The albums of the top three from last year’s talent show are selling well; the buzz from last summer’s competition hasn’t faded, and General Manager Guan is the biggest winner, unable to stop smiling at the company.
Wen Ying thought Li Mengjiao’s album would sell the best. After all, last summer, Li Mengjiao was the most popular contestant. If she had been willing to sign, the annual championship wouldn’t have gone to Xu Mei.
Facts prove that no matter how strong one’s popularity, if not carefully maintained for half a year, fans will drift away!
Li Mengjiao’s promotional efforts were weaker than Xu Mei’s.
Even in Li Mengjiao’s stronghold of Rongcheng, Xu Mei appeared on several shows to promote her album.
While Li Mengjiao was buried in her studies at school, Xu Mei was flying across the country. This semester, Xu Mei failed two elective courses and one mandatory course, but her promotional efforts paid off, with her album leading weekly sales.
Li Mengjiao was in second place.
The gap between her and Zhang Yangning wasn’t large.
This isn’t to say Li Mengjiao was lacking, but that Zhang Yangning was exceptionally strong.
Zhang Yangning chose Huang Yongjuan as her album producer, and Huang Yongjuan has a loyal fanbase in the mainland. Thanks to his reputation, Zhang Yangning’s album was highly anticipated, attracting not only her fans but also Huang Yongjuan’s supporters.
In this context, Li Mengjiao maintaining second place in sales was impressive, thanks to the fans drawn by the talent show.
As for Xu Mei, with the support of Professor Fang and Young Master Cao, she has become the most prominent new artist of 2005.
Just two days after her album’s release, numerous music critics emerged, comparing the top three’s albums, praising Xu Mei and Zhang Yangning’s high quality, from song selection to performance, even hyping Xu Mei’s music video.
Li Mengjiao became the unfortunate comparison, with critics claiming her album lacked depth and that the producer from Taiwan was out of touch with the mainland music scene.
Fans buying albums wouldn’t have noticed Yuan Fenghui, but someone deliberately dug up her “misdeeds” in Taiwan, suggesting that Li Mengjiao’s choice of Yuan Fenghui as producer was not only risky for her career but also questionable in terms of intelligence!
“Even with great talent, if not taken seriously, it will only be a flash in the pan. Only time will tell who is truly suited to be a singer.”
This was a critique of Li Mengjiao’s lack of professionalism.
Others promote, but you don’t, so naturally, your album sales can’t surpass Xu Mei’s.
At first glance, it sounds reasonable, but Yuan Fenghui sensed the truth behind these dense critic reviews.
She had underestimated Xu Mei, who, after securing a financial backer, could afford to buy media coverage!
Yuan Fenghui was furious, ready to confront Xu Mei.
She wasn’t incapable of such tactics but hadn’t acted, only to be outmanoeuvred by Xu Mei.
Yuan Fenghui sought out General Manager Guan, hoping he would rein in Xu Mei.
But Guan, ever the opportunist, countered, asking if Yuan Fenghui would mentor Xu Mei.
“Professor Fang’s resources are limited. Xu Mei has a great start now, and with your help, she could be this year’s biggest star!”
Yuan Fenghui, already stretched thin supporting Li Mengjiao, how could she agree to mentor Xu Mei?
She mentioned her prior agreement with Guan, but he was ready with a retort, “Didn’t you say Li Mengjiao would sign? She still hasn’t, and her contract with the company is only for one album. Xu Mei’s production budget was just 300,000 more than hers, and look at the momentum—she might earn the company an extra three million. If Li Mengjiao doesn’t sign, the company’s resources won’t tilt in her favour.”
Everyone’s a cunning fox.
Yuan Fenghui’s intent to promote Li Mengjiao was obvious to Guan.
With her tactics, if she couldn’t even convince Li Mengjiao to sign, either Yuan Fenghui was overrated, or she wasn’t seriously trying.
Either way, it was a situation Guan didn’t want.
He was dissatisfied with Yuan Fenghui’s passivity but held off until now to act.
Either Li Mengjiao signs, or her album promotion gets throttled.
For a newcomer with no industry backing to keep challenging the company, Guan’s patience until now was already remarkable.
If Li Mengjiao could make the company big money, Guan would swallow his frustration.
But now, Young Master Cao brought greater benefits, aiming to boost Xu Mei by suppressing Li Mengjiao. Guan, wanting to fully control Li Mengjiao and Yuan Fenghui, played along, revealing his ruthless side to Yuan Fenghui.
At that moment, Yuan Fenghui truly saw Guan’s nature.
Mainland capitalists were no kinder than those in Taiwan; their true faces just showed at different times.
“What about the role in that Hunan Satellite TV idol drama promised to Li Mengjiao? Is that gone too?”
Yuan Fenghui’s question made Guan laugh.
He didn’t answer directly, “…Anyway, hurry up on your end.”
If Li Mengjiao didn’t sign, they’d abandon her soon.
Xu Mei had resources but lacked a strategist to consolidate them.
Professor Fang couldn’t do it, nor could Young Master Cao. Yuan Fenghui was the best for the job.
Yuan Fenghui suppressed her frustration and smiled at Guan, “I’ll take it seriously.”
Back in her office, she nearly smashed her computer screen.
Guan’s attitude wouldn’t shift so quickly without pressure, someone showing him bigger gains.
Xu Mei didn’t have that influence.
Her first-week album sales, while stronger than Li Mengjiao’s, weren’t overwhelmingly so!
It was Young Master Cao!
—Brilliant move!
Yuan Fenghui slammed her hand on the desk.
If she hadn’t planned a fallback, wouldn’t she be at the mercy of these youngsters?
Wen Ying had Tianjiao Films start with Zhang Guangzhen’s script, which Yuan Fenghui initially didn’t fully support but now endorsed.
Li Mengjiao was in a tough spot, with Xu Mei buying media coverage and Guan turning against her. Her path was no longer smooth.
In such times, Li Mengjiao’s debut drama couldn’t be casual.
High ratings weren’t enough; it had to be a critical and commercial hit!
Yuan Fenghui was burning with anger, ignited when the boyband she nurtured betrayed her, still unvented until today. Guan’s actions only added fuel to the fire!
…
Li Mengjiao’s album sales were actually lower than Xu Mei’s?
Wen Ying’s first thought was that Xu Mei was faking it again.
After all, Xu Mei had rigged votes during the competition, so Wen Ying viewed her with suspicion.
Then came the critics’ attacks on Li Mengjiao—working for money so blatantly, without even hiding it?!
Wen Ying, having earned a hefty sum from scriptwriting and planning a happy Spring Festival, had her mood ruined instantly.
