You hidden in my heart - Chapter 62.2

Chapter 62.2

Li Xining then recalled that she had added Zhao Hailan as a WeChat friend a few months back, but they had always been nominal friends. ‘What could have prompted Zhao Hailan to message me today?’

Zhao Hailan’s message: [Xining, are you with Yu Ling right now? ]

‘What does that mean?’ Li Xining felt a bit puzzled. After a moment of hesitation, she replied, [No, he went shopping.]

Honestly, she regretted sending that message the instant it was delivered. She shouldn’t have answered the question so directly; instead, she should have asked what was going on.

Sure enough, within thirty seconds, Zhao Hailan called her.

Li Xining sighed and had no choice but to pick up the phone. “Hello, Uncle Zhao, how can I help you?”  she asked in a polite manner.

Zhao Hailan didn’t beat around the bush and got right to the point. “Xining, are you familiar with the programme ‘Sounds into the Ears’?”

Li Xining remembered what she saw on that promotional poster. ‘Oh, tight. It is organised by Xifu Satellite TV and Zhengxing Entertainment.’

She suddenly understood something and a scale appeared in her heart, tossing between knowing and not knowing. In the end, the scale tilted to the left. “Yeah… I know.”

“Yu Ling has not signed up yet. The registration deadline is less than a week away, and I want you to persuade him to sign up.” Zhao Hailan didn’t beat the bush.

Li Xining had already guessed Zhao Hailan’s intention. Although she also wanted Lu Yuling to sign up for the competition, she still had to respect his choice. “Uncle, I asked him today, and he said he didn’t want to debut now.”

Zhao Hailan: “Then how long does he want to wait?”

Li Xining did not hide it. “Junior year.”

“It’s a bit late,” Zhao Hailan replied.

Li Xining was puzzled. “He is only 21 in his junior year.”

Zhao Hailan explained, “This circle is changing very quickly, with a lot of new blood coming in all the time. Many people have been in the circle since they were teenagers. He is only nineteen now, which is the best age and the most popular age. If he waits another two years, there will be many newcomers younger than him in the circle, and people of his age will have entered the circle earlier than him. What advantages do you think he has?”

Li Xining also understood what the man said, but she still maintained the same attitude. “He has his own arrangements and choices, and none of us has the right to interfere with him.”

“You misunderstood Xining. I don’t want to interfere with his decisions. I want you to help me persuade him. Sometimes people’s choices aren’t set in stone. Maybe if you convince him, he might change his mind. This isn’t interference; it’s about giving him different options. Ultimately, the choice is his. If after your persuasion he still wants to debut in his junior year, then I won’t push him any further,” the man said in a calm manner.

Li Xining stayed silent as she was caught in a dilemma.

In truth, she wanted him to join this talent show because she wished to see his debut earlier. She didn’t want to watch it on TV alone in a foreign country.

Zhao Hailan picked up on Li Xining’s uncertainty. “You want him to take part in this talent show too, right? You’re a smart girl; you know he’s bound to win first place.” He then added, “I will definitely make him a superstar.”

Feeling as if her true feelings were laid bare, Li Xining’s face flushed with heat. People could be selfish, and she had her own desires. She wanted to witness his debut… Yet, she kept her thoughts to herself. “What I want is different from what he wants.”

Zhao Hailan quickly responded, saying, “Sure, they are definitely two separate matters, but since he has shown his feelings towards you, it’s only fair that you share your feelings with him too. Let him know where you stand. If you consider him, he will surely consider you back. There’s no need to feel selfish about it. You’re just sharing your own thoughts with him. How he decides to act is ultimately his choice.”

Li Xining noticed that Zhao Hailan was trying to shift the topic. It was clear she wanted to influence Lu Yuling’s decision, but she framed it as offering him another option. Knowing that Lu Yuling would likely listen to her advice, Zhao Hailan wanted to use that to make Lu Yuling join the competition.

Then Zhao Hailan added, “With Yuling’s talent, becoming a god is just a matter of time, but timing does matter. In every field, being first is crucial. Getting established in this industry sooner rather than later will definitely benefit his future endeavours. Plus, the entertainment industry is a huge pie, and it’s all about being first to grab a slice. You want to see him achieve his dreams as quickly as I do, right?”

Even though Li Xining realised that Zhao Hailan’s every word was aimed at convincing Lu Yuling to enter the competition, she couldn’t help but feel moved.

All she wanted was to witness his debut, to see him rise to stardom, and to be part of every significant moment in his life. Every single thing Zhao Hailan said resonated deeply with her.

After biting her lower lip and staying quiet for a while, Li Xining finally said, “I’ll think about it.”

‘I’ve already said what I needed to say, and if I keep talking, it’ll just get annoying.’So Zhao Hailan didn’t say anything else, just reminded her. “Don’t bring me up in front of him, or he definitely won’t join the competition.”

“Good thing you’re aware and know he’s not a fan of yours,” Li Xining shot back.

Have a nice day!