Chapter 36

The old saying goes: when immortals fight, mortals pick up the scraps.

The folk and rock circles were locked in fierce conflict, but Cheng Chen was quietly making a fortune.

Many people wanted to hear the song that could make two giants from different music genres argue.

So they followed the trend and bought the album "Wolf Loves Sheep."

Added to that, Wang Tianxiao, seeing the album's momentum, poured money into promotion—radio, print media, magazines, everything.

The direct effect was that within just two weeks, "Wolf Loves Sheep" sold out; backend data showed it had sold over sixty thousand legitimate albums.

As for pirated copies, at least three hundred thousand or more.

Even CCTV Music Channel was playing Cheng Chen's songs.

Fans, starting from Jingcheng, gradually spread across the nation.

Although Wang Tianxiao had some influence in Jingcheng, she couldn't keep up with the massive market demand.

Every time she saw pirated albums flooding the market, she gritted her teeth in anger.

Unfortunately, demand far outstripped supply; unable to buy legitimate copies, listeners settled for pirated ones.

After all, Cheng Chen was just a newcomer, with low fan loyalty, and weak awareness of genuine merchandise; they just wanted to hear the songs—they didn't insist on genuine merchandise.

Facing this harsh market environment, after consulting Cheng Chen, Wang Tianxiao directly contacted several major album publishers in Jingcheng to sell the nationwide production and distribution rights for "Wolf Loves Sheep."

Note: this was only the production and distribution rights; the song's copyright remained firmly in the hands of Cheng Chen and Tianhai Records.

After prolonged negotiations with several companies, they finally sealed the deal for three million yuan.

According to the contract, seventy percent of that sum went to Cheng Chen; after taxes, he took home about 1.9 million yuan.

Add to that the money Cheng Chen earned from frantic live performances these past few days and the scattered royalties from album sales, his net worth had surpassed two million yuan.

In the blink of an eye, he had two million; without hesitation, Cheng Chen sent twenty thousand home.

Lao Cheng was so shocked he rushed to town to call, and his first words were:

"Did you rob a bank in Jingcheng?"

Cheng Chen could only reluctantly explain it was money he earned from singing a few songs; he didn't dare mention the 1.8 million still in his pocket, fearing he'd scare Lao Cheng to death.

Even so, Lao Cheng still said:

"Sing a few songs and make twenty thousand? Is your throat lined with gold?"

Cheng Chen spent a long time on the phone coaxing Lao Cheng into calming down.

In the end, as he hung up, Lao Cheng added:

"You're my son—your voice is so good, maybe you inherited it from me. Look, can I make this much singing?"

Cheng Chen rolled his eyes.

Sigh, my ever-strong father!

……

"Congratulations to Gao Yuanyuan on wrapping!"

After intense filming, Gao Yuanyuan's scenes in "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" were finally fully wrapped in mid-August.

Everyone on set offered their congratulations; the crew brought up a large bouquet of flowers.

As one of the leads, Gao Yuanyuan's wrap party was far more grand than Cheng Chen's.

Lai Dao announced they'd head straight to the hotel for a celebration after evening shooting; outsiders might think the entire drama had wrapped.

As the female second lead in "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," Gao Yuanyuan certainly deserved this honor.

"Thank you, Director, for your guidance, and thank you all for taking care of this newcomer. This journey has been truly difficult…"

Gao Yuanyuan held the flowers, her eyes red, speaking.

Beside her, Jia Jingwen had already begun to sob; though this was her second drama filmed on the mainland, she didn't know many people.

Gao Yuanyuan was one of the few she got along with well; they often discussed plot and acting together.

Now that her good friend was wrapping, her heart naturally ached.

Other female actors on set also began to cry with red eyes.

Gao Yuanyuan had good relations on set and got along well with everyone; her wrapping naturally left them reluctant.

Seeing the mood grow heavy, Lai Dao noticed Cheng Chen standing beside Gao Yuanyuan and said:

"Don't be so sad… Yuanyuan wrapping is a good thing… she won't have to suffer the sun and wind with us anymore.

Cheng Zai, you're a big singer now… come on, sing a few lines for us."

Having stayed on the mainland for over half a year, and with Lai Dao deliberately learning Mandarin, he could now speak a few understandable phrases without a translator.

Though his Hong Kong accent was still thick, at least everyone no longer felt like they were listening to hieroglyphs.

The crowd's attention shifted; red-eyed, they turned to Cheng Chen, some whispering:

"I want to hear 'Wolf Loves Sheep.'"

"I want to hear 'Autumn Does Not Return!'"

"Is 'Autumn Does Not Return' appropriate here? Sing 'Fairytale'! 'Fairytale!'"

The atmosphere instantly brightened; Cheng Chen glared at Lai Dao—so I'm just your mood-setter now?

Even Gao Yuanyuan looked at him hopefully, though she didn't shout like the others.

But Cheng Chen read her lips and knew exactly what she wanted.

"Alright, I'll humbly perform—'Fairytale' for my sister, and for the 'Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber' crew, thank you all for taking care of my sister!"

He closed his eyes, and a low voice emerged from his throat:

"I've forgotten how long it's been since I last heard you tell me your favorite story.

I thought for a long time, I started panicking—did I do something wrong again?

You cried and told me, all fairytales are lies…"

"I can't possibly be your prince; maybe you won't understand, but ever since you said you loved me, the stars in my sky have all lit up…"

Singing to this point, Cheng Chen suddenly shouted to everyone:

"Everyone, sing along!"

So the entire crew began singing loudly:

"I wish to become the angel you love in that fairytale, spread my arms, turn into wings to protect you…"

A young crew member quietly switched on the lights, the spotlights tracking directly onto Cheng Chen.

The crew instantly turned into Cheng Chen's solo concert.

"One more song! One more song—'Love Transfer'!"

After the Fairytale ended, others shouted for Cheng Chen to do another one.

Cheng Chen glanced at Director Lai, and only after seeing Lai Dao nod did he say with a smile:

"You all have to thank Director Lai—he let me turn the crew into a concert, heh, one 'Love Transfer' for everyone!"

"Transfer one person's warmth into another's chest, let the mistakes of last time reflect into dreams.

Everyone is the same—only after living through that heart-pounding fear do they refuse to be a love's scapegoat lamb…"

Watching everyone singing in unison, Director Lai kept exclaiming what a sight.

"Is this something I can watch for free?"

……

On the evening of August 17, 2002, Gao Yuanyuan, the second female lead of Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre, wrapped her scenes.

Amid waves of group singing, everyone carried feelings of parting and hopes for the future…

Many years later, when the crowd looked back on this night, besides being moved, there was also a touch of pride!

……