Chapter 66

As a producer, Gan Kaicheng unexpectedly won the Best Album of the Year award, which was given to him by a singer after they won an award. This singer was none other than the famous Duan Liying, who had been a close friend of Gan Kaicheng for many years and had visited the Brilliant Bar several times.

Duan Liying became famous in the 1990s and was known for her powerful singing. She had released several albums that sold very well, making her a top-tier star in the domestic music industry. However, Duan Liying hadn't released a new album in several years because she had a son in her forties and was likely focused on her family.

Qi Qingnuo said, "She's getting old, her voice isn't as good, and she's afraid to sing 'Optimist' anymore." 'Optimist' was one of Duan Liying's signature songs, known for its high notes.

Gan Kaicheng, who was behind them, said, "She sings even better now!" After he finished, he asked Yang Jingxing to sit down and then made a phone call: "Xiao Jin, bring a contract for copyright transfer."

Qi Qingnuo looked at Yang Jingxing and said, "You're buying us a meal."

The contract for copyright transfer was a standard form, only three pages long, and Gan Kaicheng still asked Yang Jingxing to read it carefully.

The content was about promoting the cultural market and facilitating the rapid market entry of excellent music works and performers. Both parties, based on equality and mutual benefit, agreed to certain terms after mutual consultation.

The content was not complicated. Party A, the song's author, including the lyricist and composer, would retain only the right to be named and the right to honor after receiving payment. All other rights would belong to Party B. Party A also had to ensure that the work was original, or they would be responsible for any issues. The transfer was for a period of several decades, and Party B was not Xu Cheng but Red Star Records Co., Ltd.

After reading it once, Yang Jingxing said there were no problems. Gan Kaicheng was satisfied and asked with a smile, "What price do you want?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I'm new, so just the standard price."

Qi Qingnuo said, "Newbies usually get between one thousand and three thousand. I'm in the three thousand club."

Yang Jingxing asked, "What about me?"

Gan Kaicheng thought for a moment, as if making a tough decision, and said, "I'll give you five thousand, but you two will have to split it."

Yang Jingxing thanked him. Qi Qingnuo rolled her eyes and said, "Two thousand five hundred, lucky number."

However, the contract couldn't be signed yet because Tao Meng, the lyricist, also needed to sign it. Gan Kaicheng seemed a bit anxious and said, "Can you call her to come over and bring her ID?"

So Yang Jingxing called Tao Meng, who was surprised: "So soon? Have you read the contract? Wait for me, I'll be right there."

While waiting for the lyricist, they had plenty to talk about. Gan Kaicheng asked Yang Jingxing if the song had borrowed from anyone else. Of course, it hadn't. Yang Jingxing then asked about any shortcomings, and Gan Kaicheng indeed suggested that the arrangement might need some adjustments. Yang Jingxing said the lyrics shouldn't be changed because they weren't his.

Qi Qingnuo asked Gan Kaicheng, "Are you really giving it to Xu Cheng?"

Gan Kaicheng evaded, "It's possible, let's see... It's a good song, we'll do it well."

Tao Meng said she would come over soon, but the three of them still had to wait for an hour. Tao Meng even asked Yang Jingxing to come down and meet her, and he praised her diplomatic attire.

"Five thousand... not bad, right?" Tao Meng wasn't very sure.

Yang Jingxing said, "We'll split it, no need to sign the contract, right?"

Tao Meng was generous: "I don't mind, but I want to see the contract."

After going upstairs, Qi Qingnuo exaggeratedly welcomed Tao Meng: "So beautiful!" They now had completely different styles.

Tao Meng briefly greeted and then looked at the contract, asking, "Can I use the fax?" She explained that she had a lawyer review the contract. Gan Kaicheng didn't think it was excessive and said it was a good idea.

Tao Meng sent the fax and waited about ten minutes. The phone rang: "Yes... I understand." It seemed the lawyer was quite professional. Tao Meng asked, "Mr. Gan, shouldn't the distribution of prize money for the work be specified more clearly?"

Gan Kaicheng explained seriously, "There are usually no awards or prize money for composition or lyrics, only for performance and production... We can specify that if there are any, they will all go to you."

Tao Meng said, "That should be clearly stated." She continued listening to the phone and then asked, "Should the profit-sharing for the project also be specified?"

Gan Kaicheng smiled, "Actually, besides publication, there's no other profit-sharing, performances don't count."

The simple contract raised many questions from the lawyer Tao Meng had hired, such as whether the five-year commitment to publish the work was too long and too vague... However, fortunately, they weren't major issues. Gan Kaicheng made some concessions, had some non-essential content added to the contract, and then had it printed for Yang Jingxing and Tao Meng to review.

Tao Meng read it carefully again and said to Yang Jingxing, "Is it okay now?"

