Chapter 749: Slamming the table, putting on a sour face

Lu Yan He only recorded one episode of *City Travelogue*.

Although he wanted to continue recording afterward, he had to take advantage of the rare free time he had now to release his album.

Yes, that electronic album that was launched on music platforms last September.

According to Chen Ziyan's arrangements, the physical album would be released at the end of April.

For this, a press conference was specially held.

Li Zhibai and Liu Zhiyin attended as performers and sang "Infatuated" and "Girl with Wings" live.

This physical album was limited to fifty thousand copies.

Limited edition.

Whether there would be subsequent releases depended on the market situation.

At the press conference, Lu Yan He promised once again: "This album will not be operated commercially. Just like the electronic album, all proceeds, after deducting costs, will be donated to Project Hope. It is a gift from me to everyone, and also a gift from everyone to me."

Some fans were curious if Lu Yan He would release another album in the future.

"I will never set limits for myself. I will never say I definitely won't do something. Who knows?" Lu Yan He said with a smile, "Maybe there will be similar albums in the future. By the way, I've also thought about holding a concert, and it's currently in preparation."

Upon hearing that Lu Yan He was going to hold a concert, intense screams erupted at the venue.

Lu Yan He said: "Don't get your hopes up yet; nothing is certain regarding the timing."

A fan shouted: "No matter when it is, we will wait!"

Lu Yan He smiled at that fan, "You said it yourself; I hope to see you then."

Lu Yan He rarely, or rather, very rarely, held these kinds of fan meetings.

This time, because it was an album launch, several hundred spots were released for fans to attend.

Therefore, fans had the opportunity to see Lu Yan He up close.

The tickets were snatched up frantically.

After the press conference ended, Lu Yan He said to Liu Zhiyin: "Sister Zhiyin, when I hold my concert, I'll have to invite you to be a guest."

Liu Zhiyin nodded with a smile.

She said: "The song 'Girl with Wings' you gave me allowed me to perform on this year's Spring Festival Gala—a solo performance, something I wouldn't have dared to even imagine."

Lu Yan He: "That's also because you're very popular. Nowadays, when the Spring Festival Gala invites artists, they inherently prefer popular ones."

"But there were only three solo performances," Liu Zhiyin said, "and I was one of them."

Performing a solo at the Spring Festival Gala carries a lot of weight.

Every year, the Spring Festival Gala has some "pork-barrel" segments where they try to cram five or six popular stars into a single song.

Everyone knows what that's about.

Only solo performances or duets are the treatment truly reserved for recognized singers or top-tier actors.

The song "Girl with Wings" has such high popularity, and it's positive and upbeat, so it truly fits the standards of the Spring Festival Gala.

Lu Yan He asked: "Sister Zhiyin, are you continuing with your concert tour this year?"

"I have a tour planned for the second half of the year," Liu Zhiyin asked with a smile, "How about it? Would you like to be a guest?"

"If I have the time, of course, that would be great. But I expect to be on set for the second half of the year," Lu Yan He said, "We'll see when the time comes. I'll try to make it for one show. Is your tour only within the country?"

Liu Zhiyin said: "There will be two shows overseas, one in Singapore and one in South Korea."

Lu Yan He nodded.

Liu Zhiyin debuted in a South Korean girl group, so she naturally has a certain level of fan base in the Asian region.

Coupled with her accumulation in Mandopop over the past few years, she has many Chinese fans.

It can only be said that those who can take their tours overseas have real strength.

The West is currently big on "political correctness," which, while making a mess of their own arts circles, has provided a great opportunity for Asian artists in any field to open up overseas markets.

Lu Yan He feels that, compared to film and television, music is actually easier to bridge cultural gaps.

Especially for a pop singer like Liu Zhiyin, who has both a K-POP foundation and several years of accumulated Mandopop experience since returning to China.

She could actually try to balance both the domestic and international markets, especially the Asian market.

The biggest difference between a singer and an actor is that a typical singer, especially a pop singer, is linked to a cultural symbol.

While actors enter the audience's hearts through characters, singers are often cultural symbols interwoven with their personal musical persona and life experiences.

Liu Zhiyin's vocal ability isn't exactly top-tier, but as a pop singer, her fundamentals are definitely solid, and there's no issue there.

