Round Singer’ contest live yesterday and that he is genuinely collaborating with Ji Fanxing...”

In a teahouse somewhere, Biden rubbed his two little mustaches cunningly, his eyes shining brightly.

“Hehe, you see, even if that little girl Song Qing doesn’t fall for it, my plan will still proceed smoothly.”

Liu Qi sneered, “Hmph, Song Qing is a mess herself—who would believe her?

This is just temporary. Once Lu Tianyu and Chu Hao clarify their rumored relationships with Ji Fanxing, the other rumors will naturally collapse.”

Biden glanced disdainfully at Liu Qi, who was rough and naive about human nature. “Don’t worry. Lu Tianyu is a top star; every move he makes is news. Even if he wants to support Ji Fanxing, his fierce manager won’t allow it.

And Chu Hao... young and reckless, unwilling to rely on his family, trying to make it alone in the entertainment circle, what’s the difference between him and Ji Fanxing? Who can he influence?

Give me two days, and I’ll blow this up completely. People’s prejudices are sharp blades; no matter how tough Ji Fanxing is, I’ll cut her down!”

“Heh, talk big now. What’ll you do if it doesn’t work out?”

“If it doesn’t work out, I’ll call you grandpa!” Biden was indignant at the brainless challenge.

“Fine! If you pull it off, you’re my ancestor!” Liu Qi still didn’t believe it.

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...

Inside Feiyu’s livestream room, Song Qing, dressed provocatively, pressed her arms together, trying to enhance her cleavage, coquettishly urging her viewers to buy support tickets.

“Friends! Just buy one support ticket, and you might win the entire prize pool! Come on! Overnight success isn’t a dream! It’s happening right now!”

This was a new event organized by the Feiyu platform. Each viewer only needed to purchase specific gifts in the streamer’s room; the money spent entered a prize pool, and those who bought gifts had a chance to win all the cash in the pool.

The streamer would also receive a cut.

Thanks to recent attention, Song Qing’s livestream room skyrocketed in viewers, and many bought support tickets. In no time, the prize pool’s cash had already reached tens of millions.

Song Qing was ecstatic, her eyes shining bright. For the first time, she thought being a streamer wasn’t bad at all. Without any background, when in the entertainment circle would she ever see so much money?

She even stopped singing, mimicking those borderline streamers’ seductive head tosses and hip movements, scheming how to maintain this momentum, wondering if she should post a detailed message exposing how shameless Ji Fanxing was.

Hmm... just blaming Ji Fanxing alone seemed too plain—she’d drag Hai Lan into it too. Without dirty deals, how else could she get advertisements and secure second place?

Seeing herself climb to the top of the leaderboard, Song Qing’s cheeks flushed, and she twisted her body even more vigorously.

Unbeknownst to her, her gambling-like gathering of crowds had already been recorded by the authorities...

...

“Your flight has successfully landed. Passengers are advised to take their personal belongings with them...”

At the capital airport, Ji Fanxing and Ning Ze disembarked discreetly. Just as they stepped out, they saw a group of reporters armed with cameras rushing over eagerly.

“Hurry! Ruan Lin and Ji Shengxue are over there!”

“I heard there are three people in their party; Ji Fanxing must be among them!”

“Headline news...”