Capítulo 44: Signs of Change
"Tang Miaoyi! Tang Miaoyi! May we have a brief interview?" An Qiuying exclaimed in her best radio host voice, attracting some curious glances from passersby.
"Can you not do that with so many people around?" Miaoyi complained, feeling slightly embarrassed by the attention.
"My apologies, Little Miss TMY." Qiuying quickly shifted gears, offering a conciliatory gesture. She reached into her jeans pocket, pulled out a lollipop, and extended it toward Miaoyi. "Here, have a piece of candy."
"This isn't over," Miaoyi reluctantly accepted the peace offering, shooting Qiuying a fierce glare.
After school had ended, they embarked on a shopping spree in downtown Shanghai. However, Miaoyi quickly grew tired within the first five minutes, prompting Qiuying to come up with creative ways to keep her entertained while they perused the stores.
Shanghai, a sprawling metropolis with a population of approximately 30 million, boasted a bustling shopping district centered around Nanjing Road. It was precisely where An Qiuying had chosen to bring Miaoyi.
Unexpectedly, one of the shops they passed was playing "Closer," which Qiuying couldn't resist teasing Miaoyi about.
Moreover, the pair encountered an astonishing number of billboards featuring promotions for the show "Street Dance of China" throughout the bustling streets. Some even showcased a captivating promotional video, cleverly incorporating "Solo Dance" as its soundtrack.
Miaoyi couldn't help but appreciate the high production value of the video. The vibrant lights, expert cinematography, and skillful portrayal of the dancers without revealing their identities piqued her interest in the show. It was undeniable that her song, "Solo Dance," played a pivotal role in tying everything together. Without it, the entire commercial would have required a complete overhaul.
At the poster's bottom, she noticed a catchy tagline accompanied by a date:
"[Embark on an enthralling journey as Tianyou Entertainment collaborates with TMY, the emerging powerhouse in electronic music, in this captivating new television series!]"
[Premiere Date: October 13!]
Finding a seat, they unintentionally overheard snippets of conversations from unsuspecting passersby engaged in their daily routines.
"Hey, that show looks really interesting. Shall we watch it once we're back?" A girl at a nearby table proposed to her boyfriend.
Momentarily captivated by two alluring young ladies passing by, the young man snapped out of his reverie, responding in the most eloquent manner possible:
"Huh?"
...
..
.
Similar discussions echoed throughout the square. The strategically placed billboards ensured their prominent visibility, catching the eye of even the mildly observant. The advertisement proved incredibly effective, thanks to its high production value, prominent display, and, of course, the music.
Tianyou had truly gone above and beyond this time.
Two women walked past, who were clearly fans of the art form the show was based on.
"I heard on the radio that Huang Dashen will be there too. With skills like his, the show must be incredible."
"But I doubt Huang Dashen is participating as a contestant. He's more likely at the level of a judge or coaching the contestants, don't you think?"
"And don't forget He Zhancheng. They spared no expense."
"If you check the cast list, it seems like 90% of the top street dancers are making an appearance in this program. I have a feeling it might just be a publicity stunt by Tianyou; it sounds too good to be true."
Their voices slowly faded, as the pair walked past where Miaoyi and Qiuying were sitting. Miaoyi glanced at her phone, tuning out the surrounding murmuring.
One thing was clear, Tianyou was masterful at the art of promotion. They somehow managed to generate hype for the judges even before the show was released fully. Of course, Miaoyi "graciously" only gave herself partial credit.
Many people who previously had no interest in electronic music expressed their admiration after hearing "Solo Dance," acknowledging its exceptional quality. As a result, both Tang Miaoyi's songs and the show itself received a boost in popularity, creating a feedback loop.
And the more popular her songs, the more money they'll generate.
Speaking of money, she had received the first payment for "Fox" from Light Cloud 13 days ago, which was how she had been able to afford all the things Qiuying wanted her to buy. If her payment had been delayed, she would have run out of money within the first hour.
Honestly, she was kinda upset about that.
She could have been out of here by now!
But her new songs should give her all the money she should need for a while. With how popular they've become, they should leave her comfortable for a while.
"Qiuying, can we head home now?" Miaoyi asked.
An Qiuying agreed, "Sounds good. We pretty much bought everything we needed anyway."
Deciding to return home, Tang Miaoyi finally breathed a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, looking at the time, they were going back just at the beginning of rush hour. She groaned in anticipation of the tiring journey back.
She was right. They rushed to the subway as fast as they could, while carrying their gains, but still managed to be late, and not have a place to sit down.
In the end, when An Qiuying and Tang Miaoyi finally arrived home, each burdened with bags and packages, the sky was already nearing its final act, with darkness set to descend in about half an hour.
However, just as Tang Miaoyi laid back on her bed, reveling in the blissful sensation of relaxation, her phone rang.
"Who could it be?" Tang Miaoyi muttered reluctantly, her delicate brows furrowing.
She picked up the phone and glanced at the caller ID.
Contact Name: 138974.
No name, not a number saved in her contacts, just a string of unfamiliar digits.
Although the number didn't exist in her phone book, Tang Miaoyi had a vague recollection of those digits from her previous life. Of course, this memory stemmed from before her Transmigration, before she arrived in this world.
Tang Miaoyi was slightly taken aback. It had been a while since her transmigration, and this number was absolutely the last thing she wanted to see on her incoming call display. No doubt about it!
The reason was simple: this particular number belonged to the only person she could call "Father" whom she had left, without getting weird looks.
That's right, her mother had remarried a few years ago, and the owner of this number was that man.
Why would he be calling?
Tang Miaoyi froze for a moment, letting the first ring go unanswered.
The main reason was a deep-rooted resistance, almost like an instinctive subconscious reaction. Tang Miaoyi found it quite strange herself because, technically speaking, she had never had any contact with that man.
In truth, he had been good to her previous self, never minding Tang Miaoyi's existence and providing her with much assistance. In her memories, he'd never been anything but nice to her.
But Tang Miaoyi simply didn't want to take this call.
She pressed the red button to hang up. She'd rather not talk to him right now, or ever for that matter.
However, after hanging up, the ringing didn't cease; it persisted relentlessly.
This time, with a hint of annoyance, Tang Miaoyi reluctantly pressed the answer button.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Yi Yi, it's me, your uncle."
Tang Miaoyi: "...May I ask what this is about?"
"Well, you see, your mother's company went bankrupt, and I can't think of any way to handle our living expenses..."
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