CHAPTER 85: CHAPTER 81: YIYI, WANT A HUG

"Stop a minute.

"Remember, in the line ’Once blocked every dream, every door,’ the word ’dream’ should be emphasized, and ’door’ should fade out. Additionally, a bit of breathiness in this line would make it better.

"And for ’At last, a possibility, an infinite possibility,’ the second ’possibility’ should have a hint of a cry in the tone, and the ending breath should be controlled well. You must hold it, absolutely do not break!

"Let’s go again, and I don’t want to see the previous mistakes repeated this time!

"Stop! What’s wrong? Can’t you even breathe properly? The high notes aren’t there, your falsetto almost cracked, the vibrato is unstable, the emphasis is too soft, and you’re not finishing your notes properly..."

Chu Tian frowned, listing all sorts of flaws. Inside the recording booth, Xu Qingqiu had already lost her earlier confidence and cheerfulness; she had become somewhat dazed and depressed.

"Start over!"

The three of them had been grinding away in the recording studio for nearly six hours straight, not even having time for lunch.

Xu Qingqiu’s delivery was improving, but her overall state was deteriorating.

Finally, after Chu Tian called a halt once more, Xu Qingqiu couldn’t bear it anymore.

"Stop, just stop! What’s wrong with you? Where’s your focus? You look like you’ve lost your soul, totally devoid of emotion. Your breath control is shot. Are you tired?"

Xu Qingqiu stood in the recording booth, looking through the glass at Chu Tian in the control room. He wore headphones and was mercilessly criticizing her. She bit her lip desperately, trying to endure, but finally, she couldn’t hold back anymore.

She tilted her head back and sniffled, then turned around, opened the door, and dashed out.

BANG!

With the slam of the door, Chu Tian stared blankly as Xu Qingqiu stormed past him and out of the room, not yet processing what had just happened.

"What was that all about?"

What happened? What else could have happened? Is his mouth the source of all venom or something?

Yiyi, who had been sitting on the sofa behind him the whole time, pursed her lips helplessly and said, "Chu Tian, can’t you speak more gently? I’m about to cry just sitting here listening to you! Was Sister Qiu really as bad as you made her out to be?"

After speaking, Yiyi rolled her eyes at him, stamped her foot, and chased after Xu Qingqiu, leaving Chu Tian sitting there alone, stunned and motionless.

Was I really that strict? For a moment, his mind drifted.

Strict? Of course, I was strict. In my previous life, as a trainee, I was molded under the strict tutelage of several instructors and the company’s rigorous management. The reason I became a top star back then wasn’t just my looks; my skills, honed by that rigorous training, played a huge part. A dozen others debuted with me, followed by batch after batch of junior trainees. I wasn’t the only one to reach top star status, but very few of us actually lasted in the industry. Those who endured were the ones who practiced diligently and never stopped learning. Those who shot to fame overnight purely by luck, without exception, eventually crashed and burned. No matter the opportunities or how much hype they generated, in the end, true skill was what really mattered. This was also why I became a King. I knew better than anyone that it was because I worked hard enough—practiced diligently, learned earnestly. After becoming a King, I participated in many variety shows and mentored many students. Out of a sense of responsibility, I always made strict demands, wanting them to learn more and secure a better future.

Moreover, there was another factor: the phone call that morning had, to some extent, affected him. In his previous life, whenever he felt upset, he would numb himself with work.

It was the same today. His gloomy mood had led him to immerse himself fully in his work, causing him to completely overlook that the other person was a woman—a Queen, at that, who had her dignity to maintain. And, most crucially, she was his boss.

It wasn’t until she had stormed out, angered by him, that he finally came to his senses. Looking at the cold lunch that had long been sitting on the sofa behind him, he felt a pang of guilt.

I was too strict, too focused. I took out my bad mood on someone else. That was definitely my fault. There’s nothing wrong with having high standards, but I was too impatient, too harsh. I completely disregarded her feelings, and that was totally uncalled for.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t sit still any longer. He quickly stood up and headed outside.

He searched the entire company but couldn’t find her. After asking several people, he learned she had gone out.

This was Culture Park. It had three office buildings in total, all catering to the media industry. With many celebrities, big and small, coming and going, there was naturally no shortage of paparazzi.

The park administration had anticipated this. So, behind the buildings, there was a small park and rest area with very strict access control, making it a semi-private zone. Outsiders couldn’t get in. Many people working within the park liked to rest there, not only because of the carefully planned greenery but also for the privacy it offered.

If nothing unexpected happened, Xu Qingqiu must have gone there.

Chu Tian figured as much and hurriedly took the elevator downstairs.

After circling the small park twice, he finally saw two people sitting on a bench beside a small pond in a corner.

Xu Qingqiu sat with her back to him, her shoulders heaving, while Yiyi carefully handed her tissues.

He grimaced. After hesitating and dawdling for a good while, he finally walked over.

Xu Qingqiu, who was crying her heart out with her head down and face buried in her hands, didn’t even notice someone had approached.

Yiyi, however, spotted him the moment she looked up. She first rolled her eyes at him, then glanced down at the heavily sobbing Xu Qingqiu. An idea seemed to strike her; she stood up and SMACK—slapped the tissues she was holding into Chu Tian’s hand.

She shot him a fierce glare, then turned and walked away without a backward glance.

This... Chu Tian stared at the tissues in his hand, unsure whether to stay or go.

Finally, he gingerly sat on the edge of the bench, wondering what to say. Just then, without lifting her head, Xu Qingqiu extended a small hand towards him, palm up, beckoning with her fingers. He froze for a moment, then quickly realized and pulled out a tissue, placing it in her hand.

It was as if a switch had been flipped. Xu Qingqiu simply buried her face in her knees and, between sobs, started to vent her frustrations.

"BOO HOO HOO... Am I really that bad? Why did he have to say such awful things? SOB...

"Hmph. BOO HOO... I sang for six hours straight! Who wouldn’t be tired after six hours? My throat’s all hoarse, couldn’t he tell?

"Ah... I didn’t even have lunch... Hmm... and I didn’t eat breakfast either... I have no energy at all, and he still talked to me like that! I must have been so blind before... BOO HOO HOO...

"WAH... I’m so miserable! This is so humiliating...

"Yiyi... I need a hug... Life is so hard... WAH..."

As she spoke and cried, Xu Qingqiu seemed to exhaust herself. She leaned over towards Chu Tian and, without even lifting her head, hugged him.

Chu Tian had nowhere to dodge. He instinctively raised his hands, but for a moment, he was speechless, only managing to hold his arms awkwardly up at his sides.

Unsurprisingly, Xu Qingqiu hugged him squarely.

The moment they hugged, both froze, neither daring to move an inch.

They stayed like that for perhaps ten seconds, or maybe even a few minutes. Xu Qingqiu’s crying stopped. Her mind went blank for a long moment before she finally processed the situation. WHOOSH—she abruptly let go, her eyes wide with terror, and scrambled back a good distance, staring at Chu Tian.

When she clearly saw who it was, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then, her face immediately flushed crimson with embarrassment, leaving her at a loss for words.