Life countdown begins, ice queen bursts into security room

Xu Qingya stared at her phone screen for a full two minutes.

The chat box asks, "Who? Male or female?"

A few words hung there all alone, with nothing below them.

I have read your message, but I will not reply.

She placed her phone face down on the table, picked up the glass of lemonade next to her, and took a sip.

It was so sour that she frowned.

Yang Lele knocked on the door and came in, holding an itinerary in her hand.

"Qingya, there's a brand signing ceremony in Kyoto tomorrow morning, and Chen Lan said she can't cancel it."

Xu Qingya remained silent.

She wanted to stay in Shenzhen.

My phone vibrated.

Xu Qingya turned around and picked it up, her movements so fast that even she felt ashamed.

It was flight information sent by Chen Lan.

Xu Qingya tossed her phone into her bag and zipped it up with a bit more force than usual.

Yang Lele stood to the side, not daring to breathe.

"Let's go to the airport."

She stood up, her high heels clicking loudly on the floor.

-

Within 24 hours of the program airing, "Blue and White Porcelain" completely swept the entire internet.

On Douyin, the hashtag #BlueandWhitePorcelain# surpassed 10 million views in four hours.

The song "The sky is blue, waiting for the rain, and I am waiting for you" was cut into a short video template and covered more than 100,000 times within 24 hours.

The hashtag #JiangFanBlueandWhitePorcelain# is trending on Weibo.

#HuaxingyuDeafJudge# Breaking News.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Jiang Fan's phone rang.

It's a landline number from Shenzhen.

"Hello Mr. Jiang Fan, I am Zhang Lei, the head of the exclusive copyright department of Tencent Music."

"Your song 'Blue and White Porcelain' and two other songs are currently generating a lot of discussion online, but they haven't been officially released online yet. We'd like to talk to you about the exclusive digital release of these songs..."

Jiang Fan leaned back on the hotel sofa.

"How do we negotiate?"

"Tencent Music is willing to offer S-level promotional resources, a package deal of three songs, for ten million yuan," Zhang Lei offered.

Ten million is an astronomical figure for a newcomer who hasn't even debuted yet.

Jiang Fan smiled.

"Mr. Zhang, a buyout is out of the question," Jiang Fan said calmly. "The revenue split is 70% for me and 30% for the platform. The copyright belongs to me."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

"Mr. Jiang, this ratio is only available to artists of the highest caliber," Zhang Lei said, sounding somewhat embarrassed.

"Then you can talk again after I reach that level," Jiang Fan said, and hung up the phone.

Penguin Music Headquarters.

Zhang Lei stared blankly at the busy tone on his phone for a long time.

This newbie is a bit arrogant...

But looking at the terrifying search volume for "Blue and White Porcelain" in the background, he gritted his teeth, turned around and walked towards the director's office.

Less than a minute later, the phone vibrated again.

"Hello Mr. Jiang Fan, I am the copyright director of NetEase Cloud Music."

"Fifteen million for exclusive rights to three songs, plus a splash screen feature."

Jiang Fan changed his sitting posture.

"We only accept revenue sharing. We do not sell copyrights."

Five minutes later, the bell rang for the third time.

"Mr. Jiang, I am the music director of Kugo Music. Twenty million..."

"Sorry, not for sale."

Jiang Fan pressed the hang-up button, then casually silenced his phone and tossed it onto the coffee table.

-

The next morning.

Jiang Fan, Shen Nian, and Li Cheng took the earliest flight to Shanghai.

The three arrived at a newly rented office.

Zhou Hai was already waiting at the door.

He was wearing a casual suit and carrying a brown paper document bag. When he saw Jiang Fan walking over, he looked Jiang Fan up and down.

"I knew you were no ordinary guy."

Zhou Hai clicked his tongue and handed over the file folder.

"Thank you for your help, Brother Zhou."

Jiang Fan took the document bag and pulled out the business license inside.

Company Name: Fanyin Culture Studio.

Legal representative: Jiang Fan.

There was also a thin artist contract in the folder.

Jiang Fan pushed the contract in front of Shen Nian.

Shen Nian sat opposite her, staring at the white paper on the table.

The 30-page indenture filled with unfair terms that she signed at Sheng Hai a year ago ruined her entire life.

She reached out, her fingertips pressing against the edge of the contract, and turned to the first page.

Li Cheng leaned against the wall, his gaze fixed on the contract.

New studios in the industry often sign contracts that are more exploitative than those of larger companies.

Shen Nian's gaze swept over the first item.

Contract period: Two years.

Her hand, which was turning the page, paused.

Sheng Hai's contracts start at five years.

Then look down.

Revenue sharing: 50/50.

Shen Nian raised her head and looked at Jiang Fan sitting opposite her.

