Chapter 133: Good Hands and Aces, Progress in the Studio

Successfully securing her spot in the next round, Bai Ling was overjoyed. Now, she would receive double the appearance fee. Happily, she walked off the stage in her "Ding Dang Mao" (Doraemon) costume. Since her identity hadn't been exposed, she didn't need to join the judges' panel; a quick cleanup and an early exit would suffice.

Backstage, the director approached her with great enthusiasm. "Bai Ling, you truly surprised me. Let me introduce myself—my surname is Wu, Wu Youliang. We’ll have plenty of opportunities to work together in the future. You must prepare well for the next episode; I hope you’ll give everyone another big surprise."

Looking at the fervent Wu Youliang, Bai Ling smiled and replied, "Director Wu, don't worry! I will give it my all." She had chosen to perform songs originally sung by male artists specifically to keep advancing, and as she had anticipated, it worked perfectly. With such a proven path before her, what more could she ask for? She intended to conquer the next episode, and the one after that, too.

"Bai Ling, there are three episodes left until the show concludes. I look forward to your performance." After a brief chat, Wu Youliang left. With the show still ongoing, he had to return to oversee the overall production. Bai Ling also made a smooth departure and returned to her hotel to rest.

In the dead of night, Bai Ling lay in bed, idly browsing her phone. For her, today’s events were hardly a challenge—no trouble at all. However, Leng Yan had called to probe for the real identity of "Ding Dang Mao." His words were filled with warnings: there weren't many good people in the industry, all those men were scoundrels, and she shouldn't trust them too easily.

After listening, Bai Ling couldn't help but burst into laughter. Had Leng Yan truly adopted the role of an overprotective father? Still, whether he acted as an older brother or a father figure, Bai Ling appreciated the sentiment. After all, compared to the likes of Bai Zhengyi, Lin Fenfang, Wen Huaiyu, and Leng Yan, she couldn't help but sigh and retort playfully, "Young Master Leng, don't think so poorly of everyone. There are good people in the entertainment industry—at least, you’re not bad. Don't worry, I’ll write a song for you too. How about I give you one in a little while?"

Upon hearing this, though Leng Yan didn't soften his expression, his voice grew noticeably lighter. "Good girl, my warnings weren't in vain! Regardless, just stay vigilant. By the way, your sister-in-law wants to see you. When can you come over for dinner? Also, my daughter is a huge fan of yours; you should come and keep her company then."

Bai Ling nodded. "Alright, no problem!" Her schedule wasn't tight, as she didn't need to attend rehearsals. After ending the call with Leng Yan, she returned to surfing the web. Not long after, *Guess Who I Am* began releasing promotional material. The show was still several days away from broadcast, and the final cut was still in production. However, to drive traffic and buzz, many variety shows would release teasers just like this.

Originally, the popularity of *Guess Who I Am* had been in a sharp decline, nowhere near where it was at the start. Yet, unexpectedly, the production team decided to release the clip of "Moonlight." Had Bai Ling not appeared, they likely would have kept it under wraps, as the song's difficulty had already been acknowledged by the judges. The brilliance of the performance was beyond doubt, and since Leng Yan hadn't even tried to disguise his voice—effectively outing himself—the production team likely intended to use it as the main highlight of the episode.

Unfortunately, Bai Ling's appearance had changed the equation, leaving the production team with two trump cards. Naturally, playing one to attract traffic while holding the other as the ultimate closer was the logical choice. As expected, the release of "Moonlight" quickly drew the attention of many, including Leng Yan’s fans, genuine music enthusiasts, and the show's loyal viewers. Even though the released material was only a segment of Leng Yan's performance, it was more than enough. The official channel was flooded with comments, creating quite a stir.

Bai Ling didn't pay much attention to the specifics; it was late, and she needed to sleep. As for what kind of waves this episode would make, she could just wait to see the broadcast in a couple of days.

At midnight, the system chimed in with her reward. "Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Dimension KTV Super VIP Service Card!"

Bai Ling looked puzzled. "Why does this reward feel a bit... improper?"

The system replied, "It is very proper! The Super VIP Service Card can tailor a series of vocal improvement services based on your needs. The extent of your progress will depend on the effort you put in! You can choose areas such as high notes, breath control, emotional expression, harmonies, or vocalizing."

Bai Ling was stunned. "It sounds similar to the 'Best Actress Hall,' but not quite the same." The "Best Actress Hall" was an exam-based system that corrected mistakes through repeated testing. But this VIP card was like a one-on-one private tutoring session—high service, high quality. The only downside was that she had to work hard. Of course, that wasn't really a downside; it was an advantage. As long as she put in the work, she might not just break even—she could hit the jackpot!

As this thought crossed her mind, she suddenly shivered. "Damn it, this wretched system is definitely trying to lure me in! The 'Heaven Rewards Diligence' system is truly cunning!" After a mental battle with thin air, she finally drifted off to sleep. As for this new item, she would consider using it in a few days.

Over the next few days, Bai Ling thought she could finally relax, but then she received news from Sister Ge. "The company has approved your request to open an independent studio. However, I might not be able to handle everything for you these next couple of days."

Bai Ling was taken aback. "What's wrong? Sister Ge, are you facing some trouble?"

Sister Ge explained, "You know that my position in the company is a Senior Agent; I manage more than just you. Since you're opening your own studio, according to your plan, you'll likely want to bring in some fresh blood and sign new artists, right?"

Bai Ling nodded. "Yes, that's right."

"So, you'll need someone to help manage those artists. You don't expect to rely on Miaomiao, who has only been working for a little over a year, to handle everything, do you? I have to come help you... so I need to clear my current duties at the headquarters before I can join you."

Only then did it click for Bai Ling. She was overjoyed. "Sister Ge, are you really willing to come over? I have to warn you, my temple is small—won't you feel slighted?" After opening her own studio, Bai Ling would effectively be half-independent. Sister Ge joining her wasn't a promotion—it was essentially a demotion. Bai Ling had been worried about this, but she never expected Sister Ge to have already made up her mind.