America's Top Player

Chapter 180 Ariana has grown up

Jeff's subtle little move not only puts pressure on Spielberg, but also allows him to clear himself of any responsibility.

The bad influence will only fall on Leon.

Spielberg is not only a successful director and producer, but also one of the former Big Three of DreamWorks, with a fortune of $30 billion.

He has always had a prejudice against streaming movies.

When Netflix just announced its entry into the original field, Spielberg stood up and publicly criticized it.

He declared: "I hope you will continue to believe that the greatest contribution we can make as filmmakers is to provide audiences with the cinema experience."

“I firmly believe that movie theaters need to exist forever.”

He even suggested that streaming movies should never be allowed to enter the Oscar selection process.

Taking all these factors into consideration, this "movie czar" has already stood on the opposite side of Li Ang.

Bonnie immediately noticed that Leon was in a bad mood and tried to change the subject: "Ariana rarely comes back to the company today. Are you sure you don't want to go see her?"

"Where is she? Why can't I even see her shadow?" Li Ang sat up straight.

Ariana does rarely appear in the company. In addition to her heavy commercial performances, she is often invited by beauty magazines.

Her pure and beautiful appearance makes her very popular among school teenagers and she is regarded as the next "Sweetheart".

But even if the schedule is tight, he should be able to spare some time to go back to the company, Li Ang once asked the other party on the phone.

Ariana replied mysteriously: "I'm practicing."

Practice?

Considering the girl's recent mysterious behavior, Li Ang once wondered if she had gone astray and been deceived by some religious charlatans.

This kind of thing is very common in the entertainment industry. For example, Tom Cruise, who was forced to divorce three times, and Britney Spears, who was led into a "trap" by her peers, were both exposed to have been bewitched by charlatans.

Putting aside the halo of being the center of attention, the average educational level of people in the entertainment industry may be lower than that of ordinary people.

In terms of income, they are at the top of the pyramid, but it is difficult to say what level they are at in terms of cognition.

After some explanation, Li Ang felt relieved.

The practice Ariana mentioned is creation, and she is practicing in seclusion for her new album.

"She's in the recording studio and looks very motivated." Bonnie said with a smirk, "I think she'll need your guidance."

Li Ang felt that what the other party said made a lot of sense. He straightened his clothes, stood up and walked towards the recording studio.

Just as he was about to walk out the door, Bonnie stopped him, "Wait a minute, Boss."

"What's wrong?" Seeing that the other party seemed to be hesitant to speak, Leon subconsciously thought that Bonnie was also hungry.

After a moment of silence, Bonnie said, "There have been some rumors about Ariana in the circle recently."

"Rumors? Tell me what they are?" Li Ang turned around and sat on the sofa.

After a year of work, Bonnie has become an excellent assistant.

Not only did she handle the trivial matters assigned by Li Ang in an orderly manner, she was also well aware of all the rumors in the circle.

Many times what she said was an important source of information for Li Ang.

For example, JAY-Z's recent big move, Roc Kingdom is very close to signing Christine Aguilera from Sony Music's label RCA.

The 31-year-old singer recently shocked the industry with the news that she joined "The Voice of America" with a sky-high salary of $1300 million.

To the outside world, Aguilera's team claims that she is one of the top five Divas of the Mesozoic era.

Put her name alongside Beyoncé, Britney, Pink and Shakira.

JAY-Z's frequent big-money moves indicate that he has resolved his own troubles through PY deals with politicians, and is currently taking over the territory left behind by Diddy.

"Actually, this has nothing to do with Ariana, it's about his brother," Bonnie said.

"Frankie?" In Leon's impression, this guy is a complete waste.

Not only did he think so, but Ariana's parents also thought so.

Frankie idles around all day, going to underground bars and dancing closely with muscular men.

If he didn't have an outstanding sister who helped him get a job as an agent, he would have starved to death within a week.

"Frankie is in contact with SB Entertainment. This isn't groundless. You know, that guy is famous in the gay community because he has a celebrity sister. He's been bragging to everyone that he's going to join SB soon."

What Bonnie said was similar to what Leon guessed, Frankie was incapable of doing anything, not even bad things.

He can only make trouble over the issue of his agent.

"I understand." Li Ang stood up, waved his hand and walked towards the recording studio.

In the recording studio, Ariana was wearing headphones, immersed in her own musical world with the rough accompaniment, and did not notice Leon at all.

