Chapter 83: Backed by the Company

“Xiaolin will go with you to the scene to back you up, representing the company and me. Ji Fei is the top figure in the industry, so you don’t need to worry too much. Just focus on doing your best.” Yet Lin Yu was unaware of how extraordinarily partial Ji Ya was to him. Apart from the top stars, who else in the company received the special treatment of having the CEO’s assistant temporarily act as their manager?

Witnessing the industry’s unspoken rules laid bare before him, Lin Yu felt deeply shaken. He had heard online about the entertainment world in the future—how one could buy a championship on certain shows, how others disregarded the well-being of artists just for the sake of traffic. Some artists, lacking strong backing, painfully lost out in talent competitions where their favorite singer was passed over, the championship handed to a virtual persona. The artist, furious, accused the show of corruption on the spot, with fans joining the outcry, yet none could withstand the cruel reality.

Lin Yu realized belatedly how sincerely Ji Ya treated him, which was far beyond his expectations. He also remembered the genuinely kind landlady who had looked after him. In a world rife with intrigue and deception, mere talent wasn’t enough. It was the capital behind the scenes that determined whether you could stand firm and rise to fame in the future.

The truth was harsh, yet it was undeniable.

“Boss! Let me cling to your thigh!” Ji Ya stretched out her leg in black stockings, raising her eyebrows. “I dare to offer it, do you dare to touch?” Teasing the boss was a serious offense~

Lin Yu, bold as ever, did actually reach out and touch. With those black stockings right there, how could he resist? A hot-blooded young man like him could hardly withstand such temptation.

Seeing the look of enjoyment on Ji Ya’s face, Xiaolin was stunned.

Oh my—Boss, if you claim there’s nothing between you and Lin Yu, I swear I’ll livestream myself eating crap!

After dinner, they returned to the company. Ji Ya headed to the top floor for a shareholders’ meeting, while Lin Yu went to the recording engineer next to his workstation for the final check on his tape. Unexpectedly, Xiaolin came looking for him just then, and seeing this scene, couldn’t help but laugh.

“So you’re secretly leveling up, waiting to amaze everyone, right?”

“With the boss caring so much about you, you don’t give her any updates?”

It was just a joke, not a real reproach.

Lin Yu scratched his head and smiled, “Well, if I reported everything to the boss, wouldn’t it look like I’m complaining about Sister Xiaolin’s work ability?”

“If it’s something I can handle myself, it’s best to solve it on my own.”

Having spent years delivering packages and take-out in his previous life, Lin Yu understood social nuances perfectly. Seeing Xiaolin laugh, he joined in, grinning.

“To be honest, Sister Xiaolin, you’re so beautiful—especially when you smile. It goes straight to my heart. If you debuted, with your looks, you’d be a top star in no time.”

Xiaolin rolled her eyes. “Alright, a few compliments are enough. Any more and it sounds like flattery.”

“Hehe.” Lin Yu chuckled, realizing he’d indeed gone overboard.

“Remember, your flight’s at ten o’clock. Finish recording the audio quickly, don’t miss your boarding time.”

Lin Yu nodded in agreement. With Xiaolin caring so much for him, he wouldn’t let her down and quickly immersed himself in the recording work. Under the professional guidance of the engineer, progress was swift.

After finishing the final details, while the engineer made adjustments, Lin Yu took a good look around the studio. His eyes lit up when he spotted a flute in the corner. He knew a bit about playing the flute from his days dancing in the square with the old ladies—some of the grandpas had a band, and he’d learned a little.

Judging by its placement, it seemed the flute was abandoned. Lin Yu smiled, recalling the “stray dog theory”: anything dropped and unwanted was his.

He carefully touched the flute—its material was solid, likely expensive. He’d never handled such a valuable instrument, and couldn’t help but shiver as memories flooded back to his previous life, playing with the grandpas.

The recollections surged like a tide. As he raised the flute to his lips, it was as if divine assistance descended; the sound flowed like a gentle stream, painting a breathtaking landscape for those present. Though his technique wasn’t perfect—he’d only grasped the basics due to limited time—it was enough to astonish the recording engineer.

“Did you learn from a famous master?”

The engineer, delighted, patted Lin Yu’s shoulder.

“A folk master,” Lin Yu replied. The engineer’s face lit up with understanding, “The real talents are among the people!”

After the jest, everyone returned to their work. Lin Yu watched the engineer for a while, marveling at the array of buttons and sophisticated equipment. If he had to operate it himself, he’d probably have the place smoking in no time.

In the engineer’s hands, everything was handled with ease—no flaws could be seen. Adjustments were minimal, yet the sound was flawless.

Lin Yu sighed, thinking that if he hadn’t given up entering the industry in his previous life, he wouldn’t have suffered being cheated for four years, nor lost his life over that abnormal relationship. Suddenly remembering he had more to do, Lin Yu bid the engineer farewell and left.

The engineer worked quickly—no wonder he was a professional. The audio recorded in the morning was already edited into a demo tape by the afternoon. Ji Ya, upon hearing the news, hurried to the studio, wanting to be the first listener.

“If you came with me to the scene, Boss, you could experience it all firsthand.”

“Come off it. I have plenty to handle. Participating in a dating show has delayed a pile of work. The manager’s approach really isn’t as efficient as mine.”

“Are you boasting, Boss? Like the old lady selling melons?”

“Who are you calling an old lady?!”

Ji Ya restrained herself from punching him, took a deep breath to calm down, and reminded him seriously, “Remember, Xiaolin is your anchor in the program team. If you have any issues or difficulties, go to her immediately.”

“I’ll be on the show for about two and a half months. Will you miss me, Boss?”

“……”

“I know you will.”

“And then?”

“Instead of words of concern, why not just send me a big sum of money~”

He’d pushed too far.

Ji Ya couldn’t hold back and punched him.

“As expected, nothing decent ever comes out of your mouth.”

She chased him out the company’s front door, where the designated company car was waiting. Before leaving, Lin Yu wanted to give Ji Ya a big hug, but she pushed his face away with a single hand.

“Go, go, go.”

“Boss~~ I’ll miss you~~ Whether you miss me or not, I’ll always miss you. But you wouldn’t be so heartless, right~~”

Ji Ya showed a look of disdain, ignored him, and kicked him into the car, saying, “Go.”

On the surface, she seemed annoyed, but deep inside she was reluctant to let him go. Her expressionless face hid her feelings so well, no one could tell.