Rebirth of Chinese Entertainment, the Diary of a 95 Flower

"That year, spring was in full bloom on the long street, and we rode together through the misty rain like a dream."

"Sheltering from the rain under the eaves, I looked into a pair of deep eyes, like a gentle breeze carrying fine snow from Mount Hua."

Jiang Yang sang while playing the guitar.

Tian Xiwei listened for a couple of minutes and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

This wasn't the first time I'd heard Jiang Yang sing.

I've known for a long time that Jiang Yang sings very well.

It was just the first time I heard Jiang Yang sing a song that hadn't been released yet in a karaoke bar.

I had actually heard it before; it was at the press conference for the start of filming of "Fighter of the Destiny" that Jiang Yang sang "Rose Boy".

While it sounded nice back then, the sound quality wasn't as good, and the venue was noisy. Plus, she was nervous about going on stage, so it was hard for her to concentrate.

This time is different.

"It sounds great, Hao Chun. Jiang Yang is such a jerk. He's never sung this song in private..." Tian Xiwei whispered to Liu Hao Chun.

After saying several sentences, there was no response from Liu Haochun.

He turned his head to look at Liu Haochun.

But he found Liu Haochun staring blankly at Jiang Yang.

"Haochun, are you stunned?" Tian Xi raised her hand and waved it in front of Liu Haochun's eyes.

Liu Haochun immediately slapped his arm away, saying, "You're blocking my way."

Tian Xiwei continued, "Just block it."

This time, Liu Haochun didn't slap Tian Xiwei's hand away, knowing that Tian Xiwei was teasing her. She tilted her head and said angrily, "Go to hell, it sounds so good."

"Listen carefully" means you want her to listen carefully?

Or is it that Jiang Yang sings really well?

unimportant.

Anyway, Tian Xi could tell that Liu Haochun was listening intently and it wasn't an act, and that was enough.

I glanced again at the sofa near the door in the private room, where Zhong Shujia and his group were.

Ah Zhe was focused on recording the song with his equipment.

Wang Jianqiang was still holding the cake tray in his hands and hadn't put it down.

Chen Jing'an stared intently at Jiang Yang.

Only Zhong Shujia nodded slightly: "It's a traditional Chinese style song. This time it's correct, it's a traditional Chinese style song."

He couldn't understand the melody or rhythm.

I knew it would sound good!
Jiang Yang's pronunciation was very clear, and every word was audible.

After listening to the first part of the song, you can imagine what kind of story it is.

It contains the emotions of people from all walks of life, warmth, beauty, and regret.

The imagery leaps off the page.

As the director, when choosing the theme song for "Fighter of the Destiny," his primary concern was whether the song's storyline matched the plot.

In retrospect, it fits perfectly.

"Perhaps I should pretend to be drunk and crazy, borrow your embrace to leave a trace of red lips, and then gently sing and recite the old stories, letting others be alarmed."

"But I can only force a smile and pretend to be calm, listen to those heartfelt words, not look at your familiar face, just drink silently, completely unmoved."

Yang Chaoyue silently watched Jiang Yang.

I have never been disappointed in Jiang Yang's talent.

On the contrary, she was somewhat looking forward to the day when she would become stronger, and Jiang Yang would make a mistake and dejectedly tell her that he hadn't written the song well.

Or you could say to her, "What if one day I lose my talent?"
She could then confidently say, "Then I'll be your boss. From now on, you'll buy me breakfast and wash my underwear!"

Just thinking about it.

Seeing Jiang Yang covered in cream again makes me want to laugh.

The phone vibrates.

Yang Chaoyue glanced at it, immediately got up, and tiptoed out.

"Chaoyue, where are you going?" Bailu asked quietly.

Yang Chaoyue made a gesture: "Shh! Don't disturb Brother Yang."

"Jiang Yang is almost finished singing, and we're about to talk about collaborations with them. Look at those guys, they definitely want this song too, it's all about the money. Don't you want to listen?"

"Shut up, you're getting louder and louder."

Yang Chaoyue covered Bai Lu's mouth: "I just went to the toilet and drank too much juice."

"Can't you hold it in for even a little while, Chaoyue?"

"If I told you not to speak, could you really hold it in and not let it go?"

"I'll suffocate if I don't talk."

"Me too, I have a small bladder and can't hold my pee. Okay, stop rambling on and just listen to your song. When Yang Ge talks about the project later, be the first to pour juice for Zhong Shujia and the others."

After watching Yang Chaoyue finish speaking quietly, he pushed open the door and left.

Bai Lu knew exactly what Yang Chaoyue was going to do.

