"Although what you can do is of little use, it can be a highlight of your persona," Zhu Zhengchu thought to create a persona for her as a struggling trainee who took various part - time jobs just to participate in the talent show and make her debut.
Zhu Zhengchu sized her up slightly. "What else can you do besides these? I'm talking about performance skills, like dancing or playing musical instruments?"
"I know a bit of every dance style, and I can also play a little bit of every musical instrument."
For entertainers, being only a jack - of - all - trades is the biggest taboo. It's better to be excellent at one thing than mediocre at many. How can you attract attention if you have nothing outstanding?
"What musical instrument are you most proficient in? Piano? Guitar?"
Xiang Yutang thought for a while and gave a definite answer. "Suona."
"What did you say?" Zhu Zhengchu thought his ears were playing tricks on him.
Xiang Yutang said firmly, "The suona. I've been learning it since I was a kid. Wait, I'll perform it for you if you don't believe me!"
"Don't, don't." Zhu Zhengchu rubbed his temples. What kind of person had he dug out? But thinking from another perspective, she was different from traditional entertainers. Maybe she could attract the audience's attention. Take a chance. Maybe she was a potential star.
"Do you have any objections to becoming a signed artist under Meng Shuang's label in the future?" Those who came out from under Meng Shuang's label all became successful. It was known as a holy land for amateur trainees. Most people would be overjoyed if they got such an opportunity, but Xiang Yutang knew nothing about it. She even took out a coin and flipped it.
Zhu Zhengchu looked at her puzzled, not understanding what she was up to. After flipping the coin, Xiang Yutang took a look and nodded.
"I've made my decision just now. It's okay. My only requirement is to be fed three full meals a day."
"...Got it. I won't skimp on your meals."
Zhu Zhengchu started the car and drove her back to the trainee dormitory. "Go back to your dorm and wait. Someone will come to talk to you about the contract."
Xiang Yutang opened the car door and got out. Before leaving, she blew a kiss to Zhu Zhengchu. "Bye, perverted doctor!"
"...." Zhu Zhengchu silently rolled up the window and drove away. He thought he also needed to make a decision on whether it was right to recruit this new trainee. Would she become a stain on his label?
Xiang Yutang returned to the dorm. She was still living in a big dormitory with more than twenty people. Her roommates were either practicing singing or dancing. Xiang Yutang flopped onto her bed and thought about her future. If the old man at home saw her on the screen, his jaw would probably drop. She just didn't know if he would drag her back halfway.
While she was lost in thought, she felt someone kicking her bed. Xiang Yutang sat up. "What do you want?"
Several beautiful trainees stood in front of her bed menacingly, looking at her with scorn. "Didn't you go out to sell yourself today? Why did you come back so soon?"
Xiang Yutang flopped back again. "I advise you not to disturb my rest. After all, it's not a problem for me to take on all three of you."
Xiang Yutang had some martial arts skills, so the trainees were a bit afraid of her. But they were reluctant to leave just like that. So they simply found a place to sit down and started making sarcastic remarks.
"She came back so soon. Maybe no company wants her. Although she's good - looking, she seems a bit stupid. Who would take her?"
"Don't say that. She's very powerful. Didn't the judges say she was a rising star who was bound to be famous in the talent show world?"
When they entered the first - round competition, Xiang Yutang received the highest evaluation in the whole field. These trainees were very jealous. How could an ordinary amateur get such a high evaluation?
Xiang Yutang lazily looked at her good friend Zhuo Ziyu beside her. "When did our dorm start raising ducks?"
Zhuo Ziyu was still playing with her phone and then replied, "Where are there any ducks?"
"Can't you hear the quacking? There are three of them."
"Xiang Yutang! You!"
Xiang Yutang sat up and smoothed her hair. "What? Do you want to fight me?"
None of the three dared to step forward. They could only stand there fuming with rage. After a while, someone knocked on the door. "Excuse me, is Miss Xiang Yutang here?"
"Yes."
"I'm Gu Jiacai, an agent under Meng Shuang's label. From now on, you'll be the artist I'm in charge of. Just call me Brother Gu. Is it convenient for you to come out and talk about the contract now?"
All the trainees in the dormitory looked at Xiang Yutang with envy, jealousy, and hatred. This agent was well - known in the industry. How did Xiang Yutang deserve such good treatment?
A trainee with light - yellow hair in the crowd finally couldn't hold it in anymore. She pointed at Xiang Yutang's back and cursed. "So what if you sold yourself for a good price? You're disgusting."
Xiang Yutang stopped in front of her, took out a photo of a chicken coop on her phone, and showed it to her. "Go home and return to your original self."
The little trainee was so angry that her face turned red. Xiang Yutang didn't bother to pay attention to her and went out with Gu Jiacai.
Gu Jiacai said to her while walking, "You'll meet many such people in the future. You can fight back in private, but you mustn't show it on screen, not even a bit."
"I know."
Gu Jiacai handed the documents in his hand to her. "You're the person the boss has taken a fancy to, so I don't need to worry too much. Here is a contract, and the other one is about some important matters. Read them carefully and ask me if you have any questions."
Xiang Yutang flipped through them roughly, thought there was no problem, and then signed her name.
"Tomorrow is the recording of the first episode of this show. The boss wants you to perform on your most proficient musical instrument. Prepare well and don't disgrace the company."
"Okay!" Her most proficient musical instrument would surely make a sensational performance.
The next day, many people got up early to prepare for the recording, but Xiang Yutang was still sleeping in bed. Someone patted her face, and she woke up groggily.
"What are you doing? It's so early in the morning."
Zhuo Ziyu shook her vigorously. "Get up quickly. The show is going to be recorded soon. You're almost late!"
"Stop shaking. I'm getting up."
She rushed to the recording site in a hurry. The show had already started. Xiang Yutang saw those who usually gave her cold looks in the dorm smiling amiably here. She felt so disgusted that goosebumps rose all over her body. She quickly pulled Zhuo Ziyu and hid in a corner. There was a long and boring speech from the host first, which made Xiang Yutang sleepy. Then the mentors were invited to come out.
To Xiang Yutang's surprise, Zhu Zhengchu was among the four mentors. She asked Zhuo Ziyu beside her in a daze, "Isn't he a perverted doctor? Why can he be a mentor?"
Zhuo Ziyu chattered about Zhu Zhengchu like an old mother. "Sister, what on earth are you doing in the entertainment industry? Don't you know that Zhu Zhengchu is an all - around entertainer? He's excellent at both singing and acting! Don't gape like that. It won't look good if you're caught on camera!"
Help! Why on earth did she accompany this fool to participate in the talent show?
Xiang Yutang sat obediently. Finally, when the host called her name, she couldn't wait to take her secret weapon and go on stage.