Chapter 56: Things Are Not Good

Xu Yunzhou smiled.

As expected.

All the clues were connected at this moment, forming a clear chain of cause and effect.

It must be that Lin Ruoxuan previously in Jinli, Chengzhou, unexpectedly heard Song Jiaru sing those two "non-existent" songs.

Although she couldn't press for answers on the spot due to a mental breakdown at the time, given her personality and resources, she would definitely pay close attention to this mysterious girl afterward.

When she saw Song Jiaru again in a certain program or report, she would definitely recognize her.

Then she instructed her younger cousin Song Jinxuan to specifically establish this "Qingsheng Media," the purpose being to sign Song Jiaru, observe her closely, and explore the clues that might be related to the "Tyrant."

"Go meet her."

Xu Yunzhou's voice came through the microphone,

"Agree to her conditions and sign this contract."

Song Jiaru took one last look at that teenager with red ear roots, and gently waved at him and his group of winking teammates.

Then she turned around, her figure merging into the end of the campus tree-lined path.

She never noticed that at the instant she turned around, the teenager's gaze closely followed her back, his eyes brimming with a sense of loss even he couldn't understand.

The soccer ball deliberately thrown by his teammate hit his shoulder squarely with a "bang," but he only stumbled slightly, turning his head blankly, as if he couldn't feel the pain.

As if all his senses had been withdrawn along with that departing figure.

...

Soon, in a private room of a nearby coffee shop, Xu Yunzhou accompanied Song Jiaru and met Song Jinxuan, who rushed over in a hurry.

The Song Jinxuan before their eyes looked completely different from the cold and beautiful domineering CEO Xu Yunzhou saw during the day.

Her face still carried the greenness of just leaving campus. Wearing a slightly oversized formal suit, hugging a document bag, she looked exactly like a salesperson.

The gaze looking at Song Jiaru was full of undisguised excitement and worship.

"Teacher Song! Hello, hello! I am Song Jinxuan, the founder of Qingsheng Media!"

She stepped forward eagerly, grasping Song Jiaru's hands with both hands, her tone so enthusiastic it was almost exaggerated,

"I really didn't expect you to be willing to see me so soon! I'm too excited! We both have the surname Song, five hundred years ago we must have been one family! This is destiny!"

Song Jiaru was somewhat embarrassed by her excessive enthusiasm and gently withdrew her hands:

"Hello President Song, no need to be so polite, just call me Jiaru."

"How can I do that! You are my idol! You are the existence on single-loop in my music playlist!"

Song Jinxuan's eyes were sparkling. She hurriedly took out her phone, swiped open the screen like offering a treasure, and clicked open the ringtone settings,

"Teacher Song, look! My phone ringtone, the notification sounds for all my social software, and even the alarm clock that wakes me up every day, have all been changed to your 'Lonely Warrior'! Especially that line 'Who says only those standing in the light count as heroes,' every time I hear it my blood boils and I'm full of drive!"

As she spoke, she actually wanted to press the play button on the spot to prove herself.

Song Jiaru quickly held down her wrist.

"Don't, don't, don't, President Song, it's not convenient here..."

Song Jiaru didn't know whether to laugh or cry, feeling that this young and beautiful boss was not only overly passionate, but also had an inexplicable... simple and straightforward cuteness.

Outside the screen, looking at Song Jinxuan's appearance of a living "fanatical fangirl," Xu Yunzhou almost couldn't hold back a laugh.

He stroked his chin, his eyes playful, complaining crazily internally:

"Song Jinxuan ah Song Jinxuan, where is your domineering CEO vibe of throwing money at people at night?"

"This appearance of having starry eyes and wishing you could pounce on her for an autograph right now, if seen by those people tonight, their jaws would probably drop in shock!"

"Wait... her attitude toward Song Jiaru wasn't very friendly at night. Could it be because she accumulated a lot of resentment from being forcibly woken up by 'Lonely Warrior' every day?"

Song Jinxuan was completely unaware that she was being crazily complained about by a certain "invisible existence."

She carefully took out an exquisitely bound business plan from the document bag and handed it to Song Jiaru with both hands:

"Teacher Song, I know my company has just started and the scale is very small. But we have strong capital support behind us!"

She mysteriously lowered her voice, carrying the intimacy of sharing a secret,

"It's just that the investor requested confidentiality, saying they want to test my abilities. But rest assured, the funds are absolutely abundant!"

