Chapter 39: Appointing the Virtuous and Enlightened

There was a celebratory banquet in the evening.

Though the news announced by Old Duan at the press conference hadn't exactly sent the reporters into a frenzy, the reality was that no matter how much they were charmed by Lin Jianlu's demeanor during the Q&A, the headlines across the entire Chinese-language entertainment industry for the next two days would undoubtedly be about "Cold to the End" surpassing ten million in global sales.

This was a monumental event for the entire Chinese-language music industry.

Compared to such a blockbuster, a few witty quips from a talk show were hardly worth mentioning. At best, they were relegated to the "bottom of the page."

Therefore, not only was the press conference necessary, but they had to invite colleagues from across the music industry to celebrate. This included not just the various record companies and artists within Taiwan, but also those from abroad—primarily from Hong Kong—as well as the partner companies, publishers, and distributors that collaborated with Rock Records in various markets.

Toasts were raised and glasses clinked incessantly.

The two Old Duans and the two agents—the four of them acted as his bodyguards. It was even more intense than the time the three great guardians had escorted a sect's prodigy to Hong Kong.

Lin Jianlu only needed to stand still; mostly, he just had to clink glasses and say "thank you" when people offered their congratulations. Meanwhile, the "Four Heavenly Kings" (his management team) kept rotating in and out, bringing people over to meet him.

Even UFO Records, a long-time rival of Rock Records, had actually sent representatives to offer their congratulations. Clearly, when it came to expanding the entire Chinese music market, they were not enemies. The representatives even hinted that they intended to send staff to the mainland to open a branch office and, if necessary, establish a sub-label similar to Magic Stone. They hoped Lin Jianlu would provide some assistance when the time came.

Well, according to the data Old Duan reported, the mainland accounted for over four million of the ten million legitimate sales—who wouldn't covet such a massive market? If he, Lin Jianlu, could do it, then surely they could too!

He stood in the same spot for nearly two hours! It felt like he was receiving guests at a reception. If it weren't for the fact that Lin Jianlu had only retired from the military six months ago, and the muscle memory for standing at attention hadn't yet faded, his legs would surely have gone weak.

After finally smashing the golden egg, cutting the cake, and standing at attention, he felt a rare sense of fatigue. However, before he could slip away to find something to eat, Sylvia Chang came over and whispered to him.

Among the guests earlier was a man named Zhou Linggang. Lin Jianlu remembered him because, from Sylvia Chang's introduction, he had gathered that this Mr. Zhou, one of the four major producers in Taiwan, was a patriotic businessman who was friendly toward the mainland. Sylvia had also mentioned that the Huairou Feiteng Film and Television Center, where Lin Jianlu had twice filmed music videos, was an investment project of Mr. Zhou's—it was quite large and reportedly involved a significant capital injection.

It was also rumored that he was quite close to the media tycoon standing behind Ge Fuhong.

"Here is the situation: Mr. Zhou would like to invite you to make a guest appearance in his drama for a few episodes. It’s an urban life series—easy to film and perform. However, the pay certainly won't be very high; it’s purely a favor to show support. Whether you go or not is up to you; it just depends on whether you're willing to give him this face."

"What is your recommendation?"

"Five or eight days? I think it’s worth it to make a cameo. Films, dramas, and music—everyone collaborates frequently. Mr. Zhou has significant influence in Taiwan, and in recent years, he has had many joint productions in the mainland. He has a wide network of connections, so it's good to build a favorable relationship. It won't delay anything."

After a moment of thought, Lin Jianlu nodded. "Alright!"

Aside from being a bit lazy and constantly wanting to retire, he was very professional. Furthermore, he didn't have the "big star" attitude that often comes with fame, and he always trusted and respected his two agents in professional matters.

So, he would go. As Sylvia Chang said, it was only for a few days.

In this world, it’s all about human connections and favors!

Many singers from UFO Records had come tonight. He had already met them and accepted their congratulations, but after sneaking a bit of food, Lin Jianlu proactively sought them out again. Regardless of how he viewed himself, he was clearly categorized as a "Rock Records loyalist." But so what? Who decreed that people from Rock Records couldn't be friends with those from UFO?

He actually quite liked Tom Chang.

Dave Wang, Tom Chang, and the Little Tigers were all there. Wang Jie was not. Hmm.

Tom Chang also brought along a shy young girl named A-Mei (Zhang Huimei). He said he was currently producing an album for her, which was expected to be released by the end of the year or early next year. It seemed he was transitioning into a behind-the-scenes producer.

The Little Tigers had disbanded at the end of 1991 because Alec Su had to serve in the military, but they had reunited in 1993. Their momentum wasn't what it used to be, but they were still undoubtedly the most popular group across the mainland, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. However, after chatting for a while, he heard them say that Nicky Wu would also be heading off to military service next year...

