Jia Lingyi's expression was cold as she looked around the room.
Backing down has never been her character, as Xia Mengqi, she had always been domineering.
This Chen Ai, who did she think she was? In her time, girls like her who didn't know when to speak would never have gotten a chance to debut!
"You!"
"What's going on here?! Quiet down, everyone!"
The instructor walked in just then, a strict look on his face.
"Is this what you do in your free time? You are supposed to be practising! Do you all want to debut or not?" He turned to the members of Shimmer standing in the centre, "Do you think you don't have to put in effort just because you've debuted now?!" Song Yan, a man in his thirties, chided the girls.
When his eyes fell on Jia Lingyi, who was standing all by herself, he was shocked.
"You're back." Those were the only words that he could mutter to her.
Song Yan had heard about her attempted suicide, and he felt bad for the young girl, but there was nothing that he could do for her.
She was someone that the company wanted to blacklist after all.
He can barely help himself right now, so how could he think about helping someone else?
Jia Lingyi froze when she realized who the instructor was.
Song ....Song Yan! Where had this person been?!
And why was he suddenly working in a company like this?
This was way below his status!
The last time she saw him, he was someone who commanded a lot of respect in the industry, but then he disappeared. What happened to Song Yan?
"What are you all standing around for? Get in position for rehearsal, we don't have all day!" Song Yan snapped.
Jia Lingyi flinched a little at his sharpness, but she wasn't surprised.
When he had worked with her, he was even harsher!
"Oh, please, Mr. Song, you don't get to yell at us like that. We are not your kids!" Chen Ai was the one who spoke, and she eyed Song Yan without the tiniest bit of respect.
How dare Chen Ai?!
Jia Lingyi was confused, and Song Yan's lack of reaction confused her further.
The Song Yan she knew would never tolerate this.
And besides, did these girls not know who Song Yan was?!
A resigned smile rested on his lips, and Song Yan looked at the girls lazily.
"I don't care if you girls practice or not. However, when it's time for you to perform, if you make a fool of yourselves once more....I am pretty sure your fans and haters would have a lot to say then." Song Yan's voice was lazy, like he really could not be bothered with any of them.
"You!"
Song Yan turned to Jia Lingyi, completely ignoring Chen Ai, who was about to throw a fit again.
"Why are you here, Jia Lingyi? I thought you were supposed to be in the hospital. recovering"
Jia Lingyi snapped out of her thoughts when he spoke to her, and although his lazy and uninterested eyes confused her further, she tried not to show it.
"I am here to record my cover, sir!"
Song Yan was a gem, and it was a pity these girls did not recognize who he was.
"Pfft! Jia Lingyi, do you not have any shame?! The last time we performed together, your singing got us criticized! Just leave already! Do you have to make things difficult for everyone?"
Jia Lingyi ignored Chen Ai's sarcastic tone.
She wasn't one to give up.
She would show these people...she wasn't one to be messed with.
Her eyes were fixed on Song Yan.
She only needed to convince him, so she focused all of her attention on him.
"I am still a member of Shimmer, I deserve to practice and record my cover for the promotion of our album just like every other member, right?"
Yin Roulan's face darkened when she heard this.
This person... Why was she being so difficult?
And when did she get so thick skinned?! She had already been mocked so much. Why didn't she just leave?!
Song Yan sighed, "Jia Lingyi...."
Jia Lingyi walked up to the small stage set up in the middle of the room and stared straight at the camera.
"Hello everyone, I am Jia Lingyi, and I will be singing "Spotlight" by Meng Shuyan!"
"You want to sing a song by Meng Shuyan? You are really brave, Jia Lingyi. Do you think just anyone can hit the high notes of sister Shuyan?" Chen Ai mocked, folding her arms across her chest, waiting to see Jia Lingyi make a fool of herself.
Since she wanted to be a laughingstock, Chen Ai wouldn't stop her!
Jia Lingyi ignored Chen Ai's words and the whispers around.
Stepping closer to the mic, she started to sing.
"Over a thousand years, your eyes on me
Unable to do anything, to leave or stay.
And now we're in the spotlight, and I'm stuck with you."
Jia Lingyi stepped down the stage, shocked by her own raw voice.
It was still unsteady, and it clearly needed some practice, but it was beautiful.
Why was her reputation so bad then?!
Everyone was quiet by the time Jia Lingyi was done singing. Her voice had captivated everyone, and even the instructor, Song Yan, was dumbstruck.
Jia Lingyi had always been a good singer, and she would have gone further without the suppression from her company.
However, he had never noticed she was this good at singing!
Singing was more than having a nice voice.
What happened to her? How did she suddenly get so skilled?
Jia Lingyi bowed her head and stepped down from the stage, a satisfied grin on her face.
Even Chen Ai couldn't say anything negative.
Although she had sung only a few songs when she was Xia Mengqi, everyone in the industry knew she was a good singer.
However, she had never really had the chance to explore her voice.
Xu Shenyu made her focus on acting, so there was never really any time for her to pursue singing, other than releasing some promotional singles and OSTS.
Jia Lingyi felt like she was back in her prime as she carried a tune once again, especially since it was a song that she was familiar with.
"Lingyi, have you been practising behind everyone's back? How did your singing get so good?" Song Yan asked her with a gentle smile.
Although he was a singing instructor, it was the first time he had met an idol he was satisfied with, and he could not help but be excited.
All of the other idols he had taught were manufactured singers who sang the same way, no skill, no talent. They relied on autotune to make their music sound good.
As long as they appeared on stage looking pretty and earned money for the company, it didn't matter if they knew how to sing. They just needed to lip-sync while performing, and their fans would go crazy.
Song Yan's heart raced as he was filled with renewed hope, for the second time, he found a student he wanted to nurture.
He was reminded of the first student who had caught his eye, and Song Yan shook his head.
Thinking of that person and what had happened to her recently....
Song Yan looked up at Jia Lingyi's youthful face.
Thinking about it, their singing styles were really similar!
"Some people really know how to act! What was the point of hiding your talent this whole time?!" Chen Ai chipped in, her voice dripping with jealousy.
Yin Roulan was seething in anger, and she couldn't hide it behind a sweet smile this time.
Stomping her foot on the ground, she turned and ran out of the practice room.
Chen Ai and Li Mian went after her immediately, but Mei Zixiu paused to stare at Jia Lingyi.
She seemed to be considering something, then she turned and led the other girls out, too.
Song Yan sighed. He could see a war coming, however, he wasn't willing to give up on a good seed.
"Jia Lingyi, what do you want to do? Do you want to remain an idol?" He asked her seriously.
It would be a pity if she let her talent go to waste.
Jia Lingyi shook her head.
"Instructor Song, I want to be an actor and musician!"
Not just a pretty celebrity or idol, but a proper actor and singer!