Chapter 1237 - 1236: Almost Exposed
"Oh wow! I have to say, this Zhao really knows how to ride the wave of popularity, she posted the photo immediately."
"Wake up, who’s riding whose coattails here? That’s called giving someone a leg up."
"Psh, at least for tonight, Zhao Xiaodao is riding Cloud Dance’s wave of popularity, just like she did with Zhang Weili’s title defense."
"Exactly, she’s everywhere, isn’t it annoying..."
On Weibo, Zhao Xiaodao posted a group photo with Gu Tingting and Ning Xinyan. She stood beside two girls in their early twenties, and even without beauty filters, she didn’t get overshadowed.
The fact that people say Zhao Xiaodao is riding on their fame shows that Gu Tingting and Ning Xinyan have really made a name for themselves, like with the recent Spring Festival Gala’s Only This Green and Blue and Pebble Stepping Stone Bridge.
Or maybe they are even stronger since they perform a solo guqin dance.
"Haven’t you noticed the relationship between Zhao Xiaodao and Gu Tingting?"
"What? They have a relationship?"
"Oh my God, what do you mean? Entertainment really is a small world where everyone knows each other."
"Us ordinary folks, our dreams are really hopeless."
"What are you all so jealous about upstairs? It’s as if Zhao Xiaodao didn’t start from being an ordinary person."
"The poster is talking about the relationship ties that connect them, nothing to do with riding waves of popularity or giving someone a leg up. Haven’t you noticed they all know Si Huang?"
"Oh?"
"Whoa?"
"Oh yeah, right!"
"Zhao Xiaodao’s Biluo Song is the only drama to have Si Huang’s work, and Gu Tingting is the only person to perform a piece by Si Huang."
"Si Huang is extremely low-key, only appearing online. As far as I know, after she uploaded Flowers Blooming and composed for Biluo Song, many offered big bucks looking to have her compose, but no one could even contact her."
"Exactly!"
"It’s said the offers reached seven figures. A major celebrity even called out to her on Weibo, but it went nowhere."
"Si Huang doesn’t lack money; she’s just in it for fun!"
"So Zhao Xiaodao is really lucky!"
"So you’re saying, this Gu Tingting or maybe Ning Xinyan, also knows Si Huang?"
"It’s probably Gu Tingting."
"So it’s possible that Zhao Xiaodao and Gu Tingting knew each other before, and with Gu Tingting performing this time, as she enters the entertainment industry, Zhao Xiaodao could give her a hand."
"Whoa?"
"Dig into the archives, guys, I know who Gu Tingting is now! Go watch the only bar video where Si Huang appeared, Gu Tingting is in it!"
"What? She’s the bar zither player who got dissed by Si Huang?"
"Oh my goodness!"
"What’s the deal?"
"After a few years, wow, she can now stand on a national stage like Mother Central?"
"It’s terrifying!"
"So Si Huang was just talking nonsense in the bar at that time?"
"Wake up, go review that long video again, there’s still an HD version online, compare Gu Tingting’s playing back then to now."
"It’s only been two years, it doesn’t make sense for an average person to improve this much, right?"
"I have a bold guess!"
"No need to be bold, look at the video where Gu Tingting went to Si Huang’s table at the end, and think about how Si Huang later performed several ancient tunes. It’s obvious Gu Tingting has been learning zither from Si Huang for the past two years."
"I also want to learn zither from Si Huang! Si Huang, please take me as your student!"
"Pfft! Do you really want to learn zither? I feel embarrassed to expose you! I’m the one who views art as life and genuinely wants to learn the zither!"
"It’s just another bunch of dreamers. In the past, many people had such dreams, and they’ve woken up several generations ago. Is Si Huang someone you can covet?"
...
Meanwhile, at the event venue, Zhao Xiaodao had already pried out from Gu Tingting how she came to know people like Lu Zheng.
She also learned that Gu Tingting has been in contact with Si Lingxi over the past two years, occasionally asking questions through an app and often receiving guidance.
Although up till now, she didn’t even know Si Lingxi’s real name, they practically have a mentor-student relationship, and they contact each other even more frequently than she does.
Remembering that Si Lingxi once snapped her fingers in Los Angeles and wiped out ten thousand people, Zhao Xiaodao’s gaze at Gu Tingting changed.
Moreover, given Si Lingxi allowed Gu Tingting to perform her compositions on stage, that already speaks volumes about Si Lingxi’s attitude.
However, out of caution, Zhao Xiaodao still referred to Si Lingxi as Si Huang and posted her picture with Gu Tingting in the group chat.
Zhao Xiaodao: Didn’t expect to run into Sister Lingxi’s little disciple at the gala (sly smile.jpg)
Si Lingxi smirked slightly and casually replied in the group.
Si Lingxi: Not a disciple, but maybe half a student
Si Lingxi definitely wouldn’t acknowledge a disciple. The talent gap between Gu Tingting and Yang Caiyi is like tens of Yuan Jings’ apart.
Yuan Jing: (ㅎ.ㅎ)
But since she learned about the teacher-student relationships on Blue Star, thinking about it, with Gu Tingting frequently consulting her, she could be considered half a zither student.
In Great Jing, hardly anyone dared to seek Si Lingxi’s guidance on anything; the most they would do is ask top-tier Great Demons like Kong Lan for cultivation advice from time to time.
As for zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, it’s a joke. Nobody has ever asked Si Lingxi for advice.
Thus, Gu Tingting’s actions gave Si Lingxi a rather novel feeling, and coupled with her decent talent for music, Si Lingxi ended up mentoring her online for two years.
Shen Ying: Tell Gu Tingting she played well and received Sister Lingxi’s approval
Si Lingxi smiled lightly but didn’t deny it.
Though in Great Jing, she’s seen countless top-tier zither masters, for ordinary mortals, being able to play with Mental Realm is already extraordinary.
Having been exposed since childhood and possessing decent talent, with her guidance, Gu Tingting ultimately managed to play with Mental Realm, which is quite commendable; you can’t expect everyone to score full marks.
Zhao Xiaodao: Alright, I’ll pass it on. Oh, by the way, there’s one more thing—she doesn’t even know Sister Lingxi’s name (facepalm.jpg)
Lu Zheng: Hahaha, true, it’s like it was never mentioned (big laugh.jpg)
Lin Wan: (facepalm.jpg)
Lu Zheng: Go ahead and tell her, it’s not a big secret
Zhao Xiaodao: Alright (okay.jpg)
Zhao Xiaodao: Brother Lu, I’ll be going to Hai City in a few days for an event, I’ll come find you guys!
Lu Zheng: Sure, by the way, ask Gu Tingting if she wants to come back and have a meal with us.
Zhao Xiaodao: Alright (okay.jpg)
...
Although the Red Chess Grand Canal is popular and significant, Lu Zheng didn’t expect them to hold a gala for canal water passage.
What surprised Lu Zheng even more was that at the gala, a performance of Cloud Dance made Gu Tingting famous, inadvertently boosting Si Lingxi’s popularity as well.
And thanks to Si Huang’s composition and Zhao Xiaodao riding the wave of popularity, Biluo Song saw a resurgence.
This wave, everyone reaped huge rewards.
It was just that the connections almost brought himself, the mastermind behind the scenes, into the spotlight.
What a close call!
Lu Zheng: (◔◡◔)