Chapter 647: An Unexpected Check, A Last-Minute Song Change

"A check?"

Sui Lingfang was stunned. "Director Chu actually gave a check? This is just too..."

Several words flashed through her mind: "solemn," "generous," "a grand gift."

But none of these words felt right when they reached her lips, not as much as this:

"It's a bit too sudden. How much is the check for?"

Chen Qin took a light breath at this moment. "Three million!"

She had been counting the money just a moment ago, and she had been quite happy while doing so.

Although her monthly salary now could already match the thickness of the folded cash before her.

But everyone used digital currency, completing payments with their phones, and rarely exchanged such large amounts of cash.

Seeing so much cash laid out before her was still quite a shock.

As a result, amidst the pile of red bills, she suddenly saw a white one.

And on that white slip, it was written: "Three Million Yuan Renminbi."

In that instant, the impact it had on her was immense.

A scene even drifted through her mind of the entire sky raining money.

Sui Lingfang was also dumbfounded.

"How much did you say?"

"Three million."

"Three million what?"

"Three million."

"Three, three what million?"

"Three million!!!"

Sui Lingfang took a few deep breaths, forcibly suppressing the excitement in her heart.

Three million!

The amount on this was far more real than the numbers signed on the contract.

At the very least, there was a real 3-million-yuan check placed before her.

Well, Chen Qin had already taken out that 3-million-yuan check and handed it to her.

Sui Lingfang forced herself to think calmly: "The reason *Dawn* was able to achieve such good results stems from the popularity boost Jin Li provided.

The production team relied on Jin Li for hype the whole time but never paid any promotional fees. This 3 million can be seen as the marketing and promotion fee Director Chu is giving Jin Li."

Chen Qin suddenly realized and nodded. "If that's the case, it makes sense. 3 million to buy a top-tier PR marketing campaign isn't excessive.

And the marketing buzz Jin Li brought was so long-lasting; thinking about it carefully, 3 million is actually quite cheap. In the industry, many people would pay over ten million for this kind of marketing effect."

"Sister Fang, didn't Sister Jin Li sign a separate promotional fee agreement with the production team?"

Sui Lingfang shook her head.

"When Jin Li took on this drama, although she was already a first-tier star, she hadn't taken the college entrance exam yet, and her popularity wasn't this high. In terms of film and television, she was a rising star with some appeal.

Being able to get a role in Director Chu's drama was already considered a step up for Jin Li at that time, so the team didn't specifically sign an extra promotional fee agreement with Director Chu; Jin Li had an obligation to promote the drama."

She changed her tone. "But the *Dawn* production team was still quite sensible and didn't insist on Jin Li following the contract's requirements to the letter. Otherwise, during *Dawn*'s release, Jin Li would have had to attend every single promotional event.

Since Director Chu gave Jin Li so much freedom, it's no big deal for Jin Li to help him with some hype. Besides, the two of them communicated about this privately and had already reached an understanding."

Sui Lingfang pondered: "So Director Chu giving Jin Li an extra 3 million is already very righteous. Let's not touch this money for now; I'll go talk to Jin Li later."

Over at Jin Li's side.

She was in the company's practice room, working hard with Qi Guanmingzhu.

They had a tablet set up in front of them, and on the tablet was the figure of Sister Meng Ze.

She was also in a practice room arranged by the show's production team, video-calling with her friends, practicing dancing together.

Girl groups place great importance on dancing.

Especially uniform, synchronized dancing, which gives people a beautiful visual impact.

Many singers' stages cannot do without the accompaniment of dance; it might not be the main focus, but it must be there as a backdrop.

Under Sister Meng Ze's correction, Jin Li had already adjusted her voice, so currently, the main focus was practicing dance.

And while practicing dance, her excellent physical flexibility came into play.

She performed many high-difficulty moves with ease.

This made Qi Guanmingzhu, who had always practiced dance at high intensity, bow down in admiration.

While Jin Li was practicing dance, Qi Guanmingzhu and Sister Meng Ze sat down, each with a tablet, chatting with each other.

"That little waist twist, so soft."

"Mhm, so fair, I want to touch it."

"Bouncy and elastic, just like tofu."

"How can her skin be so good?"

"No staying up late, early to bed and early to rise; that's the magic."

Qi Guanmingzhu suddenly slapped her thigh: "What great waist strength. Meng Meng, should we design an opening move with a one-handed front or back flip, and let Jin Li do the opening?"

Sister Meng Ze: "Eh? That's possible, but it doesn't quite fit the song we prepared. Our song is a bit too sentimental and not high-energy enough."

