Love Variety Show: The despised me exploded in popularity

Chapter 557: Chapter 296 Pei Muchan’s Idea_2

Because the boss was frequently absent, the secretary was also part-time.

“Thank you,” Jiang Ling said as she took the teacup.

Looking at the tea leaves floating in the cup, she thought to herself that her boss was quite different from others. He didn’t like coffee but was fond of tea instead.

After the secretary left, Xu Qingyan continued.

“The company really needs you; you’re a pillar of strength for us,” he said.

Jiang Ling: “….”

She wished his words were true, but the reality was that the company revolved around TV dramas. She marveled at how he could say such a thing without blushing or skipping a beat.

Stepping out of the company’s gates, Jiang Ling felt a bit dizzy and couldn’t help but sigh. She repeated to herself again and again, “This is the path I chose, this is the path I chose.”

“Sun Never Sets” — just the name alone sounded unreliable.

Xu Qingyan had left the company and returned to his studio to continue his work. What he had just said to Jiang Ling was indeed true; he really intended to produce an album for her.

Compared to television or movies, the income from an album was indeed not high. It was incomparable, but even a small mosquito is still flesh. Besides, it didn’t require his attention.

Money can’t be earned completely; time is limited.

After earning his initial fortune from The Legend of Martial Arts, Xu Qingyan became much more serene. With a financial foundation, making money was just a matter of time, simply a question of sooner or later.

Therefore, when facing a significant funding shortfall for the next play, he wasn’t in a hurry to raise money or make money. If there was no money, waiting was an option. Who knows, maybe he could sell the game rights.

If he had to shoot another play as a transition, it wasn’t so simple.

Firstly, there was the director. Wei Wufeng had helped him out of good will for the last play so the pay wasn’t high. But for another play, he couldn’t just order him around like he would a bull or a horse.

Money was a minor issue; there were bound to be differences in opinion during filming. Wei Wufeng had his own influence, and whether they could cooperate smoothly this time was uncertain, but he would come around if the script was good.

Secondly was the team. They could still throw together a makeshift crew, but the Immortal Sword series was of such a large scale and planned to continue production without cessation.

A makeshift crew might not be up to the task; it would be better to have one’s own team. Keeping such a team meant considerable expenses, which had to be factored into the cost.

Then there was the issue of selecting actors. Last time he had been lucky; Wei Wufeng had pulled strings and brought in actors. They not only accepted low pay but had also overcome many difficulties in their performances.

In short, a new play had new difficulties. It wasn’t a matter of just coming up with fifty or sixty million and being able to wash one’s hands of further involvement. If all that money was taken out, it would be an all-in gamble.

Who would gamble like this? Only those who have no other choice would make such a bet.

Xu Qingyan was not in desperate straits, so he temporarily shelved the matter of writing a new script. He planned to wait and see, then think it over.

He could use the pause to release some songs and incidentally produce an album for Jiang Ling. It could serve as a buffer, and when the time was right, they could gather their resources and continue filming.

In the afternoon, Pei Muchan returned.

“Did you go out this morning?” She placed her bag on the table and asked offhandedly.

“Yes, I made a trip to the company,” said Xu Qingyan, feeling no need to explain what he had done. For them, it was not of great importance.

Telling Pei Muchan about producing an album for Jiang Ling wasn’t necessary, especially in front of Pei Muchan. It wasn’t due to a guilty conscience, as this was simply part of the company’s internal planning.

He just didn’t want to influence Pei Muchan since her songs should have their own style.

Xu Qingyan only needed to provide a push at the critical moment, rather than serve up the entire pot of soup to Pei Muchan or Lin Wanzhou. This would make them lose their individuality.

In the past, reaching the position of queen of pop seemed unattainable. Now, having released albums like “Mu Chan” and “Summer of Green Forest,” the distance to the top wasn’t so far.

But, as the common saying goes about the pursuit of immortal cultivation, “half a step from the Golden Core is like an abyss.”

Some people ascend by consuming elixirs, only to foster a false Golden Core on an unstable foundation. Others have a deep well of potential they tap into, finding their path and ascending to leave a legacy.

