A band, or a battleground?

Qi Yuan kept a straight face and analyzed, "Because the songs we performed on 'Tomorrow's Band' are all performance videos, which are protected by copyright, right?"

Jiang Yi asked, "Isn't this song protected by copyright?"

Qi Yuan: "The day before yesterday, Sister Liu asked me if the company wanted to try promoting this song, and I agreed. Since it can already be used as background music for videos on the Dida platform, it will be easy for schools to find the audio."

Jiang Yi: "You agree?"

Qi Yuan shrugged: "You can make tens of yuan for every ten thousand views, why wouldn't you agree?"

Ning Qianyu deliberately lowered her voice and said, "Wow, and this is your own version, we didn't participate, so you only need to share with the company, not with us..."

Qi Yuan glanced at her: "Are you jealous?"

Ning Qianyu laughed: "I'm so envious! Brother Gun, can you treat us to a meal? Let us share in your good luck."

Jiang Yi, however, corrected her seriously: "This is not luck. To write a song in such a short time and still become a hit, that's real talent."

Ning Qianyu: "..."

Qi Yuan smiled and said, "Inviting you to dinner is fine, but let's finish recording two or three songs first."

Everyone continued eating lunch, remaining silent for a short while.

Suddenly, Qiu Mengxue said, "I think that production team will definitely contact you again."

Qi Yuan: "The murder mystery game one?"

Qiu Mengxue nodded: "Yes, what if they contact you and raise the price? Will you just agree?"

Qi Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "Why not make money if it's free? Anyway, we'll record on the weekend, so it won't affect my schoolwork... Wait, we have to go to the recording studio on the weekend now."

Ning Qianyu complained, "If it were me, I'd skip class for hundreds of thousands a day."

Qi Yuan: "Yes, if they are sincere, then they are. But I can't appear too easily swayed."

Qiu Mengxue asked curiously, "What do you mean?"

Qi Yuan explained, "In business, when you have leverage, you have to maintain a certain air. This isn't about being arrogant, but about showing that you're not easily bought off."

Ning Qianyu: "You act like you're not easily bribed, but actually you're trying to get a higher price?"

“This kid is teachable,” Qi Yuan snapped his fingers. “So even if they show sincerity, I can’t agree too readily. In negotiations, a little hesitation can often bring you unexpected concessions.”

Ning Qianyu: "It's just bargaining! I understand, my grandparents always do that at the market."

Jiang Yi whispered, "Why do I feel like you're really familiar with these adult things..."

At this moment, Qiu Mengxue stared at Qi Yuan, her gaze softening again.

The other two girls immediately realized the same thing. Having had to live independently from a young age, how could Qi Yuan not understand adult thinking early on?

So the area around the dining table fell silent, and there was an indescribable atmosphere, somewhat like... an overflowing maternal love?

Qi Yuan: "Why are you all looking at me like that? What are you thinking?"

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.

After a whole summer of filming, Shen Yihan's scenes have finally wrapped up.

After the brief wrap-up ceremony, she returned to her van, where she saw an unexpected person. She greeted him with a smile, "Director, what are you doing here?"

It wasn't the director of the film crew who came, but the director of the show "Script Murder Detective".

The director smiled and said, "Miss Shen, I heard you've already wrapped up filming here?"

"Yes, we just finished filming the last few scenes today."

"So what's the plan next? Haha, we won't be so busy that we have to push things away..."

"Probably not, I'll need to rest for a while," Shen Yihan said with some doubt. "You came all the way to our film set just for this?"

The director chuckled and touched his nose: "It's not just this problem. I actually wanted to ask... does Mr. Qi Yuan have some free time and would like to come to our program again?"

Shen Yihan suddenly understood.

A few days ago, the song Qi Yuan sang on a TV show suddenly went viral, and a bunch of related short videos sprang up like mushrooms after rain. As far as she knew, many fans of other celebrities were using this song to create videos complaining about certain shows or production teams treating their idols badly…

Shen Yihan asked curiously, "Is it because of that song?"

