Huayu: A master director who debuted as a singer

Chapter 106 The Curved Soft Knife

April 29th, afternoon.

In the suite of the Peninsula Hotel, afternoon sunlight streamed onto the carpet. Zheng Hui lay comfortably on the sofa, casually flipping through a book.

The fatigue from the intensive, continuous transcription of "Half a Lifetime" was completely gone after a night's rest.

The master tapes of the album have been handed over to Zheng Donghan. All he has to do now is wait quietly for the official release of this album that is going to shake the entire Chinese music scene.

Just as he was about to pick up his teacup and take a sip, his phone, which was on the coffee table, vibrated.

Zheng Hui glanced at the screen, where Zheng Donghan's name was flashing.

He picked up his phone and answered, jokingly saying in a relaxed tone, "Mr. Zheng, are you calling now to invite me to a victory celebration dinner ahead of time?"

But Zheng Donghan's usual hearty laughter didn't come from the other end of the phone.

After a brief silence, Zheng Donghan's voice came: "Hui, let's postpone the celebration banquet for now."

"Come downstairs now, my car is waiting for you at the hotel entrance. Come directly to my office. There's been a slight emergency, we need to discuss this in person."

Zheng Hui's smile faded slightly. For this big shot to speak in such a tone, the matter was clearly of great importance.

"Okay, I'll be right down."

Half an hour later, at Universal Music headquarters, in the president's office.

When Zheng Hui pushed open the door, he found the atmosphere in the office unusually heavy. Zheng Donghan sat behind his desk, his brows furrowed as he smoked a cigar.

Seeing Zheng Hui enter, Zheng Donghan put down his cigar: "Sit down."

Zheng Hui didn't stand on ceremony. He walked over and sat down, getting straight to the point: "What happened? Is it that the master tape compression plant's production capacity can't keep up, or did something go wrong with the media segment of the May 1st press conference?"

"Neither." Zheng Donghan shook his head, looking directly at Zheng Hui. "It's about your upcoming trip to Taiwan for promotions and the Golden Melody Awards. Something big has happened."

Zheng Hui raised an eyebrow: "How so?"

"I just received confirmation from Taiwan."

All your upcoming appearances and schedules have been sabotaged by several major local record labels working together behind the scenes.

Upon hearing this news, Zheng Hui didn't show much surprise: "Because I recently embarrassed that Taiwanese reporter in front of the Hong Kong media?"

"That's right, but the hype surrounding this matter was almost over." Zheng Donghan sneered, "It's just that you've been too high-profile lately, and those rival companies couldn't sit still anymore."

Behind the scenes, they frantically fueled the flames, spending huge sums of money to hire unscrupulous media outlets and online trolls to hype up your confrontation with the reporter, forcefully setting the pace and inciting emotions.

There's a huge uproar over there right now, and several top variety shows that had already agreed to air your shows couldn't withstand the pressure and withdrew their appearances.

They're trying to ruin your reputation and suppress your momentum right now, with your new album release in the meantime.

"So, they're planning to completely blacklist me?"

"A complete physical ban is out of the question; they wouldn't dare to directly challenge Universal Music."

Zheng Donghan snorted coldly: "After all, Global is an international giant. Those companies are afraid that we will use our overseas resources to bite us back and make things worse."

Therefore, they exerted pressure through public opinion on the one hand, and sent intermediaries to deliver their messages on the other.

"What did you say?"

"The conditions are very clear. First, Zheng Hui, your records in Taiwan can still be sold, but you will absolutely not be given any good time slots for promotion. All popular programs are out of the question."

Secondly, under no circumstances will you be allowed to mention this incident in any public setting; they're trying to force you to suffer a silent loss.

Zheng Donghan looked at Zheng Hui, his tone becoming somewhat helpless: "After weighing the pros and cons, Universal's branch in Taiwan had no choice but to temporarily swallow these unfair terms in order to protect its core distribution channels."

After all, we're businessmen; making money is our top priority. There's no need to completely lose our offline channels in the entire Taiwan market just to act impulsively.

Zheng Hui listened without getting angry. Having come from a later era, he was already used to the backstabbing and scheming in the entertainment industry.

He shook his head: "Is this how these so-called giant companies behave? They really have to have their cake and eat it too."

On the one hand, they resort to such underhanded tactics to launch a media attack, while on the other hand, they dare not go too far, fearing that angering Global Times will cost them their livelihood.

"Business competition is such a dirty and realistic thing."

Zheng Donghan sighed, "Not only that, but at this year's Taiwan Golden Melody Awards, you've been completely used as a target to suppress Universal Music!"

