Snatching a Song Again

Shanghai, Xinyi Huyou's recording studio. Wang Siyi asked the sound engineer in disbelief:

"This song was written for me by Teacher Yang Caiqian. Why can't I record it?"

The sound engineer across from her hesitated, unsure how to answer Wang Siyi's question.

The notice he had received from above was that Teacher Yang Caiqian's song was meant for a young girl named Su Yanying.

Huh? It seemed Wang Wanjun's song last time had also been given to that Su Yanying. Ah, this...

The sound engineer trembled, as though he had discovered something terrible. He was just a lowly sound engineer.

Wang Siyi was the company's biggest star, someone he could not afford to offend. As for Su Yanying, judging by the company's arrangements over the past few months...

They were clearly planning to groom her into a second Wang Wanjun, so he could not afford to offend her either. It seemed the company had truly fallen out with the woman in front of him.

After sorting out the situation and straightening out the logic, he braced himself and said to Wang Wanjun:

"This was personally arranged by the director... The company has decided to let Su Yanying sing this song. Sister Wanjun can ask Director Chen about it..."

He shifted the blame onto the director. Watching Wang Wanjun leave with her assistant, he sighed.

"What a mess..."

It had been nearly twenty days since Chen Baozhu contacted Wang Wanjun. When she heard there was a new song suitable for her, she rushed to Shanghai without stopping.

Then Chen Baozhu brought her to meet the famous songwriter Yang Caiqian. Yang Caiqian was clearly also very satisfied with Wang Wanjun's voice.

The two hit it off immediately and refined the demo based on Wang Siyi's voice. Wang Siyi was also very satisfied with the song. It was more than good enough to serve as the title track, and most importantly, it truly suited her.

For the past half month or so, she had spent most of her time discussing with Yang Caiqian how the song should be sung, how the arrangement should be done, what instruments should be used in which sections... and so on.

They refined the song bit by bit, down to every tiny detail, before finally buying it for a price above market value.

But they had bought it under the company's name back then. That was probably where the problem lay...

A song bought under the company's name had likely already been claimed by the company. Wang Siyi was furious now, her pretty face pale with anger.

Although she had not written the song, she had participated in nearly the entire creative process. The reason she had been so meticulous was to make the song fit her better.

Yet just when everything was ready, the company swooped in and snatched it away, giving Wang Siyi no chance at all.

Wang Siyi was on her way to the top floor of Xinyi Huyou, where New Art's senior executives had their offices.

"Oh, Wanjun, you're here. Long time no see. What's wrong?"

Inside a spacious office in the New Art building, a middle-aged man sitting at the innermost desk rose and hurried over as he spoke.

He looked extremely warm and familiar, as though he knew Wang Wanjun very well. This man was Xinyi Huyou's director, Chen Zhiyuan.

He had a square face, slicked-back hair, and two curled mustaches—the classic image of a mature middle-aged man.

Wang Wanjun gave him a cold glance. She had not realized it before, but now that she looked at his words and behavior again, they were utterly disgusting.

For the company's interests, he used every possible means to suppress and threaten artists. Yet on the surface, he still acted all smiles, as though he cared for and welcomed you.

"Why are you giving the song I worked so hard to get to someone else?"

Wang Siyi questioned him directly, expressionless.

"Ah, this matter. Wanjun, it's like this. Yanying has only just debuted, and she's about to release an album too. She's been looking for songs. If her first album becomes a huge hit, won't the company have another future star? Wanjun, the company put a lot of effort into cultivating you. You're not going to compete with a newcomer over even one song, are you?"

"The profits I've brought the company long ago far exceeded what you invested in cultivating me. I can honestly say I haven't wronged the company these past years. Why does the company have to make things difficult for me again and again?"

Wang Siyi was beginning to lose control of her emotions. Standing behind her, Xiuxiu anxiously wondered why Sister Baozhu had not arrived yet.

"You can't say things like that, Wanjun. When has the company ever made things difficult for you? On the contrary, you've always refused to cooperate with the company's arrangements. The company has already been very tolerant of you, so stop being so willful..."

"Bullshit, Chen Zhiyuan! Everyone knows about the disgusting things you've done, and you still have the nerve to talk about Wanjun like that."

Chen Baozhu's voice came from outside the door. Chen Baozhu strode in, furious.

"Since when did drinking with clients become an artist's duty? Isn't an artist's duty to sing? When did Xinyi Huyou become a brothel? And when did you, Chen Zhiyuan, become a pimp..."

Chen Baozhu went on and on, aggressive and relentless, each sentence harsher than the last. Chen Zhiyuan was no match for her at all.

"You, Chen Baozhu! Remember your place!"

Chen Zhiyuan flew into a rage. This woman was truly skilled at cursing people. Quite a few people in the industry had been cursed out by her, but he had never heard anyone curse so viciously.

"Pah! I must have been blind to join this trash company! You dog, if it weren't for Wanjun, I'd fire you right now!"

Chen Baozhu looked at Chen Zhiyuan with utter disdain.