Yang Jingxing was reassured, "If you say it's fine, it's fine."

Then they started signing the contract. Tao Meng's pen was a high-end item, and she gave it to Yang Jingxing, "You sign first."

There were many places to sign: at the beginning, for the composer, at the end, and in multiple copies. After Yang Jingxing signed, Tao Meng looked and wasn't pleased, "You really signed as 402... never mind, do as you please."

Tao Meng signed with a cool and stylish signature, very impressive!

They wouldn't get the money today, as they had to wait for the company's internal procedures to be completed. However, the work had been delivered, and Gan Kaicheng said it would be ready next week.

Of course, they had to celebrate with lunch, and Yang Jingxing invited Gan Kaicheng. But Gan Kaicheng said he had something to do in the afternoon and couldn't join, so he saw them off in the elevator, saying goodbye.

In the elevator, Qi Qingnuo said to Yang Jingxing, "I'll go home first, I won't interrupt your two-person world."

Tao Meng invited her, "Come with us, he should thank you."

Qi Qingnuo said, "I'll thank him later."

Tao Meng insisted, "Come on, we're all good friends, it wouldn't be right for you to leave like this."

Yang Jingxing said, "I'll call Yu Xinting."

Exiting the elevator, they ran into three people. Hey, what a coincidence, one of them was Xu Cheng. Tao Meng greeted her politely, "Miss Xu, hello," with a bit of surprise.

Xu Cheng glanced at Tao Meng, acknowledging her. The man in front of her didn't move to let them pass. Yang Jingxing pulled Tao Meng's arm and walked away, not trying to make a connection.

Tao Meng scolded, "You should have greeted her."

Yang Jingxing said, "I'm not a fan."

Qi Qingnuo said, "The song might not be given to her."

Tao Meng asked why and felt relieved and even happy when she learned that Xu Cheng wasn't a good match for the song.

Yang Jingxing called Yu Xinting, who had just finished tutoring. Hearing it was a celebration, she was very happy and asked if they should invite An Xin, but Yang Jingxing said no.

A cold wind blew, and Yang Jingxing asked Tao Meng, "Are you cold?" She was wearing very light clothing, prioritizing beauty over warmth.

Tao Meng said, "I'm fine, I have a coat."

It turned out Tao Meng's coat was in her car. After getting the coat, she dismissed the driver and called her father, "Dad... I've signed... thank you... they said we should have lunch together... just four of us... all friends... okay."

After the call, she explained, "The lawyer is from my father's company, so I had to mention it, he was very happy... have you told your family?"

Yang Jingxing hadn't and said he would call in the evening.

Yang Jingxing fetched the car, and Tao Meng sat in the front, holding the pen and saying, "I never thought this would be my first contract."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "Only five thousand, quite embarrassing, right?"

Tao Meng laughed, "Indeed... I'll give it to you."

Yang Jingxing was surprised, "You're giving up the pen?"

Tao Meng put the pen in Yang Jingxing's pocket, "Use it for all your future signings."

Yang Jingxing sighed, "What a big responsibility."

Qi Qingnuo in the back said, "Pressure is motivation, keep it up."

Tao Meng turned and asked, "Have your songs been published?"

Qi Qingnuo shook her head, "Just two casual ones, for fun, no one seems to want to sing them."

Tao Meng was puzzled, "But wasn't it promised to be published within five years?"

Qi Qingnuo said, "Find a small singer, a small radio station to play it, and it counts as published. If it sells, it's a bonus, no one will pursue the contract."

Tao Meng was worried, "That's not right... better not to sell it."

Qi Qingnuo said, "Don't worry, your song will probably be done soon."

Tao Meng said, "I don't mind, but he's a professional..."

Qi Qingnuo laughed, "You don't need to worry about him."

"Why?"

"Gold always shines."

Yang Jingxing turned and thanked Qi Qingnuo, "What do you want to eat, you decide."

Tao Meng suggested, "Let's go to the Junyi or a restaurant."

Yang Jingxing said, "Only five thousand, let's go for a small stir-fry."

Tao Meng was unhappy, "It's not about the money, it's about being happy."

Qi Qingnuo said, "If you're happy, it doesn't matter where we go... you wrote the lyrics, didn't you?"

Tao Meng humbly, "I just scribbled, not good... did you write your own lyrics?"

Yang Jingxing drove, and Tao Meng and Qi Qingnuo chatted all the way. Tao Meng learned that Qi Qingnuo's literary talent came from her mother, and her musical talent from her father. Qi Qingnuo learned that Tao Meng loved painting and didn't particularly like overly literary books.

Qi Qingnuo said, "I read romance novels for three years in junior high, little books, I got tired of them."

