Chapter 451 - Chapter 451: 177: The True Arrangement, Dean Jian: Anger (Second Update)_2

Chapter 451: 177: The True Arrangement, Dean Jian: Anger (Second Update)_2

Lotus Road Xiaohan and the others made their grand exit, Yang Lin heading to the milk tea shop while Bai Lian followed Ning Xiao and the rest to the Zhang family’s backyard, where a truck was already parked at the entrance.

A group of students finished moving the flower pots in just a few minutes.

Mother Zhang brought out two plates of watermelon and set them on a small table in the yard, organizing everyone to have some fruit, “Let’s have dinner here today. In two days, Xiaolu will be going to record a program and won’t be able to join us.”

She tied an apron around herself.

“Sure,” Bai Lian took a slice of watermelon and took out her phone to message Ji Heng, “I’ll just let my grandpa know.”

As Bai Lian was looking down to text, someone knocked on the yard door.

Yan Lu tucked her hair behind her ears to answer it.

As soon as Ahuang saw Yan Lu, he spoke anxiously, “Sister Lu, were you not on your phone? Sister Xin said she couldn’t reach you and sent me to check.”

“I went to visit a grave this afternoon and didn’t bring my phone,” Yan Lu was on vacation, and Sister Xin had mentioned there were no activities planned for her lately. As she went to fetch her phone, she asked, “What did Sister Xin want from you guys?”

Xiaotian was about to speak but then noticed students from Xiangcheng No.1 Middle School sitting in a row in the backyard, each holding a slice of watermelon, eating, and curiously watching them.

Bai Lian, however, was not sitting. She stood under the shade of a tree, her blue and white school jacket casually open. One hand held a slice of watermelon, the other a phone, and she was looking down to text.

As they talked, Bai Lian had just finished sending her message and looked up at Xiaotian and Ahuang, her pale face slightly lifted, an air of languor about her.

The setting sun tinted her wispy hair with a hint of gold.

Despite the urgency of the moment, the sight of Bai Lian calmed Xiaotian’s nerves.

“You two take a break,” Bai Lian put her phone back in her pocket and then bit into her watermelon without looking up.

Next to her, Mother Zhang handed watermelon slices to Xiaotian and Ahuang as well.

Ahuang, holding his slice, had no appetite whatsoever.

Inside the house, as soon as Yan Lu picked up her phone, she saw numerous missed calls from Sister Xin, Time Entertainment’s CEO, and others…

She was about to return Sister Xin’s call when the CEO of Time Entertainment called.

“Yan Lu,” the CEO of Time Entertainment exchanged pleasantries, “You must be aware of the situation online. It’s quite significant this time, and the PR department wants you to make a Weibo post right away. Deny any connection with the arranger, so this incident seems unrelated to you, minimizing the issue. But Wang Xin disagrees; please persuade her too…”

“Deny any connection?” Yan Lu replied politely, “I can’t do that.”

The CEO of Time Entertainment had expected Yan Lu to be more clear-headed than Wang Xin, but she was more resolute than Wang Xin, frowning, “With a lyricist and composer on hand, there’s no need to worry about an arranger. Don’t be stubborn about this.”

“I’ll have a look first,” Yan Lu didn’t want to explain too much and gave a brief answer before hanging up to call Sister Xin.

Sister Xin quickly explained the whole situation.

There was only one chord progression that was marginally similar, completely unrelated to the main melody, and definitely not plagiarism.

But netizens wouldn’t be convinced by such a dry explanation.

“Don’t know who started it, but they’re blowing this out of proportion,” Sister Xin said, her hand on her forehead, “By the time I found out, it was already trending number one online. It’s tough to set boundaries on this kind of thing. The company wants to sever ties with the arranger, but I suggest you don’t go along with it. This is happening because of you.”

Yan Lu knew her own rise to fame very well.

Bai Lian was the biggest benefactor on her path, and Dean Jian was found by Bai Lian.

“I know. Let’s get someone to take it off the trending topics first, and if there’s any issue, direct them to me,” Yan Lu said, managing her own Weibo. As soon as she opened the app, she was flooded with direct messages.

The song had received good feedback the other day, and combined with today’s expose, a whole crowd of rubberneckers had poured into her Weibo.

Seeing Yan Lu come out, Ahuang stepped forward, “Sister Lu.”

