Chapter 111

"They are in Wei Ge's hands," Murong Xue replied.

No wonder Murong Xue's Weibo updates were only seven or eight times a year; they were already overgrown with weeds.

"Afterward, I will take back your social media accounts, and then I will carefully check and filter the content on all your social media accounts; if there is any content that does not fit your development path, I will delete it."

Developing in the entertainment industry, the most important thing is the persona.

However, Xu Tian felt that with Murong Xue's innocent personality, there was no need to add a overly complex persona; letting her maintain the status quo was fine.

While the "Queen" or "Imperial Sister" types are popular, the "little white flower" who sways in the wind but is stubborn and refuses to admit defeat is very easy to attract die-hard fans.

"Sorry for the trouble." Murong Xue gave Xu Tian a grateful smile.

"You're welcome; I am your manager, this is what I should do."

Xu Tian thought for a moment and asked again: "Also, has the company been paying you your monthly base salary?"

"It hasn't been paid for a year already," Murong Xue sighed.

"So you haven't received a salary for a whole year?"

Xu Tian was shocked; this Du Xiaowei was simply not human.

"Yes."

"Then what was your income for this year?" Xu Tian pressed.

"Just... working part-time..." Murong Xue felt somewhat embarrassed.

She couldn't take on promotional work, nor could she privately write songs to sell to other record companies, so she could only do jobs like tutoring or etiquette work.

Xu Tian's expression darkened.

Every management company's signed artists have a base salary, which ensures that artists can have an income when they first debut.

But Du Xiaowei had frozen Murong Xue, not arranging work for her, not allowing her to take on outside work, and even withholding the few thousand yuan base salary; this was clearly trying to drive Murong Xue into a dead end so she would compromise with him.

This method was truly too despicable!

That base salary of a few thousand yuan was nothing to small artists with promotional work, but for Murong Xue who had no work, it was life-saving money she used to survive.

Xu Tian didn't need to ask to guess how difficult Murong Xue's life had been over the past two years.

It was a pity for her talent and genius; the songs she wrote couldn't be published, she couldn't get on stage, she had no opportunities, and could only do work unrelated to the performing arts to subsidize her household expenses.

Murong Xue must have been wanting to wait until her contract with the company expired so she could sign with other management companies.

But an artist's best years only last a few years; Murong Xue had wasted her youth in vain, and the money she earned wasn't even as much as an ordinary white-collar worker.

Furthermore, even if the contract really expired, given Du Xiaowei's character, how could he possibly let Murong Xue have other opportunities?

As long as Murong Xue didn't let Du Xiaowei get his way, her performing arts career would basically have no development at all.

No one would offend a powerful manager with connections and resources like Du Xiaowei for the sake of a small, unknown artist.

Xu Tian remembered that just now at Du Xiaowei's place, he seemed to have heard the other party mention the surgery fees for Murong Xue's father.

It seemed Murong Xue had been under immense financial pressure all along.

Xu Tian pondered for a moment and then said to Murong Xue.

"Don't worry, I will have the finance department pay you all the salary the company owes you."

After saying this, he took out his phone and called the company's finance department manager.

The news of Guo Qishan's anger had spread throughout the company; Du Xiaowei wouldn't dare to pull any tricks at a time like this, so getting Murong Xue the salary she deserved wouldn't be difficult.

Sure enough, although the finance department manager was somewhat reluctant, he ultimately agreed readily to pay the back wages to Murong Xue.

Xu Tian put down the phone and looked at Murong Xue again.

"Go to finance to settle it in a while; although a year's salary isn't much, it should be enough for your emergency needs."

"Thank you!" Murong Xue hadn't expected that she could actually get her salary back, and the gratitude in her eyes as she looked at Xu Tian increased by a few points.

But even with this money, she couldn't see any hope for her future.

Having not worked for two years, she had long since become yesterday's news in the entertainment industry, and was less valuable than the newcomers selected from music academies.

Even though twenty-two was the age for ordinary people to start striving, in the entertainment industry, which relies on youth, it was no longer considered young.

Xu Tian saw the worried Murong Xue and, after a moment of silence, spoke again.

"Murong Xue, I have one more question to ask you."

"What is it?" Murong Xue became nervous again.

"In order to get resources, can you accept 'hidden rules'?"

Upon hearing this, Murong Xue's face turned deathly pale in an instant.

Seeing her reaction, Xu Tian could roughly understand her principles, but for the sake of future work, he still needed to hear Murong Xue confirm it herself.

After all, in the entertainment industry, hidden rules were common.

He had to clarify Murong Xue's bottom line so that the two of them wouldn't have conflicts later on.

"I'm not trying to force you into anything; in principle, if an artist wants to climb up, there's no way for a manager to stop it. I won't interfere with your choices, but you must be prepared."

"I cannot accept it." Murong Xue was silent for a moment before speaking with difficulty: "No matter what happens, I cannot accept being subjected to hidden rules."

"Very good." Xu Tian nodded in approval.

He had seen too many people who liked to take shortcuts, only to be ruined by one wrong step.

There were many popular actresses in the entertainment industry who were exposed for having wealthy patrons behind them, and most of those patrons were married; once exposed, their reputation and public image would be destroyed in an instant.

"Some questions might be sharp, but as your manager, with a sense of responsibility toward you, I must ask clearly."

"From now on, I will be fully responsible for your work and life; you must also report to me who you associate with in your private time, and do not act without authorization."

"If you are in a relationship, you must also report it to me immediately, and you must not hide it, otherwise you will bear the consequences yourself."

"I've finished asking; now, do you have any questions you want to ask me?"

Murong Xue stared blankly at Xu Tian, clearly not accustomed to such a rhythm of questioning.

Previously, Du Xiaowei had harbored some unspeakable motives; when he spoke to her, his tone was mostly either frivolous or coaxing, and when his patience ran out, he would be sarcastic, but he would never be as serious and earnest as Xu Tian.

However, Xu Tian's serious demeanor made Murong Xue feel at ease.

"I have no questions; if there is any situation, I will report it to you."

"Very good." Xu Tian was very satisfied with Murong Xue's attitude; he confirmed a few more trivial matters with her and then exchanged phone numbers and added her on WeChat: "That's all for today; go back and get some rest early, come to the company's recording studio at ten tomorrow, you can go now."

"See you tomorrow then." Murong Xue left Xu Tian's office in a daze.

Until she walked out of the company, she still didn't have a shred of a sense of reality.

Was Xu Tian really going to manage her?

And, he even arranged the recording studio for tomorrow...

She hadn't sung for a long time; would she disappoint Xu Tian tomorrow?

Murong Xue had no confidence in herself right now, and was even more afraid that she would be looked down upon by Xu Tian.

She had finally escaped Du Xiaowei's clutches and had a glimmer of hope.

If she were to be abandoned by Xu Tian again, she dared not imagine her fate...

Xu Tian read through all the relevant materials on Qingguo Music in the office; by the time he got off work, it was already past dinner time.

He hadn't driven to the company today; after walking out of the company gate, he was just about to hail a taxi when he saw a car not far away flashing its hazard lights at him.

Xu Tian stood in place and waited for a while, and the car actually drove over.

When the car reached him, the window rolled down, and he couldn't help but be stunned when he saw the person inside...