Chapter 117: No Madness, No Survival [Please Subscribe]

"So, you mean I have to rehearse every day and then come to Brother Qian's place to prepare for the new album, right?"

Murong Xue was somewhat startled. When Brother Qian mentioned preparing an album for her last time, she had assumed it would be dragged out until the end of *I Am a Singer*. She hadn't expected it to be put on the schedule so soon, which caught her off guard.

Just as Brother Qian had pointed out, she had quite a few shortcomings in her singing. These flaws had been exposed one after another during the competition, only to be corrected by him. After several rounds of the show, she had been transformed, but there were still imperfections in her technique. That was why she felt hesitant.

"That's right. It's already April, and the two divas are releasing their albums around June. You’ll be releasing yours at the same time as them—and it’s your debut album, at that."

"Ah?! Can't we stagger the dates?"

Murong Xue was even more shocked this time. She was just a minor singer; how could she dare to release an album simultaneously with two reigning divas?

Ren Qian’s answer was that there was no room for negotiation.

...

Gunshi Entertainment.

The Father-in-law and Ren Qian walked side by side.

"Murong Xue is a promising talent. If cultivated well, it wouldn't be hard for her to become the next diva. You’re planning to release her first album in two months, right?"

"That is the plan. The tracklist is already confirmed; 'Murong Xue,' 'When You Are Old,' and 'Always Very Quiet' must be included. There aren't many new songs, so production will be easy. The focus is on promotion. I want to leverage the influence of Jiangnan Satellite TV and the two divas to kickstart the campaign."

Ren Qian spoke logically and clearly. This was a simple and practical form of bundle marketing. It wasn't particularly clever, but it was often effective—especially for Murong Xue. She was already being called the new generation's "little diva" by fans and was seen as the next successor to the throne at Gunshi. By releasing her album at the same time as the established divas, they could fish in troubled waters and have the media write sensational headlines like, "Gunshi treats Murong Xue like a diva, releasing her album alongside Li Feifei."

If the album sales were decent, the media could then pivot: "Murong Xue’s debut album is a massive success with twenty million copies sold, continuing the glory of Gunshi!"

Stories like this could be spun in any direction. Of course, some would inevitably attack Murong Xue, claiming she lacked self-awareness for daring to release an album in the shadow of the divas. But such comments were not worth acknowledging. Could the company earn money from those keyboard warriors? No.

The only profit came from the fans. Therefore, it was enough to cater to them. Moving Murong Xue’s release date to coincide with the two divas would undoubtedly thrill her fans. They would likely boast everywhere: "Look at our idol, Murong Xue. Gunshi specifically scheduled her release in June, proving they are willing to invest diva-level resources in her. This is strength! This is potential!"

"Not a bad plan. You're intending to use Murong Xue to test the waters for your new album, aren't you? Is the pressure high?"

"The pressure is definitely high. At the very least, I need forty million in sales. It would be a lie to say I’m not under pressure. After all, this era is different from the past."

"Indeed. That was the golden age. If I hadn't left in such a dismal state, I might have been able to release an album in the forty-to-fifty-million-copy range back then. But now, twenty million is the ceiling." The Father-in-law sighed with regret. Back then, for the sake of his ideals regarding Cantonese music, he had destroyed everything he had. Now, it felt like a pity. If he had secured an album with fifty million in sales first, who could have stopped him from releasing Cantonese music? He would have been the undisputed voice of Gunshi. Which of the senior executives back then would have dared to drive him away?

He hated his own youthful arrogance and inability to adapt. Otherwise, he wouldn't be in this situation today—where his son-in-law has to be so cautious about releasing an album. It truly lived up to Ren Qian’s words: 'Father-in-law, you’re so humorous; I jumped into both pits you dug for me.' There was a faint sense of melancholy in the air.

"If you run into any difficulties or need money, come to your father-in-law and mother-in-law. Helping you is not a problem. You can also leave the promotion to us."

Ren Qian nodded. When it reached the point of life or death, he would certainly seek their help. However, there were some things that even Gunshi couldn't help him with. If he were to make an outrageous demand for them to add twenty million to his sales, wouldn't that be setting them up for failure? Their own sales capped at twenty million, which showed they were also constrained by the domestic market. Gunshi Entertainment was one of the three giants of the industry, and their influence was immense, but it was like trying to fill a bucket with a ladle; no matter how big the bucket was, there wasn't enough water.

Though the analogy was imperfect, the principle held. The current domestic record market might not be able to support Ren Qian in creating a miracle.

"I have already pushed the promotion to the limit. If Murong Xue’s album doesn't reach thirty million in sales, my own won't exceed that either—and that’s a conservative estimate."

"Isn't that ambition a bit too large? Murong Xue is only a newcomer. Although *I Am a Singer* gave her high popularity, thirty million in sales is truly a stretch. Don't impose your own standards on others; what if she breaks under the pressure?"

Ren Qian replied, "If you aren't obsessed, you won't succeed. I will craft this album into a boutique product in every aspect. The quality will be fine, and the promotional buzz will be high. The only thing left to see is how many people are willing to pay for it. Once this album is out, the true scale of the domestic market will be clear at a glance."

"So confident?"

Ren Qian nodded in response.

The two parted ways at a junction in the hallway. The Father-in-law had to attend a meeting, while Ren Qian needed to prepare the album for the newcomers of Gunshi.

...

In the spacious hall, twelve newcomers were waiting in anticipation. They were excited. Word had it that the record producer was Ren Qian!

Who was Ren Qian? The main producer of *I Am a Singer* and an authoritative figure in the pop music scene. He was the guide who turned third-rate singers into phoenixes. If any singer caught his eye, one word from him could turn an ugly duckling into a swan, leading to a smooth career path and boundless wealth!

It was impossible for the singers not to respect—or even worship, or fear—such a man. Because singers with that kind of prestige usually had many rules and boundaries, and the slightest carelessness could offend him and send them to musical purgatory. So, they were nervous, each putting on their best demeanor, hoping to catch the eye of the "God of Qian."

"Don't be nervous. When I call your name, you will sing a song for me. I will write songs for you on the spot based on your characteristics. This will be your first album, and the quality won't be bad!"

The crowd was overjoyed, yet immediately after, they were so stunned their jaws dropped. What? The God of Qian was writing songs on the spot? What kind of treatment was this? Was this the standard for Gunshi newcomers? It was too formidable; other newcomers would die of envy if they heard this!

"Don't misunderstand; I will only write your lead singles. The rest of the songs will still be handled by your production teams."

"Now, stop thinking about other things. Bring out your best state and sing the song you like most or are most confident in. I will make sure you release a debut album you can be satisfied with."

After finishing his sentence, he sat on the sofa and told every singer to line up.