Chapter 304 - The Jade Awards (V)

A wide smile blossomed on Xu Nuan's lips when the girls were announced as the winners of both the awards. Seeing them crying and celebrating this happiness, she was reminded of the day when they won the same awards at this same award show. 

This was not only nostalgic but emotionally torturing for her. The happy group of four has been broken ruthlessly and is now in crumbles.

After taking both the trophies and beautiful heavy bouquets, the girls turned to the mic to give a speech. Song Ai was sobbing and nudged Pan Lan to give the speech this time. However, Pan Lan ignored her gesture and turned to the side and pretended to cry to avoid giving a speech.

"....."

Song Ai was speechless seeing her ignoring her shamelessly. Their unharmed banter was caught on the camera that was zooming on them, causing everyone to burst into laughter. 

Song Ai sighed and glanced at Sun Ya and Lai Yi, signaling them to give the speech. However, they also looked away and Lai Yi started to ċȧrėss the trophy that she was holding as if it's the most precious treasure in the world. 

She gritted her teeth. " You all are useless. Meet me after the ceremony, you all gonna pay for the dinner tomorrow!!" Song Ai murmured under her breath, feeling betrayed by all three who dumped the responsibility to give speeches on her only. 

However, since she was standing close to the microphone, her words were loud enough for everyone to hear. Once again, her expressions and words caused everyone to burst into laughter.

Xu Nuan shook her head helplessly and covered her face with a palm. They sure know how to make everyone laugh, or say embarrass themselves in front of everyone. 

_

Song Ai took a deep breath and adjusted the mic for her. She thanked everyone, from her parents to her fans. It was because of their fans that they have reached this position. 

" Other than our parents who suffered a lot along with us and fans who worked hard to support us, there is another person to whom we like to dedicate this award," she said in a soft tone.

She looked at the crowd and her eyes stopped at Xu Nuan who was standing in the faraway corner, looking at them with a warm gaze. 

She smiled and continued, " We're standing here only because of this person. Almost a year ago, we were unsure of our future that was in the shambles. We were eliminated from the final group evaluation and we were not supposed to make a debut." she revealed. 

Everyone gasped at sudden revelation since there were rumors about it but no one from the company has said anything about it. It was the first time that they were talking about this and revealing this kind of news on such a big platform can have both positive and negative effects as well. 

However, Song Ai felt the need to reveal this to everyone, otherwise, Xu Nuan's efforts won't be seen by anyone. 

" Yes. We were not supposed to debut and were about to be kicked from the company. However, at that time, this young girl joined the company as an ȧssistant artist manager. It was her first day at work and she watched the evaluation audition with everyone."

" While everyone voted to eliminate us, she was the only one who wanted us to debut. However, she was in no position to make such kind of decision."

" Despite all the opinions, she went against the higher authorities and put her career and savings at stake just to launch us as a group. After so many arguments, she took the responsibility to manage us and make us the top girl group in the industry."

" We were the first-ever artist group that she was about to manage. Everyone doubted her capability. However, she was confident as ever and didn't heed to others' opinions."

" When we asked her why she is insisting so much to launch us as a group, do you know what did she said? She said that she doesn't believe in us but her judgment. She told us to believe in her judgment too and follow her steps. And it seems like she was right." Song Ai giggled remembering Xu Nuan's cold demeanor when they first met her.

She is younger than them but her confidence made them believe in her. It was a risky choice but they had nothing to lose anyway. It was Xu Nuan who would have lost a lot more if things wouldn't have gone right.

Everyone was quiet as they listened to her emotional speech. The MC didn't stop her either seeing everyone was listening to her with attention. 

" If not for our manager, we wouldn't have been standing here. So...Xu Nuan, this award is for you. Thank you for believing in us and being by our side always." she said while looking at Xu Nuan. 

The cameraman turned the camera to Xu Nuan, who was covering her face in embarrassment. The emotional moment was turned into a sitcom when the camera turned to her. She was looking down and even turning around to avoid the camera at any cost. 

