How can you ascend to heaven when you are a star?

Chapter 431 Bull Demon and Snake God
"Ring ring ring!"

As music started playing, Zhang Wen, who was eating the last plate of rice noodle rolls, took out his phone from his pocket. The caller ID showed that it was Jiang Li calling.

"Hello, Sister Li?"

"Xiao Zhang, have you arrived in Guangcheng yet?" Jiang Li's cheerful voice came through the receiver, sounding like she was in a good mood.

Three Golden Melody Award nominations, all of them major awards—anyone would be overjoyed, they'd be laughing in their sleep.

"We're here. We're eating rice noodle rolls outside. Is something the matter?" Zhang Wen asked.

"That's good. There's a party tonight, and many colleagues from the music industry will be attending. Would you like to come along?" Jiang Li's tone was smiling, clearly a sincere invitation.

"Me? Forget it, I don't know many people there, it would be awkward to go," Zhang Wen said subconsciously.

The atmosphere of a private gathering is inevitably affected by the sudden appearance of an outsider like him. Just like at Sister Li's concert that night, although he didn't start anything, he ruined the celebratory atmosphere in the end, so it was inevitable that he felt a little embarrassed.

"What's so embarrassing about that? I'm here, aren't I?" Jiang Li retorted with a smile. "Besides, many singers from our company will be participating, and Tang Yi will be there too. You can bring Wang Qi and the Future Girls along and make more friends. Maybe we can collaborate in the future."

Zhang Wen immediately became interested when he heard the word 'cooperation'.

I've been spending money like crazy these past two months, either buying trending topics and fighting with the "Super Trainee" program team, or investing in TV dramas.

Although he still has a few small sums of money in his bank account, he has many big plans for the future, so it's not a bad thing to have more money on hand for unforeseen circumstances.

Who would complain about having too much money?
As for songs, it doesn't matter who you sell them to.
Although the singers sold to Tianxi Media will not earn a penny less, the company will still receive a share of the singers' income. How is this any different from helping Li Lehua make money?
Selling the artists to other companies would not only make money, cause trouble for Tianxi Media, but also improve one's reputation in the music industry—a win-win-win situation. Why not?
With that in mind, Zhang Wen readily agreed, "Okay, I'll go."

"Okay, I'll send you the time and place in a bit. See you then." Jiang Li's voice was filled with satisfaction.

"see you then."

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Wen put his phone back in his pocket and looked at the women at the table, saying, "It's Sister Li on the phone, asking us to attend a gathering of industry professionals tonight."

“I know,” Wang Qi said, wiping his mouth. “Every year before the Golden Melody Awards ceremony, the industry spontaneously organizes such a gathering. At first, it was for learning and exchanging ideas, but it gradually became an occasion to expand one’s network.”

As someone who has been nominated multiple times, she naturally attended this gathering. However, as a music producer, she spends most of her time behind the scenes, and her exposure is far less than that of singers in front of the stage. This results in few people recognizing her, and even fewer people taking the initiative to greet her. After attending once, she stopped going because she found it uninteresting.

"Teacher Zhang, are you going too?" Li Yuqi asked in surprise, then pointed to Cai Yaxuan across from her, "Yaxuan and I also received invitations."

Cai Yaxuan nodded, then looked at Zhang Wen and tentatively asked, "Since everyone is going, why don't we go together?"

Zhang Wen thought about it and realized that since they weren't familiar with Guangcheng, having someone to accompany them would be a good thing.

"Okay, let's go together."

"Then let's go back to the hotel first and meet at the hotel entrance at six o'clock tonight?" Cai Yaxuan suggested.

"Okay, see you there." Zhang Wen replied.

"Bye-Bye!"

Li Yuqi and Cai Yaxuan stood up and waved to Zhang Wen and the others.

Just as she stepped out of the rice noodle roll shop, Li Yuqi turned back, took a deep breath, and as if she had made a major decision, mustered up her courage and said, "Teacher Zhang, next time you want to criticize the show, could you tell me in advance? I'll bring you tea and water and promise not to disturb your songwriting."

"..."

Wang Qi, standing to the side, was speechless, thinking to herself that Li Yuqi was really naive, actually taking Teacher Zhang's words seriously.

She wanted to laugh, but was too embarrassed to, so she ended up holding it in.

Zhao Tong and the others didn't find it strange. In their minds, creating songs was as simple and natural as breathing for Teacher Zhang, and it was normal for him to create hit songs from his insults.

Teacher Zhang just didn't write any rap music. If he had, he would definitely have become a legend, and all the East Coast and West Coast music would have been sidelined.

"I wouldn't dare let you serve me tea or water. If your fans found out, they could drown me with their spittle," Zhang Wen joked.

"No, I promise, I swear." Li Yuqi said, raising her hand.