Yan Lu raised her hand, “Let’s talk outside.”

She took Ahuang and Xiaotian outside, and as the three of them reached another yard, Xiaotian asked anxiously, “Sister Lu, are you going to clarify this?”

“Those who want to accuse me, will find an excuse,” Yan Lu had experienced a mass backlash before and wasn’t overly concerned. What she cared about was that Bai Lian and Jian Zhongyou might be implicated because of this.

And the song “Rewriting the Past.”

Ahuang’s phone beeped, and he glanced down, “It’s Lou Yang’s assistant. Sister Lu, they definitely want to talk about the ‘Come Here Friend’ guest issue. What should we do now?”

Yan Lu would be recording “Come Here Friend” in two days, followed by going for acting lessons.

Lou Yang was the “friend” arranged by the show’s team for Yan Lu, a currently popular star, whose participation was quietly confirmed the day before yesterday.

“You answer it,” Yan Lu said calmly.

“Xiaohuang,” on the other end of the phone, Lou Yang’s assistant was very polite, “Lou Ge has caught a bit of a cold recently and might not be able to record Luge’s show…”

Yan Lu gave Ahuang a look.

Suppressing her irritation, Ahuang smiled and said, “Lou Ge, take care of yourself. Let’s cooperate another time.”

After hanging up the phone, Xiaotian couldn’t help but say, “Not feeling well, my foot—he’ll be recording other shows in no time!”

“What should we do now?” Ahuang asked.

In the yard, Mom Zhang was calling out to Yan Lu, “Xiaolu, tell the two assistants to stay for dinner as well.”

“Sure,” Yan Lu replied loudly, her face snowy white against the bluish foggy smoke, her gaze sweeping over the two, “Don’t let Auntie and the others find out about this.”

Huh?

Ahuang was somewhat puzzled. Was Auntie and the rest important at a time like this?

Yan Lu led the two assistants inside to help Mom Zhang with cooking.

**

In the yard, Bai Lian had just finished a piece of watermelon. She stood still, stretched out her hand, and casually threw the watermelon rind, which landed in the trash can at the entrance of the yard with a “clang.”

She leisurely pulled out a piece of tissue and meticulously wiped her fingers.

Sitting on the steps, Pu Xiaohan took out her phone, walked over to Bai Lian, and “tsked,” “This is probably it.”

Pu Xiaohan handed her phone to Bai Lian.

The people from Class 15 weren’t fools; Xiaotian’s behavior was a clear indication that there was a problem. Coincidentally, this matter was also a public incident. Bai Lian didn’t care for the internet, so Pu Xiaohan casually checked her phone.

Bai Lian crumpled the tissue into a ball and took Pu Xiaohan’s phone to read a Weibo post—

[@Time Entertainment, all these resources just to promote Yan Lu? Is Yan Lu your godfather? It’s hilarious. Outside of those two songs, what else does Yan Lu have to show for herself? Now with the new song’s arrangement causing controversy, is this the superstar you neglect other artists for? Hilarious!]

And the comments below—

[Let’s predict Yan Lu Studio’s PR response: Yan Lu only has a working relationship with “Jian.” Please don’t escalate the actions of “Jian” to the artist herself. Yan Lu also strongly condemns such behavior and has already terminated her collaboration with “Jian.” (dog head)]

This comment was effectively sealing off all of Yan Lu’s potential escape routes.

Pu Xiaohan, being half-involved in the entertainment circle, picked up a piece of watermelon and crouched down to eat it, saying, “With so many of Luge’s rivals mobilizing their big marketing accounts and blocking all her paths, do you know this ‘Jian’?”

“Mm, you know him too.” Bai Lian glanced over and then took out her phone from her pocket, took a picture of Pu Xiaohan’s phone screen.

She was nonchalant.

“I know him?” Pu Xiaohan quickly ran through who she knew, thinking there was only one possible person she was aware of, and then it hit her, “Holy crap…”

Jian Zhongyou?

After taking the photo, Bai Lian casually opened WeChat and sent it to Jian Zhongyou.

Bai Lian: [[Picture]]

Bai Lian: [.]

One minute later.

Jian Zhongyou: [???]

Jian Zhongyou: [!]

Jian Zhongyou: [(Angry)]