Those companies secretly colluded to pull strings, so not only will you not be able to attend the awards ceremony, but the awards themselves will likely be rigged.

I reckon at most they'll just give you a consolation prize like Best Lyricist or Best Composer to shut up public opinion, a token gesture to appease you. They definitely won't let you win a major award and steal the spotlight.

Upon hearing this news, Zheng Hui was somewhat bored. He shrugged and said, "A consolation prize is fine. Anyway, I'm not going. If they dare to give me the grand prize, I'm afraid the trophy will be tainted with something dirty."

Besides, flying to Taiwan for promotional activities is exhausting, and I have to act crazy and silly with those hosts on all sorts of variety shows. It's better not to go; I'm happy to have some peace and quiet.

Seeing Zheng Hui's indifferent attitude, Zheng Donghan smiled and shook his head.

Instead, Zheng Hui asked about something else: "Compared to that broken trophy that was manipulated by the opponent, the first thing I need to confirm is something else."

"I can't go in person, will that affect my normal CD sales and other arrangements?"

This is the only issue Zheng Hui cares about!

What is the Golden Melody Awards anyway? In his future plans, it's nothing more than a local award that will decline sooner or later.

But he couldn't ignore the tangible benefits. He quickly calculated the current situation in his mind: in the current Chinese music scene, Taiwan was definitely the largest market for CD sales.

Piracy is rampant in mainland China, so they can only rely on low-priced cassette tapes to sell in large quantities; Hong Kong's market capacity is limited and has long been saturated.

The previous CD, "Floating Life," sold 1.3 million copies across Asia, with 500,000 to 600,000 of them sold in the Taiwanese market.

If the rival company's meddling prevents the album from charting and promotional appearances, causing its sales in Taiwan to plummet, wouldn't the millions spent on production costs for "Half a Lifetime" and the company's promised Hong Kong Coliseum concert and other follow-up plans all be affected?

Seeing Zheng Hui's profit-driven attitude, Zheng Donghan's admiration deepened. This young man not only possessed genius-level artistic talent but also a keen business sense.

He always knows where his core interests lie and will never be swayed by emotions or vanity.

"You can rest assured about that."

Zheng Donghan smiled confidently, leaned back in his boss's chair, and crossed his arms. "As I just said, they're afraid Universal will overturn the table. So, Universal's Taiwan branch has already finalized the deal with the distributors on this matter."

"Those rival companies can only annoy you with their publicity and announcements, but they can't get involved in the most crucial record sales channels. Record stores all need to make money, and as long as the profit margin is sufficient, they will never turn away a cash cow that comes knocking on their door."

"The stocking and distribution of records in major record stores will not be affected at all, and we have also paid to retain our airing slots on major radio stations."

Zheng Donghan smiled confidently: "As long as the grassroots distribution channels are not cut off, with the terrifying quality of the album 'Half a Lifetime,' even if you don't go to Taiwan to appear on those noisy variety shows, Taiwanese listeners will still be willing to pay for it. The penetrating power of good music cannot be blocked by the commercial barriers of those rival companies."

Having received this definite assurance, Zheng Hui said with a smile, "Since album sales won't be affected, then I don't care at all."

He picked up the tea that had gone a little cold from the table and drank it all in one gulp. "It's better not to go to the Golden Melody Awards. It saves me the cost of airfare. I'm too lazy to even think of an acceptance speech."

Seeing his carefree demeanor, Zheng Donghan smiled and shook his head, assuming that the young man had truly relaxed.

However, Zheng Hui was not as relaxed as he appeared.

Compromise is always only temporary. Today, the opponent is wary of Global's strength and dares not push it too far, making concessions, but the sword of Damocles hanging over its head will always be a big problem.

Are we to place all our hopes on the fear of our competitors? What if one day those companies completely monopolize the distribution channels in Taiwan, and in a moment of impulsiveness, they decide to carry out a comprehensive physical blockade to suppress dissent?

All record stores removed his CDs from their shelves, and all radio stations banned his songs.

If his core fanbase remains firmly tied to the Taiwanese market at that point, his record sales could be halved overnight.

Zheng Hui never liked to hand over his life to others.

Since his competitors could threaten him with market share at any time, he might as well find a way to completely bypass the Taiwan market and not rely on it for a living!

As a reborn individual who possesses the world's top music library for the next twenty years, the so-called commercial encirclement by Taiwanese giants is nothing more than a bubble that can be burst at any moment.

