Chapter 33: He Xier’s Persona Shattered

Jiang Qi often sent Li He messages on Chat, mostly trivial and pointless content. Things like “Good morning, Teacher Gabby,” or “Teacher Gabby, I have time to visit you in Spring City,” the typical sycophantic greetings.

“Teacher Gabby, I’m planning to post the edited version of ‘Foam’ on TikTok tomorrow. What do you think?” Jiang Qi hesitated to call it the ‘cut-off version,’ choosing to be more tactful.

“That’s fine,” Li He replied. “For ‘Foam’ on TikTok, edit out the highlight and post that. Don’t do what you did with ‘Melancholy’ and post the first half; the two songs are fundamentally different.”

“Melancholy” was a slow, folk-style song—the opening was enough to draw listeners in. But “Foam” was pop, and its hook was what truly captured attention. If only the first part was played, it wouldn’t have the explosive effect.

“Alright, Teacher Gabby.” Jiang Qi answered obediently, thinking how wise Gabby was.

After hanging up the video call, Jiang Qi immediately had the company revise the already edited short video. Teacher Gabby was an authority on such matters—Jiang Qi trusted her unconditionally.

Her young assistant felt smug. “Qi Qi, I told you the highlight would attract people the most, but you wouldn’t listen and insisted on following the ‘Melancholy’ model, editing the first part.”

After Jiang Qi recorded the full version, the company prepared the cut-off version. The assistant had suggested posting the highlight, but Jiang Qi had flatly refused.

“You don’t understand,” Jiang Qi explained. “Teacher Gabby is an authority; her advice ensures success, yours is just personal preference.”

The result might be the same, but the reasoning was different.

Jiang Qi had fallen so deeply into her role as a sycophant that she couldn’t extricate herself; Gabby was omnipotent in her eyes.

The assistant was left in tears. Such blatant double standards—how unfair.

She complained to the agent, Deng Qin, who was walking by. “Qin, Teacher Gabby says we should post the highlight in the edited version.”

“Just do as Teacher Gabby says. He’s experienced—an authority,” Deng Qin replied, not stopping as she strode away in high heels. She had work to do and no time to explain that following Gabby’s guidance was always right.

Now the assistant began to doubt her worldview.

After Li He hung up, he called over the shameless one and asked directly, “How many companies have contacted you these past days?”

The viral success of “Melancholy” was due to the song’s quality—what netizens described as “even if a dog sang it, it would go viral.” But no one could deny that Helolo was currently extremely popular. He wasn’t just another case of a hit song but an unpopular artist; the earlier cut-off version had provoked many, and Helolo himself couldn’t help but get noticed.

Without a signed contract, Helolo was a hot commodity for all the major companies.

Helolo grinned, “On TikTok, twelve companies messaged me privately, all wanting to sign me. Ten of them even asked about you.”

Li He hadn’t let his best friend share his contact info, fearing Helolo’s “fans” would bombard him.

“What did you reply?” Li He asked.

“I neither agreed nor refused. I just said I’d think about it.” Helolo’s smugness was written all over his face.

After showing off his cleverness, Helolo continued, “They also wanted my phone number and yours, but I didn’t give them anything.”

Chat was registered with a phone number; with that, you could search for someone’s account directly.

You are quite clever—rare, indeed. Li He praised his shameless friend, then said, “Don’t rush. Wait until Jiang Qi releases ‘Foam’ next month and Gabby’s reputation grows further, then consider signing with a company.”

If they signed now, the terms wouldn’t be bad—but they wouldn’t be exceptionally good either. Writing one viral hit like “Melancholy” might be a flash of inspiration, a once-in-a-lifetime achievement, plus some insidious TikTok tactics. But if two consecutive viral songs were written, it would be a different story. No matter which company they signed with, the terms would be excellent.

“I’ll follow your lead. Wherever you go, I’ll go,” Helolo replied, unconcerned about which company to sign with. As long as it wasn’t a small, shady outfit, big companies weren’t all that different.

