Chapter 38: “Ti Mian

Yujing Garden.

Chu Yourong half-reclined on her own sofa.

Her former agent from Rongshu Entertainment, Chen Huan, sat across from her with a serious expression: "Maybe we should delay the release of your new song—the company has spent a fortune on this marketing campaign."

"Huan Jie, you know me."

"Once I've decided, I won't change it."

Chu Yourong had also seen the online public opinion, but she was a stubborn type—hardheaded, always facing difficulties head-on.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have been shelved by the company for refusing the unwritten rules!

"I knew talking to you was useless."

Chen Huan sighed: "Alright, let's drop this. Talk about your future plans—are you starting your own studio, or joining another company?"

"I'll start my own studio."

In Chu Yourong's view, joining another company would just mean jumping from one fire pit into another, since no one could guarantee the shareholders or executives of another company didn't include LSPs.

If another Rongshu Entertainment 2.0 showed up, all this effort would be for nothing.

So Chu Yourong decided to go it alone—higher freedom, full control.

But the downside was losing the backing of a big company; many quality resources became hard to obtain.

"Huan Jie, after your contract expires, are you planning to switch to another company?"

Chen Huan's contract with Rongshu Entertainment expires next month; neither side has finalized a renewal yet. As a well-known agent in the industry, many entertainment companies want to work with her—several have already reached out.

"I haven't decided where yet, but I definitely won't stay at Rongshu."

Chen Huan had grown up alongside Rongshu Entertainment, but last year, after a major funding round, the shareholders and executives changed, turning the company into a mess.

"Huan Jie, have you considered joining the new company?"

Seeing Chen Huan still undecided, Chu Yourong's eyes suddenly lit up—earlier that day, while having lunch with Zhang Xian, he'd been struggling to hire people.

Originally, Chu Yourong had wanted to join Zhang Xian's Xianyu Music, but Zhang Xian had refused, claiming "his small temple couldn't hold such a great Buddha."

Of course, he might also have thought her demands were too high.

But she was Chu Yourrong!

Joining a brand-new company—asking for a few extra conditions wasn't unreasonable, was it?

Thinking of this, Chu Yourong felt a bit angry.

But anger aside, she still instinctively thought of Zhang Xian's benefit—if Chen Huan, a seasoned industry agent, joined Xianyu Music, Zhang Xian wouldn't have to worry about having no one to rely on.

"That depends on whether the new company has potential."

Chen Huan wasn't opposed to joining a new or small company—such companies had simpler interpersonal dynamics, no tangled webs of vested interests, and she'd have greater influence.

But as Chen Huan said, it depended on whether the company had potential—if it was just another company drifting aimlessly in the industry, forget it; it contradicted her values.

"It should have potential—it has a pretty talented musician."

"The new song I'm releasing, 'Ti Mian,' was written by him."

Previously, Chu Yourong hadn't taken Zhang Xian's supposed songwriting ability seriously—until she sang "Ti Mian."

Chu Yourong believed Zhang Xian had talent; otherwise, he couldn't have written such a song.

"Isn't your new song written by your fake boyfriend?"

"Mm-hmm, he wrote it." Chu Yourong nodded vigorously: "The company I mean is his company—his own business, so he won't run away!"

"With him around, the content quality will likely be guaranteed."

"You're not actually falling for him, are you, You Rong?"

Chen Huan frowned; she'd known Chu Yourong for years and had never seen her passionately defend a man before.

"No way!"

Chu Yourong firmly denied: "I just think his songs are good—didn't 'Apple Fragrance' go viral?"

"One hit doesn't prove anything."

"Many musicians only have one hit in their entire lives!"

"Let's wait and see how your song does after it's released..."

Chen Huan wasn't optimistic about Chu Yourong's fake boyfriend—she thought he was unreliable.

Three days later.

Saturday.

Today was the official release day of Chu Yourong's new song, "Ti Mian."

Of course, it was also the release day for Xu Yao and Sun Jiaren's new songs.

Thanks to the highly effective marketing, netizens' appetites had been thoroughly whetted—especially music and entertainment bloggers, all eagerly waiting to feast on this wave of traffic.

Domestically, there were two main music platforms: Sprite Music and Ku Mao Music.

The new songs of Chu Yourong and the other two were released simultaneously on both platforms.