Since they want to use a regional market to control him, the most thorough solution is to break free from this cage and create a market that they can't even look up to!

This is my fourth album, and I won't be releasing a Mandarin version.

Go to Japan? The period around the turn of the millennium was the golden age of Japanese divas and rock bands.

If he were to pull out Kenshi Yonezu's "Lemon," Mika Nakashima's "Yuki no Hana," or even a few god-tier opening themes from Japanese anime, he could absolutely dominate the Oricon charts!

Go to Europe and America? In this era of the Backstreet Boys' global popularity, if he were to throw out Justin Bieber's "Baby" or Maroon 5's "Sugar"—

If the melody is catchy enough, why can't Zheng Hui's name appear on the Billboard charts in Europe and America?!

If you can carve out a niche for yourself in Japan or Europe and America and achieve sales of millions or even tens of millions, becoming a true international superstar, then what is a mere 700,000 copies sold in the Taiwan market?

Faced with such achievements, those rival companies that resort to underhanded tactics will be trampled underfoot. Taiwanese media and officials will even kneel down and beg him to hold a concert in order to demonstrate their so-called alignment with international standards.

These thoughts churned in Zheng Hui's mind, but his expression grew increasingly calm.

He knew very well that if he revealed these trump cards now, Zheng Donghan would see him as an arrogant and frivolous madman.

True ambition is meant to be realized, not boasted about.

Zheng Hui looked up and asked in a friendly tone, "Mr. Zheng, Global's international distribution network must have a strong presence in Japan and Europe, right?"

Zheng Donghan was taken aback by his sudden question and nodded subconsciously: "Of course, Universal is the world's largest record company."

We have a branch in Japan. Last year, I took over Universal Japan's business and directly boosted its performance there to second place in the market. In Europe and America, we are the absolute leader.

But why are you asking this?

Zheng Hui said, "It's nothing, just a casual question. We should always make long-term plans for the future."

Zheng Donghan sensed that Zheng Hui wasn't just asking casually, but since Zheng Hui didn't want to elaborate, he naturally didn't press the matter. He then changed the subject: "I've already made the arrangements. Since we can't attend the press conference in Taiwan, this one will be held in Hong Kong!"

"At 10:00 AM on May 1st, in the Peninsula Hotel's largest banquet hall! I'll have invited all the media from Hong Kong, mainland China, and even those restless media outlets from Taiwan!"

"The press conference will officially kick off on May 1st! In front of all the media across Asia, I will announce that you have signed a record-breaking 50 million contract with Universal! At the same time, the trailer for 'Half a Lifetime' will be released!"

"On May 2nd, the title track of the new album will begin its nationwide chart run! I want Hong Kong's Commercial Radio and all levels of radio stations in mainland China to play your new song on repeat around the clock at the same time on the same day!"

I want to nail all those adults who drive around on the road every day to their driver's seat with your singing!

"The physical copy of 'Half a Lifetime' will be available for purchase simultaneously across Asia on May 8th!"

"I want to show the entire Chinese music scene that even with the suppression fueled by rivals, even with the Golden Melody Awards being manipulated behind the scenes."

You, Zheng Hui, can also use a truly masterpiece to utterly destroy this stagnant market!

After listening, Zheng Hui stood up and said, "Mr. Zheng, I'll head back to the hotel to rest and recharge. See you at the press conference on May 1st."

After leaving the Universal Music headquarters building, Zheng Hui got into the back seat of his Mercedes-Benz.

Outside the car window, the neon-lit street scene rushed past.

"Boss, shall we go straight back to the Peninsula Hotel?" Lin Dashan, sitting in the passenger seat, glanced at the rearview mirror and asked.

"Back to the hotel." Zheng Hui leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. "Dashan, please inform Jianguo for me."

Over the next week, I need him to find several more tape factories in Guangzhou to produce it together. This time, I need to double the distribution volume of "Half a Lifetime" compared to "Floating Life"!

"OK."

The carriage returned to silence.

-

A commercial attack from rival companies? Behind-the-scenes manipulation of the Golden Melody Awards?

These disasters, which others would consider career-destroying, were utterly insignificant in his eyes. Not to mention he could break free by releasing albums in Europe, America, or Japan.

Even if he doesn't release these, he can still make movies. Compared to the record market, Taiwan's film market is barely surviving, and it's far too small compared to the mainland.

Moreover, the most profitable way to make movies these days is to win awards in Europe and then sell the rights. A winning film can easily earn millions of dollars without worrying about box office returns.

In this situation, the targeting by a few competitors is insignificant.

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