Huayu: The young actress is heavily dependent on me

Meng Ziyi was stunned.

"Sister Meng, what you lack right now isn't ability, it's exposure." Chen Li tightened his arms around her, pulling her shoulders into his embrace.

"So Cute Us is just the first drama. I need to bring out the good reputation of several newcomers after the broadcast, but you can't rely on this low-budget web series as a foundation. You need a platform that can actually be broadcast on TV."

"Although the role Yongle gave you is small, you are Lin Yoona's maid, and you get to see her face in every episode. This level of exposure is what you need most right now."

He paused for a moment, then revealed his true intentions:

"Besides, my studio is still just an empty shell. I can't sign you, at least not right now. I can't even come up with a contract that guarantees you a basic salary and social insurance and housing fund benefits."

"You sign a three-year contract with Yongle, they'll guarantee you a minimum number of acting roles, so get all the resources you're entitled to first. Once things are settled on my end, come back in three years, and I'll have a place reserved for you."

Meng Ziyi stared at him for a long time, then suddenly lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, it was hard to tell whether she was moved or something else.

She buried her face in the crook of his neck and said in a muffled voice:

"Aren't you afraid I won't come back?"

"You won't," Chen Li said with a smile, playfully flicking her nose.

"Didn't you say you wanted to be my company boss's wife? Are you willing to give that up?"

Meng Ziyi blushed and bit Chen Li's shoulder.

"Keep showing off. Just wait until you've lost everything, then you can expect to be my sugar daddy!"

......

April 22, 2014, Shanghai.

A light drizzle was falling in Shanghai in autumn.

Chen Li walked ahead, holding an umbrella, while Bai Mengyan followed behind, carrying a folder.

The two walked through a narrow alley and stopped in front of an inconspicuous little café.

"Boss, are you sure he'll come?"

Bai Mengyan closed her umbrella, shook off the water, and her canine teeth were faintly visible at the corner of her mouth.

"She was on 'The Voice of China' after all. Even though she was eliminated, she still has a lot of popularity online."

"That's why we should do it now." Chen Li pushed open the door. The coffee shop was warm, and the air was filled with the aroma of roasted coffee beans.

Chen Li is preparing to write a song as the theme song for "So Lovely Us".

And the song he chose was that divine song, "The Wind Rises".

Chen Li had already secured the exclusive global Chinese adaptation rights to the original Japanese manga "Yakimochi" by mid-August.

Furthermore, since the song was only released in Japan on August 16th, Chen Li only spent a mere 400,000 RMB to acquire the copyright for it.

After the Chinese version is released, 30% of the digital revenue from the Japanese version will be given to Yu Takahashi.

Furthermore, if the Chinese version garners over 100 million views in mainland China, an additional bonus of 1 million RMB will be awarded.

This is an absolute steal!

He was sure he could sing the song himself, but he thought of a perfect candidate.

Zhou Shen.

At this time, Zhou Shen was in a sensitive period after being eliminated by Na Ying from The Voice of China. His strength was recognized, but he lacked someone who could support him.

In late August 2014, during the mentor assessment for Na Ying's team on the third season of "The Voice of China," Zhou Shen and Li Wei sang "By the Lake Baikal," stunning the entire audience.

Zhou Shen's voice is ethereal and clear, while Li Wei's timbre is warm and mellow. Their harmony has been described by netizens as a "match made in heaven."

However, Na Ying ultimately chose Li Wei, and Zhou Shen was eliminated in the top 16.

This elimination sparked huge controversy at the time, with the internet flooded with questions about "good looks eliminating good voices," and even Na Ying was criticized and became a trending topic.

After all, the four finalists from Na Ying's team were all female contestants. The title of "Four Beauties of Class Two" made outsiders question whether Na Ying's selection criteria were singing ability or appearance.

The wind chimes on the door jingled once.

When Zhou Shen pushed open the door and came in, he stood at the entrance of the coffee shop and looked around timidly.