But although they were released at the same time, the treatment was worlds apart.

Rongshu Entertainment had partnerships with both major platforms, so Xu Yao and Sun Jiaren's new songs appeared prominently on the platforms' top banners.

Chu Yourong's new song received no such treatment—it followed the standard new release process; users could only find it in the new releases list or by direct search.

Du Yue's marketing team had started working early; at 10 a. m., all three songs went live, and Rongshu Entertainment's troll army surged out in full force.

"'That Year, That Day' is so good—Yao Jie is the best!"

"I cried listening to it—Yao Jie's new song is truly heartfelt!"

"When it comes to vocal skill, only Yao Jie can compare—her neighbor's housewife is ten thousand miles behind!"

"'Half a Sugar' is so sweet—Jiaren's best song ever!"

"Sweet girls? Only our Jiaren—married middle-aged women, stay away!"

"Without comparison, there's no harm—three songs launched simultaneously, and that person's song can't even be seen on the New Song Chart!"

"Who gave Chu the married woman the courage to challenge Yao-jie and Jiaren?"

"......"

The first wave of water armies arrived on the battlefield and immediately launched a brutal attack on Chu Yourong.

At the same time.

Du Yue's office.

Sitting across from her desk were a man and a woman—the man was Zhou Lei, the woman was Wang Hui, both signed creators at Rongshu Entertainment, renowned composers and lyricists.

The new songs released by Xu Yao and Sun Jiaren were written by these two.

"Teachers, listen to Chu Yourong's new song and point out some flaws—I'll have my team draft copy to send to music bloggers."

There are many ways to smear someone; the simplest and most brutal is mindless slander—throwing every dirty accusation imaginable at them—but this kind of mindless smear usually has limited effect, only swaying low-awareness bystanders.

Then there's high-end smear: picking flaws from a professional standpoint, emphasizing logic and evidence—this approach is more easily accepted and far more effective.

Du Yue's strategy was dual-pronged: the mindless water armies had already been deployed, and now it was time for music and entertainment bloggers to step in; they couldn't possibly spam like the water armies—they were "professionals" and needed to deliver something credible.

Du Yue herself didn't understand music well, so she could only ask professionals like Zhou Lei and Wang Hui to find faults in Chu Yourong's new song.

"Director Du, you've come to the right people—I just established a ruthless critic persona on 'Tonight's New Song.'"

Zhou Lei smiled as he idly twisted his prayer beads.

Wang Hui said nothing; she gently pushed up her black-rimmed glasses and assumed an attentive listening posture.

Du Yue found Chu Yourong's new song on her computer and clicked play.

The intro emerged from the speakers, carrying a faint sense of sorrow.

Then Chu Yourong's voice rang out.

Don't pile up nostalgia to make the plot melodramatic

After loving for years, why destroy the classic?

We're adults now, no debts, no obligations

Wasting time is my own choice

Listening to the voice from the speakers, Zhou Lei unconsciously paused his bead-twisting; behind her glasses, Wang Hui's eyes revealed surprise.

Both were professional musicians; setting aside character, their basic musical literacy was solid—after all, "an expert reveals all with one move."

Besides, Chu Yourong had once been with Rongshu Entertainment; both had collaborated with her and knew her level well.

But the state Chu Yourong displayed in this song, "Decent," was completely unlike the Chu Yourong they remembered—she had suddenly matured, her voice noticeably steadier than before.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, the two instinctively exchanged glances and found the same answer in each other's eyes.

Du Yue was also stunned; though she didn't understand music well, she could still tell a good song from a bad one—even though Chu Yourong's song wasn't finished yet.

But it just sounded so "comfortable," smooth and effortless, with emotion delivered fully!

This...

Du Yue raised an eyebrow, silently wondering: How had Chu Yourong's vocal skills improved after leaving the company?

Also, this song's quality seemed genuinely strong!

All three expressions grew increasingly grim.

The song entered the chorus:

Breakups should be decent—no one needs to say sorry

Who owes whom? I dared to give, so I dare to have my heart broken

In the frame before us: our past selves

Cheering, crying, screaming until hoarse

Leaving should be decent, so we don't betray these years

The passionate love, the earnest moments

Don't let obsession destroy yesterday

I loved you—clean, decisive

A long chorus ended.

