Entertainment Era: Starting with Teaching Sister Meng to Sing

The popularity of Mengziyi continues to linger.

Countless classmates called her, asking where she studied vocal music and secretly wondering if they could also ask Wang Xiaozhou to sing with them.

Ma Xiaoping didn't sleep all night. She spent the first half of the night on the phone with her relatives, and the second half chatting with Wang Jianguo. She said that her son was so talented, he must have inherited it from her, and she was thinking about whether she should try writing songs herself.

Huang Mao and his gang went to an internet cafe and stayed overnight. They didn't play games; instead, they asked the manager for a speaker, plugged it in, and turned on sound from all three computers. If anyone asked, they would just point to the screen:

"You know Meng Ziyi, right? She's our sister-in-law."

Do you know who wrote the song for her?

Wang Xiaozhou, my older brother!

In a small town, if a celebrity emerges, everyone will know about it the next day. Wang Xiaozhou never imagined that the people around him would go to such lengths to promote him.

Overnight, it seemed like everyone—classmates, friends, relatives—was proud to know him.

Even on his way to school the next day, many more people greeted him.

Wang Xiaozhou used to be famous for his fighting skills. Everyone was afraid that if they said the wrong thing, they would get beaten up.

But now, when a creator is filtered through a lens, everyone inexplicably feels that this person is very gentle and that it would be a pleasure to interact with them.

Until a tactless guy stood next to Wang Xiaozhou, gave him the middle finger, and asked someone else to take a picture for him.

After Huang Mao slapped him, everyone remembered that this wasn't the first time Wang Xiaozhou had become famous; he used to be known as the number one warrior on Heping Road.

The situation was inexplicably calmed down by the blond-haired guy, but the class still didn't stop.

During the first self-study period, Meng Ziyi brought two entertainment companies to the door, saying that Wang Xiaozhou was the one in charge and that his agent should talk to him.

After hearing the terms from the two entertainment companies, Wang Xiaozhou handed the contract back to them, telling them to think it over again.

Meng Ziyi stayed at No. 1 Middle School and didn't leave. Huang Mao gave her his seat, and the two of them went to morning self-study together.

During the second period, while the Chinese teacher was still explaining the questions on the stage, the principal, accompanied by two middle-aged men, knocked on the door and asked Wang Xiaozhou to come to his office for a talk.

The people who came this time were agents from Mengyin Entertainment, a company that collaborates with The Voice of China.

She immediately said that she was introduced by Sister Ying, and the contract she offered was very sincere.

The signing fee is 500,000 yuan, and the contract term is six years.

During the six years, the company will take care of Meng Ziyi's food, clothing, housing and transportation, provide her with a monthly living allowance of 8,000 yuan, organize regular training, and arrange for Meng Ziyi to participate in a second-tier or higher variety show every year.

Revenue sharing is structured in stages: for the first three years, the company's share is 7:3 with the artist; for the following three years, the company's share is 5:5 with the artist.

For six years, all original copyrights of Meng Ziyi belong to the company. After six years, the copyrights will be returned to Meng Ziyi or the creator.

Upon the expiration of the contract, Mengyin Entertainment has the right of first refusal to renew the contract under the same conditions.

Almost all the conditions were based on those given by the top contestants on the show, and Sister Yingzi really liked Meng Ziyi.

But these contract terms just feel like something's missing.

Wang Xiaozhou stared at the contract for a long time, and finally, facing the incredulous gaze of the middle-aged man in the principal's office, he spoke:

"Shouldn't a clause be added to the contract stating that the company has an obligation to do everything in its power to ensure Meng Ziyi wins this year's Voice of China championship?"

Mengyin Entertainment's top agent is Wu Junjie, who is 35 years old this year. He has been in this industry since graduation, and has been doing so for 12 years. In these 12 years, he has never met an artist who dares to ask for such an exorbitant amount.

No, the Wang Xiaozhou in front of me isn't even an entertainer. At most, he's just an entertainer's strategist.

Wu Junjie stared intently into Wang Xiaozhou's eyes: "Do you know how much value a champion of a nationally renowned talent show represents?"

Wang Xiaozhou didn't shy away from the question: "But if the competition were to be played normally on the show, Meng Ziyi should be the champion."

"There aren't that many 'should' or 'shouldn't' considerations; the production team has its own."

