Wait, I Got in the Wrong Car (GL) - Chapter 55

“You’ll find out in a few days.”

“Xiao Yu’er, how many days exactly do you mean by ‘a few days’?”

Wanqi Tianxin followed closely behind Mo Ying, pressing for updates about Yu Xuan. Over the past day or two, she had received nothing but the vague reply of “soon.” If she didn’t know Xiao Yu’er better, she might have thought she was being brushed off.

Mo Ying moved swiftly. “Soon, soon.”

Exactly how soon, she didn’t know either, but she trusted Lou Xiaohei.

Seeing Mo Ying wear such a solemn expression, Chen Ruiling quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “What’s the rush? This isn’t something Xiao Yu’er can decide alone. We still have to wait until Teacher Yu has time. You should focus on whether Sisi will even accept our offer. What if she digs her heels in again…”

If one had to describe Wu Si’s temperament, it would be like a rock in a latrine, both unpleasant and immovably stubborn. Once she had made up her mind, not even nine oxen could pull her back.

Take her grandmother’s hospitalization, for example. Before anyone had a chance to persuade her otherwise, Wu Si had already laid out all the pros and cons, catching them all off guard.

To her, there was no real choice between family and the competition.

While Wanqi Tianxin was still mulling over how to get through to Wu Si, the internet was abuzz with news that “Sing for the Song 2” was introducing an open voting system for the audience. Advertisements flooded the streets in every corner of the city, launching the show straight into the trending topics.

Even during rush hour on subways and buses, people were catching glimpses of the promo. Flashing across the screen were the show’s strongest contestants, accompanied by a hotline and voting instructions.

Fans, desperate to boost their favorite stars, activated every connection they had. They crafted messages, picked their favorites, and sent in their votes. The more organized fan leaders went straight to work building chat groups, gathering like-minded fans from around the globe to coordinate mass voting efforts. The whole scene was electric with competition.

“Ahhh, let’s go all out for Xiao Yu’er!”

“You love her too? Me too! Her dolphin notes are magical. Her pitch is truly alive.”

“Ahem, I actually like Lingling’s voice more. It’s so tragic and beautiful. It feels like watching a story filled with love and hate.”

“She’s the one I’m betting on.”

While everyone was immersed in preparation for the semifinals, the director suddenly called for a pause in the schedule. Once everyone was gathered, he announced the existence of the voting leaderboard and reminded them to spread the word to their friends and families. Then, with a mysterious air, he shared another piece of exciting news.

“Everyone has been performing excellently. After some discussion, we’ve decided to offer three additional prizes during the finals with a total bonus of five hundred thousand yuan.”

First place would get three hundred thousand, second place one hundred and fifty thousand, and third place fifty thousand.

Yoho~~

Even someone like Mo Ying, who didn’t usually have much concept of money, froze for a moment at the number. She quietly compared it to her bank balance. Thanks to Ni Xinyu, she now had a much better idea of how expensive her aquarium was.

The others were even more overjoyed, letting out excited shrieks in response to the director’s surprise. The camera crew captured every second to use as a teaser for the next livestream.

Before Mo Ying’s trio had time to celebrate, they were escorted out by staff.

Wanqi Tianxin whispered excitedly, “I can’t believe the sponsor is being so generous this time, even adding a third-place prize. Now I feel like I have a better shot at convincing Sisi to return. If she makes it to the finals and wins a prize, that bonus might be enough to help her family’s situation. This is amazing.”

Chen Ruiling didn’t respond. She wasn’t as naively optimistic as Wanqi Tianxin. Breaking into the top three among such strong contenders was no easy feat. With money at stake, people would fight tooth and nail.

The announcement had come so suddenly. As Chen Ruiling turned it over in her mind, she glanced at Mo Ying, who looked completely lost. She was absolutely in the dark.

Chen Ruiling sighed.

Or so she thought.

They were led into a meeting room where someone was already waiting.

“Assistant Chu, I’ll wait at the door. Just give me a signal if you need anything.”

The three froze.

“A signal???”

Chu Shu glanced at them with a smile. Her gaze lingered a second longer on the boss’s lover before drifting away casually.

“Please have a seat, the three of you. Let me introduce myself. I’m the assistant to the investor behind ‘Sing for the Song 2,’ from the Lou Corporation. My surname is Chu. You can call me Assistant Chu, Xiao Chu, or Miss Chu. I’ve reviewed your group’s situation and wanted to ask about the status of your missing member.”

She wasted no time. In just a few sentences, she had gotten straight to the heart of the matter and laid their cards bare. Then, with a calm and friendly smile, she made her pitch.