Zhou Lei's prayer beads slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor.

Wang Hui removed her glasses and pinched the bridge of her nose.

Clearly, both the song's quality and Chu Yourong's performance far exceeded their expectations.

"Teachers, what do you think?"

Though she already had a bad feeling, Du Yue still asked after the song ended.

"Director Du, to be honest, this song is hard to find fault with—not because it's perfect, but because the emotion is just too overwhelming!"

Zhou Lei frowned.

"Emotion?"

Du Yue didn't quite understand.

Wang Hui explained: "Music, at its core, delivers emotional value—joy, sorrow, calm, agitation..."

"And whichever emotion is pushed to its extreme, that song will inevitably succeed."

"Chu Yourong's song pushed the sorrow of a breakup to its extreme, paired with lyrics of perfect alignment—this emotion was fully saturated!"

"In a specific context, this song becomes an absolute killer for listeners!"

Wang Hui sighed softly: "My own song, 'That Year, That Day,' also aimed to convey similar emotion—but compared to this, the gap is enormous. Xu Yao will lose badly this time."

"This..."

Du Yue was stunned: "Is it really that bad? Xu Yao's vocal skills are widely recognized as superior—she crushes Chu Yourong."

"Director Du, you just don't understand this."

Zhou Lei took over: "Singing technique is merely the manifestation of skill. Of course, well-executed technique can make a song pleasant to hear, but it's only pleasant—it doesn't necessarily reach the listener's heart."

"That's why, in our industry, we often say the highest level of performance is emotion; only by infusing emotion into a song can you move people!"

"Chu Yourong's singing technique is indeed inferior to Xu Yao's, but this song of hers is all emotion, no technique!"

"After listening to her song, I felt she had just ended a relationship!"

Du Yue was utterly stunned: "According to you, does this mean Chu Yourong's song has the potential to go viral?"

"Highly likely to go viral."

Zhou Lei nodded.

"It will definitely go viral!"

Wang Hui gave an even more absolute answer.

Because of "That Year, That Day" as a contrast, she could more directly feel how powerful "Tǐmiàn" was within this subgenre.

After hearing their comments, Du Yue felt numb. She had asked them to find faults, but instead of finding any, they had lavished praise on "Tǐmiàn" from every angle.

"Dear teachers, no song can be perfect—you still need to point out some flaws."

"Otherwise, I can't write the copy on my end!"

Du Yue said with a gloomy face.

"I can't think of any right now."

Wang Hui shook her head.

"Zhou Teacher, what about you?"

"You're the one with the sharp tongue!"

Du Yue turned to Zhou Lei again.

"Uh, well..."

Zhou Lei scratched his head and said: "Chu Yourong sang 'Tǐmiàn' so well—has she really broken up with someone?"

Du Yue was completely speechless.

I asked you to find faults in the song!

At the same moment.

Dance rehearsal room.

Sun Jiaren had just finished practicing dance; she drank water and asked her assistant: "Xiao Ke, has my new song been released? How are the fans reacting?"

"Excellent—everyone is praising you!"

"And in under an hour, it climbed to ninth place on the New Song Chart."

The assistant replied with a smile.

"What about Chu Yourong's song? What rank is it?"

Because their styles were similar, Sun Jiaren had always subtly competed with Chu Yourong while she was still around; now that they were directly competing, she naturally cared deeply about the outcome.

"Thirty-seventh—way behind."

"Sister Jia, you've definitely won this time; her fans will probably switch sides too!"

"From now on, you're the top queen of this genre!"

Assistant Xiao Ke gave Sun Jiaren plenty of emotional validation, knowing exactly what she liked to hear.

Sun Jiaren nodded proudly and added: "Play her song—I want to hear what kind of trash song the person who wrote 'Apple Fragrance' came up with."

"Besides, all the comments say it's awful!"

While Sun Jiaren was practicing, Xiao Ke had scrolled through the comments on "Tǐmiàn"—all were insults and complaints.

"Expected. The person who wrote 'Apple Fragrance' couldn't possibly write a good song!"

Sun Jiaren sneered dismissively.

At that moment, Xiao Ke had already found "Tǐmiàn" and clicked play; soon, Chu Yourong's voice emerged from her phone...