She debuted after having a child with a celestial being.

The entire production, recording, cover photography, and mastering of the debut album were officially delivered two weeks ago.

Taihe Music's marketing machine has been fully activated—Chen Zhu posted the final release schedule in the work group, Hu Yiyou personally signed the budget increase order, and the reservation portals on major platforms simultaneously lit up with the cover featuring the HF group in a misty blue satin dress and a pure white linen shirt.

In the living room of the Shunyi villa, Xiao He forwarded the last master tape confirmation email to Lao Zhou and closed his laptop.

Liu Yifei nestled on the sofa, while the orange cat dozed off on her lap.

"Sissi, what are your plans for the future? Are you going to rest at home for a while, or what?"

"I'm really going to be busy now." She put the milk glass on the coffee table and pulled up a schedule on her phone.

"I'll be on the cover of Harper's Bazaar in July, with the theme 'Black Swan and Guitarist.' The studio is booked, and Liu Zongyuan, one of the top fashion photographers in China, will be shooting. The styling team has prepared two options for me: one is a black tulle ballet dress with smoky makeup, and the other is a rock-style motorcycle leather jacket with an electric guitar. Bazaar said this is one of their most important cover projects this year, and they've given it a spot in their quarterly issue."

She sounded quite pleased when she mentioned Liu Zongyuan, but Xiao He knew what that name meant.

Liu Zongyuan is a recognized master in the domestic fashion photography circle. He has shot cover photos of countless top female stars and is known for capturing the temperament of women.

His lens allows people to see things beyond the star aura.

Liu Yifei has graced the cover of Bazaar multiple times before, including themes such as "Chang'e Fairy" and "Flowers and Butterflies," but this collaboration's lineup and scale are clearly a step above any previous one.

Wearing a silk camisole, Liu Yifei became increasingly relaxed and at ease in front of Xiao He, nestled on the sofa as she spoke.

The view from above is breathtakingly beautiful.

"I'm also in talks for an endorsement deal with an international brand, but I can't reveal the details yet. My agent said that if the deal goes through, it will be the most commercially valuable contract I've had in recent years." She flipped to the next page of her schedule. "The pre-production for 'Dream Record' is also underway, and Director Yang asked me to attend a script reading next month."

Xiao He didn't tell her that he was also auditioning for the male lead in "The Dream of Splendor" in a couple of days. He leaned back on the sofa armrest, simply smiling as he listened to her finish, and said, "Then take a good rest these next few days, don't overwork yourself."

"Okay. What about you?"

"I went back to the studio to deal with the backlog of emails. He Chao has a ton of invitations coming up, and my assistant is going crazy."

When Xiao He returned to Hechao Music's studio, his assistant, Xiao Li, was looking at a screen full of emails, seemingly worried. She practically jumped up when she saw her boss walk in.

"Brother He, you're finally here. My inbox has been overflowing these past two days with brand endorsement offers, variety show invitations, commercial performances, and media interviews. I've roughly counted over sixty." She handed me a stack of neatly arranged A4 papers. "The quotes for commercial performances are now at the level of top-tier artists. According to market rates, Zhang Yixing's commercial performance fee is around 160 million, and Wu Moufan's is as high as 320 million. Your HF duo with Sister Feifei has been around for less than a year, and the commercial performance fees we've received so far are between 80 and 100 million, while the brand endorsement is a two-year package deal of 1200 million—this figure is unprecedented for a new group."

Xiao He turned a page of the A4 paper, his gaze lingering on the section for commercial performances. He pulled out the price list for the performances and placed it on the table, lightly tapping the numbers with his finger.

"I've refused all commercial performances."

"Why? Isn't that how singers make money?" Xiao Li put down his pen, his eyes full of confusion.

"Brother He, although every song you write is a hit, the album's revenue is actually quite thin. Streaming revenue sharing, physical record sales, digital album pre-orders—all of these combined, after deducting production costs, Taihe's share, and promotional expenses, the net profit that He Chao ends up with isn't as much as you imagine. What really makes musicians money is commercial performances and concerts."

