After the Top Idol Omega and I Started Living Together - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

This time, someone saw Lu Zhao’s困境.

The room’s lights shone brightly, making it impossible to tell if it was dark or daylight outside, giving an unreal feeling.

Lu Zhao never thought such good luck would fall on her head, and she blinked blankly.

Sheng Jingyu remained calm as always.

She had no intention of revealing her true identity and added to Lu Zhao, “I was a musician before, and now I can be Miss Lu’s vocal teacher. First, we will tune your voice, and everything will get better.”

“But I wonder if Miss Lu is willing?”

When Sheng Jingyu threw a concrete olive branch to Lu Zhao, Lu Zhao’s long-paused thoughts finally caught up.

She certainly remembered that Sheng Jingyu was a musician, and a musician who could afford a hefty house rental fee at once was no ordinary person, even in this circle where money flowed like water.

Although Lu Zhao had not heard of Sheng Jingyu’s name before, the entertainment industry was not just her circle.

Sheng Jingyu must be a prominent figure in her circle, with not only remarkable ability but also extraordinary influence.

For years, Lu Zhao had been trapped in place.

She initially thought debuting through a talent show would bring her closer to Jing Yuan, but that was already the closest she got to Jing Yuan.

The harsh contract and the resources of the last-place debut were completely disproportionate, and many people did not want her to move forward, so she desperately wanted to break out of this困境.

Even if Sheng Jingyu gave her just a little guidance, it would be enough.

She just did not want to drift further from Jing Yuan.

Lu Zhao had seen Sheng Jingyu’s prowess; just a few words of instruction made her狠狠地slap Si Liaoliao’s face, earning Si Liaoliao’s fiercer retaliation than before.

To make Sheng Jingyu her resource, Lu Zhao was a thousand, ten thousand times willing, “I am certainly willing!”

Despite earning countless honors over the years, Sheng Jingyu still did not think she was a teacher who could teach singing.

Singing was too personal, each person had their own traits, and with her high pride, when she was Jing Yuan, she had rejected many such requests, thinking she should not impulsively become Lu Zhao’s vocal teacher.

But when Lu Zhao excitedly looked up at her.

Sunlight fell on her face, and her amber eyes carried bright desire and urgency.

It was like a soul stuck for a long time finally saw a lifeline.

The surrounding air seemed to ripple with heat, surging toward Sheng Jingyu.

Her gray-silver eyes flickered slightly, cracking the indifference within.

Was it the pheromones’ influence?

Sheng Jingyu thought to herself, her expression more serious than before, “Think carefully, as my student, I will be very strict.”

“You can rest assured, I can handle hardship best! Sheng…” Lu Zhao showed no retreat, firmly stating, and corrected herself at the end, “Teacher Sheng.”

Hearing this title, Sheng Jingyu felt a subtle mood.

She had tried to avoid all human connections these years, but her walls were breached, letting this child walk in.

The white, unchanging future in her eyes seemed to tangle with some colored threads.

Strands wove silently into the soil, waiting quietly for a big rain.

To take root and sprout.

.

Night fell, and the world turned pitch black.

Lu Zhao’s black trending topic rose quickly and fell just as fast, like a fleeting昙花, causing no major issues, but her fans’ dissatisfaction stirred, and reconsolidating them was a troublesome matter.

Lu Zhao glanced at her phone, ignored all afternoon, with many WeChat messages jumping, besides Chenchen’s earlier messages, there were concerns from her teammates.

But not all her teammates.

Their group was far from as united as they appeared on camera.

During the talent show, Cheng Ji stood several steps above others, Duan Xuan originally wanted to cling to her, but somehow ended up clinging to Qin Meng, who debuted fifth, and after forming the group, it was even more so with Si Liaoliao.

Xu Xiaonian was straightforward, unable to stand being caught between Duan Xuan and Qin Meng, often came to Lu Zhao, who shared her temperament, and pulled Chen Yining, who shared a dorm during the show, into a small group called [The Three-Sevenths Always Getting Frustrated].

All afternoon, Xu Xiaonian ranted in the group, Chen Yining occasionally chimed in, trying to control Xu Xiaonian while thinking of ways to help Lu Zhao.

