In this day and age, the internet was another battlefield without smoke.
A top hacker could attack or defend and was an incredibly powerful force. They weren't just pranksters who spread viruses or caused destruction.
White-hat hackers were people capable of breaching computer security but without malicious intent.
White hats generally followed a clear ethical code and often tried to work with companies to fix the security vulnerabilities they found.
But Ye Chen had no interest in becoming a hacker. His real passion was singing.
Programming was too hard on the hair. He couldn't afford to lose any more.
Still, his hacking skills were great for tracking down keyboard warriors.
Want to hide behind an alias online and run your mouth at everyone?
Sorry, but in front of a top hacker, that was child's play.
A top hacker could easily trace a troll's IP address.
They could hack into the troll's computer and dig up every last bit of their personal information.
They could even find out what websites the troll had visited.
What?
Someone used an edited video or a doctored photo to smear you?
Just restore the original video and photo.
Of course, these were only the tip of the iceberg when it came to a top hacker's skills.
Ye Chen had no use for any of that right now, so he didn't give it much thought.
Instead, he first registered the copyright for "Marry Me Today."
Then he got back to arranging the song.
Ye Chen could clearly feel that his work on the melody, rhythm, and groove had improved another level since earlier.
Just as Ye Chen was losing himself in the joy of arranging music,
the constant vibrations of an incoming call interrupted his train of thought.
Ye Chen glanced at his phone screen.
The caller ID read "Little Jap."
Ye Chen and Cheng Tong had all saved Gao Zuo's number under that name.
Gao Zuo = Major = Little Jap = someone he hated
Ye Chen didn't want to deal with Gao Zuo, that jerk who never had a decent word to say, so he hung up.
But Gao Zuo kept calling, one time after another.
At this rate, his phone would run out of battery.
If Gao Zuo was calling him, he'd better have something important to say.
Annoyed, Ye Chen answered.
"Ye Chen, why do you keep ignoring my calls?" Gao Zuo snapped from the other end.
"I'm answering now, aren't I? Spit it out. What do you want?" Ye Chen said impatiently.
"You, you..." Gao Zuo was so angry he could barely speak.
But when he remembered why he'd called Ye Chen, he gritted his teeth and held back.
Putting on a haughty expression, Gao Zuo said, "I'm calling with good news, naturally. Out of consideration for our classmate days, I specially recommended you to Starlight Entertainment as a contracted singer. The annual salary is five hundred thousand. Isn't that fantastic?"
Back when Gao Zuo had tried to get into Starlight Entertainment, he'd gone to a lot of trouble and spent a lot of money.
Now Ye Chen had posted just two videos online and could get into Starlight Entertainment with ease, on even better terms than Gao Zuo's.
Naturally, Gao Zuo couldn't accept it. The flames of jealousy in his heart burned higher and higher. He should've had Ye Chen's vocal cords ruined long ago.
If it weren't for the boy band's center position, Gao Zuo wouldn't have called Ye Chen at all.
Ye Chen gave a soft scoff.
A mere five hundred thousand a year? Did Gao Zuo really think he was still the old Ye Chen?
The current Ye Chen had just signed with Star Shine Media.
Star Shine Media had offered three million as a signing bonus right off the bat.
His basic monthly salary alone was two hundred thousand.
Even if Starlight Entertainment's annual salary was in U.S. dollars, it still couldn't match what Star Shine Media offered.
And Star Shine Media's resources and clout were far better than Starlight Entertainment's.
Only a fool would give up Star Shine Media for Starlight Entertainment.
Besides, would Gao Zuo really be this kind?
If he'd wanted to recommend Ye Chen, why hadn't he done it sooner?
He'd waited until Ye Chen's videos went viral before calling.
Ye Chen could guess that Starlight Entertainment's boss had taken an interest in him and sent Gao Zuo to persuade him.
Hearing Ye Chen's scoff, Gao Zuo immediately raised his voice. "What are you scoffing at? You've never seen that much money in your life, have you? Starlight Entertainment is one of the top ten companies in the industry. Getting signed by them is like having your ancestors bless you and stumbling into the luck of a lifetime."
"Sorry, but I don't want that kind of luck. I've already signed with the top-ranked company in the industry, Star Shine Media. I'm not considering any other companies," Ye Chen replied.
On the other end of the line, Gao Zuo didn't believe him at all.
"You signed with Star Shine Media? You can say whatever you want, but who's going to believe you? A newcomer like you thinks you can get into Star Shine Media? If you're trying to use this trick to drive up your price, forget it. I suggest you come sign the contract right away. Otherwise, if you anger the higher-ups, you'll lose your chance to join Starlight Entertainment," Gao Zuo threatened.
"Believe it or not." Ye Chen couldn't be bothered to deal with Gao Zuo anymore. He hung up, blocked his number, and went back to working on his new song.
Gao Zuo stared at the disconnected call, stunned.
Was Ye Chen crazy?
He actually dared to hang up?
Did he really not want to join Starlight Entertainment?
Could Ye Chen really have signed with Star Shine Media?
Impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
Gao Zuo picked up his phone and called Ye Chen again.
"The user you are calling is busy. Please try again later..."
Gao Zuo tried again, but still couldn't get through.
Had Ye Chen blocked him?
Gao Zuo felt a sharp pain in his chest. Ye Chen had practically angered him into an internal injury.
The boy band's center position, which had been practically within his grasp, was about to slip away.
Gao Zuo began to panic. He picked up his phone and sent Ye Chen a video.
He left a message, too: If you don't sign with Starlight Entertainment, I'll post this video online. Then let's see which company would still dare to sign you.
!
Gao Zuo stared at the bright red exclamation mark, his eyes wide.
Ye Chen had really blocked him.
"Damn it! That bastard Ye Chen actually had the nerve to block me!" Gao Zuo was so angry his liver hurt.
He'd only meant to threaten Ye Chen, but the message hadn't gone through.
Gao Zuo dug out his backup phone and called Ye Chen again.
"The user you are calling is busy. Please try again later..."
Still no answer.
Gao Zuo was so anxious he scratched at his head.
He was terrified that Ye Chen really had signed with another company.
For the boy band's center position, Gao Zuo wouldn't actually post the video unless he was forced to take things to the very end. It was his trump card against Ye Chen.
After thinking it over and over, Gao Zuo called Zhou Tao.
After graduating, Zhou Tao had paid to release an album of his own. It hadn't made much of a splash, and his father had dragged him back to take over the family business and manage the company.
"Little Jap, why are you calling me?" Zhou Tao answered, immediately taking a jab at Gao Zuo.
Zhou Tao's family was loaded—richer than Gao Zuo's—and he was on good terms with Ye Chen, so naturally, he didn't care for Gao Zuo either.
Gao Zuo was the sort who looked down on those beneath him and fawned over those above him. Although Zhou Tao's nickname for him infuriated him, he didn't dare take it out on Zhou Tao.