Just because I wrote "Zhu Xian," the school beauty sent me razor blades.

The high-speed train is heading north.

For a moment, only faint knocking sounds and the soft hum of the moving carriage could be heard in the private room.

A dozen minutes later, the woman's phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID, and her relaxed expression vanished.

After the call connected, she didn't speak immediately, but turned to the side and lowered her voice.

"Feed".

I don't know what was said on the other end of the phone.

The woman's initially calm expression slowly turned somber.

Lin Yuan's fingers paused slightly as he typed on the keyboard.

He didn't eavesdrop on purpose.

But the private room is only this big.

No matter how low the other person's voice is, there will always be a few keywords that will somehow get into your ears.

"Chu Nan... agreed to Starway Entertainment's offer?"

The woman's voice was steady, but noticeably colder.

The person on the other end of the phone was still giving a report.

She remained silent for a moment, her coldness deepening.

"etc."

"Haven't we already signed the contract?"

"Has he now switched sides and partnered with Starway Entertainment?"

"Does this mean you think the penalty for breach of contract is cheaper than your reputation?"

Another brief silence followed.

The woman took a deep breath and slowed her speech.

"Don't spread this within Tianxing yet, especially don't let it cause chaos among the artists."

"The August Star List cannot be empty."

"Keep in touch with the composition department and bring out the alternative plans first."

"Okay, wait for me to get back."

The phone hangs up.

The woman leaned back in her seat and rubbed her temples.

The private room fell silent.

Although Lin Yuan didn't hear everything, a few keywords were enough.

Chu Nan.

Temporary breach of contract.

Starway Entertainment.

August Star Chart.

Put these words together, and they certainly don't seem like a trivial matter.

Lin Yuan was particularly familiar with the name "Starway Entertainment".

After he came into this world, although he spent most of his time either sleeping or writing "Zhu Xian", he was not so much disconnected from society.

China's entertainment industry has four major players.

Tianxing Entertainment.

Starway Entertainment.

Qinghe Media.

Shengshi Pictures.

Tianxing Entertainment and Xingtu Entertainment have always been fierce competitors in the music industry.

It's the kind of relationship where if the other person releases a song, even if you're eating, you'll put down your chopsticks to leave a comment.

Lin Yuan glanced at the woman opposite him.

The woman noticed his gaze and looked up at him.

Lin Yuan wasn't embarrassed at all; instead, he naturally asked:

"Sister, what is this Nebula Ranking you mentioned earlier?"

The woman was slightly taken aback.

She seemed surprised that the young man who had been quietly typing away on his keyboard would suddenly speak to her.

She actually glanced at him twice when she entered the private room.

Young, with delicate features and a slightly nonchalant smile.

He's not the conventionally well-behaved and handsome type, but rather the kind of roguish charm that really grabs the camera.

If a talent scout were sitting here, their first reaction wouldn't be to ask him where he's going, but rather if he's interested in entering the entertainment industry.

The way she called out "sister" at that moment felt natural, neither ingratiating nor greasy.

The tension on her face eased a little.

"You don't know about the Nebula Rankings?"

Lin Yuan shook his head: "I don't know much about it usually."

The coldness on the woman's face lessened somewhat.

The woman said, "You can think of it as the most important new song chart in the Chinese music scene every month."

"Singers, record labels, and composers all keep an eye on this chart. Play counts, downloads, popularity, and discussion all affect the rankings."

"If you make it, you'll get exposure; if you don't, even the best publicity resources will be wasted."

Lin Yuan nodded.

understood.

Monthly Ranking

A battleground where singers and record companies release albums from each other every month.

In the online literature world, it would be a mix of new book charts, monthly ticket charts, bestseller charts, and blood pressure readings in the comments section.

The difference is that if a novel fails to climb the charts, the author can at most feign death.

If a song fails to climb the charts, the company really holds a meeting.

And it can run for several hours at a time.

Lin Yuan then asked, "Is the August Star Ranking very important?"

The woman glanced at him.

"Every month is important, but August is special. Summer is here, student groups are active, and hit songs are more likely to go viral. If we can make a splash this month, it will be a great opportunity for both the singer and the company."

Lin Yuan did not press the matter further.

He looked down, opened his browser, and searched for Tianxing Entertainment.

The information popped up quickly.

One of the four major entertainment companies in China.

Main business includes music, film and television, variety shows, and artist management.

They have many artists under their wing.

In recent years, the film and television sector has developed rapidly, and the music sector is also strong, but it has always been in fierce competition with Starway Entertainment.

Online reviews are fairly normal.

At least it's not the kind of company whose name automatically suggests "contract traps," "artist rights protection," or "boss running away" when you search for it.

After reviewing the information, Lin Yuan had a clear understanding of the situation.

reliable.

It's worth a try, at least.

He glanced at the woman opposite him again.

Isn't that a coincidence?

August.

Summer vacation.

Nebula Rankings.

There is no song available.

And in his mind, there just happened to be a song that was perfect for summer.

The melody is catchy, easily recognizable, and widely sung.

No need for fancy skills.

But as soon as it starts playing, you can feel the wind blowing.

Lin Yuan tapped the edge of the notebook lightly with his fingertips.

If "Zhu Xian" was a thunderbolt he threw into the world of online novels.

That song could be a good candidate to try and get some exposure in the music industry.

Anyway, we're already going to the capital.

Come here.

It would be a waste to just come here to play.

The woman noticed that Lin Yuan seemed to be thinking about something and casually asked, "Are you a student?"

"Just finished the college entrance exam."

"Want to go to Beijing for fun?"

"School starts in a month, I'll go check it out beforehand."

"Schools in the capital?"

"Jinghua Film Academy, Directing Department"

A hint of surprise flashed in the woman's eyes.

"The Directing Department of Beijing Film Academy?"

Lin Yuan nodded.

The woman looked at him more seriously this time.

The directing department of Jinghua Film Academy certainly holds considerable weight within the industry.

She nodded.

"That's pretty impressive."

"Good luck."

"Being able to get in is not something that can be explained by luck alone."

He glanced at the woman, his gaze open and honest, yet carrying a hint of youthful rebelliousness.

"Sister, we've been chatting for so long, and I still don't know how to address you."

"Fei Zhao".

"Lin Yuan".

The woman nodded.

"Hello, Sister Fei."

Upon hearing this address, Fei Zhao's lips curled up slightly.

She didn't intend to continue the conversation.

After all, no matter how outstanding this boy is, he is still just a prospective college student who has just received his college admission notice.

The work troubles she's facing now seem to be from completely different worlds.