This chapter has been checked over this time, so there shouldn't be any translation mistakes (hopefully). It still needs editing though.

As both contestants were very strong, the compet.i.tion results were naturally br.i.m.m.i.n.g with suspense. During this final one vs one match, the two contestant's poll counts were very close, pretty much equally matched. However, in the end, it was the delicate looking female contestant whose superior skills helped her s.n.a.t.c.h away the crown. In the past, after the compet.i.tion was over, there would always be people who would attack the organisers saying that there were shady deals behind the scenes, secret wire-pulling and manipulation, unwritten rules, etc. However, everyone was pleased and happy with the results this time, as the champion was too strong; her victory was the one desired by all.

Ji Mian personally presented the prize cup to her, and gave her a hug on the stage, giving her several words of encouragement. The female contestant nodded over and over again, eyes br.i.m.m.i.n.g with tears.

That was how the compet.i.tion concluded. The audience slowly dispersed. The backstage however, was packed with people. Judges, contestants, reporters, the programme's high executives were all staying behind to hold a celebration dinner. Xiao Jiashu struggled through the crowd, and finally reached the side of the champion. He repeatedly tried to talk to her but was interrupted by other people every time. As the leading role of tonight, the female contestant was surrounded on all sides: friends who had come to congratulate her, family members and also reporters and scouts.

Fang Kun leaned against the door of the makeup room, sneering. “I was wondering why I couldn't find Young Master Xiao, turns out he's gone to pick up girls. He seems to have taken a fancy for Li Jiaer, directly squeezing himself to her side. With the way he's at it, betcha he won't be able to even slip in a word edgewise for a long time. "

Fang Kun seemed to like seeing Xiao Jiashu's wretched state, and really wished he could grab a handful of melon seeds to slowly enjoy the show.

“Call him over. You know Li Jiaer's circ.u.mstances. She won't be able to cope with that kind of thing.” Ji Mian was leaning against an armchair taking a nap. The makeup artist was carefully and cautiously removing his makeup.

“Alright, I'll get someone to call him over.” Fang Kun immediately told an a.s.sistant to retrieve Xiao Jiashu. Seeing the other party wave his hand in refusal, Fang Kun started getting p.i.s.sed, his face filled with impatience. “These rich second generations sure are nonsensical, only knowing how to chase girls all day long, doing absolutely nothing of any significance."

He had a reason for saying these words. Right after Li Jiaer got into the finals Fang Kun liked her potential, and invited her out for a meal. After learning more in depth about her, his appreciation for her increased even more. This kid was still just around twenty, but had dropped out in high school, the reason being because a rich second generation in her school took a fancy for her. She was subjected to his hara.s.sment, and had no choice but to drop out for her own safety. However, that wasn't all, that rich second generation wasn't willing to let it rest just like that, and used all kinds of methods to crush her. He caused her parents to lose their jobs, forcing her to have to enter the workforce at a young age to earn money, experiencing many difficulties and trials.

Afterwards, unable to endure their days of hards.h.i.+p, her father ran off with all the family's money. Because of this, her mother fell into depression, and needed to stay long-term in the hospital for treatment. She worked while looking after her mother, but she still didn't let the cruel reality of her life beat her down, and was instead filled with drive and enthusiasm, and was especially cheerful and optimistic. Fortunately, that rich second generation's entire family later immigrated overseas to Australia, and so for the past few years, she was able to get by a little easier.

After meeting with her that time, Fang Kun explained Li Jiaer's circ.u.mstances to Ji Mian. Ji Mian was moved by her story and gave her all kinds of support and guidance. Afterwards, he even personally discussed signing a contract with her. Although the contract wasn't settled in the end, both sides had the intention to sign. Therefore, Li Jiaer could also be considered an unofficial artist of Royal Crown Studios, and they naturally had the obligation to protect her.

Seeing that Xiao Jiashu was still unwilling to come back even over his dead body, Fang Kun was forced to go over and drag Xiao Jiashu away with his own hands.

“You're interested in Li Jiaer?” After closing the makeup room door, Fang Kun asked Xiao Jiashu with a smile which didn't look like a smile.

“That's her stage name, right? What's her real name? Where does her family come from?” Xiao Jiashu asked a series of questions.

