As long as he passes this competition, Tianxing Entertainment will sign a contract with him immediately and transfer 100,000 to him. With that money, he can afford his grandmother’s surgery.
Lin Ya stood up from the chair, smiled slightly at Su Cheng, and then turned to leave the lounge.
“What?! You want to withdraw from the competition?” The director was a bit surprised, but after hearing Lin Ya’s reasons, he pondered for a moment before agreeing.
Lin Ya had no interest in singing, and the original owner no longer wanted to step into the music industry. If it weren’t for the original owner’s wish, Lin Ya wouldn’t even consider entering the entertainment industry, given how murky it was.
Upon returning to the lounge, Su Cheng looked puzzled and put down his phone. “Why are you back? Aren’t you going to prepare?”
“I withdrew from the competition.” The plain four words sounded like a thunderclap, drawing everyone’s attention in the lounge.
“Ah?!” Su Cheng was shocked. “Didn’t you say you had to advance in this competition?”
“I changed my mind.” Lin Ya finished packing his things, took his utterly outdated phone, and stuffed it into his pocket.
“But… this is so sudden!” After speaking, Su Cheng suddenly laughed; he had also been planning to withdraw after this competition, so it was just a matter of time.
“Are you going home now?” After participating in the competition for so long, he had become quite close to Lin Ya, so Su Cheng felt a bit reluctant.
“Yes, my grandmother is sick. The hospital just called with a critical notice. The doctor said she needs surgery immediately, and I have to rush back.” The hospital was in another district, somewhat closer to their old rundown house in the suburbs, but still a bit far from here. He wanted to take advantage of the metro while it was still running to save some time.
“What? Is it that serious?!”
Su Cheng was taken aback, recalling how his grandfather underwent surgery last year. Although it wasn’t serious, it cost quite a lot. His gaze quickly swept over Lin Ya’s worn-out shoes, hesitating. He knew that the Shi family had financial troubles; it was evident from Lin Ya’s attire and the daily necessities he brought to the dorm.
Upon closer inspection, the old shoes revealed old stitches; even though they looked clean, they were yellowing. The soap used for bathing was the cheapest, and he only had two or three outfits, aside from the ones chosen for performances. He barely ate snacks aside from the bland dorm food.
He seemed far from a typical eighteen-year-old full of youth and vitality.
Su Cheng was conflicted; given their family’s situation and his grandmother’s illness, Lin Ya might really need the money. However, saying that directly might hurt his pride.
After a moment of hesitation, Lin Ya turned his head in confusion. “Su Cheng, what’s wrong? Do you have something to say to me?”
“Can you come with me for a moment?” Su Cheng pulled him out of the lounge and into a secluded corner. Hesitantly, he spoke, “Shixu, do you… need to raise money for your grandmother’s surgery?”
Lin Ya froze, his calm eyes suddenly softening, revealing a hint of sadness as he replied, “… Yes.”
“Ahem… Well, I can lend you the money, and you can pay me back when you… have the money.” Su Cheng felt a little embarrassed and couldn’t help but curse himself silently; he was someone borrowing money, so why should he feel awkward?
“Okay.” Lin Ya didn’t refuse. Although he could easily obtain that amount of money, he accepted the other’s goodwill on behalf of the original owner.
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me! This amount of money isn’t much to me.” After saying that, Su Cheng immediately regretted it and added, “I mean, I do have money!”
Even stranger…
“I understand what you mean, Su Cheng. I will earn money to pay you back as soon as possible, within six months at most.” He would definitely return the principal with interest.
…
After leaving the “My Youth” qualifying venue, Lin Ya donned a mask and hat to avoid fans and headed to the subway station, also posting an explanation for his withdrawal online.
The original owner’s Weibo fans probably numbered in the tens of thousands. Unlike some years later when paid fans would flood the scene, most of the fans now were real fans, genuine ones.
After posting, Lin Ya turned off his phone.
It was July 2010.
It was a good time.
Aside from revenge and acting, the original owner wished to change some of the status quo in the entertainment industry because quite a few newcomers like him had been cheated and threatened.
However, changing the dirty status quo of the entertainment industry was not an easy task. The industry was built on countless capital and a succession of people eager to enter. Removing this environment required not only money but also power. Money could be hoped for with hard work, but power was another matter; Lin Ya couldn’t manage that.
He was somewhat clever but not overly so, unlike those who were dangerously crafty.
So after some thought, he decided to seize the initiative himself.
He would find a way to establish his own entertainment company, preferably taking over an existing one.
For example, Tianxing Entertainment.
“123, is there a golden finger related to writing?”
[Hmm… Let me find out! Hold on a moment, host.] After saying this, 123 fell silent.
It wasn’t until Lin Ya got off the subway and took a taxi that…
[Host! Host! I found it! This!]
What appeared on the screen was an object similar to a laptop. 123 explained that it was a writing generator that could connect to his brain, capable of materializing the scenes in his mind into writing.
For someone who had seen and experienced countless grand worlds, it was perfectly suited for him. He could even create while sleeping, easily churning out 100,000 words in a night.
So Lin Ya took out his points and purchased the generator.
He planned to write some genres that were currently absent in this world, where online literature primarily focused on themes of rebirth and crossing over — he didn’t even need to think about it; it would definitely be a hit.
After arriving at the hospital, Lin Ya first paid the fees before sitting in front of the operating room, waiting.
The operating room was brightly lit and somewhat dazzling.