Meanwhile, Xu Nuan was cursing Song Ai under her breath. Why did she have to call her name out? 

She hadn't even touched up her makeup, nor was she wearing a beautiful dress. It's so embarrassing. 

While she was avoiding eye contact with the camera, people were wowing at how beautiful The Knight's manager is. Even though she wasn't wearing much makeup and was wearing a plain white crop-top and black jeans with a blue jacket on top, she was still looking beautiful and photogenic on camera. 

Her naturally defined features and embarrassed expressions amused everyone. 

Han Liang chuckled seeing Xu Nuan avoiding the camera as if it's dangerous as a hornet bee. She sure knows how to capture everyone's attention. He shook his head in amusement. 

_

[ Wahh!! She is so pretty.]

[ Ah, I remember her. She also knows my hubby Han Liang. She was at karaoke with the girls before their debut.]

[ She is not only beautiful but has a beautiful voice too. She sang pretty well in that show. I want to see her sing again.]

[ I am so happy that our girls got such a supportive manager. It was the first time that an artist has praised their manager this much. They must be quite close.]

[ I can't believe that the company was going to kick the girls out of the company. Are they blind? They're so talented!!]

[ You know, I always wondered why there is so much difference between The Knights MV and The Pretty Girls MV. Pretty Girls MV seems to have a high budget, meanwhile, The Knights MV was shot on a normal set. The graphics and cinematography weren't that great but their heavenly vocals and expressions grasped everyone's attention. Now I get why it was like this. It was because they were planning to dissolve the girls after one year.]

[ I also heard that rumor. The Knights were supposed to be dissolved after a year if they failed to get their first trophy with the debut track, but they did surprisingly well. I hope that they don't need to disband now. I am so happy for them!!]

_

Xu Nuan sighed seeing all the comments on Song Ai's speech video. She was trying to keep a low profile but she had to reveal her name on the stage to make the situation worse. If she was going to do that, she should have at least told her in advance. 

She would have touched up her makeup and wore a beautiful dress rather than ordinary clothes. She might not be a superstar anymore but she still has a reputation to behold. 

She doesn't want to look shabby on camera. 

They were sitting in the artist van that was given to them by the company. It was only after The Knight's success that Mr. Tang gave them this privilege, otherwise, if he could, he would have let them travel on buses even after their debut. 

Xu Nuan was sitting in the passenger seat in front and her ȧssistant that she had hired to help with the work, with Mr. Tang's permission has taken the driver's seat. After the award ceremony, they came to the after-party that exhausted her.

She didn't get to change and had to put on a black coat over her white crop top, discarding her blue jacket to look professional. She not only had to keep eyes on the girls to see if anyone shady was trying to bother them but also socialize with other businessmen and producers to expand her connections. 

It's past 2 am already and they all looked horrible. She hated parties in her past life and she feels the same in this life too. 

" Tan Tan, start the car now. We'll drop the girls first at their dorm and then you'll drop the car at the company." Xu Nuan said. 

" But Manager Xu, what about you? It's already late." 

" It's okay. It will be too late for you to go home if you drop me off. Also, you will have to come to the company to drop the van at the company later too. So I will just take a cab from there." 

Tan Tan nodded and as she was about to start the engine, someone knocked on her side of the window, startling her. " Aiya!!" she screamed in horror and saw a man standing outside. 

It's already so late and everyone has left already. Although the car was stationed in front of the hotel, there were bȧrėly any people outside since all the staff is busy wrapping up the party. The guards have been called inside to check the hall as well.

Xu Nuan pursed her lips as her heart started to beat crazily as well. They're all girls and it's so late already. Even though she is not the type to get scared, these situations can make any girl feel scared and nervous. 

" Tan Tan, relax. Don't be scared." 

She gulped and squinted her eyes to see the man who was standing outside, in the dark. " Oh?" she frowned in confusion and patted Tan Tan's shoulder and urged her to lower down the window. 

" But Manager Xu…" Tan Tan pursed her lips, afraid that it could be some stalker or crazy fan. 

" It's okay. I know him," she said.