Qi Guanmingzhu: "Don't we have a dedicated dance track? Let's use that one. We'll leave the moves to Jin Li, and we'll just coast and sing."

Sister Meng Ze's eyes lit up: "You mean the song *Dragon Soaring*? That song is indeed very suitable. It has many high-difficulty dance moves, and it doesn't require everyone to complete them; one person can do it.

At the same time, this song has a rap section, and I remember your rap skills are decent."

Qi Guanmingzhu nodded: "Yes, rap's style of fast articulation and hitting the beat suits me better. If you ask me to sing high notes, my ability is a bit lacking, but you can totally handle that part yourself."

The high-pitched singing part in the previous *Dragon Soaring* girl group dance design was a collective effort to push the high notes up, creating a sense of grandeur.

But on the stage of *I Am a Singer*, they don't need all three of them to sing at the same time.

There are many backup musicians on stage; they can let those people handle it, and Sister Meng Ze's voice can serve as the lead.

Qi Guanmingzhu hesitated for a moment and said: "Then if we switch to *Dragon Soaring*, we might run out of time. Your next stage is less than a week away; there are only four days left."

Sister Meng Ze said quite nonchalantly: "It's only four days; there's plenty of time.

You don't know, there are many singers on this stage who change songs two or three days before the show. Some even have to perform tomorrow and suddenly contacted the production team late last night to change songs, forcing the dance and music teams to work overtime through the night.

We still have four days; that's already a huge buffer for the production team."

Jin Li noticed while practicing dance that Pearl had suddenly stopped, holding the tablet, not knowing what she was chatting about with Meng Meng.

But because she was warming up her body and needed to complete the whole set of dance moves to fully stretch out, she didn't pay attention.

If she had stopped too and heard the discussion between Meng Meng and Qi Guanmingzhu, she would definitely have called a halt immediately.

Don't increase her workload anymore, wow!

She was clearly the "Queen of Coasting" in the team before; how did it become the two of them wanting to coast now?

When Jin Li stopped dancing, Qi Guanmingzhu notified her of something with extreme seriousness:

"This year, Meng Meng and I have solemnly discussed it, and we decided to change the song at the last minute, changing it to *Dragon Soaring*, to meet the challenge of the final round with a high-spirited and gorgeous style.

Remember, this is a notification, not a discussion; you only have the right to accept, over!"

Jin Li:...

It really is "passive acceptance"!

Jin Li didn't look at Pearl, but lowered her head to look at the tablet, asking: "Are you sure you want to change? There are only four days left until your stage. Changing songs at the last minute, all the dances have to be re-choreographed; the workload is huge, right?

Meng Meng and I have cleared our schedules, so we can spend all day in the practice room practicing songs these few days, but it seems you still have several appearances to attend?"

The two months Sister Meng Ze spent participating in *I Am a Singer* were the busiest two months of her year.

Unlike other variety shows, *I Am a Singer* is filmed while it's being broadcast, live, unlike other variety shows that are pre-recorded and then aired.

For the latter, pre-recorded variety shows, stars can start a series of appearances during the time the show is popular and focus on running them.

They won't waste the traffic brought by the show's explosion at all.

But a variety show like *I Am a Singer* that is filmed and broadcast simultaneously is different. The period when the star is most popular is the period when the show is airing, which is the period when they have to try their best and think of ways to work hard to stand on the stage.

During this period, they not only have to think of good songs, but also welcome the peak of their own traffic.

So they have to take on a series of appearances to cash in on the suddenly skyrocketing popularity.

Every star recording *I Am a Singer* is very busy, flying every day.

Sister Meng Ze is no exception.

Sister Fang took on many appearances for her, and Sister Meng Ze also knew that this was the time to push, so she didn't complain and took as many as came.

Jin Li and Qi Guanmingzhu have time to practice, but Meng Meng really might not.

However, since Sister Meng Ze decided to change to *Dragon Soaring*, she also had her own ideas.

"Although the dance for *Dragon Soaring* has many high-difficulty moves, it doesn't require all of us to complete them. We plan to leave all the high-difficulty parts to you, and Pearl and I will do the low-difficulty ones.

In terms of singing, it doesn't require everyone to have a long section; most of it can be left to me to sing, and I will lead your voices, while Pearl is responsible for the rap part of *Dragon Soaring*.

I am mainly responsible for singing, you are mainly responsible for dancing, and Pearl is rapping; I feel the division of labor is quite clear."

