Chapter 12 - Zi Yan's Dilemma

Looking at the clean house, Zhang Han nodded his head with satisfaction.

The house was aligned towards the north and south. The house had a big living room, an open kitchen, and three bedrooms.

The living room, bathroom, or bedroom, were all extremely luxurious. The German imported marble floor, exquisitely tiled roof, modern kitchen, even after seven years, were up to his expectations.

After taking a look around the house, Zhang Han felt exhausted. Right now, he was an ordinary human being. The effect of the excess blood loss still affected him quite a lot. Planting the Thunder-Yang Tree and taking in its energy and rising to Qi Refining Realm, would allow his body to completely recover.

Lying down on the sofa, he switched on the television. After watching the television for less than two minutes, he fell asleep on the sofa.

……

Imperial Entertainment Company: in the offices of Artist Director Mei Qi.

“Big Sister Mei.”

Zi Yan lightly knocked on the door and walked into the office. After taking a look at Young Master Li, Li Cheng, she nodded her head towards Mei Qi and said:

“I have finished deliberating. I want to first release an album.”

“Oh.” Mei Qi leaned her back in her office chair. Her expression did not have the enthusiasm she had only a few years ago. With an indifferent tone, she said, “That is good. After all, you haven’t been in the entertainment industry for five years. Who knows how your old fans will feel about you right now. Let’s release an album first and test the waters.”

Zi Yan got right to the point and said, “Big Sister Mei, last week you said that there were 10 premium songs within the company’s music library. Can you let me choose four of those songs ? During the afternoon, I intend to—”

“That was last week! Xiao Yan, you also know that there are not enough resources within the company to share with all the artists. Right now, eight songs have already been taken. I can give you the remaining two songs, but the album needs to have at least 10 songs. Therefore, for the other eight songs, you will have to choose them from the ordinary songs in the music library.”

Zi Yan went into a daze and felt somewhat disappointed.

During the five years when she was working in the entertainment industry, Zi Yan was groomed for the peak of the entertainment industry solely by Mei Qi. The relationship between the two of them was not bad, and Mei Qi cared for her a lot. Every time when the company received premium songs, Mei Qi would always let Zi Yan choose first, and even more, Mei Qi would pay visits to famous composers to specially request songs for Zi Yan.

But right now , Mei Qi had seemed to change into a completely new person.

However, Zi Yan did not blame Mei Qi because back then when she left the company, Mei Qi was also somewhat affected by it.

Yet, Zi Yan couldn’t help but feel pain in her heart.

Just when she was about to open her mouth and accept Mei Qi’s proposal, Li Cheng who was standing to the side opened his mouth:

“Mei Qi, Zi Yan is after all your golden artist from the past. How can you go back on what you promised her? Just let Zi Yan choose four songs from the 10 premium songs.”

After Li Cheng finished speaking, Mei Qi’s face revealed a troubled expression.

Zi Yan took a look at Li Cheng.

This Young Master Li was a typical second-generation rich boy. His father, Li Hai, was one of the members of Imperial Entertainment Company’s Board of Directors. He held a high position in the company. Therefore, although Li Cheng did not hold any official position in the company, he still had some power.

Li Cheng had a height of 1.8m. His figure was well-shaped and his handsome looks allowed him to be like a fish in water when picking up girls. However, it was rumored that there were quite a few artists within the company who had ambiguous relationships with him.

Just this rumor alone made Zi Yan hesitant. Zi Yan had a daughter right now, nevermind the unclear relationship with Zhang Han. Before she finished settling her relationship with Zhang Han, she did not intend to find another man just yet.

“This……”

There was troubled look on Mei Qi’s face, but in the end, she spoke in a helpless tone, “Since Young Master Li has spoken, I will of course not refuse. Zi Yan, you have to properly thank Young Master Li. I heard that you did not attend the appointment to have dinner with Young Master Li yesterday.”

Zi Yan’s expression did not change. Her cold face never gave away what she was thinking about. After Zi Yan finish listening to everything, she stood up and slightly nodded at Li Cheng:

“Thanks Young Master Li for the good intention. However, I do not want to spoil the company’s rules. I will go with what Big Sister Mei previously said. I will go pick the two songs.”

After finish speaking, Zi Yan walked out of the office with her high-heeled shoes. She did not want to accept Li Cheng’s help. Although accepting Li Cheng’s help would help her rise in the entertainment industry, she disdained doing that. She knew what the price was.

“Hahaha……”

Li Cheng laughed faintly. Looking at Zi Yan who was walking down the corridor through the window.

“Humph! Unable to tell what is good from bad!” Mei Qi frowned and snorted, “She really thinks that she is still in the same position as she was back then? How could a has-been celebrity shine again that easily?”

“Say, I actually like this temper of hers. The more aloof she is, the more I want to conquer her!” Li Cheng slightly shook his head.

“How about I let her taste some hardships first? People like her have to see reality first before they become well-behaved.”

“That’s a good idea.” Li Cheng nodded his head.

“I will not give her even a single song from the 10 premium songs. I will pick two songs from the music library and say they are premium songs. As for the rest of the songs, I will just let her find them on her own.” Mei Qi sneered.

Actually, none of the 10 premium songs were taken yet. Mei Qi merely said what Li Cheng wanted. Li Cheng’s motives? Well, there was no need to explain his perverted motives.

On her journey back to her own office, there was not a single person who greeted her. Even more, she even heard a few murmurs of “has-been celebrity”. However, Zi Yan did not flinch. Her cold face was a defensive shield which would not allow anyone to see her exhaustion and helplessness.

After Zi Yan walked into the office, Zhou Fei immediately stood up and asked, “Big Sister Yan, how did it go? Did Mei Qi give you any premium songs?”

