"You mean you want to leave me and join a bigger label? Hah! Where was that label when you were nothing? Where was it when you were jumping from one talent show to another?" A tall, beautiful, mature woman shouted angrily at a girl dressed in purple.

The girl in purple looked younger and was also beautiful, but her beauty paled in comparison to that of the mature woman.

She bowed her head in shame.

"I'm sorry, Anna, but as you can see, my career has grown immensely. You can no longer handle it. Be honest with yourself. I need a better label for better marketing and better deals," she explained.

"I can't handle you?" The mature woman slammed her hand against her chest. "Do you even know how much I've sacrificed, and how much more I'm still willing to sacrifice for you? Do you know how long I've been in this industry? Eight years. Eight good years.

"The connections and experience I've gathered during those years are more than enough to take you even further."

"Let's stop lying to ourselves, Anna," the younger beauty said. "No agent could take you that far. You've already outdone most of them by taking me this far, and I truly appreciate it. But growing my talent is far more important than the gratitude I feel toward you."

"Is that really what you want?" the mature woman asked, a smirk tugging at her lips.

"Yes, Anna. I'm sorry." The girl with purple hair looked as though she were making an incredibly difficult decision.

"No need to be sorry. This has been the pattern every time. You're not the first, and you won't be the last. As a private agent, all I do is scout talent, nurture it, and wait for top industry players, who didn't even know these talents existed, to offer them contracts. You can leave my house now, Percy." Her tone was icy, cold, and commanding.

The girl in purple knew there was no point in staying. Her presence would only make Anna angrier. She decided it would be better to return later, once Anna had calmed down.

"Alright, I'll go now. I'll come back later when you've calmed down," she said softly.

"No need to come back, Percy. I understand you, and I forgive you. It's not your fault. The deal they offered was simply too good for you to resist. But I should warn you in good faith. The moment you join them, you completely lose your freedom."

****

After a few minutes of walking, Alex arrived at Newar Square. It was not a particularly popular square, but it still held a decent crowd. Night had already fallen, yet a surprising number of people lingered.

Alex sat beside an old waterfall at the center of the square and took out his guitar. People noticed him, whispered among themselves, and some even laughed quietly.

Alex ignored the commotion and began strumming his guitar, searching for the right tune. His eyes closed as he immersed himself in the emotions of the song he was about to sing. Soon, his voice rose, steady and confident.

🎶🎶🎶

Verse 1

When the world fell apart

Darkness found its stride

But you remember what I promised

One day, I'll lean on you to hide

From moments that slip away

I hate to say goodnight

Yet I'll see you with the sunrise

Still know your heart, still know your eyes

🎶🎶🎶

His voice carried slowly but confidently through the square. Some passersby stopped and listened. His voice was not exceptional, but the lyrics were flawless.

🎶🎶🎶

Pre-Chorus

I could tell you of restless nights

How no one cheers for the birds that don't take flight

So let the heroes fade and hide

My wonder's weary, just a little tired

🎶🎶🎶

🎶🎶🎶

Chorus

If only you could see yourself the way I do

You'd see your glow, your glow

I know you'd never leave me behind

But right now, I'm lost, I know

Are we meant to burn, or will we make it through the night?

I'll hold you close until it feels right

If only you could see yourself the way I do

You'd see your glow, your glow

🎶🎶🎶

Alex became so absorbed in the performance that he poured his heart into the second verse. The crowd felt it. Even though his voice was not perfect, the emotion behind it was undeniable, and people genuinely connected with the lyrics.

He strummed the final note. A brief silence followed before it shattered, and the small audience burst into applause. Some even tossed money toward him. Alex felt embarrassed. He was not a beggar. Still, he bent down and picked up the few dollar bills.

Among the crowd stood a tall, beautiful, mature woman. She held her phone and frowned slightly. "Strange," she murmured. "I recorded the lyrics and searched online. They don't seem to belong to any known artist. It's highly likely he wrote them himself."

"Very talented composer," Anna thought, "but his voice isn't strong enough to become a musician. He'd be better off composing and selling his songs."

