Chapter 47: Live Broadcast (New Book, Seeking Monthly Votes)
The call connected, and Jiang Qi’s pleasant voice came through, “Xi’er, I’m waiting for you at the hotel, same room as last time.”
He Xi’er became excited, her modest chest rising and falling beneath her white shirt.
“Qi Qi, thank you so much for helping me this time.” He Xi’er’s gratitude was genuine.
Jiang Qi had come to Spring City not only to thank Gabe, but also to look after He Xi’er as well. Of course, thanking Gabe was her main purpose, and He Xi’er was just an afterthought.
But the proud He Xi’er didn’t know that, and the supposedly clever Jiang Qi wasn’t aware of it either.
Jiang Qi’s voice was lazy and weary, “Xi’er, contact Sister Qin when you arrive. I need to take a nap first—I’m exhausted from the early flight, and I have to livestream tonight.”
She kept yawning as she spoke.
After hanging up, He Xi’er dialed her agent Deng Qin’s number.
The call connected quickly.
“Sister Qin, you’ve arrived in Spring City.” He Xi’er was always polite to her agent.
Deng Qin, who was overseeing the installation of the livestream equipment, replied through her wireless headset, “Qi Qi already spoke to you.”
“Yes. She said she’s tired and needed to rest,” He Xi’er said.
“She’s been run ragged this month—that’s how it is when you’re competing for the charts: promotions, rushing from one event to another. This trip is basically her chance to slack off a bit.” Deng Qin, showing signs of fatigue, massaged her temples. “Come over early this afternoon, you need to get styled. Livestream starts at seven and goes till eight-thirty. Don’t be late.”
Just then, the assistant’s voice sounded, “Sister Qin, the cameraman is looking for you.”
Deng Qin stopped rubbing her temples and ended the call, letting out a breath. The capable, high-powered agent strode out of the hotel room in her black heels.
Jiang Qi could go to sleep and rest.
But Deng Qin couldn’t.
An agent’s workload was huge; not only did she have to arrange her artists’ schedules, she also handled their daily affairs.
Actually, Jiang Qi’s daily affairs should be managed by the assistant, but Deng Qin thought it was good enough if the assistant could handle her own tasks.
She couldn’t trust the assistant with Jiang Qi.
Paid as an agent, worrying like a mother... Deng Qin stepped out to consult with the camera crew about the livestream setup.
Jiang Qi’s livestream was different from a typical influencer’s: it wasn’t just sitting in front of a computer, chatting with fans, and earning money.
Her purpose wasn’t profit—it was to promote her new album.
Behind the scenes, in places the livestream camera couldn’t reach, the room was packed with staff from Glory Entertainment.
Make-up artist, script coach, cameraman, data analyst—the whole setup was comprehensive.
The cameraman would shoot some behind-the-scenes footage during the livestream, which could later be released as fan bonuses.
This kind of operation was common in the entertainment business: efficient, effortless, and effective.
He Xi’er hung up and hurried to the venue.
Though Deng Qin said she just had to be there on time, He Xi’er was a newcomer—one who hadn’t even debuted yet.
Arriving early and respecting seniors was an unspoken rule for rookies in the industry. Even though Deng Qin was her agent, He Xi’er always treated her like a big sister.
He Xi’er arrived at the hotel, but when she tried to go upstairs, a hotel staff member stopped her—the floor she needed was under maintenance, and not open to guests.
He Xi’er was dumbfounded. She thought, couldn’t you come up with a better excuse?
She pointed to a group of casually dressed men and women coming down from the thirty-second floor, “Are you going to tell me they’re from the maintenance company?”
They couldn’t look less like it.
The hotel staff was embarrassed; she’d been caught lying and knew the feeling well.
She had to admire He Xi’er—her information was sharp.
Though she didn’t know who was staying on the thirty-second floor, the scene made it clear: a celebrity.
The hotel’s confidentiality was excellent, which was why Jiang Qi chose it again.
The female staff glanced at He Xi’er, thinking the girl was so pretty—maybe the upstairs guest was a male celebrity, and she was a fan.
