A band, or a battleground?

Qiu Mengxue pouted: "You know it too, it's all to attract viewers."

Ning Qianyu sighed, "Forget it, I wonder what kind of celebrity they'll assign us... Ugh, just thinking about it makes me feel uneasy. Aren't those powerful figures always trying to mess with us? I think they're definitely going to pull another stunt this time!"

At this moment, Qi Yuan stopped in his tracks.

The three girls beside him also stopped and looked ahead in the direction of his gaze. They spotted Su Muluo not far away, as well as a slightly chubby woman dressed as an office lady.

As for being slightly chubby, that person was indeed slightly chubby, perhaps only a size wider than average. On the street, they would be just another face in the crowd, unremarkable. It's just that standing next to the handsome Su Muluo, they looked a little out of place.

Ning Qianyu whispered, "I'd bet five dollars that it's someone from Tianhua Entertainment. Mengxue, do you dare to bet?"

Qiu Mengxue: "I think so too."

Ning Qianyu: "Tch, looks like I can't make those five bucks."

Qi Yuan, of course, wouldn't gamble on such an obvious scheme, so he walked towards the two people.

A smile appeared on Su Muluo's face. Compared to before, her smile was still as friendly as ever, but it carried an extra layer of respect, even a hint of trepidation.

"Brother Yuan, are you free right now? Do you have time to grab a late-night snack or something?"

Qi Yuan was slightly taken aback.

Su Muluo was probably a young man in his early twenties, and it felt a bit strange for him to be called "Brother Yuan" by a high school student. Of course, what felt even more strange was that this was a term of address usually used by delinquent teenagers in school.

He said, "Is there something you need? Shouldn't you introduce the person next to you?"

"Oh, okay! This is Sister Liu, our agent at Star Elements, and also a senior manager at Tianhua Entertainment, uh..."

"Senior Brokerage Manager?"

"Yes, yes, Brother Yuan, you know so much."

Qi Yuan suppressed a laugh and looked at Sister Liu.

Sister Liu smiled and said, "Qi, I'd like to find a place to talk to you. Would you like some late-night snacks?"

Qi Yuan was too lazy to engage in any of those polite formalities and went straight to the point: "Has your company prepared a contract for us?"

Sister Liu paused for a moment, then nodded: "Of course we were prepared."

"To be honest, Jufeng Music also prepared a contract before, but we didn't really like it," Qi Yuan said meaningfully. "So, today we'll see what this contract is like."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

070 Sugar-Coated Shells

The soft, soothing sound of a cello filled the Western restaurant.

Su Muluo didn't follow them in and tactfully took her leave. Following closely behind was Teacher Su Wan.

After ordering and waiting for the waiter to leave the private room, Liu Weiting took out two bound documents from her purse, pushed them to the center of the table, and said with a smile:

"This is a draft contract prepared by our company. Both copies are identical. Qi, you previously said that Jufeng Music's contract was somewhat harsh. You can take a look at the sincerity that Tianhua has offered."

Qi Yuan picked up a copy, and Teacher Su, the only adult elder in the band present, also picked up a copy. Qiu Mengxue naturally looked at it with her mother, while Jiang Yi, standing next to Qi Yuan, quietly leaned closer to look at the copy in his hand.

For a moment, only the soft sound of turning pages filled the private room.

After a few minutes, Teacher Su spoke first: "To be fair, this draft is indeed more generous than the usual industry practice. The contract term is only two years, which is rare among newcomers in the current talent show."

Liu Weiting laughed and said, "Of course, most companies sign contracts for at least five years."

Qi Yuan tapped his finger on the table: "It's not just about the time limit, the key point is also the division of copyright ownership."

Liu Weiting immediately replied, "The copyright of the lyrics and music belongs entirely to the creator. Tianhua only enjoys the exclusive distribution rights and performance rights during the contract period. The company does not want to monopolize your hard work; we only hope to help you make your hard work shine even brighter."

Qiu Mengxue asked, "What about profit sharing?"

Liu Weiting replied, "Digital album sales, commercial performances, and endorsement income are split 50/50."

Jiang Yi asked quietly, "Is a 50/50 split okay?"

Qiu Mengxue explained in a low voice, "Of course it's good. Newcomers in the industry without any connections usually only get 20% or 30%, with most of the profits going to the company. The percentage Tianhua is offering is quite generous."

Liu Weiting said with an air of righteousness, "Tianhua Entertainment is a top-tier company in the industry, and we value long-term cooperation. As long as you can demonstrate matching commercial value, the company is willing to make concessions. You can see on page six; we have a guaranteed resource commitment."

