After Being Hopeless at Singing and Dancing, I Exploded in Popularity Due to My Appetite - Chapter 31

This incident greatly affected Tao Nian.

Anyway, after Fang Wen returned from planting the walnut trees, she discovered that Tao Nian no longer wanted to eat walnuts.

She didn’t even want to eat Lin Qianman’s things anymore.

The boxes of snacks in Lin Qianman’s room were still there, but Tao Nian simply didn’t come to ask for them.

She even went so far as to move her tray further away in the cafeteria when she saw Lin Qianman sit down opposite her.

This incident wasn’t actually very noticeable. However, Tao Nian had quite a few trays.

So, the people at Lin Qianman’s table watched as Tao Nian indignantly carried away one tray, then another, then another, another, another, and yet another…

When she first carried away the first tray, no one paid her any mind, thinking she was just passing by.

With the second tray, Lin Qianman glanced at her and smiled.

By the third, everyone at the table noticed her.

By the fourth, everyone at the table watched her carry trays and change tables, even scrutinizing the dishes on her trays.

The vocal instructor, a senior figure in her forties, watched Tao Nian move back and forth with her trays and couldn’t help but chuckle. She said to Lin Qianman, “Why doesn’t she just move the table over with all that effort?”

The few of them continued to talk about Tao Nian while eating.

“For her stage this time, the line she’s assigned is a high note. Her voice is too soft; not only can she not sing it with power, but she also can’t reach the note. Two days ago, I even told her not to eat spicy food to protect her throat, but from what I just saw, that plate was chili stir-fried pork, wasn’t it?”

“Eating chili stir-fried pork without eating the chili shouldn’t be a problem, right? Just a bite to satisfy a craving.”

“She would never just eat a bite to satisfy a craving. Has she ever left anything unfinished?”

“True, I don’t know what’s up with that kid; she eats so much and doesn’t get fat.”

The three instructors spoke enthusiastically, but the instructor closest to Tao Nian, Lin, just listened, saying nothing, a smile on her face.

After dinner, there was a short lunch break. Fang Wen escorted Lin Qianman back and casually mentioned the studio’s arrangements: “Your birthday is coming up soon. The fan club and the studio discussed it. Before, if you were on set for your birthday, fans would organize visits. This year, you’re filming a show, so fans might come to see you. Do you have any requirements for the venue now? I’ll let the production team know as soon as possible.”

“Anything is fine, just do what you think is best. Don’t make it too troublesome.”

Lin Qianman wasn’t too concerned about this, and she instructed Fang Wen: “Then, please look around these days and prepare some gifts to give them on that day. The vicinity seems quite remote, so you should find a few more people from the studio to help out and put in more effort.”

Fang Wen nodded. They had just reached the room, and she opened the door.

Inside the room, three boxes of thin-shelled walnuts were stacked.

Fang Wen sighed, looking at these walnuts meant for Tao Nian but rejected by her: “Twenty catties of walnuts, I originally thought they would last Tao Nian a week, but now she won’t eat them. What do we do?”

Lin Qianman smiled, saying nothing.

Fang Wen carefully observed Lin Qianman’s expression and suggested: “Why don’t you go ask her?”

As a qualified assistant, Fang Wen, who was excellent at reading facial expressions, had already seen through a truth.

This time, it was Tao Nian’s unilateral cold war. Although she didn’t know why, Tao Nian’s method was extremely childish and didn’t upset or bother her boss. Looking at Tao Nian today, Fang Wen swore that as long as Lin Qianman gave Tao Nian a little sweetness, Tao Nian would immediately come happily begging Lin Qianman for food again.

But for some reason, her boss, who was always so patient with Tao Nian, showed no reaction.

Hearing Fang Wen’s suggestion, Lin Qianman chuckled and shook her head: “She’s got backbone now. Let her be stubborn.”

Fang Wen: “…”

It’s only been less than a week since I left to plant walnut trees. Why did the ‘simp’ suddenly become the master?

