"I'm speaking up! Don't you have any professional integrity? I asked you to be my voice double, so just be my voice double!"
As soon as the call connected, Mo Jianing reprimanded her impatiently, "You took the money, yet you're still playing those little games. Have you no shame?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," the voice double said from the other end of the phone. "I'm also shocked by what's happening online. I didn't record at Gu Shi Entertainment; I only went with you to Wanqing Entertainment to imitate other people's voices and singing styles."
"It wasn't you?" Mo Jianing's brow furrowed.
"It wasn't me. My face was burned before. If you hadn't given me money, I wouldn't even leave the house. How could I possibly run off to Gu Shi Entertainment to record?" The voice double felt wronged, "It really wasn't me!"
"It better not be you!" Mo Jianing said coldly. "If I find out you're behind those schemes, I'll make sure you regret it!"
"..." The voice double didn't reply, only shivered all over.
"Alright, I'll get to the bottom of this," Mo Jianing warned. "Understand this, I'm giving you an opportunity to make money so you can afford plastic surgery and fix your face. You'd better not cut off your own escape route!"
After saying this, Mo Jianing hung up the phone and took a taxi back to school.
Meanwhile, after hearing Mo Jianing hang up, the voice double shivered again and looked timidly at the person standing opposite her. "Um... is this okay now..."
"Very good, thank you for your cooperation~" Bai Yuqi, with her blonde hair, fiddled with the recording equipment in her hands and playfully winked at the girl whose half-burnt face looked slightly hideous.
Seeing Bai Yuqi about to leave, the voice double immediately said, "I, I really just wanted to make money. I didn't intend to do anything bad! I! I..."
The voice double seemed anxious, her entire face flushing red, making the burnt half of her face appear even more ghastly.
Even Bai Yuqi couldn't help but swallow her saliva and let out a dry chuckle. "Don't worry, you helped me, and I'll protect you. Gu Shi Entertainment won't find you. From now on, you can continue streaming and singing your own songs. As for the money, you'll earn it sooner or later."
With that, Bai Yuqi waved her hand and left the voice double's humble and dilapidated home.
Watching Bai Yuqi leave, the voice double sighed heavily.
If she hadn't encountered that fire and lost her memory, how could she have ended up in such a state?
This world was too cold. With her disfigured face, she couldn't even find a proper job. Going out only invited scorn. If the hospital nurse supervisor hadn't taken pity on her and taken her in after she was discharged, she wouldn't even know who she was or where she came from, let alone how to live.
Unable to go out, she could only stream online and sing. Sometimes she would imitate artists, living off meager tips. Although she was confident in her voice, she couldn't show her face, so she naturally didn't earn as much as other female streamers. Her income was barely enough for food and drink.
Until Mo Jianing found her, asking her to imitate someone else's singing style and voice, and gave her thirty thousand yuan.
Thus, she began to work as Mo Jianing's voice double.
She had initially thought she could continue like this, saving enough money for plastic surgery until everything got better. But then this detective came knocking.
It was through the detective that she learned she had gotten herself into serious trouble.
She had no other choice but to cooperate.
She probably wouldn't be able to earn money from Mo Jianing anymore. She just didn't know how much longer it would take to save enough for plastic surgery.
Thinking of this, the voice double sighed heavily. As she got up to tidy the teacups, she discovered a bank card pressed under Bai Yuqi's cup. A sticky note was attached to the card, with the card's password written on it. Nothing else.
Holding the card, the voice double's eyes welled up with tears.
At the same time, Bai Yuqi impatiently got into her flashy red sports car, tousled her golden short hair, and muttered, "Well, that was a wasted effort today."
With the roar of the engine, the sports car disappeared down the road.
...
Online, Wanqing Entertainment was simultaneously conducting crisis public relations and hiring trolls to attack Gu Shi Entertainment and the virtual idol Sui Sui.
The two sides were in a fierce conflict, and the onlookers began to pick sides. However, Wanqing Entertainment's past actions were so disgusting that there weren't many people supporting them.
When Gu Shi Entertainment released some strong evidence proving that the creator of Wanqing Entertainment's voice bank was suspected of fraud, plagiarism, and copying, Wanqing Entertainment deliberately released distracting information, throwing the entire situation into chaos.
It had to be said that Wanqing Entertainment's crisis public relations were handled quite well this time.
In her bedroom, Xia Qingtian shook her head while browsing comments online.
Xia Qingtian knew that Mo Jianing wasn't honest, but she didn't expect Mo Jianing, at this age, to resort to such deception, using her voice to sign with Wanqing Entertainment.
Those were legally binding contracts, and breach of contract would incur severe penalties.
Just then, Xia Qingtian's phone rang.
"Sister Ning," Xia Qingtian answered the phone, mentally guessing that Wen Ning's call was likely related to the online incident.
"There's something I need to discuss with you," Wen Ning replied, holding her phone. "We've reported this incident to the police. Now we need to provide the video of you recording to the police as evidence. The PR department suggests synchronizing this video to the internet as well, which would ensure victory in the public opinion battle."
"I have no problem submitting the recording video to the police, but synchronizing it to the internet..." Xia Qingtian hesitated, "Can I give you a reply later?"
"Okay." Wen Ning also considered that Xia Qingtian might have something to hide. After all, when signing the contract, Xia Qingtian had directly refused arrangements like a driver and a nanny car.
Therefore, this time, Wen Ning did not agree to release the video directly from the PR department but communicated with Xia Qingtian first.
From Wen Ning's perspective, Xia Qingtian had great potential, and virtual idols were just the first step in her entry into the industry. If this incident could help Xia Qingtian move from behind the scenes to the front, it might be more beneficial for her career.
But it ultimately depended on Xia Qingtian's own choice.
Wen Ning agreed to give Xia Qingtian time to consider and then hung up the phone.
Xia Qingtian scratched her head, her expression troubled.
She knew that the solution Wen Ning proposed was the optimal one. However, if the video leaked, her father would find out.
Her secret plan to chase her dream would be ruined, and her father might even kick her out of the house in his anger.
Thinking of this, Xia Qingtian shivered and then comforted herself, "It won't be that bad, it won't be that bad..."