A Generous Woman

In Song Dao's understanding, the songs obtained from Bronze Treasure Chests were already quite good.

Whether they were catchy or not, they all belonged to the kind of pop songs with considerable name recognition.

Premium Bronze could already produce a classic pop song like A Lifetime of Loneliness.

Following that logic, Silver or Premium Silver would probably contain songs by top-tier superstars—highly singable hits that had swept through every street and alley.

Or signature works from capable second-tier singers.

Gold was probably the signature work of a top-tier superstar, an enduring classic pop song from a Heavenly King or Queen, or perhaps a former Song of the Year.

Premium Gold... was probably reserved for signature works by figures on the level of Heavenly Kings, Queens, or the God of Singers?

Of course, these were all Song Dao's guesses.

Honestly, he was really curious about what kind of song it would be.

Still, he felt the system definitely favored Lin Fei!

If they did not still have business to discuss, he would have opened it immediately for a look.

Looking at Lin Fei, whose eyes had reddened slightly after being moved by the song, Song Dao spoke with great humility. "Sister Fei, I'm just a newcomer to the music industry. I don't understand anything. I trust you definitely won't let me get the short end of the stick!"

Lin Fei blinked her bright, beautiful eyes.

This man really was much like Yan Yan had described—talented, but rather money-minded.

But Song Dao gave her the impression that he was more than merely money-minded. He was also an old hand!

It was not arrogance on her part. Even though she had retired from the spotlight, most people in the industry found it difficult to remain composed and calm in front of her.

Let alone be so steady while using words to test her.

Whether it was her looks or her presence, she was more than capable of overwhelming the vast majority of people who appeared before her.

Yet this young man, who had been a simp for years, squandered millions of his family fortune, then came to his senses and wrote a song to diss his ex-girlfriend, showed no trace of timidity before her, as though he had not been affected in the slightest.

Though he wore a smile, his eyes carried a faint air of distance and cool detachment.

It was as if great beauties like her and Yan Yu were no different from anyone else in his eyes.

Could it really be like some people online said: once a simp had been hurt badly enough, he became hopeless about every member of the opposite sex?

Muttering to herself, Lin Fei said, "Since that's the case, I'll give you a condition and see whether you find it suitable."

Song Dao nodded.

Yan Yu took the initiative to stand up. "I'll go order some food. I'll call Kong Xi over tonight, and we can have dinner here!"

With that, she swayed her waist and strode downstairs on her long legs, her heels clicking away.

Lin Fei watched Yan Yu's retreating figure before turning her gaze toward Song Dao.

"Yan Yan may have mentioned this to you before. My company isn't large—there are only forty or fifty people altogether—but the treatment we offer should be the best in the entire industry."

Song Dao nodded.

"Then I won't belabor the point. After you sign, I'll first do everything I can to make you famous. That is the foundation of our cooperation.

"As for profit sharing, as a singer, I can give you fifty percent of the company's net earnings for now.

"If you really become hugely popular later, we can renegotiate.

"For management contracts, such as variety shows and commercial performances, the company and you split it thirty-seventy. You get seventy percent."

Song Dao's expression remained calm, but inwardly, he was somewhat astonished.

These terms were absurdly good.

When Kong Xi received forty percent before, he had already thought the company behind her was incredibly generous.

It was not exactly charity, but it could absolutely be called the conscience of the industry.

Although artists generally received better treatment in this era than they had in the past.

Such a generous contract for a newcomer was still genuinely rare.

So his previous expectation had been that getting the same deal as Kong Xi would be enough.

After all, no one knew whether Kong Xi had some other reason for receiving such a high share.

Yet the moment Lin Fei opened her mouth, she offered him fifty percent.

Ten percent more than Kong Xi!

If an independent musician was choosing a partner and discovered that the other party had great potential, such a split was possible.

After all, even the best songs needed the right person to perform them. The two complemented each other.

A fifty-fifty split was reasonable.

They might even voluntarily offer a higher percentage after their partner became famous.

But for a company, fifty percent was a little too high!

After all, companies had operating costs!

And music companies were different from film and television production companies; their various expenses were not nearly as complicated.

In other words, cooking the books wasn't that easy!

Various operating expenses were basically all clear at a glance, and as a singer, he also had the right to audit them at any time.

And so-called net revenue did not include expenses such as staff salaries!

It referred to the income earned from all channels after deducting costs directly related to a song, such as channel promotion, charting, publicity, and distribution.

In other words, while Lin Fei was supporting the company staff and paying for rent, utilities, transportation, travel, and other expenses, the income she could earn from him was far lower than what he earned himself!

As for the management contract, there was even less to say.

It was generous—extremely generous!

Lin Fei looked at Song Dao. "I'm only average at running a company, and I haven't managed to make it very big. But for the artists under me, I'll do my best to help them earn more money."

