“Damn!” A certain plant perfectly described Luo Ming’s current mood.
So this was what Sister Shan had been planning!
The moment Sister Shan opened her mouth, the shareholders’ eyes all gathered on Luo Ming almost at the same time.
“Sister Shan, the company is discussing next year’s plans. This isn’t the time for you to stir things up,” CEO Zhu said with a dark expression.
“Didn’t President Tong just say everyone should speak freely?”
“Hey, Yujun, let A-Shan speak her mind,” President Tong said cheerfully to CEO Zhu.
CEO Zhu frowned, but he didn’t object any further.
“Go ahead, A-Shan.”
“Thank you, President Tong. My plan for next year is simple. I hope the company can allocate some resources to my artist.”
“And your reason?”
“Because she’s outstanding enough. The title track of the first album she’s releasing next year was written by herself. ‘Light Years Away,’ which hit over a million views within 24 hours of release, was also written by her.
On top of that, on Saturday she received an invitation for the second female lead in Director Zhu Qing’an’s new film. Doesn’t an artist like this deserve some of the company’s resources?”
After hearing Sister Shan’s words, the shareholders’ gazes toward Luo Ming became a bit more serious.
“Sister Shan, I admit your artist is excellent. But don’t forget one thing: no matter how much potential a newcomer has, turning that potential into actual results isn’t something that happens in just a year or two. Our company will not, and cannot, bet everything on a newcomer. Even if that newcomer is under your management, it’s the same,” CEO Zhu said expressionlessly.
“A-Shan, Yujun is right. The company can’t place all its bets on a newcomer’s potential. What if she’s the type whose songs become famous but she herself doesn’t?” President Tong also voiced his rejection.
Sister Shan was unwilling to give up. She was about to say something else, but Luo Ming grabbed her and stopped her.
Luo Ming gave her a slight shake of his head.
Only then did Sister Shan sit back down, looking dissatisfied.
President Tong noticed this scene. With interest, he asked, “Little girl, don’t you want to be famous?”
“I do!” Luo Ming answered without hesitation.
“Then why did you stop A-Shan from continuing?”
Emotionally, Luo Ming really wanted to say, “I’m standing on the shoulders of giants. I can get famous without your resource support, and when I do, I’ll slap all of you in the face.”
But rationally, he absolutely could not say that. Not unless he wanted Lin Shuwen to be blacklisted by the company’s higher-ups.
So Luo Ming chose a more moderate answer, one that was neither arrogant nor weak. “I just have confidence in myself.”
President Tong smiled and motioned for Luo Ming to sit down.
He wasn’t a child. He wouldn’t view someone differently or give them company resources just because that person was confident enough.
But this young lady really did leave a good impression on him. She was young, yet calm and composed, and she knew when to advance and when to retreat. He didn’t mind saying a word on her behalf. “Yujun, since the Korean-style girl group plan has been shelved, the related music resources can be opened up to the company’s artists as well.”
CEO Zhu nodded. He gave Sister Shan a meaningful look and thought to himself, “President Tong really does still see Sister Shan differently. Although he didn’t openly help them, he still made things easier for them in this way.”
After the meeting ended, Sister Shan and Luo Ming returned to the nanny van.
When Chen Sichu saw that Sister Shan didn’t look too happy, she quietly handed her a bottle of water. Sister Shan unscrewed the cap and drank the entire bottle in one go.
“Sister Shan, are you still upset?”
Sister Shan shook her head. “I was never upset. I just feel like the company has changed.”
“Sister Shan, to be honest, as capital grows, every company changes.”
“Maybe that’s true.”
“Sister Shan, if—I mean if—one day you leave the company, you have to take me with you.”
Hearing this, Sister Shan glared and gave Luo Ming a flick on the forehead. “What nonsense are you talking about? I’ve been here since the company was founded. Unless it goes bankrupt, I’m not leaving.”
“But didn’t you say the company has changed?”
Sister Shan waved her hand, signaling Luo Ming to stop.
“It seems Sister Shan and the company still have some hidden ties that no one knows about,” Luo Ming thought to himself.
Sister Shan sat in the car for a while and then left.
Luo Ming and Chen Sichu went home together and started learning to sing.
Maybe because of this body’s “muscle memory,” Luo Ming felt that he was picking up songs very quickly, especially in terms of melody, as if he had absolute pitch.
In just two hours, Luo Ming had mastered the hit OST that had turned Lin Shuwen from an actress into a singer.
And because he deliberately imitated Lin Shuwen’s singing style, even the Chen sisters, who were always by Lin Shuwen’s side, couldn’t tell any obvious difference.
After mastering that song, Luo Ming wanted to keep going while he was on a roll, but he was interrupted by a phone call.
The caller was Li Yunshang.
When they were eating roast duck in the capital before, this girl had kept holding his hand and acting quite enthusiastic, which made Luo Ming sigh at how quickly feelings between girls could develop.
Later, Luo Ming had asked Lin Shuwen whether Li Yunshang had chatted with her or anything. Lin Shuwen said no.
After coming over, Luo Ming looked through the chat history on the phone, and there really was nothing from Li Yunshang.
At first, Luo Ming had wondered why feelings between girls came quickly but faded just as fast. He hadn’t expected to receive a call from Li Yunshang so soon.
“Hey~ Wenwen, it’s me, Li Yunshang. You haven’t forgotten me, have you?” Li Yunshang’s voice came through the receiver.
“No. It hasn’t been that long since we finished filming the show. My memory isn’t that bad!”
“Then why haven’t you contacted me?” Li Yunshang asked, sounding a little hurt.
“You haven’t contacted me either!”
“I went down into a tomb. I didn’t have time.”
“Down into a tomb? Did you change careers? Wait, you studied history, so does this count as working in your own field?”
There was silence on Li Yunshang’s end for three seconds before she said, “Wenwen, what are you thinking! We’re doing proper archaeological excavation, not tomb robbing!”
Luo Ming chuckled. “I know. I was just joking.”
“That joke isn’t funny. The tomb we went to this time had been visited by grave robbers. We were doing a rescue excavation and spent the whole week underground. I hate grave robbers so much right now, and you’re still making jokes like that,” Li Yunshang complained.
“Sorry, sorry. I didn’t know.”
“One ‘sorry’ and that’s it?”
“Huh? What else do you want?”
“I have business in Shanghai tomorrow. Treat me to a meal!”
“Tomorrow? That won’t work. I have a commercial performance tomorrow.”
“Where’s the performance? Can I come watch?” Li Yunshang’s tone suddenly became excited.
Luo Ming turned and glanced at Chen Sichu.
Chen Sichu thought for a moment and said, “Sis Wen, I should be able to bring your friend in.”
“Did you hear that? What time are you coming tomorrow?”
“What time is your performance, Wenwen?” Li Yunshang asked in return.
“Tomorrow at 3 p.m.”
“Then I’ll buy a ticket for the morning.”
“Okay! When you arrive, just contact my assistant. I’ll give you her phone number.”
