Chapter 29
Capital City Television Station – “I’m the King of Songs” Guest Waiting Room
Xia Shi leaned against the sofa, body aching all over, her back and waist sore and weak. She felt as if she might collapse at any moment. Unfortunately, today was the first official meeting for the I’m the King of Songs program, so she had to hold herself together — though in her heart, she had already cursed Lu Tingchuan at least eight hundred times.
Damn it. He really was like a randy teddy bear — tormenting her the whole night!
“Teacher Xia, hello!”
She immediately stood up, bowed slightly, and shook hands in greeting.
“Teacher Huang, Teacher Yan, Teacher Zhang…”
The show had invited five singers and five arrangers, all of whom were either well-known or respected in the music industry. Two of the arrangers were even senior figures. Xia Shi dared not act arrogant in such company.
What she didn’t expect, however, was to see Yin Ru among them. Given their unpleasant history, Xia Shi couldn’t help glancing at her, though she said nothing.
After everyone greeted each other, they took their seats. Chu Xun began teasing, “I saw Lu Tingchuan downstairs. He’s not coming up?”
“He hasn’t left?”
Chu Xun shook his head. “Nope, still there.”
“Then let him wait.”
Uh… so casual.
Chu Xun shrugged — it wasn’t really appropriate to comment on another couple’s affairs in public anyway. Just then, the production staff brought over a box for drawing lots.
The show’s format was a fresh one, unlike any variety show before it.
First, audiences voted for five songs, which were then placed in two boxes. The five singers and five arrangers would each draw one. Whoever drew the same song would become a team. The arranger’s job was to adapt the song — keeping the original melody while rearranging it — and the singer would perform it anew.
It was the first time arrangers were truly brought to the forefront and treated as equals to the singers.
Normally, singers picked songs suited to their vocal tone and strengths. But now, since the songs were chosen by audience vote and then drawn by lot, the singers lost that advantage completely.
This meant the arranger’s skill — how well they could adapt a song to fit a singer’s style — would be the key to success.
Xia Shi drew a folk song — rich in ethnic flavor, with flowing melodic tails and soaring high notes. It was a song that could showcase a singer’s full potential.
Unfortunately, the singer who drew the same song was Zhang Yao.
Zhang Yao was twenty-three, had debuted two years ago, and her singing ability was mediocre. Most of her songs were formulaic pop tracks. To have her interpret such a complex piece was, frankly, difficult. Among the five singers, she was the least experienced, least popular, and least skilled — and it was said she only got into the show through connections. The public was already murmuring that she wasn’t even in the same league as Yin Ru, let alone someone like Chu Xun, a superstar.
Zhang Yao’s face darkened, and the production team — chasing drama — gave a close-up of her and Xia Shi sitting together. Xia Shi calmly patted her hand and said to the camera, “We’ll make sure you hear a very different kind of folk song.”
Zhang Yao snapped out of her daze, winked playfully, and pointed at the camera. “Are you looking forward to it?”
The day’s filming was simple — just the guests meeting, drawing lots, and setting their collaboration groups. Each pair would then have a week to rehearse and rearrange their song before recording the first official episode.
Once cameras were off, everyone relaxed and said their goodbyes.
Zhang Yao turned to Xia Shi a little sheepishly. “Thank you, Teacher Xia. Otherwise, I’d have embarrassed myself on camera.”
Even if mistakes could be edited out, the production crew would know — and that was awkward enough.
“I might end up dragging you down this time,” Zhang Yao admitted.
Xia Shi smiled. She disliked arrogance far more than lack of skill. Zhang Yao was young, energetic, and had her fanbase — and, importantly, she was aware of her own shortcomings. That was worth more than raw talent.
“No need to be so polite. We’re partners now. And let’s drop the ‘Teacher’ — sounds too stiff. I’m just a few years older; if you don’t mind, call me ‘sister.’”
Zhang Yao agreed readily. The two chatted a while, arranged their next meeting, and then Zhang Yao left for another engagement.
Yin Ru then strolled over with a polished smile. “Xia Shi, I didn’t expect to see you here. We started out together back in the talent show days — hardly any of us are still around now. It’s kind of fate that we’re both on King of Songs, isn’t it? We should get dinner sometime.”
The last sentence was aimed at Chu Xun.
He, however, responded coolly, “Maybe next time. I’ve got things to do. Excuse me.”
Then he turned to Xia Shi. “Coming? You don’t want your husband waiting upstairs too long, do you?”
Xia Shi glanced between him and Yin Ru, then smiled. “Sure.”
They left together, side by side, ignoring everyone else. Yin Ru’s hand clenched tightly, her knuckles white. She looked up, took several deep breaths before she could calm herself again.
Inside the elevator, with no one else around, Xia Shi asked quietly, “You and Yin Ru?”
Chu Xun was always courteous, never losing his composure even toward people he disliked. But earlier, his cold reaction was unmistakable.
