Chapter 33: Skyrocketing Value, Raking It In!

"Feng! Jiayin! You guys are on fire! You're really going to make it big!"

Chen Gang gripped Lin Feng’s shoulders, shaking him in excitement. Lin Feng looked somewhat dazed, while Han Jiayin’s cheeks were flushed with exhilaration.

It might not have been an overnight sensation, but it was certainly an overnight rise to fame. The subscriber counts on the singer profiles the two had prepared in advance were climbing steadily. As complete newcomers, they hadn't built any hype, nor had they even shown their faces. Yet, thanks solely to the promotion of this theme song, Lin Feng’s account had reached 22,000 followers in a short time, while Han Jiayin’s had hit 26,000.

The numbers might not sound huge, but as a starting point, it was terrifying. After all, the television series still had a long cycle of release and promotion ahead, with a substantial amount of marketing activities to come. At this rate, the two could be completely skyrocketing to stardom in less than two months.

"Brother Can is awesome!" Lin Feng, finally snapping out of his stupor, let out a shout. It wasn't that he was calm; the impact had just been too great, leading to a delayed reaction.

"Brother Can! You're amazing!" Chen Gang and Zhao Ze, their faces also slightly flushed, shook Lin Feng’s shoulders from either side.

"Brother Feng is amazing!"
"Sister Jiayin is amazing too!"

Han Jiayin’s breathing was heavy with excitement. After trading glances with Winnie, the two girls excitedly clasped each other’s hands.

"Alright, settle down. It’s not over yet," Li Can waved his hand, and the group’s excitement tempered slightly.

"The operational cycle for Lin Feng and Han Jiayin is just beginning. As the promotion continues and the drama airs, other songs will be released. As their fame grows, the artist promotion included in the Class B resources will offer opportunities for public appearances."

"During the time you are working on your album, I will have Chen Meijing come over to teach you some things you need to be aware of in the industry, as well as some experience with variety shows."

Hearing this, the group nodded. A new official takes three fires to start his tenure. The first fire, Chen Meijing, was half-complete; the second, Lin Feng and Han Jiayin, now appeared ready for takeoff. If he could find a third fire and burn it just as successfully, Li Can’s position in the company would be truly unshakable.

Just as Li Can was about to say something else, rapid footsteps echoed from outside the door. Immediately after, a figure pushed the door open. It was Wang Yongchang, the general manager of the music division at Xinghai Entertainment, jogging in like a gust of wind.

"A-Can!! This is incredible!! Look at this trend—you’ve hit it big!"

Wang Yongchang was genuinely thrilled. As the general manager of the music department, he was incredibly sensitive to the data of the music market. For a newcomer, such a rapid surge in popularity was rare. While the public might see it as an "overnight success," in the company’s eyes, there was no such thing. It was all about the gradual accumulation of fans, snowballing larger and faster. It was just that at some point in the process, a specific link would explode, creating the illusion for the public of an "overnight sensation" or "going from unknown to household name."

He had never seen a novice fly this high right at the start! With these kinds of metrics, even if the company had poured massive resources into an intentional "god-making" campaign, it probably wouldn't have been much better.

[The layering of the harmonies is like thin clouds rolling over waves; the male and female vocals blend seamlessly, like clouds chasing the surging tide. Especially the male vocal’s slight, rhythm-defying slowdown at the lyric "graceful as a startled swan," as if waiting for the female vocal to arrive, fits the emotional imagery of the plot perfectly.]

[The Chinese music scene has never focused heavily on harmony, usually keeping it simple. But "A Glimpse of Surprise" has broken market inertia by focusing on harmony, treating different harmonic treatments as the core of the song. Even the way the melody terminates serves the harmony. It is a bold attempt with stunning results.]

[Lin Feng and Han Jiayin’s performance is perfect. The distinct character in their vocal timbres is clear but avoids clichés. The song transcends the drama itself, offering more room for interpretation. Such an excellent work is worth listening to repeatedly.]

Wang Yongchang recalled the music reviews he had just seen. They were all written by renowned industry critics. The level of recognition was extremely high; almost no one called the song "mediocre," let alone criticized it. He was the one who had taken the risk to let Li Can make all these unexpected attempts, and every time he thought of this, Wang Yongchang marveled at his own vision.

At this moment, Wang Yongchang felt an indescribable sense of pride.

"Although this is only the first step, and I’m not sure how far it can go, the lower limit has already exceeded expectations and is solid enough!" Wang Yongchang took a deep breath to calm himself, then spoke solemnly.

"So... next, the studio will have even greater opportunities!"

Having said that, Wang Yongchang looked into Li Can’s eyes with great seriousness. "The company will not mistreat those who have contributed. At the very least, I, Wang Yongchang, won’t. There is a big project coming up, and I plan to have you participate."

"What big project?" Li Can’s eyes brightened.

His contract with Chen Meijing was for the sake of seeking distribution resources and building a brand. The only work he could currently earn a share from was the new album by Lin Feng and Han Jiayin. The work still needed time to spread for the revenue to snowball. He hadn't expected another opportunity to arrive so soon.

"No rush. I'll take you to see it in person in a moment." Wang Yongchang waved his hand, gathered his thoughts, and continued.

"The cooperation model will change this time. You provide the music, and you can even contribute ideas and strategies, participating in the training of the company's trainees. The company will be responsible for investment, operations, and promotion. In terms of music revenue, this time you can take a 40% cut, as well as 1.5% to 3% of the future earnings of the idols who debut."

"Beyond your musical works, the company also values your ideas. After discussion, most of the executives believe your concepts are unique and effective. With two successful cases in a row, they are very eager to pull you in."

"!"

At these words, everyone looked at each other in shock! Not only was there no longer a need for a gambling-style contract, but he would be taking a high 40% share... and participating in idol operations to receive a cut of the profits—this was essentially being treated as a shareholder in the idol-making process. Whether it was future commercial performances, variety shows, or endorsements, as long as there was income, he would get a cut! The guaranteed share was 1.5%, and if Li Can’s design was highly effective and vital, he could get up to 3%!

The music division at Xingmei Entertainment was practically treating Li Can as their lucky charm.

"Then what are we waiting for?!" Li Can was excited.

He had been sailing smoothly for so many years—wasn't it all for today?! I am definitely going to make these idols a success!

"Quick, let me go see my dear cash cows... I mean, my dear trainee students!"

"Haha, let's go!" Wang Yongchang smiled and led Li Can and his group to the other side of the 14th floor.

On the way, Li Can even started humming a tune. After all, Li Can knew exactly how profitable the future idol industry was.

Go all in—must go all in!

"My dear Brother Feng."
"What is it, my dear Brother Can?"
"...My choices were truly divine. The money in the entertainment industry... it really is easy to rake in."

The two looked at each other. There was excitement, there was reflection—in a pie chart of emotions, it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began.

"...Rake it in! Brother Can, rake it in hard!"
"Rake it in!"
"Lamborghini!"
"Ferrari!"
"And Audi!"
"And Bentley!"