Chapter 51: Song Jiaru Charges Forward!

"It's late, no need to trouble yourself."

Xu Yunzhou paused, seamlessly switching the topic,

"Actually, there is something I might really need your help with, Sister Qian. Since you have a broad network, could you handle the paperwork tomorrow to register an investment firm for me?"

Lu Qian froze, carefully sizing up this young tenant by the light of the streetlamp.

His expression was calm, but his eyes were bottomless.

She suddenly realized that she had never truly seen this man clearly.

"Okay."

She stubbed out her cigarette and nodded gently.

Xu Yunzhou calculated that registering an investment company under his own name would make it more concealed and compliant to cash out the remaining Bitcoins.

Returning to that narrow rented room which made him feel incomparably comfortable, Xu Yunzhou locked the door, and without any delay, sat straight in front of the computer.

He took a deep breath, moved the mouse, and once again clicked open that "Goddess Nurturing" game icon that was minimalist in design yet seemed to connect the past and the future.

...

The heavenly song from the welcome party had been uploaded to various social platforms by the attendees, instantly catapulting Song Jiaru back to the absolute top of the trending charts!

#BashuUFreshmanSongJiaruVoiceOfNature#

#BeautifulAndCapableFighterScholarSinger#

#ThisIsTheTrueCampusGoddess#

The hot search lists of every major platform were thoroughly dominated by her name, and the view count of that acapella video exploded exponentially.

Her pure, ethereal vocals, paired with a classic "first-love face" that stunned everyone without a trace of makeup, combined with the delightful contrast of her "Nunchuck-Wielding Beauty" persona, instantly melted the hearts of countless netizens.

This viral explosion was ten times fiercer than that of the legendary "Fairy Sister" back in the day! Anyone with an ounce of foresight could see that this rising star's potential was boundless; the only remaining question was just how high she would soar.

(TL: "Fairy Sister" refers to an early Chinese internet celebrity from 2005 known for her pure, rural beauty.)

For a time, her phone and social accounts were almost stuffed full by various private messages.

Countless shell companies and wild pheasant managers wanting to make quick money swarmed in, the conditions they offered more exaggerated than the last:

"Classmate Song, sign with our company, guarantee your debut within a year, and get you on the Spring Festival Gala in two years!"

"Beauty, cooperate with us, just taking a few commercial gigs casually will be enough for you to buy a house!"

"I know Director Zhang, he's currently preparing a new movie, the second female lead role is tailor-made for you!"

In the dorm room, looking at these wildly extravagant private messages and invitations, Song Jiaru blinked somewhat blankly, silently calling out in her heart:

"Big Brother, are these people... reliable? Should we try?"

Xu Yunzhou sneered:

"Reject every single one of them. Remember, slow and steady is the fastest way forward. Your foundation isn't stable yet, so you absolutely cannot let short-term cash prematurely burn through your popularity and public image. I don't want you to be a mere flash in the pan."

He had seen far too many overnight internet sensations get ruthlessly discarded by corporate backers after being drained of their value, or lose their way in the shallow vanity of show business, ultimately vanishing without a trace or drowning in negative scandals.

"Mhm, got it! I'll listen to you on everything, Big Brother!"

Song Jiaru nodded obediently, politely but unswervingly turning down every temptation.

Thus, even amid a nationwide wave of viral hype, this newly minted top-tier influencer maintained a lifestyle that closely resembled that of an ascetic monk.

She was still that ordinary college student, facing the sky with a bare face, simple white T-shirt and jeans, carrying a backpack, shuttling between classrooms, the library, dorms, and home, living a pure two-point-one-line life.

Occasionally, she would accept invitations to perform at large-scale charity events hosted by the government or official institutions, refusing to take a single dime in order to focus purely on building real stage experience.

Beyond that, she unshakeably woke up at 6:00 AM every single morning to go for a run, and poured almost all of her free hours into the library, absorbing textbooks and academic literature.

Her clear, resolute gaze, low-profile pragmatism, and genuine academic aura were so remarkably pure that even the most sensationalist paparazzi chose to show her mercy, unable to bring themselves to manufacture cheap rumors just to grab clicks.

Sitting outside the screen while gnawing on a roasted lamb leg, Xu Yunzhou admired her exquisitely beautiful profile as she studied diligently under her desk lamp, unable to help but sigh with emotion:

"Tsk, watching this is like reading a beautifully flowing prose poem about youth; it's so pure and scenic that it's intoxicating. It almost makes me feel like eating greasy barbecue right next to it is a form of blasphemy..."

