Chapter Two: The Little Scatterbrain

“It's a pity,” Minister Lin said, his expression inscrutable, a mixture of regret and relief. The pressure he had borne these past weeks was something few could understand. The young man before him had once been someone he valued and acknowledged. Sadly, in the end, he was simply not cut out for the company, nor did he belong here. If not for other reasons, Lin would rather have shelved him for three years, forcing him to yield slowly, than let him walk away like this. The rule that he could sign with another company only after a year was not just an industry norm; more importantly, it was to prevent him from immediately signing elsewhere after the contract was dissolved. If by chance he became famous later, it would be a slap in the company’s face. After a year of silence, though, whatever he became would have nothing to do with them. As for whether this was fair to Lin Qihua—that was never Lin’s concern.

“I don’t regret it. Farewell.” Lin Qihua felt a weight lift from his heart. For three years, he had gained much, but suffered more oppression. Now, the clouds had parted; he felt free, as if he could roam the world at will.

“Take care, and be cautious. Young Master Guo has already said he wants to deal with you.” As Lin Qihua pulled open the door, Minister Lin’s quiet words followed him out.

Lin Qihua paused for a moment, then resolutely pushed open the door, leaving behind only, “I understand.”

Returning to the training room, Lin Qihua found the other five members had stopped and were silently watching him pack his things.

“A stray dog,” Liu Feng remarked lightly, leaning against the wall.

Lin Qihua ignored him, calmly packing his clothes, towel, and other belongings into his backpack. He stood, saw Liu Feng’s mocking gaze and the others’ confused expressions, and broke into a wry smile. He went to each of them, hugging them and wishing them good luck. The youngest, Liu Zhixiong, already had red-rimmed eyes. He didn’t know all the details, but since joining, Lin Qihua had quietly helped him fit in, both in training and daily life. Seeing him leave like this, Liu Zhixiong couldn’t control his emotions.

“Don’t be like this. We’ll still be in the same industry—it’s not as if you’ll never see me again. You should wish me well. From now on, I’ll have the whole sky to soar in,” Lin Qihua joked.

“Mm.” Liu Zhixiong choked up. “I wish you all the best, Brother Hua.”

Lin Qihua laughed heartily, patting his shoulder. He bowed deeply to the trainers—these people were heroes behind the scenes, generously imparting their knowledge and skills, and deserved his gratitude.

The trainers looked saddened, but they had seen this scene many times before. Though they felt the loss, they knew that such was life.

Lin Qihua went to Liu Feng, extended his right hand, and smiled. “Liu Feng, we entered the program together, debuted together, and have competed for over three years. As the saying goes, ‘No discord, no concord.’ We’ve become old acquaintances. Now that I’m leaving, the group is in your hands. I hope you’ll look after them, keep everyone united, and strive for good results. Haha, though I suppose I’m the least qualified to say this.”

Liu Feng was taken aback. He had expected Lin Qihua to have some harsh words, not this. He shook Lin Qihua’s hand, at a loss for words.

“Well, I’m off. Good luck, everyone!” Lin Qihua waved, leaving the training room with composure and lightness, departing the place where he’d spent the most time in the past three years.

As he passed the doors of other training rooms, people inside paused, watching him go by. They were all familiar faces, and word of his situation had already spread. More than one girl shed tears at the sight of him.

“I never thought I’d get this kind of send-off,” Lin Qihua mocked himself, but didn’t slow his steps. Though he was leaving, there was no need to make a tragic or reluctant display. That was not his style.

“Wait.” He had just reached the elevator when a voice called out, making him pause.

A girl of seventeen or eighteen rushed over, bent double and panting, her twin ponytails bouncing playfully.

“Hey, you little scatterbrain,” Lin Qihua chuckled.

“Don’t call me that!” she protested out of habit, then grew dejected. “Are you really leaving, Senior?”

“Yes, I am,” he nodded.

“But why?” Her lips pouted, eyes filling with mist, as if she would cry at any moment.

“Hey, hey, don’t cry, you little crybaby.” Lin Qihua quickly tried to comfort her. “I’m choosing to leave, not being forced out. From now on, I’ll be like a dragon leaping into the sea or a bird soaring into the mountains—free at last. You should be happy for me.”

“But... I heard you’re being blacklisted.” She looked miserable.

