I just want to sell products, but you're forcing me to perform talents.

When Ding Zhan joined Ye Xian's team, the first thing he did was to go to the Central South Conservatory of Music and meet Ye Xian's mentor at the time.

Ding Zhan did not tell Ye Xian about this.

As Ye Xian's agent, his thinking was different from Ye Xian's. The first thing he needed to solve was Ye Xian's scandals.

No agent can tolerate their artist having a scandal.

No matter how talented Ye Xian is, it won't work.

Ye Xian didn't care about being asked to leave school, since he would mainly be doing live-streaming e-commerce in the future and didn't need that degree.

Ding Zhan had more to consider: if this problem wasn't solved, this stain on Ye Xian's reputation would follow him for life.

No matter what I do in the future, this scandal will become a stumbling block.

A degree proves nothing, but being asked to leave school will make strangers think you have a problem.

"Mr. Liu, I'm Ding Zhan, Ye Xian's agent. I'd like to know why Ye Xian was advised to leave the company in the first place?"

Ms. Liu is a middle-aged woman in her forties, slightly overweight, but she is a well-known performer in the music world.

"Ye Xian, this child..."

Teacher Liu was clearly very familiar with Ye Xian, but his eyes flickered slightly: "He skipped too many classes back then, and his grades were very poor."

"Based on my understanding of your school, excessive absences and failing grades should be addressed with reprimands and retakes, right? Is the decision to expel your child only made if they are truly beyond redemption? Did the school give them these opportunities?"

"Furthermore, Ye Xian's parents had both passed away at the time, and it seems that his school, which is also located in Haizhou, didn't even visit or offer any comfort, nor did they provide a counselor? Isn't the school's approach somewhat inappropriate?"

"Ah, we knew about that at the time, but... but..."

Ms. Liu was at a loss for words. She knew perfectly well why she had advised Ye Xian to withdraw, but she couldn't say it out loud. So, after a moment's hesitation, she firmly said, "You should talk to the school's publicity department about this. We, the instructors, are not responsible for explaining this to you."

"Publicity Department?"

Ding Zhan, being so experienced, immediately knew he had come to the right person: "You are Ye Xian's homeroom teacher and also his tutor. I've already consulted with someone about the expulsion issue. The school mainly considers your opinion. You're asking me to go to the publicity department now; this isn't a big deal, is it?"

"I was just asking on Ye Xian's behalf why he was expelled and why he didn't receive any care from the school. Isn't your reaction a bit excessive?"

"Who said it's related to me? Who said I overreacted?"

Teacher Liu's voice suddenly rose: "Let me tell you, you're just his agent, not his immediate family member. I have no obligation to tell you these things."

"His immediate family members are all dead!"

Ding Zhan stared fearlessly into Teacher Liu's eyes: "So, unless Ye Xian comes to ask you personally, you won't tell anyone why you persuaded a child who just lost both parents to leave school?"

"I'm warning you not to talk nonsense!"

Ms. Liu panicked. She hadn't expected that she would inadvertently give him ammunition: "A student who has been expelled has no future in the entertainment industry. You don't need to waste your energy on him anymore!"

"If you continue to cause trouble here, don't blame me for being impolite. I can make sure Ye Xian can't make a living in the entertainment industry anytime!"

Hearing Teacher Liu's words, Ding Zhan smiled calmly: "Teacher Liu, in the past, you might have been able to use your connections to wield power and influence in the entertainment industry. But now, this era belongs to Kuaishou and the internet."

"QuickPop is decentralized; the era of one dominant player is over!"

"If you can interfere with a company worth trillions through administrative means, then you wouldn't just be an ordinary tutor at the Central South Conservatory of Music."

"Even if you succeed in framing Ye Xian as a disgraced artist, do you realize that the channels for communication are different now? Before, there were only newspapers and television, but now if a message is posted on Kuaishou, how many media accounts and influential figures will jump on the bandwagon and try to capitalize on the trend? Can you silence everyone?"

"Oh, right, you probably don't know this, but on Kuaishou, for a fee, some messages can reach millions of people within an hour. And guess how much less that fee is than censoring someone in the newspaper or television era?"

Ms. Liu was completely stunned. She hadn't expected this man to be so capable, hitting her weak points with every word. The methods she used to use to control her students and rivals were so insignificant in this man's eyes!

Ultimately, people of the older generation like Teacher Liu have connections, but they can't control the authorities or capital.

She might be able to blacklist Ye Xian in variety shows, movies, TV series, and awards, but she's not up to the task when it comes to internet giants like Kuaiyin, Chaobo, and Chaoxin.

The rules have changed.

Seeing that Teacher Liu remained silent, Ding Zhan dropped his trump card: "Ye Xian was asked to leave, could it be because your nephew Liu Bohan accepted a 200,000 yuan slot fee to help Ye Xian sell products, but only sold two bottles of wine?"

"How did you know...?"

Ms. Liu's mental defenses crumbled instantly, but having been in the industry for many years, she immediately realized she had let something slip and quickly corrected herself: "You're talking nonsense! Don't make false accusations!"

Ding Zhan got the answer he wanted and smiled with satisfaction: "Liu Bohan is a big star now, I know that! Don't worry, I won't make any demands on you, remember my words."

After saying that, Ding Zhan ignored Teacher Liu's pale face and turned away gracefully.

……

"Bohan, it seems like someone's watching Ye Xian!"

As soon as Ding Zhan stepped out of Teacher Liu's office, Teacher Liu couldn't wait to pick up his phone and call his nephew who was far away.

"Auntie, what are you afraid of? Do they have any evidence?"

A young man's voice came from the other end of the phone: "It was just something that happened naturally. Even if they want to cause trouble, what can they say without evidence? Let him try not to skip class or fail his courses!"

"But his agent made it very clear today. He said he knew Ye Xian was asked to quit because of that product-selling incident. He also blamed me back then, saying I shouldn't have recommended you to sell the products for him! The sales were so bad, and I even bought those two bottles of wine myself!"

"Don't mention it! If that lousy liquor hadn't been so hard to sell, none of this trouble would have happened!"

"Alright, I got it. I'll have my agent check up on his recent activities. Since he signed with an agent, he must want to enter the entertainment industry. Once he's in the industry, he'll be completely at my mercy."

Click, the phone call ended.

Teacher Liu sat at her desk, looking lost and bewildered, seemingly lost in thought.

outside the office.

Ding Zhan leisurely smoked a cigarette.

A smile curved his lips.

……

P.S.: Today's Recap

Haizhou aged liquor inventory: 7967 bottles.