Tao Meng said, "I read them too, found them interesting at first... I read a lot of comics back then, bought many."

Qi Qingnuo said, "I read a few, 'The Red River Shore'..."

Tao Meng got excited, "I collected all of Shiho Koyama's works, and 'Purple Shadow' is also good."

Yang Jingxing protested, "Can you talk about something I know?"

Tao Meng asked, "You don't know Shiho Koyama?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Probably a Japanese woman."

Yu Xinting was waiting at the entrance of Linyang Huadu, squatting next to a large flower pot. Yang Jingxing stopped the car and called her, and she quickly ran over, saying, "There was an ant nest, lots of little ants, I bought a cookie, they were eating..."

Yang Jingxing said, "You've atoned for your sins."

Tao Meng asked, "What sins?"

Yu Xinting was embarrassed, "I dug up ant nests when I was little."

Yang Jingxing said, "Alright, you three decide what to eat."

Yu Xinting said, "I don't mind, you decide."

Tao Meng politely, "I don't mind, you decide."

Qi Qingnuo said, "I don't mind either."

Tao Meng gave Yang Jingxing face, "You decide."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "Why are you all so indecisive, usually it's not my turn... let's go for hot pot."

Qi Qingnuo laughed, "Beautiful women, a bit competitive."

Yang Jingxing understood, "I see, I know what to do now."

Tao Meng glared, "What will you do!?"

Yang Jingxing laughed, "Stir up internal conflicts, sit back and watch the show, beautiful women fighting."

Yu Xinting was scared, "You fight."

Yang Jingxing was surprised, "Oh, I didn't realize, Xinting, you're the worst."

Yu Xinting was flustered, "No, that's not what I meant, I'm not a beauty."

Qi Qingnuo was upset, "You're distancing yourself from us, want to side with him!?"

"No!" Yu Xinting was very upset.

Tao Meng was annoyed, "Ignore him... is hot pot okay?"

Yu Xinting didn't dare to express an opinion. Qi Qingnuo said it was fine.

Yang Jingxing drove and asked, "Xinting, do you know Shiho Koyama?"

Yu Xinting said, "Yes, she draws comics."

Tao Meng was pleased, "I told you, only you didn't know."

Yu Xinting said, "She draws shoujo manga, he wouldn't read it."

Yang Jingxing asked, "Does she only draw shoujo? I want to read."

The three girls ignored him and continued their conversation.

When they sat down at the hot pot restaurant, it was already past one. Tao Meng and Yang Jingxing were on one side, and Qi Qingnuo and Yu Xinting on the other. They all said they were hungry. Tao Meng handed the menu to the opposite side, "You order."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "A new round of conflict, this isn't just a menu."

Yu Xinting scolded, "Stop talking nonsense... Tao Meng will get angry."

Qi Qingnuo warned, "You'll bear the consequences, we'll just watch."

Tao Meng was magnanimous, "Not worth it."

The three girls discussed and ordered some dishes. Tao Meng asked Yang Jingxing, "What do you want to eat?"

Yang Jingxing backed off, "Don't ask me, I'm neutral!"

Tao Meng was annoyed, "I don't care about you!"

Yu Xinting said, "Let's add shrimp balls and egg dumplings."

Tao Meng nodded and asked the waiter, "Do you have bacon... one serving, don't overcook it."

Before eating, they raised their glasses. Yang Jingxing said, "Thanks to the three beauties, I'll drink, you drink as you please."

Tao Meng was annoyed, "Stop calling us beauties, it's so cliché!"

Yang Jingxing corrected, "Thanks, Mengmeng, Tingting, Nuonuo."

The three girls frowned to varying degrees but didn't criticize.

Yang Jingxing was pleased, "As expected... come, let's put aside worldly matters and eat."

Qi Qingnuo said, "Sometimes when he talks like this with a serious face, it makes me... want to grind my teeth."

Tao Meng comforted, "You're lucky, I've been enduring it since high school."

Qi Qingnuo said to Yang Jingxing, "If you want to be playful, be professional, okay?"

Yu Xinting carefully said, "If you do that, people might dislike you."

Qi Qingnuo laughed, "Now, it's not much better."

Yang Jingxing complained to Tao Meng, "She's insulting your high school classmate."

Tao Meng was calm, "She's telling the truth."

Yang Jingxing complained to Qi Qingnuo, "She's insulting your schoolmate."

Qi Qingnuo said, "Beautiful women have similar tastes."

Yang Jingxing asked Tao Meng, "Is it cliché?" and offered her some food.

Tao Meng ignored him, and Yang Jingxing offered Yu Xinting some food, "What do you think?"

Yu Xinting laughed. Yang Jingxing offered Qi Qingnuo some beef, "Take it back."

Qi Qingnuo was scared, "I take it back, I take it back."