Pee?

Not at all.

It sounds like Chaoyue won't be back anytime soon.

"Hey, Bailu, where did Chaoyue go?" Tian Xi asked.

"I guess she didn't cover herself with a blanket last night and needed to take a dump. She had to pass by Jiang Yang to get to the bathroom in the private room, so she probably didn't want to disturb him."

We've only exchanged a couple of sentences.

Suddenly you hear Ah Zhe say, "Ladies, could you please be quiet for a moment? My equipment has been recording Jiang Yang's song, and it's recording your voices too, which might be a bit of a problem."

Hear the words.

Tian Xiwei immediately shut up.

A quick glance at the three musicians revealed that, besides Ah Zhe, Chen Jing'an and Wang Jianqiang were also eyeing her.

I can tell.

I find her noisy.

For Jiang Yang's sake, I can't say it directly.

Bai Lu asked directly, "Did I disturb you?"

Tian Xiwei immediately went over, pulled Bai Lu to sit down next to her, covered Bai Lu's mouth, and bowed slightly to the musicians to express her apology.

Then he whispered in Bailu's ear: "I'll give you two choices: either you go out and go with Chaoyue to get a big one, or you shut up."

Outside the box.

Yang Chao jumped out and smelled the sweet aroma of the fruit platter in the air.

It was so thick that it made her frown.

It wasn't the smell of the mousse cake in the private room; it was wafting from the bar at the end of the corridor.

The sparkling water tasted like it had lemon slices mixed with the smell of smoke.

She had been to a KTV with Jiang Yang before and knew that this was a unique atmosphere in KTVs—lively yet somewhat chaotic.

Yang Chaoyue's smile vanished completely.

He wrapped his clothes tighter around himself.

If it weren't for celebrating Hao Chun's birthday, listening to Jiang Yang discuss the collaboration, and hearing Jiang Yang's new song live, she would actually dislike coming to this kind of place.

As for why I don't like it?

Can't tell.

It's better when there are familiar people around.

The next private room was filled with screaming karaoke renditions of "I Will Love You Till I Die".

Yang Chaoyue did not go to the restroom.

Saying he has a small bladder is just an excuse he made up on the spot.

She just didn't want to tell Bai Lu what she was going to do.

It's not a secret, but I'm afraid that if I tell, Bai Lu will ask all sorts of questions, which will ruin the singing atmosphere in Jiang Yang and cause a lot of trouble.

Yang Chaoyue sat down in the lounge area opposite the front desk. Just as he took out his phone, before the screen even lit up, he heard the thumping of high heels on the carpet behind him.

It was the crisp sound of stiletto heels clicking on a thick carpet, a sound that couldn't be hidden.

She looked up and saw the manager leading a group of girls toward the corridor of the private room.

When I came to this KTV before, I saw this manager at the front desk. He was wearing a sharp black suit and asked Jiang Yang if he needed any hostesses.

Jiang Yang rejected her.

They should be sending princesses to the other private rooms now.

"The private room that Brother Yang ordered didn't have any hostesses or drinks, just some juice and small fireworks, which saved Zhong Shujia a lot of money."

Yang Chaoyue was muttering to himself.

Seeing the manager with a polite smile on his lips and a low voice that still reached Yang Chaoyue's ears: "When we go into the private room later, be smart. There are out-of-town bosses in there, they're in foreign trade. Don't let it get awkward. Offer them drinks if you need to, but don't go overboard, understand?"

The manager emphasized again: "You all know the rules, right? Don't stop me from even kissing or touching you later. This is the money we're making. We're not asking you to go straight for me. If you can't handle it, get out now and don't cause me any trouble!"

Yang Chaoyue's gaze fell on the row of girls.

They were dressed similarly, many wearing short skirts that were almost thigh-high, just with different styles.

They wore matching black stilettos, with heels at least seven or eight centimeters high.

One of the girls was walking too fast and her ankle wobbled slightly. She quickly grabbed the arm of the person next to her to avoid falling.

They don't look very old, at most in their early twenties.

There was a girl with bangs, her foundation was a bit too thick, and her under-eye makeup wasn't evenly applied.

There was another girl with long, light brown hair, wearing huge hoop earrings that swayed as she walked. She would occasionally look down at her phone, typing rapidly with her fingers, seemingly chatting with someone, and her eyes betrayed her weariness.

Only the girl walking at the back of the group looked up and made eye contact with Yang Chaoyue. She quickly looked away, her eyelashes trembling, and her fingers unconsciously tugged at the hem of her skirt.

It looks like someone who's new here.

