A band, or a battleground?

Qiu Mengxue immediately replied: 【What are we playing?】

Nika: [It's like a bar or something...]

Qiu Mengxue: [I am a minor.]

Nika: [Okay, so are you interested in the music street in Beijing? There are lots of live music venues and instrument stores there.]

Qiu Mengxue: [I've been there.]

Nika: [OK, OK, so are there any tourist attractions in Beijing that you're interested in? I've been here for a long time, maybe I can be your tour guide.]

Qiu Mengxue: [What does "maybe" mean? Am I even qualified to be a tour guide?]

Nika: [...]

Qiu Mengxue: [Do you have a tour guide license?]

Nika: [I don't need a tour guide license just to bring friends, right?]

Qiu Mengxue: [Okay, I'd like to go to the National Museum. Could you explain the history of the artifacts to me? I'm very interested in Shang and Zhou bronzes, Tang tri-colored pottery, and Song dynasty porcelain.]

Nika: [So you're interested in history? Wow, you're so knowledgeable!]

Qiu Mengxue: [I only said I was interested in those cultural relics. How did you come to see that I'm erudite? It can't just be terms like "Tang Sancai" (Tang tri-colored pottery), can it? Besides, truly erudite people don't need others to explain things to them.]

Then, the other party did not reply for the time being.

Ning Qianyu commented, "I don't think she has much patience."

Jiang Yi nodded: "Exactly, she was so proactive when she was looking for Qi Yuan, but when she talked to us, she didn't want to continue the conversation after just a few sentences?"

Qiu Mengxue concluded, "I think she's interested in someone. No, Qi Yuan, you need to stay away from her from now on."

Qi Yuan: "I've already offended her completely, do you still need to tell me this?"

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.

Meanwhile, in another villa a few hundred meters away.

Nika slammed her phone onto the bed, furious: "What's wrong with this lousy band? Are they all crazy?!"

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.

The most mentally exhausting jobs are those performed by workers in 096.

For the Kasuga Shadow Band, Nika's actions were a joke. But the new invitation the next morning was no laughing matter.

It was a call from Sun Man of Jufeng Music, inviting Qi Yuan to lunch. Moreover, she mentioned on the phone that President Lin of Jufeng Music would also be joining them.

Qi Yuan and the three girls did some research and found information about this CEO Lin Xin online; there was even an entry for him on Baidu Baike (Chinese Wikipedia). While he might not be able to completely control the domestic music scene, he certainly wielded considerable influence.

So, Qi Yuan kept his appointment.

The dining environment was quite pleasant, with a square table set beside a small bridge and flowing water. The dishes served by the waiters were also excellent in appearance, aroma, and taste. However, perhaps because it was a bit far from the kitchen, the food was inevitably a little cold when we ate it.

Lin Xin asked with a smile, "Do you like the food here?"

Qi Yuan also gave the same polite smile: "Very good, thank you, President Lin."

Sun Man chimed in, "President Lin really cares about you. Not only did he revise the contract, but he also asked me several times why we haven't reached a cooperation agreement with Chunriying yet."

Lin Xin said leisurely, "Xiao Sun must know very well. I've criticized her several times just for this. She's probably scared, hahaha."

Qi Yuan: "I am deeply grateful for Mr. Lin's kindness."

"Of course, who can't tell who the champion of Tomorrow's Band is this season? If someone can't tell, then they really don't understand music at all! I'm different. I formed a band when I was in college. Although we broke up later, I was at least a real musician once."

As he said this, Lin Xin waved his hand. Although he wasn't intentionally showing off, the watch on his wrist was still quite eye-catching.

Qi Yuan glanced at his watch, then looked directly at him and said politely, "Mr. Lin is certainly a person who understands music, and no one should dare to deny that."

Lin Xin laughed and said, "That's right. It's because I understand that I know better than anyone how precious true original musicians are. There are plenty of people who can sing well. But very few who can write good songs. Others may not realize your value, but I see it all too clearly."

Qi Yuan picked up his teacup: "Thank you, Mr. Lin. Here, let me toast you."

Lin Xin also picked up his teacup, raised it in a gesture of respect, and the two of them drank half a cup together.

He put down his cup and said, "That's why I specially prepared a gift for you. Don't be shy, Qi Yuan. I just really appreciate your talent."

As soon as she finished speaking, Sun Man placed a small black box on the table, opened the lid, and pushed it in front of Qi Yuan.

The box looks very high-end, and the Trident car key inside is even more exquisite.

Qi Yuan's eyes twitched: "What do you mean by this?"

Lin Xin smiled and said, "It's a gift for you. Take this car key, and Xiao Sun will take you to complete the transfer procedures this afternoon."

Qi Yuan didn't touch the box, but said, "Mr. Lin, have you forgotten that I'm still a minor and don't have a driver's license?"

