The Power of Fame and Fortune

The rest of the recording went smoothly as well.

They had originally planned to record three episodes over twenty-odd days, but everything was finished in less than twenty days, by the afternoon of August 16.

Even getting done a few days early meant the production team could save quite a bit of money.

That was a major benefit for Zhu Shao, who was also serving as producer.

The more they saved in the early stages, the more funding they would have later on.

For all the staff, it was also a rare chance to relax and take it easy.

Aside from the filming crew, who had it a little rough, everyone else was quite relaxed.

The people handling costumes, makeup, props, and sets had each put on several pounds!

That evening.

Zhu Shao treated the entire production crew, along with the eight mentors and contestants, to a lavish meal at the Peace Hotel in Huazhou.

A Hong Kong production crew happened to be filming there as well, but it did not affect the guests' dinner.

Then something interesting happened.

With so many people present, the production team had booked a large banquet hall and set up seven or eight tables.

The chief director and the four groups of guests were seated together. As everyone ate, someone suddenly came over to pay them a visit.

The visitor was Gao Qun, the chief director of the crew filming there, a highly renowned figure in Xia Kingdom's television industry.

He had made many classic Hong Kong film and television productions in his younger years, and after heading north, he had adapted without any trouble.

Every few years, he made a drama, and every one of them became a classic.

He was one of the industry's enduring greats.

Zhu Shao hurriedly stood to welcome him.

Gao Qun, who was over sixty and wore a baseball cap, strode briskly over. He shook Zhu Shao's hand first, then headed straight toward Lin Fei, who had risen to her feet with a somewhat bewildered expression.

Speaking fluent Xia Kingdom Mandarin, he said, "Hello, Teacher Lin. Long time no see!"

Lin Fei was not actually close to him, but she did know who he was.

Under the puzzled gazes of everyone in the room, she smiled with the same slight confusion.

"Hello, Director Gao."

"Sorry for disturbing you. I heard Teacher Lin was here, so I couldn't wait to come over and visit. Well, could I... ah, could I ask Teacher Water Strike Three Thousand for a song?"

Lin Fei had been somewhat puzzled at first, but the moment she heard that, she understood.

Instinctively, she wanted to look toward Song Dao.

Fortunately, she held herself back.

"Thank you for your trust, Director Gao. You can have someone send over the materials, and we'll give it a try. I can't guarantee it will suit your tastes."

"Haha, I understand, I understand. But I believe that since Teacher Sanqian could write two excellent songs with completely different styles for Immortal Sword Asking for Love and Demon Love, his creative ability is beyond doubt."

Gao Qun laughed heartily and continued, "I came rather abruptly, mainly because I happened to run into you. I just wanted to say hello first. Later, I'll have my assistant contact your manager. In any case, Teacher Lin, you have to help me out with this..."

A drama could not be said to become a massive hit just because of one song, but at the very least, it could add the finishing touch.

Besides, he believed in mysticism.

Lin Fei found it a little amusing, but she maintained her smile. "All right. I'll contact Teacher Sanqian later."

"That's wonderful. Sorry to disturb everyone, sorry, sorry. Please continue!" Gao Qun clasped his hands together and gave the group a slight bow, then hurried off again.

Zhu Shao, Lin Fei, and several assistant directors escorted him all the way to the door before returning.

Their faces were full of excitement.

They felt honored by association.

Lin Fei might have been a Heavenly Queen, but Gao Qun held an extremely high position in the industry!

He had launched several Best Actor and Best Actress winners.

Even across industries, everyone wanted to meet and befriend a big shot like that.

After all, who did not have friends and relatives somewhere in the business?

Big shots like Li Jun did not care, nor did he mind being ignored by Gao Qun, who did not know him.

But after learning why Director Gao had come, Ma Shen and Sun Meiqi both revealed faint envy in their eyes.

Only then did many people suddenly realize that there was another great figure hidden within Lin Fei's little company!

Water Strike Three Thousand!

