As Hu Man and Huang Yongjun left, only their own people remained in the meeting room. Mrs. Wang, with an exaggerated expression, said to Yuan Fenghui, “I was worried you’d cave under pressure and let Hu Man sing the song. If it was Teacher Huang’s work, fine, let her have it. But this is our Xiao Zhang’s creation. How could Hu Man have the nerve to steal Xiao Zhang’s chance to shine?”
Mrs. Wang was indignant.
Idols were best admired from afar. After close contact, Mrs. Wang realized the Hu Man she had admired for years was nothing like she imagined.
Hu Man was domineering!
Initially, Yuan Fenghui had invited Hu Man for a cameo and to sing the theme song for a combined fee of 3 million. Hu Man’s side only agreed to the cameo, and after consideration, Yuan Fenghui accepted.
As a Chinese music diva, Hu Man’s acting wasn’t worth 3 million, but her fame and status were.
Hu Man rarely acted in films or dramas. With *Galaxy and You* set in the entertainment industry, having a diva like Hu Man play a diva was thrilling and a great gimmick.
Forget everything else, Hu Man’s appearance at the *Galaxy and You* launch event alone was worth at least 1 million in promotional value!
While inviting Huang Yongjun to produce the *Galaxy and You* album, Yuan Fenghui promised Zhang Yangning that if her songs impressed Huang Yongjun, they could be used.
Yuan Fenghui dangled a carrot to spark Zhang Yangning’s creative passion.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Yangning, determined to be an original singer, had been stifled since her talent show days and her time being sidelined at Mr. Guan’s company before joining Tianjiao. She was brimming with defiance!
Music and literary creation share some similarities, both requiring life experiences. Zhang Yangning’s hardships matured her perspective. With *Galaxy and You* set in the entertainment world, the role she played resonated deeply with her aesthetic, fueling her passion. She wrote several songs in a burst of inspiration.
Surprisingly, these songs were all of high quality, passing Huang Yongjun’s scrutiny.
Huang Yongjun, a talent enthusiast, guided Zhang Yangning to make minor tweaks, refining her work.
Everything was going beautifully until Huang Yongjun, after much deliberation, chose one of Zhang Yangning’s songs as the theme song.
Zhang Yangning had recorded a version, which Hu Man heard… Hu Man, long established with several hits, though all from before the millennium, had released three albums since, none matching her past glory.
Hu Man could coast on her past, but why refuse a chance to shine again?
A hit drama could make its theme song a hit too.
Hu Man had her eye on Zhang Yangning’s song!
A renowned Chinese diva wanting a young junior’s song—most would have eagerly handed it over to curry favor with Hu Man.
But Zhang Yangning was stubborn!
Determined to forge an original path and sing her own songs on stage, she had no intention of giving her work to others.
Hu Man or any senior in the industry—why should Zhang Yangning flatter them?
When Hu Man extended an olive branch, Zhang Yangning pretended not to understand and didn’t respond, so Hu Man approached Yuan Fenghui.
If the young girl was clueless, the company would step in, and she’d have to listen!
Hu Man knew Zhang Yangning had terminated a contract once before. Having finally signed with Tianjiao, she’d surely value it… Hu Man went straight to Yuan Fenghui, who neither agreed nor refused. Seeing Hu Man’s determination, Zhang Yangning’s emotions collapsed before the meeting, and she stormed out.
Zhang Yangning thought Yuan Fenghui would compromise!
If Yuan Fenghui spoke, Zhang Yangning would struggle to refuse.
Not out of fear of Yuan Fenghui’s authority or being sidelined by the company, but because Yuan Fenghui held too much sway in Zhang Yangning’s heart. Yuan Fenghui had tirelessly planned Zhang Yangning’s career, and Zhang Yangning was grateful, unable to resist as she had before!
A contract could only bind actions, not hearts, but a debt of gratitude could.
Yuan Fenghui had tied Zhang Yangning with that debt.
As Mrs. Wang explained, Wen Ying learned the full story, which matched her guesses.
Li Mengjiao, listening, couldn’t help but exclaim, “Hu Man wants to steal Sister Yangning’s song? Why didn’t anyone tell me?!”
Yun Chen wasn’t surprised, clearly already in the know.
Yuan Fenghui knew.
Mrs. Wang knew.
Only Li Mengjiao was clueless, feeling excluded.
Yuan Fenghui rolled her eyes. “What good would telling you do? Would you do a split in front of Hu Man, and she’d stop wanting the song?”
“Pfft—”
Despite the serious mood, Wen Ying couldn’t help but laugh.
Yun Chen coughed into his fist.
Only Mrs. Wang defended Li Mengjiao. “Don’t laugh. Jiaojiao has a pure heart, real sincerity.”
The girl was a bit foolish, but her character was great.
People full of cunning liked Li Mengjiao’s guilelessness. Mrs. Wang looked at her with more affection than she did her own son, Wang Shuang.
Li Mengjiao’s face flushed. “I wouldn’t do a split for Hu Man. I’d split her in half! Teacher Yuan, you’re too much. Were you really going to agree with Hu Man?”
At that moment, Yuan Fenghui wanted to split Li Mengjiao herself.
After repeatedly telling herself, “This is the fool you chose,” and “Heaven traded her IQ for superstar qualities,” Yuan Fenghui could finally speak calmly to Li Mengjiao. “Are you daft? If I wanted to agree with Hu Man, she wouldn’t have come to the company today. It’s because I didn’t want to agree that she kept pressuring me!”
Li Mengjiao didn’t argue back, but her expression screamed disbelief.
If she didn’t want to agree, why not just refuse outright?
If she didn’t want to agree, why was Zhang Yangning so upset she left?
Li Mengjiao knew Yuan Fenghui treated her well, but Zhang Yangning slightly less so. If Hu Man had wanted her song, Teacher Yuan would have refused immediately, right?
This naive girl didn’t gloat over her special treatment but bit her lip, feeling guilty.
After all, Zhang Yangning trusted Yuan Fenghui just as much as Li Mengjiao did!
Yuan Fenghui was so exasperated she felt her veins might burst.
No amount of self-reassurance helped. Even if Li Mengjiao were her own child, Yuan Fenghui wanted to throttle her.
Seeing Li Mengjiao’s turmoil and Yuan Fenghui’s anger, Wen Ying quickly played peacemaker, patting Li Mengjiao’s arm. “Alright, Teacher Yuan isn’t lying. Her stance has been firm from the start, just giving Hu Man a way out. You might not get it, so let me put it this way: if Hu Man thinks Zhang Yangning’s theme song has hit potential, do you think Teacher Yuan is foolish enough to let Hu Man sing it? Hu Man isn’t Tianjiao’s artist—Zhang Yangning is!”
Li Mengjiao could doubt Yuan Fenghui’s character, but not her intelligence or ambition!
