Chapter 19

Zhu Jianxin glanced at Cheng Yu and raised a hand in oath. "With conditions as good as yours, if you're willing to sign with our company, we'll definitely guarantee you a spot in the final national finals. Once the show ends, the company will produce singles and albums for you. If your fans come through and your album sells well, we might even be able to aim for Best New Artist. By the way, can you sing and dance?"

Cheng Yu ignored Zhu Jianxin's endless chatter. Instead, a flash of inspiration struck him. He remembered that in his third year of taking over C&C Jewelry, in order to expand the brand's international reputation and influence, he had collaborated with several heavyweight singers and actors from F Country, Europe, and America to release a number of singles. While using those celebrities' fame to promote C&C Jewelry, it had also enhanced their fashion influence.

Judging from C&C Jewelry's ever-expanding market share across Europe and America in the following years, the strategy had worked exceptionally well. It had also laid the foundation for C&C Jewelry's market value to keep doubling.

He had never expected that, after so much time had passed, he would have to use the same old trick again to build a new brand. Only this time, Cheng Yu had no means of collaborating with domestic superstars.

Cheng Yu blinked and cut Zhu Jianxin off. "Find somewhere. Let's talk."

Chapter 19

In the affordable cold drink shop across from the hospital, Zhu Jianxin narrowed his eyes as he studied Cheng Yu sitting opposite him.

The afternoon sunlight was not only scorching but glaring. Streaming through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, it laid a brilliant golden sheen over the entire shop. The air conditioning inside was cranked up high. Curled up in the booth by the window, Zhu Jianxin looked like Garfield basking in the sun, so comfortable he practically wanted to melt into a pancake.

Yet Cheng Yu, seated across from him, still had that upright, aloof, and proud bearing. The cup of instant coffee that cost barely more than ten yuan in front of him looked like freshly ground coffee brewed by a master barista in an upscale café. Even the mismatched cartoon décor around him seemed considerably more refined.

Zhu Jianxin clicked his tongue in wonder. "Your family must be pretty well-off, right?" Otherwise, they could never have raised someone so noble and haughty.

Cheng Yu ignored him. His gaze lowered to the coffee still sending up wisps of heat, and he pushed the cup farther away with faint distaste.

Zhu Jianxin: "..."

"First, tell me what terms your company can offer." Cheng Yu was concise and went straight to the point.

Zhu Jianxin immediately said, "Our company can get you onto Shining Stars. When the show airs, we'll coordinate with the production team to give you more screen time and directly secure you a debut spot."

Cheng Yu showed little interest. "Ordinary people can participate in this show too. And as far as I know, even if a reality talent show can preselect debut spots, those spots should only be for the national top ten. In other words, before the national finals, your company's influence over the show is practically zero. All screen time depends on the contestants' own performances. If a contestant has real potential, the production team certainly won't be stingy with footage. No one wants to go against their KPI."

Zhu Jianxin was thoroughly surprised. "You even know about ordinary contestants and KPIs?"

Cheng Yu looked at Zhu Jianxin expressionlessly.

Zhu Jianxin asked, "I'm just curious. What exactly does your family do?"

Cheng Yu had no intention of answering. He simply continued staring at Zhu Jianxin without expression.

Three seconds later, Zhu Jianxin guiltily looked away and resumed persuading him along the lines Cheng Yu had raised. "...You can't look at it that way. Going it alone is definitely different from signing with a major company. If you join the show as an ordinary contestant, even if you really stand out and catch the audience's attention, it'll be hard to maximize the benefits without follow-up support. But if you sign with us, the company will keep a close eye on you in real time. Once the show creates some buzz after airing, the company will contact major media outlets for follow-up coverage and promote you."

"A lot of agencies can do that. Why do I have to sign with you?"

Zhu Jianxin's eyes went a little blank. He could hardly imagine that a boy Cheng Yu's age could think so quickly.

"Tianguang Entertainment is a professional agency—"

Before he could finish, Cheng Yu suddenly raised a brow and gave a mocking laugh. "Any company that can recommend artists to a production team and secure debut spots should be professional, shouldn't they?"

Cheng Yu tapped the elaborately patterned coffee cup with his spoon. The delicate spoon spun nimbly between his long, pale fingers. Cheng Yu casually reminded him, "I need to go back to the hospital for lunch. You have fifteen minutes to convince me."

Zhu Jianxin took a deep breath. He suddenly realized that not only was this boy difficult by nature, but his logic and negotiation skills were also highly mature. Zhu Jianxin had not encountered such a troublesome newcomer in years. He had no idea what kind of family could raise such an oddity.

Zhu Jianxin's mouth was dry and his head felt muddled. He could not help downing more than half a cup of iced cola before forcing himself to organize his thoughts and persuade Cheng Yu. "Tianguang Entertainment is an established music production company in the industry. We've signed many musical talents. For example, Ouyang Jie, the King of Pop you young people all like, and the sexy diva Meng Lianna are our company's top male and female artists. Of course, besides those two, we have plenty of other outstanding singers. You'll understand once you join the company. I can take you to meet them. You can get autographs and photos together, whatever you want. If you perform well, I can even recommend you as a guest singer at your senior artists' concerts. On top of that, the company has a mature production team. We can produce albums for our artists, and we have channels for overseas distribution as well. We can even organize concerts around the world. We're nothing like those small-time agencies. Our company has extremely abundant resources."

Zhu Jianxin spoke without pause, trying his best to spark Cheng Yu's interest with the celebrity-chasing topics young people liked most these days. He also wanted to stir Cheng Yu's curiosity by saying he could appear at stars' concerts. Unfortunately, Cheng Yu did not get it at all.

"It's true that your company has extensive connections and abundant resources. But according to the Pareto principle, most of your company's resources must be controlled by those big-name stars. When it comes down to it, how much can be allocated to newcomers? If I can't get the best resources, then rather than sitting on the bench at a major company, I'd rather be the top artist at a small one. If the company pours all its resources into promoting me alone, then once I make it big, even if I want to terminate my contract, plenty of companies will fight to pay my penalty fee. Better to be the head of a dragon than the tail of a phoenix. You should understand that better than I do."