Lin Xin waved his hand dismissively: "It's okay, I've arranged a professional driver whose job is to drive you. Of course, if you sign a contract with us, we'll also arrange a business vehicle and a nanny van, as well as a driver, specifically for your band. But this car isn't for Chunriying, it's for you, Qi Yuan."

Qi Yuan remained silent for a while, then smiled and said, "I can't accept a gift without having done anything right. I'm really embarrassed to accept this gift from you."

"Don't be shy. Didn't I already say that I used to be a musician too? I understand music and I appreciate talent. Even if you accept it, the signing fee will still be the same."

"But as I said, I can't accept a gift without doing something right. If I had already signed the contract, I would definitely accept this gift. But it hasn't happened yet, I still need to discuss it with my teammates."

Seeing that the young man really wouldn't accept it, Lin Xin sighed, "You really surprised me. I originally thought that since your family isn't well-off, you might not be able to resist. I didn't expect you to not even glance at that car."

Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow: "How do you know my family isn't well-off?"

Lin Xin still had a smile on his face, though it had faded slightly: "I not only know that your family is not well-off, but I also know that your father is not free. You don't want this to become a public issue, do you?"

Qi Yuan's smile vanished: "You've investigated me?"

Lin Xin: "No, this is just to get some background information beforehand so we can cooperate better."

Qi Yuan: "You investigate my background."

Lin Xin's speech quickened: "It's precisely because we know about this that we can better implement targeted preventative measures. For example, we can help you protect your personal information, or release false information online to cover it up..."

Qi Yuan replied without hesitation, "Then I really have to thank you."

Lin Xin: "No need to be polite, it's just what we should do."

Qi Yuan finally smiled and said, "Thank you very much. Okay, I have to go back to rehearsal, let's stop here for today."

Lin Xin paused slightly, then said, "Qi Yuan, you might not understand. I'm the president of Jufeng Music. None of the contestants on Tomorrow's Band can even get a meeting with me, let alone chat with me for more than a few minutes. Does Tianhua Entertainment value you as much as I do?"

Qi Yuan originally wanted to say something more, but after thinking about it, he decided against it. Things had gotten to this point; there was no need to escalate the conflict further.

Ultimately, given Lin Xin's status and position, Qi Yuan knew that in Lin Xin's eyes he was nothing more than a pawn, albeit one that seemed to have more potential and was more disobedient than others. Before truly stepping out of the game, there was no need to overstep the bounds.

So Qi Yuan stood up and said, "Thank you so much for your kindness, President Lin. However, I really value my teammates, and they have helped me a lot, so I can't accept your offer so easily. I'm sorry. The meal was very good, thank you for your hospitality."

Then he turned and left.

Lin Xin didn't get up; he remained seated and lit a cigarette.

Sun Man, who was standing next to him, quickly lowered her voice and said, "President Lin, how could you threaten him..."

Lin Xin took a puff and said calmly, "This is a necessary tactic in negotiations."

Sun Man: "But Qi Yuan isn't the kind of person who's easily threatened; that might have the opposite effect!"

Lin Xin scoffed, "On the contrary? So what? Heh, haven't you realized yet? He and Tianhua are already in cahoots! Shen Yihan sings everything else off-key, but she can sing rap. Coincidentally, he brought out 'In the Name of the Father.' Is that a coincidence? Maybe Tianhua bought the song and gave it to him and Shen Yihan to sing!"

Sun Man covered her forehead, looking helpless.

Having dealt with Chunriying before, she had already learned a lesson: Qi Yuan was a tough guy. However, President Lin had agreed to the Katz Band's flawed plan yesterday, and today he personally came to coerce and entice him.

Sun Man was filled with resentment, but what good was resentment?

They're the leaders; if they mess things up, they can easily shift the blame. What can she do?

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.

Qi Yuan walked out of the upscale private restaurant, took out his phone, and dialed a number:

"Hello, is this Ms. Liu? I happen to be a little free recently, we can discuss that contract."

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.

097, are you two serious?

The phrase "If country X says you have weapons of mass destruction, then you better actually have them" can be used in many places with just a couple of minor word changes.

The same applies to Qi Yuan.

Since Mr. Lin of Jufeng believes he is colluding with Tianhua, then it would be best if they actually did.

Since they've put themselves in such a difficult position, they certainly can't back down. To ensure they won't be affected even if other investors try to sabotage them later, they'll just find another investor. Coincidentally, their relationship with Tianhua is relatively good, and they also have a new friend, Shen Yihan, who is said to have a very strong background within Tianhua.

Less than an hour later, Liu Weiting from Tianhua Entertainment appeared in front of him.

Of course, he wasn't representing the band alone; he had three teammates beside him, as well as teacher Su Wan.