After a pause, she continued, "When I first debuted, I was with a big company and suffered quite a few losses. I know exactly how that feels. It's not pleasant."

Song Dao silently gave Lin Fei a thumbs-up.

What a spendthrift woman!

Lin Fei said, "If you create works in the future and hand them over to other people to sing, I can give you thirty percent of the net revenue."

"You may already know that the revenue split I give singers isn't low either. If I give too much, the company really might end up losing money."

As an old man with nothing but money in his eyes, Song Dao could not help wanting to ask: Forty percent for the singer, thirty percent for the lyricist and composer—while you're running the company, you only have thirty percent left?

This was a rookie contract. What happened once the singer became hugely popular?

Would it eventually reverse to a ten-ninety split?

Although this contract was only for him personally, judging by this spendthrift woman's character, she probably did not treat others badly either!

Did she have to be this generous?

Could her company really make money all these years?

Did she think she was Pang Donglai?

Lin Fei was very smart.

After all, she was the only top student from Jing University in the industry.

She saw through Song Dao's thoughts at a glance.

She smiled. "Feiyang Music Movement is quite profitable. None of the artists under us are especially big names, but annual income from commercial performances alone exceeds a hundred million. After deducting all expenses and taxes, there's still plenty left. If we can cultivate a few first- or second-tier artists, that would be even better."

Song Dao nodded. He did not doubt that.

He had known a few friends who ran MCN agencies in the past. Annual revenue of several hundred million was nothing unusual.

Once they truly reached the top tier, livestream e-commerce alone was an enormous piece of meat.

He had looked into it before, and Feiyang Music Movement had related businesses as well.

But he still felt that Lin Fei, this young Heavenly Queen, simply was not cut out for business.

Still, for workhorses like him, someone like her was without question a great boss!

Even if the system had not activated a mission involving Lin Fei, he had already decided to join Feiyang Music Movement.

"Alright. Since Sister Fei is being so generous, I have no objections. Once the contract is drafted, I can sign anytime," Song Dao said.

"That's wonderful!" Delight appeared on Lin Fei's face, and her flower-like smile was especially captivating.

She stood and held out her hand. "Happy cooperation!"

Song Dao lightly shook her soft, slender hand, then quickly let go.

"Happy cooperation!"

"Oh, right, there's one more thing." Lin Fei suddenly remembered something and looked at Song Dao. "You used a pen name before because you didn't want people to know those songs were written by you, right?"

Song Dao nodded. "Right. The copyrights were registered under the pen name as the credited creator."

"In that case, we should sign separately. You are you, and Water Strike Three Thousand is Water Strike Three Thousand. You can give me a letter of authorization, and we'll sign a supplementary agreement. The company can register that pen name as a trademark for you. That way, if someone wants to trace your real identity, it won't be completely impossible, but it will definitely be very difficult," Lin Fei suggested.

Song Dao did not hesitate. He immediately thanked her and agreed.

When he sang those two songs himself, the system had registered the copyrights directly under his real name. But after the Water Strike Three Thousand pen name appeared, the copyrights were registered under that credited name.

If someone truly wanted to uncover Water Strike Three Thousand's identity, they could still do it.

But if Feiyang Music Movement applied for the trademark under its corporate name, and both sides privately signed an authorization agreement defining its scope, with all future funds entering the company first, then anyone who wanted to trace him would have to go through Lin Fei.

Or bribe someone within the trademark office.

Once they did that, they would face enormous risks.

And honestly, Song Dao only used a pen name because he wanted to safely get through this current "newbie period."

Once this period passed, even if someone really dug up his identity someday, so what?

Other than making the public realize how awesome he was, it would hardly have any other negative impact.

Still, although Lin Fei was a bit of a spendthrift, she really had thought everything through.

Having a boss like that was pretty nice.

The two went downstairs. As if by unspoken agreement, they both glanced at the clock hanging on the wall.

It was not even four yet.

Then they looked at each other and both laughed.

"Finished talking so soon?"

Yan Yu was currently using her tri-fold phone to pick out ingredients. Without looking up, she said, "Barbecue for dinner? Someone gave me a few cuts of beef a couple days ago and bragged them up like crazy. We can give them a proper taste test."

Lin Fei nodded. "I'm fine with anything. Let's see what Teacher Song wants."

"Sister Fei can just call me Song Dao. I'm not picky either." As Song Dao spoke, he picked up his phone and checked a message someone had just sent him.

Past Wind: What have you been busy with these past few days, Brother Dao? I just saw that both your songs made the top ten on the Original Ranking. Congrats on the huge sales! (grin)

Recently, this "disheartened young man" had been messaging him whenever he had nothing to do, checking in on him and trying several times to treat him to a meal.

