The secretary stood nearby, and Song Nanqiao seemed to be quite focused on these trainees. She had looked at many of their photos, and for some of them, she could even remember their names.
“Pay attention to Shu Baiye, she’s quite promising.”
“Miss Shu, I remember her too. I heard her singing and dancing skills are excellent, and she has a great look.”
A shining star can stand out anywhere, not just in the idol industry. During the preliminary auditions, some of the teachers also noticed Shu Baiye and recommended her to Song Nanqiao’s secretary. After meeting her in person, she seemed impressive, and her performance today should be good.
“Let’s see how it goes.”
When the trainees were in place, Song Nanqiao went to the small stage in the company.
This small stage was used for monthly assessments for trainees and also for rehearsals for the actors’ department. Over a dozen mentors were sitting below the stage, and when they saw Song Nanqiao, they all stood up and greeted her.
The secretary even reserved the central seat for Song Nanqiao.
Before the auditions began, the trainees’ eyes were already on Song Nanqiao. Those who came to audition had all heard of Song Nanqiao, and the fact that the CEO of this entertainment company was only twenty-three years old made her a young and promising entrepreneur.
Moreover, her reputation in the stock market added to the trainees’ admiration.
“I heard the company’s CEO is a stock market tycoon.”
“Yes, she just graduated from college.”
“If we catch her eye, our chances of passing the auditions should be much higher, right?”
A few well-prepared trainees watched Song Nanqiao for quite a while. They admired her a lot. When she caught them looking, Song Nanqiao smiled at them.
The trainees nervously nodded and quickly focused on the lyrics sheet in their hands.
“It’s been the scheduled time. Shall we begin?” The manager in charge of the auditions leaned down to ask Song Nanqiao.
“Let’s start.”
“Alright.”
Two minutes later, the stage lights were turned on, and the hall fell silent.
“Next, we have contestant number one, An Yunzhen.”
The first contestant was a sixteen-year-old girl. Her shoulder-length short hair was casually scattered on her shoulders. She wore a white T-shirt paired with a simple checkered jacket, giving off a youthful and lively vibe.
“She looks so young,” Song Nanqiao glanced at her profile. It stated she was sixteen, but she appeared to be around fourteen, though taller.
“Hello, everyone. I’m An Yunzhen, a prospective high school freshman.”
The girl smiled sweetly, exuding youthful energy. She smiled with dimples visible, and when she got on stage, she was unafraid and fully capable of handling the spotlight.
“Please begin your performance.”
Song Nanqiao’s expression was calm, but her gaze remained on the girl, indicating her obvious anticipation.
An Yunzhen chose a challenging K-pop dance song. The rhythm of the dance music reverberated throughout the hall. This seemingly clean and pure neighborhood girl transformed into a completely different style on stage, as she switched to a black style. She performed large, precise movements with a mature stage presence, fully captivating the audience. All the mentors were mesmerized by her.
Even Song Nanqiao’s eyes showed some admiration.
After the song, An Yunzhen took out a piece of candy from her pocket and, with cute little steps, approached Song Nanqiao, handing her the candy in front of everyone’s gaze.
After giving her the candy, she smiled at Song Nanqiao.
“Thank you.”
Song Nanqiao accepted it and politely thanked her.
Then it was the second contestant… the third… the fourth…
By the time the seventh contestant was up, the secretary whispered beside Song Nanqiao.
“Boss, the next one is Shu Baiye.”
After hearing that, Song Nanqiao became fully alert.
When Shu Baiye stepped onto the stage, she had a well-balanced demeanor. Compared to the first contestant, An Yunzhen, who was full of youthful vitality, Shu Baiye exuded a more mature and stable aura.
As if she had been on many stages before, she remained calm and composed, with her heels firmly planted.
“Hello, mentors, Chairman Song. I am a trainee named Shu Baiye.”
“Please start your performance.”
Song Nanqiao’s expression was still calm, but her gaze remained on Shu Baiye, clearly expressing her expectations.
Shu Baiye chose a high-difficulty K-pop dance song for her performance.
With a strong sense of rhythm, the dance music echoed throughout the hall.
This seemingly clean and pure neighborhood girl instantly transformed her style, as if she had switched to a completely different genre. Her movements were bold, her timing was precise, and her mature stage presence held the entire audience’s attention.
Even Song Nanqiao’s gaze showed a hint of appreciation.
