Chapter 21: Then I Shall Not Stand on Ceremony

Tang Yu looked toward the source of the sound, her expression laced with confusion. She couldn't fathom why the friend Qin Luo had brought along looked like a man who had spent his life navigating the social circuit.

What struck her most was the man’s enthusiastic greeting: "Teacher Qin." Why would such a title be attached to Qin Luo? Since when had this brat become a teacher?

Meeting Tang Yu’s inquisitive gaze, Qin Luo stood up to shake the man’s hand, his own smile equally warm. "Hello, hello. Just call me Qin Luo. May I ask your name?"

"I'm Liu Ming, Manager for Teacher Shen. I’ve come on her behalf to finalize this contract with you. Is now a convenient time?"

As Liu Ming spoke, he produced his business card. Qin Luo took it and replied, "Of course, right here is fine. I’m just curious, regarding the matter I mentioned to Teacher Shen earlier, has she had a chance to discuss it with you?"

Liu Ming laughed. "Naturally. I’m fully aware of the details. Teacher Shen said it’s absolutely fine and is actually quite excited about it. She feels it’s a wonderful stage for her and is very happy to participate."

"That’s good to hear. Please, have a seat."

Qin Luo nodded and gestured for Liu Ming to take his place, while he naturally sat down next to Tang Yu.

Tang Yu didn't pay much mind to the small gesture, her curiosity piqued instead by what the two were discussing. Between the talk of "teachers," "contracts," and "stages," her mind immediately jumped to the entertainment industry. A sudden realization dawned on her, leaving her involuntarily stunned.

Could it be that Qin Luo had been scouted by a company because of the song he performed yesterday, and now he was signing a contract to debut as a star?

The moment the thought crossed her mind, it felt perfectly logical. After all, she had heard his song, and it was undeniably beautiful. Being a close friend of Xu Ke, she had witnessed firsthand the depth of Qin Luo’s feelings for her over the past three months. Since the song was an expression of his love for Xu Ke, she was naturally more moved by it than any casual listener.

In her view, such an exceptional song was enough to add a layer of luster to Qin Luo. Now that the track seemed to be trending online, combined with his decent looks, it stood to reason that a talent scout would take notice.

With this thought, the slight annoyance Tang Yu had felt toward Qin Luo began to dissipate. Compared to the tangled mess of romantic entanglements, personal career development and future prospects were undoubtedly more important. If Qin Luo was stalling her for the sake of such serious matters, she could understand. While she had only wanted an answer—a single sentence from him—she conceded that business took priority, and his lack of interest in discussing painful personal matters was understandable.

At the same time, she felt a sense of melancholy. She had heard Xu Ke say more than once that she didn't see anything special in Qin Luo compared to other men who pursued her—that he was just ordinary and overly confident, possessing nothing more than a bit more persistence than the rest.

But now? In just two days, he seemed like a different person, even embarking on a path toward stardom. How fickle the world could be.

While Tang Yu was lost in her own thoughts, Liu Ming suddenly glanced at her and said with a smile, "This must be Teacher Qin’s girlfriend? Teacher Qin is truly impressive—not only handsome and talented himself, but his girlfriend is also a woman of such grace and beauty. I’m quite envious."

The remark pulled Tang Yu out of her internal world. She quickly clarified, "We’re just ordinary friends."

"Just ordinary friends?" Liu Ming gave her a look of mild surprise before turning back to Qin Luo with a knowing smile. "I see. Still in the courtship phase, then? Well, in my eyes, you are a perfect match, talented and beautiful. It’s only a matter of time before you’re together."

Tang Yu couldn't help but frown. She disliked it when others made baseless assumptions about her relationships. Ordinarily, she would have insisted on setting the record straight, but considering this man likely held the key to Qin Luo’s future, she held her tongue. She offered a forced smile, though her demeanor was clearly distant.

Qin Luo paid no mind to the tension and said to Liu Ming, "Brother Liu, let’s get back to business."

Liu Ming chuckled and pushed a document toward Qin Luo. "Teacher Shen called me on her way back to the office, so I rushed to get this contract drafted. Take a look; if everything is in order, feel free to sign."