Fang Wen was bewildered and even wanted to ask the cameraman who had been following them what had happened.

Lin Qianman had actually considered whether she should try to coax Tao Nian.

After thinking about it, she felt that she was supposed to help Tao Nian integrate into society, and Tao Nian shouldn’t rely too much on her. Now, sulking and going to play with others seemed fine.

Besides, Tao Nian didn’t seem truly angry.

She didn’t know what Tao Nian had seen again, but she was sulking, trying to make her coax her. It was a childish temper, and she couldn’t indulge it, or else she’d become a “giant baby,” which was an unhealthy state.

The “giant baby” Tao Nian was currently facing a huge crisis.

The third public performance was approaching, and at that time, the current forty-nine contestants would be eliminated down to twenty-five.

Every contestant remaining now was a hidden dragon or crouching tiger, either having a special skill or a fan base. Although everyone still got along harmoniously, they all knew they were fighting for one goal, and no one wanted to lose.

The little Taotie couldn’t smell the gunpowder in the air at all. She was happily eating, practicing, and sleeping every day.

Her biggest worry was that the production team had given an early reminder that for the fourth public performance, guest performers would be needed.

Zhang Jingyue explained for a long time before Tao Nian understood what a guest performer meant.

The two of them sighed together.

Zhang Jingyue was sighing because she didn’t know any celebrities, nor did she have an entertainment agency. Originally, she just wanted a place to stay, and seeing her initial low vote count, she thought she would be eliminated quickly and hadn’t prepared any backup plans. Unexpectedly, after her background was revealed, fans quickly created a persona for her as a talented and wealthy flower, surprisingly keeping her in the competition until now.

Tao Nian was entirely due to…

Zhang Jingyue said that those with agencies could have their company arrange one, while those without could only ask the production team for help.

She had a company; she was with Lin Qianman. She could ask Lin Qianman to help her find a guest performer, so she wouldn’t have to ask the production team.

But she was still angry right now!

Lin Qianman wouldn’t let her eat the “little balls,” and even said that if she ate Lin Qianman’s things, she had to obey her and couldn’t bite her anymore.

She only wronged the Taotie!

She clearly didn’t bite! She was so obedient! She just held it in her mouth and gnawed and licked!

Angry! Don’t want to talk to Lin Qianman anymore!

Tao Nian was torn, deliberating for a long time, and finally came up with a solution.

Lin Qianman had actually already started looking for someone to help Tao Nian when she heard that guest performers were needed for the third public performance.

But she was a film actress; the people she knew most were film actors, directors, and divine beasts in the human world…

Lin Qianman scrolled through her contact list.

The only one who could be related to girl group singing and dancing was the “iron-throated sweetie” who made a splash in the music industry, Huang Li (Oriole)…

But Huang Li was so afraid of Tao Nian that she had already used the excuse of a leg injury to terminate her contract. How would she be willing to come now?

Besides, she said she injured her leg, and injuries to bones and tendons take a hundred days to heal. Only about fifty-something days had passed. If she came to the show to sing and dance, fans would also be worried.

Lin Qianman was very hesitant, her finger hovering over Huang Li’s contact, wanting her to recommend someone with both skill and popularity to be Tao Nian’s guest performer.

This was when Tao Nian came over.

As soon as she entered the room, Lin Qianman saw her.

Oh, little Taotie isn’t angry anymore? She’s even willing to come find me?

This thought quickly passed, and she quickly continued searching through the countless names in her mind for someone with skill and popularity who could be Tao Nian’s guest performer.

But on the surface, she was staring intently in Tao Nian’s direction.

Tao Nian was still sulking initially, even rolling her eyes at Lin Qianman when she approached. She had expected Lin Qianman to mock her as usual, and then nag her. But she didn’t; Lin Qianman did nothing but stare intently at her. Tao Nian, instead, felt inexplicably embarrassed, a little nervous under her gaze, not knowing how to walk.