When he saw Chen Li waving at him, he was stunned for a moment, then quickly walked over with a slightly shy smile on his face.

"Teacher Chen...Teacher Chen Li?" Zhou Shen sat down opposite him, slightly out of breath, and took off his canvas bag and placed it on the chair next to him as he spoke.

"I'm so sorry, I took the subway in the wrong direction. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting..."

Chen Li raised her hand to indicate that he didn't need to rush, and pushed a hot latte over: "Warm your hands first. I'm not late, I arrived early."

Zhou Shen held the cup in both hands, warming his fingers with the warmth of the coffee.

When she looked up at Chen Li, her eyes were somewhat evasive.

Is Teacher Chen Li really that handsome?

Only after being eliminated did Zhou Shen truly realize the importance of good looks and financial background.

"To be honest, I was quite surprised when I heard you wanted to see me." Zhou Shen looked down at the slowly swirling coffee stains in his cup.

"Because... I listened to your song 'Undyed' on repeat for a long time. The melody is written so cleanly, and the arrangement is so layered."

"Every time I listen to it, I think, 'How can this person be so talented? It's totally my type!'"

When he talked about music, his restraint subtly eased a bit, and his eyes brightened.

Chen Li smiled after hearing this.

"Shen Shen—is it alright if I call you that?" He leaned back in his chair, his tone more formal than before.

"I won't beat around the bush with you. The reason I flew to Shanghai specifically to see you is because I've watched every single one of your performances on The Voice of China."

"I've listened to your renditions of 'Joyful Face' and 'By the Lake Baikal' over and over again."

He paused, his eyes serious.

"There was something fishy about that match. With your skill level, you shouldn't have been eliminated in that round."

Zhou Shen's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he swallowed it back.

He lowered his head, his finger tracing circles on the rim of the glass, and after a long silence, he said softly:

"Teacher Chen Li, actually... I'm used to it. It's been like this since I was a child. Because my voice is different from others, I always get stared at wherever I go."

"I think it's normal for Na Ying to choose Li Wei, after all..."

He didn't say the second half of his sentence; he just twitched the corner of his mouth and smiled faintly.

He was thinking, after all, who would choose a boy who sings like a girl?

He was the "sissy" in the choir who was ridiculed by the boys since elementary school, and he didn't even dare to tell his parents when he went on "The Voice of China".

He was afraid that the judges would see the shocked expressions on their faces when he opened his mouth, thinking, "Oh, it's a man after all."

"Something's not right." Chen Li interrupted him, her tone low, but his enunciation was extremely firm.

"A good voice shouldn't be eliminated just because you sing well. Your voice isn't a flaw; it's a talent that others can't develop even after a lifetime of practice."

Zhou Shen raised his head, his eyes slightly red.

Chen Li knew it was about time. He pushed the proposal document to the side and turned to the first page:

"My team is currently missing someone who can take charge of the music section. I'd like to invite you to join us."

"Not as a contestant or student, but as the studio's first signed musician. You will have a say in all music production and creation matters."

Zhou Shen's eyes widened, and he was about to speak.

Chen Li held up one finger, signaling him not to rush to answer.

Then he took a sheet music from Bai Mengyan and handed it to Zhou Shen.

"Listen to this first before you speak."

He took his phone out of his pocket and opened a recording file.

A piano prelude flowed from the small phone speaker; the prelude was short and the melody was clean.

Zhou Shen subconsciously held his breath.

Then Chen Li began to hum along softly to the melody.

The melody was like a breeze blowing from the distant mountains, gently seeping into one's bones.

The melody conveys the stubbornness of a young boy running against the wind to the mountaintop, as well as the loneliness of standing by the window watching the lights of thousands of homes after dusk.

By the time the chorus ended, Zhou Shen's eyes were already red.

He felt that the song resonated with him!

It feels like I've sung it countless times in my past life!

Chen Li turned off the recording, and the coffee shop fell silent again.

"This song is called 'The Wind Rises'." Chen Li pushed the sheet music towards him again.