Qin Luo nodded and began to browse the document. Because it was merely a license for a song cover, the contract was concise. After scanning it, he signaled his approval and turned to Tang Yu. "Could I borrow your pen?"

Tang Yu picked up her pen but didn't hand it over immediately. "May I see the contract?"

Qin Luo looked surprised. "You're interested in this?"

Tang Yu replied coolly, "You’ve always been quite interested in my work, haven't you?"

Qin Luo gave a sheepish laugh and handed her the document. Tang Yu read it in silence. Her interest was genuine, but it wasn't born of mere curiosity; she was worried Qin Luo might be taken advantage of.

In this day and age, society appeared bright and glamorous, with industries flourishing—the entertainment world being the most vibrant of them all. Yet, one had to remember that beneath such beauty, there often lurked ugliness. Tang Yu had never been involved in show business, but she knew of its perils. She feared that Qin Luo, a complete novice, might be duped into a predatory contract, so she wanted to check for any traps or loopholes.

Even though Qin Luo’s recent behavior had annoyed her, and they hadn't been close, she still held no ill will toward him. In fact, his devotion to Xu Ke had moved her, making her willing to be his friend. Looking out for a friend in a critical moment was, to her, a matter of course.

After reading the document, however, she realized she had overthought it. This was no "indenture contract"; it was a straightforward copyright agreement for a single song. She returned it to him and said instinctively, "It's fine. Sign it."

Qin Luo looked at her with slight astonishment. "Were you… looking for traps in the contract just now?"

Caught with her true intentions laid bare, Tang Yu looked a bit flustered. She feigned composure. "As I said, we’re friends now. Besides, I thought you were looking to become a star. The entertainment industry is full of twists and turns, so one can never be too careful. But it seems this is just a cover license, so there’s no issue."

Hearing this, Qin Luo’s gaze toward her grew increasingly subtle. He hadn't expected this young woman to be worried about him. Does she really see me as a friend? Or is she just inherently kind-hearted?

Tang Yu felt uneasy under his gaze and shot him a blank stare. "What are you looking at? Just sign it."

Qin Luo grinned and signed the contract with the pen. Liu Ming took it back, nodded, and said, "Excellent. That settles it."

He tucked the contract into his bag and pulled out another one. He turned to Tang Yu and asked, "You are the Vice President of the Student Union at Modu University, responsible for the planning of the university's 30th-anniversary celebration, correct? May I ask how to address you?"

Tang Yu was stunned. She didn't know how Liu Ming knew her identity, nor why he was suddenly asking her this. She looked instinctively at Qin Luo, seeking an explanation, but he just smiled and remained silent.

Left with no choice, she withdrew her gaze and nodded. "Yes, I am Tang Yu."

"Very good, Student Tang. Regarding your university’s invitation for Teacher Shen Fang to participate in the 30th-anniversary celebration and oversee the opening performance, after internal discussions, we have confirmed there are no issues. Here is the contract we’ve prepared. If everything looks correct, please sign it—or do you need to consult with your school leadership?"

As Liu Ming finished, he placed the document before her. Tang Yu was left frozen. It was as if she had been struck by lightning; her expression went blank, and her eyes were filled with profound shock.

The state lasted only a second before she regained her composure. She stared intensely at Qin Luo and asked earnestly, "Don't tell me this has nothing to do with you. Tell me, what is going on?"

Qin Luo ignored her stern expression and smiled. "Didn't I say earlier? Tell me why you were sighing, and maybe I could help. Even though Teacher Shen hasn't appeared in public for many years, she was a top-tier star in her day. Having her perform should solve your problem, right?"

Tang Yu listened to him in silence for a long time. The eyes fixed upon Qin Luo’s face shimmered with a complex array of emotions: surprise, delight, gratitude…

Why does he know Shen Fang? How could he persuade her to participate in the school celebration? Why would he go to such lengths to help me? Why…

Questions bubbled up within her. She stared at him, desperate for answers, but she knew this was not the time. She forced the questions back and said softly, "I’ll save my thanks for later. Consider this a favor I owe you."

Qin Luo blinked. "Lunch on you?"

Tang Yu agreed without hesitation. "Fine. Anywhere you choose."

Qin Luo flashed a wide grin. "Then I won't be polite."