“Are you investigating her background?” Fang Kun warned, “She will be signing with Royal Crown Studios in the future. You better keep your hands off her. If you want to play around with girls, do it outside, don't go messing around in the office.”

“I haven't messed around.” Xiao Jiashu never imagined that Fang Kun thought of him that way, and immediately felt wronged.

"If you really haven't been thinking that way, then good.” Ji Mian, who had finished removing his makeup, stood up and said gently, “Li Jiaer has a lot of potential. I will train her well. At the present, I don't want her to be side-tracked by dating. You're allowed to like her, but I ask that you don't disturb her regular work and life. That's not too unreasonable for me to ask, right?”

“I don't like her.” Nothing Xiao Jiashu said was getting through to them, and at the same time he was also disgusted, and this was all inevitably revealed on his face.

Ji Mian gave him a deep look, and continued. “Although Royal Crown Studios may be under of Crown Age, I possess one hundred percent authority. If you're not happy working under me, you are welcome to apply to change departments.”

“No, I'm not unhappy.” Xiao Jiashu didn't want to talk with these people anymore. What has he done wrong? Doesn't he only want to exchange a few words with her? Why are they talking as if he's trying to force an honest girl into prost.i.tution?! He felt that Ji Mian was not gentle as the data had described him as, but egotistically overbearing.

At this precise moment, someone knocked on the door. An a.s.sistant opened the door a crack, and said quietly, “Kun-Ge, It's Li Jiaer.”

“Let her come in.” Fang Kun immediately placed a smile on his face. “Jiaer, are your interviews over? Don't leave right away, wait a bit and come eat out with us. We can discuss the contract while we're at it.”

“Okay, Kun-ge.” Li Jiaer walked to Ji Mian's side and said with a smile, “Ji-ge, thank you for giving me your vote. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would become the overall champion!”

“It's what you rightfully deserved.” Ji Mian smiled lightly, and gestured with his hands, “Let's go eat. These past few days must have been exhausting for you.”

“It wasn't exhausting. This is the most beautiful time I've had in my life. I'll never forget it.” Li Jiaer followed the two to the parking lot, and saw Xiao Jiashu barge into the agency van along with them and seat himself on a backseat. Her eyes showed a hint of curiosity, but she didn't hastily enquire about him. A person as beautifully handsome as him, must be a new talent preparing their debut, right?

Seeing the Young Master Xiao, who shamelessly followed after them, Fang Kun's month twitched, and he introduced grudgingly, “This is Ji-ge's a.s.sistant, Xiao Jiashu.”

Li Jiaer smiled sweetly. “Nice to meet you, Xiao-ge!”

(ge means big brother)

“I'm twenty this year, what about you?” Xiao Jiashu expressionlessly stared straight in front.

“…I'm twenty one this year.” Li Jiaer's sweet smile froze for a second.

Xiao Jiashu: “Oh.”

You're stabbing someone in the heart, Bro! Do you know how to pick up girls or not? If you can't, then get the h.e.l.l out of this car, don't stay here being an eyesore! Fang Kun literally convulsed with anger. He turned his head around to glare at Young Master Xiao. Even Ji Mian, who was the best at controlling his facial expressions, couldn't help but wrinkle his eyebrows.

Xiao Jiashu, on the other hand, was utterly clueless, and continued, “Have you had plastic surgery? Your eyes, nose, and lower jaw look very unnatural.”

Li Jiaer: “…”

Fang Kun had to take his hat off for Young Master Xiao. He'd encountered those who didn't know how to make conversation, but he had never seen someone with conversation skills that deserved a good spanking. If he was Li Jiaer, his fist would have come flying already.

Li Jiaer secretly took a breath and then looked at Ji Mian who was sitting on the front pa.s.senger seat. She said quietly, “Ji-ge, I forgot to tell you before, my face has been under the knife before. I didn't want that person to find me so after I dropped out of school I had surgery to…”

Ji Mian said warmly, “That's not a problem. This sort of thing is very common in the entertainment circle. A star's appearance is also a type of merchandise, one which must be properly and well packaged and managed. Send your photos before the surgery to Fang Kun, so that he can help you deal with public relations in the future.”