The skirt is too short, and I feel a little uncomfortable. I want to pull it down, but I can't.

The manager turned around and urged, "Hurry up, don't keep the boss waiting. If you provide good service tonight, you'll get plenty of tips."

He emphasized the word "tip" when he said it.

It's a reminder, but also a temptation.

Yang Chaoyue's fingertips curled up, and for some reason, he felt a tightness in his chest, as if something was blocking his heart.

A thought popped into my head.

If I hadn't met Brother Yang back then.

If I hadn't made it out of the textile factory, would I have ended up like them?
Back then, there was a girl in the factory who went to work at a KTV with a fellow villager. When they met again, she was wearing heavy makeup and said that this kind of work made money quickly, but you had to drink with people.

At the time, she even advised the other person not to do it.

But now, looking at the girls in front of her, she suddenly dared not think about it.

She had experienced hunger, and the embarrassment of having no money was an indelible mark etched into her bones.

She stared at the girl who was tugging at her skirt.

I saw another possible version of myself.

I forced a smile in the unfamiliar private room, bowed and greeted the owner, saying, "I'm from Yancheng, Jiangsu, and I'm eighteen years old." Then I was pressured to drink and told crude jokes, suppressing my disgust.

People aren't that hard-hearted.

Sometimes it's just because you haven't been pushed to the brink.

If I hadn't met Jiang Yang, who knows what I would be like now.

If I accidentally stumbled into the entertainment industry... The moment this thought crossed Yang Chaoyue's mind, his heart skipped a beat.

Look up and look down into the corridor.

Yang Chaoyue watched the girls' backs disappear into one of the private rooms in the corridor. As soon as he entered, he bowed to each of them and greeted them as "Boss."

Her heart was pounding faster.

Suddenly, I thought of some chilling things, all related to this circle.

There are actors who drink until they vomit for a role. There are also newcomers who force a smile to keep up with the investors.

Whether it's tips at a karaoke bar or audition opportunities in the entertainment industry, they are essentially exchanges that require compromise.

If she hadn't been signed by Jiang Yang, and had stumbled into this industry by accident, would she also have had to wait in line to get into a private room?
Will I also have to suppress all my sharp edges and listen to those uncomfortable words, just for a chance to get ahead?
For those from humble backgrounds to rise to prominence is as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Life's choices have always been like this.

Every step counts; once you start, there's no turning back.

Yang Chaoyue dared not think too deeply; his heart was pounding.

I looked up at the closed door of Jiang Yang's private room.

Jiang Yang's appearance suddenly became clear.

The man who refused to be served drinks by the hostess and only ordered juice and small fireworks.

The man who was willing to give her the opportunity to sing and let her be herself.

It had already shielded her from too many storms in places she couldn't see.

A wave of relief washed over her, enveloping her lingering fear, making her nose sting and her eyes well up with tears.

My phone vibrated; it was a message from Manager Li of the shoe factory: "General Manager Yang, are you busy?"
Yang Chaoyue typed: ["No need to call me General Manager Yang, just call me Miss Yang."]
For this project, she was the one who directly liaised with the shoe factory, and she was also the one who found the factory.

Jiang Yang's opinion was sought.

But Jiang Yang didn't participate at all.

It's normal that the other party calls her General Manager Yang.

It's just that I'm not used to this form of address.

She was only used to hearing others call Jiang Yang "boss" and her "Teacher Chaoyue".

I just typed out the word "Miss".

Looking up at the row of girls in the corridor, I felt a lump in my throat.

She edited the message: [“I’m not busy, let’s talk on the phone, typing takes too much time.”]
The call is connected.

Yang Chaoyue said directly, "Manager Li, let me reiterate the material requirements in the contract: the upper and lining must be made of the softest materials possible."

"Yes, Mr. Yang."

"The children run and jump every day, their skin is delicate, we can't let it get blisters."

"Of course, Mr. Yang."

"When I was a child, the rubber shoes I wore were as hard as an iron plate. They made my feet freeze in winter and sweat in summer. Later, I got chilblains on my feet, which were so painful that I couldn't walk and it affected my classes."

Manager Li's voice came through the phone: "Mr. Yang, don't worry. We've chosen environmentally friendly materials specifically for children. You saw them at the factory last time. The mesh uppers are very breathable, the lining is pure cotton, and the soles are specially designed for children with non-slip soft soles. They definitely won't rub your feet. You're doing charity work for the children in your hometown, so we'll definitely use the best materials and the finest workmanship."

When talking about the hard rubber shoes he wore as a child and the painful frostbite, those vivid memories came flooding back, and Yang Chaoyue's tone became more stubborn.