Wang Siyi had calmed down somewhat and was no longer as worked up as before.

She said flatly:

"Director Chen, I won't do anything unrelated to singing. I joined Xinyi Huyou to sing. I hope you honor the contract. I still want to release an album this year."

Chen Zhiyuan already knew there was no salvaging things, so he simply tore off the mask.

"Don't worry. The company can release your album. But as for songs, I now hold the power to decide who gets them. If you want one, be obedient. Otherwise, don't even think about taking a single song from the company..."

"Pah! You black-hearted maggot! That song was something I begged for. What the hell does it have to do with your Xinyi Huyou? Using the company's name to shamelessly withhold a song an artist worked for—only you could do something so disgusting. Pah!"

The moment Chen Baozhu heard Chen Zhiyuan's shameless words, she sprang up in fury and launched into another round of insults.

Veins bulged on Chen Zhiyuan's face. This woman's tongue was damn poisonous. He never should have recruited her into the company in the first place.

Before Chen Baozhu joined New Art, she had already been a famous manager in the industry. She came to New Art entirely because of Wang Wanjun.

She wanted to raise a Diva, and in truth, she had the ability to do it. Wang Wanjun was capable too. In just three years, she had shown signs of becoming hugely popular.

The problem was that Xinyi Huyou was inhuman. They insisted on suppressing and shelving a future Diva. Who could stand that? She had spent three painstaking years cultivating a potential Diva.

If Wang Wanjun had been at any other entertainment company, she would not still be merely a second-tier singer. Nor would any company want to send its biggest star out to drink with clients.

Xinyi Huyou had refreshed her understanding of the entertainment industry. She had thought the industry was already dark enough, but Xinyi Huyou could even do things more hellish than that.

"No matter how much you curse, this song belongs to the company. Wanjun, think over my suggestion again. Don't worry, I won't make you do anything too outrageous. Just have a symbolic meal..."

Wang Siyi gave him a cold look and said nothing.

She turned to leave. If she actually agreed to this dignified-looking hypocrite, then there was clearly something wrong with her brain. His words were no more trustworthy than farts.

"I really don't know how someone as shameless as you became Xinyi Huyou's director."

Chen Baozhu gave Chen Zhiyuan a disdainful glance, then turned and followed Wang Wanjun out. Little follower Xiuxiu hurried after them as well.

When they came out of the office, a crowd of people nearby was watching them. Chen Baozhu had clearly been loud enough that they had all heard her.

Most people actually knew that Wang Wanjun was at odds with the company. As for the reason, there had been all kinds of rumors before today, but they had just gotten their answer.

This move by the company leadership had left them dumbfounded. Could something truly be this outrageous?

Wang Wanjun had risen to the top ranks of second-tier singers in three years, yet the company actually wanted her to entertain clients over drinks?

And they even intended to force themselves on her?

Everyone felt as sick as if they had swallowed flies. How had they ended up joining such a garbage company?

Some people had already begun considering changing jobs. There was no point staying at such a trash company.

Wang Siyi ignored the looks around her. The aura around her seemed cold, and she headed straight for the recording studio without expression, intending to retrieve the notes and insights she had compiled during this period.

The song belonged to the company, yes, but those things belonged to her. She had every right to take them back.

If Wang Siyi had still held even the slightest illusion about Xinyi Huyou before, then now, that last trace had been extinguished completely, reduced to ashes.

With a company like this, she would rather quit the entertainment industry and stop singing than remain there any longer.

How had she been so young and ignorant back then, signing a multi-year contract with a company like this? Wang Siyi regretted it more than anything.

"Wanjun, it's okay. I'll find songs for you again. Don't forget, Sister Baozhu has a huge network in the industry..."

Walking behind her, Chen Baozhu noticed that Wang Siyi's mood was turning bad again and hurriedly comforted her.

Wang Siyi was touched by Chen Baozhu's words, but it would not be an exaggeration to say that Chen Baozhu had practically begged everyone she could to get the previous song.

Wang Siyi felt terrible and could not bring herself to ask her to beg like that again. Even if she managed to get another song, what then? The company might still sabotage things behind the scenes in the end.

She had already decided to give up. She did not want to sing anymore. She would pack up her things at the recording studio, go home tonight, apologize to her parents, and never sing again.

"There's no need to trouble yourself, Sister Baozhu..."

Wang Siyi shook her head at Chen Baozhu.

Seeing Wang Siyi looking utterly heartbroken, Chen Baozhu felt unbearably distressed. Putting aside Wang Siyi's talent...

For the past three years, she had watched Wang Wanjun grow step by step. She treated Wang Wanjun like a younger sister. Seeing that the light had vanished from her eyes, she knew she was about to give up singing.

"Damn Xinyi Huyou. They never do anything decent. Pah."

After angrily cursing Xinyi Huyou, she said nothing more. The three of them walked silently to the recording studio.

There, they saw a woman inside the studio holding the notebook of materials Wang Siyi had previously left there, flipping through it.

Wang Siyi walked over expressionlessly and said to the woman:

"That's mine. Give it back."

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