Ning Qianyu peeked out and read aloud: "During the contract period, there is a minimum guarantee of releasing two studio albums for Chunriying, and providing no less than three S-level variety show guest appearances... Wow, that sounds pretty good!"

Qi Yuan picked up the lemonade on the table, took a sip, and said, "Compared to the ten-year contract with copyright buyout that Jufeng Music offered, Tianhua's contract is indeed more sincere."

Seeing their reaction, Liu Weiting relaxed a bit and leaned back in her chair: "So, as long as you sign the papers, the company will mobilize resources to support you in the subsequent competitions. Once the show is over, you can move into the company's high-end apartment, complete with a dedicated assistant and a nanny car."

Qiu Mengxue corrected, "We are still high school students. We will have to go back to school after the show ends."

Liu Weiting was taken aback, but not embarrassed at all. She said quite naturally, "Sorry, I forgot about that. But it's okay. Of course, we can respect your wishes in this regard, as long as you don't just focus on studying when you're at school."

“That sounds perfect,” Qi Yuan put down his water glass and changed the subject, “provided that we don’t look at page seven of the contract.”

Teacher Su immediately turned to the corresponding page, looked at it for a while, and sighed, "There's no such thing as a free lunch."

Qi Yuan: "Manager Liu, the initial sugar coating is indeed sweet, but aren't the restrictive clauses a bit too many?"

Liu Weiting replied matter-of-factly, "This is for the convenience of company management. Is there a problem?"

Qi Yuan read out all the restrictive clauses one by one:

"The account passwords for all external communication channels of the band members, including blogs and short videos, must be submitted to the company's operations department for unified management. Artists are not allowed to publish unapproved content without authorization."

"Unconditionally cooperate with the company's business arrangements. This includes, but is not limited to, accepting commercial endorsements, commercial performances, appearing on variety shows, and participating in idol dramas."

"Public image, including hairstyle and clothing style, must be arranged by the planning department. In the event of a public relations crisis, you must unconditionally cooperate with the company's statement strategy."

Ning Qianyu frowned upon hearing this: "You have to hand over your own account? You have to report to the operations team just to post a selfie? What kind of puppet are you?"

Qiu Mengxue's face was cold, and her tone was stiff: "Act in an idol drama? I can't act, and I have no interest in acting."

Jiang Yi also shrank back, clearly resisting this kind of life that was completely controlled.

Faced with the boys' and girls' rejection, Liu Weiting crossed her hands on the table and explained, "You need to understand that Tianhua Entertainment's operating model is different from those purely underground music labels. We excel at creating stars. Since the company offers such generous copyright and revenue-sharing terms, we naturally need control to mitigate risks. The current online environment is very complex. If artists say things recklessly online, it can lead to public relations disasters, and confiscating accounts is standard practice. As for cooperating with commercial performances and participating in dramas, that's resource exchange. More cross-industry exposure will benefit your increased visibility."

Qi Yuan shook his head: "Manager Liu, I understand your business logic, but we are a band."

Liu Weiting countered, "Can't a band be idols? The four of you have great looks, far surpassing the average musician, and you have all the potential to be idols. With a little packaging, you can monetize very quickly."

“Then I’ll be frank,” Qi Yuan said, looking directly into the other person’s eyes, his tone calm and firm. “A band needs authenticity. If we are strictly regulated by the company in what we say and what we wear, fans who like Blue Lotus music will feel that we are assembly line products.”

The private room fell silent.

Liu Weiting stared intently at the boy in front of her.

Qi Yuan suddenly grinned: "Sister Liu, do you have a pen?"

"Yes, what do you want to do?"

"Make a slight modification to the contract."

“You…” Liu Weiting hesitated for a moment, then took out a black pen from her bag and handed it over.

She had originally intended to use the pen for signing contracts. She had imagined that such a generous contract might win over these high school students on the spot, and perhaps even get them to sign it at the dinner table.

However, Qi Yuan then took the pen and began making corrections on the contract...

"Manager Liu, if Tianhua wants to sign us, this is my bottom line." Qi Yuan pushed the revised contract back.

Upon closer inspection, Liu Weiting noticed that most of the restrictive clauses had been crossed out and rejected, with some suggested amendments next to them:

[The band has the right to veto business activities.]

[Social media accounts must remain in the control of the band members. The company can offer suggestions and review content, but cannot post on their behalf.]

[Filming or participating in variety shows requires the consent of the band members.]

These handwritten requirements gave Liu Weiting an increasingly headache.