She kept emphasizing that the material should be soft and the size should be accurate, to the point that even she felt it was a bit long-winded.

The main reason is that I'm genuinely afraid that the children will suffer the same pain I did back then.

Two hundred thousand yuan almost wiped out her current savings.

I don't feel bad at all.

Compared to those forced compromises, the peace of mind and certainty of being able to use one's own earnings to help children in one's hometown is something that no amount of money can buy.

Fortunately, the money I received from the various music platforms for "Calories" arrived this month.

Another 100,000.

There are many more things they can do.

Yang Chaoyue continued, "And the size must be accurate. I specifically asked the teachers at the primary school in my hometown to calculate the proportion based on the children's actual foot length. Please check it several times during production. The children are at the stage of growing, and if the shoes don't fit, it will not only affect their walking but may also affect their bone development."

"Understood, Mr. Yang. We will definitely check the sizes in batches. We will try on and test every pair of shoes during production to ensure they fit properly. As you said, the payment method is a deposit first, then a progress payment, and finally the balance. I sent you the company account information before, and I will send it to you again later. We will take a video of random inspections when the goods are delivered, and we will give you the tracking number after the goods are shipped."

Yang Chaoyue took out the order contract from his bag.

This thing has always been in my bag.

The contract is for a donation and customization order of children's sports shoes.

The client is her name; she is both the client who commissioned the project and the donor.

The quality agreement clause requires that there be no quality defects.

Every pair of shoes must go through cutting, sewing, shaping, and quality inspection of the finished product; unqualified products must never leave the factory.

The total amount is stated in the payment terms.

Two hundred thousand yuan, transferred to the company in three phases.

The contract was shown to Jiang Yang, and he only signed it after confirming that there were no problems.

After talking with Manager Li, we confirmed the progress.

After hanging up the phone, she looked down at the order contract in her hand.

It wasn't that she didn't want to listen to Jiang Yang's new song, but that this matter was more important to her.

The words "donor" caught my eye.

In less than a year, they escaped their impoverished life.

With the confidence to not compromise, they have the ability to pass on the warmth they once lacked.

This sense of accomplishment is more reassuring than any title or fame.

Jiang Yang sent her a message on her phone: "Where is he?"
Yang Chaoyue typed a reply: ["Just received a message from Manager Li, went out and chatted with him for a bit."]
Inside the private room.

Jiang Yang glanced at the message Yang Chaoyue sent, but didn't reply immediately.

Then he sent a message to Meng Ziyi: ["Why haven't they arrived yet? We're almost done here."]
Meng Ziyi replied: ["Oh, I forgot to tell you, Guo Jianyong called me back again to catch up on the schedule, the call sheet has been changed... But next time you sing, be sure to call me, I sing really well!"]
Jiang Yang breathed a sigh of relief.

Guo Jianyong's team is doing a great job keeping up with the schedule.

Otherwise, if Meng Ziyi really came, he wouldn't care, but Wang Jianqiang and the other two would probably be in for a rough time.

Jiang Yang then sent a message to Yang Chaoyue: ["Which Manager Li? Is it from Shang K, the manager of Dianmei?"]
"How could that be? It's from that shoe factory. Didn't I show you the contract? We confirmed the delivery schedule and emphasized the quality issues to them."
Yang Chaoyue posted another message: ["Finally, it's going to be settled! Unbelievable, I can actually do something small for my hometown, for those children wearing rubber shoes."]
"How are you feeling?"
[“I’m so happy! Even though it cost a lot of money, 200,000 yuan! I’m such a spendthrift… but I’m really happy.”]
Yang Chaoyue edited another message: ["When the shoes are delivered to those students, they'll be so happy running and jumping in them. Brother Yang, I just hope these shoes can give them some warmth and strength, let them know that someone cares about them, and give them the courage to persevere, to see a bigger world, and not to be like me, dropping out of school before finishing my studies."]
The message had just been sent, and I was about to head to the private room.

But then they saw Bailu come out from inside, and as if she had been reminded, she immediately went back to block the door.

Jiang Yang walked out.

Zhong Shujia and the others followed behind.

Tian Xiwei, Bai Lu, and Liu Haochun walked at the very back.

Only when she noticed that Jiang Yang had washed off all the cream and his hair was still a little damp did she realize what had happened.

The talks are over.

"You finished talking so quickly, Brother Yang?"

"The song I just sang was prepared for the theme song of 'Fighter of the Destiny.' It was written in my contract when I joined the production team. If it's to be released online, we have to wait for 'Fighter of the Destiny' to air first."

