38: Cooperation with Sky Entertainment

Zhao Jin’s eyes were fixed on the golden, crispy roasted lamb chops, her lips trembling. “I…I won’t eat, thank you.” But her eyes seemed to disagree with her brain, still staring intently at the roasted lamb chop.

“Are you sure? I don’t mind sharing a piece with you. This one has a crispy skin and juicy meat inside. One bite and happiness will explode in your mouth.”

“Zhao Jin’s negative emotional value +333!”

“Thank you, no need. I just wanted to say thank you for bringing Dr. Liu over. I’m also sorry for losing my temper with you earlier.”

Chen Fang nodded.

Look how nice these people are? They feel bad inside, but still thank us verbally.

“Please wait a moment,” Zhao Jin said, then bounced into the room, rummaging around with a clatter for a while. When she came out again, she had a blue-covered book in her hand.

She leaned against the doorframe with her left hand and handed the book over with her right. “Thank you for helping me invite Dr. Liu. This book is very popular, and I haven’t opened it yet, so I’ll give it to you.”

“You brought it all the way from so far, aren’t you going to read it yourself?”

Zhao Jin blinked, then said after a moment of silence, “I…I can read the e-book version.”

Chen Fang nodded and took the book. The title was “thirty years,” and the name sounded a bit familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere.

Zhao Jin said, “This was the first-prize winner of last year’s Wenxing Cup.”

Chen Fang suddenly realized. He remembered seeing its hardcover poster on the first floor of Kiwi Fruit headquarters a while ago. At his old home, his parents had collected a row of Wenxing Cup winning works, and this book seemed to be among them.

“Okay, thanks.”

Chen Fang accepted the book. Zhao Jin seemed very afraid of owing others favors, so since she gave it, he would just take it.

But she was also quite strange. She carried a book all the way from the Capital, which shows how much she must love this book? But if she loved it, it hadn't even been opened yet.

Chen Fang placed the book on the windowsill, slowly closing the insulated box lid. “You should rest well.”

He took the book and the insulated box, then turned to Dr. Liu, who was getting medicine. “Dr. Liu, I’ll be leaving now. Thank you for your trouble.”

“It’s nothing, Teacher Chen, you’re too polite.”

The prompts “Zhao Jin’s negative emotional value +166, 66, 266” still echoed in his mind.

He didn't know if it was because she was craving it, felt guilty, or was embarrassed.

It didn’t matter, anyway…the negative emotional value in the system was already 198,000, and it was estimated to reach 200,000 tonight.

Chen Fang returned to his room, sat at the round table, and quickly finished the 300 grams of roasted lamb chops.

After washing the insulated box and tidying the table, Chen Fang took out his computer and logged into his email to check the six music production companies mentioned by the Assistant Director.

These companies, in addition to producing music, also had to handle promotion, copyright management, and other tasks. For example, cooperating with music platforms to launch the song, striving for recommendation slots, interview opportunities, chart-ranking resources, and so on. They could also seek commercial resources, such as cooperating with TV stations to use the song.

So, he had to find a reliable company.

Such companies all had their own singers, but given his current situation, no company would likely propose signing him; they would only cooperate on “one meat and one vegetable.”

Chen Fang went through the terms offered by the six companies.

First, he excluded the two companies that wanted to buy the copyright. He was currently at the low point of his career, probably the cheapest he would ever be. Authorization was enough; he didn't want to sell the copyright at a low price.

Chen Fang then excluded the two companies that were trying to lower the price. After comparing the strengths of the last two companies, he chose Tianji Entertainment.

According to the contract proposed by Tianji Entertainment, for the next three years, Tianji Entertainment would obtain the exclusive right to use “one meat and one vegetable.” They would pay him a one-time copyright fee and a share of future profits.

Tianji Entertainment, as one of the top three comprehensive entertainment companies in the country, didn't try to exploit him because of his downfall.

They only said that, considering his reputation, they would slightly reduce the one-time copyright fee, but the future profit sharing would remain at a normal level.

The one-time copyright fee was 300,000, which was a bit lower than his previous average of 500,000.

But the future profit sharing was not bad.

For digital platforms like Penguin Music, the platform took 35%, Tianji Entertainment took 30%, and he, as the lyricist, composer, and singer, took 35%.

