Chapter Fifty-Two: The Director's Visit

Lei Jing observed the astonishment in the eyes of those around her, unsure of what she felt inside. She was accustomed to styling herself with flowing long hair, used to standing before everyone as a girl. Suddenly appearing in this new attire felt strange, yet curiously, she felt no resistance at all—indeed, there was a secret delight blossoming within her. Why was that? It was as if she had finally laid down a heavy burden, as though this image was truly the one that suited her best. If Lin Qihua knew of her doubts, he would surely explain that this was a psychological shift born of her character. For so long, her identity as a girl had brought her countless grievances, teaching her to be strong and to solve problems alone. Her personality had become tough and formidable; even when dressed as a girl, she exuded an undeniable hardness that clashed with her appearance. Now, adopting a more neutral style was like granting herself a new persona, and she suddenly realized that she was no longer the girl she once was. This was the natural result of her temperament; otherwise, someone like Xiao Xiao—a gentle and delicate girl—would only make a mess of such a transformation.

Following Lin Qihua’s instructions, she struck several stylish poses, and sure enough, the crowd was full of admiration, enchanted by the peculiar beauty she radiated.

“How do you feel?” Lin Qihua applauded with a smile.

“It seems... not bad at all,” Lei Jing gradually grew accustomed to the change, a smile curling at her lips.

“Yes, I believe this suits you best. When you go home, ponder every word and action carefully. The key is to simply be yourself, follow your true heart. As for your singing style, lean closer to a masculine approach, combining the softness of a woman and the wild, handsome charm of a man. I think you’ll carve out a unique style that will astonish the entertainment world.” Lin Qihua laughed. “Try rapping, rearrange the choreography, and I believe the new song will be ready in a few days.”

“Thank you.” Lei Jing sincerely expressed her gratitude. With a clear direction, she was confident she could find the best path forward.

“All right, let’s call it a day. I have plenty to do back home, but at least my efforts weren’t wasted—I’ve gained much inspiration.” Lin Qihua stood and stretched lazily. “Sister Qin, any further instructions?”

“No, everyone’s dismissed,” Yu Fengqin shook her head and spoke gently. “Thank you for your hard work.”

“A good company means everyone prospers, it’s my duty.” Lin Qihua smiled. “Sister Ling, I may need a few days off to compose their songs, so I can devote myself entirely to practice.”

“No problem. We’ll also need to devise your training plan,” Lian Yuling nodded. “It looks like I’ll need to personally be your trainer this time. Ordinary training won’t have much effect on you anymore.”

“Ah?”

“Haha, no need to be so surprised,” He Li rarely laughed aloud, patting Lin Qihua’s shoulder. “Lingling was once hailed as the next queen of pop, her aura was far more dazzling than yours. She’s more than qualified to be your trainer.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Lin Qihua replied, somewhat flustered. “I’m truly honored.”

“It just shows Lingling is ready to cultivate you seriously, so prepare yourself mentally.” He Li laughed mischievously. She was in high spirits today—the clouds over the company had begun to dissipate thanks to Lin Qihua’s arrival and his formidable performance. Her own stress had eased considerably. Starshine Entertainment had used unconventional tactics to strike at the company’s core, leaving her feeling powerless. Now, with a breakthrough in hand, everything else would follow. Having spent many years in the entertainment industry, He Li was confident in her ability to handle direct confrontations.

One by one, everyone departed. Today had been an eye-opening experience, instilling new confidence in the team. The previous anxiety among staff was instantly dispelled. Whether it was Lei Jing’s fresh image or Xiao Xiao’s tender and shy rendition of “Little Luck,” everyone realized the company was no longer powerless. As long as they seized this opportunity and the trainees from the training camp made their debut, the company would turn a new page.

Most importantly, Lin Qihua’s arrival and overwhelming presence had given everyone a reassuring sense of certainty. With just a few pointers, the company’s artists gained entirely new opportunities. When he truly made his comeback, what surprises would he bring to the company? With this thought, the staff felt at ease, no longer distracted by other worries, and focused wholeheartedly on their duties. This was precisely the effect Yu Fengqin and the others desired, and the very reason Lin Qihua had switched to an aggressive, proactive approach today. The morale of the people must not waver—if it did, the company would face even greater difficulties. Only by administering a strong dose could their doubts be dispelled, stabilizing morale so that the company could methodically find solutions. Judging by the results, the goal had been achieved.