But in the blank space below, she suddenly noticed a sentence that Qi Yuan had added:

[Each year, one or two original singles can be provided, with the company buying out the copyright usage rights. The creator retains only the right to be credited, which can then be used by other artists for release and performance.]

Qi Yuan was reluctant to part with his treasure trove of songs, but there were some songs that he could sing anytime, yet he didn't want to sing them himself.

For example, songs like "Learn to Meow," "Mice Love Rice," "Love for Sale," and "Can't Afford to Get Hurt"... the kind you really don't want to listen to, but are forced into your ears.

He only promised to give me one or two songs, without specifying what kind. Using songs I'm too ashamed to sing as leverage—isn't that perfect?

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

071 Are you going to help?

[Each year, one or two original singles can be provided, with the company buying out the copyright usage rights. The creator retains only the right to be credited, which can then be used by other artists for release and performance.]

These words made Liu Weiting take a deep breath.

If the songs you bring out are of the caliber of "Blue Lotus," "A Thousand Years Later," or "Those Flowers"...

She looked up and took a closer look at the boy in front of her.

"The demands you've made are essentially a semi-independent musician model. This completely breaks Tianhua Entertainment's management conventions. If we open this door for you, the company will have no way to manage other artists."

Qi Yuan capped his pen and placed it on the table: "If we can't break the rules, then forget it. We can just take our own path for a while and talk again when we have more leverage."

Liu Weiting remained silent for a moment, sighed, and reached out to put the revised draft back into her purse.

“Qi, your maturity and skills are completely out of sync with your age. The freedom you’ve requested is also beyond my authority. I can’t grant your request now. I need to take this request back to headquarters and report it to my superiors before I can give you a final answer.”

Qi Yuan nodded and smiled: "It's alright, I'm not in a hurry. We need to prepare for the next round of the cooperative competition anyway. Manager Liu can discuss it with his superiors at his leisure."

Next came the late-night snack time, but most of the time, it was just the four of Chunri Ying and Teacher Su eating.

As for Liu Weiting, she only ate a few bites before hurriedly saying goodbye and going to pay the bill.

Clearly, she was in a hurry to communicate with the company.

After finishing the meal, Teacher Su drove the four students back to the hotel.

Inside the car, Teacher Su remarked, "Qi Yuan, you were unusually composed today. To be honest, seeing all those attractive offers, even I was tempted to persuade you to sign."

Qi Yuan leaned back in the passenger seat, looking at the night view rushing past the window: "It's a sugar-coated bullet, isn't it? Just eat the sugar coating and throw the bullet back."

Qiu Mengxue, sitting in the back row, asked, "What if the higher-ups at Tianhua Entertainment don't agree to amend the terms?"

Qi Yuan replied, "Then we won't sign. We already have exposure, and our popularity will definitely rise after this episode of 'Like Snow' airs. Having our own work makes us feel less anxious."

Jiang Yi softly echoed, "Yes, as long as we can keep making good music."

Ning Qianyu stretched: "Let Qi Yuan worry about the contract. My focus right now is on the collaboration competition in a few days. God help us, please don't let us get a tone-deaf one!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Ms. Shen, then I won't bother you any longer. Please get some rest. I'll take you to the film set at ten o'clock tomorrow morning."

As Assistant Zeng said this, he left the room and closed the door behind him.

She should have taken a shower first, but Shen Yihan lay on the bed, not wanting to move at all.

Because today, she has been on set for more than ten hours, from morning to night, and the female lead needs to appear in every shot. Moreover, there are frequent NGs and reshoots, and just thinking about it is exhausting.

Shen Yihan lay down, picked up her phone, and casually opened a variety show.

Then came the violent rock music and the screaming vocals:

"Tear off all the shackles, rip off that mask!"

"Don't come and preach to me, don't pray in the ruins..."

Shen Yihan couldn't help but frown. Just as she was about to exit and turn off the show, she noticed a few comments on the screen:

How can this song be compared to something from a thousand years in the future?

[Chen Jiashu is talking nonsense, the production team is messing around!]

Why does this lousy band get so much screen time, but Kasuga Kage doesn't get the same treatment?

[Is he the director's illegitimate child?]

[The next song will completely blow it away!]

So Shen Yihan fast-forwarded, wanting to see how the next song would completely outshine her.

After Titans finished their performance, the judges gave their comments for a while, interspersed with footage of Titans' preparations for the stage performance, including rehearsal scenes. Since a film crew was following them the whole time, these clips could be included in the final cut to help them attract viewers.

Unfortunately, judging from the reactions in the comments, it clearly had the opposite effect.

Shen Yihan kept the playback speed at three times the normal speed until the next band came on stage.