The man behind Lin Fei's comeback had stunned the entire music scene the moment he made a move.

Always Been Quiet had merely been a small test of his skill.

Two sad love songs had made the young amateur Hu Wei famous.

Lovesickness had not only helped Lin Fei make a successful comeback, but had also sent her popularity soaring.

Come to think of it, even the birth of the show Best Songwriter had something to do with Water Strike Three Thousand's emergence!

The lifeless Chinese music scene seemed to have been infused with some mysterious power by him and begun to flourish anew.

Gao Qun's visit was only a small interruption, but the group's topic afterward shifted from the ratings of tonight's second episode directly to Water Strike Three Thousand.

Faced with the curiosity of several assistant directors from the production team, Lin Fei merely smiled faintly.

She refused to reveal Water Strike Three Thousand's identity.

She had not touched a drop of alcohol that night, either.

And when she was not recording the show, she did not even need to make an effort for that cool, aloof Heavenly Queen aura to naturally emanate from her.

Other than a legendary musician like Li Jun, even Zhu Shao remained polite around her at all times.

If she did not want to say anything, no one dared press her.

Zhong Yutong, seated beside Song Dao, quietly asked, "Brother, do you know Teacher Sanqian?"

Song Dao nodded.

"Really? Then is he a man or a woman? How old is he?" Zhong Yutong looked intensely curious.

Xue Lin and Zhao Qi beside them could not help pricking up their ears.

Everyone wanted to know.

They were all creators, but compared to Water Strike Three Thousand, whose every move seemed to be an unbeatable trump card, the gap was simply too great!

Forget these contestants. Even among the three mentors present who specialized in songwriting, aside from Li Jun, the other two did not dare casually comment on him.

If it had only been the first three songs, that would have been one thing. Everyone had hit songs with no less popularity.

But Lovesickness had truly amazed the entire music scene.

A song of that caliber could have quickly stood out even in that era when gods battled gods.

People could dislike it, but aside from contrarians, few would say it was bad.

That was the benefit of using a pen name.

Let them keep guessing.

If he had used his real name, endless doubts would surely have followed the praise.

They'd nitpick him to death!

They might even target him precisely.

"He's a man, very big, and as young and handsome as me."

Song Dao answered Zhong Yutong with a grin.

After spending these days together, he had formed a good impression of the girl.

She was smart, emotionally intelligent, and knew how to read the room.

"Fine, fine. I asked you seriously, but you're just brushing your little sister off! If you don't want to say it, forget it. Hmph!"

Zhong Yutong rolled her eyes.

Song Dao smiled and shrugged. "I was being serious too."

Zhong Yutong curled her lips. "Yeah right, like I'd believe that!"

As long as someone kept paying attention to this matter, there would eventually be a chance of it being exposed.

It would be difficult to investigate, but it was not entirely without clues.

Especially since he still had to write two songs for Lin Fei.

As a Heavenly Queen, Lin Fei could not sing just anything.

Even if he did not use songs obtained from two Gold Treasure Chests, Song Dao could not simply toss her any two songs.

They had to hold special meaning for Lin Fei.

That way, his "creative" ability would naturally attract outside attention and interpretation.

He might as well start muddying the waters now.

Water Strike Three Thousand? I know him. He's as young and handsome as me, just as big too. So what?

The meal ended at eight-thirty.

They had already checked out of that old Western-style house.

Those with homes in Huazhou went straight home.

Some left overnight.

Song Dao and Lin Fei booked two rooms at the hotel.

They planned to go back and see the reaction to the second episode.

When the two arrived at the hotel, Sister Qing was already waiting there and had booked their rooms in advance.

Song Dao planned to return to his room and rest.

No matter how relaxed it had been, the recording over the past few days had still left him somewhat tired.

Especially since he had taken Emotion Stabilizing Candy and Steady Typhoon Candy whenever he sang in public.

Lin Fei stopped him. "Come to my room and have a little to drink."

There it was.

He knew it.