As for He Xi’er being a paparazzi, unlikely—paparazzi rarely looked this good, and usually skulked in corners, snapping photos on the sly.
He Xi’er didn’t make things difficult, retreating to the lobby and calling Deng Qin to say she’d arrived but couldn’t get upstairs.
Soon, the same staff member who’d stopped her came over smiling, and pressed the elevator for her.
“You’re really good at maintaining confidentiality,” He Xi’er praised, though the excuse was a bit weak.
Spring City International’s confidentiality was indeed top-notch; apart from Glory Entertainment staff, everyone heading to the thirty-second floor was stopped.
When He Xi’er exited the elevator on the thirty-second floor, she saw security guards posted on both sides of the hallway.
“Sister Qin, isn’t this a bit much?” He Xi’er exaggerated.
If someone took photos and posted them online, it’d surely stir up discussion.
#Certain Qi, thanks to the hit 'Foam,' checks into hotel with a hundred bodyguards#
Such rumors would be trending the next day.
Deng Qin, looking weary, whispered, “We can’t let news of Jiang Qi’s visit to Spring City leak out, or else other companies might deduce that Gabe is here.”
He Xi’er was stunned.
So all this wasn’t for Jiang Qi, but to keep Gabe’s presence in Spring City secret.
He Xi’er said, “That makes sense.”
If it was to protect... Li He, then it was only natural.
Li He absolutely had to sign with Glory Entertainment—otherwise, how could she sing ‘Destined Bridge’?
If Li He signed elsewhere and didn’t sell her the song, what would she do then? She’d have nowhere to cry.
Protecting Gabe was everyone’s responsibility.
Deng Qin didn’t linger; she still had lots to do.
When He Xi’er finally saw Jiang Qi, it was already one in the afternoon. Jiang Qi staggered out of the room, bleary-eyed, and upon seeing He Xi’er, immediately hummed, “Love is just foam, breaking at a touch...”
He Xi’er turned to leave.
Private messages were one thing—she could pretend she hadn’t seen them—but this was direct, in-person flexing.
Damn.
She couldn’t take it.
He Xi’er feared she’d lose her temper and kick Qi Qi right out of the hotel.
“Xi’er, you’re here! We haven’t seen each other in ages,” Jiang Qi caught up, grabbing He Xi’er, the two like close sisters.
“Qi Qi, you’re awake,” He Xi’er said.
Jiang Qi nodded, chatting idly, “Is it sunny outside?”
“Yes, today’s weather in Spring City is wonderful.” He Xi’er didn’t know what Jiang Qi was up to.
“The foam under the sunlight is colorful, just like I, fooled but happy...” Jiang Qi sang on cue.
So this is where you were waiting for me… He Xi’er’s face fell instantly.
Why did I come so early?
Jiang Qi, still showing off, wasn’t satisfied. After a few steps she asked, “Can you see stars in Spring City at night?”
Prepared for this, He Xi’er stayed silent.
“With such nice weather, there must be a sky full of stars,” Jiang Qi answered herself. “No matter how dazzling, a star that flashes by will fall…”
He Xi’er was on the verge of collapse.
She couldn’t take it.
When did Qi Qi become like this?
It seemed… since the chopped version of ‘Foam’ was released.
“It’s all that shameless He Luo’s fault, so hateful,” Jiang Qi muttered viciously.
She’d go settle accounts later—no less than ten hotpot dinners would suffice.
When it came to hotpot, she’d invite Li He—though she wasn’t sure if Li He liked hotpot… He Xi’er, who was fast evolving from fan to seasoned devotee, was already one step ahead of Qi Qi, plotting her next move.
Though she hadn’t even finished the first step.
Just then, agent Deng Qin approached, “Xi’er, Qi Qi, you two get ready.”
He Xi’er felt liberated.
Jiang Qi, however, hadn’t had enough—she planned to sing more lines from ‘Foam’ during the livestream.
As she entered the makeshift dressing room, He Xi’er slyly took out her phone and sent a quick message.
———
(to be revised later)