Chapter 44: Do You Have a Dream?

After a whole day of busy work, the rainforest tank was finally finished. The lighting was increased, the humidity reduced, and every effort made to recreate the native environment of the radiated tortoises. Though the vegetation was young, it was lush and vibrant, bursting with color. Water flowed beneath, suitable for keeping some tropical fish, and a chameleon could be placed among the branches. Since the tortoises were herbivores, they could coexist peacefully.

That evening, sipping red wine and reclining comfortably on the sofa, he watched the family of six tortoises at ease. The two little ones climbed onto the backs of the larger tortoises, stretching their necks and curiously surveying their new home. The two adults seemed to awaken some sort of memory, cautiously seeking through the jungle, exploring the unknown little by little, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Not only Johnson, but even Xiaolong and Xiatiger were deeply captivated, finally experiencing the charm of keeping tortoises. Watching them brought a natural sense of relaxation, as if time slowed, and nothing felt quite so important anymore.

Suddenly, his phone rang. Johnson picked it up, frowning when he saw the caller was Su Yun. The girl had messaged him yesterday after returning to Beijing, asking to meet, but he hadn’t replied. Now she was calling directly.

After some hesitation, he answered. Su Yun insisted there was something important that required meeting in person, so he agreed, arranging to meet the next morning at ten.

Putting the phone down, Johnson shook his head. Su Yun wasn’t like those gold-digging girls—when she borrowed ten thousand, it was life-saving money, and she never intended for him to repay her. As for repaying with her body, he hadn’t even entertained the thought; too bestial, and he feared retribution from above. Who knew she’d be so persistent?

Well, perhaps it was best to meet and clarify things, to avoid future trouble. The next day, he arrived at the appointed café and saw the girl—her demeanor was much improved, and she smiled brightly.

“Mr. Johnson, here’s the remaining twenty thousand from the surgery. Please count it,” Su Yun said, taking twenty thousand in cash from her bag and placing it before him. She then produced an IOU and a pen, looking at him with determined eyes. “This is the IOU for the remaining eighty thousand. I still don’t know your full name, so I left the borrower’s name blank. Can you tell me now?”

Johnson was taken aback, sensing the perseverance and honesty in her gaze. Moved, he calmly replied, “My name is Johnson.”

The girl quickly wrote it down, checked twice, stood up, and handed him the IOU with both hands, solemnly saying, “Please keep it safe. I will repay the eighty thousand as soon as possible, and with interest.”

Johnson took the IOU and set it aside, motioning for her to sit. He asked, “How is your father’s recovery?”

“The surgery was very successful!” Su Yun answered with a cheerful smile, full of vitality. “He’ll be back to normal after a few months of rest. Thank you for your concern.”

Johnson nodded; it was good that he could help. Raising his coffee, he asked, “What are your plans now?”

Su Yun hesitated, as though she misunderstood, then quickly replied, “I’ll start looking for a job tomorrow—work during the day, and sing at a bar at night.”

Fearing Johnson wouldn’t believe her, she assured him, “Resident singers at bars earn pretty well. I can do two gigs a night. By the end of the year, I should be able to pay you back!”

Johnson waved his hand, reassessing the girl, and asked seriously, “Do you really like singing?”

He recalled the shock of their first meeting; the girl’s pure appearance belied a soulful, gravelly voice, an impression that lingered.

Su Yun nodded vigorously, as if she’d found her confidence. “Of course! My dream since childhood has been to sing!”

“I participated in talent shows in college, and some agencies wanted to sign me, but my parents didn’t agree at the time…”

“After graduation, I’ve worked as a resident singer at several bars. Everyone says entertainment agencies are a mix of scammers and time-wasters—either swindling money or worse.”

“The famous ones are hard to enter; without connections, you can’t get in at all.” Su Yun sighed, her face clouded. “There are plenty of girls around me who are beautiful, have great figures, and sing well—but how many actually become stars?”

Johnson nodded. It was good that she understood; better than chasing unrealistic dreams. He confirmed, “If you had the opportunity to join a legitimate company, would you take it?”

“Really?” The girl’s expression changed dramatically, excitement rising. “Yes, of course I would!”

Johnson pondered for a moment, then asked, “I’m not familiar with the entertainment industry. Which company would you most like to join?”

“Well…” Su Yun paused, surprised that she might actually get to choose. After thinking, she answered, “If it’s acting, Huayi Brothers is best, as well as Tianyu Entertainment and Huanrui Century—they have many big stars.”

“For singing… my first choice is Rock Records, or Emperor Entertainment. Almost all first-rate singers are with those two companies.”

Even those outside the entertainment industry knew the names of these major companies. Johnson dialed a private number and ordered, “I have a friend who wants to become a singer at Rock Records.”

“Please arrange it as soon as possible. May I ask your exact location? Relevant personnel will arrive promptly.”

Su Yun watched Johnson hang up, stunned. Johnson said offhandedly, “I’ll ask a friend to try. We’ll see what happens.”

Less than thirty minutes later, a man in a suit jogged into the café, looked around, and approached Johnson, politely asking, “Are you Mr. Johnson?”

“I’m Liu Cheng, an agent from Rock Records. Here’s my card.”

Su Yun widened her eyes, quickly stood to offer her seat. Liu Cheng sat down, and Johnson ordered another coffee, introducing, “This is my friend. She’s loved singing since childhood and has a remarkable voice. Do you think there’s a chance for her to try out at your company?”

The girl abruptly stood, nervous. “My name is Su Yun. I’ve been singing at bars for a while. Please take care of me.”

Liu Cheng’s eyes lit up, and he praised her after shaking hands, “You have a great image, and looks are definitely not a problem!”

“Rest assured, Mr. Johnson. Rock Records is the best place for singers. Tomorrow morning at nine, have Miss Su come to the company for a simple audition, after which she can join our new artist training program. How does that sound?”

Seeing Johnson had no objections, Liu Cheng prepared to leave. Johnson suddenly spoke, “Let me make one thing clear: Su Yun is my good friend. It’s fine for her to endure the hardships of a newcomer, but anything improper is out of the question. I don’t want any misunderstandings…”

Liu Cheng immediately promised, “Rest assured, we’re a reputable company. That sort of thing will absolutely not happen!”

Johnson nodded in satisfaction, watching Liu Cheng’s departing figure. Knowing the power of the so-called ‘Hand of God’, such a trivial matter was surely effortless.

“Am I dreaming…?”

The girl stared at the card in her hand, her beautiful eyes full of confusion. Not until Johnson tapped his coffee cup with a spoon did she realize, “I can really join Rock Records?”

“It’s just a new artist training program, not stardom,” Johnson replied casually. “If you truly love singing, seize the opportunity. Don’t be afraid of hardship.”

“If you really can’t persist, at least you tried—no regrets.”

“Thank you… thank you so much!” Su Yun stood up, choking with emotion. “I’ll do my best not to disappoint you!”

Johnson laughed heartily, teasing, “Honestly, I just thought you were slow at paying me back singing in bars. If you’re lucky enough to become a singer, the interest will double!”

Su Yun burst into laughter, tears glistening, sweet and pure.

Johnson checked his watch, stood, and said, “Future superstar, would you honor me by joining me for lunch?”