This sister was craving alcohol.

She had gone more than twenty days without a single drop, which really had not been easy for her.

Fortunately, Sister Qing would be there, so it would not be a man and woman alone together.

The three of them went to Lin Fei's suite.

The room was not particularly large, with one bedroom and a living room.

After entering, Song Dao understood why Li Qingqing had remained by Lin Fei's side all these years.

Large and small takeout containers had already been arranged on the coffee table.

There were also two bottles of red wine.

"Just a little. We still have to catch a flight back tomorrow."

Lin Fei gave Song Dao some reassurance.

Li Qingqing took out the wine glasses she had already washed.

Then she opened the wine and poured it.

"Hotel glasses aren't clean, so I went out and bought a few new ones."

As she poured, she said, "A decanter is too much trouble. We'll let it breathe slowly in the glasses and make do."

Song Dao and Lin Fei opened the food containers.

There was Greedy Frog, without any scallions.

He glanced at Lin Fei.

Lin Fei smiled. "It wasn't me who said anything. Your Sister Qing is just that thoughtful."

Li Qingqing smiled at Song Dao. "Whenever I go home for the New Year and help host drinking gatherings, my dad says it's a shame I didn't take the civil service exam."

Song Dao said, "Sister Qing, are you from Luzhou?"

Li Qingqing froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. "The whole country knows, right?"

Lin Fei laughed as well.

Then the three sat down and began eating.

The banquet with the crew had been lavish, but their table had mostly been chatting, and hardly anyone had eaten.

It was nearly impossible for them to be full.

Lin Fei and Li Qingqing only had a few bites, but Song Dao did not hold back and dug in heartily.

After eating for a while, Lin Fei raised her wineglass and looked at Song Dao. "Once all the episodes air, you should become famous. If variety shows invite you in the future, don't accept easily unless it's as a mentor."

Song Dao looked as though he were seeking advice.

"There's not much to it. This time, I had just made my comeback and needed a show to make an appearance on."

"Also, don't be fooled by the fact that I was elevated to the position of Heavenly Queen back then. There was some inflation in that title. My songs were popular, but I didn't have enough of them."

"That era really needed someone like me to appear. If Sun Meiqi had been born a few years earlier, there might not have been any place for me."

She was actually being modest.

A minor success depended on promotion, while major fame depended on fate. Lin Fei had become a Heavenly Queen through a combination of timing, opportunity, and personal ability.

"Even this time, even if I become popular again, many people will still think it's hollow, and I think so too."

"So I won't casually join variety shows afterward. If you want to go on one, you'd better ask Sister Qing first. Don't agree on your own so easily, or someone might fool you."

Li Qingqing said from the side, "Variety shows seem profitable, but they do lower your standing a little. Feifei is making a comeback, and you're only just emerging, so you needed an opportunity like this. But once is enough."

Song Dao nodded.

That was what he had been thinking too.

Continuing to draw prizes and release songs, then finding suitable useful people to make money for him—that was the true path forward.

The three of them each took a small sip.

Li Qingqing looked at Song Dao. "Director Gao's assistant contacted me just now. He asked you for a song?"

Song Dao gave a hum and said, "I still don't know what drama he's making. We'll talk after he sends over the materials."

Li Qingqing covered her mouth and chuckled. "Aren't you curious how much he'll pay?"

Song Dao froze for a moment. "Very little?"

Lin Fei said, "Probably not. Since he mentioned Always Been Quiet and Lovesickness, it would start at at least a million."

Li Qingqing nodded. "One and a half million for the usage rights. If Sister Fei performs it, the price doubles."

Song Dao suddenly felt dazed.

The previous Demon Love could not serve as a reference.

But this time, it could.

After only a few months in this world, he had written songs for major production crews and successfully evolved from the "sky-high price" of two hundred thousand to a stable, even more astronomical price of over a million?

And that was without counting the revenue from other copyrights.

The power of the world of fame and fortune.

It was truly terrifying.