Chapter 2

Fuwanshi, located at the southeastern tip of Fujian Province, is one of the 25 municipalities of the Chinese Empire in this plane, and it is also the most economically developed city in the southeastern region.

The city has a permanent population of over 30 million, and there are 102 skyscrapers over 50 stories tall, densely lined up along the harbor. The bustling prosperity of this city is on par with any major metropolis in the world.

As a world-renowned entertainment capital, Fuwan also boasts a prestigious title: the center of pop music in all of Asia.

This title is well-deserved because hundreds of Chinese music production companies are concentrated here, including the four major record labels with dominant positions: "Arrow Target," "Era," "International Entertainment," and "BV," all of which have their headquarters in Fuwan.

The independent record company Cloud World, founded by Du Shan, is also hidden in this opulent metropolis.

Unlike the major record labels that occupy entire buildings as their headquarters, Du Shan's Cloud World is like a tiny green pea sprout in the midst of a bustling steel forest, occupying only a small space.

No. 18 Changxing Road, 6th floor of Qingyun Building.

From room 610 to 620, ten offices, meeting rooms, practice rooms, and recording studios make up the entirety of Cloud World.

Compared to the entertainment giants, the independent record company Cloud World, with a total rental area of less than 250 square meters, is almost negligible.

Before Du Shan's death, the company had only 12 employees, two faded rock bands, and one new female singer under contract.

Now, all the employees have resigned, and the bands and singers have defaulted on their contracts.

Even the company's vice president, Lin Jianguo, Du Shan's best friend, felt that the "Rock and Love" advocacy of Cloud World was no longer worth sustaining.

Lin Jianguo had even prepared the bankruptcy procedures for Cloud World to prevent the company's debts from falling on Du Xinghe.

However, Du Xinghe, regardless of everything, dropped out of school and insisted on inheriting his father's struggling independent record company, which greatly troubled Lin Jianguo.

"Du, you can see that the company has no money in the bank and owes the bank over 300,000 yuan in loans. We can't even pay the employees' salaries, and we only have three months of rent left. The company will be evicted after that." In room 618, the former general manager's office, Lin Jianguo sat on the sofa, smoking and trying to persuade the stubborn Du Xinghe: "I think it's really not worth continuing with Cloud World."

Just discharged from the hospital, Du Xinghe's face was pale and thin. Looking at the company's abysmal financial statements, he was speechless.

Although this was the golden age of the record industry, where serious record companies could almost always make a fortune, that was true for mainstream record companies.

His father's non-mainstream record company released only faded rock albums. In the past three years, the best-selling album, "Painful Faith," sold fewer than 5,000 copies, barely breaking even.

The company's only profit point was providing music for films and TV shows and writing songs for other companies to earn copyright fees.

Du Shan himself was the mainstay for writing music for films and TV shows and composing songs for the company.

Now that Du Shan was gone, the company had lost its last profit point, which is why Lin Jianguo felt it was no longer worth continuing.

A bitter smile appeared in Lin Jianguo's bloodshot eyes. This 37-year-old man, with half his hair already gray, had been under immense pressure and hadn't slept well for days. He was truly at a loss and had no choice but to end Cloud World, which also carried his dreams.

Closing the financial statements, Du Xinghe looked calmly at Lin Jianguo and said, "Uncle Lin, I understand the company's situation."

"What's your decision?"

"I want to persist."

His tone was calm, and his handsome face exuded a maturity and confidence beyond his years. Du Xinghe said, "In the past, the company relied on my father to earn money. Now that he's gone, you think the company is finished, and I understand that. But I hope you can give me a chance to take over my father's work and help the company turn things around."

"How do you plan to turn things around? Can you write songs like your father?" Lin Jianguo gave a self-deprecating smile.

"Why not? I also studied music."

"Du, it's not that Uncle Lin looks down on you, but with your limited skills, do you think any record company would buy your songs?" Lin Jianguo knew that Du Xinghe studied popular music at Huaguang Art School, but his major was singing, which was entirely different from his father's composition.

Taking a puff of his cigarette and seeing Du Xinghe's determined gaze, Lin Jianguo sighed sadly and said, "Your father spent nearly twenty years in this industry to achieve his current status. This industry is not as simple as you think, Du."

"I understand how brutal the competition is, but I still want to try. We still have three months before the lease expires. Instead of leaving it empty, I'd rather use it to create music." Du Xinghe opened another financial report and asked Lin Jianguo, "Uncle Lin, did my father complete the ending theme for 'Bao Qingtian'?"

Du Xinghe pointed to a July income record in the financial report.

This was a 30,000 yuan advance from South China TV for his father to create the ending theme for the historical drama "Bao Qingtian," which was to be aired at the end of the year. The deadline for submitting the song was the end of October.

Today was already October 20th, leaving only 10 days until the deadline.

"Your father was working on this song before the accident, but who knew what would happen... sigh!" Lin Jianguo sighed in frustration.

"Since my father didn't complete it, I'll do it now."

"You?" Lin Jianguo shook his head in disbelief and said, "I've already found a reliable musician to work on this song. I hope he can capture the same feel as your father and satisfy South China TV. If everything goes well, your father's 'posthumous work' will still leave you some money."

Crushing the cigarette butt in the ashtray filled with butts, Lin Jianguo earnestly advised Du Xinghe, "Du, your mother passed away early, and now your father is gone. I understand your desire for independence, but you don't have to force yourself to do these things. You should focus on recovering and go back to school."

"Uncle Lin, I'm not forcing myself. I really want to do this!"

With a glint of excitement in his eyes, Du Xinghe contained his excitement and raised three fingers, saying, "I know you don't believe I can write good songs, and there's no point in me saying more. Just give me three days. I only need three days to present my work to you. Then you can evaluate it."

In Du Xinghe's memory, the world also had a TV series called "Bao Qingtian," and its ending theme, "New Butterfly Dream," was a hit across the country!

If he could complete this ending theme, he would surely become an overnight sensation!

Seeing Du Xinghe's determination, Lin Jianguo let him go.

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End of the page.