Going from a little pop diva to queen of pop isn’t too difficult after achieving a certain level of success. What’s tested is determination, whether one can find their own style or not.

Those in a rush for quick success fall into the dust of time, while those who advance steadily reveal their true color through the washing of the great waves.

Xu Qingyan was himself a vast music library, without a defined style of his own, let alone helping Pei Muchan or Lin Wanzhou find theirs. This was something he couldn’t assist with.

All he could do was write the right song for them at the right moment. His role was to help them grow, not propel them towards the status of queen of pop.

First, it takes too much effort, and second, all you get in return is backlash, eventually turning into an empty shell.

As for Jiang Ling, it’s different. Xu Qingyan wants to make money, she wants to be famous, and the two hit it off right away. Future prospects, dreams, the great path, all dead in the water.

Everyone’s in collusion, taking what they need, merry and harmonious.

“The TV ratings are out for today.”

“How much? Did we break 3?” Pei Muchan asked.

She didn’t understand much about TV ratings, but after Xu Qingyan had started making dramas, she had done some research and had gotten the hang of it.

For instance, some shows didn’t even hit a one percent rating, breaking 2 was considered quite good. If a show started off at a level of two or three, it indicated significant potential.

“No.”

Hearing this, Pei Muchan reassured with her eyes downcast,

“There’s always a process… you can’t rush it.”

“It broke 9.”

Pei Muchan paused, her expression complex as she turned to look at Xu Qingyan.

“You’re really something…”

In the end, she didn’t spit out the words ‘annoying’. If Xu Qingyan was annoying, then what did it make her, happily spending every day with him?

“How could the ratings be so high?” she asked curiously.

“That’s the nature of sitcoms, either you soar high or you crash hard.” Xu Qingyan explained a few thoughts, but actually, he didn’t know what was going on either, “Anyway, I also find it pretty amazing.”

“The TV station is ecstatic, Wei Wufeng said they’re almost popping champagne over there. But the kid always exaggerates, you can only take half of what he says seriously.”

Pei Muchan laughed upon hearing this, then looked up at him, “Why don’t you seem too excited?”

“What’s there to be excited about? I’ve already taken the money.” Xu Qingyan smiled, “I’m waiting for a call to see if anyone’s interested in buying The Legend of Martial Arts’ other rights.”

“That’s true, no need to rush.” Pei Muchan nodded.

The afternoon was uneventful, with the two sitting in the office doing their own work. They chatted casually from time to time, mixed with the occasional sound of a keyboard.

As the sun set, neither suggested leaving early; it was a signal that they would have dinner together.

This daily understanding was also a commonplace routine. For some reason, at this moment, Pei Muchan felt an inexplicable sense of peace.

During the idle chat at dinner, she mentioned this feeling.

Xu Qingyan, somewhat surprised, paused in his soup-sipping and asked,

“Why?”

Pei Muchan always found it troublesome to eat; if the bowl and chopsticks were too close, they’d be obscured by her chest. She’d gotten into the habit of pushing them out a bit, her eyes currently fixed on the vegetables in her bowl.

After thinking for a while, she finally replied,

“I thought you would continue to raise funds for filming, putting everything on the line. But I didn’t expect you to say it was difficult; in the past, you wouldn’t consult me so often.”

Xu Qingyan sighed, “Isn’t that because I had no choice? I couldn’t decide on my own.”

“Yeah, it was then I realized you’re not omnipotent after all.” Pei Muchan said with a smile, her eyes soft under the light, as if coated in a layer of beige gloss.

“Of course I’m not omnipotent, I’m not Superman.” Xu Qingyan actually found it a bit baffling and didn’t quite understand Pei Muchan’s train of thought.

“That’s good, though,” she said.

At the dinner table, Pei Muchan bowed her head, absentmindedly picking at the vegetables with her chopsticks.

“I always felt like we were from different worlds, that’s not what I meant. Just that… you know, you were moving too fast.”

“Even though you said that I’ve helped you, we both know. It’s always been you helping me, and I haven’t been able to get really involved, whether with writing songs or going to the Spring Festival Gala.”

“Now it just feels a bit more real. Last time you said, why don’t we try…” Pei Muchan’s voice suddenly quieted.

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