Jiang Fan leaned back in his chair, looking down at his phone replying to messages, not looking at her.

Shen Nian lowered her head and turned to the page on breach of contract.

blank.

There are no exorbitant penalty fees for breach of contract.

There is no outrageous clause that deducts appearance fees for weighing more than two kilograms.

She flipped through the four pages three times.

Trying to find hidden textual traps between the lines.

"Keep the change, please."

Jiang Fan locked his phone screen and looked up at her.

"No additional terms, no final interpretation rights."

"You can ask him if there's anything you don't understand," he said, pointing to Li Cheng.

Li Cheng stubbed out his cigarette.

He walked over, picked up the contract, and glanced at it.

The old fox's eyes widened.

"Jiang Fan, are you doing charity work?" Li Cheng slammed the contract on the table. "A 50/50 split? She's a nobody who's been universally criticized online, and you're giving her the kind of treatment only top celebrities get?"

Jiang Fan ignored Li Cheng's outburst.

He looked at Shen Nian.

"Sign or not?"

Shen Nian didn't speak.

She picked up the black pen on the table.

Turn to the last page and write your name in the signature section.

Jiang Fan carefully put the contract away and placed it in a document bag.

Then he looked at Li Cheng.

"Brother Li, there's something I've been meaning to ask you."

Li Cheng took out a cigarette case from his pocket, pulled one out, and put it in his mouth.

"ask."

"Fanyin Studio is short of an agent."

Li Cheng, with an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips, looked at Jiang Fan.

The office was silent for a few seconds.

Zhou Hai tactfully picked up his bag, walked to the door, closed it, and left.

Shen Nian also stood up and moved to the window.

Li Cheng took the cigarette out of his mouth and twirled it between his fingers twice.

"Do you know my worth in this industry? Your newly registered shell company can't afford the base salary and commission I demand."

"How much money is in your studio's account right now?"

"After deducting the miscellaneous fees for registering the company, there is still a little over 50,000 left."

Li Cheng almost dropped his cigarette on the ground.

"You're offering me 50,000 yuan to poach me?"

Jiang Fan took out his phone from his pocket, scrolled to the call history with Penguin Music, and turned the screen to show Li Cheng.

"A music platform offered 20 million to buy out my three songs, but I didn't sell them."

Li Cheng narrowed his eyes.

"My terms are a 70/30 split, with the copyright going to me. They're considering it." Jiang Fan put his phone away. "That's just the music copyright. There are also variety shows, movies, and commercial endorsements to come."

Li Cheng stared at Jiang Fan for a long time.

He tucked the unlit cigarette behind his ear.

"condition."

"Partner." Jiang Fan extended his hand. "This isn't just working for someone else. You'll receive 10% of the profits from all of Fan Yin's projects."

Having been in the entertainment industry for twenty years, Li Cheng is long past the age of being fooled by empty promises.

"Where's the contract?" Li Cheng asked.

"I'm not prepared." Jiang Fan laughed. "Do whatever you want. If you're not happy with the job, you can leave anytime."

"Damn it," Li Cheng cursed, but a grin spread across his face. "I'm going to do it."

-

Backstage at the "Rising Star" program.

Director Liang Boyuan's team is currently verifying the guest list for tomorrow night's guest performance battle.

"Zhao Tianyu, guest performer: Lin Jun, a top singer from Times Media."

"Lu Ming, guest performer: Chen Fei, top star of Sheng Hai Entertainment."

He looked at the list, his brow furrowed.

"Has Jiang Fan's guest list been announced yet? There are less than five hours left until the deadline."

"No." Assistant Lin Xiaoqing shook her head. "I've inquired. Sheng Hai has made it clear that no artist with even a little fame in the industry dares to take on Jiang Fan's work now."

Liang Boyuan sighed.

The power of capital is too great; even the most talented newcomer is just an ant in the face of capital.

Just then, Lin Xiaoqing's computer beeped.

A new email popped up.

From: Fanyin Culture Studio.

She opened the email, glanced at it, and her eyes widened suddenly.

"Director...Director," Lin Xiaoqing stammered.

"What's wrong?"

"Jiang Fan's guest performer has been announced."

"Who?"

"Shen... Shen Nian." Lin Xiaoqing swallowed hard. "Moreover, the email included Shen Nian's artist contract registration certificate. She is now an officially contracted artist with Fanyin Studio."

Liang Boyuan suddenly stood up.

Shen Nian?

Shen Nian, who was banned from the entire internet by Sheng Hai a year ago and suffered from depression and left the entertainment industry due to cyberbullying by Hua Xingyu's fans?

"Keep this list under wraps!" Liang Boyuan decided decisively. "No one is allowed to leak it to Sheng Hai!"