She had stepped out for some fresh air from one of her favorite restaurants in Newar Square when she happened upon Alex singing. Curiosity had kept her there.

Alex was packing up his guitar when a sharp scent of lavender reached him. It was lovely and refreshing. He looked up and saw the mature beauty standing before him.

"Excuse me, are you the one who composed these lyrics?" Her voice was soft, pleasant, and soothing. Alex froze, momentarily stunned.

He was struck by the beauty before him. She wore a blue blouse and black trousers, her eyes hazel and captivating, and she carried a seductive aura. At the same time, the confidence etched into her expression made it clear she was no ordinary person.

The woman blinked twice, and Alex immediately realized that he had been rude.

"Sorry, I got a bit lost in thought. Back to your question, yes, I'm the one who composed the song," he said calmly, forcing himself to steady his emotions.

She smiled softly. "You have real talent in composing, and your guitar skills are good as well. I'm genuinely impressed." Her tone shifted slightly as she continued, "But I have to be honest with you. You're not very good at singing." Her words were direct and unfiltered.

Alex frowned.

"It might sound brutal, but it's the truth," she added. "I'm not trying to discourage you. If you work hard on your voice, maybe you'll get there someday. Who knows?"

She paused for a moment before continuing, "But if you ever give up on being an artist and decide to focus on composing, contact me." She handed him a card.

At first, Alex felt irritated by her blunt criticism and thought she had only approached him to tear him down. However, when she encouraged him to improve and even offered him an opportunity, he realized that she genuinely meant well.

At the very least, she had not told him to stop making music altogether. Even Alex had to admit that his voice still needed work.

"I'll be going now," she said, turning and walking away. I wonder if he hates me now? she thought, unaware that her old habit had taken over.

All the celebrities under her knew this side of her personality. She was brutally honest, sometimes to the point of being irritating.

But Alex was a stranger, and she should not have spoken to him that way. It was an old habit resurfacing, and she regretted it.

Alex watched her leave. He slipped the card into his pocket without looking at it, then packed up his things and left Newar square.

When he finished performing earlier, he had received a notification from the system, but he had suppressed it. He was still in public and did not want to look strange by staring into empty air.

After walking for a few minutes, he arrived home. As usual, his landlady was outside, smoking. She wore small, loose clothing, as she always did, accentuating her curvaceous body.

She narrowed her eyes when she saw Alex approaching with a guitar slung across his back.

"Brat, don't tell me you still have those wishful dreams of yours," she scoffed. "With that croaked voice of yours, I really wonder what kind of shitty label would ever accept you."

After a brief pause, she continued mockingly, "You know what, I own a restaurant. Why don't you come over and play that guitar of yours for the customers? You're very skilled at it. Just don't sing, and I'll pay you well." The moment she opened her mouth, her words were as vicious as ever.

Alex thought that her remarks alone might have caused him serious emotional damage if he did not have the system supporting him.

"Don't worry about me, landlady. I'm never giving up on my dream," he said firmly.

"Oh, good luck with that. I hope you succeed," she replied sarcastically. "But before that, remember you still have rent to pay. Wait... where are you going? Come here this instant, brat!"

While she was still ranting, Alex had already walked away, hurrying toward his apartment. She could only curse loudly behind him.

Inside his small one-room apartment, Alex locked the door and collapsed onto the bed.

Immediately, he willed the system to display the notification.

(Ding! Mission completed: Compose a song, then go to a public place and perform it.

Reward: Special skill, Resonance level one.

Resonance enhances the emotional impact of the host's voice, allowing it to naturally draw attention on a deeper level and subtly influence the audience's mood. The effect depends on skill level.)

"Finally. I hope this skill is worth it. System, show me my stats."

A new window appeared before him, displaying his information.

Host level:

Entertainment skills:

Star points: 0

Singing: level 5

Dancing: level 3

Composing and songwriting: level 7

Acting: level 3

Music production: level 5

Instruments:

Guitar: level 7

Charisma: 6

Special skills: Resonance level 1

Intelligence: 9

Handsomeness: 8

Physical points: 9 (This includes all physical attributes such as speed and strength. An average adult male has 10 points.)