But this situation was not something they could break, and those who could break it probably chose to ignore it.

Lu Zhao scrolled for a while but could not find her chat with Chen Ruozhi, probably not knowing when their last contact was months ago.

She felt sorry for Chenchen, who ran around the company for her, and every person she approached was her superior.

“Ah Zhao!”

Before a long sigh could escape, Lu Zhao heard a familiar call.

Despite a busy day, Chenchen showed no signs of rest, arriving at the洋房 with two big bags of late-night snacks as promised.

Even with multiple layers of plastic wrapping, the food’s aroma could not be hidden.

Lu Zhao immediately smelled it; Chenchen brought her favorite spicy hot pot!

Chenchen placed two large boxes on the table, then took out a lighter-colored box from another bag.

She was meticulous, how could she forget Sheng Jingyu, “This is for Miss Sheng, plain noodles, also this shop’s specialty, try it.”

Sheng Jingyu rarely ate such things before, but this time she did not refuse, nodding lightly, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome!” Chenchen smiled brightly, swiftly opening all the boxes’ lids.

The spicy hot pot’s aroma burst out, enveloping Lu Zhao.

Her mouth watered, but her mind inconveniently replayed Sheng Jingyu’s words about protecting her voice.

As Sheng Jingyu’s student, how could she ignore her advice?

Lu Zhao’s expression dimmed, pushing the spicy hot pot a bit farther, “Forget it, I won’t eat.”

“Why!” Chenchen was surprised, even nervously showing concern, “Ah Zhao, what’s wrong, don’t you love this the most? I got you the extra spicy…”

The box seemed unwilling to be pushed away, drifting back toward Lu Zhao with Chenchen’s description.

Lu Zhao felt her willpower facing an unprecedented challenge, urgently interrupting Chenchen, “Stop talking! I quit!”

“Chenchen, remember, I quit spicy and greasy food from now on, sticking to a light diet. I need to protect my voice!”

Lu Zhao spoke righteously, and Chenchen’s mood sank entirely.

But Chenchen was not the only one feeling down.

Lu Zhao secretly glanced at the pushed-away spicy hot pot, her eyes full of longing.

She was mentally prepared to give up these foods, but never thought the day would come so suddenly.

The night was quiet, and the cicadas’ chirps carried a faint sadness of parting.

“One last time.”

Suddenly, Sheng Jingyu’s gesture appeared in Lu Zhao’s sight.

Her eyes were calm, allowing Lu Zhao to break the rules this once.

Lu Zhao instantly turned from cloudy to sunny, her voice rising, “Really?!”

Sheng Jingyu glanced faintly at Lu Zhao.

This girl’s emotions switched too fast; just moments ago, she was down over food, and now she was radiant.

Sheng Jingyu was not a materialistic person and could not understand why eating something delicious could make someone so happy, calmly reminding, “From now on, not only avoid spicy and greasy food, but also do not overuse your voice.”

Lu Zhao immediately pursed her lips, smiling slyly after getting her way, “I remember, Teacher Sheng.”

Chenchen looked confused, repeating, “Teacher… Sheng?”

“Yes!” As if showing off a treasure, Lu Zhao tilted her body, making a firework gesture toward Sheng Jingyu, proudly and grandly, “Miss Sheng is now my vocal teacher, and I will listen to her from now on!”

Though grown up, she was still childish like a kid.

Sheng Jingyu sat watching Lu Zhao introduce her, and her calm eyes curved slightly.

For some reason, she felt like playing along, nodding to Chenchen, “Hello, I am Lu Zhao’s vocal teacher from now on.”

“Really!” Though Chenchen still could not read Sheng Jingyu’s sign language, she understood the nod, her eyes lighting up instantly.

Like an old mother, she grabbed Sheng Jingyu’s hand, thanking repeatedly, “Miss Sheng, thank you, really thank you. Our Ah Zhao has long wanted a professional vocal teacher, and I am truly happy you are guiding her. And you definitely won’t be snatched away! Please guide our Ah Zhao well, she won’t let you down!”