The director's smile finally revealed a hint of helplessness: "We didn't expect that our first breakthrough this season would be through criticism."

Shen Yihan: "Don't you think it has a bad influence?"

The director nodded: "Yes, a lot of people are criticizing us online right now, especially fans of Haruhi Kage."

Shen Yihan: "They were criticizing the production team, not me, right?"

The director paused for a moment, then smiled wryly and said, "Miss Shen, you're joking. Why are they criticizing you? I'm hoping you can help me communicate with Qi Yuan to see if he can participate in the show again, preferably by singing a different song, to help us turn things around."

Shen Yihan frowned slightly: "Do we have to make him sing another song?"

The director quickly added, "The copyright of the song belongs entirely to him. The program only provides a platform, so just treat it as a platform for releasing new songs. That should be acceptable, right? Moreover, we can raise the appearance fee again, and the script and roles are also negotiable. He can choose whichever role he wants!"

Shen Yihan asked, "Then you can just tell him directly why you came to find me?"

Director: "Aren't you all at Tianhua Entertainment? And I think, Ms. Shen, you have a good relationship with him, and you've worked with our program for so long. Your words on his behalf will be very persuasive..."

Shen Yihan thought for a moment and said, "I can ask him, but I can't give you any guarantees."

The director quickly smiled and said, "No problem, no problem, thank you so much!"

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.

172 call her sister

Qi Yuan received Shen Yihan's call during his afternoon physics class.

He glanced at the caller ID on his phone, got up and left—putting his phone on vibrate was already a sign of his respect for classroom order.

He answered the phone in the corridor, and just as he walked to the window at the end of the corridor, Shen Yihan finished speaking her first sentence.

"The director of the 'Who's the Murderer' show just contacted me and asked me to ask you if you'd be willing to participate again?"

Qi Yuan looked at the green leaves outside the window and said, "I'm really a little surprised. It's not surprising to receive this call, but I didn't expect it to be from you."

Shen Yihan: "I didn't expect the director to contact me first. But he said that I can choose any role I want to play next time, and he will even raise my price. But he also said that he hopes I can write a song and use the show as the platform for the premiere of my new song."

Qi Yuan pondered, "So he wants me to write a song on the spot again? Actually, I can write the song first, then choose a suitable theme and role, and then pretend it was written on the spot on the show..."

Shen Yihan laughed and said, "That's right, wouldn't that make your creative genius persona even more solid? Although I don't think it's a persona at all, you really are a creative genius."

This put Qi Yuan in a bit of a dilemma.

For him, putting on airs and arguing with strangers was no problem at all, but Shen Yihan was different. So far, this young lady had unconditionally helped him no matter what he did, and judging from their past interactions…

He felt that Shen Yihan was probably too naive, perhaps because of her privileged family background. And if he tried to outsmart her, he would feel guilty, as if he were bullying a fool.

After a few seconds of silence on the phone, Shen Yihan asked, "Are you still angry with them? It's okay, if you don't want to, I can help you refuse."

Qi Yuan: "It's not that I'm angry. Let me put it this way, I don't want to agree too quickly."

"Oh, you want him to beg you?" Shen Yihan's tone suddenly became excited. "I know, I know, there's often this kind of plot in novels, it's the kind of script where you looked down on me yesterday, but today you can't afford to be near me!"

Qi Yuan said helplessly, "I don't really care about this kind of thing. The key is that I don't want to agree too quickly, so I don't want you to give him too good a response."

“I understand, I really understand!” Shen Yihan laughed. “That song is still popular, so he has to pay a higher price to ask you to help turn the tide! No problem, I will definitely help you.”

Qi Yuan was unsure: "Does Sister Yihan know how to help?"

Shen Yihan: "I told him, you didn't completely agree, but you didn't completely refuse either. Is that okay?"

Qi Yuan: "Yes, Sister Yihan is a great help."