Lin Qianman was preoccupied with her thoughts and didn’t notice, but Fang Wen, who was nearby, saw everything clearly.

Tao Nian, who had been ignored for a long time by her boss, who had very dignifiedly turned her back, immediately rolled her eyes at her boss upon arriving.

Her boss wasn’t angry; instead, she looked at Tao Nian with deep affection.

Tao Nian…

Tao Nian visibly blushed, her walking became uncoordinated, and she stiffly approached Lin Qianman.

Then…

Then she didn’t even stop, walking straight past her to Fang Wen, awkwardly telling her that the production team said the third public performance needed a guest performer.

Fang Wen: “…”

Why are you looking at me? The boss is already looking for one for you, go talk to her!

But seeing Tao Nian’s timid and awkward look was quite cute, so she softened her voice and repeatedly assured her: “I will definitely find you someone super amazing. Our boss is very capable! She knows a lot of people! She can definitely find you someone perfectly suitable!”

Tao Nian was embarrassed: “I’m clumsy, I can’t sing, and others taught me how to dance before.”

“Don’t worry,”

Fang Wen thought of her boss’s gaze towards Tao Nian just now and vowed: “The person we find for you will definitely be very capable and can lead you, and teach you many things!”

The boss likes Tao Nian so much, she’s even willing to plant walnut trees in her own backyard for Tao Nian. Now that a guest performer is needed, she will definitely do her best to find the best for Tao Nian!

Tao Nian was still somewhat hesitant.

Fang Wen became even more enthusiastic and continued to comfort her: “It’s okay, the person the boss knows will definitely be a big star, the kind who’s often on TV, a powerhouse everyone knows! And they can dance! They can lead you! With a guest performer who brings their own traffic, your group will definitely be the best!”

Tao Nian then happily nodded and thanked Fang Wen.

Fang Wen nodded kindly, watching Tao Nian leave.

Her footsteps were joyful, almost unable to walk in a straight line.

She wound around, wound around, until she reached Lin Qianman, snorted at her, then lifted her head and walked to the door in a few steps, pushed it open, and left.

Fang Wen helplessly shook her head.

Why are they suddenly sulking when everything was fine?

She turned her head, and Lin Qianman was looking at her calmly and silently. She didn’t know how long she had been watching.

Fang Wen shivered and instinctively explained: “I don’t have any intentions towards Tao Nian. I just find your little tiff very amusing, and I fully support you both and won’t do anything immoral.”

What nonsense was she talking about? Did she need to eat walnuts too?

Lin Qianman furrowed her brow, glanced at Fang Wen, and said nothing.

When she lowered her head, she licked her teeth and sent a message to Huang Li.

She really didn’t want to trouble Huang Li originally and wanted to settle for Huang Li recommending someone, not necessarily as powerful as Huang Li, but someone whose name was recognizable.

But…

Fang Wen had just put her in that position. She’s so capable, she must be able to find a big star who can sing, dance, and is always on TV, someone everyone knows. This big star would also have to humble themselves to come to such a small, obscure show to teach Tao Nian, who knew nothing about dancing. How could she, a film actress, find such a person?!

Lin Qianman thought of Fang Wen’s confident demeanor and tone earlier, and she felt a knot in her chest, her head buzzing with pain.

Tao Nian even snorted at her. That naughty child…

She shouldn’t be the only one suffering.

She only came to this show as a mentor because of Huang Li. She couldn’t be the only one constantly worried about being bitten or gnawed on by the Taotie, while Huang Li just stayed at home enjoying the show, could she?

So, Huang Li, who was at home enjoying the show, received a text message.

“Tao Nian needs a guest performer. You come.”

Lin Qianman didn’t say, “You can come,” she said, “You come.”

It wasn’t a suggestion; it was an instruction to Huang Li.

You come to be Tao Nian’s guest performer.

Author’s Note:

Huang Li: “Just kill me now.”