Chenchen spoke rapidly, Sheng Jingyu did not catch it all clearly but grasped the second-to-last sentence.

She keenly sensed something but nodded to Chenchen as if nothing happened, “You can rest assured.”

The rustling leaves brushed the window, bringing the peaceful summer night into the room.

The bright lights contrasted sharply with the outside world, and Sheng Jingyu sat upright in the center of the light.

She still had that distant calm demeanor, yet her hands gestured words that contradicted it but indeed came from her.

Lu Zhao watched from the side, feeling it was all like a dream.

Could her terrible luck really let her meet a teacher like Sheng Jingyu?

“Ah Zhao, your luck has turned!”

Chenchen’s words, abrupt yet fitting, rang in Lu Zhao’s ears.

Lu Zhao looked up and saw Chenchen back in her seat, holding her phone.

“What’s up?” Lu Zhao was puzzled.

“Look!” Chenchen was too excited to speak, directly showing her phone to Lu Zhao.

Si Liaoliao occupied a high spot on the trending list, but it was not good news—an insider revealed her so-called original songs were written by ghostwriters.

[I’ve wanted to say this for a while, haven’t you noticed some of her songs’ styles are inconsistent in details?]

[Exactly, I’ve never seen a singer with such erratic, unfixed styles. No matter how great, it can’t be that extreme…]

[Speechless, forcing a persona.]

[So what? Our Liaoliao’s voice is genuinely good! Isn’t that enough? Why care so much?]

[What nonsense, please focus on our Liaoliao’s new song released last month, thank you.]

[Since you’re here, why not check out our Liaoliao’s stunning stage, like a fairy descended, right?]

…

The comments under the top post were not quite chaotic but close.

Lu Zhao saw Si Liaoliao’s big fan, who often controlled comments under group posts, lower down, struggling to climb up with comments, looking somewhat laughable.

Some even brought up the afternoon’s events, cursing the company with Lu Zhao and Si Liaoliao, [Is there nothing better to do? Did Yixin Entertainment offend someone? Lu Zhao in the afternoon, Si Liaoliao at night, can’t the company do its job? So lame.]

Such remarks were plenty, but Lu Zhao felt no special stir and scrolled past casually.

She did not pin hopes on these comments moving the company, but she did gloat, “Who did Si Liaoliao provoke? This issue isn’t big or small, but it’s enough to ruin her artistic girl persona.”

“Her rival, obviously,” Chenchen blurted out without hesitation, “Haven’t we seen her fans’ combat power over the years? Maybe they went on a rampage recently, hit a tough opponent, and got counterattacked.”

“That damn fool Chen Ruozhi, took so long to handle it this afternoon, now probably can’t even suppress it!”

Chenchen was thrilled, opening a can of cola, raising it, “Thanks to the unknown rival for venting our anger!”

Lu Zhao clinked cans, “Thanks. Let’s wish her overnight wealth, lifelong peace, and success in love and career!”

The two sang in harmony, the aluminum cans clinking with a faint fizzing sound.

Sheng Jingyu listened to Lu Zhao and Chenchen’s conversation, silently lowering her eyelashes, noticing a cola can placed before her.

This was something she avoided in the past, or rather, she avoided all things bad for her voice.

But today, she suddenly wanted to taste cola.

Her distinct fingers hooked the aluminum ring, clicking crisply.

Almost simultaneously, her phone lit up beside her hand.

It was a WeChat message notification.

From her manager, Chen Anni.

[Chen Anni: Ah Yu, I handled what you asked, but let me ask, are you planning to promote this Lu Zhao now?]

[Chen Anni: She debuted two years ago with nothing notable, not outstanding. If you really want to promote someone, I just signed a few great kids with excellent vocal conditions. Pick any, why bother with a stone?]

The restaurant’s lights shone brightly, and in the background, Lu Zhao and Chenchen chatted lively.

Occasionally, a song hummed softly, delicate and ethereal, making the night less silent.

Sheng Jingyu’s naturally light pupils hid her emotions when looking at people.

Her gaze lingered on Lu Zhao for a few seconds, her slender fingers typing lightly, [She is not a stone, she is the unpolished jade I found.]