Liu Weiting explained each clause carefully, while Qi Yuan and Teacher Su Wan asked even more detailed questions, requiring Liu Weiting to consult with her colleagues in the company's legal department from time to time to confirm before explaining.

Finally, before sunset, everyone had no questions about the contract, and the signing was completed.

Then Liu Weiting said, "That's good, but there's still a little procedure left. Since none of you are adults, your guardians need to sign a supplementary agreement. Ms. Su, you are Qiu Mengxue's parent, so you can sign here, but the other three will have to send it to their families."

Ning Qianyu and Jiang Yi had no problem with it and simply nodded.

But Qi Yuan said, "My mom ran away, and my dad is in jail. What should we do?"

Liu Weiting: "Huh?"

Qi Yuan observed them for a moment and, seeing that they didn't seem to be pretending to be ignorant, asked with a smile, "You didn't even check such an important contract before signing it?"

Liu Weiting scratched her head: "To be honest, this is the first time I've signed a contract with a minor artist. And even though we have minor artists in our company, they're usually treated like cash cows by their parents. I really didn't expect a situation like yours..."

Then she picked up her phone, talked to her colleagues in the legal department, and gave her conclusion.

"It's not a big problem, we can get around this. Of course, Ning Qianyu and Jiang Yi don't need to try to find loopholes; we should try to get their parents to sign whenever possible."

Qi Yuan then asked, "Would my family background, especially the fact that my father is in prison, become a potential problem?"

Liu Weiting's expression was somewhat serious: "It's possible. Right now, the paparazzi just haven't really started digging into you yet. If they do start digging later, they should be able to find out."

Qi Yuan: "In that case, do you have any solutions?"

Liu Weiting pondered for a while and said, "We can release several different fake news online, mixing the true and the false together, which might reduce the potential risks. Another way is to proactively defuse potential threats."

Qi Yuan asked with great interest: "How should we rank them? Should we make this point clear upfront, and release it ourselves before malicious people use it to their advantage?"

Liu Weiting gave him a deep look: "You seem to know this quite well, don't you? That's right, that's exactly it. We can arrange a special interview for you. In the interview, you can bring up this sensitive topic. After all, the one in the wrong is your father, not you... Could I first find out what crime your father committed?"

Qi Yuan: "Illegal debt collection carries a five-year prison sentence, and this year has only just begun."

Liu Weiting breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good. It's not a particularly serious crime like murder or selling drugs. But you must also sever ties with your father... Let me ask you first, you weren't involved in your father's affairs, were you?"

Qi Yuan: "Of course not, but he paid for my schooling."

Liu Weiting nodded and said, "Then you should emphasize how difficult your family life is, and play the victim a bit more..."

Qiu Mengxue couldn't help but say, "I don't think he needs to play the victim. Isn't Qi Yuan miserable enough? If he hadn't participated in the show and become famous, he would have had to work part-time to continue his studies. He might not even be able to continue his studies to support himself."

Liu Weiting's face finally broke into a smile: "Then let's be honest. We'll do an interview beforehand, and then hold off on releasing the video and the article for now. If anyone wants to make a fuss about Qi Yuan's family, we'll just say so immediately, how about that?"

"I think it's fine." Qi Yuan also smiled.

He didn't say some things explicitly, but Liu Weiting clearly understood. It was self-evident who the so-called 'malicious person' was. Who else but someone from Jufeng would have the motivation and ability to investigate him?

Liu Weiting added, "However, if you're going to do an interview, you'd better get your hair and makeup done. It just so happens that styling artists is something that Tianhua Entertainment is best at. Let me see... Hmm, Qi Yuan, you need to get a haircut first."

Qi Yuan: "Do you have any partner barbershops?"

Liu Weiting shook her head and smiled, "Our company has professional stylists who will come to your home to provide services. Don't worry, you can just go back to your dorms. The stylist will come to you tomorrow."

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.

On the drive back to the villa area, Su Wan asked without turning around, "How are you feeling? You're artists signed with a big company now."

However, the three girls in the back row did not respond in time.

Only Qi Yuan replied, "The contract offers a lot of freedom; it doesn't even interfere with our normal schooling, so I think it's pretty good. Moreover, regarding the part about writing songs for them, the requirement is only one song per year, so a two-year contract only includes two songs, and I can also choose who sings them."

Su Wan laughed and said, "This is paving the way for you in their company. Knowing that you can write songs, won't those singers who are short of good songs be eager to curry favor with you?"

Qi Yuan smiled and said softly, "My songs aren't necessarily good songs either."

Ms. Su Wan initially thought he was just being modest and didn't take his words seriously. However, the silence in the back row caught her attention, so she asked, "What about you guys? What are you thinking?"