After Being Hopeless at Singing and Dancing, I Exploded in Popularity Due to My Appetite - Chapter 22

Zhang Jingyue actually didn’t have any singing and dancing dreams. She joined this show simply because she didn’t want to be at home.

She was seventeen, and her parents were going through a divorce, bickering over custody of the child.

This lawsuit had been going on for over a year, and Zhang Jingyue had gotten used to it.

But then her father suddenly had another child, and the family quarrels began to escalate. Her father no longer paid as much attention to her as before.

Zhang Jingyue, in a fit of pique, ran away from home.

But she was young, and there were few places she could go. A friend told her about a show that was casting, so she came.

Her parents didn’t know at first, thinking she was at a friend’s house. But then the show aired, and they inadvertently saw it, only then realizing she was participating in a talent show. Afterward, they kept nagging her to go back to school, not to get involved in shady circles.

The young girl’s eyes became moist as she spoke.

Her family matters were already upsetting enough, and she came here to escape them. She thought that after so many years of studying dance, she should be able to make it to the end in this very unpopular show. But unexpectedly, her ranking was still low, and she was on the verge of being eliminated.

Lin Qianman didn’t know how to comfort her, so she could only hand her a tissue and tell her not to overthink things and to focus on training first.

Zhang Jingyue took the tissue, turned her head to wipe away her tears, and nodded haphazardly.

Seeing Lin Qianman’s worried expression, she even comforted her: “It’s okay, if worst comes to worst, I’ll go back to school. Living in the dorms should be fine too.”

Only then did Lin Qianman remember her age and became even more worried: “Are you still in high school? What about the college entrance exam?”

“University.” Zhang Jingyue waved her hand and named a famous foreign university: “I took a leave of absence this year because of family matters.”

Lin Qianman: “…”

She looked at Zhang Jingyue, then at Tao Nian next to her, innocently popping digestion-aiding tablets into her mouth one by one. She felt the gap between humans and taoties.

Some things are hard to keep bottled up inside; talking to someone about them helps a lot.

Zhang Jingyue felt a little relieved after speaking her mind. She took Tao Nian, who was eating digestion-aiding tablets on the side, and went back to practice.

Then, that evening, an investor suddenly arrived at the production site and specifically asked to meet Zhang Jingyue.

Perhaps because she had already considered this possibility, Zhang Jingyue felt nothing. She simply grabbed Tao Nian’s hand, wanting someone to accompany her: “You come with me.”

This dance routine was very fast-paced. Tao Nian was practicing in front of the mirror, sweating profusely, and breathing heavily.

When Zhang Jingyue pulled her out, she was still a bit confused, asking Zhang Jingyue where they were going.

Zhang Jingyue casually said: “To eat.”

Tao Nian was already hungry. Her eyes lit up, and she immediately lifted her foot to follow Zhang Jingyue. After two steps, she looked back, not knowing if she was admonishing Zhang Jingyue or herself: “Still need to practice, can’t drag others down.”

Zhang Jingyue looked at Tao Nian’s contradictory behavior, feeling a little like laughing. Without looking at Tao Nian, she rattled off a list of dishes: “Braised prawns, steamed pork with rice powder, sweet and sour pork ribs, braised hairtail, stir-fried yellow beef, shrimp balls with egg white, drunken crab…”

Tao Nian said nothing, obediently following Zhang Jingyue out.

The director and producer were waiting for Zhang Jingyue at the door. Seeing Tao Nian come out with her, they were a bit anxious and wanted Tao Nian to go back. Zhang Jingyue stopped them, her tone calm: “If she doesn’t go, I won’t either.”

There was no choice but to let Tao Nian come along.

Upon entering the private room, several people were already seated.

The producer enthusiastically introduced them: “This is Mr. Wu Xuan, our sponsor, and this is Mr. Wu’s friend, Boss Zhang.”

Zhang Jingyue stood at the door, coolly bowing to the investors, saying: “Hello, Mr. Wu. Hello, Boss Zhang.”

Boss Zhang’s face visibly stiffened, and the atmosphere became awkward.

The producer had no choice but to force a smile and ask Zhang Jingyue to sit down first.

Wu Xuan and Mr. Zhang sat next to each other, with an empty seat beside Mr. Zhang. Everyone implicitly knew it was reserved for Zhang Jingyue.

But Zhang Jingyue didn’t want to go there. She wanted to pull Tao Nian along and sit at the very end.