Her brother Frankie leaned against the wall and talked on the phone, pinching his fingers together. "Oh, honey, I want to touch your perfect abdominal muscles right now. It won't be long before we can party all night in the Beverly Hills mansion. Call all your friends over."

pop-

Li Ang gently patted his shoulder from behind.

"WTF!" Frankie shuddered. "Why aren't you making any noise, Bro?"

"Shh," Leon put his middle finger to his lips, not wanting to attract Ariana's attention, "Follow me."

"What? Wait, why are you acting so mysterious?"

Frankie had a bad feeling in his heart and hesitated in his movements.

Li Ang was too lazy to explain to him and dragged him to the utility room next door.

As soon as he opened the door, the scene from Frankie's dream appeared.

Five muscular Mexican men in sleeveless T-shirts and covered in tattoos stared at him like he was a chick.

"What's going on?" Frankie swallowed.

He obviously knew that this group of Mexicans was not a reward from Leon.

Li Ang wiped the dust off with his hands, sat on an abandoned speaker, squinted his eyes and stared at the other person, "Frankie, tell me what you have been doing these days."

"I don't understand what you mean at all." Thinking of Street Jesus's terrifying reputation, Frankie trembled with fear.

Seeing that the other party didn't seem very smart, Leon shook his head and gave Jorge a look.

The Mexican thug understood immediately and strode towards Frankie.

The crisp sound of leather shoes resonated with the other person's trembling heartbeat.

He grinned, his rough hands shaking the brass-buckled belt around his waist. "I think you'll like this. Freaks love this. I'll beat your skin to pieces, you poor little bitch!"

Frankie turned pale with fear, beads of sweat the size of beans streamed down his face, and he almost burst into tears.

Normally, he would have to pay a lot of money to experience this kind of service, but today he could enjoy it for free but he had no interest at all.

With his small frame weighing just over 100 pounds, being hit by a belt like that was no joke.

"Leon, I'm Ariana's brother, you can't do this to me." Frankie begged.

"So what? Sending you, a damn vampire, to hell will make Ariana thank me." Leon tilted his head. "Tell me why you secretly met with SB Company. I made it very clear when we signed the contract. You must let me know of any adjustments to your agency contract!"

Although he is biologically male, Frankie is more feminine than women psychologically.

He gave up resistance without any struggle and told everything in detail.

"I came into contact with SB Company through a friend in a bar, and they showed great interest in my abilities." Frankie said tremblingly.

"Interested in you?" Li Ang sneered.

If Frankie wasn't Ariana's brother, the only people in the world willing to mate with him would be goats.

"I wasn't interested in them at first. You know I don't like the management style of professional companies, but..." Frankie hesitated and swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

"Keep talking"

Frankie swallowed. "My financial situation has been very bad recently. My ex-boyfriend, that British bastard, almost cheated me out of all my savings. I can't even pay the huge credit card bill." In a nutshell: I used to be a loyal person, but they gave me too much.

"Is that all?"

"Yes! I was planning to tell you about this, but SB told me that you were busy recording a talent show recently and had no time to ask about such a small matter."

"A small matter?" Leon cursed Frankie's stupidity in his heart.

Ariana's first single became a global hit, with over 150 million physical albums sold. She also became a campus idol with her youthful and beautiful appearance.

Who would think that such a gold mine with unlimited potential is a "small" matter?

Braun must be behind this matter, and Leon could easily figure this out.

First sign Ariana to your own agency. She just turned 18 and is easily seduced.

As time goes by, it won’t be long before I change my record company.

Leon shook his head helplessly. "Poor Frankie, you betrayed your friends and your own sister for a little money. You should be ashamed of this."

"That's a lot of money," Frankie whispered.

"What did you say?"

Li Ang suddenly tilted his ear and moved closer, "Speak louder, I don't think I could hear clearly."

Frankie quickly shut up and didn't dare to say even another letter.

"Why are you so nervous? I mean, if you're in trouble, why don't you ask your own people for help? We're Fanmu Lei, we should support each other~"

Li Ang used JAY-Z's tactics, immediately following up with PUA after the threat, forming a smooth combo.

The attitude has reversed 180 degrees.

"I don't understand what you mean." Obviously Frankie really didn't understand this time.

"Let's be honest, how much do you owe?"

"Including what I owe to friends and credit cards, it's almost $200,000."

Leon secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This number was much less than he expected, and at the same time, his contempt for Frankie deepened.

As the agent of a popular singer, he actually worries about $20.

He reached out and pulled Frankie up from the ground. "I understand. I'll have Aisha transfer 20 US dollars to your account later."

"What?"

Frankie's eyes widened. He suspected he was hallucinating because he was too nervous.