After the song, Shu Baiye picked up the microphone next to her.
“This song is my original composition. I hope all the mentors will like it.” Shu Baiye bowed slightly, her clear voice resonating in the mentors’ ears.
Contrary to the previous high-energy performance, this time it was a soothing English melody, showcasing her versatility.
During the runway walk, she displayed excellent grace. Although not a professional model, her impeccable sense of rhythm and good figure made her performance stand out.
“She’s really good.”
“For her age, being able to write and compose her songs is already impressive.”
“Her dancing is fantastic, and she has a great stage presence during the runway walk.”
Several mentors discussed her performance with approval.
“It seems like she’s got this.”
…
After Shu Baiye left the stage, she intentionally glanced in the direction of Song Nanqiao, and Song Nanqiao also looked in her direction.
The two locked eyes for a moment, and then Song Nanqiao averted her gaze.
However, Shu Baiye, who was standing below the stage, was deep in thought. She had joined this company partly because of Song Nanqiao.
People in the entertainment industry could be quite unfriendly, especially towards newcomers like her who hadn’t officially debuted yet.
Originally, she had intended to use her exceptional looks to secure a role in Director Xu’s new drama, gain some popularity, and then participate in idol auditions. However, Director Xu hadn’t given her that chance; he had merely deceived her into accompanying him for drinks. Though she felt resentful, she unexpectedly discovered during the last drinking session that Song Nanqiao had treated her surprisingly well.
It seemed like Song Nanqiao was intentionally or unintentionally helping her, even after she drank that glass of wine.
This reinforced Shu Baiye’s resolve. She decided to come to Song Nanqiao’s company to try her luck. At the very least, she believed that Song Nanqiao wouldn’t harm her.
And so, today’s audition took place.
After the auditions ended, Song Nanqiao returned to her office. The audition results seemed promising, and she held high expectations for this group of trainees.
“Ms. Song, may I come in?” It was her secretary’s voice from outside the door.
“Please come in.”
Song Nanqiao put down the documents she was holding.
“There’s something I’m not sure if I should mention.”
The secretary seemed hesitant, as if it was a delicate matter, but also something that needed to be addressed.
“Go ahead, I have no taboos.”
“Shu Baiye… has caught the attention of some high-ranking executives in our company.”
“What happened? Give me the details.”
Song Nanqiao furrowed her brows. It was just her first day at the company, and she was already dealing with this. The young girl must be feeling very uncomfortable, and Song Nanqiao wouldn’t tolerate any inappropriate behavior from the company’s higher-ups toward any artists.
“After Shu Baiye finished her audition, some high-ranking executives privately asked for her contact information. She refused, but it seems she was threatened.”
“Which executive?”
“The HR manager.”
“And where is Shu Baiye now?”
“She’s in the practice room, and it seems she cried a bit.”
At this point, Song Nanqiao nodded and toyed with the lid of a porcelain cup, lost in thought.
“Here’s what we’ll do. Have the HR manager come here, and tell Shu Baiye to wait in the practice room until I arrive.”
“Of course, boss.”
After the secretary left, some time passed, and the HR manager arrived. He was a man in his thirties.
“Hello, Ms. Song.”
“Well, let’s get straight to the point. Did you ask for the contact information of the new trainee?”
Song Nanqiao didn’t beat around the bush. She wanted to address the issue directly. The company had explicit rules against any inappropriate advances toward trainees, and if the allegations were true, she wouldn’t hesitate to take action.
“I didn’t do anything of the sort.” The man was also quite clever; as long as there was no concrete evidence, he could simply deny it. After all, what harm was there in asking for someone’s contact information?
“Let’s hope that’s the case. But if I receive any more reports, you’ll have to explain yourself.”
Song Nanqiao gave him a cold, piercing look. Her gaze was enough to convey that he should know what to do next.
“Of course… Ms. Song.” The man couldn’t help but shiver a bit. Despite Song Nanqiao’s young age, he suddenly felt a chill running down his spine.
Seeing Song Nanqiao’s expression, he realized he had missed his chance to taste the forbidden fruit. Now, his plans had been thwarted by Song Nanqiao.
Once the man left, Song Nanqiao stood up from the sofa, straightened her clothes, and prepared to visit the vulnerable girl who had been threatened.
It was quite late now, and almost all the trainees had gone to have dinner. As Song Nanqiao approached the practice room’s door, she could hear the sound of the girl sobbing.