Jin Li searched for the music *Dragon Soaring* in her mind, and scenes from the past flashed through her mind.

The difficulty is very high, but it is very capable of showing strength.

After a while, she smiled slightly and said: "Then let's try it."

Before Meng Meng and Pearl could cheer, Jin Li added: "But we have already arranged this dance quite well, so we can't slack off.

How about this, we give *Dragon Soaring* two days. If we haven't rehearsed it well within two days, then we have to change back to this dance."

Qi Guanmingzhu and Sister Meng Ze said in unison: "No problem!"

While having afternoon tea, Sui Lingfang took the initiative to come to the practice room, and even brought some low-sugar, low-fat snacks.

Recently, they have been practicing dance, consuming a lot of calories and physical strength every day, so they must keep up with their food, otherwise it is easy to get tired and sick.

Jin Li and Pearl took the opportunity to rest.

Sui Lingfang asked casually: "I heard your music was very intense outside just now; it seems different from what you were rehearsing before."

Jin Li asked: "Hasn't Meng Meng told you yet? She decided to change the song at the last minute and switch to this *Dragon Soaring*."

Sui Lingfang's mouth twitched, and she remained silent.

Change the song?

She hadn't received any news at all.

Qi Guanmingzhu sensed something and said cautiously: "How about we go outside to eat, leave this place to you, and you talk to Meng Meng?"

Sui Lingfang shook her head: "No need, you guys continue eating. Whether she tells me or not, it doesn't matter; after all, the one standing on the stage is her, not me.

I am not a professional singer, nor have I recorded a variety show, so I cannot put myself in her shoes and think from her perspective.

Although Meng Meng always says she wants to be eliminated in this variety show, once she decides on a song, she rehearses more seriously than anyone else.

Her professional ethics do not allow her to coast; she will definitely treat every stage seriously. She knows the importance of things better than I do and won't joke about her future casually."

She paused and said: "Since this is her decision, I choose to respect and support it."

If it were still in the early stages of defending her position, Sui Lingfang might have offered some opinions.

But now it is already the late stage of the variety show; four days later is the final live broadcast, and all singers are competing for the King of Songs.

Being able to reach this point and enter the final round, let alone her, even Sister Meng Ze herself didn't expect it.

So whatever happens, happens; everything is up to fate, and maybe she can even get a surprise.

"Jin Li, come out with me for a moment; I have something to tell you," Sui Lingfang said.

Jin Li said: "No need, just say it here; Pearl is not an outsider."

Sui Lingfang looked at Qi Guanmingzhu and nodded slightly: "Okay."

Before Qi Guanmingzhu joined, she thought Sister Meng Ze and Jin Li had the best relationship in *Pink Girls*.

But since Qi Guanmingzhu joined, Sui Lingfang discovered that everyone in this group had a great relationship.

Not good in the ordinary sense.

But good enough to borrow tens of millions at any time without blinking.

You have to know that these days, people who dare to lend money are warriors; unless the relationship is really ironclad, who would dare to lend it.

"You handed me a large envelope yesterday, containing the red envelope money Director Chu gave you. I gave it to Chen Qin to handle, asking her to donate it all.

But Chen Qin found a check in it for 3 million. I'm here to ask you, how do you plan to handle it?"

"3 million?"

Jin Li hadn't reacted yet, but Qi Guanmingzhu exclaimed.

"Why did this old man give you so much? Could it be that he wants to sexually harass you?"

Pfft, this old man...

Jin Li shook her head and laughed: "Of course not. Director Chu has a family; they are a model loving couple in the circle. He is rigorous in the production team, never accepts bribes, and is an upright person."

Qi Guanmingzhu felt relieved.

She knew Jin Li was very accurate in judging people.

Jin Li pondered: "The reason he gave me so much should be the promotional fee he paid.

He called me before and said he wanted to use my popularity and hype to make a fuss about *Dawn*, and I said okay.

You know what happened after that; *Dawn* was the first to use my college entrance exam as a topic to increase the movie's box office.

I remember the pre-sale results most clearly; before using me for hype, the movie's pre-sale box office results were only in the top 5.

But after using me for hype, it suddenly jumped to first place. Before the movie was even released, it already had a box office of two or three hundred million."

Qi Guanmingzhu felt even more relieved.

"That makes sense. This money should be given to you. I think 3 million is even too little.

Look, *Dawn* has already broken 2.2 billion; just his personal share could be hundreds of millions. If you ask me, he should have given you 30 million." ===== CHAPTER 648 =====