The rehearsal room was silent.
The only sounds were the soft hum of the air conditioner and the occasional scrape of a cable moving across the floor.
Li Chen observed the woman sitting in front of him.
Long black hair.
Fair skin.
A calm gaze… yet incredibly cold.
It was as if nothing around her really interested her.
Mu Wanqing.
A name that had recently begun circulating in small music circles.
An R&B and soul singer whose voice some producers described as "ridiculously perfect."
But the problem was simple.
No one could sign her.
Until today.
Li Chen crossed his arms.
"So…" he said calmly, "you want to work with me?"
Wanqing looked directly into his eyes.
Her gaze didn't waver even for a second.
"Yes."
The answer was short.
Direct.
Emotionless.
Xiaoyu, who was sitting beside Li Chen, tilted her head slightly.
"That's… quite sudden," she said with a polite smile. "Usually artists talk to agencies first."
Wanqing shook her head.
"I'm not interested in agencies."
Silence.
Su Yara, who was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, let out a small laugh.
"I like this girl."
Lin Yueyin, however, was sitting on a nearby chair, looking at Wanqing with an expression that was difficult to describe.
It wasn't hostility.
But it definitely wasn't friendliness either.
Li Chen leaned forward slightly.
"Let me make sure I understand this correctly."
Wanqing waited.
"Several major agencies want to sign you."
"Yes."
"But you rejected them."
"Correct."
"And you came here… just to ask me to be your manager."
"Yes."
Her voice remained completely calm.
As if she were talking about the weather.
Yueyin finally spoke.
"Why?"
Wanqing slowly turned her head toward her.
The two girls looked at each other for a few seconds.
Then Wanqing answered.
"Because he produces better songs."
Total silence.
Su Yara raised an eyebrow.
"Wow."
Xiaoyu blinked several times.
"Huh?"
Yueyin frowned slightly.
"How do you know that?"
Wanqing took out her phone.
She tapped the screen.
A second later, a song began to play.
It was the original demo of Su Yara's viral song.
But not the final version.
The demo.
The version only the production team had heard.
Yara immediately straightened up.
"Wait… how the hell do you have that?"
Wanqing answered casually.
"I have friends."
Then she switched to another file.
Another song.
This time it was an early demo of Yueyin's second single.
Even Li Chen raised an eyebrow.
Wanqing stopped the music.
"I listened to all of them."
She looked at Li Chen.
"Your production style is easy to recognize."
Li Chen remained silent for a few seconds.
In his mind, a familiar notification appeared.
[System Activated]
New Mission Detected
Mission: The Third Star
Objective:
Turn Mu Wanqing into a Top-Tier Artist.
Reward:
Advanced ProductionSkill: Vocal Enhancement Arrangement
Li Chen sighed internally.
Of course…
The system never made things easy.
Xiaoyu looked at Wanqing with curiosity.
"But… even if Li Chen produces good songs," she said, "that doesn't mean you should reject every agency."
Wanqing replied immediately.
"Agencies control too much."
Her voice remained calm.
But there was a faint shadow in her eyes.
"They change the music."
"They change the image."
"They change the artist."
Yara nodded slowly.
"Yeah… sounds pretty familiar."
Wanqing looked back at Li Chen.
"But you don't do that."
Li Chen raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really?"
"No."
She answered without hesitation.
"Your song for Yueyin."
"Your song for Yara."
"They are completely different."
Wanqing tilted her head slightly.
"That means you produce for the artist."
"Not for the market."
Another pause.
Even Yueyin had to admit something in her mind.
…She's right.
Li Chen leaned back in his chair.
"You know I already manage two artists, right?"
Wanqing nodded.
"I know."
"So you know my time is limited."
"I know that too."
"And you still want me to be your manager."
Wanqing looked at him with complete seriousness.
"Yes."
"Only you."
Yueyin felt something strange in her chest.
Only him?
Yara let out a small laugh.
"This is getting interesting."
Xiaoyu looked at Li Chen.
"So… what are you going to do?"
Li Chen closed his eyes for a second.
Three artists.
Idol.
Rock.
R&B.
Three completely different genres.
Three completely different personalities.
From a manager's perspective…
It was madness.
But from the system's perspective…
It was exactly what it wanted.
Li Chen opened his eyes.
He looked at Wanqing.
"Let me ask you something."
"Go ahead."
"If you work with me… it won't be an easy road."
Wanqing didn't react.
"The industry is already watching us."
"There will be pressure."
"There will be attacks."
"There will be sabotage."
Wanqing's gaze didn't change.
Li Chen finished his sentence.
"Are you ready for that?"
Wanqing answered immediately.
"Yes."
But then she added something else.
Something that made Yueyin and Yara look at her in surprise.
Wanqing smiled.
It was a small smile.
But incredibly confident.
"Because if you produce the music…"
"I will sing better than anyone."
Silence.
Yara started laughing.
"HAHA!"
She hit the wall with her hand.
"I like this girl!"
Yueyin crossed her arms.
But instead of being annoyed…
her eyes sparkled with something else.
Competition.
Xiaoyu sighed.
"This is definitely going to be a disaster…"
Li Chen slowly stood up from his chair.
He looked at Wanqing.
Then he said something simple.
"Alright."
The room fell silent.
"I'll give you a song."
Wanqing watched him.
"If you can sing it the way I want…"
"then we'll talk about a contract."
Wanqing stood up.
Her gaze was completely serious.
"Alright."
Li Chen walked toward the studio computer.
He turned on the screen.
In his mind, the system spoke again.
[New Artist Detected]
Mu Wanqing
Vocal Talent: SSS
Star Potential: Very High
Li Chen smiled slightly.
This…
is going to be interesting.
Behind him, Yueyin murmured quietly.
"Another rival…"
Yara responded with a wild grin.
"No."
"Another comrade in war."
And for the first time…
Mu Wanqing seemed slightly interested.
End of Chapter 24