205: Chapter 205 This kind of betting contract is absolutely outrageous!

Under the pomelo tree. A gust of wind blew, and the leaves rustled.

Ye Lan looked into Qin Xun's eyes, dazed for a moment, then laughed.

"Mr. Qin, I am very happy that you agreed to cooperate with me, and I believe you have the ability to help me join the ranks of the super A-listers."

She slowly raised three fingers. "But I have three questions."

Qin Xun nodded. "Go ahead and ask."

Ye Lan asked softly. "First, does 'just one song' mean you will write more than one song for me, or is it one song plus a marketing strategy?"

Qin Xun laughed lightly. "More than one song. It's three songs. Plus an appropriate marketing strategy."

The corners of Ye Lan's mouth curled up slightly, keeping her smile from being too unrestrained, appearing reserved, as if she were a completely different person from the idiot who had just headbutted the pomelo tree.

Looking at Qin Xun under the dappled tree shadows, she retracted one finger and raised her voice slightly. "Wouldn't 10.75 million be too expensive?"

Qin Xun remained calm. "No, it won't."

Seeing Qin Xun's determined expression, Ye Lan hesitated for a moment, then nodded gently. "Fine! I believe you."

She retracted another finger. "Third, the fraction of the 10.75 million—is that 750,000 the money you're paying to compensate for my glasses?"

Qin Xun smiled. "You are smarter than I imagined."

Ye Lan: "..." That's obvious, okay!

Wang Cui suddenly walked over, gently tugged on Ye Lan's arm, looking anxious. "Sister Ye, this is over ten million. The company won't approve it."

She turned to look at Qin Xun. "Besides, a veteran gold-medal composer in the industry only charges about 200,000. Asking for over ten million for three songs is simply too expensive."

Qin Xun understood Wang Cui's feelings. People who aren't particularly into music usually only hear songs that are viral, mainstream, or played everywhere. This leads them to believe that songs should be very expensive.

In reality, how would ordinary people know that finding an unknown composer to write a song, including melody and lyrics, only costs about 2,000 yuan? Adding the arrangement makes it about 5,000 yuan. And even for this 5,000 yuan, there are countless musicians who want to earn it but can't.

Qin Xun once read a news story. On just one music platform, KuGou, there were nearly 20 million original songs uploaded in 2022, but fewer than 2,000 of them probably made any real money. Less than one in ten thousand!

Before a song truly becomes a hit, its value is very limited. 10.75 million for three songs can be called a lion's share, eating people without spitting out the bones—unscrupulous to the core.

Ye Lan turned to look at Wang Cui. "Sister Wang, ten million for three songs is certainly expensive, but ten million to help me join the ranks of the super A-listers? That's not expensive at all!"

"My current appearance fee for commercial performances is 1.8 million. When the time comes, I'll directly raise my commercial performance prices, and I'll earn it back in half a month. If I book an endorsement, the money will come back even faster—a week would be enough."

Hearing Ye Lan speak so nonchalantly, Qin Xun sighed inwardly. Damn it, the price is too low!

At this moment, he saw Wang Cui say anxiously, "Sister Ye, this is over 10 million. Who dares to guarantee that their songs will definitely be a hit? And to what extent will they be popular?"

Ye Lan frowned slightly. "Stop talking. I was temporarily replaced for the Mid-Autumn Festival gala on Cheng Tai today, and I'm holding back anger! I want to take a gamble. I'll pay this 10 million out of my own pocket."

Wang Cui was even more anxious. "Sister Ye! You..."

Qin Xun felt annoyed listening to them and waved his hand. "Alright, alright, stop putting on a double act."

He looked at the flash of embarrassment that clearly crossed Ye Lan's face. "I'll sign a gambling contract with you."

"Your current commercial performance fee is 1.8 million. If, after one month, you haven't joined the ranks of the super A-listers and your commercial fee hasn't reached over 2.5 million, I will only charge you 1 million in marketing fees."

Ye Lan nodded quickly. "Okay, that's a good idea." But then she heard Qin Xun change his tone. "If it reaches 2.5 million, you have to give me 20.75 million."

Ye Lan: "???" "20.75 million?"

Qin Xun frowned slightly. "This is a gambling contract, after all. I'm bearing huge risks. I'm also very nervous."

Ye Lan looked at Qin Xun's expression, not seeing any sign of nervousness at all, and sighed. "20.75 million it is."