“Your group is one member short. We have a proposal that might solve that problem.”

Of the three, Wanqi Tianxin reacted with open shock. Mo Ying and Chen Ruiling both understood right away.

So that’s what it was.

Chen Ruiling knew this Assistant Chu was often seen with Lou Anran. She had caught glimpses of her during Lou Anran’s more public appearances. That meant Lou Anran was probably behind this plan, which explained a lot. She agreed to the proposal without hesitation.

“A live interview is fine. But why go through all the trouble of organizing one for Wu Si?”

Wanqi Tianxin found it odd, too. Since when did investors go out of their way to promote Wu Si? What value did she have as an investment? It would make more sense if they were doing this for Xiao Yu’er.

After the initial excitement wore off, the opportunity started to feel suspicious. It was as if a trap had been laid out, wide open and waiting. She might be naïve, but she wasn’t foolish. She had heard enough about the entertainment world’s unspoken rules.

Chen Ruiling voiced the thought that had been on Wanqi Tianxin’s mind. This only made Tianxin more wary. Her eyes sharpened as she looked at Chu Shu.

“Exactly. What do you need us to do? Please be clear.”

Chu Shu was nearly amused by their caution, but she also felt pleased.

“Of course, this isn’t just charity. It’s more of a mutual benefit.”

Wanqi Tianxin felt goosebumps rise on her arms.

Mo Ying rested her chin on her hand, staring at the reflection in the floor-to-ceiling window. Since Lou Xiaohei had probably already handled everything, she let out a yawn and started wondering which instrument she should choose.

Chu Shu had to speak more plainly. Otherwise, she had no doubt the offer would fall apart under Wanqi Tianxin’s scrutiny.

“Right now, ‘Sing for the Song 2’ is trending strongly. I believe in your group’s potential. If news spreads that one contestant had to drop out due to family issues, don’t you think the public would be moved?”

This kind of headline was effortless for someone like Chu Shu.

Wanqi Tianxin hesitated.

“So what exactly do we need to do? Let me say this up front. We won’t do anything that goes against our morals or principles.”

Chen Ruiling rubbed her forehead and remained silent.

Chu Shu paused thoughtfully.

“It’s simple. When your semifinal episode airs and the voting ends, all you need to do is accept one interview.”

Wanqi Tianxin had not expected their biggest issue to be resolved so easily. In the sunlight, it felt almost dreamlike. The past hour of negotiations suddenly seemed like a blur.

Smack.

As Chen Ruiling and Mo Ying walked alongside her, they suddenly saw Wanqi Tianxin slap herself across the face.

Mo Ying’s eyes widened. “Xinxin?”

Wanqi Tianxin covered one cheek and then bounced on her feet with joy.

“It’s real! I wasn’t dreaming! Ah Rui, Xiao Yu’er, does this mean Sisi is coming back soon?”

Chen Ruiling smiled. “Yes.”

Mo Ying looked at their happy faces, confused about why Tianxin had hit herself. But once she remembered that Wu Si’s issue had been solved, her mind filled with one thought.

Lou Xiaohei is so clever. Nothing is too hard for her.

Wanqi Tianxin exclaimed, “Do you think this has something to do with Yu Meiren?”

“Huh?” Mo Ying blinked.

Wanqi Tianxin was already thinking far ahead. “We asked Xiao Yu’er to talk to her, and she agreed. Then the sponsor arranged an interview. Doesn’t it all seem too convenient? Like someone was helping us behind the scenes? Other than Yu Meiren, who else could it be?”

Mo Ying nodded along. “That makes sense.”

Chen Ruiling covered her face with one hand and sighed, half amused, half helpless.

With someone agreeing, Wanqi Tianxin became even more animated. She transformed into Detective Tianxin, dissecting every detail and timeline with uncanny logic. Mo Ying listened in a haze, but it didn’t stop her from thinking how amazing Lou Xiaohei was.

As the three neared the villa, Chen Ruiling finally cut in.

“Enough. Let’s keep this quiet for now. We’ll celebrate when Sisi really comes back. Right now, we need to focus on preparing our song for the semifinals. Xiao Yu’er, have you decided what instrument you’ll use?”

At the mention of music and instrument pairing, Mo Ying’s cheerful expression vanished. She looked instantly burdened and scratched her head.

“Can I choose the harp?”

The other two were surprised. “The harp?”

It was the only instrument Mo Ying had ever been remotely good at, and that had been a long, long time ago.

Chen Ruiling and Wanqi Tianxin had no objections. Their curiosity, however, only grew. Then came another realization.

“If Sisi comes back, will she have enough time to rehearse with us?”