fictionpage Chapter 420 The Talented Mr. Y
Chapter 420 The Talented Mr. Y
Chapter 420 The Talented Mr. Y
Lin Yourong smiled slightly, nodded gently, and replied softly, "I was also surprised. I didn't expect to meet such an enthusiastic fan."
Hu Jiyan quickly finished a truffle chocolate, a look of satisfaction flashing across his face. He then raised an eyebrow and teased, "Lin Su, you're so popular now, you're surrounded by enthusiastic fans wherever you go. Be careful when you go out, or you might get mobbed and unable to move."
"Brother Hu is joking. Everyone is very rational."
"Haha, just kidding, just trying to lighten the mood!" Hu Jiyan laughed heartily, licking the cocoa powder off his lips with his tongue, and then changed the subject, saying, "But to be honest, this dessert tastes really good, and it's not too sweet."
The highest praise Chinese people can give to desserts is: not sweet.
"Really?" Yu Huan had been casually looking at the desserts on the table, but when Shang Wenjie gently turned the turntable and moved it in front of her, she hurriedly reached out her hand, "I'll try some too."
Even so, he didn't rush to put it in his own mouth, but instead offered it to his wife first.
He knew all too well how much Lin Yourong loved desserts.
With cocoa powder smeared on his fingertips, and seeing that it seemed a bit dirty, he immediately raised it to Lin Yourong's lips without thinking.
Lin Yourong was caught off guard by Yu Huan's sudden action. When she looked up, she met several curious or amused gazes from those around her.
She pursed her lips, hesitated for only a moment, and finally lowered her head slightly, parted her lips, and took a bite of the truffle chocolate that Yu Huan handed her.
The moment it enters your mouth, the delicate and silky texture, along with the rich and mellow aroma of cocoa butter, spreads across your tongue. The slightly bitter cocoa powder and just the right amount of sweetness intertwine and blend between your lips and teeth.
Lin Yourong's eyes unconsciously curved into crescent moons.
"Is it delicious?"
"Delicious!" Lin Yourong nodded without hesitation.
Seeing Lin Yourong's satisfied expression, Yu Huan's own smile widened. His eyes brimming with laughter, he casually picked up a piece and popped it into his mouth, savoring it slowly.
Shang Wenjie took in the interaction between the two, and a complex emotion inexplicably welled up in her heart.
She has been working in the music industry for many years and even won the 2006 Super Girl competition. Apart from not having any blockbuster works, her resume can be said to far surpass Lin Su's.
Both of them are female singers who debuted through talent shows, but now they are sitting at the same table, and she seems to have become a dim supporting role, completely overshadowed by Lin Yourong's brilliance...
Shang Wenjie picked up the water glass next to her and took a small sip.
Hu Jiyan glanced at Shang Wenjie's slightly absent-minded expression, picked up a tissue to wipe his fingers, turned to look at her, and asked casually, "Wenjie, do you have any new song plans lately? I heard you're going to sing an OST for a movie, that's great!"
Upon hearing this, Shang Wenjie was slightly taken aback.
How could she not realize that Hu Jiyan was giving her a way out and helping her out?
After a brief moment of stunned silence, she quickly regained her composure, shook her head a few times, and said with a hint of helplessness, "That's true, but I'm still waiting for the right material. Some of the songs I've received recently just don't feel quite right. None of them have that kind of feel that makes me want to jump into the recording studio and record them right away."
Hu Jiyan nodded thoughtfully and said, "That's true. Wenjie, you have such a passion for music, you really can't just settle for anything."
Their conversation created a slightly awkward atmosphere in the private room.
Sister Ru was munching on a small piece of tiramisu when she heard this and couldn't help but mutter to herself: Old Hu's change of topic was too abrupt; anyone could see that it was somewhat deliberate.
Having worked in the entertainment industry for many years, Sister Ru is naturally very knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the industry, and knows that OST refers to the opening or ending theme song of a film or television series.
