Life countdown begins, ice queen bursts into security room

Inside the studio, recording is still ongoing.

Hua Xingyu sat on the judges' panel.

The gazes from the audience behind him made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

The recording ended at 11 p.m.

The final rankings have been released.

Lu Ming ranked first with 768 points, thanks to Hua Xingyu's perfect score and the judges' total score.

Jiang Fan scored 758 points, ranking second.

Zhao Tianyu ranked third.

Although it didn't win first place, the 498 votes from the public jury were the real crown tonight.

The next morning at 9:30.

The program's official account posted a Weibo post.

[Rising Star - Guest Performer Battle Rules Announced: Each solo contestant must invite a formally signed artist from the Chinese music scene as a guest performer to collaborate on an original song. Guest performers must register 48 hours prior to recording...]

The number of reposts exceeded 100,000 within half an hour.

In the comments section, Jiang Fan's fans were collectively anxious.

Who is Xiaochou Ge (Brother Xiaochou) going to sing with? Does he know anyone in the industry?

[A formally signed artist...is this a deliberate hurdle to overcome?]

Zhao Tianyu has Times Media, Lu Ming has Sheng Hai Capital, but Xiao Chou is just a lone commander!

Shanghai, the top floor of the Sheng Hai Entertainment Building.

Cao Qiming slammed the tablet computer in his hand against the wall.

Hua Xingyu stood in front of the desk, her shoulders hunching in fright.

"waste!"

Cao Qiming pointed at his nose.

"Do you even know what people are saying about you online right now? Deaf judge! The company spent so much money building up your professional image, and it's all ruined in one night!"

Hua Xingyu gritted her teeth.

"President Cao, that Jiang Fan is too strange—"

"Strange?"

Cao Qiming sneered.

"Being told to your face that you have hearing problems, is that considered strange? That just means you're stupid!"

Hua Xingyu didn't dare to talk back.

A few seconds later, a glint flashed in his eyes.

"Mr. Cao, the rules for the guest performance competition are that the contestants invite their own guests. What if... they can't invite anyone?"

Cao Qiming picked up his coffee and took a sip.

"You want to shut down his foreign aid?"

"It's not called a ban."

Hua Xingyu lowered her voice.

"It's just a matter of making a call to a few talent agencies in the industry. If any of their artists accept Jiang Fan's invitation to be their guest performer, then Sheng Hai's future appearances, variety shows, and film and television resources will all be diverted away from them."

Cao Qiming put down his coffee cup and tapped his fingers three times on the table.

That's too petty.

Hua Xingyu was taken aback.

"No need to say hello."

Cao Qiming leaned back in his chair, his tone indifferent.

"Have the marketing department send out the sponsorship contracts for the three variety shows next quarter ahead of schedule."

"Add an exclusivity clause to the contract—artists who want to participate in Sheng Hai's sponsored projects are not allowed to appear in competing programs during the recording period in the form of guest singers or supporting actors."

Hua Xingyu blinked twice.

This move was ten times cleaner than he had imagined.

It doesn't require offending any brokerage firm; it's just a normal business contract with a reasonable exclusivity clause.

But the effect is the same.

"I want him to be unable to even get a guest performer for the next show."

Hua Xingyu straightened up.

"clear."

Shenzhen, at the hotel entrance.

A black Toyota Alphard pulled up in front of Jiang Fan.

The car door opened, and Li Cheng, sitting in the passenger seat, waved to him.

"Get in the car."

Jiang Fan glanced at the license plate and stepped into the back seat.

The carriage was dark.

After he was removed, there was still one person sitting there.

Wearing a large black trench coat, a baseball cap pulled low, and a mask covering half of his face, he huddled in the corner of the chair.

Jiang Fan leaned back in his chair without saying a word.

Li Cheng turned his head and sighed.

"Jiang Fan, let me introduce you. This is Shen Nian."

Jiang Fan frowned slightly.

The system panel pops up at the edge of the field of view.

[Target: Shen Nian]

【Height: 165cm】

[Weight: 40kg]

[Appearance: 8.5/10]

[Compatibility: S]

[Status: Severe depression, vital signs extremely unstable.]

Shen Nian slowly took off her mask, revealing a pale face.

He has exquisite facial features and excellent bone structure.

However, the dark bluish-black under her eyes and her thin jawline ruined the original beauty.

Li Cheng lit a cigarette and cracked open the car window.