"Hmph..." A smug laugh came from the other end of the phone, "You only obediently call me 'sister' at times like this."

Qi Yuan quickly retorted, "No way, I always call her 'sister' too. I'm always very polite."

"Really? Then call me," Shen Yihan's voice suddenly lowered for some reason, "Don't call me Sister Yihan, just call me Sister."

Qi Yuan: "...Sister."

Shen Yihan said happily, "Hey, good, little brother is so good!"

Qi Yuan: "..."

Just then, the bell rang, signaling the end of get out of class.

Shen Yihan then asked, "What's that sound coming from your end?"

Qi Yuan: "The bell rings for the end of get out of class."

Shen Yihan asked in surprise, "Were you in class just now? Uh, did I disturb your class? I hope the teacher didn't scold me?"

Qi Yuan: No, I have a lot of freedom at school, so I answered the phone outside.

Shen Yihan paused for a moment and said, "Actually, I'm also really looking forward to continuing to be on the show with you. I don't have many friends in the entertainment industry, and I have even fewer opportunities to play games with them. So... well, I won't say any more. You can talk to the director slowly. I'll be waiting for your good news!"

Qi Yuan: "Okay, bye-bye."

Then the other party hung up the phone.

Qi Yuan turned around instinctively, slightly startled. He saw Ning Qianyu standing just two or three steps away, hands in her pockets, staring at him.

He couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing here?"

Ning Qianyu gestured with her chin to the side: "Our Class 3 is right next door. We just happened to see you when we came out. What's up, talking to someone on the phone?"

Qi Yuan: "Shen Yihan."

Ning Qianyu raised an eyebrow: "What does she want with you? Uh, is it still about that show?"

Qi Yuan nodded and said, "Yes, so what are you going to do now, go to the toilet?"

Ning Qianyu: "Do you want to come with me?"

Qi Yuan chuckled: "Why would I go to the women's restroom? Alright, I'm going back now."

Ning Qianyu stood there, watching Qi Yuan walk away, but instead of heading towards the women's restroom, she took out her phone and called Jiang Yi.

Since the start of the new semester, thanks to her high-profile career, the well-behaved girl who used to be too shy to bring her phone to school has finally started bringing it to school.

Jiang Yi answered quickly: "Hello, Qianyu?"

Ning Qianyu walked to where Qi Yuan had just been standing and lowered her voice, saying, "Qi Yuan was on the phone just now, did you know that?"

Jiang Yi: "I know, he suddenly went out during class, probably to answer a phone call."

Ning Qianyu: "Do you know who called him?"

Jiang Yi: "Who is it? The director of that show?"

Ning Qianyu's voice lowered even further: "No, it's Sister Yihan."

Jiang Yi: "...Why is she looking for Qi Yuan?"

Ning Qianyu: "Qi Yuan said they were talking about that show, and I was wondering if it was possible that Sister Yihan actually really wanted Qi Yuan to go again?"

Jiang Yi: "It seems like that's possible... Wait, you don't mean...?"

Ning Qianyu narrowed her eyes: "It seems you guessed it too. Is it possible that Sister Yihan wants Qi Yuan to go on the show because she wants to spend more time with him?"

Jiang Yi fell silent on the other end of the phone.

Ning Qianyu added, "Girl, you know I support you, so I have to think about things for you."

"Thank you..." Jiang Yi sighed deeply, "That possibility exists, we need to be careful. Besides, Qi Yuan is more mature, and Sister Yihan is still an adult... she might be more dangerous than Mengxue!"

Ning Qianyu: "Mmm, mmm!"

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, Shen Yihan sat in the car, looking out the window.

It was an ordinary street scene, one she was used to seeing every day, but at that moment, the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up.

Looking at her reflection in the car window, Shen Yihan suddenly noticed the curve of her smile. It was still very beautiful, but…

"Why do I suddenly feel like I'm actually quite happy?"

Shen Yihan muttered to herself.

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.

173. Don't let the good stuff go to outsiders.