Lu Yan He suddenly felt that if Liu Zhiyin could have a company with global operational capabilities managing her, her influence should be even greater than it is now.

Of course, this is also a bit of a platitude.

In the arts, there are too many people who are talented and hardworking but never get the chance to stand out.

Those who do stand out are all the result of luck, hard work, and the efforts of the pushers behind them.

So-called talent only truly has value once it is seen; when it remains unseen, the more it admires its own reflection and pities itself, the more worthless it becomes.

Lu Yan He kept a thought in mind, thinking that if there were a good opportunity in the future, he could help bridge the gap for Liu Zhiyin.

Wait—

Speaking of which.

With so many of his Hollywood film projects, including some overseas companies wanting to do remakes, aren't those opportunities?

Lu Yan He hesitated for a moment and asked: "Sister Zhiyin, how is your contract with Star Entertainment signed?"

"Hmm?" Liu Zhiyin was stunned, "Are you trying to poach me?"

Lu Yan He said: "It's not poaching you, just seeing if there's room for cooperation, such as overseas agency representation or singing for overseas film and television promotional songs."

Liu Zhiyin was stunned.

Lu Yan He said: "I see you have the idea of going international. If you're willing, I feel we could cooperate deeply in this regard."

Liu Zhiyin immediately said: "Give me some time; I'll go talk to the boss at Star Entertainment."

Lu Yan He nodded and said okay.

Liu Zhiyin's musical style isn't suitable for singing OSTs (although she has actually sung a few).

However, singing promotional songs is no problem.

Many big productions specifically make promotional songs.

So why not reserve one or two such opportunities for domestic singers like Liu Zhiyin?

Many times, they really just need a stepping stone.

Just like after *Buried* exploded, Li Zhibai's Hollywood acting offers were endless.

After *Home Alone*, the three actors Huang Feng, Liu Teli, and Luo Weida became the first choices for many Asian roles in overseas films, especially for roles similar to the ones they played in *Home Alone*.

Lu Yan He held this thought and mentioned it to Chen Ziyan as well.

If nothing else, even now, Tu Song is still being managed personally by Chen Ziyan.

Of course, Tu Song's singing career has also steadily entered the domestic first tier.

He isn't the kind of singer with a very strong musical persona; he's neither someone with extreme personality nor someone with a winding life story.

However, he has one advantage: under Chen Ziyan's arrangement, after studying at an overseas music conservatory for several years, he is now doing original music.

This point is particularly rare.

And what's even rarer is that Chen Ziyan has enough resources to support him in bringing his original music to the public, rather than just playing in his own circle. Lu Yan He said to Chen Ziyan: "In the future, when we talk about film and television cooperation overseas, whether it's original or a remake, we can add such cooperation clauses. What do you think?"

"That would require us to have the upper hand and be in a stronger position to make such demands," Chen Ziyan said, "but doing so would indeed be the fastest way to push some of our singers into the overseas market. Using the tailwind of film and television is the fastest path."

"Then let's do it." Seeing Chen Ziyan affirm his idea, Lu Yan He immediately said, "Whether the other party agrees is another matter; we'll negotiate slowly. At least we can bring it up first, especially with Korean dramas. TVN bought so many of our remakes and needs authorization."

Chen Ziyan said with a smile: "Among the singers we've signed, besides Liu Zhiyin, there aren't many who actually know Korean. Can they sing Korean songs?"

"Don't Korean dramas have quite a few English OSTs? Pick the suitable ones. If it really doesn't work, whichever singer can put in the effort to master other languages, we'll push more of those resources to them," Lu Yan He said, "If they really want such opportunities, then they should put in more effort themselves. You can't expect everything to be fed into their mouths, right?"

Chen Ziyan nodded with a smile: "That's true, you're right. Look at Jiang Jun, Jiang Yuqian, Li Zhibai, and Yan Liang; their English was also learned by forcing themselves. Especially Li Zhibai and Yan Liang, I heard they put in a lot of hard work. Knowing you wrote Hollywood film scripts for them, they started learning the language and taking oral classes early on. It wasn't easy."

Lu Yan He: "They were pushed by me; the arrow was on the string and had to be fired. If I hadn't asked Li Zhibai to act in *Buried*, he wouldn't have had the determination to practice English with you."

