Chapter 68: You’re Famous

The initial review of the bidding documents didn’t even pass.

It was all due to some obvious reasons that didn’t meet the standards.

But what exactly were those reasons?

Jiang Ning thought back to the strict requirements listed in the bidding documents.

Bidder qualifications, experience, business scope, reputation, and financial status.

None of these seemed like they should have been an issue.

Jiang Ning pondered for a long while.

Then suddenly, she realized something.

She slapped her smooth forehead.

Corporate qualification.

Damn.

The station required bidders to submit under a company’s name.

But all she had was a business license for the shop and related information.

Thinking about it this way, no wonder she didn’t even pass the first round of review.

But now, there was a problem.

Registering a company usually takes at least two weeks.

Yet, the station’s shop bidding event was happening this Friday afternoon.

There was simply not enough time.

What to do?

Was she really going to give up on this prime expansion opportunity?

No matter how she thought about it, Jiang Ning felt unwilling to back down.

After some thought, she still decided to send a message.

[Cousin, go to the business registration office tomorrow and set up a company first. I think the reason our bid was rejected is probably because of this.]

She wasn’t sure if he was busy, but by the time Jiang Ning saw a reply, it was already early the next morning.

Half-awake, Jiang Ning felt something vibrating against her chest.

A strange sensation.

She reached out to grab it.

Oh, it was her phone.

Glancing at the screen.

6:07 AM.

Two messages.

One from Tian Wenhao: [Okay.]

The other from Li Mingyu.

She was inviting Jiang Ning to a beauty treatment session this Saturday afternoon.

Goodness.

She was only seventeen—what beauty treatment did she need?

She was about to decline, but then she remembered something.

Her brow arched as she hesitated for a moment, then she typed out a response.

Not long after, she got a reply.

Just three words:

[See you at noon.]

—

Noon

Jiang Ning arrived at a high-end Western restaurant in the city center as promised.

As soon as she entered, she gave her name.

The server led her to a private booth in a corner.

Walking in, she saw a sophisticated woman sitting there—tight jeans, a loose white sweater, coffee-colored wavy hair cascading over her shoulders.

She was looking down at a magazine.

“Mingyu-jie, what are you reading?”

Hearing the voice, Li Mingyu looked up at the youthful beauty before her, momentarily dazed.

Then, she raised the magazine in her hand.

It was an entertainment magazine, open to a page about Chen Yu, a rising second-tier singer, detailing her past experiences.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning simply smiled without commenting.

At that moment, a server approached.

“Hello, ladies. May I take your order?”

“Our restaurant’s specialties include buttered Wagyu ribs and…”

Li Mingyu ignored the server’s pitch, looking instead at the girl flipping through the menu.

“Their tomahawk steak is pretty good. Want to try it?”

“Sure.”

Jiang Ning wasn’t sure what to order, so she just went with the recommendation.

They ordered a few appetizers as well.

Once the server left, Jiang Ning blinked at the elegant woman across from her and chuckled.

“So, Mingyu-jie, I actually need a favor from you…”

Hearing this, Li Mingyu suddenly smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.

“Perfect timing. I have something to discuss with you, too.”

Jiang Ning was a bit surprised.

“What is it?”

“You go first. If you need my help, consider it my thanks for what you did for Mingwei.”

Since Li Mingyu already felt grateful, Jiang Ning didn’t hold back and explained her current dilemma.

When Li Mingyu heard that Jiang Ning was bidding for a shop at the station, her gaze turned slightly complicated.

“So, the actual owner behind Shi Ning Ji is you two?”

Jiang Ning didn’t deny it, smiling sheepishly.

“Owner is a bit much. My cousin and I are just tinkering with it together.”

Li Mingyu didn’t buy the “tinkering” excuse.

She knew Jiang Ning’s family situation well.

If her mother were involved, she would never just let two juniors run the business on their own.

The only logical explanation was that the two of them had built the shop themselves.

And the real decision-maker was likely this high school freshman sitting before her.

Thinking about her own reason for today’s meeting, Li Mingyu sighed.

“Jiang Ning…”

“You’re quite an extraordinary girl.”

Extraordinary?

Where did that come from?

Jiang Ning was confused.

Before she could ask, the server arrived with their steaks.

Once everything was set, and the server left, Li Mingyu smiled playfully.

“Do you know why I called you out today?”

Jiang Ning shook her head.

“Look at this.”

She handed over the magazine.

Jiang Ning glanced at it.

It featured an analysis by a music producer of Chen Yu’s new album The Mortal World.

It also included voting stats for the songs.

Without exception, “Passing Through the Mortal World” and “Hard to Let Go” were leading by a landslide.

Especially the opera-style vocals in Hard to Let Go.

The producer called it groundbreaking.

Jiang Ning’s face instantly heated up.

But within a second, she frowned.

This old guy was praising it way too much.

Was he setting her up for something?

Li Mingyu, unaware of Jiang Ning’s suspicions, asked with a grin:

“Good news or bad news first?”

“Good news.”

Jiang Ning liked sweet things, so she picked the good news first.

“You’re famous.”

“And your name is now known in all the major entertainment companies.”

???

How was that good news?

Jiang Ning felt a headache coming on.

“Jie, are you messing with me?”

Li Mingyu didn’t answer, continuing instead:

“The bad news is, Liao Liao won’t be coming to Jiangzhou.”

“Due to the confidentiality agreement, nothing about you can be made public.”

“So…”

“As her bestie, I’ll be handling the follow-ups with Top Entertainment on her behalf.”

Jiang Ning raised an eyebrow in surprise and let out a soft snort.

“Mingyu-jie, you’re a bit wicked.”

“Twisting good and bad news to mess with me.”

“Not really,” Li Mingyu smirked teasingly.

“So? Have you considered pursuing an artistic career?”

“I can introduce you to the best teachers in the country…”

Jiang Ning clicked her tongue, sliced a piece of steak, and popped it into her mouth.

“No thanks, Mingyu-jie.”

“I have zero interest in that.”

“But about my request…”

“You…” Li Mingyu sighed dramatically. “You have no idea how much potential you have…”

“Friday afternoon, right?”

“Don’t worry. It’s just a small bidding event.”

“I’ll go with you.”