Li He didn’t trust his shameless friend to sign alone; with his intelligence, he might get sold off.

“Come on, let’s eat,” Li He said with a smile.

The main reason he’d called Helolo out was to eat. The matter of signing could be settled with a message on Chat.

Laughing and chatting, they soon reached the First Dining Hall.

At the entrance, they bumped into He Xier, approaching from another direction.

Helolo was surprised, “He Xier, what are you doing here?”

Li He was stunned—thinking, Can’t you come up with a better opening line, brother?

Right then, Li He began worrying about his best friend’s lifelong prospects; with Helolo’s emotional intelligence, things might get difficult.

He Xier’s pretty face darkened, her rosy lips pouting. “Where else would I go if not the dining hall?”

She finished with a glare at Li He. He was the one who suggested to Jiang Qi the rotten idea of posting the cut-off version of “Foam.”

He Xier could already envision how many people would smash their phones tomorrow.

It was so annoying.

Thinking about it, the concept of the cut-off version must have come from Li He. Helolo wasn’t clever enough for such an aggravating scheme.

That realization only made He Xier more upset. She’d been tormented by the cut-off version of “Melancholy” for ages.

She’d even shared the link with her roommates, dragging them into the flames.

Several times in the dorm, He Xier almost couldn’t help but reveal Gabby and Helolo’s true identities, letting those two aggravating guys know the power of the Nine Yin Bone Claw.

Are you still suffering from PMS, with all this anger… Li He frowned, glancing at He Xier’s beautiful legs clad in white stockings, and instantly his irritation vanished.

“I’ve got another song. Are you interested?” Li He, like a little devil, tempted the naive girl.

He Xier’s eyes sparkled, her chest smooth as she walked forward two steps, pretending to be reserved. “Is it the same style as ‘Melancholy’?”

After a pause, she added, “My voice is excellent, my range broad—I can handle both high and low notes. I can sing folk and pop alike.”

From this moment on, you’re no longer the department beauty… Helolo hadn’t expected He Xier to be so shameless, unilaterally stripping her of her title.

Her proud goddess persona had utterly collapsed.

High notes, huh… Li He looked to his shameless friend for confirmation. He wasn’t familiar with He Xier’s vocal abilities.

Helolo was devastated, still reeling from the collapse of the department beauty’s image.

This wasn’t the pure, seductive, alluring department beauty, but an obedient sycophant.

What Helolo didn’t know was that the superstar Jiang Qi was even better at sycophancy than He Xier.

In front of a revered composer, singers were humble—and Li He was a composer who played by no rules.

Helolo explained, “He Xier was a child star, famous for her iron lung since young.”

This wasn’t a secret at the music academy; plenty knew.

He Xier raised her pointed chin again, feeling proud—she was truly talented, and strongly so.

Though she had iron lungs and could hit high notes, He Xier preferred folk music. Unfortunately, her voice was ill-suited, so she could only hum it privately.

“This song I have needs a powerful high voice,” Li He continued, tempting her.

He Xier’s anticipation was palpable as she exclaimed, “I’m willing to buy it!”

The company would pay. She was certain—if the quality matched “Melancholy” and “Foam,” the company would definitely shell out for it.

Li He pretended to ponder, bowing his head in silence.

He Xier grew anxious, stamping her foot, but didn’t dare interrupt—utterly humble.

Helolo was puzzled—his friend had written another song? Such prolific output?

A minute later, Li He looked up, smiling. “Here’s what we’ll do: I’ll send you the lyrics and sheet music on Chat. See if it suits you, then decide whether to buy.”

Helolo realized with a start that his friend had gone through all this just to get He Xier’s Chat contact.

Thinking he’d figured it all out, Helolo felt a bit resentful—he already had He Xier’s Chat info. No need to trade a high-quality song for it.

His friend was about to make a move.

——

(Post first, edit later)