Singer Jess Lee reinvented herself as a real estate agent, before making a return to the stage, Xing Wen reports.

Her professional summary could have read, "The winner of a hit singing competition in Taiwan; award-winning vocalist; expert in belting out high Cs … and negotiating apartment leases."

For Malaysian singer Jess Lee, turning to real estate became a practical choice when performance opportunities dwindled to almost none in 2020.

She moved through the streets and lanes of Taoyuan, Taiwan, listening closely to people from all walks of life as they shared their hopes and concerns about finding a home.

Most had no idea that this attentive agent was once celebrated for her powerhouse vocals.

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Yet it was here, amid the everyday interactions, the steady problem-solving, and the rhythm of ordinary lives, that she quietly restored her own confidence, not only as an artist, but also as a person.

"This job allowed me to form genuine connections with people from all walks of life," recalls Lee.

"That experience made me realize that no matter where I am or what role I'm in, I am someone full of energy.

"So when I had the chance to return to the stage, I felt more confident and hoped to pass that energy on to more people," she says, her tone lifting with conviction.

Recently, on the music reality show Infinity and Beyond Season 5, which is aired on Mango TV and Hunan Satellite TV, Lee has been putting this idea into practice.

The show brings together singers such as Harlem Yu, Alec Su, A-Lin, and Yoga Lin to reinterpret classic Mandarin hits and present them anew onstage.

Hong Xiao, vice-president of Mango TV, notes that the program aims to promote Chinese-language songs overseas, enabling more new releases to break through barriers and reach wider audiences.

Born in 1988 in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, Lee began learning to sing at age 8.

By the age of 10, she was already singing Chinese songs, especially folk songs like On the Fields of Hope, which not only laid a solid foundation for her singing skills but also instilled in her a positive outlook on life.

"These Chinese folk songs are full of positive energy with most of them celebrating life. Growing up with these songs nourished me and helped shape me into an optimistic person," she says.

While studying chemistry at the National University of Malaysia, she watched the Taiwan talent show One Million Star on TV and yearned to sing on such a stage.

One day, in 2010, her family drove her to Singapore to audition for the show's Singapore selections, where she won the championship that year, launching her career in the music industry.

Over the next decade, she released four albums and participated in several music reality shows on the Chinese mainland.

However, in 2020, her performance opportunities dwindled sharply, affecting her livelihood.

Through a friend's introduction, Lee decided to try her hand at real estate sales.

Rain or shine, she woke up at 6 am every day to commute from Taipei to Taoyuan for work. In the evenings, she practiced singing, never giving up on her determination to be a singer.

Three years ago, she moved to Beijing, hoping to find more performance opportunities on the Chinese mainland.

She was willing to seize every opportunity to sing, whether it meant recording an unpaid original soundtrack for a film or performing in an intimate live music venue.

It wasn't until last year, when she joined the popular music show Singer 2025, that she truly returned to the spotlight.

Many viewers observed that her comeback was marked not merely by impressive vocal technique, but by a newfound emotional depth and nuanced expressiveness in her performance.

She credits this evolution to the insights gained during her time as a real estate agent.

She has also become more willing to share her life on social media, such as by posting comedic short videos and clips of herself practicing singing.

Last year, she relocated once more, making Shanghai her new home.

While her address has changed over the years, her outlook remains steady: "Wherever my heart feels at ease, that is where I belong.

"I consider myself fortunate to have grown up in Malaysia," says Lee, who is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, and Hokkien.

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"It was an environment rich with diverse cultures, and that shaped who I am. Being deeply rooted in Chinese culture from childhood has also allowed me to relate to people naturally, no matter where I go on the Chinese mainland."

Today, performance invitations continue to pour in.

"I've received so much love and support," she says.

"Though life has been busy lately, I'm genuinely happy, and I hope to pass on this energy to more people to encourage everyone to embrace all that life brings."

When asked if there's a lyric that captures her current state of mind, she picks a line from her single Life's Beautiful, released in 2024:

"Every road I've roamed counts."

Sometimes, the detour is the way.

Xue Jingqi contributed to this story.

Contact the writer at xingwen@chinadaily.com.cn