She looked at Qin Xun and smiled bitterly. "Mr. Qin, you're actually quite a nice person, always remembering the money for my glasses."

Qin Xun nodded, acting haughty. "That's right, I never take advantage of people."

Wang Cui was urged by Ye Lan to drive to town to print the contract. Qin Xun brought Ye Lan back to the living room and sat at the dining table. Ma Xiugui had just finished cooking noodles. The group ate noodles with chicken soup. No one spoke, and the atmosphere was a bit awkward.

Qin Xun took a sip of chicken soup and asked, "Grandpa, Grandma, where is Dad? Why is no one at home?"

Ma Xiugui sighed. "Your grandmother's older sister is seriously ill, so your grandpa accompanied your grandma out of the province to visit her." She suddenly raised her voice. "Sigh... They are so old and haven't held a grandson yet. If she really dies, she will truly die with regrets!"

Qin Xun: "..." Isn't this forced association a bit too hardcore?

He turned to look at Xia Ning. Xia Ning buried her head low, eating her noodles quietly.

Qin Xun asked again, "Then where is Dad?"

Ma Xiugui glanced quietly at Xia Ning, an embarrassed look appearing on her face. "That... your dad saw a courtyard full of girls coming to go on blind dates with you and felt a bit embarrassed, so he went to your uncle's house for lunch. He'll be back in the evening. He even asked me to take a picture of Ningning just now to show him what his daughter-in-law looks like!"

Qin Xun turned to look at Xia Ning. He discovered that her head was almost buried in her soup bowl.

The group finished their noodles. Ye Lan got up to clear the dishes, looking at Ma Xiugui with a sincere face. "Auntie, please give me another chance. Let me wash the bowls."

Ma Xiugui hesitated for a long time, took a deep breath, and nodded heavily. "Alright!"

Ye Lan carefully stacked the four soup bowls together, wiped the grease off them with a paper towel, and ensured she wouldn't slip before picking them up. She carried the bowls toward the kitchen, step by step, cautiously. A while later, she returned to the living room, picked up the chopsticks from the dining table, and walked back to the kitchen. The sound of water started in the kitchen.

Five minutes later, the sound of water was still running. Ma Xiugui gave Qin Xun a wink. Qin Xun nodded, walked quietly to the kitchen, and stood at the doorway.

He saw that Ye Lan had already placed three clean bowls on the stove, and was currently rinsing the dish soap foam off the fourth bowl under the tap. She rinsed it for a full thirty-plus seconds. Ye Lan looked at the clean, shiny bowl and let out a long sigh of relief.

Suddenly, she thought of the embarrassment when she served the food earlier, and surprisingly, she felt a faint sense of excitement in her heart. Like she had gone crazy, she raised the bowl high and was about to smash it on the ground.

"Ahem!" A cough sounded from behind her. She turned her head abruptly to see Qin Xun leaning against the door frame with an expression of disgust. "And you still say you aren't doing it on purpose?"

Ye Lan gently put down the bowl, her face embarrassed. "I just wanted to look at the bottom of the bowl to see if it was an antique."

Qin Xun sneered. "Ye Lan, you definitely have some psychological disorder. You should go see a psychiatrist when you have time." Ye Lan: "..." She felt a bit unconfident. Do I really have a disorder?

Two hours later, Wang Cui drove back. She brought back two copies of the contract, as well as a pile of chicken, duck, fish, meat, and bowls, chopsticks, and dishes.

In the living room, Xia Ning finished reviewing the contract. There was no change in her expression, but her heart trembled. A gambling contract? 20.75 million? Is this guy's bargaining power really this strong? He's quite unscrupulous!

Xia Ning relaxed a bit and nodded at Qin Xun. "No problem." Qin Xun and Ye Lan signed the contract. He let out a long sigh of relief, looked at Ye Lan, and smiled. "I was really afraid you would change your mind and not sign the contract just now."

Ye Lan was stunned, then laughed softly. "Me too. I was also afraid you would change your mind."

Xia Ning: "..." She was speechless. The business world is like a battlefield; you two don't need to be this honest.

Wang Cui, being slick, said with a smile, "Since both sides think so, it means this is a win-win cooperation." The group laughed for a while.

Ye Lan asked, "Then, Mr. Qin, when will you write songs for me? I'm looking forward to it!"

Qin Xun sat up straight and smiled. "Right now, this very moment!"