She reached back and pulled, but didn’t move her.

Zhang Jingyue’s mind was a mess right now, and she didn’t have time to manage Tao Nian, so she pulled harder. This time, she succeeded, bringing Tao Nian with her to sit down.

The producer, casting director, and Mr. Wu’s assistant were all astute people. They exchanged pleasantries, and the atmosphere quickly became lively again.

The dishes were served quickly. Zhang Jingyue glanced at them and found that none of the dishes she had casually mentioned earlier were present.

She felt a bit awkward and glanced at Tao Nian, afraid she might be unhappy.

But then she noticed that Tao Nian, for once, wasn’t looking at the dishes on the table, but at Mr. Wu Xuan opposite her.

Zhang Jingyue froze, frowning as she followed Tao Nian’s gaze.

She had indeed heard of this Mr. Wu before. He started in electronic finance in recent years, and because he was young, handsome, and capable, he also had many fans online.

He was also the biggest sponsor of this lukewarm talent show.

Such a person, who should logically have no connection with Tao Nian, was now looking at Tao Nian and giving her a strangely eager smile.

Tao Nian also kept looking at Wu Xuan.

Zhang Jingyue looked at Tao Nian’s gaze and suddenly felt a jolt.

Although she didn’t believe Tao Nian was that kind of person, what if?

This was indeed a shortcut.

But in this industry, the future might not be bright.

She couldn’t help but kick Tao Nian under the table, signaling her to hurry up and eat.

Tao Nian absently responded, lowered her head to eat her rice, but her eyes still couldn’t help but glance at Wu Xuan opposite her.

Poor Zhang Jingyue, anxious and annoyed by her family matters, was also afraid that Tao Nian, blinded by profit, would bow for money.

Finally, the meal was over. Zhang Jingyue pulled Tao Nian and followed the producer back.

Zhang Jingyue didn’t say much all night, and Mr. Zhang only spoke with the producer. Now that they reached the parking lot, Mr. Zhang’s face became stern as he looked at Zhang Jingyue: “Go back.”

Zhang Jingyue pretended not to hear and walked towards the director team’s car.

Of course, the producer came up to smooth things over, saying there was no lingering animosity between father and daughter and to talk nicely to her father.

In the midst of the chaos, Tao Nian was pushed to the outermost edge.

She was at a loss, blinking as she looked at Wu Xuan in front of her, and slurped saliva.

This person, smells fragrant.

It’s a different kind of fragrance from Master’s, and different from Lin Qianman’s fragrance too.

This person’s fragrance is very ancient, with a strange smell, very fragrant!

This was the first time Tao Nian smelled this fragrance. She smelled it throughout the entire meal today, making the taotie eat without really tasting her food.

Perhaps sensing the little taotie’s gaze behind him, Wu Xuan turned back, glanced at Tao Nian, and smiled at her again.

Hmm, with a gentle aura, even more fragrant.

Tao Nian couldn’t resist. She slowly approached Wu Xuan.

If I just taste a bit, he shouldn’t get angry, right?

For things she didn’t understand or hadn’t seen, the taotie always had a natural curiosity.

Just like other things she had seen after coming down the mountain, she uncontrollably took two steps forward, opened her mouth wide, wanting to bite down.

But before she even touched Wu Xuan, she hesitated and backed away a little.

Lin Qianman said she couldn’t bite people without their permission.

But this person was truly fragrant.

Logic and instinct battled within her. Tao Nian went back and forth, teetering on the edge of biting.

Perhaps Heaven saw her too conflicted and wanted to help her decide. Wu Xuan suddenly took a step back.

Tao Nian subconsciously stepped back with him.

Then, losing her balance, she severely bumped into Wu Xuan’s shoulder…

Two seconds later, a cry of “Ow!” echoed through the entire parking lot.

The group of people who were pushing and shoving stopped and looked at the source of the sound.

Tao Nian stood behind Wu Xuan, covering her mouth, eyes brimming with tears.

And Wu Xuan looked bewildered, and a little helpless.

The producer looked at Tao Nian, remembering how she had been looking at Wu Xuan during the dinner, and assumed she had tried to get physical with Wu Xuan and been taught a lesson. Her tone was not good: “What’s wrong with you?!”

Tao Nian lowered the hand covering her mouth, opening it by her lips.

She spat out a mouthful of bloody foam, and lying within it, was a tooth.