The secretary stood nearby, and Song Nanqiao seemed to be quite focused on these trainees. She had looked at many of their photos, and for some of them, she could even remember their names.
“Pay attention to Shu Baiye, she’s quite promising.”
“Miss Shu, I remember her too. I heard her singing and dancing skills are excellent, and she has a great look.”
A shining star can stand out anywhere, not just in the idol industry. During the preliminary auditions, some of the teachers also noticed Shu Baiye and recommended her to Song Nanqiao’s secretary. After meeting her in person, she seemed impressive, and her performance today should be good.
“Let’s see how it goes.”
When the trainees were in place, Song Nanqiao went to the small stage in the company.
This small stage was used for monthly assessments for trainees and also for rehearsals for the actors’ department. Over a dozen mentors were sitting below the stage, and when they saw Song Nanqiao, they all stood up and greeted her.
The secretary even reserved the central seat for Song Nanqiao.
Before the auditions began, the trainees’ eyes were already on Song Nanqiao. Those who came to audition had all heard of Song Nanqiao, and the fact that the CEO of this entertainment company was only twenty-three years old made her a young and promising entrepreneur.
Moreover, her reputation in the stock market added to the trainees’ admiration.
“I heard the company’s CEO is a stock market tycoon.”
“Yes, she just graduated from college.”
“If we catch her eye, our chances of passing the auditions should be much higher, right?”
A few well-prepared trainees watched Song Nanqiao for quite a while. They admired her a lot. When she caught them looking, Song Nanqiao smiled at them.
The trainees nervously nodded and quickly focused on the lyrics sheet in their hands.
“It’s been the scheduled time. Shall we begin?” The manager in charge of the auditions leaned down to ask Song Nanqiao.
“Let’s start.”
“Alright.”
Two minutes later, the stage lights were turned on, and the hall fell silent.
“Next, we have contestant number one, An Yunzhen.”
The first contestant was a sixteen-year-old girl. Her shoulder-length short hair was casually scattered on her shoulders. She wore a white T-shirt paired with a simple checkered jacket, giving off a youthful and lively vibe.
“She looks so young,” Song Nanqiao glanced at her profile. It stated she was sixteen, but she appeared to be around fourteen, though taller.
“Hello, everyone. I’m An Yunzhen, a prospective high school freshman.”
The girl smiled sweetly, exuding youthful energy. She smiled with dimples visible, and when she got on stage, she was unafraid and fully capable of handling the spotlight.
“Please begin your performance.”
Song Nanqiao’s expression was calm, but her gaze remained on the girl, indicating her obvious anticipation.
An Yunzhen chose a challenging K-pop dance song. The rhythm of the dance music reverberated throughout the hall. This seemingly clean and pure neighborhood girl transformed into a completely different style on stage, as she switched to a black style. She performed large, precise movements with a mature stage presence, fully captivating the audience. All the mentors were mesmerized by her.
Even Song Nanqiao’s eyes showed some admiration.
After the song, An Yunzhen took out a piece of candy from her pocket and, with cute little steps, approached Song Nanqiao, handing her the candy in front of everyone’s gaze.
After giving her the candy, she smiled at Song Nanqiao.
“Thank you.”
Song Nanqiao accepted it and politely thanked her.
Then it was the second contestant… the third… the fourth…
By the time the seventh contestant was up, the secretary whispered beside Song Nanqiao.
“Boss, the next one is Shu Baiye.”
After hearing that, Song Nanqiao became fully alert.
When Shu Baiye stepped onto the stage, she had a well-balanced demeanor. Compared to the first contestant, An Yunzhen, who was full of youthful vitality, Shu Baiye exuded a more mature and stable aura.
As if she had been on many stages before, she remained calm and composed, with her heels firmly planted.
“Hello, mentors, Chairman Song. I am a trainee named Shu Baiye.”
“Please start your performance.”
Song Nanqiao’s expression was still calm, but her gaze remained on Shu Baiye, clearly expressing her expectations.
Shu Baiye chose a high-difficulty K-pop dance song for her performance.
With a strong sense of rhythm, the dance music echoed throughout the hall.
This seemingly clean and pure neighborhood girl instantly transformed her style, as if she had switched to a completely different genre. Her movements were bold, her timing was precise, and her mature stage presence held the entire audience’s attention.
Even Song Nanqiao’s gaze showed a hint of appreciation.