Fighting skills: none

Weapon skills: none

Special technique: none

Other skills: none

He nodded, satisfied with his progress. However, his dancing and acting levels were pitifully low. For now, he had no intention of pursuing anything related to acting.

****

Today, Alex finally decided to go back to school. The moment he arrived at the gates of saints high, a strong sense of déjà vu washed over him.

It had been many years since he last attended high school. Exactly how many, he could no longer recall.

With a sigh, he walked through the school gate.

"Hello, Alex."

Someone suddenly called out, startling him. He turned around and saw a chubby beauty standing behind him.

She wore a white school uniform paired with a short pink, flowery skirt. The fabric hugged her curvy, chubby figure, highlighting her full body and making her shape impossible to ignore.

Her face was soft and full, with two cute dimples resting naturally on her cheeks. She was very beautiful, probably on the same level as Alex's ex girlfriend.

If some of the fat on her face were gone, she might even be more beautiful than his ex.

She was a transfer student who sat beside Alex in class, so they often exchanged notes.

She was a kind girl and always spoke gently to him. This had caused many of her pursuers to feel jealous. You already have a beauty as a girlfriend, and now you want to take this one too?

They secretly loathed him. One could imagine how happy they were when Billy and Christina started showing public affection at school a week ago.

"Amber!" Alex smiled, pleasantly surprised to see her.

"What happened to you? You haven't been at school for a whole week," she asked worriedly.

"Oh, nothing serious. I was in a small accident, but I'm fine now," he replied casually.

"Are you sure you're really okay?" she asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Yeah, I'm fine." He nodded firmly.

"Alright then. I think we should exchange contacts so I can check on you next time," she said. "No one in class seems to have your contact information, and even your girlfriend... ehm, I mean your ex, refused to give it to me." She said it without the slightest hint of awkwardness.

Most girls found it difficult to ask a guy for his number, and even when they did, they were often nervous. But Amber was different. She was straightforward and never the type to follow conventions.

Alex nodded and took her phone. Their hands brushed lightly, the touch soft and cool. Since she had only been in school for a week, they had not yet found the time to exchange numbers.

Several boys and girls noticed them sharing contacts, and muttering began almost immediately.

"That Alex is a legend. It hasn't even been a week since he broke up with his beautiful girlfriend, and he's already hooking up with another," one of the boys said. He stared at them intensely, wishing he could switch places with Alex.

"Yes, and this one is just as pretty, maybe even more shapely than the last," his friend agreed.

As for the girls, they started wondering what was so special about Alex. He was pleasing to the eyes, yes, but he was also dirt poor. Deep down, they felt a sting of jealousy, though their pride would never allow them to admit it.

Alex and Amber soon headed to their classes.

On the way, they ran into Billy and Christina. It seemed Billy was escorting her to her classroom. He belonged to class C, and his grades were so poor that if not for his wealthy parents, he would have ended up in class F.

When he saw Samuel, Billy quickly leaned in and planted a peck on Christina's cheek.

"Stop it, naughty boy," she said, pushing him away playfully, while Billy flashed a grin at Alex. Alex ignored him completely.

He would have his revenge someday, but not now. At the moment, he was nothing and could not even begin to think about proper revenge.

Seeing them together caused a faint ache in his chest, but he knew it was only a lingering feeling from the past Alex, not his true emotions. In reality, he did not care at all about the two people, who were little more than strangers to him.

Billy did not think much about the fact that Alex had healed. After all, it had already been a week, and with proper treatment, healing was to be expected. That was exactly what Alex had wanted as well.

Alex and Amber entered the classroom and sat in their usual seats. Amber took the seat to Alex's left. On his right sat a fat boy wearing spectacles, with an earbud tucked into one ear.

When he noticed Alex, he removed the earbud and greeted him. "What's up, Alex? I haven't seen you for a week now. What's wrong?" he asked. His name was Jude, and he used to be Alex's friend.

