HuaYu97: Starting as a Singer

Chapter 31 [031] Wealth and honor not returning to school are like wearing brocade at night.
After Qi Yuan became famous, he was no longer suitable to live in the Beijing Film Academy dormitory.

After Wheatfield was renamed Warner Wheatfield, Qi Yuan's access to resources and benefits increased dramatically.

Warner rented a high-end apartment with excellent privacy for Qi Yuan in Beijing.

To make it easier for Qi Yuan to travel, a car was specially provided for him.

That day, Qi Yuan drove the Toyota Camry that Warner had prepared for him back to the Beijing Film Academy, dazzling Huang Xiaoming and Zu Feng.

"Damn, Ah Yuan, you're living the good life! You're driving such a nice car now." Huang Xiaoming stroked the bull logo on the front of the car and praised it highly.

Zu Feng didn't talk as much as Huang Xiaoming, but a hint of longing was also in his eyes.

In 1997, the Toyota Camry was definitely considered a luxury sedan. Today, it sells for over 400,000 yuan, while the average person's monthly salary is less than 1,000 yuan.

Let's put it this way: these days, if someone goes into business and makes their first fortune by buying this car, and doesn't upgrade to a Rolls-Royce or Bentley twenty years later, it's considered a sign of financial decline.

"It's alright, the company provided it. I'm a minor celebrity now, it's not very convenient to get around without a car." Qi Yuan casually boasted.

"Damn, can't you live without showing off? You call yourself a minor celebrity? You're practically famous! My son and I hear your songs every time we go out." Huang Xiaoming was speechless.

“Yes, even my parents have heard of ‘You’ll Be With Me All My Life’ and ‘The First Time’,” Zu Feng chimed in.

Qi Yuan said, "Alright, you guys help me carry my luggage, I'll treat you to a meal."

Huang Xiaoming and Zu Feng were taken aback. They exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat complicated.

They knew, of course, what this meant: Qi Yuan had become famous, completely outclassing them, her roommates, and classmates.

This gap may widen further, and gradually, they and Qi Yuan will no longer be on the same level.

A few months ago, we were roommates who laughed and joked together.

A few months later, they hadn't changed; Qi Yuan had become a shining new star in the music scene.

They weren't jealous of Qi Yuan, but such a drastic change created a huge sense of loss within them.

Qi Yuan walked up and put her arm around their shoulders, pushing them towards the dormitory building as she said, "We were good friends before, we are now, and we will be in the future. Don't overthink it. I moved out of the dormitory because Warner rented me a high-end apartment without me having to pay for it. Wouldn't I be a fool not to live there?"
Also, you wouldn't understand what it feels like to be too famous. Every day, upperclassmen and underclassmen would stake out outside my dorm, pretending to bump into me. Who could stand that?

Qi Yuan was telling the truth. He was already popular at the Beijing Film Academy, and his popularity only grew after he became famous.

When Huang Xiaoming and Zu Feng heard these narcissistic and slightly childish words, they immediately felt that their good buddy had returned.

Sure enough, Qi Yuan didn't change after becoming famous; it was still the same old formula and the same old taste.

The news that Qi Yuan had driven a nice car back to the Beijing Film Academy campus spread like wildfire.

"Have you heard? Junior Qi drove a really nice car back to school. He's only a sophomore and he's already made so much money."

"Maybe it's a car provided by the record company. Isn't it normal for him to drive a nice car? His records have sold nearly 700,000 copies. Let alone a Toyota, he could afford a BMW or Mercedes if he wanted to."

"Other people's sophomores, and mine. There's no harm in comparison."

……

Huang Xiaoming and Zu Feng helped Qi Yuan carry her luggage down from the dormitory building and put it in the trunk of the car.

"Ah Yuan, can you grant my wish and let me have some fun? I haven't even touched a car since I got my driver's license," Huang Xiaoming pleaded.

Everyone who gets their driver's license experiences a period of itchy hands; those without a car dream of buying one every day. Those who own a car practically want to drive it into their bedroom, and even if they wake up from a nightmare in the middle of the night, they have to get up and touch their beloved car a few times before they can finally sleep peacefully. Qi Yuan tossed the car keys to Huang Xiaoming and then got into the passenger seat.

After receiving the car keys, Huang Xiaoming excitedly pumped his fists several times. His driving skills were terrible; he drove like a snail at school. But that didn't stop him from having a strange sense of confidence, thinking that his steering posture was particularly cool.

Along the way, the car attracted the attention of many classmates, and Huang Xiaoming felt quite pleased with himself, enjoying the feeling of being the center of attention.

After leaving the school, Huang Xiaoming drove to Qi Yuan's apartment. He asked curiously, "Yuan, how much money did you make from this album? The company provided you with a nice car and a luxury apartment."

"After paying taxes, I should have over a million in my pocket," Qi Yuan estimated conservatively.

Currently, the album "Prayer" has sold nearly 700,000 copies in mainland China.

In a couple of days, he'll be heading south for autograph sessions and a tour, which should boost sales and earn him millions without any problem.

The lion's share will definitely go to Wheatfield, because Wheatfield invested heavily in him, so it's perfectly reasonable for Wheatfield to take seven and he to take three.

Huang Xiaoming and Zu Feng, who was sitting in the back, were almost speechless with shock. Millions? Neither of them had ever seen so much money.

Qi Yuan continued, "Actually, album sales are not the biggest source of income. Endorsements are more lucrative. Wahaha mineral water wants to hire me as their brand ambassador, offering one million yuan for two years."

Qi Yuan splits his record sales revenue 30/70 with the company, and his endorsement income is also split 30/70, but he gets 70% and the company gets 30%.

For him, endorsements are indeed more lucrative.

"Damn! You've really struck it rich! That's two million dollars. I work myself to death shooting an ad and only earn 1,500 dollars." Huang Xiaoming said enviously.

"Ahem, I haven't finished yet. I think one million for two years of endorsement is a bit low. No rush, let's wait and see," Qi Yuan said calmly.

Huang Xiaoming: "..."

Zu Feng: "..."

Qi Yuan hasn't mentioned that Wheatfield will become a sub-brand of Warner Music yet, and his album will be released in Hong Kong and Taiwan on January 1st next year.

If it sells well, there will be some additional income.

Record prices in Hong Kong and Taiwan are significantly higher than in mainland China.

Forget it, after all, they are only sophomores at Beijing Film Academy, so Qi Yuan won't scare them by saying it out loud.

Qi Yuan changed the subject: "If I can do it, so can you, Xiao Ming and Azu. You have to believe in yourselves. Maybe in just a few years, you can also earn your first million."

His two roommates are both talented, Huang Xiaoming needs no further introduction.

In the future, Huang Xiaoming will be one of the few celebrities in the entertainment industry who can make a fortune through investments, earning a huge sum of money. His only problem is his terrible taste in women; he's lost a lot of money to them.

Zu Feng is a virtuous and talented actor. He is low-key and has excellent acting skills. With his ability and character, it wouldn't be difficult for him to earn many million dollars.

Both of them felt a longing after drinking Qi Yuan's bowl of chicken soup.

Huang Xiaoming, in particular, looked on with anticipation: "A-Yuan, if I could be like you, Xiao Yanzi wouldn't be so cold to me."

Qi Yuan: "..."

He's a hopeless simp.

(End of this chapter)