Even Jorge and others were extremely shocked.

In their impression, this stingy boss had never been so generous to anyone.

What's more, this is a gay man who did something wrong.

Apart from speculating that Leon has a special hobby, there seems to be no reasonable explanation.

"In Mexico, we'd chop off a jerk like that, put his head on the back of a snapping turtle, and then throw the rest into the Gulf of Mexico to feed the fish." Jorge sneered, "Women are addicted to betrayal, and so are sissies. Believe me, this jerk will do it again."

Li Ang did not respond to this, but silently despised him in his heart: So you are still racking your brains every day to figure out how to cross the border, you brainless fools.

These two hundred thousand dollars are not used for charity.

Since the establishment of Apocalypse Entertainment, Li Ang transferred his and Cardi B's management contracts to this company.

Now is a good opportunity to transfer Ariana's contract as well.

Frankie had done something wrong and was short of money, so he had no choice but to refuse.

As long as this matter is settled, the only thing left to break in the entire Apocalypse Music is Robbie's agent contract.

It looks like this will be a long battle.

Leon and Robbie have broken up, and Maggie is a shrewd and professional agent.

Holds record contracts, songwriting copyrights, mastering rights, and management contracts
Li Ang can control the fate of these women like a master controls his pets!
"I don't know how to thank you! Oh my God, I would do anything for you!" Frank thanked him repeatedly.

"Anything?" Leon curled his lips.

"Yes! Even if you make me force myself to straighten myself!"

Hearing that Frank could even make such a guarantee, Leon was completely relieved.

Back in the recording studio, Ariana was still immersed in vocal practice.

She was wearing a pink miniskirt and sneakers, swaying her body to the rhythm:

"Hey baby, even though I hate you a little bit, I still want you. I just can't forget you."

Judging from the lyrics which are as straightforward and childish as a primary school student's confession, this is another original work of Ariana Grande.

In the past, Li Ang often mocked others for writing lyrics that were too childish, but now his views have changed a lot.

Watching Ariana singing and dancing in the recording studio, he even saw the shadow of Britney Spears.

Not every teenager listens to gangsta rap; this school-oriented style of music also has a considerable audience.

Coupled with Ariana's excellent singing skills, even simple lyrics can be performed very brilliantly.

Her use of "light function" is very unique. When she enters the high pitch range, her voice naturally becomes narrower and loses "weight".

This means that her energy consumption in the high notes is very small, it is easy for her to reach the high notes, and she can reach the book height of B5 in the mixed voice range.

If she can hold a solo concert in the future, she will be able to sing extremely high notes frequently without her voice getting tired too quickly.

Li Ang didn't want to disturb Ariana, so he didn't start clapping until she finished singing.

clap clap-

"Le Ang!" Seeing Le Ang, Ariana took off her headphones and ran over like a happy rabbit.

Ignoring his brother Frankie, he threw himself into Leon's arms and said, "I really miss you."

"Me too." Leon touched Ariana's head.

Ariana often sent some risqué selfies late at night, allowing him to clearly see her growth.

Where it is bigger, where it is whiter.
But this is different from the intuitive feeling of physical contact.

Looking at the scene in front of him, Frankie seemed to have guessed what was going to happen next.

Following Li Ang's eye signal, he quietly left the recording studio.

"Do you want to go to my house?" Ariana's long eyelashes fluttered up and down, and the tears in her eyes were about to burst out.

"How about right here? Let me give you some guidance on vocal techniques."

Before Ariana could answer, Leon locked the door of the recording studio.

The two entered the glass recording studio while being intimate.

Taking off the miniskirt, Li Ang's fingertips traced the black lace. "Here, no matter how high a note you make, no one will be able to hear it."

The fiery atmosphere and the high temperature in July made Ariana's cheeks flushed and her breathing became heavy and rapid.

Soon the last bit of his rationality collapsed, and he hooked his arm around Li Ang's neck and started a fight in the recording studio.

Half an hour later, Li Ang sat on the swivel chair and lit a cigarette.

Ariana was sitting on the mixing console in front of him, hugging her thighs, and hadn't had time to put on her clothes.

She stretched out her little feet and swung them in front of Li Ang. "What do you think of me just now?"

Such a provocative question made Li Ang stunned for a few seconds: When did this girl become so skilled?
He took a deep drag on his cigarette, curling up the corners of his mouth and smiling non-stop, "I can't stop at all. I want to live there~"

"If my mother were to write to me, she'd probably address it to you."

(End of this chapter)