The pressure on his arm grew stronger, and Zhang Yichen's body stiffened. Heat surged to his face again, but he forced himself to stay calm. His voice, however, came out tighter than usual.
"Yes, Teacher. This is a short-video platform. Creators can upload clips, and users can like, comment, and share. There's also an algorithm that recommends content to new audiences…"
Zhang Yichen gave a simple rundown of Amuse.
"What a mind… a genius mind!" Li Yue swiped through a few videos, her eyes burning like twin torches, fixed firmly on the interface.
"You flatter me, Teacher," Zhang Yichen replied humbly.
"Flatter you? This could overturn the entire entertainment industry's way of spreading content!" Li Yue was still clinging tightly to his arm, eyes glued to the screen.
But then, she froze. "Wait a second…"
Her brows knitted as she flipped through video after video, pausing to glance at Zhang Yichen each time.
"Um… Teacher? Something wrong?" Zhang Yichen felt a chill crawl up his spine under her stare.
"Be honest. This person—it's you, isn't it? Why are you so handsome in these videos? And these songs… what's going on here?" she pressed, her tone sharp.
The first time she saw one of the clips, she thought the singer looked familiar. The more she watched, the more certain she became. And those songs—even though each clip was only a dozen seconds long, the quality was stunning. Yet she had never heard them before.
"Yes, Teacher, that's me. The songs are my own. The videos… I edited them with filters." With her "weapons" pressing against him, Zhang Yichen dared not lie.
He quickly confessed, even explaining: "This is Cut. It edits videos, adds beauty filters. And Amuse has a camera feature too—record directly, with filters…"
He rambled off every function, just to avoid further "attacks."
"Good heavens, you really do have something there!" Li Yue's grip tightened, excitement growing with every word.
"Investment—I must invest. Your platform is built, yes, but you'll need promotion. Celebrity endorsements. If a big star signs on, your growth will skyrocket. And all that costs money."
Her gaze blazed at Zhang Yichen like a starving wolf eyeing a slab of meat.
"Teacher, I said I don't need investment. As for an endorsement—I've already found the right person. She's agreed to join the platform." Zhang Yichen's refusal made things difficult.
But from her words, he could see it clearly: Li Yue had the instincts of a true investor. She knew what would make money, and how to make it fast. She wasn't just suited to invest—she was suited to lead. She had her own businesses. Strong connections. A kind heart, too.
What puzzled him was why someone like her was hiding away as a mere counselor at Sichuan Vocational College.
A wild thought flickered in his mind: What if she became the company's CEO?
But then he laughed at himself. She had her own empire—why would she work for him?
Li Yue pressed harder: "You can't just find some random little celebrity and expect—"
"Would a 'Queen of Singing' be qualified?" Zhang Yichen cut her off.
Her words died in her throat. She froze, shoulders sagging, and her voice fell quiet.
"…Queen of Singing?" Her mood sank instantly. She stopped talking about investments altogether.
"Teacher? Are you feeling unwell?" Zhang Yichen asked carefully, thinking he'd hurt her pride.
"I'm fine. Just… remembered an old friend." Her voice was low, tinged with sorrow. "By the way, do you have the full versions of these songs?"
"Yes, all of them."
"Are you planning to debut as a singer soon?"
"Yes, Teacher."
"Through the internet?"
"Yes, Teacher."
"And that Queen of Singing will help boost your popularity?"
"Yes, Teacher."
"You're… close with her?"
"Yes, Teacher."
Their exchange was crisp, one question after another, each answer short and firm.
Then suddenly—
"Wait. Xixi!" Li Yue shouted, flinging his arm aside.
"This is Xixi! This is Chen Xiaoxi! Tell me—why do you have her video on your phone?!" Her eyes shimmered with tears as her trembling finger stabbed at the screen.
It was the very video Xiaoxi had recorded last night. Zhang Yichen never imagined Li Yue would see it.
"Uh… Teacher… she's my friend," he stammered, scalp prickling. He hadn't expected the two women to know each other—let alone to be so close.
"Your friend?" Li Yue's voice was sharp as steel teeth grinding together. "Since when did she have a friend like you?"
"Teacher!" Zhang Yichen's heart dropped. From her tone, he could tell she cared deeply about Chen Xiaoxi. "She's fine now. She's preparing for her comeback."
He quickly explained. Her mood swings were too unpredictable, and he was barely keeping up.
"Really?" Li Yue sneered, eyes narrowing like blades that cut into him. "You're not lying? Where is she? Take me to her. Now."
The tension spiked, the air freezing cold.
Zhang Yichen studied her expression, trying to find even the slightest softness—but her gaze was sharp as a knife, pressing straight into his chest.
She truly cared for Xiaoxi. That much was clear. But would Xiaoxi want to see her? He couldn't decide that for her.
"Teacher," Zhang Yichen swallowed, forcing his tone calm. "Please, calm down. Let me call her first, ask if she's willing to meet."
"Calm down?" Li Yue laughed bitterly. Her lips curled, but her smile was devoid of warmth. "I've been searching for her for over half a year. Do you think I haven't been calm?"
Her fingers clenched his phone so tightly the knuckles turned white.
"Call her. Now." She threw the phone back to him, her voice shaking with urgency.
Li Yue had been childhood friends with Lin Xiaoxi—from kindergarten all the way to university, they had always been deskmates.
When they started living in dorms, they shared rooms right up until graduation.
To put it bluntly, they'd spent more time together than with their own families.
After graduation, Xiaoxi chased her dream, entering showbiz. Li Yue was forced into her family's business by her parents.
Their paths split.
Still, since they were both in Shanghai, they'd meet occasionally. Until a year ago, when Li Yue went abroad for five months.
By the time she returned—Chen Xiaoxi had disappeared.
The last ticket she had purchased was bound for Sichuan.
And so, Li Yue came to Sichuan too.
She had been searching for her best friend for over half a year.