Sister Yun was also curious. "Speaking of which, Ning Yao is an artist at your company too. How come you just..."

Tang Li said, "Oh, Ning Yao? She’s a very laid-back person. Plus, she’s getting interested in behind-the-scenes work now. Of the two artists I have high hopes for, I think only Ye Qian will be active in the spotlight in the future."

Sister Yun sounded a little regretful. "Ning Yao is actually quite good, though."

"To each their own," Tang Li said, understanding. "She just likes that kind of life, content with being comfortably well-off, without such a strong drive for her career. Of course, that doesn’t mean she’s wrong. It’s just how some people choose to live, and we should all understand and respect that."

Sister Yun nodded. "You’re right. Respect and understanding." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The days trickled by. Before Ye Qian’s sweet rom-com drama was even released, her song had already taken the world by storm. It seemed like you could hear her sweet, clear voice wherever you went.

"The sales are incredible! Our director really can do anything," Brother Chen said with a hearty laugh. Ye Qian was his artist, so her success naturally put him in a good mood.

Tang Li didn’t take the credit. "It was all Teacher Liang’s hard work. It’s my fault for being so tone-deaf."

Teacher Liang laughed too. "So half of this medal of honor is mine? Alright, I’ll take it. It makes all those days I spent arranging music with Li Zi worth it. I’m an old man, and here I am singing sweet, cutesy songs. Let me tell you, it’s not easy to sing them well."

Tang Li scratched her cheek, feeling a little guilty. ’I always thought I sang pretty much on key. Why does no one else seem to think so?’

Tan You said, "Every person who sings off-key thinks their pitch is perfect."

Tang Li replied, "Ouch, Mr. Tan. That really stings."

Despite her words, Tang Li wasn’t the least bit upset. Seeing everyone’s careers flourishing put her in a great mood.

Ye Qian was the happiest of all. After the album was released, she received many more offers for commercial appearances and variety shows. Of course, some people sent her scripts too, but Ye Qian was busy preparing for a new role, so she turned them all down.

The production teams that had sent the invitations certainly weren’t angry. The new role was for one of Tang Li’s scripts, after all. Who would turn down Tang Li for them? She was a top screenwriter in the industry!

An executive laughed. "Being tone-deaf is no big deal, Sister Li Zi. None of us expected you to be able to dance so sweetly. No wonder you were so picky about the choreographers’ skills. Turns out that sweet and cute style wasn’t just an act."

Tang Li covered her face. "That’s my embarrassing past! Tell me, is there anything about me that even remotely screams ’sweet’? If they hadn’t been so slow on the uptake, would I have had to step in and demonstrate it myself?"

Ye Qian couldn’t stop laughing. "That’s not true! When you were dancing, Sister Li Zi, I was completely mesmerized. Really! I knew you could dance, but I had no idea you could choreograph too."

Tang Li thought to herself, ’To be able to demonstrate it myself, I had to go through hell under Tan You’s training just to pass. No one saw how much I suffered.’

Tang Li asked, "You deleted all the video clips of me dancing, right? That’s my embarrassing past."

"Of course not," Brother Chen said with a sly smile. "How could we delete such precious material? I’ve already got it all planned. When Ye Qian goes on a variety show later, we’ll bring this footage along to let everyone know about our company’s great prodigy."

"What kind of prodigy am I?" Tang Li felt a bit sheepish. ’Mainly because these ideas weren’t mine; they were the fruit of Tan You’s hard work.’

Brother Chen said, "How are you not a prodigy? Who else becomes a top screenwriter with their very first script? Who produces an album that goes platinum on their first try?"

"Every variety show you produce is a massive hit, and you’re so good at managing money. If that’s not a prodigy, what is?"

Tang Li’s face grew warm from the praise. "I’ll just take that as a compliment. But there’s no need to mention me when Ye Qian is on the show. I just contributed some lyrics and music. The real hero is Teacher Liang. He had a tough time with it."

Teacher Liang playfully wiped his eyes. "I never thought I’d one day find my talent in singing cutesy songs. Seriously, it’s not easy to sing these songs well, especially when you have to jump and dance around."

Ye Qian said, "I feel like I’m in much better shape lately. Singing and dancing on stage for so long has naturally built up my stamina."

As the group chatted and laughed, Sister Hu glanced at the time. "We should get going for the show’s recording. Any later and we’ll be late."

The group dispersed. Teacher Liang followed Tang Li. "I’ve made a first draft of the arrangement for that movie theme song you gave me a few days ago. Want to come listen to how it sounds?"

Tang Li turned on her heel. "Of course. Teacher Liang is a gold-medal music producer now."

Teacher Liang chuckled. "That’ll only be true if Ye Qian wins an award. Do you have any other songs? We can’t just keep making cutesy pop."

Tang Li asked, "Not feeling tortured anymore?"

Teacher Liang smiled. "I’ll endure any torture, as long as the final work is good."

Tang Li thought for a moment. "We’ll talk about it later. I’m not running a charity; I need to find a real gem first. My songs aren’t for just anyone to sing."

"That’s true. You’re really picky." Teacher Liang pointed at Tang Li. "But being picky has its advantages. At least it’s less likely their image will collapse, and they won’t tarnish your work."

The two of them walked into the recording studio, talking softly. While others were busy hustling for a living, this place—with its singing and composing—had an air of peaceful tranquility.

Sometimes, when your career is going smoothly, other things in life inevitably pop up. Like right now. Just after getting off work that day, Tang Li received a call from her grandmother.

"She’s pregnant?" Tang Li was surprised for only a moment, then she smiled. "That’s wonderful news."

Her grandmother sounded worried. "She’s almost fifty. Even if Sun Zhicai has some money, by the time the child is grown, she’ll be nearly seventy. Will you have to help support the child in the future? You’re the eldest sister, after all."

Tang Li said, "Sun Zhicai is a meticulous man; he’ll have considered every angle. And taking a step back, being the eldest sister doesn’t make me the mother. If, one day, they were both gone, the most I could guarantee is that the child grows up safely. It’s just a matter of spending some money."

Her grandmother sighed. "I was happy for her when she remarried, but now that she’s pregnant again, I don’t know what to say. I have mixed feelings. I’m just worried she’ll become a burden to you later. The load on your shoulders is already heavy enough, and your grandfather and I are living with you..."

"You and Grandpa are no burden at all," Tang Li laughed. "Besides, I could support ten or eight of you. Plus, you both have pensions. I really don’t have much of a burden at all..."

Her words put her grandmother in a much better mood. "Ten or eight is too many! Oh, Li Zi, when are you taking a vacation? Or maybe your grandpa and I can come visit you? When we video called the other day, you looked like you’d lost a lot of weight."

"No, I haven’t lost any weight," Tang Li said with a heartwarming smile. "It’s just your loving eyes that see me as skinny. I’ve actually gained a couple of pounds recently. If you and Grandpa have nothing to do at home, why don’t you come visit? I’m thinking of buying a house, and I could use your advice."