Somewhere along the way, his form of address had quietly changed from Junior Brother to Brother Dao.

And after Song Dao had accidentally run into him meeting his ex-girlfriend last night, he had already made up his mind.

Song Dao: I just signed with a company.

Past Wind: Huh? Really? Congratulations! Which company?

Song Dao: Feiyang Music Movement.

Past Wind: Holy crap! Brother Dao, you're incredible! Isn't that Heavenly Queen Lin Fei's company? Amazing, amazing!

Past Wind: I heard Sister Fei's company has amazing benefits!

Past Wind: Brother Dao, could you help me ask whether I can sign there too? The lowest rookie contract in the industry would be fine.

Song Dao: The industry minimum? You'd probably make less than you do singing at the bar.

He had not known before, but after going there with Kang Peng last night, he discovered it was an extremely upscale bar.

Most of the people who spent money there were wealthy, and well-known entertainers could often be seen coming and going as well.

As the bar's resident singer and star performer, Hu Wei's current income should not have been low.

Past Wind: The pay from singing at the bar is decent, but honestly, I still want to sing on a big stage more. Some things... sigh, never mind that. Anyway, please help me ask, Brother Dao.

Song Dao: Sure.

Putting down his phone, he looked at Lin Fei and asked, "Sister Fei, is the company still signing newcomers?"

Lin Fei was briefly taken aback, then her eyes lit up. "You already have someone suitable... someone you want to promote?"

She really was smart.

Yan Yu had never told her that Song Dao had asked about Hu Wei.

She had merely relied on two things—

Song Dao had written this song but did not want to sing it himself; and the meaning conveyed by the lyrics did not quite match his own experiences!

From that alone, she had basically concluded that Song Dao's question was most likely on behalf of the singer he had in mind.

Even Song Dao was a little stunned.

Spendthrift or not, was this woman not a little too smart?

Without waiting for Song Dao's answer, Lin Fei continued, "As long as they're someone you recommend, I have no problem with it. Um..."

She hesitated slightly, then raised her eyes to look at Song Dao. "For anyone you sign personally, you get seventy percent of the proceeds. You can decide how to arrange it yourself."

Song Dao: "..."

He gave Lin Fei a somewhat strange look.

No, miss, making things like this puts me in a difficult position!

For people I sign, seventy percent of the proceeds come to me, while you only give forty percent on your end. How much am I supposed to give them?

And with things set up this way, who exactly was the boss of this company?

Even without any shares, Lin Fei's words had effectively placed him in the position of an important partner.

How highly did she think of him?

And was she not afraid that, if things continued like this, he might one day grow powerful enough to take over?

Lin Fei said with a smile, "I believe in Teacher Song. To put it plainly, I don't lack the money I could make by running a company. What I want more is to see the music scene become lively again, and I hope the artists under me can have better prospects and development too—so they won't have to bow and scrape for a living, and can live with more dignity."

"So I know the revenue split I offered is actually a little too high. At the beginning, I only wanted to help those newcomers, and besides, we don't have the top-tier resources that major companies do."

"If we get the chance to grow bigger, it wouldn't be impossible to adjust the revenue-sharing ratio appropriately. Their income would still be higher than before."

"So my attitude is simple: as long as you have the ability, I'll make sure you receive returns that no one can lure you away from, and that you yourself won't want to leave behind."

"The principle is mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. We won't turn red in the face over profits, much less fall out over them."

Song Dao silently gave Lin Fei a thumbs-up again.

If a spendthrift woman like you were my wife, I'd beat your ass until it swelled!

"Would it be convenient for me to call him over for a meal, so we can talk?" he asked.

"I don't mind. It's up to you," Lin Fei said with a smile.

Having taken in their entire conversation, Yan Yu smiled and said to Song Dao, "Now you know what kind of person Sister Fei is, right? The fact that she didn't say she'd make you the boss of the company if you were capable means she's already holding back. The person you mean is Senior Brother Hu Wei, right? Call him over. It's fine. This really is a tremendous opportunity for him."

Lin Fei didn't know Hu Wei.

The reason she valued Song Dao so highly was because an obsession buried deep in her heart for many years had been awakened by the song [A Lifetime of Loneliness]!

If Song Dao only had the other songs she already knew about, she would not have been this generous.

But A Lifetime of Loneliness had instantly made her seize upon a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—one that might make up for her regrets!

Who wouldn't want a musical genius who had appeared out of nowhere?

And what right did a washed-up diva like her have to keep someone like him?

Her looks?

Not only did she disdain such a thing, but he clearly did not see her as some National Goddess or a diva of the music scene.

The only thing she could do was offer treatment that no one else could possibly match.

She was going to gamble!

She wanted to see with her own eyes someone accomplish what she had failed to do back then—

Flip over this lifeless music scene's table!

And replace it with a new one.