For album sharing, Tianji Entertainment was responsible for production, promotion, copyright management, and commercial operations, splitting it fifty-fifty with him.

For other commercial income like film and television dubbing, Tianji Entertainment was responsible for negotiation, copyright maintenance, and other work, also splitting it fifty-fifty with him.

Overall, this was considered a normal industry standard; they didn't rip him off.

Chen Fang carefully read the cooperation information and replied to the email directly.

Soon, the other party called to sign the song copyright authorization contract with him and agreed that he should send the lyrics, sheet music, and demo as soon as possible. On the morning of May 6th, he would record the song in Xingcheng. The company would expedite production, aiming to release “one meat and one vegetable” on Friday, May 9th, when major music platform charts are updated.

Chen Fang quickly became busy.

The sun gradually set.

Finally, at four in the afternoon, Chen Fang sent the materials, closed his laptop, and collapsed onto the bed.

So tired, he needed to recover.

As the saying goes, what is the best medicine in the world? First, red envelopes, second, cash. Money is a good medicine, with the effect of making one's eyes clear.

Let's look at the numbers on the bank card and feel the fruits of hard work.

Chen Fang opened his mobile banking app.

Except for the day he transmigrated, he had never dared to look at the numbers on his bank card again. It wasn't until last night when Pu Maosheng contacted him and confirmed that he was almost 100% able to recover and didn't have to pay over twenty million in compensation, that he finally relaxed and could properly appreciate this money that belonged to him.

Chen Fang clicked the small eye icon next to a string of asterisks, and a string of numbers popped up.

Tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions, tens of millions—a full thirty-two million.

The original owner earned far more than this during his year and a half of popularity. He was a very kind fellow, anonymously donating a lot of money and not even keeping track. Chen Fang, being stingy and feeling the pinch, had never calculated how much was donated.

Chen Fang sighed lightly.

What a kind fool!

He did so many good deeds, yet in the end, he left with a bad reputation.

Just wait, he would absolutely not let go of those beasts who drove him to his death!

Chen Fang took a deep breath, closed the mobile banking app, and opened the calculator to calculate this month's income.

In the first half of May, his appearance fee was 2 million, new advertising revenue was 800,000, morning wool-gathering was 179,200, and the music one-time copyright fee, due in a week, was 300,000. The total was 3,279,200, leaving about 2.4 million after tax.

2.4 million in half a month.

Being a celebrity is still great.

Chen Fang put down his phone, tugged at his pillow, and was about to lie down when his phone suddenly rang.

He picked up the phone and saw it was an unknown number from the Capital.

Chen Fang pressed the answer button. “Hello, how are you?”

“Hello, may I speak with Mr. Chen Fang?”

“Yes, may I ask who this is?”

“I’m Luo Jialin, Assistant Brand Director of Morning Sunshine. Are you available now? I’d like to take five to ten minutes of your time to discuss brand endorsement.”

Chen Fang quickly sat up. “I’m available, Assistant Luo, please speak.”

After five minutes of pleasantries, brand introductions, and personal information confirmation, the conversation finally neared its end.

The voice on the other end said, “Okay, Teacher Chen, you are currently facing some unsubstantiated negative rumors. Our company also hopes for your brilliant return, but our new product series will be launched during the summer vacation, so time is quite tight. The Director’s intention is that if you can clarify the current negative rumors before May 20th, our company will be inclined to hire you as our endorser. During this period, if you need help, you can also appropriately propose it to us.”

The other party didn’t say too much, only that they were inclined to use him.

But the fact that they made this call before the clarification showed that they valued him highly.

It seemed he hadn't guessed wrong yesterday; for a brand that had been framed and silenced for many years, his negative rumors were a disadvantage, but if he could clarify them in time, it would instead be an advantage.

“Okay, thank you, Assistant Luo.”

After a few more pleasantries, Chen Fang hung up the phone.

With the broadcast of “the adventures” and the spread of “one meat and one vegetable,” his reputation seemed to be slowly improving. After the clarification, the number of people cursing him would definitely decrease significantly.

Sigh, a bit annoying.

If only no matter what he did, there would always be a large group of NPCs cursing and mocking him.

What a pity, as his noble character and talent were revealed, praise and recognition grew. Such are the troubles of a celebrity!

He needed to think about how to farm system data in the future.