Before long, time fast-forwarded to the second semester of her freshman year.

Xu Yunzhou reviewed Song Jiaru's current attributes:

[Current Female Lead: Song Jiaru]

[Appearance: 95/100] (Clear water yields a natural lotus, completely unblemished; her star quality is beginning to show)

[Figure: 88/100] (Year-round exercise has sculpted stunning lines; healthy and energetic, her supermodel frame potential is fully revealed)

[Knowledge: 60/100] (Straight A's across all academic courses, combined with an astonishing volume of extracurricular reading; her intellectual foundation is steadily growing)

[Temperament: 85/100] (Having experienced overnight stardom and successfully grounded herself; confident, composed, and deep, she carries a natural, magnetic aura)

[Influence: 65/100] (Her viral influencer fame has successfully converted into widespread public goodwill and a rock-solid mainstream fanbase)

[Comprehensive Charm Value: 78.6/100] (An unpolished jade beginning to shine brilliantly; her starlight is initially blooming!)

[Hidden Talent: Voice of Nature] (Activation Level: 70%)

[Comprehensive Evaluation:] The unpolished jade has been meticulously carved, developing the true blueprint of a superstar. It is time to step onto a far grander stage and face a real test!

"Jiaru,"

Xu Yunzhou's voice carried a distinct blend of anticipation and solemnity,

"Get yourself ready. This summer vacation, we're heading to Binzhou."

"Binzhou? Big Brother, what are we going to do all the way out there?"

Song Jiaru tilted her head, her curiosity piqued.

"To audition for the second season of Great Xia's Good Voice on Jiangnan Satellite TV."

(TL: A fictionalized version of "The Voice of China," a massively popular singing competition that premiered in 2012.)

It was time to let the ears of all of Huaxia hear what is called... a voice kissed by God.

He paused, and like a military counselor strategizing in a command tent, issued the order for the expedition:

"Are you ready?"

"Mhm mhm! Ready! I'll go check the registration method right now!"

Song Jiaru's eyes instantly flared with life, filled with a deep yearning for the future and the restless excitement of someone eager to prove themselves.

Xu Yunzhou looked at the "encyclopedia entry" he had already searched up in the browser, which clearly wrote Song Jiaru's introduction:

"In 2013, participated in the second season of 'Great Xia's Good Voice,' won the championship in one fell swoop relying on outstanding talent and unique charm, completing the gorgeous metamorphosis from internet celebrity to powerful singer..."

This was his most precise "walkthrough."

He was guiding the "past" Song Jiaru step by step to realize it according to Song Jiaru's "future" glorious resume.

Although it looked like a time paradox, perhaps just as certain cutting-edge quantum theories imply, time is not the one-way river we perceive.

Past, present, and future perhaps inherently exist simultaneously on a grander level, like entangled particles, influencing each other, being cause and effect to one another.

Looking at the game interface, Xu Yunzhou saw Song Jiaru decline her mother's accompaniment and step onto the plane alone, falling into brief deep thought.

Sending Song Jiaru to Binzhou for the auditions was an essential phase of his master plan, but...

Was it necessary to arrange a meeting between her and the fourteen-year-old, exceptionally rebellious version of himself currently running around in that timeline?

He immediately shook his head and let out a soft laugh.

"Why should I be so good to that little brat from the past? Besides, it's not easy to explain all this to Song Jiaru either. The most important thing right now is to let this future Queen of Pop walk steadily to the peak along the established glorious trajectory."

...

July 2013, Binzhou, the audition site for the second season of "Great Xia's Good Voice."

A sea of people, contestants harboring musical dreams nervously waiting for destiny's call.

Yet when Song Jiaru pulled up to the registration counter completely makeup-free, dressed in her signature simple white shirt and jeans, her presence still ignited an immediate whisper of excitement through the crowd.

Even while trying her hardest to maintain a low profile, her striking beauty and perfectly poised, elegant posture made her stand out like a beacon among the masses.

"Wait, isn't that... the 'Nunchuck-Wielding Beauty,' Song Jiaru, who went viral all over the internet?"

"She actually came out to compete! Wow, she looks even more stunning in person than she does on screen!"

"Incredible, she's a contestant too? Honestly, with a voice like hers, she should have just been fast-tracked straight to the main show!"

For someone of her caliber, clearing the preliminary audition phase carried absolutely zero suspense.

Her unadorned acapella singing, like a clear spring, instantly washed the ears of the judges that were numb from exhaustion. Passing with a unanimous vote, she directly got the admission ticket to the blind auditions.