Chapter 52 - 49: Winter Vacation i
I’ve lost.
Jiang Kui’s latest move had outshone Sun Yaohuo, he even felt a certain admiration for her.
Jiang Kui was a worthy opponent.
But what Lin Yuan said next really shocked Sun Yaohuo!
Because Lin Yuan took the initiative to ask Jiang Kui, “Do you have any plans to release a new song?”
Thump!
Thump!
Jiang Kui’s heartbeat suddenly accelerated. She initially just didn’t want to lose the good impression Lin Yuan had of Sun Yaohuo.
But she didn’t expect that she could rightly seize a chance to cooperate. It was at this moment that she completely understood why Sun Yaohuo had made such a mighty effort, “I plan to release a new song after the New Year, but I haven’t found the right one yet…”
Sun Yaohuo’s eyes turned red.
Jealousy was burning fiercely!
Lin Yuan nodded, “So, you must have a good lung capacity, right?”
Jiang Kui nodded hard, “I’ve specifically trained my lung capacity when I learned singing!”
“What about the split?”
This was what Lin Yuan cared about most.
Jiang Kui was very cooperative, saying almost without hesitation, “If I can work with Teacher Lin Yuan again, I would accept any split ratio that you would propose, whatever you decide is fine!”
“Hm…”
A master haggler indeed.
Lin Yuan frowned slightly.
What he dreaded most was when others said things like “whatever you decide,” as it tossed the problem back to him again.
If given too little, he would feel uncomfortable.
But if given too much, he’d feel a sting in his heart.
Jiang Kui was waiting for Lin Yuan’s next statement. Instead, she found that he stopped talking and suddenly felt a pang in her heart:
Did 1 say something wrong?
Instead, Sun Yaohuo was getting impatient.
Even though Jiang Kui was his competitor, he couldn’t help but intervene when he saw Jiang Kui about to lose this rare opportunity. He reminded her with a joke, “If the junior is looking for cooperation with me, anyway, 1 don’t care about the split.”
Sun Yaohuo picked up some of Lin Yuan’s inclinations during their last meal together.
Jiang Kui quickly changed her tune, “Right, 1 don’t want a split!”
Hearing this, Lin Yuan was relieved.
He wasn’t someone who wanted to push his luck too far, and would not be so greedy, “Let’s split it the old way then. 1 have a song here that suits you nicely.” Lin Yuan was referring to “Balloon”.
This song needed a female singer with a high lung capacity, and Jiang Kui, with her high lung capacity, was the perfect fit.
As for the old rule, the singer would take a 0.5% split.
Why wouldn’t Jiang Kui be willing?
In fact, just like Sun Yaohuo, she would be willing to accept even without pay. So she eagerly nodded, afraid that Lin Yuan might change his mind, “Yes, yes!”
Having said that,
Jiang Kui gratefully glanced at Sun Yaohuo. She didn’t know that Lin Yuan was actually wrestling with the issue of the split.
It really worked!
Sun Yaohuo had suggested this to Jiang Kui out of desperation. He didn’t expect that their unique junior would actually take the bait. This gave him some hope!
The next day, Lin Yuan sent the drafts for the next month to YangFeng’s mailbox. After all, the System had already sorted them out.
It was now late January.
All major institutes across the country were on winter vacation.
The students of Qin Continent Art Academy were packing up and preparing to go home tomorrow.
Lin Yuan also wanted to go home.
So he came to the company on the day before winter vacation, intending to ask 01′ Zhou for leave.
According to the contract, he had to come to work when he had no classes. If he didn’t come to work, it would be considered as Lin Yuan skipping work and his salary would be deducted.
If he asked for leave, it wouldn’t be a problem.
As he entered the Music Composition Department Director’s office on the tenth floor, Lin Yuan found it empty. So, he asked his colleague Wu Yong about 01′ Zhou’s whereabouts.
Wu Yong replied, “The director usually works on the twenty-second floor. What you want to do?”
Lin Yuan said, “Taking a leave.”
Wu Yong shook his head, “1 suggest you drop the idea. Leaving is usually not difficult, but now it’s different. Every year before the vacation, many people try to ask 01′ Zhou for leave, but almost everyone gets badly reprimanded by 01′ Zhou. After all, it’s the beginning of the new year, many singers are going to release songs, and our department is at its busiest.”
