You're about to retire from the entertainment industry, yet your concerts are still so popular?

That afternoon.

Xu Hao didn't even knock before barging into Ye Chen's office.

"Brother Chen! A film crew is coming to pelt you with a mountain of gold!" Xu Hao was like a lit firecracker.

Ye Chen was sprawled on the sofa, eyes closed, not even lifting his eyelids: "Which sucker?"

"Why?! The one starring Bai Lu, the one with a supposedly 80 million yuan investment!"

Xu Hao lunged at the sofa, his eyes gleaming with greed!

"They're going crazy trying to buy 'Silence' as a theme song! They called the copyright department five or six times this morning, practically bringing the operations lady to tears!"

Ye Chen lazily opened his eyes: "Didn't they originally plan for an interlude?"

"It's abandoned! I heard that after the director heard your song 'Silence,' he threw away the original song on the spot and said that without 'Silence,' the drama doesn't deserve to be called 'Why'!"

"They offered a million, and President Jiang didn't even blink, immediately raising the price to one hundred and fifty! Guess what?" Xu Hao exclaimed excitedly, "They actually agreed to the deal in a second!"

"Only one hundred and fifty?" Ye Chen sat up and raised an eyebrow.

"What?!" Xu Hao's voice rose. "Brother, this is just a side story! Many top-tier stars can't even sell a theme song for this price! And this isn't even an exclusive license. They're clearly after your popularity and want to ride your coattails to drive viewership for their show!"

"Oh." Ye Chen lay back down, his tone indifferent. "Sell it. You can set the price if it's right, I don't care."

Xu Hao, exasperated, said, "My goodness! Can't you show some excitement like you're about to become a billionaire?!"

Ye Chen closed his eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips: "What's the rush? It's good to make the company some extra money before you retire from the industry."

"You—" Xu Hao was about to complain when his phone suddenly rang in his pocket!

Xu Hao answered the phone, and his expression changed as soon as he uttered "Feed?"

"What?!" His eyes widened in shock, and he trembled all over. "The director of 'Sound of Dreams'? He came to our company in person?!"

The assistant next to me was holding a throat-soothing tea when her hand trembled, and with a "splash," the amber liquid spilled all over the carpet.

"The Voice of Dreams?! The pinnacle of music competitions?!" She stared at Xu Hao, mouth agape, her expression one of utter astonishment.

"The Voice of Dreams" is a large-scale music variety show!

They actually came to find the boss on their own initiative?

In the past, weren't it always the contestants who wanted to participate who took the initiative to sign up with the program team?!

At that moment, she had an expression that said, "I'm sure I heard you right!"

Xu Hao hung up the phone, still in a daze: "Brother Chen... Director Yang Can is in the reception room, saying he wants to see you..."

Ye Chen slowly propped himself up from the sofa and straightened his collar:

"Let's go, the customers have arrived. If we don't go and greet them, it will make us, the sugar merchants, seem ignorant of etiquette."

Although he's about to retire from the industry, he wouldn't do things like slacking off, acting like a big shot, or turning away music variety show directors.

After all, Sheng Tang will still have to work in this industry in the future.

The two left in a hurry, leaving the assistant alone, staring blankly at a puddle of tea stains: "...Is the boss about to ascend to heaven?"

After all, if the boss were to go on a music competition, wouldn't he be able to dominate?

As for the script? The boss's fans even dared to have him cosplay as a savage bonfire, and even have thousands of people recite wild poems together...

What else wouldn't they dare to do? Oh, except cover the boss's songs! After all, they've been hospitalized once for singing them.

……

Reception room.

Yang Can was holding a teacup when Ye Chen entered. He immediately stood up to greet him, smiling like a blooming sunflower: "Teacher Ye Chen! It's an honor to meet you!"

Jiang Mengting cut to the chase and said directly, "Director Yang came in person to invite Ye Chen to be a temporary mentor for one session."

"Mentor?!" Xu Hao stumbled, almost kneeling behind Ye Chen. "Wasn't he supposed to be a temporary guest? How did he become a mentor?!"

Yang Can quickly waved his hand, his tone obsequious: "To be precise, you're a temporary mentor! You don't need to participate throughout the entire process. Just give the contestants some feedback after the previous mentors have finished their comments. The rest of the time, you can just watch the contestants perform in a separate judging room. It won't tire you out at all!"

Jiang Mengting and Xu Hao exchanged a glance!

They both saw the same word in each other's eyes: outrageous!

It's worth noting that "Voice of Dreams" is one of the top music variety shows in China!

The industry that so many singers would kill to get into is now being begged by a director to be Ye Chen's mentor.

"Ye Chen, what do you think? It's okay if you're 'not feeling well'."

Jiang Mengting couldn't openly tell the director she didn't want to go.

She hinted to Ye Chen that she didn't want to go, and then politely declined by saying she was "not feeling well."

Seeing Ye Chen's indifferent expression, Yang Can, fearing rejection, hurriedly held up his fingers to indicate:

"This episode won't take up too much of your time. As for the appearance fee, Mr. Ye Chen, I can offer this amount per episode."

"Eighty thousand?" Jiang Mengting frowned and asked coldly.

Yang Can shook his head, grinning from ear to ear: "Eight hundred thousand."

"How much?! Eight or eight hundred thousand?!" Xu Hao felt a surge of heat rush to his head, his vision blurred, and his legs went weak. He almost had to hold onto the wall to avoid slipping to the ground.

He had only one thought in his mind!

Brother Chen's money-making speed is like he's driving a bulldozer and shoveling gold into his house!

Jiang Mengting also gasped.

Even she, who was used to business negotiations, was shocked by this number!

Eight hundred thousand in the first phase?!

Wouldn't that amount to nearly ten million for one season?!

Even top-tier celebrities might not be able to afford this price!

Ye Chen simply nodded: "Okay, there's still enough time this month, I'll go on this show."

"That's great!" Yang Can slapped his thigh excitedly, his laughter making the glass windows vibrate!

"Teacher Ye Chen is truly generous! It's a pleasure to work with you! It's a pleasure to work with you all!"

Amidst laughter, the legal department assured everyone that the contract was flawless: "Mr. Jiang, Mr. Ye Chen, apart from what Director Yang didn't mention during the live stream, everything on the contract is normal, with no other flaws."

"Okay, I don't mind the live stream." Ye Chen nodded, picked up a pen, and signed the contract.

At this moment, Yang Can's face was practically beaming with joy.

As it was almost time to say goodbye, Yang Can shook hands with each of the people present: "We finally managed to get Teacher Ye Chen on the show, well... see you then."

See you then.

……

The next morning, Murong Shujin rushed into Ye Chen's office carrying a gift box.

"Junior brother, this is a throat lozenge that your senior sister is giving you."

She paused, then took out a small sandalwood box and whispered, "And... this is agarwood oil that Lin Shengnan asked me to give you."

"Kynam oil?!" Ye Chen's eyes lit up instantly!

He snatched the wooden box, as if holding the Imperial Seal of the State!

Qinan oil is extracted from agarwood, and it's more expensive than gold!

One drop is equivalent to drinking ten thousand dollars.

But what Ye Chen cared about wasn't the price, but its excellent throat-protecting effects!

On Earth, teacher Li Jian once gifted agarwood oil to his students and Dimash.

Of course, the other Jinfenbei throat lozenge that my senior gave me today is also excellent; many professional singers use this throat lozenge.

Ye Chen happily accepted the two gifts: "Hehe, thank you for your thoughtfulness, senior sister."