Chapter Thirty-Eight: Sister, Your Greatest Fear Is Gone...

After three consecutive days of handing out flyers, the results were quite promising. Recently, the phone at the detective agency rang endlessly with people inquiring about fees and the types of cases they could bring in. Although no one had come in with a case just yet, it was still a good way to build the reputation of Evergreen Agency.

“I’m heading out with Xiaoyu for a bit. If any clients come by, Kelly, could you handle them?” Li Changqing was dressed differently today, wearing a brand-new suit. It was the day of his younger sister Li Qingxue’s original song competition at school. She had already called several times, urging him to be at the school auditorium punctually at two in the afternoon.

Tang Xiaoyu wore a pure white long dress, her hair simply down around her shoulders, making her look particularly lovely.

“Do I need to put on a felt hat?” Li Changqing was a bit surprised but didn’t refuse.

“No need, let’s go just like this.”

Watching the two leave, Kelly Losaidy lay back on the sofa, put down her newspaper, and muttered, “Just as I guessed, that girl doesn’t have the slightest air of a detective. There’s definitely something going on between those two.”

Huayu High was a private school with high tuition. It wasn’t easy for their older sister to make money running a bun shop, but she still gritted her teeth and sent Li Qingxue to study there.

At the gate, Li Qingxue wasn’t in her school uniform but in a brightly colored performance outfit, her face adorned with delicate stage makeup and a dab of blush on her cheeks.

“Second Brother!”

Li Qingxue waved excitedly. Li Changqing, bringing Tang Xiaoyu along, quickly came up to her.

Li Qingxue looked curiously at the beautiful girl who seemed not much older than herself, her eyes shining. She hurriedly linked arms with Li Changqing, pulled him aside, and whispered, “Second Brother, who is this beauty? Is she my future sister-in-law?”

Thud.

Li Changqing tapped her forehead lightly. “What are you thinking? She’s my colleague at the agency. She heard there was a singing competition and came to see the excitement.”

“Oh.” Li Qingxue grinned. “I get it. So, not my sister-in-law yet, right?”

Li Changqing was speechless.

He thought to himself, “She’s a ghost, but I’m human.”

He turned to introduce Tang Xiaoyu. “This is my younger sister, Li Qingxue.”

Tang Xiaoyu was curiously observing the campus. Most people wore uniforms, though some students in performance costumes passed by.

Li Qingxue led them toward the auditorium, chatting as she went. “There are more than twenty contestants today. Big Sister said if I get a good place, she’ll take me out for seafood tonight. The last time I had some was half a year ago, on my birthday.”

“Seafood? Is it tasty?” Tang Xiaoyu asked, following behind Li Changqing.

Seeing her interest, he replied, “It’s expensive.”

“Oh.” Tang Xiaoyu lost interest instantly.

The auditorium was spacious enough to seat over eight hundred people. The front rows were reserved for school officials and teachers, with the next two rows for performers and their relatives, and the rest for regular students.

The leaders and teachers hadn’t arrived yet, so the auditorium was abuzz with students discussing the competition.

Li Changqing and Tang Xiaoyu sat on the right side of the third row. Li Qingxue sat beside them and handed them each a clapper. “I’m the fifth to perform. After the second program, I’ll have to go backstage to wait.”

“Big Sister didn’t come?” Li Changqing glanced around, not spotting Li Lin.

Li Qingxue replied a bit unhappily, “She said she’s busy, but there’s hardly any business at the bun shop in the afternoon. She hasn’t bought new clothes in two years and probably didn’t want to embarrass me. She’s too stubborn. I tried to persuade her, but she wouldn’t come.”

Life at home had always been tight, and Li Qingxue was an understanding girl.

Li Changqing thought for a moment. “Why don’t you help our sister buy a new outfit in a few days? I’ll reimburse you—with your competition prize money.”

“There’s no prize money for this competition.”

“I’ll give you some, then.”

Li Qingxue mused, “If you want to buy her clothes, just do it yourself. She’ll be really happy.”

Li Changqing was speechless again. “If I want to help buy clothes, I’d need to know her size. It’s more suitable for a younger sister to handle such things…”

Tang Xiaoyu, sitting beside them, was seldom in such a crowded venue. She asked curiously, “So your sister will sing in front of all these people? Isn’t she scared?”

It must be nerve-wracking to stand before so many eyes. Just imagining it, Tang Xiaoyu was sure she could never do it.

Li Changqing thought, “Not everyone is as timid as you.”

Soon, the main doors closed, and the leaders and teachers filed in. A pair of student hosts took the stage.

“Honored leaders and teachers, today we are delighted to welcome you to Huayu High’s very first Original Campus Singer Competition. First, let’s introduce our panel of judges.”

“In order: the renowned music producer Mr. Liang Dasheng, board member Mr. Xu Li, and Principal Lin Wanchang. Please welcome them with warm applause.”

Liang Dasheng had been brought in at great expense to ensure the competition’s authority and fairness. He was a well-known music producer who had worked with several pop stars, wore a baseball cap, had long hair, and exuded the air of an artist.

Board member Xu Li and Principal Lin Wanchang took their seats on either side.

Xu Li said with a smile, “Mr. Liang, we’re grateful you’ve made the effort to come to our school. Take a good look—if you spot any talent, please be sure to nurture them.”

Principal Lin Wanchang added cheerfully, “Our board member’s son is competing this time as well…”

Xu Li quickly interrupted, feigning displeasure. “Hey, Principal Lin, didn’t we agree not to mention my son Xu Feng competing? If he gets first place, people will think we fixed it.”

Music producer Liang Dasheng laughed. “Don’t worry, Mr. Xu. True talent stands any test. If Xu Feng’s song is good, not giving him first place just because his father is on the board would also be unfair.”

Of course, the song had been specially commissioned from Liang Dasheng himself for a hefty fee—there was no need for underhanded manipulation.

How could these students compete with a piece produced by a professional like Liang Dasheng?

“And now, let’s welcome our first contestant, Xu Feng from Senior Three, Class Two! He’s presenting ‘Wildfire Bonfire,’ a song he spent three months creating, inspired by his campus life.”

Soon, a handsome, well-mannered student in uniform walked to the center of the stage, microphone in hand, and bowed deeply.

“Excellent!” Board member Xu Li led the applause, with the principal and teachers joining in.

Li Changqing, seated further back, asked curiously, “Who’s that?”

Li Qingxue thought for a moment. “I don’t know, but the one leading the applause is the principal.”

Li Changqing eyed the figure on stage. “Sis, I’m afraid your first place is out of reach now…”