Translator: _Min_
Xu Xiyun was stunned, his head bowed like a drenched dog. âIâm sorry, Teacher
Si, but⦠theyâre using my grandmother against me. Sheâs very sick.â âYour grandmother?â Si Fuqingâs eyes darkened. âWhatâs going on?â
âMy grandmother is seriously ill,â Xu Xiyun explained, his head in his hands. âI borrowed money from the company to get her hospitalized. The manager just said if I withdraw from the competition, theyâll transfer her to a hospital in Sijiu City.â
Xie Yu frowned, âWhy didnât you say anything about this?â
Xu Xiyun opened his mouth, struggling to speak.
He always saw himself as a burden and didnât dare to trouble others.
âI see,â Si Fuqingâs tone softened slightly, her fox-like eyes curving again, âWhich hospital is your grandmother in?â
Xu Xiyun was taken aback, âI⦠I had her transferred here when I came to train. Sheâs in the First Affiliated Hospital.â
Si Fuqing nodded, âAlright, Iâll step out for a while. Continue your training.â Before Xu Xiyun could respond, she had already left.
âWhat about your parents?â Xie Yu asked, concerned. âWhy are you the only one taking care of her?â
âIâm an orphan,â Xu Xiyun said, his voice tinged with sadness. âMy grandmother found me when she was picking up trash. If it werenât for her, I would have starved to death on the streets.â
He hesitated before adding, âActually, transferring her to Sijiu City wouldnât help much. I know her condition; itâs tough, and even the doctors are at a loss. Theyâre just keeping her alive with medication.â
âThereâs always a way,â Xie Yu replied nonchalantly, âEven if modern medicine fails, there are other methods.â
Xu Xiyun looked confused, âLike⦠spiritual healing?â
Xie Yu paused, âYou catch on fast. Focus on training for now.â
News of Xu Xiyun being forced to withdraw spread throughout the training camp.
Several trainees came to see what was happening, including Lu Yan, who squinted his eyes thoughtfully.
What a pity.
If only it had been Xie Yu who was forced to withdraw.
But with Xie Yuâs top ranking, his withdrawal would have caused a backlash among fans.
Still, Xu Xiyunâs withdrawal wasnât a bad thing for Lu Yan. It relieved some of his frustration.
âXiyun, if you had signed with our Tianle Media, you wouldnât be facing this situation,â Lu Yan sighed pretentiously. âIn the entertainment industry, without backing, even talent is useless.â
Xu Xiyun was about to roll up his sleeves when a slender hand pressed down on his shoulder.
Xie Yu raised an eyebrow, âForgot to ask, howâs your family doing?â
Lu Yan frowned, âWhat do you mean?â
âJust curious if your family is really as influential in East State as you claim,â Xie Yu smiled.
Lu Yan had a bad feeling, âXie Yu, stop with the sarcasm. Even if my family isnât the strongest in East State, itâs still better than your commoner background.â
âScrew you!â Xu Xiyun blurted out, âWhen Brother Xie becomes a top star, your family wonât even compare! â
Xie Yu was speechless.
This lucky fool, now worrying about him.
Xie Yu never worried about money; his concern was always his life.
His phone buzzed at that moment.
[Dad]: Tell your mom Iâll be home for dinner tonight. I bought some king crabs. Sheâs been dealing with emergencies non-stop lately, really busy. She needs a good meal to replenish.
[Xie Yu]: Donât you have her WeChat? Why ask me to tell her?
[Dad]: â¦
[Dad]: She deleted me.
[Xie Yu]: Oh, then youâre really in trouble.
His life was temporarily safe. His dad could help distract some attention.
Meanwhile, Lu Yan returned to Li Jingchenâs singing and songwriting class.
He had recently followed his agentâs advice to surrender his phone and focus on training.
Xie Yuâs words kept nagging at Lu Yan, and he eventually got his phone back from his agent.
He made a call home: âHey, Mom, howâs everything at home? Everything normal?â
âYan, thereâs been a bit of trouble at home recently, so we might not be able to pay much attention to you,â his motherâs tired voice came through. âYou just focus on your own things. Weâve recorded our familyâs support messages, and weâll definitely be there on the night of the finals.â
Lu Yanâs expression changed, âWhat kind of trouble?â
âJust some issues with our cash flow,â his mother explained. âDonât worry about us, focus on your third performance. Weâve got it under control.â
âWeâve already arranged a celebrity to support you. Donât worry, weâve spoken to the show organizers and some investors. Theyâve arranged less favorable celebrities with blemishes to support Xie Yuâs group. Some negative news about them will also be released.â
Relieved, Lu Yan handed back his phone and resumed training.
At the headquarters of Wangchuan Entertainment.
The manager relayed everything that had happened to the CEO.
âThis Si Fuqing, does she think sheâs some big shot now?â the CEO of Wangchuan Entertainment scoffed, slamming his hand on the desk. âDoes she think being pretty and having fans gives her the right to be arrogant in the entertainment industry?â
The manager hesitated, âSheâs Xu Xiyunâs mentor, after all. Theyâve developed a bond. Itâs natural for her to be upset about his sudden withdrawal.â
âI donât want to hear excuses. We were going to be nice to Xu Xiyun, but now it seems unnecessary,â the CEO said indifferently. âIf heâs withdrawing, we wonât bother with his grandmotherâs treatment anymore.â
âGo tell the hospital to withdraw her doctor.â
Itâs truly a case ofrefusing the toast only to be forced to drink a penalty.
The manager, though still holding a professional title, had lost all real authority after the companyâs acquisition. He had no choice but to comply.
He felt a bit resentful.
Si Fuqing had inadvertently made things worse.
What was she thinking?
At the First Affiliated Hospital, Room 309.
A nurse had just finished checking the blood pressure of the elderly woman in the bed, âThe patientâs condition is stable today, everythingâs normal.â As she was leaving, two men in black barged into the room.
âWhat are you doing?!â the nurse exclaimed. âThe patient just had an injection and needs rest! Youâre not family, what do you want?!â
She remembered Xu Xiyun.
A spirited young man.
He had always been attentive to his grandmother.
Who were these people?
Could it be that Xu Xiyun had gotten into trouble with some underworld figures?
âItâs none of your business,â a cold voice from the assistant followed, âWe have orders from the company. She canât stay here anymore.â
âWhat company?â the nurse stepped back in fear, âStop it, Iâm calling the police!â
âI advise you not to,â the assistant frowned, âIf you canât afford the bills, you have to leave the hospital. Donât worry about her, just get her out.â
The two men pushed the bed out of the room.
But they didnât make it to the elevator.
As the elevator doors opened, a girl in a hat stepped in.
Blocking their way.
Si Fuqing, with one hand in her pocket and her eyelashes lowered, simply said,
âShang Lu.â
Shang Lu immediately sprang forward, âHere!â
âThrow them out.â
âGot it!â
The two men, who only went through basic trainings, were no match for Shang Lu, who easily picked them up and tossed them out.
The nurse was stunned.
âWho are you?â the assistant asked, alarmed, âWhat do you want to do?â Xu Xiyun only had his grandmother as family, with no significant background.
The CEO hadnât mentioned anyone else being here!
âSorry for the interruption,â Si Fuqing leaned slightly, âThe patient in room 309 is being transferred for surgery.â
She placed a business card and a bank card on the glass counter..