"Oh, yes."

After Jiang Yang said that, Yang Chaoyue understood.

No wonder they talked so quickly.

Just now, Zhong Shujia had three musicians listen to Jiang Yang's song.

As long as Zhong Shujia is satisfied.

Looking at Zhong Shujia's beaming face now, you can tell that everything is settled.

As for Chen Jing'an, Wang Jianqiang, and A Zhe, even if they wanted to collaborate with Jiang Yang on this song, they would have to wait for the broadcast of "Fighter of the Destiny" because the contract they signed included a window period for the song's release.

To put it simply, Jiang Yang cannot release the song as a single or album before the series finishes airing.

Even if they are very satisfied with this song, they will have to wait until "Fighter of the Destiny" finishes airing to discuss collaboration.

And right now, the filming isn't even finished yet.

"What's this?" Jiang Yang glanced at the contract in Yang Chaoyue's hand.

"It's the receipt for the shoes, you know."

"Are those shoes from your hometown elementary school already being made?"

"Yes, I just came out to talk to the shoe factory manager about this."

I noticed that Zhong Shujia and the others were getting a little closer.

Hao Chun and the others followed.

Yang Chaoyue immediately put the order away.

I sincerely wanted to do something for the children back home, but when the words came out, I only dared to casually mention that I was buying shoes.

It's strange, but even though he was doing something good for his hometown, he didn't want anyone to know. If it weren't for the fear of being scammed or cheated, and the need for Jiang Yang's guidance, Yang Chaoyue wouldn't even want to tell Jiang Yang.

The reason is known to oneself.

I'm just afraid of being scolded.

They are especially afraid of being feared by netizens.

I've seen the comments section on Gulnazar's Weibo, and there are all sorts of insults.

She was afraid people would ask why she didn't buy a house for her family first.

I'm even more afraid of those sarcastic comments online.

She knew all too well that in some people's eyes, doing charity first after making money was not kindness, but pretentiousness and neglecting one's family.

In fact, she loves her family more than she loves herself.

Jiang Yang smiled and said, "You said you didn't have the quality of kindness, but this is kindness."

"What kind of kindness is this? It's just doing something for my hometown. Anyway, you can help me make money. I was only kind when I was in school, always standing up for my sisters out of ignorance. Now all I want to do is make money, and I even want to steal Hao Chun's song." Yang Chaoyue lowered his head slightly and walked towards the elevator.

Jiang Yang whispered, "I'll tell Hao Chun right now that you want to steal her song."

"No, Yang-ge, don't do this, Hao-chun will break down, she's so innocent."

"Then you should focus on your studies during this time; the college entrance exam is just around the corner."

college entrance examination?
Yang Chaoyue was taken aback.

It then dawned on me that, even though filming on set is busy, time always seems to fly by.

The busyness of filming and the trivialities of doing charity work have made her almost forget about this goal that was weighing on her heart lately.

There are only two weeks left until the college entrance examination.

For the past six months, she has gone from being a textile factory worker to acting and singing with Jiang Yang.

I've walked paths I never dared to imagine before.

But the obsession with a university degree has never faded.

That was a dream she was forced to give up because of poverty.

So much so that when I saw the way those college students looked at me after I entered the factory, I felt a pang of sadness.

Now that I have money and fame, my thoughts are even clearer.

Only by getting into university can I truly make up for the regrets of the past, and give an explanation to the self who had no choice but to drop out of school.

We returned to the hotel in the evening.

After recording the dance video and sending it to Liu Haochun, Yang Chaoyue sat at his desk with several well-worn textbooks spread out in front of him.

It was covered with dense notes.

I glanced out the window.

There were local Hengdian aunties dancing in the square, and they were singing the same few songs from Phoenix Legend over and over again, which Yang Chaoyue knew by heart.

Right next to it is Hengdian Wenrong Primary School.

Elementary school students do not have evening self-study sessions.

The school lights were turned off.

I have mixed feelings in my heart.

Just over half a year ago, she was still repeating mechanical actions on the assembly line of a textile factory, thinking every day about how to earn more overtime pay.

At that time, I thought that my life would probably be confined to the assembly line and the factory.

Because of the limited knowledge available at the time, that was all I could know.

Earning money and making a living—it's a predictable end game.

Now, I live in a high-rise hotel, with the bustling Hengdian World Studios plaza outside my window, and I hold the opportunity to change my destiny in my hands.

More importantly, it gives me the opportunity to step back into the exam room!

Those dreams that once seemed unattainable, and those expectations shattered by poverty and reality, now have the possibility of being realized. (End of Chapter)