She abruptly raised her voice,

"I dare to guarantee with my everything, I will pour all resources into building you!"

"This is my preliminary plan, which includes detailed record production, promotion and distribution channels, and image positioning for the next three years, even including concepts for entering the film and television and fashion fields... Please look it over!"

Song Jiaru took the heavy business plan and subconsciously tilted her head, using her eyes to ask for Xu Yunzhou's opinion in the void.

Looking at this sunny young girl before him who was like a completely different person from the domineering CEO who threw money for him to serve her at night, Xu Yunzhou smiled:

"Sign it. For the sake of this President Song... being so cute during the day."

"However, add an additional clause—you need to have absolute autonomy, including song selection, image positioning, and some promotional decisions. She must cooperate fully and cannot interfere."

Song Jiaru proposed this condition as instructed.

Unexpectedly, Song Jinxuan didn't even have a second of hesitation, immediately nodding like pounding garlic:

"No problem! Absolutely no problem! Whatever you say, Teacher Song, goes! Our company exists to serve you! We'll strike wherever you point!"

She thought secretly in her heart: Cousin gave a death order to sign Song Jiaru no matter what. If I can't even accomplish this task, I can forget about subsequent investments!

That posture, as if she wasn't signing an artist, but inviting back a living Bodhisattva that needed to be enshrined.

The signing process went unbelievably smoothly.

Holding the signed contract, Song Jinxuan's face had a radiant smile:

"Teacher Song! To celebrate our cooperation, let me treat you to dinner tonight! I know a particularly good restaurant, the atmosphere is great!"

Suddenly remembering something, she hurriedly added, her tone carrying a trace of undetectable disappointment and concern:

"Ah, you said you have to catch a flight tonight? It's fine, I'll personally take you to the airport!"

Being able to spend an extra moment together is good too.

Looking at her extremely attentive appearance, Xu Yunzhou couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head outside the screen.

His fingers impatiently clicked [Fast Forward] continuously on the mouse, skipping all the trivial details like the pleasantries after signing and the possible reluctant farewells on the way to the airport.

When the footage stabilized again, it was already past 9:00 PM, and the scene changed to the interior of a moving black commercial vehicle.

The space inside the car was spacious yet suffocating.

The driver in the front row was expressionless.

In the third row sat three burly men wearing black suits; they were like three cold sculptures, emitting a dangerous aura.

Song Jiaru sat alone in the second row, her petite body appearing even more helpless in the large seat, like a shivering little white rabbit that had wandered into a wolf pack.

Outside the car window, the dim yellow streetlights rapidly retreated.

The buildings on both sides of the road became increasingly sparse, and the outlines of distant mountains loomed in the night—this was clearly heading toward a remote mountainous area, absolutely not the road leading to the urban area!

Xu Yunzhou's brows instantly furrowed tightly.

Something's not right! What happened?

"Big Brother! You're finally back!"

Song Jiaru's voice, carrying a crying tone and forcibly suppressing fear, urgently sounded in his mind.

"As soon as I walked out of the airport passage, before I could even react, I was surrounded by these people!"

"They said... said their boss wanted to invite me for late-night snacks. I wanted to refuse, but they didn't allow any explanation at all, half-'inviting' and half-pushing me into this car!"

Boss? 2013?

Xu Yunzhou's heart abruptly sank, a chill crawling up his spine.

He immediately manipulated the perspective, trying to see clearly the license plate outside the window—Cheng A·xxxxx.

Combining Song Jiaru's description and the time point, a name that had long turned to historical dust in 2025 surfaced in his mind: Xu Kun!

In 2025, the grass on this person's grave was already several meters high, but in 2013, he was indeed the "underground emperor" of the Chengzhou underworld whose words carried enormous weight.

His hands and eyes reached the sky, he acted arrogantly, and was lawless.

If... if it really is this evil star who targeted Song Jiaru...

Xu Yunzhou only felt an indescribable panic abruptly dart into his heart, unconsciously gripping the mouse tightly.

Just imagining that possibility made his heart feel chilled!

It was rumored that more than one currently popular A-list female star had stumbled in his hands, forced to swallow their anger, and even... had indecent videos leaked out, ultimately ruining their reputations, destroying their stardom, and ending up miserably.

What to do now?

At this time node, relying on conventional forces?

Looking for law enforcement departments?

The effect would probably be minimal, and might even be counterproductive, intensifying the conflict and pushing the isolated and helpless Song Jiaru faster into an even more dangerous abyss.