Chen Ziyan: "That's why I think you're right. No matter what, if you want to eat, you have to hold the bowl. You shouldn't spoil those who expect others to feed them."

Lu Yan He: "I think Shi Huo should add an English class for signed artists."

"Forget it, those who want to learn will learn on their own," Chen Ziyan said, "I won't do such thankless work. It's too much formalism; there aren't many who really want to learn."

Lu Yan He: "Alright."

Chen Ziyan: "On the contrary, for Shi Huo's staff, I require them to know a foreign language. It doesn't have to be English, but they must know one. I only give them three years. All employees, within three years of joining Shi Huo, must be proficient in a foreign language. The company will provide corresponding channels for their language learning, and they don't have to bear the costs themselves."

"This works," Lu Yan He nodded, "Sister Ziyan, do you want to expand Shi Huo's business abroad in the future? To make Shi Huo an international agency like William Morris?"

"Of course," Chen Ziyan said, "Our Chinese market is so big, and the Asian market is so big. If our artists want to have good development in Europe and America, they need an agency over there to build a ladder. If European and American artists want to come to China or Asia to make money in the future, they might need Shi Huo to represent them. Anyway, the more people in the company who can master a second foreign language, the more composed we will be. No matter what, we won't lose out, and it's more conducive to our market expansion."

Lu Yan He nodded.

He felt that Chen Ziyan was truly very forward-looking in this regard.

Shijin has always been vocal about wanting to do "Big Entertainment," but Lu Yan He feels that true "Big Entertainment" is like Chen Ziyan's—based in a small field with a big vision and a big plan.

Just like now, although Lu Yan He and the others have agencies overseas, Shi Huo has also been constantly developing its own overseas business lines, using other artists in its hands to practice and open up the situation, accumulating experience and resources bit by bit.

They didn't choose to consolidate their business lines domestically just because big stars like Lu Yan He had signed with other agencies overseas. Lu Yan He has always strongly agreed with this concept—

Even if you currently look like a newcomer in a certain aspect and it seems like it will take a long time and a lot of effort to reach a passing grade, should you retreat into your comfort zone at this time?

Staying in the comfort zone forever means there is only one path to take.

However, people should always prepare an alternative path for themselves.

Therefore, in the choice of partners, domestically, even though Lu Yan He already had a partner like Beijiguang Video, he still established cooperation with Bingyuan Video. Even though the video platform had already offered a top-tier price, he still cooperated with traditional television stations like Yuehu Tai.

It was the same when cooperating with Hollywood.

Even though they already had a good foundation for cooperation with one partner, they still had to establish connections with an unfamiliar company and go through the difficult, awkward, and grinding things all over again.

Now, Lu Yan He is not afraid of falling out with any company at all.

Because no matter which company he falls out with, he won't be fundamentally affected.

This is also the reason why he is increasingly daring to slam the table and put on a sour face with any collaborator.

Liu Zhiyin didn't know how she talked to Star Entertainment. Lu Yan He guessed she must have conceded some of her own interests and even agreed to more favorable conditions for Star Entertainment. Therefore, just five days later, Liu Zhiyin contacted Lu Yan He and said that Star Entertainment had agreed to hand over the agency rights for Liu Zhiyin's overseas singing and commercial performances to Lu Yan He's side, and Lu Yan He's side didn't have to pay any conditions—

This was naturally Liu Zhiyin paying the price.

Liu Zhiyin is a very smart person and trusts Lu Yan He. Since he extended this invitation to her, he definitely wouldn't let her down.

Lu Yan He really didn't expect Liu Zhiyin's reaction speed to be so fast.

He was very surprised.

But also very moved.

Because this also meant Liu Zhiyin's absolute trust in him.

Helping a friend sometimes really isn't about getting any return from the other party, but when a helping hand is extended and the other party hesitates about the intention of this hand, it can make one feel a bit sad. Conversely, grasping his hand without hesitation—this direct, frank trust is the best gift for this friendship.

Liu Zhiyin's relevant agency rights were placed at Shi Huo.

Lu Yan He also unceremoniously took some of Liu Zhiyin's materials and singing videos, including her influence in China and Asia, and personally made a resume, ready to be taken out whenever needed.

At the very least, for the second *Home Alone* movie, he would definitely give one of the promotional songs to Liu Zhiyin to sing.

