There aren’t that many good people in the world.
But when someone stands high enough, others can’t scheme against them and have to flatter them instead, so aren’t they surrounded by “good people”?
Wen Ying’s chicken soup made Mrs. Wang smack her lips. “If *Galaxy and You* gets huge ratings, Hu Man will probably be even angrier, but who cares? Let her do what she wants.”
Wang Jun’s business had its share of rivals and grudges.
So what?
Mediocrity avoids envy.
Grudges happen. In today’s lawful society, the worst is some business sabotage. A small feud doesn’t lead to hiring hitmen.
Speaking of grudges, Tianjiao didn’t lack for them with Hu Man. The Miracle Group that Yuan Fenghui made famous still held a grudge!
The more lice, the less the itch. Mrs. Wang, with the air of a boss’s wife, waved off Hu Man and shifted the topic to *Galaxy and You*’s promotion.
This was supposed to be the TV station’s concern, but with Yuan Fenghui’s plan for a simultaneous novel and album, Tianjiao had to take charge.
“We want *Galaxy and You* to air in July. Before that, the novel and album need to be ready. Wen Ying, can you manage?”
Yuan Fenghui gave Wen Ying two months.
Wen Ying was also judging a short-story contest, reviewing the final round.
But since she wrote *Galaxy and You*’s script, turning it into a novel wasn’t hard. Wen Ying nodded lightly.
Yuan Fenghui then discussed profit splits with Zou Weijun.
The novel would be handled by Rongcheng Literature Publishing House. The script’s copyright belonged to Tianjiao, and Wen Ying, hired by Tianjiao, would adapt it into a novel.
Yuan Fenghui wouldn’t just pay Wen Ying a commission, but business was business. Tianjiao needed a share of the novel’s publishing profits. Normally, authors and publishers split royalties, but now it was Tianjiao, the publisher, and Wen Ying dividing the pie.
Wen Ying wouldn’t get 15% royalties.
If she took 15%, the publisher and Tianjiao would earn little.
But Wen Ying didn’t mind.
As an exception, she’d already sold *Galaxy and You*’s script, investing the 500,000 into *The Princess’s New Clothes*, earning a hefty profit. Now she could sell *Galaxy and You* a second time. Wen Ying was very satisfied!
Since she created the script independently, knowing all the characters and plots, adapting it into a novel took little effort. It was a good break from her writer’s block on the Nine Cauldrons series. Two months was plenty.
With Wen Ying’s assurance, the only uncertainty was Huang Yongjun’s album production.
Yuan Fenghui chuckled. “I hope Huang Yongjun’s smart enough not to ruin his reputation over Hu Man.”
Take the money and not deliver?
Dream on!
Yuan Fenghui was lenient with Li Mengjiao and protective of her own, but ruthless with others.
If Huang Yongjun took the money and didn’t deliver, Yuan Fenghui could ruin his decades-long reputation as a music producer. She wouldn’t stop until his name was in tatters.
Including Wen Ying, everyone shuddered: offend anyone, but never Yuan Fenghui!
…
While Tianjiao’s team strategized, Hu Man left Tianjiao with a stern face.
Tianjiao was still at its old office. With some earnings, they’d added staff and expanded, but compared to major film companies in Beijing or Shanghai, Tianjiao’s headquarters still looked modest.
Such a small company dared to reject Hu Man… She felt both angry and bewildered. Was her era truly over?
No.
Yuan Fenghui’s confidence came from Li Mengjiao and Yun Chen’s rising fame.
A small company had its lucky breaks, signing Li Mengjiao and Yun Chen, and producing a hit drama, *The Princess’s New Clothes*, keeping their popularity high.
If Yuan Fenghui had said the theme song was for Li Mengjiao, Hu Man likely wouldn’t have asked.
Li Mengjiao was Tianjiao’s cash cow, Yuan Fenghui’s treasure. Hu Man wouldn’t invite trouble.
But for Zhang Yangning to sing it, why couldn’t Hu Man compete?
In the car, Hu Man’s anger lingered. “Why didn’t you speak up?”
She questioned Huang Yongjun.
They were too close for Hu Man to bother pretending with him.
Hu Man was genuinely upset.
Huang Yongjun stayed silent not just at Tianjiao’s meeting but earlier too. Zhang Yangning’s admiration for Huang Yongjun was obvious to anyone with eyes. If he’d spoken, Zhang Yangning might have willingly given up the theme song!
Huang Yongjun sighed softly. “Manman, we don’t need to do this.”
It was beneath them.
Huang Yongjun couldn’t bring himself to speak.
When Zhang Yangning was still with Mr. Guan’s company, she’d worked with Huang Yongjun. At their first meeting, she brought sheet music for him to sign.
Many flattered Huang Yongjun with talk of his fame or love for his music, but he was numb to it.
Zhang Yangning’s words were genuine.
Back then, Li Mengjiao and Xu Mei were rivals, Yuan Fenghui clashed with Professor Fang, but Zhang Yangning just wanted to learn. While Li Mengjiao and Xu Mei could be stars, Zhang Yangning only wanted to be an original singer!
Her debut album, produced by Huang Yongjun, flopped, making her a nobody at Mr. Guan’s company.
Yet given a second chance to work with Huang Yongjun, her eyes still sparkled with hope to learn from him.
Such a pure soul was rare in the industry. Huang Yongjun knew if he asked Zhang Yangning to give up the theme song, the light in her eyes would dim significantly. Crushing someone’s dreams was too cruel, and he couldn’t do it.
Huang Yongjun tactfully shared his thoughts, urging Hu Man to let it go.
Without *Galaxy and You*’s theme song, Hu Man had other chances.
But Hu Man wouldn’t relent.
“It’s not just about a song anymore. You know this industry’s rules. If today’s events spread and I do nothing, it’s like hanging a sign saying I’m no longer relevant. Old rivals I once outshone will come to trample me!”
Senior artists taking resources from juniors wasn’t uncommon.
Failing to secure them would make Hu Man a laughingstock.
At her level, face mattered more than anything. Money could be forgone, but not dignity.
Huang Yongjun frowned. “What are you planning?”
Hu Man tossed her hair back, smiling lightly. “First, tell me if you’ll help me.”
