Chapter 51

"Have you already asked for others' opinions? Do the others agree to participate?" Xia Xi's voice was somewhat low as she spoke, which inadvertently made the staff member pause for a moment. She inexplicably felt that Xia Xi's voice was as rich as a cello, strangely pleasant to the ear.
In her heart, she couldn't help but think silently, "I never expected Xia Xi's voice to be so captivating."
"We've already asked around; you're the last one," the staff member nodded and said. "The list of participants for this event is almost finalized. Li Jiaqi, Liang Jing, and Bai Yu have chosen to withdraw due to scheduling conflicts, but the others, will all participate as planned."
"Since Zhao Qian, the award-winning actor, is joining, I'll participate as well," Xia Xi immediately nodded upon hearing the staff member's words, instinctively touching her nose and smiling lightly at the staff member. "I hope we can work together harmoniously."
The staff member visibly relaxed upon hearing Xia Xi's response, her entire demeanor easing. "In that case, let's discuss the contract details."
"As for the contract matters, you can talk directly with my agent. He has full authority to represent me and sign the contract on my behalf," Xia Xi narrowed her eyes and pointed at Da He, who happened to be walking in at that moment, happily passing the responsibility once again.
"Alright, I understand," the staff member followed Xia Xi's gesture and saw Xia Xi's agent wearing a very troubled and conflicted expression. She paused for a moment and couldn't help but think to herself that the relationship between the two of them seemed rather enigmatic.
"Your TV station handles crises quite impressively. To have everything arranged so clearly in such a short time, truly remarkable!" Just as the staff member was lost in thought staring at Da He, Xia Xi's voice brought her back to reality. After a few seconds of processing, she quickly replied.
"Actually, it's not too bad. We've encountered many similar situations before, so we're quite adept at handling them," she said with a playful smile, winking at Xia Xi as if to say, "Dealing with a boss who is both capricious and full of ideas is no easy task; we're constantly teetering on the edge of overtime."
"Still, it's a relief that this matter is almost resolved. All that's left are some finishing touches," the beleaguered staff member thought to herself, her tightly furrowed brow easing slightly. She let out a long sigh, revealing a hint of relaxation after the tension. "It can be considered a perfect resolution."
Xia Xi didn't say anything, merely offering a noncommittal smile.

One Week Later, First Recording of "Cross-Border Singing Joy"
This time, when Xia Xi returned to Fruit TV to participate in the recording of "Cross-Border Singing Joy," she carried herself with more composure than before and felt more confident in her singing abilities.
Standing on the red carpet laid out specifically for the show's artists at Fruit TV, she felt an eagerness to showcase a different side of herself to the audience.
"Go, Sister Xia Xi! Sister Xia Xi, aim for the win!"
As Xia Xi and Da He walked along the red carpet toward the "Cross-Border Singing Joy" studio, an abrupt voice suddenly rang out, causing both of them to freeze in surprise. They turned their heads toward the source of the sound, only to find the little boy who had barged into the room last time, now gathered with seven or eight children of similar age. They were earnestly holding up a banner and loudly cheering for Xia Xi.
"I didn’t expect Li Qi to keep his word, he actually showed up today," Da He nudged Xia Xi with his elbow and whispered to her, "So, how does it feel to have fan support?"
Xia Xi pursed her lips and said nothing, but she was undoubtedly happy inside.
Because this little boy was her first fan in this world.
Perhaps rarity makes things precious, but Xia Xi felt especially flattered, it was a completely different feeling from before.
Or maybe she had just been through so much hardship that her standards had lowered.

Learning from her previous mistake, Xia Xi arrived at the studio only half an hour early this time, not too early, but not too late either. The studio was sparsely populated, with only a few scattered staff members and participating artists seated inside.
As soon as Xia Xi stepped into the studio, she spotted Film Emperor Zhao Qian and Film Empress Liang Yue sitting properly on a sofa, engaged in an awkward conversation. Her eyes lit up, and she quickly walked over, greeting the two heavyweight veteran actors respectfully. Though Xia Xi was warm and enthusiastic toward them, her tone was not fawning, making it pleasant to the ear.
"Hello, Xia Xi," Actor Zhao Qian and Actress Liang Yue, despite their high status, were completely down-to-earth. They stood up one after another to greet Xia Xi, their expressions gentle and without a trace of disdain or contempt, even though Xia Xi was an actress with poor acting skills and little fame.
These seasoned individuals, having experienced much in life, understood the principle: "Do not despise the youth for their poverty."
In truth, Zhao Qian had always been Xia Xi’s idol. She had originally wanted to chat more with him, but she noticed his expression seemed somewhat unnatural, with a hint of obvious anxiety in his eyes. So, she held back from imposing herself and quietly sat beside Zhao Qian and Liang Yue, listening to their intermittent conversation.
"Actress Liang Yue, Actor Zhao Qian, I’ve long admired you!" Just as Xia Xi was staring blankly at the cup in front of her, a grating voice suddenly came from the entrance, filled with excitement. It felt jarring in the otherwise quiet atmosphere. Xia Xi frowned almost imperceptibly before looking up toward the door.
She was startled by what she saw, Lin Wei, with a perfectly poised smile on her lips, was slowly walking in.
Was she hallucinating?
Xia Xi secretly pinched herself hard, wanting to confirm whether Lin Wei was a figment of her imagination. A dull, tingling pain spread through her hand, yet Lin Wei remained standing before her, completely unharmed.
Lin Wei actually came to participate in "Cross-Border Singing Joy"? Why didn't anyone inform me? Is the production team deliberately using the two of us to create hype? After all, one is suspected to be Luo Chu'an's ex-girlfriend, and the other is the official current girlfriend, no matter how you think about it, it's explosive material.
Moreover, whether it was an illusion or not, Xia Xi always felt that Lin Wei's attitude toward her seemed to have changed. Unlike the condescending demeanor from last time, there was now a deliberate sense of targeting.
"I've long heard of both of your esteemed names, and I finally get to meet you today." While Xia Xi was still in a daze, pondering the production team's intentions, Lin Wei had already very familiarly taken a seat beside Actress Liang Yue and Actor Zhao Qian. She actively engaged in conversation with the two big shots, saying, "You two arrived so early; you must be fully confident about this competition. I’ve been tone-deaf since I was a child, someone like me is just here to make up the numbers. I hope the seniors can guide me more in the future."
"Not at all. Actress Liang, on the other hand, sings beautifully and has a strong chance of winning," Actor Zhao Qian replied with a light smile, his tone particularly approachable and carrying a hint of barely perceptible teasing. "As for me, I was tricked by the director of 'Cross-Border Singing Joy' into participating, like a duck forced onto a perch. I just hope the production team doesn’t eliminate me in the first round."
Actor Zhao Qian's words carried a bit of self-deprecation. After he finished speaking, Xia Xi and the others couldn’t help but laugh in unison, making the atmosphere in the studio even more relaxed. Xia Xi’s admiration and sense of closeness toward this adorable and lively Actor Zhao grew even stronger.
"Old Zhao, that’s not very fair of you," Actress Liang Yue said with a slightly reproachful expression after hearing Actor Zhao Qian’s words. "What you just said is nothing but flattery. Our singing skills are about the same, there’s no distinction between who’s better or worse. On the other hand, Xia Xi has a lovely voice. I think she has a natural talent for singing."