Chapter 181: Go Apologize to Her!

MOKA looked at the mess scattered all over the floor. There was no way she’d have time to clean up now.

So she had no intention of letting whoever was knocking enter.

Her heart was pounding with nervous anticipation, hoping that Su Li had returned.

But when MOKA peered through the peephole, her face quickly filled with disappointment.

It wasn’t Su Li.

It was her Assistant.

MOKA slowly opened the door.

Her Assistant was already well acquainted with the sight of her in this disheveled state.

So MOKA wasn’t worried that the other would discover what she was really like.

The two of them were like grasshoppers tied to the same rope.

Even if it was just for money, her Assistant wouldn’t betray her.

“MOKA.”

The Assistant glanced at the chaos on the floor, brows knitting slightly.

Just moments ago, she had seen Su Li leaving MOKA’s room and knew the deal between the two was over.

But from Su Li’s face, it was impossible to read any emotion. She could only vaguely sense that her mood was far more chaotic than usual.

“How’s the song coming along?”

“Aria…”

MOKA’s voice trembled. She didn’t know how to tell Aria that she hadn’t written a song at all.

“You didn’t create anything?”

“Why?”

“I know for artists like you, there’s always a creative bottleneck, but MOKA, you have to understand…”

“You’re just like those top three trending terms on the Hot Search Ranking. Fans can boost your numbers today, but tomorrow they might chase after the latest sensation.”

“That Hit Song ‘Escape from Midnight’ from last month? There are already comments saying you’ve reached Jiang Lang’s End.”

“They don’t care if you’re racking your brains to write songs.”

“They buy albums like they’re snatching up limited-edition sneakers—they only care if the new drop is explosive enough.”

“In the short time you’ve delayed an update, people in the Fan Club Super Topic have already made singles using AI-synthesized Vocal imitating your voice, and the clicks are twice as high as your last MV.”

“MOKA, you know, as your Assistant, my salary depends on you. Others might want to harm you, but I never would!”

“So what exactly is the problem? Tell me, and the two of us can think of something together.”

Aria could clearly feel that MOKA wasn’t herself.

Back when MOKA was writing songs, she was always brash and arrogant, as if the world had nothing that could stump her.

But now, all her energy seemed drained.

Aria was all too familiar with this version of MOKA.

Every time she hit a snag or creative block, MOKA would look just like this.

“Is it because your deal with Su Li hit its limit?”

Aria asked. She understood a bit about creators.

Some artists, in search of inspiration, would do things to give themselves a jolt.

But even then, once they got used to the stimulation, their threshold would only rise, and eventually nothing would excite them anymore.

Aria guessed that whatever deal MOKA had with Su Li had brought her a huge rush, and if MOKA always pinned her inspiration on Su Li, then running into a bottleneck was inevitable.

Aria thought this was a truly thorny problem.

Even though her job was to be MOKA’s Assistant, that didn’t mean she’d always be just that.

Her results were tied to MOKA, so of course she hoped MOKA would pull through.

But if MOKA really couldn’t deliver, she wouldn’t stake her own future for MOKA.

Of course, out of professional duty, Aria would still help MOKA as much as she could.

She looked at MOKA.

This wasn’t her first time seeing a creator at Jiang Lang’s End.

Inspiration was tied to life experience.

Many creators wrote one hit, and then never caught fire again.

But someone like MOKA, who’d had several hits, was already one of the most vital ones she’d ever seen.

But too many who become famous young don’t treasure their talents, squandering their gifts and earnings, ending up despondent in the end.

Aria looked at MOKA, thinking she’d probably end up that way too.

She’d tried to persuade MOKA before, but MOKA wouldn’t listen, so she stopped insisting.

She’d said her piece, and that was already enough.

“No.”

“I… I can still get inspired.”

MOKA hurried to say, speaking quickly, eager to prove her worth.

“It’s just that I recorded my inspiration…”

Thinking of what she’d done on Su Li’s back, MOKA found it hard to put into words.

“I recorded it with Su Li, but now there’s a conflict between us.”

“Now I have no money, and no inspiration left.”

MOKA looked at Aria with grievance, continuing,

“Aria-jie, is there any way you can help me get back the songs I created?”

“And the money I spent on Su Li!”

“I think we could sue her, right? After all, her income isn’t legal!”

“And I bet she hasn’t paid taxes!”

“We’ll sue her and teach her a lesson.”

MOKA said this seriously, wanting to put Su Li in her place.

Next time, maybe she wouldn’t act so high and mighty.

And with this lesson, MOKA could pressure Su Li to lower her prices, too.

Aria stared at the slightly hysterical MOKA and fell silent.

Suddenly, she remembered the crumpled hem of Su Li’s skirt as she left, which had struck her as odd.

Now, thinking carefully, she recalled the bloodstains on Su Li’s clothes.

And the bite marks on her neck.

“Are you sure?”

Aria’s calm tone reminded MOKA of Su Li.

When the other looked at her, she wore the same expression.

Seeing that look, MOKA instinctively felt afraid.

“Do you realize you’re a public figure now, and every move you make is being watched?”

“Once a storm of public opinion starts, it’s not something you can settle yourself.”

“Besides, do you really think your worth is high enough for the company to clean up this mess for you?”

“If you want to be buried for the rest of your life, then by all means.”

“Do you honestly think your deal with Su Li is so clean?”

“Maybe you can still milk your ‘Crazy Beauty’ persona for cash, but when new idols debut with the same fake tattoos in a couple years, your fans won’t even care how tall the weeds on your grave are.”

“And have you ever thought, maybe someone’s been watching you this whole time, just waiting for you to slip up?”

“If it weren’t for your secretive deals with Su Li, would I have to make you both go so far out of your way every time you meet?”

“If your inspiration is with Su Li, then go find her now!”

“Go and apologize to her!”