"Alright, alright," Zhang Wen quickly waved his hand. "I know, next time I'll send you a WeChat message beforehand so you can listen to the live stream remotely, okay?"

"..."

Li Yuqi was speechless, thinking: Who wants to hear you swear? I want to see you create songs.

But it was difficult to say this outright, so in the end, he could only leave.

Inside the rice noodle roll shop, Wang Qi finally couldn't help but laugh out loud, looking at Zhang Wen and saying, "You're really something, you've got that young girl completely fooled."

“I’m not kidding,” Zhang Wen said with an innocent shrug. “When I was criticizing that show last time, I was really bursting with inspiration.”

what?
Wang Qi's smile froze. Seeing that the man didn't seem to be joking, she was stunned.

Is it true?
She truly lives up to her reputation as a hit song maker, taking songwriting to new heights. I'll try this method next time I'm creating something; you might be surprised by the results.

"Are you finished eating?" Zhang Wen took out a tissue to wipe his mouth and looked at the others, saying, "Let's hurry up and go find any other good food or fun places mentioned in the guide. We have a banquet to attend tonight."

Zhang Jiajia immediately picked up her phone and pulled out a travel guide. "The next place is a bit far from here; we'll need to take the subway."

"Lead the way." Zhang Wen waved his hand and left the rice noodle roll shop.

……

5:50 PM.

Zhang Wen and his group members arrived at the hotel entrance ten minutes early to meet.

Wang Qi didn't come; she wasn't interested in the party and chose to catch up on sleep in her room.

A few minutes later, Li Yuqi and Cai Yaxuan arrived.

The two changed their clothes. Li Yuqi wore a silver fringed dress, the hem of which swayed gently as she walked, making her legs look long and slender.

Tsai Ya-hsuan wore a white dress with a ring of rhinestones around the collar, exuding elegance and tranquility. It looked simple yet sophisticated, radiating a powerful aura.

"Teacher Zhang, you're here!" Li Yuqi greeted them with a smile, her gaze sweeping over the members of the future girl group. "You girls look so beautiful tonight."

“Sister Yuqi and Sister Yaxuan are also very beautiful,” Chen Silu said politely.

"Where's Teacher Wang? I haven't seen her." Cai Yaxuan asked curiously.

“She has other things to do and won’t be going tonight,” Zhang Wen explained.

"Oh."

Tsai Ya-hsuan did not press the matter further. The two groups got into the car arranged by the staff and headed towards the meeting place.

The gathering was held at a high-end club, not far from the hotel, just a ten-minute walk away. As soon as the eight of us got out of the car, someone came up to greet us.

"Yuqi, Yaxuan, you're here."

The newcomer was a man in his late thirties, not yet forty, dressed in a black suit. He spoke with a smile on his face and, after greeting Li Yuqi and Cai Yaxuan, turned to look at Zhang Wen and the others.

"These are..."

After hearing this, Li Yuqi stepped forward and introduced, "Teacher Shen, this is lyricist and composer Zhang Wen. The beautiful girls standing behind him are the five members of the Future Girls Group."

As she spoke, she introduced the middle-aged man to Zhang Wen and the others, "This is Mr. Shen Xin'an, a host from Guangdong TV, and also the host of this year's Golden Melody Awards ceremony."

"Oh? So you're Teacher Zhang Wen. I've heard so much about you. Meeting you today, you truly are extraordinary." Shen Xin'an said loudly, grabbing Zhang Wen's hand tightly, his enthusiasm bordering on exaggerated.

"Hello." Zhang Wen nodded to the other person.

He didn't know if it was the person's appearance that was out of place, or if there was some other problem, but he always felt that the other person's smile was somewhat fake, and even revealed a bit of ill intent.

Oh dear, is it possible that they'll be jealous of him being with Li Yuqi or Cai Yaxuan again, like at the after-party following Li Jie's concert?

Shen Xin'an released his grip and turned his gaze to Zhao Tong and the others. "I was wondering why you looked so familiar when I was looking at you earlier. You participated in the show 'Super Trainee,' right?"

Zhao Tong and the others were speechless; they really knew how to rub salt in the wound.

However, they did participate in "Super Trainee," so it's normal that the other party got to know them through that show.

"Hello, Teacher Shen." Zhao Tong and the others greeted her politely.

Shen Xin'an nodded, then suddenly sighed heavily, looking regretful.

"It's a pity you were eliminated in the first round, but you also benefited from this misfortune by debuting earlier than the Super Girls. There are only three more episodes left in 'Super Trainee,' and the Super Girls will debut then. I wonder if you can withstand the pressure then? After all, they are much more popular than you."

"!!!"

Zhao Tong and the others froze, their smiles vanishing instantly.

What does this person mean?
Do you think those five are inferior to the trainees on the show?