But Shang Wenjie's personality is indeed aloof. Right now, Liang Qiaobo is busy with various matters related to "I Am a Singer". She obviously wants to ask 'Mr. Y' for a song, right?
However, given that Shang Wenjie came with a purpose, how could she remain so calm and sit there for the entire time?
Even as the dinner was about to end, he still clenched his teeth and refused to say anything, which showed how composed he was.
Thinking this, Sister Ru slowly swallowed the cake in her mouth and placed the fork on the side of the plate.
A bright smile immediately spread across her face as she looked at Shang Wenjie and asked, "Wenjie, if I may ask, what movie are you going to sing the OST for? With a singer as talented as you, this movie must be something special, right?"
As soon as Sister Ru finished speaking, Hu Jiyan immediately chimed in:
"That's right, Wenjie. If you have any thoughts on your mind, feel free to speak up now. Teacher Liang, who is a renowned gold-medal producer in the industry, has handled countless hit songs. And our talented 'Mr. Y' has created works that have become hits one after another. These two are truly top-notch! Even if they can't solve your problem directly right away, they can at least offer advice and point you in the right direction."
"Old Hu, you're too modest!" Sister Ru smiled and chimed in, "In my opinion, you're quite an expert in your own right, so don't belittle yourself."
"Hey! I wouldn't dare call myself an expert in front of Teacher Liang and Xiao Yu!" Hu Jiyan waved his hand dismissively and turned to Shang Wenjie beside him, saying, "Wenjie, why don't you tell us more about that movie first? That way we'll have a better understanding and can give you some advice."
Liang Qiaobo nodded slightly, swallowed the truffle chocolate in his mouth, moistened his throat, and said gently, "Wenjie, Jiyan is right. It is important to understand the style and emotional tone of the film so that we can give you more accurate advice."
Shang Wenjie put down her water glass, the bottom of which made a soft sound as it touched the table.
She gathered her thoughts briefly and said:
"The movie is called 'A Wedding Invitation.' The plot is roughly about a childhood sweetheart couple. When they graduate, the male lead proposes to the female lead, but she rejects him because she has cancer and doesn't want to burden him. The male lead, unaware of her condition, makes a contract with her that if she's still single in five years, they will get married. Five years later, the female lead, having overcome her illness, learns that the male lead is about to get married and is devastated. She tries to salvage the relationship, unaware that this is just a deception by the male lead, who, having waited for her in vain, is desperate to force her to show herself."
The pure love warrior, who had been listening intently, nodded slightly upon hearing this, already showing some interest in the romance film.
But Shang Wenjie's next words made her furrow her brows.
After a series of events, the female lead was overjoyed to learn the truth, only to discover that her cancer had recurred. The male lead also learned of her cancer from her best friend, but still chose to marry her again. After their marriage, the female lead ultimately passed away from cancer...
At this point, Shang Wenjie's lips moved silently a few times. After a moment's thought, feeling there was nothing more to add, she nodded slightly and said, "Well, that's about it."
Hu Jiyan chuckled and joked, "Wenjie, you've revealed so much about the plot, you must not have signed a confidentiality agreement, right? Haha, but speaking of which, just listening to the movie sounds like it's going to be a total tearjerker!"
Yu Huan quietly rubbed Lin Yourong's thigh under the table, the cool fabric gradually becoming warm to the touch.
He had seen this film as well.
"A Wedding Invitation" is adapted from the Korean film "The Gift". It is poorly made and poorly sentimental. It only relied on the popularity of Bai Baihe and Eddie Peng as the male and female leads to attract a lot of popularity. In addition, there were also Jin Fu and Wu Peici in the cast. With the cast and the pre-release promotion, it still managed to win 1.92 million yuan at the box office in mainland China.
Although Shang Wenjie has successfully made a comeback and gained popularity through the show "I Am a Singer," Yu Huan racked her brains but couldn't recall the theme song of this movie at all. It is clear that Shang Wenjie's performance of the OST this time probably didn't make much of a splash.
Perhaps it was because recording the show was too busy and took up too much of his energy, leaving him no time to pay attention to the quality of the songs.