“I’ll give it a try.”
After saying this, Lin Yuan took the elevator directly to the office of the music production department head on the twenty-second floor.
Seeing that his persuasion had no effect, Wu Yong didn’t say anything else, thinking Lin Yuan would realize how difficult it was to take leave before the end of the year.
Upon entering the twenty-second floor.
Lin Yuan had just approached 01′ Zhou’s office, when he heard 01′ Zhou going off inside: “Leave? No way! Just because you’re a senior composer doesn’t mean I’ll accommodate you! You’re well aware of how many singers are preparing to release songs after the holidays, there’s no chance for you to slip away right now! If you really want to take leave, you composers must first produce a decent song!”
“Alright, I got it.”
The guy being chewed out by 01′ Zhou shuffled out of the office.
At that moment, 01′ Zhou noticed Lin Yuan at the door. Not wanting to seem too harsh, he squeezed out a smile: “Lin Yuan, is there something you need from me?”
Lin Yuan replied: “I want to take a leave.”
01′ Zhou:”…”
His smile gradually disappeared.
Had he not seen the guy who just got chewed out for asking for leave?
He coughed, not wanting to seem too harsh, but his tone was still somewhat stern: “You should be on winter vacation by now, but according to your contract, you still have to work during it.”
“Hmm.”
Lin Yuan thought back to 01′ Zhou’s words: “So 1 can take leave if I produce a song?”
01′ Zhou almost choked: “That’s the idea, but the quality of the song you produce has to pass muster. After the holidays, many singers are planning to release new singles, even some big names have new album plans. For our music production department, the demand for songs is huge…”
“Will this one do?”
Lin Yuan took out his phone and, right in front of 01′ Zhou, sent over “Balloon.” “A new song?”
01′ Zhou stared at Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan nodded: “A new song.”
Without saying more, 01′ Zhou put on headphones to give it a listen.
After listening, 01’ Zhou’s eyes widened slightly—
The quality of Lin Yuan’s new song was quite good; it might not match “Big Fish,” but it’s catchy nonetheless.
But was Lin Yuan being too productive?
He had thought Lin Yuan was already squeezed dry, yet he was surprised the lad had churned out another decent new song.
Lin Yuan asked, “Can 1 take leave now?”
01′ Zhou nodded mechanically, “Yes… yes you can… who do you plan to have sing this song?”
Lin Yuan had his answer ready: “Jiang Kui.”
Jiang Kui?
01′ Zhou thought for a moment and said: “Jiang Kui does indeed have plans to release a new single, and she’s in the process of selecting songs. This “Balloon” seems quite suitable, she probably won’t reject it.”
“Right.”
Lin Yuan asked, “May 1 leave now?”
Being helpless against Lin Yuan, 01′ Zhou could only muster a bitter smile: “Okay, off you go. After all, you’ve completed your work for the year.”
He couldn’t find any flaws in “Balloon.”
Lin Yuan nodded and returned to the tenth floor. Seeing Lin Yuan back, Wu Yong teased: “How did it go? I told you, the boss wouldn’t grant any leaves at this time.”
“He granted it.”
As Lin Yuan spoke, he began packing his things.
Wu Yong stared in shock for a few seconds, then his face brimmed with delight, “The boss is unusually agreeable this year? Hehe, I’m going to request leave too.”
“Hmm.”
Lin Yuan went back to his desk and started packing.
With his things packed he was ready to leave, when he ran into Wu Yong again, Lin casually asked, “Did your leave get approved?”
Wu Yong gave Lin Yuan a disgruntled look: “I was blasted by the boss, why didn’t you tell me you traded your leave with a new song?”
“That’s right.”
As a matter of course, Lin Yuan said, “Why don’t you trade with a song too?”
Wu Yong felt slighted, “What makes you think 1 have a song that would warrant leave?”
Lin Yuan thought for a bit then said, “I thought you could.”
Having said that, Lin Yuan put on his small backpack, gleefully readying to leave.
Wu Yong stood there watching Lin Yuan’s retreating figure, contemplating the chill and casual tone of Lin Yuan’s words, he began to doubt himself
Is writing a decent new song really that simple?