Chapter 9: 3 Million or Dad—Which Do You Choose?

"Being a librarian is indeed a great job, but I don't want to retire at such a young age!"

"I'm only 22—this is the prime of my youth, when I should be striving hard to build my career. So I still hope to take on challenging work. Big sister, brother-in-law, I know you both mean well, but the librarian position really isn't right for me."

"A true man must pursue lofty ambitions; otherwise, he wastes the eight-foot frame heaven gave him!"

"My aspirations cannot be confined within a tiny library!"

Zhang Xian's expression turned grave, his words fiery and full of grandeur.

His passionate outburst truly stunned Zhao Shuyang; as a university professor who spent his days among young students, he was easily swayed by emotion.

"Hmm, admirable spirit!"

"I never realized Xiao Xian had such lofty ambitions!"

Zhao Shuyang nodded approvingly.

But Zhang Xinan was speechless—she knew her younger brother far too well; all that talk of lofty ambitions was just empty words!

He spoke grandly, but in reality, he was just chasing unrealistic dreams.

"Don't listen to his nonsense."

Zhang Xinan glared at her husband, who had been swept up in the moment, then grabbed Zhang Xian's ear: "Go interview at Beijing University of Technology tomorrow!"

"You hear me??"

"I hear you, I hear you..."

Zhang Xian winced, begging: "Big sister, let go! If you don't, your favorite little brother will be crippled!"

"Three days without a beating and you get itchy!"

"Zhaodi said you've been doing nothing but fishing and playing games every day—you haven't even looked for a job!"

"You want Dad to support you for life??"

Zhang Xinan glared and scolded.

"Not at all."

"I never thought that!"

Zhang Xian quickly denied it, though inwardly he grumbled: I'd love for Old Zhang to support me for life—just afraid he might quit halfway.

"Big sister, can you let go now!"

"I'm 22 already—can you stop pulling my ear all the time!"

Zhang Xian winced again.

"Even if you're 62, as long as I'm alive, I'll still pull your ear."

Zhang Xinan snorted coldly and finally released her grip.

"I'd actually hope to still have my ear pulled when I'm 102..."

Zhang Xian rubbed his ear, muttering under his breath.

Among his five sisters, he feared his eldest sister Zhang Xinan the most; as the saying goes, the eldest sister is like a mother. After their mother passed away, Zhang Xinan took on the responsibility of disciplining her younger siblings, only marrying after Zhang Xian was nearly finished with university.

So Zhang Xinan had made tremendous contributions to the family, and combined with the natural dominance of bloodline, even though Zhang Xian now had a godfather's aid, he still had no desire to defy his elder sister.

But above, there are policies; below, there are countermeasures.

He absolutely would not attend the interview.

Zhang Xian's eyes darted, sweeping over Zhao Shuyang's head, and immediately he had an idea.

This brother-in-law had three red threads above his head—one connected to his elder sister, the other two unknown.

Zhao Shuyang always claimed he'd only dated once before marrying Zhang Xinan, so the extra red thread was suspicious.

Based on Zhang Xian's knowledge of this brother-in-law, the chance of post-marriage infidelity was low—it was far more likely he'd hidden past relationships.

"Brother-in-law, I heard you dated a girlfriend in college?"

Zhang Xinan had gone to the kitchen to help Dad cook; only Zhang Xian and Zhao Shuyang remained in the room.

"Huh? Why all of a sudden ask about this?"

Zhao Shuyang glanced at Zhang Xian in confusion.

"Because I heard that before marrying my sister, you didn't just date one girlfriend—you dated two."

"How do you..."

Zhao Shuyang was stunned; the word "know" nearly slipped out.

"How I know, right?"

Zhang Xian grinned: "If you want no one to know, don't do it in the first place."

"Brother-in-law, you understand women—they're very curious about their partner's romantic past, especially my sister..."

"So you don't want me to tell her about this, right?"

