Liu Qiao Qiao shut herself at home for 24 hours to plan for the upcoming elimination rounds, so she was unaware of her newfound popularity.
It has been close to 36 hours since the balloting season and Liu Qiao Qiao still hadn't selected a competition song from Lai Zhiqiang's albums and singles.
It was proving to be a very difficult choice to make. Lai Zhiqiang was a very difficult man to please when you are performing another artist's song.
Liu Qiao Qiao could only imagine how he would behave when it was his song being performed. She had gotten a little experience on that during the open audition, it was not a pleasant experience.
Just to select a good song, Liu Qiao Qiao had gone on a 24 hours seclusion at her apartment but she still didn't get the desired results.
It was high time she changed her tactics, the clock was ticking. She had less than a week till the next elimination rounds.
Liu Qiao Qiao got up from the bed and rushed into the bathroom. She got dressed and picked up her phone. She had a new notification, it was from an assistant on the show. TJ had called the members of his team for a meeting.
If the events of the past 24 hours had taught Liu Qiao Qiao anything, it was that she needed to find some help quickly. Who better to get help from than Lai Zhiqiang's former bandmate and friend. TJ was also a talented musician and producer which was a bonus.
Liu Qiao Qiao left her room and walked out to the dining room. Liu Qinyang schedule was packed, so she was hardly ever around these days. Her sister was busy promoting her upcoming mini-album.
They barely saw each other for longer than a few minutes a day. Their schedules always crashed, so it had been only Shi Xiaotong and herself in the apartment most of the time.
Shi Xiaotong and herself usually had breakfast together, well Shi Xiaotong, herself, and Shi Xiaotong's phone. Xiaotong and her phone were becoming quite the package deal.
Liu Qiao Qiao walked into the dining room and as expected Shi Xiaotong was with one of her favorite companions.
This time Shi Xiaotong had traded her phone for her tablet. Shi Xiaotong was so absorbed with whatever she was reading on her tablet, that she didn't notice Liu Qiao Qiao standing behind her until Liu Qiao Qiao bent over and whispered into her ears with a creepy voice.
"Tong Tong whatcha doing?"
Shi Xiaotong was so startled, she nearly dropped her tablet.
"Ahh, you scared me!" Shi Xiaotong exclaimed hands resting on her chest.
"Sorry, you were so focused on your tablet. I just wanted to alert you. Your expression was so serious, what's up Tong Tong" Liu Qiao Qiao said turning around to seat opposite Shi Xiaotong.
"Uh, I have been meaning to speak with you actually since this concerns you" Shi Xiaotong placed the tablet by the side and sat forward, resting not hands on the table.
"Okay that sounds a little scary, but I think I can take it. Alrighty let's hear it, there's no time than the present" Liu Qiao Qiao placed her sandwich back on the plate and looked up.
"Sunny was found dead In her apartment swimming pool this early morning. She was murdered" Shi Xiaotong said solemnly.
"What?"
"It's true, I received a call from the studio an hour ago. It's all over the news, the press is saying that the murder scene was staged similar to that of Mandy Lee".
"How_ What_ I don't understand."
"I know that this difficult for you to believe but I can assure you that it's true. The studio is doing all they can to put off the press, but you know that isn't possible.
"I already called a lawyer and ran the case by him. According to the lawyer, it's standard practice for people that are close to the victim, to be called in for some questioning but that is all.
"The press is all over this case so I think it would be a good idea, for you to stay back at the apartment until everything dies down."
"No, I don't think I can do that."
"Why?"
"I have a meeting with TJ concerning my next performance and I don't think I can shift it. I don't even want to shift it, this is my future. I can't allow Sunny to ruin my career again."
"I had a feeling you would say that. This is why I called some extra security to follow you. I will also go to the station with you, I can't let you face this alone."
"Alright, let's do this."
After having breakfast, Liu Qiao Qiao and Shi Xiaotong left for the broadcasting station. Just as Shi Xiaotong predicted, the press were camped out at the entrance waiting to get hold of Liu Qiao Qiao or Liang Changying.
Liang Changying hadn't come it since morning, so the press had to settle with her. As she got down from the car, the reporter ran up to her throwing various question at her.
All of which was related to Sunny and Pretty Girls but Liu Qiao Qiao remained silent until she got into the broadcasting station.
She took an elevator to the eight floors and headed into the rehearsal room for her meeting.
She was standing in the elevator with Shi Xiaotong when the elevator door opened and Lai Zhiqiang walked in with a petite young girl.
She wasn't familiar with all the contestants but this particular you'd girl stood out because of her obvious adoration of Lai Zhiqiang.
She was named Jiao Jiao and was a popular net ease celebrity. She was very popular with netizens because of her cute bubbly personality. She was very fond of Lai Zhiqiang and always followed him around.
As soon as Lai Zhiqiang got on, Liu Qiao Qiao and Shi Xiaotong turned to say hello
"Hello Producer Lai"
This was their first time running into each other since the weekend. Lai Zhiqiang didn't even acknowledge their presence, he left as soon as the elevator reached the fourth floor.
Meanwhile, Jiao Jiao stayed back until the elevator got to the eight floors. Shi Xiaotong went forward but Liu Qiao Qiao was held back by Jiao Jiao who blocked her way.
"please stop dreaming, Lai Zhiqiang doesn't like you. You should know that by now."Jiao Jiao said in false concern.
"Shouldn't you be telling yourself that, I mean your the one following him around like a lost puppy? I should probably tell you, you're not his type" Liu Qiao Qiao replied smiling.
"and you are?"
"Maybe," Liu Qiao Qiao said, stepping aside and walking forward. Just as she turned towards the hallway, she ran smack into Lai Zhiqiang and TJ.