And for the matter of making a promotional song for the film, according to the distribution contract for the second part, Parameter is required to be responsible for one of the English songs.

Lu Yan He didn't intend to affect Parameter's own plans. He directly said to Liu Zhiyin: "Sister Zhiyin, I would like to invite you to sing one of the promotional songs for the second *Home Alone*. There are two choices now. One is that I think you should know top-tier music producers in Europe and America. I will give you a production budget of 200,000 USD, and you go contact the composer and lyricist and find the people you are most familiar with to make one. The second choice is that I find my agent in the United States, or Parameter, to produce a song, and you only are responsible for singing it. Which one would you like to choose?"

Liu Zhiyin said without hesitation: "I'll go contact them myself and try. Do you have any requirements for the promotional song?"

"Everyone actually knows the style of this film very well, so you don't need to make a song that particularly fits the film's style. Use it as a base, combine it with the musical style you are usually good at, like, or want to try. It doesn't have to be so on-point. A promotional song is mainly about letting everyone think the song is good through you and the song you sing, while expressing a theme that doesn't conflict, attracting everyone's attention, and letting them know the second part is about to be released. That's enough," Lu Yan He explained.

Liu Zhiyin nodded, "I understand. Can I bring the production team to take a look at the second part in advance when the time comes?"

Lu Yan He nodded: "No problem. You can contact me or Wang Biao at any time."

"Good," Liu Zhiyin nodded, "Yan He, you are simply too cool. Not only did you give me the opportunity to sing for the second *Home Alone*, but you also gave me such a sufficient budget to let me make music myself."

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Lu Yan He said: "Sister Zhiyin, if you asked me to use this budget to pay you for writing songs and arranging, I might not dare. But with you as the producer, finding top-tier, suitable creators to make this promotional song, I fully trust you. Your experience, the music you've heard, the stages you've seen, and your understanding of world pop music are far higher than mine, or Song Linxin and the others."

Liu Zhiyin: "Only you would say that to me. Others would only say I am an idol singer."

"When you one day sing on the stage of a top domestic awards ceremony, or the Oscars, you will be a pop culture symbol," Lu Yan He said, "I like your design for your concert. You are not an assembly-line idol singer. Those who evaluate you like that have no eye for talent."

Liu Zhiyin burst into laughter.

Lu Yan He said: "The second *Home Alone* should still be released at the end of January or early February next year. It's best if you can get this song produced before December to facilitate our promotional arrangements."

"Good," Liu Zhiyin nodded.

"By then, maybe we can let Parameter foot the bill and push you to perform on the stages of the top music festivals," Lu Yan He said with a smile, "or the most influential programs and stages in Europe and America."

This is the influence of the film *Home Alone*.

Liu Zhiyin had clearly also thought of the opportunities that might come from singing this promotional song.

She vowed: "I will definitely do this promotional song well."

Lu Yan He nodded.

Besides this, Lu Yan He also thought for a while: besides the promotional song for this film, are there any other singing opportunities suitable for Liu Zhiyin?

He didn't want to help Liu Zhiyin fight for promotional song opportunities in the domestic film and television circle. First, Liu Zhiyin's current popularity and status don't require doing such things. Second, Lu Yan He didn't want Liu Zhiyin to fight for food with domestic singers.

If you want to fight, go fight overseas.

Subsequently, Lu Yan He thought of another play.

The third season of *Seventeen Layers*, the final season, which is already preparing to be broadcast.

This show now also has some popularity on overseas streaming media and belongs to the type of show that has a group of die-hard fans.

Lu Yan He directly contacted Jiang Lan and asked if the OST or promotional song for the third season of *Seventeen Layers* had been made, and if the singers had been decided.

Jiang Lan said that all the singers had already been contacted.

Lu Yan He said: "What about the English version?"

"English version?" Jiang Lan was stunned.

Lu Yan He said: "The third season of *Seventeen Layers* is also very popular on streaming media now. Isn't it worth producing an English version for them?"

Jiang Lan was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.

Lu Yan He said: "Jing Tai is big and wealthy now; they don't lack the money to make an English version, right?"

Jiang Lan: "... Yan He, what do you want to do? Why not just tell me directly? How could I not value your ideas?"

Lu Yan He: "Hearing you say that, I'm relieved."

He smiled sincerely. (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 750 =====