Zhao Shuyang's mouth twitched, then he sighed wearily: "I've only got eight hundred yuan in secret savings—not a penny more!"

"Brother-in-law, what do you take me for?"

"How could I possibly take your hard-earned secret savings!"

Zhang Xian refused with righteous indignation.

"No money?"

Zhao Shuyang eyed Zhang Xian suspiciously; given their close relationship, this little brother had often squeezed cash out of him before—but this time, Zhang Xian was acting completely out of character.

"I really don't want to be a librarian. Tomorrow, just tell my sister I did poorly in the interview and didn't get hired—we'll stick to the same story!"

Zhang Xian whispered his request.

"Hmm... fine, I guess."

Zhao Shuyang hesitated, then nodded.

He'd never fully agreed with his wife's overbearing control; as his little brother Zhang Xian said, he was 22 now—he should have his own life plan and take responsibility for his own life.

Moreover, judging from Zhang Xian's earlier remarks, he also has aspirations.

Zhang Xinan did not know the two had secretly reached an agreement; when leaving after dinner, she still reminded Zhang Xian to perform well in tomorrow's interview.

"Xiaoxian, I need to tell you something serious."

After seeing off his eldest sister and brother-in-law, Zhang Xian was called to his father's room.

At this moment, his father Zhang Dongshan was adjusting the equipment and lighting for his live stream.

"Dad, what's the serious matter?"

"I'm going to record 'Apple Fragrance' in a professional studio and officially release it—you're the composer and lyricist, so give me an authorization."

The popularity of 'Apple Fragrance' gave Zhang Dongshan, an aging singer who had never succeeded in life, hope for fame.

Previously, he always told others he was a faded singer, but that was just self-aggrandizement—'faded singer' refers to someone who had once been famous, yet Zhang Dongshan had never been famous at all.

"No problem, this is simple!"

Zhang Xian immediately opened the 'China Copyright Network app,' where song rights can be bought and sold, with clear records displayed.

For example, song ownership, who the song was sold to, who was authorized to perform it, whether the authorization was exclusive or non-exclusive, and so on.

This well-established transaction system prevents copyright disputes, clearly defines ownership, avoids controversy, and eliminates the need for public fights.

But when Zhang Xian opened the 'China Copyright Network app,' he was startled by the flood of messages.

The backend private messages were already at 99+, and when Zhang Xian casually opened a few, all were collaboration requests or offers to buy the performance rights to 'Apple Fragrance.'

"You really went viral, kid!"

Zhang Dongshan, who had come over, also saw the backend messages—and just happened to spot one offering three million yuan for exclusive performance rights to 'Apple Fragrance.'

"Damn, three million!"

Zhang Dongshan couldn't help exclaiming; though he knew 'Apple Fragrance' was currently popular, songs that went viral on TikTok were just a passing trend, replaced by the next hit within a month—or even less.

"Dad, the authorization contract has been sent to your account—just confirm it yourself!"

Zhang Dongshan was still stunned by the three-million-yuan offer, but Zhang Xian had already sent him an authorization agreement.

"I'm going back to play games, uh, submit my resume."

"Go earn some serious money!"

Saying this, Zhang Xian left his father's room.

Zhang Dongshan quickly opened his Copyright Network app and indeed found a pending song authorization agreement.

But that wasn't the most important part—the most important was that this was a free authorization agreement, meaning the song was given to him for free.

In fact, Zhang Dongshan had never even considered paying—would a father pay his son for singing his own song?

What nonsense!

But that three-million-yuan offer still shocked him; even more surprising was that his money-grubbing son, between three million yuan and his old man, hadn't hesitated a single second—he chose his father!

That brat has grown up!

It was worth your mother risking five pregnancies to give birth to you!

Why were there six children from only five pregnancies?

Because Zhang Xian's fourth sister, Zhang Laidi, and fifth sister, Zhang Pandi, were twins.