He frowned, then admitted honestly, “We had a thing, once.”
Xia Shi’s jaw dropped. “Had a thing?”
Chu Xun chuckled but said no more, and Xia Shi didn’t pry. In this industry, flings and quiet relationships were as common as rain.
When the elevator doors opened, they went separate ways.
Outside, the car door opened to reveal Lu Tingchuan sitting in the back seat, smiling faintly.
The nanny van was provided by their agency, along with the driver — an old, trusted employee. Only Su Fei and Tian Tian, her two assistants, were in the car — all reliable people.
Xia Shi gave Lu Tingchuan a cold glance, turned away, and said to Tian Tian, “I’m a bit thirsty. Got any water?”
Tian Tian handed her a can. “No water left, only this. Want it?”
Before Xia Shi could answer, Lu Tingchuan frowned, took the can, and slipped it into a bag. “This has alcohol in it. Xia Xia shouldn’t drink it. There’s a shop ahead — could you grab a bottle of water? Thanks.”
Tian Tian blinked, then glanced between them. She couldn’t resist asking, “Wait — really? You’re pregnant?”
Lu Tingchuan’s eyes narrowed. “Almost.”
Tian Tian nearly burst out laughing. Almost? What does that even mean?
Xia Shi glared. “Did I agree to have a baby with you?”
The tension was palpable.
Sensing danger, Tian Tian quickly got out to buy water — best not to be caught in the crossfire.
Lu Tingchuan chuckled, sliding an arm around Xia Shi. “Then who do you want to have one with?”
She tried to shove him away, but he was solid as a rock. Her little strength barely budged him. She squirmed away in frustration, but he simply followed, inch by inch, trapping her in a corner.
Xia Shi lost her patience and punched him, but he caught her wrist. The motion tugged her sore back, and she winced. Lu Tingchuan’s expression softened instantly. “What’s wrong?”
“Don’t act clueless! This is all your fault!” she gritted out.
He laughed, leaned close to her ear. “Serves you right for teasing me — seducing me and not taking responsibility.”
Xia Shi sighed inwardly. She really had brought this upon herself. She knew what kind of man he was — never one to back down — yet she still poked the tiger.
“I’ll massage it for you,” he offered.
His warm palm slid to her waist. She stiffened.
“Relax,” he murmured. “Just a massage.”
But coming from Lu Tingchuan, “just” meant nothing. She didn’t believe a word — though she was too sore and exhausted to fight.
To her surprise, this time he really did behave. His touch was firm and practiced, easing her muscles with skill. She melted gradually, her body going soft against him.
Lu Tingchuan smiled. Even if he had ideas, he wasn’t about to act on them here — not with others in the car, and certainly not with her this tired. Still, he thought, looking at her relaxed against him, she really does need to work on her stamina.
The driver silently clenched his teeth. Too much PDA. My poor single heart!
When Tian Tian returned with water, she found Xia Shi resting peacefully against Lu Tingchuan’s shoulder, the two whispering sweetly. Just now they’d been arguing — what the heck?
She quietly sat down, deciding she’d rather be invisible. Rule number one for assistants: Know when to shut up.
Only Su Fei, used to this kind of thing, calmly fixed her makeup, ignoring the couple.
By the time the car reached their villa, Xia Shi was asleep. Lu Tingchuan gently laid her head on his lap, covered her with his jacket, and told Tian Tian, “Keep a small blanket in the car from now on. If Xia Xia falls asleep, she can use it. It’s getting cold.”
Tian Tian nodded, touched. So thoughtful…
When they arrived at Bihu Pavilion, she glanced at Xia Shi, still sleeping soundly. “Brother Lu, should we wake—”
Before she could finish, Su Fei nudged her sharply. Lu Tingchuan had already hushed them and carefully lifted Xia Shi into his arms, carrying her inside without a word.
The driver stayed put; Tian Tian looked at Su Fei in confusion.
Su Fei waved lightly. “Let’s go. Time to head home. Remember this rule when you work with Xia Shi — sometimes, pretend you’re blind. You’ll see a lot in this job. Get used to it.”
Xia Shi slept deeply and peacefully. When she woke, it was dinnertime. Lu Tingchuan and their son, Lu Xuan, were already seated at the table.
She blinked at the three dishes and a soup laid out — clearly not takeout — and since Aunt Wu was on leave, there was only one possible culprit.
“You cooked this?”
He smiled proudly. “Mm. Try it.”
Ha. Look at him showing off.
She took a sip of soup, cautiously picked up a slice of meat.
“Well?”
He looked genuinely nervous, like a child awaiting praise.
“It’s… okay. Edible.”
He beamed.
She chuckled. “Looks like this variety show is good training for you. Only three episodes in, and already showing results.”
Their son, Lu Xuan, piped up, “Daddy made it a bunch of times before it turned out right. He threw away all the other ones.”
Xia Shi froze. One glance into the kitchen revealed chaos — and a trash can half full of “failed experiments.”
