Chapter 104: Gentle Guidance

Song Baining loved singing more than anything.

Her voice was as clear and melodious as a nightingale’s; even a soft hum from her could soothe the soul.

Not only was she gifted in singing, but she was also strikingly beautiful—standing nearly 1.7 meters tall, with neat short hair, a delicate face, and clear, bright eyes.

She exuded a natural freshness and warmth, as if born with an innate charm that drew people to her effortlessly.

Many boys admired her as the ideal girl-next-door; the only flaw was that she rarely, if ever, smiled.

"Song Baining comes from a poor family," Liu Hai explained as they strolled through Fudan University’s campus. "At the freshman orientation, she said that if her mother hadn’t sacrificed her life to save hers, she wouldn’t be here. So, she lives to fulfill all her mother’s wishes."

He continued, "Her mother once said she liked Fudan University, so Song Baining applied here. Not only was she admitted, but she also topped the science stream among the three western provinces that year."

Liao Yuan couldn’t help but ask, "What other wishes did her mother have?"

"To leave the mountains," Liu Hai smiled. "And she’s already done that."

Fu Xiaoci, curious, asked, "Anything else?"

"For now, that’s all I know. But she really loves singing and has a remarkable voice. Just after enrolling, she won first place in the campus singer competition."

Liu Hai glanced around and lowered his voice. "She’s been scouted by Lemon Entertainment. The general manager, Mo Jingming, invited Song Baining to debut three times but was rejected each time. Many other major companies, like Hualong Media, have tried to sign her, but it’s the same result."

Fu Xiaoci’s heart sank. "Why won’t she sign?"

"She says her studies come first," Liu Hai replied earnestly.

Liao Yuan felt a stirring in his heart.

He wasn’t particularly impressed by Tang Guo or Luo Weiwei.

Tang Guo was the typical internet celebrity contestant—without professional training from a young age and limited potential. Such contestants can gain followers by crafting personas, but on a professional stage, their weaknesses show starkly compared to true professionals.

Though she had some popularity, audiences quickly forget. Half a year later, once the novelty of "Little Sweetie" wore off, Tang Guo would fade into obscurity.

As for Luo Weiwei, her model-like figure was a plus, but her voice was rough with a strong East China accent.

She might make a good stage actress, but clearly, she wasn’t interested in the entertainment industry. Moreover, Liao Yuan himself was indifferent, so any collaboration was out of the question.

Liao Yuan understood his company’s capabilities.

With current resources, building one artist was a stretch; two would be impossible.

Under such circumstances, he had to choose the best.

Song Baining’s freshman speech video and her performance at the social event sparked Liao Yuan’s desire to discover new talent.

Her pure, natural voice and the slightly raw yet pleasant singing technique revealed the potential to become a diva in the music world.

Having encountered countless people and spent more than a decade in the entertainment industry—often as a talent show mentor—Liao Yuan was confident in his ability to judge talent.

He believed that with his guidance and time, Song Baining could carve out a place for herself in the Chinese music scene.

Of course, this was assuming everything went smoothly.

"What’s her major?" Liao Yuan asked again.

Liu Hai searched on his phone and answered, "Journalism and Communication, with a minor in Japanese. Both are highly sought-after fields."

The meeting was set at the science library. After a phone call with Song Baining, Liu Hai led Liao Yuan to the library’s first floor.

At that moment, Song Baining was handing out flyers in the lobby. Besides classes, she worked diligently to support herself.

In addition to regular tutoring, distributing flyers was another source of income.

She wore a simple white T-shirt and jeans, a casual girl-next-door look, with a red baseball cap perched on her head and a black ponytail trailing behind.

Beneath the brim, her clear, captivating eyes and delicate features remained unsmiling.

Even so, a few young boys surrounded her, enthusiastically helping hand out flyers.

Liu Hai stepped forward and invited her over, explaining the situation and then gesturing toward Liao Yuan and the others.

After confirming their identities, Song Baining said little.

She tucked the flyers into her backpack, thanked several senior students nearby, then approached Liao Yuan.

"Director Fu, do you need something?" she asked.

Liao Yuan asked with interest, "How did you know I’m Director Fu?"

Song Baining looked at him silently.

Fu Xiaoci was surprised. Suddenly, she felt a fondness for Song Baining—a true outsider who didn’t even recognize her own brother, clearly uninterested in show business.

Liao Yuan cleared his throat and explained, "Director Fu and I are just friends."

Song Baining continued to gaze at him without blinking.

The atmosphere grew awkward.

Several senior students nearby approached and asked, "Xiao Bai, do you need help?"

Liao Yuan smiled at the young men.

Suddenly, an imposing aura radiated from him, causing them to pause, eyes full of hesitation and disbelief.

This presence felt familiar—like when they encountered the university’s deans and presidents.

At that moment, two bodyguards who had been standing behind stepped forward without a word, flanking Liao Yuan and glaring menacingly at the youths.

The massive guards exuded such fierce energy that the inexperienced boys grew uneasy.

Yet, in front of their goddess, they didn’t want to show weakness.

They tried to provoke, but lacked the courage…

So awkward.

Song Baining’s lips moved slightly before she said, "Thank you, senior brothers. They’re my friends."

She then turned to Liao Yuan. "Shall we talk somewhere else?"

…

"Sorry," Song Baining shook her head under the shade of the trees after hearing Liao Yuan’s purpose. "I’m not interested in becoming a singer."

"Your looks and voice are excellent. With some training, you could debut," Liao Yuan said, hands casually folded, stroking his chin. "Little Yellow Fish Culture is different from Lemon Entertainment or Hualong Media. It’s a blank slate—just like you now, full of endless possibilities…"

Song Baining listened quietly, saying nothing, but her refusal was unmistakable.

Fu Xiaoci couldn’t help but speak up, "Hey, my brother is Fu Yuntao, the chief director of ‘Singer’ and ‘Produce 101.’ Even if we’re a new company, if you join Little Yellow Fish, I can get you the best resources from my brother."

Liu Hai twitched his eyes but remained silent.

Song Baining was still unmoved.

"Is she an idiot?" Fu Xiaoci muttered.

Liao Yuan then said, "I think you love singing. Even if you deny it now, I’ve seen some of your performances—at social events and that campus singer competition. They show you have the desire to be a professional singer…"

His voice suddenly cut off.

Liao Yuan’s gaze shifted to a passing boy with a guitar and headphones.

"Hey, can I borrow your guitar for a moment?"

The boy took off his headphones, understood Liao Yuan’s request, and handed over the guitar willingly.

Then, his eyes swept to Fu Xiaoci and then to Song Baining, utterly amazed. "Isn’t this my goddess?" his jaw dropped.

Liao Yuan strummed the strings. "You might not believe it, but I used to be a professional singer. There’s a kind of resonance between singers. I’ve heard your ‘When the Song Ends and People Scatter.’ Your voice is delicate and evocative, like telling a story. But I think this song might suit you better. If you like, I’ll give it to you. How about that?"

Song Baining pressed her cap lower. "I have things to do. Sorry…"

Before she finished, the guitar’s melody began, and in that instant, she stopped in her tracks.