Chapter 276 – 198: Caught Peeping at the Moon Maid Outfit, the Ultimate Social Death
“Did they contact you in private, like to explain or apologize?” Chen Ling asked bluntly. As colleagues and competitors, there was no need to mince words.
“No,” he shook his head, offering no further details.
The incident was in the past, and he had won his bet. He had only wanted so attention to begin with, but he didn’t expect to beco an overnight sensation. The show’s crew couldn’t suppress the trending heat, not even with real money.
Now that he had achieved his goal, bringing it up again would look like he was wallowing in self-pity, a risky move with little reward. He didn’t need to play the victim; with real talent and resources, he didn’t need to take shortcuts.
Chen Ling’s questions were sharp and thorough, mostly revolving around his rise to fa. Eventually, despite the roundabout way of getting there, the pre-interview hype circled back to the work itself.
“Where do you get your inspiration from when you write songs?”
“Reading, random musings.”
Ti trickled by, and before they knew it, they had been chatting in the coffee shop for two hours.
“Teacher Xu, I’m really looking forward to this interview and have full confidence in our collaboration. I will give you a definite answer within three days.”
Chen Ling’s tone was sincere and didn’t seem like she was just making polite conversation.
“If I may ask, do you have any plans to go out of town recently?”
“Not at the mont. I’m also very much looking forward to our collaboration,” Xu Qingyan replied with a smile, without putting on airs.
The two locked gazes, realizing that they were both earnest and without hidden agendas.
But to be fair, if Chen Ling hadn’t been introduced through Lin Chuan, or without Lin Chuan putting in a good word for her, he probably wouldn’t have t with her.
After their rise to fa, others were busy taking on various resources and opportunities.
Xu Qingyan had no such desires, as he was never one to rush things. Keeping busy for him ant maintaining a good work rhythm, not flitting around aimlessly like a headless fly.
Moreover, he didn’t have a signature work yet; he had just written a few songs and produced a fairly decent music video. He wasn’t so eager to gather every bit of money out there.
It was building a foundation that was the real entry ticket.
Overnight fa had ruined his dream of a career in show business.
Don’t ask; the answer is always to build a foundation.
After saying their goodbyes outside the coffee shop and confirming neither had the desire to continue the eting over a al, they went their separate ways.
…
The next day, Lin Wanzhou called Xu Qingyan.
” ’Fragrance of Rice’ has finished post-production and will be released at six in the evening. Do you want to co and listen?”
Honestly, he wasn’t very interested, at least not as much as if Lin Wanzhou herself was releasing a new song. His own singing… well, sohow it just felt awkward to listen to.
The musician account used for releasing the song had been registered solely by Lin Wanzhou, which ant she was investing her ti in helping Xu Qingyan with the music and also acting as a music editor.
“Sure, I’ll co by at three in the afternoon,” he said after chatting for a bit and then hung up the phone.
He didn’t have high expectations for the song; not that it wasn’t good, but because he anticipated the imdiate reaction wouldn’t be overwhelming. A song needing ti to beco a hit.
For instance, “Clear Sky” was quite appealing, and despite being promoted in various ways, even as a the song for a TV series, it hadn’t exploded in popularity in the short term.
It wasn’t until Xu Qingyan’s na hit the trending searches and he beca a sensation that it brought recognition to “Clear Sky.” The nature of the song decided that; patience was key.
During lunch, Pei Muchan glanced at him curiously.
“Are you going out this afternoon?”
“Mm, what are your plans for the afternoon?” He changed the subject smoothly, as Pei Muchan had been locked in the recording studio these past few days writing new songs, like a student cramming for exams.
“Writing songs.” She took the bait and shifted her focus, picking up her chopsticks. “Lately, I’ve been approached for several endorsents. I’m not sure whether to accept them.”
“What kind of endorsents?” Xu Qingyan asked with curiosity after swallowing a bite of food.
“So costics, bedding… and there’s one for a sanitary pad brand. The offers aren’t that high,” Pei Muchan said, her eyes downcast, betraying none of her thoughts.
“Be a bit more careful with skincare products; they’re tricky,” Xu Qingyan advised after a mont of thought. “Actually, I don’t really recomnd you take any endorsents at this point.”
“Mm, I wasn’t planning to sign,” Pei Muchan agreed. “Most of the endorsents only want to sign short-term contracts to capitalize on the current consur trend, with only short-term marketing plans.”
“Wait it out. Slowly does it. Getting to collaborate with an international brand would be best,” Xu Qingyan reassured her.
“International brands, how easy do you think that is?” she looked up.
“Hey, you’re a little out of the loop. International brands love wholesale collaborations, almost collecting half the entertainnt industry,” Xu Qingyan went on, pulling together bits of information he had gathered. “With your image, if the big eight won’t approach you for endorsents, they’re blind.”
Xu Qingyan could only brag so much, and Pei Muchan simply turned her head to give him a silent glance and put down her chopsticks, resting her cheek in her hand.
“Brand friends and ambassadors, spokespersons and the like, are not to be equated. Moreover, they co with regional divisions: the Sumr Country area, Asia-Pacific area, global endorsents.”
“I guess at the height of my fa, I might just about qualify as a skincare or makeup single-product brand ambassador, ranking in the lower-mid-tier of endorsents,” she explained.
She was right; with the entertainnt industry in the Sumr Country booming to an extre, the internal competition was as fierce as hell. Until one becos a true diva, this is the limit for female singers.
The path to breaking through? Originality.
Yet considering Pei Muchan hadn’t written a hit song in over a year, Xu Qingyan decided to keep the conversation encouraging. The last thing he wanted was to upset Madam Pei.
“I think it’s better for to focus on my studio. Being myself has always been hard to do well. I’m too easily swayed by others’ opinions.”
Her words ca without warning, yet they touched on a topic they had discussed during an idle conversation three days prior. He believed that Pei Muchan’s sudden inability to write songs might not be due to a lack of talent at all.
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