Chapter 34 – A Voice That Travels Far
The days that followed did not slow down. If anything, they moved faster, like a tide that refused to recede. What had once been a quiet rise now turned into something impossible to ignore. Their faces appeared everywhere—on digital billboards, in shopping districts, across trending pages that refreshed by the second.
At first, it was subtle. A second glance. A whisper.
Then it became undeniable.
"Isn't that Lin Su?"
"That's Xu Yan!"
"I know them—they're from that series!"
Recognition followed them into cafés, onto streets, even into places they once moved through unnoticed. It was no longer a matter of if they were seen. It was a matter of when.
They were no longer just part of the industry.
They were inside it now.
And yet, among them all, one name began to travel faster than the rest.
Liu Wen.
It began quietly, almost accidentally.
That night at the karaoke bar, under soft neon lights and careless laughter, Xu Yan had recorded her. It was meant to be nothing more than a memory—a moment she wanted to keep, something she could replay and laugh about later.
But joy had a way of spilling over.
Without thinking too much, she posted the clip.
"My best girl is insane. Explain this voice???"
She went to sleep not expecting anything.
By morning, everything had changed.
The video had spread like wildfire, carried from one screen to another, from one stranger to thousands more. Comments flooded in faster than they could be read.
Who is she?
That voice isn't normal.
She needs to debut. Now.
By noon, the numbers had climbed into the millions.
By evening, the industry was watching.
And then came the call.
Starwave Entertainment.
A name that carried weight without needing explanation.
In China's entertainment world, idol labels were not simply companies—they were systems. They discovered, molded, and refined talent with precision. Vocals, stage presence, media training, discipline—nothing was left untouched. Those who entered did not remain the same when they emerged.
They wanted Liu Wen.
Immediately.
When the offer was placed before her, Liu Wen didn't react the way Xu Yan had expected. There was no scream, no immediate excitement. She sat quietly, reading every line, her expression steady.
"It's real," Xu Yan said, hovering beside her. "This is actually real."
Liu Wen nodded once, but her voice remained calm. "I know."
Lin Su leaned against the table, watching her carefully. "What are you thinking?"
Liu Wen didn't answer right away. Her fingers traced lightly over the page before she finally spoke. "If I go… I won't be coming back the same."
Mei Lin, standing nearby, folded her arms. "That's the point."
Silence settled for a moment, not heavy, but thoughtful.
Then Liu Wen looked up. "I'll accept."
Xu Yan gasped. "Just like that?"
"Not entirely," Liu Wen replied.
When she met with Starwave, she did not go as someone asking to be chosen. She went as someone who already knew her worth.
"I'll join," she said evenly, "but I'm not starting from nothing. My team comes with me."
There was a brief pause on the other end.
"My assistant, my vocal trainer, the people who understand how I work—I'm not leaving them behind."
Negotiations followed, but not for long.
Starwave agreed.
They paid the severance fees. They signed her team. They cleared the path.
And just like that, Liu Wen stepped into a different world.
Back at the apartment, the mood was warmer… but softer too.
Xu Yan hugged Liu Wen tightly. "I'm so happy for you," she said, though her voice wavered slightly. "But I don't like this part."
Liu Wen smiled gently. "Which part?"
"The part where you leave."
Lin Su sat beside them, quiet but present. "It won't feel the same."
Mei Lin leaned against the wall, her tone calm. "Nothing ever does once things start changing."
Liu Wen looked at them, her gaze steady. "You're acting like I'm the only one moving forward."
They paused.
"You're all rising too," she continued. "Soon, none of us will have time like this anymore."
Xu Yan groaned. "I hate when you're right."
Liu Wen laughed softly.
Her training was set to begin the following week.
So for the remaining days, she stayed close.
She followed Lin Su to photoshoots, sat through Xu Yan's chaotic training sessions, and quietly accompanied Mei Lin through her structured schedules.
She didn't say much about it.
She didn't need to.
Every moment spoke for itself.
Even their agency, though reluctant, chose not to hold her back.
"She belongs there," one manager admitted quietly.
Another nodded. "We don't cage something meant to fly."
"Fighting."
—
But while one chapter closed, another quietly began elsewhere.
In a private lounge, far removed from the warmth of celebration, three women sat together.
Qin Shuying.
Bai Lianhua.
Tang Yueran.
Their presence alone carried weight.
"So," Qin Shuying said lightly, "the singer leaves."
Bai Lianhua smiled faintly. "One less variable."
Tang Yueran tapped her fingers against the table. "Which makes things… simpler."
Their voices remained calm, almost casual.
But beneath that calm was calculation.
Because in this industry, competition wasn't loud.
It was precise, measured and patient.
Not far from them, someone else stood quietly in the shadows, listening just enough to understand.
Her gaze lingered on the three women.
A slow smile formed.
"Allies…" she murmured under her breath.
And just like that, the game shifted.