So wasteful… She sighed. Maybe she’d spoken too soon.
Lu Tingchuan scratched his head, grinning sheepishly. “I’ll clean it up later. Eat first.”
She didn’t scold him. After all, what mattered wasn’t whether he could cook — but that he wanted to.
After dinner, he cleaned the kitchen while she helped Lu Xuan practice piano. When the lesson ended, the boy nestled against her, glancing nervously downstairs.
“What’s wrong?”
He whispered, “Teacher gave us math problems today. I didn’t do well.”
She smiled gently. “You’re afraid Daddy will be mad? Remember what I told you — if you don’t understand something, you can ask your teacher, or us. But don’t hide it.”
Lu Xuan bit his lip. “Grandpa said when Daddy was little, if he got bad grades, he’d get beaten.”
Ah. So that’s where it came from.
She frowned slightly and knelt beside him. “And what else did Grandpa say?”
“He said I’m luckier than Daddy was. He told me to treat Daddy well when I grow up. He said Daddy had a hard childhood, and it was all his fault.”
Xia Shi smiled softly. “See? Grandpa knows he was wrong. Daddy won’t make the same mistake. It’s okay if you don’t do well once — we’ll help you. Has Daddy ever hit you?”
Lu Xuan shook his head.
“Then there’s nothing to worry about. Go on, show him.”
The boy nodded and went downstairs, clutching his workbook.
Lu Tingchuan took one look at the page full of red X’s and understood. For a moment, memories flooded back — cold autumn nights, harsh scolding, and fear. He remembered standing outside in the courtyard shivering while his parents fought inside. His mother’s furious voice still echoed:
“You hit him for everything! Is he even your son? Or is it only Xiao Li’s child you care about? Since you don’t want this one, then he and I don’t need you either!”
He had cried silently all night. By morning, he’d fallen ill — and by the time he recovered, his parents were divorced.
Now, looking at Lu Xuan, tenderness overflowed. “It’s okay,” he said softly. “Daddy will teach you.”
Lu Xuan wasn’t dumb — he just needed time to adjust from American-style preschool (focused on play and creativity) to China’s academically rigorous curriculum. He lagged a bit in math but was far ahead in English and even solid in Chinese, thanks to his grandfather’s influence.
From the second floor, Xia Shi leaned on the railing, watching them. Lu Tingchuan’s voice was gentle, patient — the voice of a man determined not to repeat his father’s mistakes. He was still learning to be a good dad, but he was trying with all his heart.
Later that night, Xia Shi stepped out of the shower and saw Lu Tingchuan sitting on the bed, talking on the phone.
“So, you’re saying Liang Feng was the one who got Yin Ru into King of Songs? Does Mrs. Liang know?”
A pause.
“He’s really bold — does he think Huahai Entertainment belongs to him now?”
Another pause.
“Come on, Yu Shuo. You think I’d meddle with the show and have her removed? I’m not arrogant enough to believe I control the world. Even if I could, I wouldn’t be that stupid. Back during The Enshrinement, we could excuse her removal by saying she’d never acted before — it was for the good of the project. But if I interfere this time, people will talk. I’ve spent years building my reputation; I’m not ruining it over her. There are other ways to solve this.”
He gave a low chuckle. “I heard Mrs. Liang’s thinking about divorce? Guess Liang Feng’s antics finally pushed her too far. Anyway, I’ll handle it. Keep investigating Yin Ru — I’ll talk to Zhou Zhang.”
“What for? To see if there’s a way to help Mrs. Liang. Once Liang Feng’s out of the picture, Yin Ru will have no backing — and with her temper, she’ll self-destruct soon enough.”
Xia Shi couldn’t hear Yu Shuo’s responses, but she got the gist. Climbing into bed, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “She’s just Yin Ru. No need to make a big deal out of it. If people found out you were targeting some minor pop diva, you’d get torn apart online. Besides, you can’t control every opportunity in the industry. It’s not like she’s done anything that bad.”
He frowned slightly. She quickly added playfully, “Okay, okay — if she keeps her hands clean, we’ll let it go. But if she plays dirty again, I can handle her myself. Some face-slapping is best done personally, you know?”
Lu Tingchuan smiled, conceding the point — though inwardly, he thought, She can slap faces, and I can protect her. No conflict there.
He turned, eyes darkening. “You realize you’re seducing me right now?”
She’d just showered, the scent of body wash lingering on her skin. Her loose robe slipped down her shoulder, exposing pale, smooth skin — dangerously tempting.
She grinned. “Funny thing — I just found out my period started.”
…
He froze mid-motion, then sighed, lying back beside her. His arms circled her gently. “Three or four days early, right?”
“Mm. Happens sometimes.”
“Still hurt?”
“Not really.”
He exhaled in relief — though he couldn’t help feeling a twinge of regret. There went the “little princess” his mother-in-law had been hoping for. Maybe it was time to start taking her “suggestion” more seriously…