"A year ago, Hua Xingyu won first place in Tomorrow's Star with her original hit song 'Stars', which propelled her to the top."

"But that song wasn't written by him at all."

Jiang Fan remained silent, waiting for what was to come.

Li Cheng exhaled a puff of smoke.

"The lyrics, music, and arrangement were all done by Shen Nian."

"Shen Nian was a contracted trainee of Sheng Hai Entertainment at the time, and also a junior sister of Hua Xing Yu."

"Hua Xingyu discovered her creative talent and stole her notebook."

Li Cheng flicked off his cigarette ash.

"By the time Shen Nian discovered it, 'Stars' had already been registered for copyright. The author was Hua Xingyu."

Shen Nian, who was standing next to her, kept her head down and her hands folded on her knees.

Her fingernails dug into the fabric of her pants, leaving white marks on the black cloth.

Shen Nian spoke, her voice very soft.

"I went to the company to demand an explanation. Cao Qiming's exact words were that Huaxingyu has commercial value, but I don't."

"They not only suppressed the matter, but also turned around and accused me of stealing Hua Xingyu's original work, and banned me from the entire internet."

She paused for a moment.

"Hua Xingyu's fans doxxed my address, sent me dead rats, and made harassing phone calls."

"Later I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. For a year, I couldn't even leave the house."

Jiang Fan scrutinized Shen Nian with his gaze.

"What do you want from me?"

Shen Nian raised her head, her bloodshot eyes staring straight at Jiang Fan.

"I want to take back what is rightfully mine."

Jiang Fan's fingers gently tapped on his knees.

"Is there any evidence?"

"have."

Shen Nian took a USB flash drive out of her trench coat pocket.

"The original creation files, modification history, and timestamps are all in there."

Jiang Fan picked up the USB drive, held it in his hand, and looked at it for two seconds.

"You kept this for a year without going to a lawyer or posting about it on Weibo?"

Shen Nian didn't speak, her eyes reddening.

Li Cheng coughed lightly in front, signaling Jiang Fan with his eyes not to ask any more questions.

Jiang Fan put the USB drive into his pocket.

He looked at Shen Nian.

"Can you still go on stage and sing?"

Shen Nian was stunned.

"Can."

Li Cheng hurriedly said from the side, "Shen Nian, think it through. If you show your face, that incident from back then will definitely be brought up again. Hua Xingyu's fans and Sheng Hai's PR team will tear you to shreds."

Jiang Fan stared at her for three seconds.

Then he turned to Li Cheng.

"What is her current status?"

"My contract was unilaterally terminated by Sheng Hai, and I haven't signed with any other company."

"So she's not a formally signed artist."

Li Cheng nodded.

Jiang Fan leaned back in his seat, his fingers unconsciously tapping the edge of the car window.

Requirements for guest performers: Officially signed artists in the Chinese music scene.

Shen Nian is not now.

But what if she is?

"Brother Li."

Jiang Fan spoke, his tone calm.

"Could you check for me how long it takes to register a personal music studio in Shanghai?"

Li Cheng was stunned for a moment.

His expression changed.

"you want--"

"Register a studio and sign her under my name."

Li Cheng stared at Jiang Fan for a full five seconds.

He stubbed out his cigarette, took out his phone, and started dialing.

"Old Zhou, can you check the registration process for music studios in Shenzhen for me? Yes, expedite it."

After hanging up the phone, Li Cheng turned his head away.

"We should be able to get the business license as early as tomorrow afternoon. Add to that the artist contract registration process, and we'll be stuck right on the 48-hour deadline."

Jiang Fan nodded.

"manage."

Shen Nian kept looking at Jiang Fan.

She opened her mouth, as if to say something.

My throat feels like it's blocked by something.

In the end, she simply shut her mouth and nodded vigorously.

at the same time.

Sheng Hai Capital's exclusive agreement has already been quietly sent out.

A new message popped up on Jiang Fan's phone.

Xu Qingya.

"Sheng Hai has already made it public in the industry that there will be a guest performer. Many people are afraid to accept your invitation."

"Do you need me to help you find it?"

Jiang Fan looked at it for a few seconds and typed two words.

"Need not."

"?"

"I already have someone."

The dialog box remained silent for ten seconds.

Xu Qingya sent another message.

"Who? Male or female?"

Jiang Fan put his phone back in his pocket without replying.