Eldest Senior Sister Became a Sensation After Being Blacklisted Online - Chapter 8

Song Cheng shifted her posture, the words “Why is this so troublesome?” hovering on her lips. But when she met Liu Zimang’s expectant gaze, she changed her tone: “Understood.”

Noticing her lack of enthusiasm, Liu Zimang frowned slightly. “I’ve already accepted the challenge. If you make me lose face, you—” Her eyes darted around before she continued, “You’ll have to compensate me for emotional distress and reputational damage.”

The mention of money immediately straightened Song Cheng’s posture, her expression turning serious. “I didn’t force you into this.”

The unspoken implication was clear: This isn’t my problem.

“You chose me, so you’re responsible,” Liu Zimang retorted. Realizing how suggestive her words sounded, she quickly turned her head away, avoiding Song Cheng’s gaze.

Song Cheng’s eyes flickered to catch the crimson flush on Liu Zimang’s ear. A mischievous impulse surged through her. Leaning closer until she was only a foot away from Liu Zimang’s ear, she murmured, “Those words are certainly… suggestive.”

Liu Zimang’s ear burned even brighter, her face flushed hot. Her hand, resting on her lap, nervously twisted her thumb.

If you understand, just understand! Why say it out loud?

Don’t you know how embarrassing that is?

Song Cheng, oblivious to Liu Zimang’s inner turmoil, remained fixated on her ear and profile. She watched as the pink deepened into a vibrant crimson, like a freshly bloomed rose, drawing her gaze irresistibly.

Her body leaned closer involuntarily, her breath ghosting across Liu Zimang’s ear.

Liu Zimang felt like she was being roasted over a furnace, her heart pounding with anxiety and unease.

The ticklish, slightly damp sensation on her ear made her breathing quicken.

The car, though spacious, suddenly felt stifling, causing her heart to race even faster.

Noticing her embarrassment and indignation, Song Cheng considerately straightened up, creating more distance between them. Her gaze shifted from Liu Zimang’s profile to her slightly parted, delicate lips.

Liu Zimang’s cheeks flushed crimson, yet without doing anything deliberate, she exuded an irresistible allure. What was even more maddening was that this allure carried no hint of vulgarity, making Song Cheng’s heart itch with longing.

She unconsciously swallowed, turning to look out the window, her voice stiff as she said, “You can’t let men see you like this.”

As a woman herself, Song Cheng had just wanted to lean in and taste those tender lips. How much more would lustful men desire to devour this delicate flower?

Liu Zimang clenched her hands, turning to look at Song Cheng, her eyelashes trembling slightly. “Do you think they’ll even get the chance?”

Only this woman before her dared to tease her so relentlessly.

And only this woman’s teasing didn’t repulse her.

She didn’t want to delve into the specific reasons for this, nor did she dare to.

Song Cheng rested her chin in her hand, pondering for a moment before saying, “If anyone bullies you, tell me. I’ll help you get revenge.”

Liu Zimang smiled, her lips curving into a soft, graceful arc. “Alright!”

Two hours later, Song Yu left Song’s Timber Industry and returned home. As he stepped inside, he immediately checked his clothes for any irregularities, but found nothing amiss. Scratching his head, he muttered, “Are those people sick? Why were they staring at me like that?”

Wu Guifang, who had also been subjected to strange glances, shook her head and gestured with her chin toward Song Cheng, who was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, indicating that Song Cheng was the instigator.

Though Song Yu’s tongue was sharp, his mind worked quickly. Realizing what was happening, he immediately pulled out his phone and opened Weibo. Several trending topics dominated the search bar:

#Nouveau Riche Suspected of Financial Strain#Song Cheng’s Flute Performance Dominates the Scene#Song Cheng’s Money-Driven Pursuit Reaches New Heights#Song Cheng to Face Off Against Xu Ge Wang with Liu Yinghou#Song Cheng Rides in Liu Yinghou’s Car#

“What is all this?”

While he was still scratching his head, Wu Guifang came to his side. “Just bear with it a little longer,” she said.

Song Yu: “……”

Was this something he could just “bear with”? If these rumor-mongering netizens continued to speculate unchecked, he’d be branded the “malicious older brother” before nightfall.

Sensing his mother’s stern gaze, he immediately swallowed the retort that had been on the tip of his tongue and sat down next to Song Cheng. “When are you going to retire from the entertainment industry?”

Song Cheng kept her eyes closed. “Soon!”

Song Yu’s lips twitched slightly as he raised a hand to cover his forehead. “Tell me, will I live to see you retire from the entertainment industry?”

Song Cheng opened her eyes, tilted her head, and gave Song Yu a sidelong glance. “I won’t let you die with regrets.”

Song Yu: “……”

How is my sister’s mouth even more foul than mine?