That was before Billy. They had argued after Jude warned him about Billy, and Alex had accused Jude of being jealous. Jude deleted his number, and they never spoke again.

But things were different now. It had been a week since Jude last saw Alex, and he had also witnessed how Billy betrayed him. He was genuinely worried, which was why he broke his self-imposed silence and spoke to him.

"I'm alright. I'm sorry about what I said, Jude. I know it might sound strange now, especially since what you said about Billy turned out to be true. I'm sorry for how I treated you back then."

He apologized sincerely.

"Oh, that's nothing. I'm sorry too for scolding you that day and calling you small-brained. Maybe that's why you flared up back then," Jude said, apologizing as well as he stretched out his hand.

Alex took it gratefully. This fatty was genuinely a good person. The previous Alex had simply been too naive.

"Let's be friends again," Jude said, and Alex nodded.

After that, Alex noticed the earbud Jude was wearing. He always seemed to have it on every morning. The previous Alex had never paid attention to it, or cared enough to ask.

"You must really love music. What do you usually listen to?" Alex asked with a smile, trying to start a friendly conversation before the teacher arrived for the morning lesson.

"Oh, this?" Jude pointed at the earbud, looking embarrassed.

"The truth is, I don't listen to any known songs. It's just beats I made myself. Want to listen?" He looked at Alex hopefully.

Alex stared at him in surprise.

"You make beats? That's amazing. I'd really like to hear them," he said, nodding.

"Hehehe, it's nothing special, so don't be disappointed," Jude chuckled as he handed over the earbud.

Alex put it in his ear and listened. After only a few seconds, his eyes widened in disbelief. What he heard was completely unexpected.

He had been prepared for mediocre beats, which was common among wannabe producers and sound engineers. They were often unrefined, full of flaws, yet still passable.

But Jude's work was different. The beat was fire, polished and well structured, something that could already be compared to works by top producers, of course with a bit more refinement.

He was not a professional yet, but his talent was undeniable.

"You really made this? Did you do it in a studio?" Alex asked, genuinely shocked.

Jude removed his glasses, wiped them carefully, then put them back on before replying.

"Yes, I made it. How is it? Is it really that bad?" he asked nervously.

"Bad? This is really good. It could already be compared to top producers, of course with a little more refinement," Alex replied.

Jude blushed deeply, his fat body turning red.

"Thank you. You're the only one who has ever appreciated it," he said with a shy smile.

"Wait, how? This is too good for no one to appreciate," Alex said.

"Well, that's because you're the only person who has listened to it," Jude replied softly.

"Oh, I see. Now I understand," Alex said. "I'll be honest with you, Jude. If you keep this up, you're going to become a great producer or sound engineer in the future."

"Really? I have a small studio at home. Maybe you could come over one day," Jude said happily.

"Really? Do you also record?" Alex asked.

"No, not yet, but I hope to someday. I already have all the equipment at home," Jude replied.

Alex felt an unexpected urge to cry. Apologizing to Jude was something he truly did not regret. Missing this chance would have haunted him forever. Jude was real talent, and maybe he had just found a free studio as well.

"I want to visit too," someone said suddenly, startling both of them.

They turned and saw Amber.

"Really? You actually want to visit my studio?" Jude asked, finding it hard to believe. He had never had friends before, save for Alex, nor anyone interested in his studio. Now, two people wanted to visit at once, and he was overwhelmed with happiness.

"Can you guys sing?" he asked nervously, hoping he could record as well.

"Yes, I can sing very well," Amber said confidently.

"Well, I'm not that great, but I can compose and sing a bit," Alex said, feeling slightly embarrassed. He could not exactly claim to be amazing at singing.

"Great!" Jude pumped his fist excitedly, startling the entire class as his fat body jiggled with enthusiasm.

"What's wrong with that fatty and those two? And when did the three of them become so close?" the class wondered.

At that moment, Samuel received a text message. He checked his phone. It was a message from the talent show.