He saw Jeff Chang.

He had heard Old Li and the others talk about him before. Jeff Chang had debuted and gained fame at Rock Records' sub-label, Canyon Records. Old Li had written many songs for him and could be credited with making him a star. But later, in 1992, Canyon Records withdrew from the Rock Records system, and recently, it seemed to have been acquired by BMG, a major international label. Of course, even before the acquisition, Jeff Chang had already jumped ship to EMI, another major label.

Recently, Hong Kong media had been buzzing with rumors that Faye Wong's contract was about to expire, and Sony Music and EMI were competing for her next contract.

Well, Lin Jianlu knew the inside scoop. He even knew that Faye Wong preferred to sign with EMI. He even knew that if she chose to sign, it would be for an incredibly high signing bonus—one high enough to shock the entire Chinese music scene and the entertainment industry!

That was because she was so highly regarded by every company!

She had primarily sung Cantonese songs, which had limited her market, but her rise to the A-list proved her strength. After switching companies, she would certainly focus on Mandarin songs, and her market would undoubtedly grow even larger—and in the current Chinese music scene, she was practically a unique talent among female singers!

She had a fantastic image, an incredible voice, excellent singing technique, and was full of personality with great musical creativity. Moreover, she was very trendy; in a way, she could easily be fashioned into a style icon. Therefore, industry insiders were almost limitlessly optimistic about her prospects!

He also saw Zhang Yu.

He was the pillar of Kolin Records and a proud protégé of Taiwanese music tycoon Cai Zongzheng. His second album, "Well-Intentioned," released in 1993, had exploded in sales, propelling him instantly to the A-list.

In Taiwan, selling 300,000 copies was considered quite impressive, generally accepted as entering the A-list. Selling over 500,000 copies meant you were firmly established. As for the likes of Lin Jianlu, Wakin Chau, and Sarah Chen, they were considered "super A-listers," known as heavenly kings and queens.

Hmm, Shi Yilang was quite beautiful! Very wifely!

After wandering around for a while, he suddenly turned a corner and saw a guy drinking alone.

"Brother Qi!"

He walked over, put an arm around him, and raised his glass. "Cheers!"

Richie Jen was a bit surprised. Their relationship had never been particularly close; he was at the bottom level of the company, while Lin Jianlu had started as a massive hit. Lin Jianlu usually interacted with the likes of Jonathan Lee, Lo Ta-yu, his producer Xiao Chong, or established stars like Sarah Chen, Sandy Lam, Winnie Hsin, Zhao Chuan, and Wakin Chau.

He wasn't qualified.

When the boss invited everyone to his home for a small gathering, he would even take the initiative to help the hired chef with the barbecue because standing on the sidelines was awkward.

Although Lin Jianlu had always been polite and respectful, consistently calling him "Brother Qi," Richie did not dare to claim the title of "brother." "Just call me Xiao Qi!"

The glasses clinked, and Lin Jianlu downed his drink in one go. Seeing this, Richie Jen did the same.

Ever since he came to Rock Records, his life had been difficult. But first, he didn't want to give up, and second, Xiao Chong hadn't wanted to give up on him either. However, his first album since joining Rock Records, "Dependence," released not long ago, could only be described as selling "okay."

Lin Jianlu had no intention of currying favor with anyone, but at the right moment, he was quite willing to do someone a solid.

In his previous life, he had heard the story of "Heart Too Soft" on a variety show. Of course, he didn't know if it was true, and record companies were businesses where storytelling was a necessary packaging tactic. However, it didn't matter if the story was true or not; he had basically figured out the production process and basic operations of Hong Kong and Taiwanese record companies. In the mainland, there might be talk of a song being written for years without being sold, but in Hong Kong and Taiwan—sorry, that didn't exist. These big-name producers, songwriters, and composers simply didn't have "stockpiles."

The music industry was too mature and the market too developed, yet the overall market wasn't large enough to sustain high sales, so if a singer could sell, they were desperate to make five albums a year! These songwriters were all victims of deadlines; where would they find stock?

In fact, because of a lack of creativity and output, the Hong Kong and Taiwanese music scenes loved nothing more than buying the Chinese-language cover rights to famous international works!

So be it!

Although Lin Jianlu didn't personally like "Heart Too Soft" that much, as a streamer who specialized in classic songs, he knew that Richie Jen had become a massive star because of that song.

Might as well give him a push!

"I've written a song for you; I'll bring it to the company for you tomorrow! Keep it up! You'll be a star!"

After saying this, he patted him on the shoulder and turned to walk away.

Richie Jen, however, was left standing there, stunned.