Chinese Entertainment King: Starting as a Fat Boy and Becoming a Singing King

Chapter 88 The Company Can't Fulfill My Dream (Fifth Update, Begging for First Subscription)

Deputy Director Wang remained silent for a long time.

No one in the conference room dared to urge him.

General Manager Liu picked up his teacup and put it down again. Jin Lei waited respectfully, while Minister Zhou looked down at his notebook.

Deputy Director Wang had witnessed the long debate, the sharp questions and rebuttals, the sneers and silences.

He has seen far too many young people.

Having worked in the TV industry for decades, from "I Love Lyrics" to "The Voice of China," from other channels' Super Girls to Super Boys, he has seen contestants crying and begging the production team for another chance, contestants who were eliminated and squatted in the corridor refusing to leave, and champions who, after becoming famous, would immediately discuss profit sharing and contract termination with their companies.

But it had been a very, very long time—so long that he himself couldn't remember the last time—that he had seen a young man who dared to say in front of a room full of leaders that he wanted to be the next Jay Chou.

What he saw was not arrogance.

He had seen arrogant people; their eyes were filled with an eager desire for fame and fortune, and a blind confidence that they were better than everyone else.

But when Xu Yao said, "I want to become the new king of the Chinese music scene after Jay Chou," there were no such things in his eyes, only the light of enthusiasm.

Before he knew it, Deputy Director Wang felt a pang of sympathy, as if he were seeing his younger, impetuous self in the same light.

He put down his thermos and turned to look at the woman sitting on the other side of the long table who had barely said a word the entire time.

"Xin Xin, what do you think?"

Xu Yao followed his gaze.

She was a woman who still possessed a certain charm, wearing a well-tailored navy blue suit jacket, with short hair that reached her ears, and light but extremely exquisite makeup.

She sat there, not leaning forward or backward like the others, but sitting upright with her hands folded on her knees, as if she were attending a concert rather than a business negotiation.

She didn't say a word throughout the entire meeting.

But Xu Yao noticed a detail: when Deputy Director Wang called her "Xin Xin", General Manager Liu's shoulders tensed up almost imperceptibly.

Nasin raised her eyes to look at Xu Yao, her gaze as calm as a deep lake. She spoke: "My sister told me that Xu Yao deserves a chance."

Her voice wasn't loud, unlike Mr. Liu's imposing tone or Jin Lei's sharp, producer-like manner, but everyone in the conference room fell silent.

"I've been sitting here all day, listening to everything from beginning to end. I just want to see what this kid is capable of that my sister would give him such a high evaluation."

Nasin smiled slightly as she finished speaking.

"She said Xu Yao's brains are as good as a whole team's. She's brave and resourceful, can write and sing, has composure, and even has the face of an idol who's slimmed down from a talent show stage. Today I really saw it. I've been paying attention to her, and she can be summed up in four words: young and promising."

Mr. Liu's expression finally changed.

"Sister Xin————"

His voice carried a hint of barely concealed urgency.

"Don't be fooled by his sweet talk. This guy has been scheming from beginning to end; every step has been planned. The recording was planned, the interview was planned, and he probably even planned this meeting today—"

You can't believe a single word that a person like that says.

Naxin didn't turn to look at him; her gaze remained fixed on Xu Yao. After he finished speaking, she said in a calm tone, "Xiao Yao, come here and tell your sister why you insist on leaving. You can only give me one reason."

Xu Yao didn't answer immediately. He told himself that the person in front of him was probably Na-young's older sister.

It was his first time meeting Nashin in person, but there was a strange commonality between her imposing aura and Nayoung's seemingly carefree yet insightful ability to judge people.

Thinking of this, he spoke.

"Dear boss. I don't know how to address you yet, but all I can say is that staying with the company will definitely prevent me from realizing my dreams."

Nasin looked at him but didn't reply.

Xu Yao waited for a moment, but it seemed that what he saw in the row of seats opposite him was not a silent silence, but a demand for him to break down and dissect his words.

He thought for a moment, then continued speaking.

"I can write songs that are recognized and remembered by the public. But I need a music company that can distribute these songs. Even the best wine needs advertising; not every good song will be heard. Everyone in the industry knows that Chansing doesn't do promotion. Dream Voice's resources are for generating volume for tours, not for promoting individual works. I'm not saying this to be roundabout, but I genuinely believe that the company simply doesn't have the capability."

Nassin nodded and asked, "So, you're going to sign with one of the top music companies in China or even abroad, one with strong promotional capabilities?"

"Signing a record deal, not a full contract." Xu Yao nodded. He had already revealed his hand; if he kept it hidden any longer, he would miss the opportunity.

Nassin then asked, "After you go independent, is it still feasible for our company to invest in you or engage in deep cooperation?"

Xu Yao didn't hesitate for even a second.

"We can collaborate deeply. I want to give back to The Voice of China many times over. I know that in this industry, one person can never go very far alone."

Nasin did not ask any further questions, and Xu Yao continued speaking after expressing his opinion.

"I'm sorry, leaders. I can't afford to waste my energy on company structure and management. Since winning The Voice of China, I've only released one single. Too much time has been wasted on things unrelated to music creation. Becoming a superstar isn't something that happens overnight, nor can it be accomplished with just two or three albums. A person's most productive creative period is only a few years. Many excellent musicians end up leaving nothing behind, not because they lacked the ability to write, but because no one provided them with a good environment to focus on writing."

Nasin remained silent, seemingly deep in thought.

Deputy Director Wang glanced at her sideways, then looked away and cleared his throat.

"Xiao Yao, please step out for a moment. Let's discuss this."

"OK."

Xu Yao stood up, bowed slightly, and turned to push open the conference room door.

The corridor was long, the fluorescent lights illuminating the floor in a white glow, and outside the window on the sixteenth floor was the winter skyline of Hangzhou.

He leaned against the wall, let out a long breath, and then closed his eyes for a moment.

He had calculated for so long and prepared dozens of pages of dialogue plans, but he never expected that Nassin would sit in the conference room so discreetly that she seemed like a special audience member who didn't exist.

This world is so vast that the entire variety show industry chain lies between contract terms and dreams.

The world is so small that what ultimately helped him open that door was Na-young telling her sister, "Xu Yao deserves a chance."

What will happen next?

Is it about winning this game?

How can we convince them that a pop star can emerge from the stage of "The Voice of China"?

One last gamble, let's wait and see.

Xu Yao doesn't want to go to court unless absolutely necessary.

We must be adept at utilizing capital, and then become capital ourselves, thereby gaining dominance and the power to speak.