Moreover, what they just said clearly implied that the reason they are more famous than the Super Girls is because they debuted earlier, and that once the Super Girls debut, their future girls will be trampled underfoot by the other group.

If mentioning the show "Super Trainee" in front of them at the beginning was unintentional, then what I just said was definitely deliberate, intended to disgust them.

why?
Zhao Tong and the others were very puzzled.

They hadn't offended this person, and had never even met him before, so why did he start bullying them the moment they met?

Could this person be a die-hard fan of the show "Super Trainee"? Is that why they're making snide remarks about them here?

"What do you mean by that, Teacher Shen?" Zhang Wen took a step forward, subtly blocking Zhao Tong and the others behind him, and said with a sneer, "According to your logic, those who debut first are afraid of those who debut later, so wouldn't the seniors in the music industry have to live in constant fear?"

Shen Xin'an was taken aback by Zhang Wen's direct rebuttal. He paused for a moment before chuckling awkwardly, "Teacher Zhang, you've misunderstood. I just think competition is a good thing."

“Competition is good, of course.” Zhang Wen said with a faint smile, “It seems that Teacher Shen is a loyal fan of ‘Super Trainee’. It just so happens that the show will have its final competition after New Year’s Day, and Future Girls’ new album will also be released on the same day. We’ll see who has real talent and who is just a shoddy imitation then.”

Shen Xin'an's expression froze, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

He wasn't a fan of "Super Trainee," but he knew someone wanted to teach this guy surnamed Zhang a lesson, and he wanted to take this opportunity to kick him while he was down.

Li Yuqi was puzzled as to why the two people, who were meeting for the first time, were arguing so fiercely. She quickly stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "Teacher Shen was just joking. Teacher Zhang, don't take it to heart."

"Is that so?" Zhang Wen curled the corners of his mouth, revealing a mocking smile. "Actually, I was just trying to help Teacher Shen. As the host of the awards ceremony, it would be really embarrassing if word got out that I was belittling a newcomer in front of so many colleagues."

These words were like a slap in the face, landing hard on Shen Xin'an's cheek.

As a host, his image is the most important thing. If he is labeled as "suppressing newcomers", will the Golden Melody Awards ceremony still use him in the future?
"Many people have already arrived, you should go in quickly." Shen Xin'an didn't reply, but directly changed the subject, and after saying that, walked towards a van that had just stopped.

“Shabi!” Zhang Wen glanced at her sideways and made his judgment on her directly.

Li Yuqi and Cai Yaxuan looked embarrassed. They didn't expect that Teacher Zhang would scold them without their knowledge. He really didn't treat them like outsiders.

"The teacher is so handsome!" Zhao Tong cheered softly.

"Teacher Zhang is awesome!" Zhang Jiajia also praised softly.

“To deal with someone like that, you have to be tougher than him.” Zhang Wen turned to the five students and said seriously, “Remember, your current achievements are not due to anyone’s charity, but to your own singing. Stand up straight, and if anyone dares to say that to you again, confront them directly.”

"Yes!"

The five students agreed in unison, their eyes shining even brighter than the rhinestones on Cai Yaxuan's dress.

However, if you really asked them to confront him, they wouldn't dare, mainly because they didn't want to cause trouble for Teacher Zhang, in addition to being newcomers.

Does anyone know which singer has a sugar daddy or which host has a sugar mommy?
Li Yuqi and Cai Yaxuan didn't expect Teacher Zhang to be so protective of his students. It seems that not only is he a good singer, but he is also a very good person.

"Wasn't this supposed to be a gathering of industry professionals? What's he doing here, a host?" Zhang Wen looked at Li Yuqi and Cai Yaxuan with suspicion, his tone full of disdain.

“He has hosted the Golden Melody Awards ceremonies for the past few years, and no one felt comfortable asking him to leave. Later, he volunteered to take charge of the reception, so no one said anything more,” Tsai Ya-hsuan explained.

Zhang Wen nodded in understanding; it turned out to be a flypaper.

"Teacher, why don't you go inside and we go back to the hotel?" Cheng Sisi said softly.

The production company behind "Super Trainee" is iQiyi Video, which has partnerships with many celebrities. These five girls were eliminated from the show and then repeatedly slapped the production team. If they are targeted by multiple people after entering the show, it will probably not be resolved in a few words.

The host just now is a good example.

"Don't think about those things," Zhang Wen said. "Since you're here, make the best of it. Remember what I said: I won't offend others unless they offend me, but if they do, I will draw my sword."

Li Yuqi's eyes lit up; she thought Teacher Zhang was so manly!

"Let's go!" Zhang Wen waved his hand and pointed to the clubhouse entrance. "Let's go in and see what kind of monsters and demons are inside."

"..."

Li Yuqi and Cai Yaxuan were speechless.

Does that mean they're included in this statement?

Teacher Zhang, don't shoot, they're one of our own.

……

(End of this chapter)