All-rounder Artist

In a certain upscale residential complex.

Chen Zhiyu was sitting on the sofa.

His agent was on the phone in the distance.

After another call ended, the agent turned to Chen Zhiyu with a serious face and said, “Most of the biggest entertainment companies in Qin Qi are interested in collaborating with us. The terms they’ve offered are quite favorable. Have you made any decisions yet?”

“No.”

Chen Zhiyu replied hesitantly.

The agent said earnestly, “No matter where you go, I am with you. We have been working together for so many years and our understanding of each other is enough. Our relationship is not only as agent and artist, but also as good friends in life!”

Chen Zhiyu:”…”

Just then, the agent’s phone rang again. After a few words, his face suddenly changed.

“What’s up?”

The agent ended the call. Chen Zhiyu asked.

The agent had a quirky expression: “Starlight said, if we went to them… Admired Fish could tailor-make a song for you.”

“Heh.”

Chen Zhiyu scoffed disdainfully.

The agent also echoed with a sneer: “This Admired Fish… has stolen our number one spot so many times, how could we possibly work with him! Does he think he’s a Maestro now?”

“Dream on.”

Chen Zhiyu snorted.

The agent nodded, his gaze gloomy: “We cannot go to Starlight! Who does he Admired Fish think he is? Thumped us so many times, then threw a song at us, we should tag along with them at Starlight? Isn’t that too spineless of us! I’d like to see the song he sent over. Let’s criticize it together when we’re done listening!”

“Critique together!”

Chen Zhiyu nodded firmly.

The agent opened his email, preparing to play it. Chen Zhiyu suddenly said, “Wait a sec, let me turn the speakers on.”

“That’s right, the clearer we hear it, the easier it is for us to critique! You’re clever!”

“Exactly… Alright, go ahead and play it.”

“Okay.”

Soon, the synthesized melody of a song came from the speakers.

After listening for a while, Chen Zhiyu and the agent looked at each other and concurrently said:

“Nothing special.”

A few minutes later, the song ended.

Chen Zhiyu nonchalantly said, “The song is mediocre.”

The agent agreed, “Indeed, it’s nothing impressive.”

Chen Zhiyu critiqued, “The melody is very ordinary.”

The agent added, “And the intro is especially long.”

Chen Zhiyu expressed disdain, “Singing it poses no challenge at all.”

The agent summed up, “It’s just a bubblegum pop song.”

Following their round of criticisms.

Chen Zhiyu started: “Let’s go to Starlight. I want to sing it and use my strength to prove that the song is not good!”

“No problem.”

The agent nodded repeatedly, seemingly in tune with Chen Zhiyu: “We must go to Starlight! We must sing this song! We have to get the second place! Let that Fish know that he too is nothing special!”

The atmosphere gradually quieted down.

Things like this happen all the time, like when a group of people are having a heated conversation.

They chat and chat, without any specific reason, suddenly, everyone stops talking.

After a long while.

Chen Zhiyu looked at the agent: “Do you think you’re pretty funny?”

The agent replied with a complex expression, “I think you’re quite amusing too.”

Then, the agent mumbled to himself, “I was originally planning on requesting that Admirable Fish write us a song before we consider going to them. I didn’t expect them to actually send us one of Admirable Fish’s songs.”

“Yeah.”

Chen Zhiyu stopped pretending: “I must admit, this song really speaks to my heart. Changing myself is exactly what I’ve been thinking about lately. Admirable Fish truly lives up to his name, I don’t mind losing to him any number of times. Play it again.”

“Alright.”

The agent played the song again.

This time, Chen Zhiyu held his phone and carefully listened to the lyrics.

After listening.

Chen Zhiyu took a deep breath: “How does that saying go?”

“If you can’t beat them… join them…”

Chen Zhiyu and the agent exchanged glances and simultaneously slapped their thighs, breaking into laughter, filling the room with a joyous atmosphere.

Chen Zhiyu had arrived at Starlight!

When Chen Zhiyu and his agent walked through the doors of Starlight, the news spread rapidly through the departments, becoming juicy gossip for the company’s employees.

“The living, breathing Perennial Runner-up!”

“I want to pay my respects.”

“Continually bested by Admirable Fish, he still chose to join Starlight. Could it be that Chen Zhiyu has Stockholm Syndrome…”

“I heard Admirable Fish gifted him a song.”

“Pfft…why can’t I stop myself from wanting to laugh…”

“Chen Zhiyu, the Perennial Runner-up who has been suppressed by Admirable Fish, is preparing to collaborate on a song with him? Do you guys think the song will rank first or second?”

Never mind the company gossip.

Chen Zhiyu’s prompt agreement was beyond Zhao Jue’s expectation. It seemed that Lin Yuan’s song, “Change Myself”, was quite satisfying for Chen Zhiyu.

She naturally offered a warm welcome to Chen Zhiyu and also invited Lin Yuan over.

“This is Teacher Admirable Fish.”

Zhao Jue introduced with a smile.

Chen Zhiyu looked at Lin Yuan, his eyes filled with a complicated emotion, “Nice to meet you, Teacher Admirable Fish. You’re a lot younger than I imagined.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Lin Yuan replied courteously.

Chen Zhiyu’s agent, slightly embarrassed, said, “Shall we sign the contract today and prepare to record the song tomorrow?”

“Sure.”

Zhao Jue agreed firmly.

After both parties signed the contract, Chen Zhiyu’s agent took the initiative to invite: “Could we trouble Teacher Admirable Fish to join us for dinner? Since we’re going to be working together in the future, it will be good to familiarize ourselves with each other, right? You can decide where we eat!”

“Okay.”

Lin Yuan mused: “Let’s go to a hotpot restaurant owned by a friend of mine.”

“Alright.”

Both of them had no objections.

Lin Yuan called Sun Yaohuo: “Can we go to your hotpot restaurant tonight?”

Sun Yaohuo enthusiastically replied, “Sure, I’ll go set up a table for you right away! How many people?”

Lin Yuan asked, “Ms. Zhao, will you be coming too?”

Zhao Jue waved her hand, “I’m busy tonight. I’ll treat you all another day.”

“Three people.”

Lin Yuan said.

Sun Yaohuo laughed, “No problem… Are they your friends?”

Lin Yuan explained, “They’re Chen Zhiyu and his agent. I’m not sure if you know them. I’m planning to collaborate with them on a song.”

The phone line went silent for a moment.

Just as Lin Yuan thought the signal was poor and was about to speak, Sun Yaohuo said, “I’ll reserve the best private room at the hotpot restaurant for you tonight… Wish you happiness.”

“Huh?”

“I wish you a pleasant collaboration.”

“Aren’t you going to join us for dinner? It’s been a while since we ate together.”

“You… you want me to… Fine! I’ll join.”

Sun Yaohuo’s mood seemed to carry a bit of sadness and loss.

“Let’s meet at 7.”

Lin Yuan hung up and said to Chen Zhiyu, “Let’s have hotpot at 7.1 invited a friend.”

“Alright.”

Chen Zhiyu and his agent replied with a smile..