Xiao He didn't answer directly. He leaned back in his chair, mentally reviewing the scenes from the commercial performance.

When Liu Yifei started her tour, a shopping mall in a third-tier city opened. The audience was holding up their phones, the sound equipment was rented temporarily, and there was almost no coordination with the band.

One show after another, today in Guangzhou, tomorrow flying to Chengdu, landing and heading straight to the venue, finishing the show and moving on to another venue overnight.

Singers make money this way—that's true, but once this rhythm starts, it's hard to stop.

For newcomers, it's a pillar of income, but for Liu Yifei, it's a downgrade in consumption.

Even if Liu Yifei herself agrees, he can't do it.

She has just rebuilt her public image after being criticized with four hit songs, relying on the precise breath control in every line of "Insomnia Flight", the high notes in "Mud" with her true voice, and the determination in "The Only One" where she looks up at him before the accompaniment ends.

Making her stand on a temporary stage set up in the mall, sing one song, and then move on to another venue—that's not a waste, it's a devaluation.

The cheapness of commercial performances, combined with her recently rebounded popularity, will lead brands to reclassify her as a "money-making gig."

He didn't explain these words to his assistant. He just thought to himself: Taking Liu Yifei to one commercial performance after another? How could he even think of that?

"I don't accept commercial performances. But I can do concerts." He put the commercial performance price list aside and picked up the A4 paper again to turn to the next page.

"Xiao Li, help me sort out all the invitations related to the concert—venue bookings, sponsors, performance companies. I'm not doing a small-venue trial run; I'm doing a large-scale ticketed concert with tens of thousands of attendees. Could you also check the market size data for concerts in 2018? I need it for reference."

"A concert needs to include at least twenty songs; we don't have enough songs right now."

"Yes. So we need to write more songs to make up the numbers—no, not to make up the numbers. The next few OSTs can be included in the concert setlist."

Xiao Li filled in a line on the form, then looked up and asked, "Brother He, can I ask why you're okay with concerts but absolutely won't accept commercial performances?"

"Because concert ticket sales directly verify an artist's true market appeal. The audience spends money to buy tickets, watches the entire performance, and provides comprehensive feedback on the stage quality, song arrangement, and live performance. When the industry measures commercial value, concert attendance and box office revenue are more convincing than any commercial performance price and more reliable than any brand endorsement."

After he finished speaking, he started flipping through the thick list of invitations again. After flipping through two pages, he suddenly remembered something and looked up at Xiao Li.

"By the way, don't just accept any brand endorsement. Turn down everything—micro-businesses, small local brands, low-end FMCG. If you're going to accept one, go for top international brands."

"Understood. What about variety show offers?"

"I'm open to variety shows. But I'll only choose those that allow the music to shine, with priority given to live, live performances. I'll reject all game shows and any offers for groups."

Xiao Li quickly took notes in his notebook.

She couldn't understand all the business logic behind Xiao He's decisions, but she remembered that moment of intuition—when Brother He made these arrangements, every time he mentioned the name "Liu Yifei," his tone was different from when he spoke normally.

"One last thing. I have an audition in a couple of days, it's related to Meng Hua Lu. Please prepare their information and script for me these next few days, everything you can find."

Xiao Li asked if he should tell Yifei, but Xiao He stood up, grabbed his coat, and walked towards the door, leaving only the words, "No need. I'll tell her myself after I pass the audition."

Xiao He sat down in his office. It was true; all singers made their money through tours.

But he was no longer an ordinary singer.

His mission was to make Liu Yifei's name worth millions of dollars and secure her numerous top luxury brand endorsements.

and then?

Of course, it's about marrying Liu Yifei and making her his wife.

So all of Liu Yifei's money is his money?

Not to mention anything else, Liu Yifei owns half of her mansion, which is the size of four football fields.

Then they could enjoy the flowers, the moon, and the beautiful scenery, and have children—it couldn't be happier.