Chapter 47: To Sign or Not to Sign?

The next morning.

Galen was still groggy with sleep when his phone rang abruptly, startling him out of a pleasant dream. He reached out, fumbling for his phone, and with a careless turn, tumbled off the sofa. Clutching his arm and hissing in pain, he finally remembered he hadn't slept in his bed.

He picked himself up, found his phone, and saw that it was Wu Chaoyang calling. He answered with a groan, "Wu? What is it? Do you know what time it is?"

"Check the time yourself!" Wu Chaoyang chuckled at Galen's sleepy voice. "Alright, hurry to the office. There's something urgent!"

"What urgent matter..." Galen muttered, but the other end had already hung up.

He put down the phone and dozed for a few more minutes before finally getting up to dress and wash up. After all the fuss, he went to knock on the bedroom door.

"Yingying!"

"What is it?" came Chen Yingying's lazy voice from inside. Galen twisted the doorknob and found it was locked from the inside. He could only say, "I'm heading to the company. Wait for me to come back for lunch!"

"Alright! Come back early!"

After a few more reminders, Galen left. He wasn't worried about Chen Yingying snooping around his computer. The old second-hand laptop was password-protected, and all sensitive folders on the new one were well hidden—no ordinary person could access them.

He hailed a cab to the company. The moment he entered Wu Chaoyang's office, he was hurriedly dragged out again.

"What's so urgent, Wu?" Galen asked, puzzled.

Wu Chaoyang replied, "There might be changes to your new EP. I don't know the specifics yet!"

Galen's mouth dropped open, and anxiety welled up inside him. "Don't tell me it's getting scrapped?"

"Heh, I doubt it," Wu Chaoyang smiled and shook his head. "I don't know the details, but the company has invested too much to give up now. However, the higher-ups do have concerns—you've been performing so many new songs outside lately."

"What's the problem with that?" Galen said, frustrated.

"Well, your new EP is about to be released, but all the songs have already been revealed in advance. How are we supposed to sell it? We can’t afford a loss," Wu Chaoyang explained.

"Honestly, the record market isn't doing well anyway. Might as well go straight to a digital album. Physical discs hardly matter—at worst, we can release a commemorative edition later," Galen replied indifferently.

Wu Chaoyang laughed helplessly. "You’re quite relaxed about it! Anyway, Lao Li is waiting. Let's go hear what they have to say."

They entered Li Ronghao's office, which was no longer as cluttered as when Galen had last visited. Though some odds and ends still gathered in the corners, it now looked much more like an office.

At that moment, Li Ronghao was sitting on the sofa, chatting with a woman. At first glance, Galen was shocked—wasn't this the superstar, Summer Liu?

What was she doing here?

Seeing them enter, Li Ronghao stood up and said, "Galen, let me introduce you. This is Ms. Summer Liu, the major shareholder of Rainy Day Music!"

"Oh! Ms. Liu, it's a pleasure! I’m a big fan of your music!" Galen hurried forward, smiling and humble.

Calling her President Liu didn't seem right, and he had no idea what position she held, but what surprised him most was that the pop diva was the company's largest shareholder.

To work alongside such an icon was every musician’s dream, and to meet her at such close range made Galen feel incredibly lucky, as if he were dreaming.

Contrary to her reputation for aloofness, Summer Liu was warm and gentle as she reached out her hand. "Hello, Galen!"

As she extended her hand, Galen quickly responded. Noticing his awkwardness, Summer Liu smiled. "No need to be nervous. Actually, this isn’t our first meeting!"

"Oh?" Galen was puzzled. "I don’t think I’ve ever met you in person before."

"That just means you didn’t stay until the end," she replied with a soft smile. "Back in the city, during the All Cola event, I saw you perform."

"Ah!" Galen was surprised. "You were there?"

"Yes," she said. "I heard your song, ‘From 87 Xiahui Road to 18 The Bund.’ It was very creative! You pioneered a whole new genre!"

"Uh..." Galen laughed awkwardly. "Actually, that’s not the song’s real title."

"What is it called, then?"

"Just ‘18 The Bund,’" Galen decided the original title was best.

"I see." Summer Liu nodded. "And yesterday, at the music festival, your performance of ‘One Night in Beijing’—blending rock and Peking opera—was a bold move, another new genre. I got the title right this time, didn’t I?"

"You did, you did!" Galen smiled.