Other matters would be handled by Yu Fengqin, He Li, and the rest. Lin Qihua had no need to concern himself, focusing instead on composing songs for Lei Jing and the others. Inspiration flooded his mind, and Lin Qihua needed to carefully sift through it all. Moreover, every time he listened to these songs, savoring their stories and emotions, it was an incomparable experience. The various arrangements and versions were the work of maestros, offering him much to learn. These masterful compositions refined his singing and arranging skills—a constant cycle of learning and improvement.

Every singer possessed unique techniques and vocal styles. Choosing the right approach to convey the song’s rich emotions was a valuable lesson for Lin Qihua. This method of learning had proven its worth—over the past six months, Lin Qihua had felt marked progress, gaining a deeper understanding of many techniques. Besides ample opportunities to hone his performance, this mental learning was the most crucial factor. Seeking inspiration was not only for songwriting but also for absorbing new knowledge. The evidence was clear: the songs and music videos in his mind were the best teachers, bringing about a dramatic transformation and filling Lin Qihua with confidence for his future.

After nearly a week of “seclusion,” Lin Qihua finally completed the songs he needed and delivered them to Lei Jing and the others at the company, letting them practice under the guidance of their trainers. Then, Qian Qian found him. “Could you please go to the director’s office?”

“Sure, what’s the matter?” Lin Qihua bade farewell to Lei Jing and the others, turned to leave with her, and asked.

“We have a guest who wants to speak with you,” Qian Qian said with a smile as she walked. “The director of ‘Love Song of Youth’ came in person. He’s very fond of our songs, so the director asked me to invite you over.”

“Oh, that’s fast.” Lin Qihua was surprised at He Li’s swift action, though it made sense. She was eager to help the company escape its predicament as soon as possible. The director on the other side must be equally keen—a collaboration between them was obviously win-win, and the whole would be greater than the sum of its parts.

Arriving at the artist department director’s office, Lin Qihua found He Li, Xiao Xiao, and two unfamiliar faces inside. One was a middle-aged man with glasses and a scholarly air—clearly today’s guest. The woman in professional attire beside him was likely his assistant.

“Hello, I’m Liao Chengping, the director of ‘Love Song of Youth.’” The middle-aged man stood up the moment he saw Lin Qihua and shook his hand. “You’re the creator of ‘Little Luck,’ right? Thank you for composing this song.”

Lin Qihua was taken aback by his enthusiasm, only recovering after a moment. “Director Liao, nice to meet you. I’m Lin Qihua.”

“Please, have a seat.” Liao Chengping warmly ushered Lin Qihua onto the sofa. “I listened to your version of ‘Little Luck’ long ago and thought it fit my film perfectly, but it still felt like something was missing. Then Minister He recommended this young lady’s version, and I was utterly amazed—it was exactly what I’d been searching for as the theme song for my film. So, I rushed over without delay.”

Lin Qihua hadn’t expected such passion from the director and found him refreshingly straightforward. “It’s our honor that Director Liao appreciates our work. Frankly, it was a coincidence—our company has been facing some difficulties lately, so we had Xiao Xiao try a new interpretation of the song. The song itself is about a girl’s innocent first love, so it happened to align perfectly with your film’s plot. It was a fortunate match.”

“That’s fate. You know, the film is nearly finished, but I hadn’t found a satisfactory theme song until now. I immediately set aside my filming schedule and rushed over. A good theme song adds so much to a movie—especially for someone as obsessive as myself.”

“That’s wonderful; we’d love to work with you.” Lin Qihua glanced at He Li and Xiao Xiao, both smiling. “However, our company is indeed facing some troubles. I wonder if that might affect our collaboration?”

“You mean Starshine Entertainment?” Liao Chengping waved it off. “I know a bit about your situation. They’ve gone too far. It’s not really my business, so I haven’t bothered, but since we’re working together now, there’s no need to worry about them. In this industry, I have enough influence to keep things in check. Don’t worry.”

“That’s a relief,” the three sighed in unison. Liao Chengping was clearly a technical director, uninterested in politics. That was expected; he was a star director at Southern Arts, with considerable standing. Even if Starshine Entertainment was upset, they wouldn’t dare vent their frustration on him. This was indeed the right move.