Changing the subject, he pulled out his phone and pointed to a screenshot of Song Cheng captured by a fan, showing her moving with phantom-like speed. “Then tell me, how did you do this?”

Song Cheng raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t it obvious?” Noticing Sister Feng carrying the final dish to the table, she immediately added, “Watch!”

The moment the words left her lips, Song Yu felt a gust of wind brush past his ear. The person who had been beside him was now seated at the dining table, more than ten meters away.

Thinking he must be seeing things, he quickly rubbed his eyes and double-checked to confirm he hadn’t imagined it. Turning to Wu Guifang, who was equally stunned, he asked, “Mom, has your daughter been possessed or something?”

Wu Guifang snapped out of her daze and glared at him. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

“Then she…”

“If you cultivated yourself, practiced martial arts like Xiao Cheng, you could achieve the same,” Wu Guifang said, her voice growing less certain as she spoke.

Could an ordinary person truly move with such speed?

Her daughter was flesh of her own flesh. No one knew Song Cheng’s physical traits better than she did. She was absolutely certain that the Song Cheng currently focused on the meal was indeed her daughter.

Only her personality seemed to have changed.

Song Yu withdrew his gaze, stood up, and said, “Fine. In your and Dad’s eyes, your daughter is a treasure. Everything she does is right.”

“Mom, Dad, Brother, let’s eat!” Song Cheng said stiffly, unable to wait any longer.

Having been here for several days, she had discovered that beyond the advanced technology, this world also boasted an extraordinary variety of delicious foods.

The dishes on the table today were unlike anything she had ever seen in the mortal realm. Though she hadn’t tasted them yet, the tantalizing aromas promised culinary delights.

As for Song Yu and Wu Guifang’s suspicions, she paid them no mind. Suspicion was natural; it would be more concerning if they didn’t doubt her.

After all, her personality was worlds apart from the original Song Cheng’s.

She wasn’t worried about being recognized. Based on her recent observations, this world lacked powerful cultivators; only a small number of people possessed martial arts skills.

And the Song Family wasn’t among that select few.

So, even if they knew she was an imposter, they could only kick her out—they couldn’t do anything else to her.

Wu Guifang hadn’t heard her daughter call her in days. She immediately dismissed her doubts and replied with a smile, “Coming right away!”

Song Yu: “……”

I really am the family’s weed.

Setting down the newspaper, Song Tianfu sat at the dining table. Suddenly remembering something, he turned to Song Cheng and asked, “Tell your old man, what talent have you been hiding from me and your mother? If you hadn’t joined that show, were you planning to keep it a secret forever?”

He had watched the morning’s live broadcast. When he heard his daughter’s flute music, his heart swelled with pride. He nearly grabbed his phone and ran outside to shout, “Look! That’s my daughter!”

After swallowing her mouthful of food, Song Cheng replied calmly, “It’s not really a talent, just something I know a little about.”

Across from her, Song Yu’s lips twitched again. Is this not Versailles?

Song Tianfu threw back his head and laughed heartily. “They say daughters take after their mothers, and you’re just like your mom in this regard.”

Song Yu: “……”

Get a grip, Dad. Mom would never engage in Versailles. She’s just being humble.

Distracted by the delicious food, Song Cheng just wanted the conversation to end quickly. She nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, at Phoenix Sky Entertainment…

Hu Tianyu tapped his fingers rhythmically on the desk. After a moment of silence, he looked up at Hongxia, who stood before his desk. “Song Cheng has been trending frequently these past few days. This time, she’s even competing against Liu Zimang and Xu We. If she succeeds, even if she doesn’t become a star, she’ll at least break into the third-tier. As her manager, you…”

Understanding immediately, Hongxia interjected, “Two or three companies have already contacted me, offering Song Cheng endorsement deals. I’ve accepted them all. After the next show recording, I’ll immediately raise her rates to maximize her earnings for the company.”

Hu Tianyu nodded. “Good. Just remember, Phoenix Sky doesn’t support idlers. Once you sign with us, you need to generate value for the company.”

“I understand. I’ll definitely maximize Song Cheng’s value.”

The next day, honoring her promise to Liu Zimang, Song Cheng ended her morning practice early and joined Zhu Ke at the production studio.

The studio had already made arrangements, renting a dance studio just a few meters away specifically for the guests’ rehearsals.

The dance studio was spacious, with plenty of rooms. Liu Zimang and Song Cheng had no particular preferences, so they casually chose one.

Liu Zimang glanced at Song Cheng, who was already seated, shook her head in resignation, and accepted the song list Zhao Q had delivered. She approached Song Cheng and asked, “Do you have any ideas for the upcoming performance?”

Song Cheng looked up at Liu Zimang. “Do you really want me to answer?”

