“Algernon Benson, this is your termination agreement. Sign it here, and from now on, you and Starlink Media are done.”

A sheet of paper was shoved in front of him.

Algernon’s head throbbed like someone had taken a hammer to it.

He blinked, dazed, only to see a chubby man lounging in a chair, cigarette hanging off his lips, one leg thrown casually over the other. The guy squinted at him with that smug, looking-down-his-nose expression.

This was Kevin Brooks, an agent at Starlink Media.

“Back then, the company only bothered giving you a chance because of Sophia Allison,” Kevin said, his tone dripping with disdain.

“But you just couldn’t cut it. Honestly, you should probably switch careers before you embarrass yourself any further.”

He let out a cold laugh, flicking the ash off his cigarette with two fingers. “Anyway, I don’t have time to waste on you. I need to prep Ryan Bennett for his ‘Rising Star’ performance this afternoon.”

“As for you, you can head out now. No need to show up for the afternoon recording. You were going to get eliminated anyway.”

“Oh, right—almost forgot.” He paused, like he suddenly remembered something amusing.

“The company’s planning to start hyping up the romance between Sophia Allison and Ryan Bennett once Ryan goes on stage this afternoon. Just giving you a heads-up. Do yourself a favor and stay away from Sophia. Someone like you? Don’t drag her down.”“Take care of yourself.”

Kevin Brooks didn’t say anything more. He just stood up and walked off, leaving the room cold and quiet.

Algernon Benson stared at the termination contract lying on the table. He looked at it for so long that his mind finally snapped back into place.

“Did I… just cross over?”

A dull buzz filled his head.

He really had crossed over—landed in a world running parallel to Earth.

And the Algernon Benson of this world? A washed‑up singer. Three years ago, with Sophia Allison’s help, he signed with Xingyuan Media, thinking he finally had a shot at changing his life. But after three years of grinding away with nothing to show, the company simply cut him loose.

Sophia Allison—Kevin had mentioned her—was his girlfriend. Well… ex‑girlfriend now.

Because just last night, she’d sent him a breakup text. No explanation. No discussion. Just a clean break.

Her family hadn’t been well‑off. Back in the day, he had juggled odd jobs, sang in bars, scraped together every cent he could to put her through Liuxue Music Academy.

And she really delivered—pretty, talented, sweet voice. A year ago, she got scouted, joined the show “Rookie Nation,” and even won first place.

Now she was a rising star.

And Algernon… was being thrown out like dead weight.

“Damn… that’s rough.”Algernon Benson gave a small shake of his head. He’d already realized that the entertainment world in this parallel place felt completely different from the one he used to know.

He didn’t get the chance to think deeper.

“Hey. Manager Kevin Brooks asked me to help you pack up.”

A security guard walked over, face blank and cold, looking down at Algernon as if he were just taking up space.

So this was their way of kicking him out.

“No need.”

Algernon picked up the pen, signed the termination contract, and stood up.

As he stepped out of the room, he ran right into two people coming down the hallway.

“Sophia, how was the new track I just recorded? I really put a lot into it. I’m sure it’ll get me a good score in the afternoon round of All People New Talent.”

“And the company promised to push me pretty hard this time. Add in the dating buzz between us, and the effect is gonna be great.”

The one talking was Ryan Bennett—about one-seventy-five, pretty-boy looks with a soft vibe, good family money, and supposedly a graduate from some fancy music academy overseas.

Beside him stood Sophia Allison, stunning as always. She listened to Ryan with a small nod, her expression gentle. “I heard you earlier. The song is indeed good.”

“If you can grab a top-three spot this time, your future could open right up.”

She smiled at him, eyes full of encouragement.

Right then—Sophia Allison spotted Algernon Benson being pushed out by the security guards.

She froze for a second, her pretty face tightening as her eyes landed on him.

Algernon looked back at her too.

But when their gazes met, Sophia didn’t make a move to stop anything. She simply shifted to the side, quietly clearing a path, watching him leave without a word.

They brushed past each other.

From beginning to end, she never said a single thing to him.

“Finally, that Algernon is out,” Ryan Bennett sneered, staring at Algernon’s retreating figure. “Honestly, I have no clue how someone like him even got into our company.”

“Probably dumb luck,” Sophia replied lightly. “Forget him. Let’s talk about your performance this afternoon.”

Algernon stepped out of the building.

Near the street trees by the entrance, he saw Laura Evans standing there in her stylish outfit.

Laura, Sophia’s agent.

“You need something?” Algernon asked.

She walked up to him and handed him a bulging envelope.

Behind her sunglasses, her gaze was sharp as a blade. “There’s a hundred thousand in here.”

“I hope you erase everything you ever had with Sophia from now on.”“You know as well as I do that Sophia Allison has a bright future ahead. I won’t let anything—anything—tarnish her image.”

“Especially now. She and Ryan Bennett are about to get the full push from the company.”

“In this phase, I absolutely cannot let her get hit with any negative buzz.”

Stain?

Scandal?

Algernon Benson lifted a brow. “So you’re saying her being with me back then is some kind of stain on her record? You’re worried I’ll spill something and drag her down?”

He wasn’t the original Algernon, but hearing that still rubbed him the wrong way.

“Of course.”

Laura Evans didn’t even hesitate. “This money is partly compensation, partly repayment for everything you spent on Sophia back then.”

“Take it, and the two of you are officially done.”

Algernon let out a short laugh. “Tell Sophia this for me: I helped her because I liked her. I wasn’t keeping score.”

“From now on, we walk our own paths. I won’t cling to her fame, and I’m not interested in exposing anything. That’s pointless.”

“And one more thing—I’m already over ‘Newbie Spotlight,’ but that doesn’t mean I won’t go up there and sing.”

“See you there.”

With that, he couldn’t be bothered to say more. He turned and walked off.

Laura Evans watched his back disappear and frowned. “You?”“This time the company didn’t even prep a song for you. What are you gonna sing onstage?”

Algernon Benson didn’t bother replying. He just walked past her, expression calm, almost indifferent.

Laura Evans let out a cold snort, clearly annoyed. She pulled out her phone, dialed Sophia Allison, and repeated what Algernon had said.

On the other end of the call, Sophia stood by a floor‑to‑ceiling window, looking down at the city lights. She stayed quiet for a long moment before finally saying, “Got it.”

“Whatever. From now on, he and I… we’re not from the same world anymore.”

She watched Algernon’s silhouette fade into the crowd until he was completely gone.

…

《Newcomer All‑Star》 was a talent competition for rookie singers, broadcast entirely through livestream.

Even though Algernon had already been dropped by the company, his contestant spot was still valid.

After grabbing a quick lunch, he headed to the venue early.

Backstage, he sat down with a blank sheet of paper, frowning slightly as he thought through his options.

After a moment of quiet consideration, he lifted his pen and wrote down the song title.

Mountain and Sea.