Summer Liu studied him with a thoughtful frown. After a while, she said, "I’m curious—how do you come up with so many strange and innovative ideas? You're even more impressive than those foreign musicians!"

"You flatter me; it’s just minor tinkering," Galen replied modestly.

If not for that second-hand laptop, he’d probably still be singing in bars. Pioneer of new genres? That wasn't something he could have conceived of, nor was it likely the product of a mind from this era.

"If this is just minor tinkering, what are other musicians supposed to do?" Summer Liu laughed, then her tone shifted. "But because of this, I feel your earlier EP isn't suitable for release anymore."

"What do you mean?" Galen’s worst fear seemed to be coming true. Was the EP really getting dropped?

She explained, "The seven tracks you recorded for the EP have already been released on Five-Star Music, and five of them have been used in the TV drama ‘Graduation Year’ and the film ‘Chasing the Wind.’ Those five will go directly on the soundtrack and won't be included in your debut album."

"Oh," Galen nodded, then suddenly realized. "Wait, you said... debut album? Not EP?"

"That's right," Summer Liu said. "It was originally going to be an EP, but you've already exposed so many new songs. From now on, every song you’ve released will be used for soundtracks. Your true debut album will be initiated today—twelve tracks in total, which means you need to come up with twelve new pieces. If you have any unreleased works, submit them now for review and production. And one more thing: from today onward, you are not allowed to perform any new songs in public!"

"What?" Galen was shocked. "Isn't that a bit strict? What about the songs I've already performed?"

"Of course, those will still be produced," Summer Liu said. "Once your debut album is complete and released, the company will issue another album compiling all your soundtrack songs, including any requested from you by film studios going forward. Do you understand?"

Galen only half understood, but he realized his days ahead would be filled with pressure. The EP was now an album, and every song had to be kept secret until release.

But thinking it over, he could understand. No artist ever exposes all the tracks from a new album before its release.

Take internet musicians, for example: no matter how many songs they’ve uploaded in the past, once they sign with a label and prepare a debut album, none of the previously released tracks are ever included.

Seeing Galen’s crestfallen expression, Summer Liu consoled him, "The production cycle for this album might take six months to a year, but you’re still young. Spending more time laying a solid foundation will benefit you greatly in the future."

"I understand," Galen nodded.

"Good," said Summer Liu, relieved. She was afraid Galen might take it badly, but with a smile, she continued, "From today, your schedule will change. You won’t be sent to do promotional tours like the All Cola event anymore. The company will arrange for you to appear on variety shows and in films and TV series—you won’t be short of money. Also..."

She paused, eyes twinkling, and took out a few sheets of A4 paper. "Take a look at this first!"

"Hm?" Galen took the papers, puzzled, and saw the words “Music Production Commission Agreement” in bold at the top.

It was a contract?

He read further:

Party A (Commissioner): Summer Liu
Party B (Commissioned): (blank)
Content: Party A hereby commissions Party B to be responsible for the composition and arrangement of all music for Party A’s new personal album.
Details: Ten original songs, ten arrangements and productions.
Regarding copyright, it stated that the intellectual property rights for these ten songs belonged to Party A, i.e., Summer Liu, while Party B would retain credit as composer and arranger.

Galen was about to argue about this clause, but when he read the section on payment, his eyes widened in astonishment.

It stated: Party A would pay for the project with a ten percent share in Rainy Day Music.

Moreover, from the moment the contract was signed, Summer Liu would immediately transfer four percent of the company’s shares as a deposit, with all future dividends from those shares belonging to Party B.

At this, Galen couldn’t help but smile. "You want me to produce your new album?"

"Do you dare take the challenge?" Summer Liu’s smile deepened.

Galen, unmoved by her bait, raised an eyebrow. "You’re trying to pull me onto your ship. What if the company loses money? What if you end up with no shares at all?"

"Don’t worry! The contract clearly states that if that happens, I’ll compensate you with ten million directly," Summer Liu said. "Do you think Yida would cheat you? With both of us in the new company, would we really lose?"

"Well..." Galen hesitated.

Summer Liu was surprisingly generous. Ten percent might be a trifle to her, but for Galen, it was a fortune. Once he signed, he’d no longer be just a signed artist, but a true co-owner.

He was still a newcomer—how could he be worthy of this?

What exactly had Summer Liu seen in him?

Should he sign, or not?