Chapter 4 - Lotus flower

Xia Lihua woke up to the sound of her alarm ringing. She had a long list of reminders and today she was going to be busy. She quickly dressed up to pickup Feiyi from her penthouse.

Though Ling Feiyi spends the night gaming at her villa, she goes back to her penthouse in Chaoyang District before dawn.

Ling Feiyi pulled the car door open and got inside. "Have some coffee."

Xia Lihua took the coffee cup and started the car, the engine emitting a few whirring noises before she pressed down on the accelerator.

"You know, you can always ask Gao Xifan to drive for you."

"I like to do it myself."

Ling Feiyi rolled her eyes in disbelief. "Your prudish behavior will get you no man."

"I'm not looking for a man."

'I give up!' Ling Feiyi declared to her inner-self. For the past few months she had been forcing Xia Lihua to go on blind dates, but all of them were epic fails. Gao Xifan was one of the guys she made Lihua go on a blind date with. It was surprising that Xia Lihua actually agreed to date him, but that lasted only a week.

Lihua sipped her coffee through the glittery straw, one hand holding the paper cup and the other one was on the steering. "And I won't be going on any blind dates from now on."

"Whatever you say." Feiyi was fuming. Clearly Lihua wasn't appreciative of her efforts of helping her to find the perfect man for her. If this was the case then she could simply pledge to remain celibate until her last breath. Hmph!

"You want me to go on blind dates and then be caught by paparazzis?" Lihua jested watching her PA seethe with anger.

"Our PR team can handle that."

"We cannot risk it. I don't want any troubles now that I have debuted."

"Hmph!" Ling Feiyi knew she was being insensible. She just wanted Xia Lihua to live normally like everyone else even though she was now an idol and had a reputation to maintain. Any scandal could bring a scratch to her name.

On reaching the company Lihua joined the other trainees in the practice room. The trainees weren't aware that Lihua was their lady boss and treated her informally as one of them. Only the higher ups and few people who were close to her in the company knew that she was their lady boss.

After her vocal training she went to her private office to handle company matters.

"An artist of Xing Jing entertainment wants to collaborate with Lian Cunji." Liang Sichen handed her the proposal and stood near her desk as she read it's contents.

"If Lian Cunji collaborates with Bo Yunshi on a song then it will definitely be huge! Let CEO of Xing Jing entertainment know that we are interested."

Liang Sichen gave her a thumbs up at her approval. "Also you were invited to attend a banquet; should I accept the invitation on your behalf?"

"Is it strictly a business banquet?"

"No. Socialites gathering. Actors, actresses and singers will be there."

"When is it?"

"Next week."

Xia Lihua pondered for a while. "Alright, I will go. Expanding my horizons as a singer is crucial if I want to achieve fame."

Liang Sichen nodded, assertively. "I'll let them know."

"Lili be quick!" Ling Feiyi made her way inside the president's office without knocking. "Did you forget you have a performance scheduled at Cosmo Dome in the evening at 5 pm? Hurry! Oh! Good afternoon Mr Liang!"

"You sure know how to knock." Liang Sichen reprimanded the girl who had just walked in.

Ling Feiyi's lips twitched at his sarcasm. If she knew this asshole was inside then she would have come in later. "I don't think president Xia has any problem with it, but you sure do."

Liang Sichen scowled. He always found this purple haired girl repulsive. She had a grotesque sense of fashion and he never understood why Xia Lihua kept this kid as her PA. "Yes cause you lack professionalism. You are at the company, not your house."

"You are not my boss, you don't get to tell me what to do."

Xia Lihua was amused to see the two bickering which was a regular sight for her and burst out laughing. "It's fine Liang Sichen, let her be."

Then she turned to Ling Feiyi and said, "En, I'll be leaving in a bit." Performing at the Cosmo Dome was a dream for her, but she had never imagined that she would be performing there as an idol singer and not a soprano. Her head became heavy at that thought.

...

Sitting behind a pile of paperwork Yang Lingyun was reading an important document surrounded by a dark halo. He glanced at his phone to see the beautiful girl, resembling a lotus flower gracefully emerging from beneath the water. Her voice, like a pristine stream in Xin'an, flowed melodiously, pure and crystalline. Each time she gazed into the camera, the world appeared dimmed in comparison to her radiant presence.

Yang Lingyun frowned. 'Did she always sing this well?'

There was a knock on his office door. "Master, it's Gu Sheng."

"Come in."

"Oh young master, you are watching Miss Xia's performance at Cosmo dome? Her performance is broadcasted live on Taobao and comments are filled with praises."

"Did you just come here to tell me that?", Yang Lingyun's jaw ticked. His grim eyes remained lazy and indifferent but his hollow voice could intimidate anyone.

Fear crept up Gu Sheng's spine as he cleared his throat and said, "No, young master. I wanted to let you know that Hua de World's CEO refuses to meet you."

"Hmm...This is crazy." Yang Lingyun switched off his phone and put down the document on the table. His pupils constricted growing darker and darker making Gu Sheng tremble in fright. "Keep trying to buy their shares."

"Yes, boss."