“Listen to me,” Lin Qihua said gently, stroking her head, “you know Liu Feng and I never got along. In this group, I had no room to shine. Now the company’s letting me go—I have to seize the chance. With your brother’s ability, do you really think they can blacklist me just because they want to?”

“Is it because of Sister Wanting?” she pressed, not fooled by his words.

His hand froze, a delicate face flashing before his mind’s eye. He tousled her hair more roughly. “Don’t get silly ideas. There’s nothing of the sort. Your brother is like the Monkey King—nothing can keep me down. Now I can sing as I please. It’s a good thing, not some complicated story.”

“Alright,” she said, a little aggrieved. “If you mess up my hair any more, it’ll be a mess.”

“Go back, or your teachers will scold you again.” He released her, gently smoothing her hair. “Remember, study hard, listen to your teachers, and master your skills—those are yours alone. As long as you’re strong, you’ll have nothing to fear.”

“I know.”

“And remember my number. If anything happens, call me. If anyone bullies you, tell me—I’ll help you.”

“I will. I’ll definitely debut one day, and when I’m strong enough, I’ll help you.” She nodded fiercely.

“Haha, I’ll be waiting for that,” Lin Qihua laughed. “Now go on—your brother is leaving.”

“Goodbye, then. Be happy, no matter what.”

“Alright, off you go.” Lin Qihua waved.

She walked away, turning back every few steps, watching him step into the elevator. Only then did the tears she’d been holding back finally fall. Though he left with an air of nonchalance, she knew he was full of grievances and regrets, only feigning calm for her sake. A year ago, when she had joined the company as a trainee, she had no friends, made mistakes constantly, was scolded daily, and bullied to the point of tears. It was Lin Qihua who had protected her, not only shielding her from the seniors, but also teaching her, guiding her in training and daily life. Thanks to his methods, she’d caught up with the training schedule, stopped being scolded by the strict trainers, and was even praised a few times, gradually becoming a standout among the trainees. Lin Qihua’s help was immense, and she had come to rely on him greatly. Now, seeing him forced to leave, how could she not weep?

After a long while, she wiped her tears away and made a silent vow in her heart: “I must work even harder and debut as soon as possible. Only by becoming a top star will I be able to help my brother. Zhang Zilin, you’re still not working hard enough—you must do better.”

Leaving the company building, Lin Qihua returned to his familiar dormitory and lay down on his bed, exhaustion washing over him like a tide.

As he relaxed, the pain in his head returned with a vengeance. This had been going on for two or three days—ever since he’d been ambushed in an alley on his way back to the dorm and struck on the back of the head. The pain still hadn’t subsided. Whenever he closed his eyes, countless flashes of light and shadow danced through his mind, distant yet close, but he could never make out their shapes.

This incident had been the final straw, forcing the termination of his contract. Though his attackers hadn’t said anything, he knew full well who was behind it. Who else but Young Master Guo would resort to such tactics?

It was almost laughable. Three years ago, during his freshman year at university, he’d been scouted by a talent agent and joined the company as a trainee. He’d stood out, debuted with Liu Feng and a few others as the group “Heavenly Sound.” But the internal strife that began in the trainee days had never ceased. Liu Feng and he had been at odds from the start. Though Lin Qihua had only ever wanted to train and perform well, he couldn’t ignore Liu Feng’s repeated provocations. Even a clay figure has a temper; he couldn’t just surrender. The presence of Zhao Wanting made things even worse. Ironically, she ended up catching Young Master Guo’s eye, turning both Liu Feng and Lin Qihua into laughingstocks. Liu Feng chose to grovel and ingratiate himself, clinging to Guo’s coattails, while Lin Qihua quietly resisted, repeatedly foiling Guo’s plans and drawing his ire. In the end, Zhao Wanting still ended up with Guo, and Lin Qihua’s efforts had been meaningless. The conflict with Liu Feng reached its conclusion—Liu Feng became the group’s leader, while Lin Qihua was sidelined by the company. After the beating three days ago, he was replaced outright and given the choice of being shelved or leaving cleanly. This was only because the company didn’t want Guo’s involvement to become widely known—family scandals shouldn’t be aired in public. If he made a scene, it would only damage the company’s reputation. Most importantly, they were certain that given the options, he would choose wisely. And, as they expected, he had no other choice. Making trouble would do him no good. Without the strength to fight back, all resistance would only hurt himself. Unfortunately, he’d realized this too late. If he had to do it all over again, he would probably make the same choice.