Chapter 10: Signing with Shaw Brothers

"Qianzai! Get up quickly!" The urgent knocking at the door woke Xiang Qian from his deep sleep.

Xiang Qian rubbed his eyes and opened the door: "Mom, what's the matter so early?"

"Miss Li is waiting for you in the living room; she says it's an urgent matter from the Shaw Brothers Company."

Xiang Qian instantly woke up completely, threw on a T-shirt in a haphazard manner, and rushed out. He saw Li Ling sitting upright on the living room sofa, with a stack of documents placed before her.

"Sister Ling, so early?" Xiang Qian asked, somewhat surprised.

Li Ling pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses: "Qianzai, the company values you highly. This is a ten-year contract; all commercial earnings will be split twenty-eighty, and the company will do its utmost to make you a star."

His father walked over holding a teacup: "Twenty-eighty? The company takes eighty?"

Li Ling smiled and nodded: "This is the standard contract for newcomers; it is already very generous."

Xiang Qian took the contract and scrutinized it carefully, his brows gradually knitting together: "Sister Ling, ten years is too long. And this clause regarding copyright ownership..."

"The copyright must belong to me," Xiang Qian said, pointing at the clause. "The company may have usage rights, but ownership is mine."

Li Ling looked troubled: "This... company precedent is always..."

"Sister Ling," Xiang Qian put down the contract, "you should be clear about the value of these few songs of mine."

His mother interjected: "The songs my son writes naturally must belong to him."

Li Ling hesitated for a moment, then took out her mobile phone: "I need to ask Sixth Uncle for instructions."

"Sixth Uncle, it's like this... Yes, he insists on the copyright... Okay, understood."

Hanging up the phone, Li Ling took a deep breath: "Sixth Uncle says that if you can create five hit songs within one or two years, the contract can be changed to five years, the earnings split fifty-fifty, and the copyright will belong to you."

Xiang Qian's eyes lit up: "Also, I want the right to refuse offers for film and television dramas."

Li Ling smiled bitterly: "You... Alright, I'll go back and revise the contract."

Xiang Qian rode his bicycle to the building where Zhou Huimin lived and happened to meet her just as she was going out.

"Qianzai!" Zhou Huimin jogged over. "Why so early?"

"Ah Min, has Shaw Brothers approached you to sign a contract?"

Zhou Huimin nodded: "I signed it yesterday; it's a ten-year long-term contract!"

Xiang Qian's expression changed: "Ten years? What are the terms?"

"Ninety-ten split; the company promised to vigorously promote me..." Zhou Huimin's voice grew quieter. "What's wrong?"

Xiang Qian clenched his fist: "They gave you the standard newcomer contract; it's too harsh."

Zhou Huimin forced a smile: "It doesn't matter; being able to debut is good enough."

Xiang Qian spread both contracts out on the table for comparison: "Look, your contract term is double mine, and the profit-sharing ratio differs greatly as well."

Zhou Huimin bit on her straw: "But... I don't have any bargaining chips."

"You do!" Xiang Qian took her hand. "How popular is 'A Love for Life' right now? You are just too honest."

"Then... what do we do now?"

Xiang Qian pondered for a moment: "Wait until my contract is signed, and I will take you to renegotiate. For now, do not accept any work."

Li Ling handed the revised contract to Xiang Qian: "Specially approved by Sixth Uncle; take a look."

After reading it carefully, Xiang Qian signed his name with satisfaction: "Sister Ling, I have another impertinent request."

"Go ahead."

"Zhou Huimin's contract... can it be changed as well?"

Li Ling raised an eyebrow: "She signed voluntarily."

"But the terms are truly unfair," Xiang Qian said seriously. "You have also seen her potential."

Li Ling pondered for a moment: "How about this: if she can reach the top three in the competition, the company will reconsider her contract."

Xiang Qian relayed the news to Zhou Huimin, who jumped up excitedly: "Really? That's wonderful!"

"So next," Xiang Qian pinched her cheek, "you must shine brightly on stage and let everyone see your value."

Zhou Huimin nodded firmly: "Mm! I will work hard!"

Under the setting sun, their shadows were stretched very, very long. Xiang Qian looked at the girl beside him, whose smile was brilliant, and silently resolved that he must fight for the best conditions for her.