Help or not?
Given his deep friendship and intertwined interests with Hu Man, with her putting it like that, did Huang Yongjun have any way out?
Huang Yongjun closed his eyes.
“Manman, don’t make this too hard for me…”
“What are you afraid of? I’m not asking you to stop producing Tianjiao’s album. I just want you to aim for perfection!”
Perfection.
In the entertainment industry, those four words could be a compliment or a jab, often carrying deeper meaning.
When a director seeks “perfection,” a scene might be shot dozens of times, exhausting not just the actors but the entire crew.
Would the crew dare blame the director?
No way!
They’d only curse the actors’ poor skills, dragging everyone into repeated takes.
Similarly, when a music producer seeks “perfection,” an album could be delayed endlessly, wearing out the recording artist and inflating manpower and time costs. If Huang Yongjun stalled, the *Galaxy and You* album would miss the drama’s airing schedule. Even if Tianjiao’s team knew it was because of Hu Man, anger clouds reason, and they’d likely take it out on Zhang Yangning.
All this trouble stemmed from Zhang Yangning.
More viciously, Huang Yongjun could subtly sabotage the album. With his industry clout, he could pass off bad as good.
Tweaking a melody could turn a gem into a masterpiece—or a generic tune.
If Huang Yongjun suggested revising the theme song now, Yuan Fenghui would be torn, unsure if he meant to improve or ruin it.
If his intentions were malicious and he botched it?
Or if Huang Yongjun’s professionalism held, and he meant no harm…
Yuan Fenghui would hesitate, but Zhang Yangning would agree!
She admired Huang Yongjun, trusting his musical expertise completely.
Would he really betray such a junior’s faith?
Crush a young person’s dreams.
Ruin a talented young creator.
It was too heavy!
Huang Yongjun couldn’t do something so despicable.
Opening his eyes, he’d made his choice. “Manman, I’ll back out of Tianjiao’s deal. I’ll cover their losses myself. That’s all I can do for you.”
Breach of contract!
His work with Tianjiao had been smooth, but caught between his bond with Hu Man and his conscience, Huang Yongjun was stuck. Breaching was his only option.
This already hurt Tianjiao. The album was half-done. Once word spread that Huang Yongjun dropped it, lesser producers wouldn’t dare take over, and those on his level—were there any better than him? Top producers, equally prideful, wouldn’t touch Huang Yongjun’s “leftovers.”
If Huang Yongjun bailed, the *Galaxy and You* album wouldn’t make the drama’s airing, and even if rushed out, its quality would fall short, derailing Yuan Fenghui’s promotion plan!
This was an open strategy, cleaner than sabotage and more effective at saving Hu Man’s face—or so she thought. Tianjiao’s artists disrespected their senior, and their director lacked tact. Weren’t they so great? Fine, without Huang Yongjun, let’s see how they fare!
Hu Man smiled. “Why should you pay the penalty? I’ll cover it.”
Huang Yongjun stayed silent.
Money wasn’t the issue.
He’d breached contracts before, known for his temper, uncaring of gossip.
But past breaches were justified—creative clashes with labels or artists.
This time, Tianjiao and Zhang Yangning were blameless. It was Huang Yongjun’s doing!
This decision weighed heavily on him. Choosing the lesser evil, he opted for an open breach.
…
Wen Ying hadn’t left Tianjiao when Huang Yongjun’s withdrawal was confirmed.
Yuan Fenghui’s face turned grim.
“…Fine, I look forward to working with Teacher Huang again.”
No matter her mood, Yuan Fenghui kept up appearances. Hanging up, she gritted her teeth. “As long as I’m at Tianjiao, our artists will never work with Huang Yongjun again!”
Halfway through the album, the producer bailed!
Yuan Fenghui rarely misjudged, and Huang Yongjun’s breach was a slap in her face.
Wen Ying sensed Yuan Fenghui’s words were for Zhang Yangning. Tianjiao had only three artists. Yun Chen and Li Mengjiao were indifferent to Huang Yongjun, but Zhang Yangning saw him as a professional idol.
Zhang Yangning wasn’t dumb. Seeing Yuan Fenghui’s fury, she quickly distanced herself from her “idol.”
“I won’t work with Teacher Huang either!”
Didn’t Huang Yongjun know the consequences of bailing now?
He did.
Yet he chose Hu Man’s feelings over Tianjiao.
Zhang Yangning wanted to be a pure creator, not a pure fool.
She and Mrs. Wang shared a realization: idols were best admired from afar. Close contact brought disappointment!
Zhang Yangning, her idol fallen, looked pitiful.
Though the issue started with her, it wasn’t her fault. Yuan Fenghui didn’t blame her and was already planning fixes.
Damn Huang Yongjun, bailing mid-project. It was nearly April—who could step in?
Yuan Fenghui ran through names in her head, rejecting each.
Producers below Huang Yongjun’s level weren’t worth hiring.
Those on his level wouldn’t clean up his mess.
Wen Ying quietly reminded, “Teacher Yuan, with Huang Yongjun breaching, doesn’t the contract owe us a big penalty?”
Yuan Fenghui spat, “It’s only triple damages. Should’ve written five!”
Even five times, Huang Yongjun could pay, but making him bleed more cheered Yuan Fenghui.
If no suitable producer was found, Yuan Fenghui might have to step in.
Her star-making skills were strong, but her production was average, and her busy schedule left little room—unless someone took over her other tasks.
Her gaze fell on Mrs. Wang.
Mrs. Wang stepped back instinctively.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m scared!”
Being PR manager was exhausting enough, but at least she had flexible hours and personal time.
Taking Yuan Fenghui’s work? Heavens, that’d be 24/7 for Tianjiao!