After the song, Shu Baiye picked up the microphone next to her.
“This song is my original composition. I hope all the mentors will like it.” Shu Baiye bowed slightly, her clear voice resonating in the mentors’ ears.
Contrary to the previous high-energy performance, this time it was a soothing English melody, showcasing her versatility.
During the runway walk, she displayed excellent grace. Although not a professional model, her impeccable sense of rhythm and good figure made her performance stand out.
“She’s really good.”
“For her age, being able to write and compose her songs is already impressive.”
“Her dancing is fantastic, and she has a great stage presence during the runway walk.”
Several mentors discussed her performance with approval.
“It seems like she’s got this.”
…
After Shu Baiye left the stage, she intentionally glanced in the direction of Song Nanqiao, and Song Nanqiao also looked in her direction.
The two locked eyes for a moment, and then Song Nanqiao averted her gaze.
However, Shu Baiye, who was standing below the stage, was deep in thought. She had joined this company partly because of Song Nanqiao.
People in the entertainment industry could be quite unfriendly, especially towards newcomers like her who hadn’t officially debuted yet.
Originally, she had intended to use her exceptional looks to secure a role in Director Xu’s new drama, gain some popularity, and then participate in idol auditions. However, Director Xu hadn’t given her that chance; he had merely deceived her into accompanying him for drinks. Though she felt resentful, she unexpectedly discovered during the last drinking session that Song Nanqiao had treated her surprisingly well.
It seemed like Song Nanqiao was intentionally or unintentionally helping her, even after she drank that glass of wine.
This reinforced Shu Baiye’s resolve. She decided to come to Song Nanqiao’s company to try her luck. At the very least, she believed that Song Nanqiao wouldn’t harm her.
And so, today’s audition took place.
After the auditions ended, Song Nanqiao returned to her office. The audition results seemed promising, and she held high expectations for this group of trainees.
“Ms. Song, may I come in?” It was her secretary’s voice from outside the door.
“Please come in.”
Song Nanqiao put down the documents she was holding.
“There’s something I’m not sure if I should mention.”
The secretary seemed hesitant, as if it was a delicate matter, but also something that needed to be addressed.
“Go ahead, I have no taboos.”
“Shu Baiye… has caught the attention of some high-ranking executives in our company.”
“What happened? Give me the details.”
Song Nanqiao furrowed her brows. It was just her first day at the company, and she was already dealing with this. The young girl must be feeling very uncomfortable, and Song Nanqiao wouldn’t tolerate any inappropriate behavior from the company’s higher-ups toward any artists.
“After Shu Baiye finished her audition, some high-ranking executives privately asked for her contact information. She refused, but it seems she was threatened.”
“Which executive?”
“The HR manager.”
“And where is Shu Baiye now?”
“She’s in the practice room, and it seems she cried a bit.”
At this point, Song Nanqiao nodded and toyed with the lid of a porcelain cup, lost in thought.
“Here’s what we’ll do. Have the HR manager come here, and tell Shu Baiye to wait in the practice room until I arrive.”
“Of course, boss.”
After the secretary left, some time passed, and the HR manager arrived. He was a man in his thirties.
“Hello, Ms. Song.”
“Well, let’s get straight to the point. Did you ask for the contact information of the new trainee?”
Song Nanqiao didn’t beat around the bush. She wanted to address the issue directly. The company had explicit rules against any inappropriate advances toward trainees, and if the allegations were true, she wouldn’t hesitate to take action.
“I didn’t do anything of the sort.” The man was also quite clever; as long as there was no concrete evidence, he could simply deny it. After all, what harm was there in asking for someone’s contact information?
“Let’s hope that’s the case. But if I receive any more reports, you’ll have to explain yourself.”
Song Nanqiao gave him a cold, piercing look. Her gaze was enough to convey that he should know what to do next.
“Of course… Ms. Song.” The man couldn’t help but shiver a bit. Despite Song Nanqiao’s young age, he suddenly felt a chill running down his spine.
Seeing Song Nanqiao’s expression, he realized he had missed his chance to taste the forbidden fruit. Now, his plans had been thwarted by Song Nanqiao.
Once the man left, Song Nanqiao stood up from the sofa, straightened her clothes, and prepared to visit the vulnerable girl who had been threatened.
It was quite late now, and almost all the trainees had gone to have dinner. As Song Nanqiao approached the practice room’s door, she could hear the sound of the girl sobbing.