“She only gave me two premium songs.” Zi Yan slightly shook her head.

“Two?” said Zhou Fei as she frowned. “How can you release an album with only two premium songs? You have to at least have four premium songs! I reckon that that old witch is doing it on purpose.”

“Fei Fei, don’t say that. There were only two songs left from the 10 premium songs.” After sitting on the sofa, Zi Yan lightly sighed.

“How is that possible? Why haven’t I heard of anyone who got the premium songs? I reckon that she just doesn’t want to give it to us!” Zhou Fei said.

Zi Yan stood up and said, “Don’t say anymore already. Let’s go downstairs and have lunch first. During the afternoon, we will go pick out the songs for the album.”

Zhou Fei angrily followed Zi Yan to the restaurant downstairs. After having a simple lunch, they hurriedly went back upstairs.

They came to the department for choosing songs. Within the department, there were two small private rooms for listening to songs. Within each room, there was a computer and a high quality speaker.

Upon reaching the hallway, the door of the first private room opened and three people walked out from the room. The person who was in the lead had a tall and slender figure and wore a very revealing V-neck dress.

Upon seeing Zi Yan, a trace of recognition flashed on her face as she said:

“Oh? Isn’t this the big celebrity, Zi Yan? Didn’t you already change professions and go to the movies and television world? Why do you come here to pick songs?”

“Xu Ruoyu, whatever we do doesn't concern you. Why are you everywhere we go?” Zhou Fei retaliated snappishly.

Xu Ruoyu was the new third-rate singer which the company had started grooming not too long ago. She has a bit of popularity and a lot of pride. Also, her relationship with Li Cheng was quite suspicious.

“Well, it is true that it doesn’t concern us.” A woman who was at Xu Ruoyu’s side sneered and said, “However…It seems that the popularity of a certain someone is beyond terrible. To the point that even the company doesn’t want to waste any energy on grooming the person. From the 10 premium songs that the company has this time, Big Sister Mei actually gave eight of the songs to Ruoyu. As for the remaining two songs, you two can go ahead and listen attentively. I reckoned that those two songs would be the best you can get.”

“Haha, people who are ugly do indeed need to use a high quantity of premium songs to make up for it,” Zhou Fei said ruthlessly.

“What did you say?!” Xu Ruoyu glared with her eyes wide open.

“Fei Fei, let’s go.” Zi Yan’s expression remained cold from start to finish. After taking a slight look at Xu Ruoyu, she walked past them and walked towards one of the private rooms.

“Humph!” Xu Ruoyu lightly snorted and said without turning her head, “Zi Yan, let me give you a reminder. Today is the 1st of September and my album will be released on the 15th. It is best that you avoid releasing your album during that period of time. If not, with you talent, I’m afraid you will fall into the bottom of a pit.”

Hearing that, Zi Yan’s footsteps came to a stop as she turned her head around and said, “Oh, thanks for your reminder then.”

After finish speaking, she went into the private room with Zhou Fei.

“Just what kind of person is that? Seeing her act like that just makes me feel disgusting!” Zhou Fei said angrily.

Although Zi Yan was expressionless, her tone had become low, “Let’s pick the songs first.”

Opening the computer and entering the company's music library, Zi Yan immediately saw the two premium songs that Mei Qi left for her.

Clicking open the first song, both Zi Yan and Zhou Fei entered into their working mode and began attentively listening to the song.

“Bang!”

After finish listening to the song, Zhou Fei couldn’t help but slam her fist onto the table and say angrily, “This kind of song is considered premium?! That old witch must definitely be trying to make things difficult for us! Since when has the company’s premium songs deteriorated to this kind of degree?”

Zi Yan did not say anything and silently acknowledged what Zhou Fei said. Sighing, Zi Yan opened the second song.

However, the second song was also not up to their expectations. Those two songs were only a bit better than the worst songs within the music library. They did not even have half the quality of a premium song.

This result caused Zhou Fei to be angry to the point that she gnashed on her teeth. After venting away her anger, Zhou Fei then began listening to the songs in the music library one by one with Zi Yan.

They listened from 1 pm to 7 pm. After listening to more than a hundred songs, they picked out five somewhat decent songs. But they weren’t premium songs.

“Let’s go back home.” Zi Yan said after taking a look at the time.

I can still accompany Meng Meng if I go back now. If I were to go back a bit later, the little girl would most likely have fallen asleep.

“How are we going to se those lousy songs……” Zhou Fei mumbled with a worried look on her face. After packing up their things, they left the company.

On the way back home, Zi Yan who was sitting at the back of the car, suddenly said:

“Fei Fei, we will have to work a bit harder in the next few days. We will also release our album on the 15th!”

“Big Sister Yan, you want to……” Zhou Fei slightly went into a daze.

Zi Yan did not reply and looked out of the window while thinking:

“Xu Ruoyu, you are intending to release your album on the 15th, right? You like to provoke me with mocks and ridicules right?

“Alright!

“I will also release my album on the 15th then!”

Zi Yan was not a saint. Facing Xu Ruoyu’s provocation, she would of course also feel angry. She just wouldn’t show the fire of her heart in her face.

For people to live, they have to breathe, for a tree to live, it has to have its bark. Zi Yan wants to prove herself by using her own strength!

[人活一口气，树活一张皮 – For people to live, they have to breathe, for tress to live, they have to have their bark. In Chinese, the bark is the “皮 “, and the breathe is the “气”. The “气”, aka breathe, refers to ”骨气”, which means ‘backbone’. The “皮” aka bark, refers to “脸皮”, which means ‘face’. Basically, what this sentence means is that one must live with a backbone. Another explanation is that, people live for their face.]