Intuition told Liu Zimang that Song Cheng would likely say something unhelpful. She cut her off. “Never mind.” She handed over the song list she had curated the previous night. “Take a look and pick a song you’re good at.”

Song Cheng took the list, glanced at it, and immediately shook her head. “I can’t do any of these.”

Liu Zimang didn’t believe her. The songs she had selected were all classics from recent years. She looked away and leaned casually against the barre behind her. “Then we’ll dance.”

Song Cheng shook her head more vigorously. “I can’t!”

Liu Zimang raised her voice slightly, pushing herself off the barre. “Song Cheng, are you doing this on purpose? Do you really want me to lose that badly?”

Song Cheng immediately looked up, her eyes and face radiating sincerity. “I really can’t.”

Liu Zimang: “……”

If I believe you, I’m a fool.

She pointed to the song list still in Song Cheng’s hand, her tone leaving no room for argument. “I don’t care if you can or can’t. Either you sing and I dance, or I sing and you dance.”

Sensing Liu Zimang’s rising anger, Song Cheng’s heart skipped a beat. She lowered her gaze, her voice filled with helplessness. “I really can’t.”

Reason told Liu Zimang not to trust her, but emotion ultimately won out. She relented slightly. “Then you sing and I dance.” Without giving Song Cheng a chance to object, she added, “Don’t use ‘I can’t’ as an excuse. If you don’t know these songs, that’s fine. I’ll pay for a music teacher for you myself.”

Ignoring Song Cheng’s astonished expression, she turned to face the window. “You must master these songs within a week. If you embarrass me on stage, be prepared to compensate me for emotional distress and reputational damage!”

Song Cheng quickly clutched her coat pocket, gritting her teeth. “I’ll learn it.”

Hearing this, Liu Zimang’s expression softened. She turned back to face Song Cheng, bending slightly to explain the difficulty of each song, determined to prevent Song Cheng from using “I don’t know how” as an excuse again.

Liu Zimang hadn’t tied her hair up today. Her slightly wavy locks cascaded down as she leaned forward, tickling Song Cheng’s face.

Song Cheng glanced sideways and noticed Liu Zimang’s slightly open collar, revealing a pair of snow-white br3asts that swayed gently with her movements.

Do not look upon what is improper.

She quickly averted her gaze, but the image of those br3asts seemed to have taken root in her mind, impossible to shake off.

Noticing Song Cheng’s silence, Liu Zimang tilted her head and saw her distracted. She reached out and poked the cheek she had long wanted to poke. “Song Cheng, can you focus?”

Song Cheng: “……”

“Five minutes to choose a song.”

Recalling Liu Zimang’s earlier words and actions, Song Cheng pointed to the song “Madness.”

If she remembered correctly, Liu Zimang had said this song was too intense to be accompanied by traditional Chinese dance, posing a significant challenge for someone who had only ever studied folk dance.

After forcing her to sing and even poking her cheek, how could she not demand some interest in return?

Liu Zimang frowned slightly, her gaze fixed on Song Cheng. “Are you deliberately trying to antagonize me today?”

Song Cheng spread her hands, tilted her head, and adopted an innocent expression. “Am I? I chose exactly what you asked for.”

Liu Zimang choked back a retort, her voice laced with suppressed anger. “Remember my words: if you mess this up, I’ll make you pay for it.” With that, she strode toward the door.

She needed to find a teacher to guide her, and a vocal coach to teach the person who had provoked her.

Suddenly, she stopped and turned to Song Cheng, who had already stood up. “Don’t even think about sneaking away. I’ll be right back.”

Song Cheng rubbed her nose, muttering under her breath, “So fierce!”

But also so cute.

When Liu Zimang returned, she carried a portable speaker. Without glancing at Song Cheng, she placed it on the nearby table and pressed play.

As the melody began, Song Cheng instinctively felt the rhythm.

In just a few seconds, she realized that the rhythm of modern music differed significantly from the melodies she had heard before. As the song progressed, the variations in pitch and emphasis became even more pronounced.

No wonder the beauty had said this song was challenging.

“The vocal coach will be here soon. For now, just feel the melody,” Liu Zimang said, moving to the side to stretch her limbs in preparation for dance practice.

The two instructors arrived promptly. Thanks to Liu Zimang’s solid dance foundation, communication with dance teacher Yu X went smoothly.

In stark contrast, across the room, vocal coach Yang Qiong and Song Cheng were struggling to communicate at all.

Yang Qiong had assumed that Song Cheng, who could play such a tear-jerking melody on the flute, must possess a strong musical foundation. To her dismay, Song Cheng understood nothing she said.

That wasn’t even the worst part. What truly drove her to the brink of madness was that Song Cheng didn’t even recognize the most basic musical notes.

With a trembling finger, she pointed at the sheet music she had brought. “I seriously doubt the authenticity of that flute performance.”