“Okay. Thank you, Ji-ge. Thank you, Kun-ge. I don't have any of my old photos on my phone. After I get back home, I'll go search for it in my old phone and send it over. If the reporters ask about this matter, I don't want to cover up the truth, is that alright? Will doing that incur negative publicity? I don't want to lie, I just want to be my true self.” Li Jiaer nervously said.

“You're already had plastic surgery, yet you're still saying that you want to be your true self, Ohh,” Xiao Jiashu said darkly.

Li Jiaer: “…” Who is this guy? Is he nuts?

Fan Kun & Ji Mian: “…” It can't be that Young Master Xiao still believes in that grade schooler mind-set - bullying the girl they like, right?

It took a while for Ji Mian to finally respond. “Whether you choose to confess is up to you. I won't interfere. The studio will do the relevant public relations preparations. There's nothing to fear about being blackened, you can always wash it white.”

“That's right. Being blackened first, next whitened, and then popular, is also a type of method to become famous[1]. If you don't want to conceal the truth, then openly announce it to the public. The fans nowadays really like upright and honest celebrities, if it's handled properly, you might not necessarily incur bad publicity.” Fang Kun consoled her as well.

An overwhelming majority of the female contestants in SUPER New Voice Generation had been under the knife, for some it was extremely obvious: jaw shaved to the point that it's sharper than a cone, so sharp it can pierce their chest when they lower their heads. Only a blind person wouldn't be able to tell they had plastic surgery, yet they still weren't willing admit it. If Li Jiaer honestly came out and frankly confessed at this point in time, that would be equivalent to a clear stream, not only will it not incur people's hate, instead both fans and non fans will have a favourable opinion of her. At the necessary time, the public relations department can hire the navy to guide public opinion, and Li Jiaer's image will make a speedy turn around, and they could also effortlessly establish her character as one who “Dares to speak, and dares to act, and has an honest and frank nature", thus killing two birds with one stone.

The more Fang Kun thought, the more feasible he found it. He inwardly noted it down in his head, getting ready to go back and have someone to draft out a plan.

Li Jiaer felt completely rea.s.sured now. She brought out her phone and opened her photo gallery, wanting to find a photo of herself before plastic surgery.

Xiao Jiashu spoke again, “Send me a copy as well, add me as a friend on WeChat. After he finished speaking he held out his phone to her, as if it was due matter of course. On his screen was already his WeChat account's QR code.

Li Jiaer really had to hand it to this a.s.sistant Xiao. Adding someone he completely dissed as a friend, did he forget to drink his medicine?

“Where would you find someone who would ask a girl for her photo on their first meeting?” Ji Mian indifferently spoke, “a.s.sistant Xiao, where do you live? I'll send you back home first.”

Fang Kun gave Ji Mian a quick glance, secretly breaking out into laughter inside: Ji-ge, are you at the end of your patience, can't bear it any longer? Xiao Jiashu sure is incredible; he can even p.i.s.s off a good tempered person like Ji-ge.

Xiao Jiashu waved a hand, “I'll go with you guys to eat.”

Fang Kun almost let go of the steering wheel without care of the danger, giving Young Master Xiao's shamelessness an applause. Ji Mian, however, had already lowered his head, starting to fiddle with his phone. A short moment later, looking at the screen, he read out, “Dongcheng District, Dingtai Road, Xinhe Jiayuan.”

Oi, oi, oi. Why are you reading out the address of my house? Xiao Jiashu, who had just played the hoodlum for the first time in his entire life, felt super embarra.s.sed, and also super thwarted, but had no way of stopping Fang Kun from driving the car to the entrance of Xinhe Jiayuan. This was a famous wealthy people district in the capital. All houses inside were mansions, the security was very tight, and exterior cars had absolutely no way of entering. Of course, Fang Kun didn't want to drive in either. He turned his head around to look at the black-faced Young Master Xiao and hastened him, “We're here. Hurry and go home.”

The car stopped still at the entrance. A security guard walked out, seeming to want to cross-examine the car. Only then did Xiao Jiashu very reluctantly pull open the car door.

Having sent away this little ancestor, Fang Kun and Li Jiaer let out a breath of relief at same time. Ji Mian, on the other hand, slowly unknitted his brows.

[1] Black, White, Red – Blackened means to get negative publicity, ruining your reputation. Whitened means to clear your ruined reputation. Red means to become popular.