This made it clear to Wang Xiaozhou that no matter how amazing Meng Ziyi's performance was afterward, she could never be the champion of The Voice of China.

"Who is this? Is your surname Li?"

"This has nothing to do with our contract."

"Take care and don't bother seeing me off."

Wang Xiaozhou stood up abruptly and pulled Meng Ziyi out of the principal's office.

Mengyin Entertainment does have some strength now, but that's only because it started to emerge this summer after The Voice of China became popular. If we don't consider the bonus of winning The Voice of China, it has no advantage compared to other established entertainment companies.

Under these circumstances, they were both so arrogant and haughty with him and Meng Ziyi. Wang Xiaozhou couldn't imagine how they would handle Meng Ziyi after the contract was signed.

"I rejected a signing fee of 500,000 yuan outright. Did it hurt?"

Back in the classroom, Wang Xiaozhou asked Meng Ziyi with a smile.

Meng Ziyi nodded: "Of course it hurts. It's 500,000 yuan. Even if I only have 10%, it's still 50,000 yuan, enough for Sister Juan to have multiple rounds of chemotherapy."

And he also has a basic salary of eight thousand yuan per month...

"Of course, it's up to you to choose, I have no objections."

Fearing that Wang Xiaozhou might think she was interfering with his decision, Meng Ziyi quickly added another sentence afterward.

Wang Xiaozhou shook his head and laughed, "Don't rush, it's still early."

As expected, not long after, the principal came to the classroom again and called for Wang Xiaozhou: "Wang Xiaozhou, come out with me for a moment."

He led Meng Ziyi to the principal's office again. This time, the quality of the company that came had improved, and the benefits they offered were also better.

However, after looking at the contract for a while, Wang Xiaozhou politely declined.

The other party's agent was very kind and hoped that the two of them would give it more thought. They left their contact information before turning and leaving.

From this point on, more and more agents started to visit, and Wang Xiaozhou and his partner met with them one after another, sometimes not even leaving the principal's office for an entire morning.

While eating the boxed lunch that the principal had brought back from the cafeteria at noon, Wang Xiaozhou joked, "Principal Li, can you give us some advice? Which of these companies offers the best terms?"

Principal Li laughed and said, "Give me advice? I think you have plenty of ideas. Anyway, no matter which school you choose, the news that our No. 1 Middle School has produced a creative genius has already spread. Next year will be another year when we beat No. 2 Middle School to a pulp."

Meng Ziyi retorted, "I'm still part of No. 2 Middle School!"

Principal Li waved his hand dismissively: "No. 2 Middle School isn't an arts school. What's the use of someone who can sing? Wang Xiaozhou's literary talent is genuinely from No. 1 Middle School."

Wang Xiaozhou was speechless after Principal Li laughed at him.

"Actually, you already have a decision in mind about which one to choose, right?"

Principal Li continued the topic he hadn't finished discussing earlier.

Wang Xiaozhou nodded: "Let's go with this one, Huaxing Entertainment. They've offered the most suitable terms so far."

Meng Ziyi looked at the contract that Wang Xiaozhou had presented, and her little fists under the table clenched tightly.

"Yes! With a signing fee of 700,000, if Wang Xiaozhou gets 90%, I'll still have 70,000 left, which is higher than expected!"

Wang Xiaozhou glanced at Meng Ziyi and immediately knew what she was thinking, and explained:

"The signing fee is the least important of these conditions. Living expenses, including subsequent profit sharing and contract duration, are all similar to those of Mengyin Entertainment. The reason I asked you to choose Huaxing is because of their last clause, which guarantees you participation in at least one top-tier variety show every year. This will greatly help your future career."

"oh."

Meng Ziyi nodded obediently.

Seeing that she understood, Wang Xiaozhou continued, "Make a call and ask Huaxing's agent to come over. Sign the contract now."

Just as Meng Ziyi picked up her phone to make a move, the sound of high heels clicking away came from outside the door:

"Wait, if the above conditions remain the same, and we add a guarantee that the artist's downtime will not exceed half a month, I think Meng Ziyi is more suitable for Dare Entertainment."

Song Shihui pushed open the door and entered, extending his right hand to Wang Xiaozhou: "Let's get to know each other again. My father's name is Song Ganwei."

Before I became a teacher, everyone called me the "Princess of the Chinese Entertainment Industry."