Yu Huan raised her eyes, her sleepy gaze sweeping across the faces of everyone at the table, her mind perfectly clear.
Hearing this back-and-forth conversation, how could one not understand that their real intentions were not what they seemed?
Liang Qiaobo is clearly very busy with the show right now, and it's highly likely that Shang Wenjie has already spoken to Hu Jiyan. She's here for him, wanting to ask him for a song.
Even though she knew everything perfectly well, Yu Huan didn't show it on her face. Instead, she smiled just the right amount and followed up on Hu Jiyan's words, saying, "This plot sounds quite heart-wrenching."
At this point in the conversation, a hint of anticipation quietly appeared in Shang Wenjie's originally calm eyes.
She turned slightly to look at Yu Huan, who was leaning against Lin Su, and after a moment's thought, said, "The songs we've received so far either don't have catchy melodies or moving lyrics."
Hu Jiyan then followed up with, "Wenjie, what specific requirements do you have for the song? For example, do you prefer a more lyrical style or a fast-paced one?"
"That must be a ballad."
Hu Jiyan turned to Yu Huan at the opportune moment and asked, "Xiao Yu, do you have any thoughts?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Shang Wenjie leaned forward slightly, gazing at Yu Huan with expectant eyes.
She bluntly stated, "Ms. Yu, your musical talent is evident to all, and I have always admired your creative style. I wonder if you have any works that fit this film? To be honest, I am very much looking forward to collaborating with you this time."
Yu Huan was touching Lin Yourong's thigh with one hand when he heard Shang Wenjie's sincere request, and he quickly raised the other hand that was resting on the edge of the table and waved it.
It would be inappropriate to agree immediately; I should at least discuss it with my wife.
He said, slightly tipsy:
"I wouldn't dare call myself a teacher, Sister Shang. Just call me Yu Huan. Besides, Sister Shang, you're really giving me too much credit. I listened to the whole story you just told me; it was really heart-wrenching and touched me deeply. However, all the songs I wrote have been sung by Lin Su, so it's unrealistic to expect me to produce a finished product right now. But don't worry, I'll think about it carefully when I have time, and I'll contact you as soon as I come up with a suitable piece."
Shang Wenjie nodded and said softly, "This movie is scheduled to be released in April, and the production company is pressuring me so much that I'm getting anxious. Time is tight, and I'm going through playlists and listening to demos every day, but none of them are satisfactory."
Liang Qiaobo chimed in: "The selection of movie OSTs does require careful consideration. They need to fit the emotional tone of the movie and resonate with the audience. Although I don't have any ready-made works to recommend to you at the moment, from a music production perspective, you can try some demos of different styles. You might be pleasantly surprised."
Shang Wenjie listened to Yu Huan and Liang Qiaobo's statements...
Neither of them agreed, and the light in their eyes dimmed slightly.
Seeing this, Hu Jiyan smiled and comforted her, "Wenjie, don't be too anxious, things will work themselves out."
Sister Ru, who had been quietly munching on her cake, finished the last bite, calmly reached for a tissue, and wiped her mouth.
She suddenly asked with some curiosity, "Wenjie, you're such a big star now, accepting a commission from the production company to sing an OST. You must be getting special treatment in every way, right? Just wondering, you should own the copyright to this OST, right?"
Sister Ru's question hit the nail on the head, making Yu Huan listen intently.
At the same time, he realized that Sister Ru's sudden and sharp question was definitely not simple; she seemed to have some ideas.
After all, the topic was about to pass, and everyone was tacitly preparing to let it go, but Sister Ru brought it up again. Did she want him to earn extra money?
The copyright of OSTs mostly belongs to the production company, while the singer only has the right to perform them.
This means that if a singer wants to use the song in other areas, such as commercial performances or concerts, they will need to pay a considerable copyright fee.
Some OST specialists want to hold concerts, but the copyright fees alone can be a huge sum. After all the effort involved in organizing a concert and deducting all the costs, whether it can even be profitable is uncertain. In the end, it becomes a losing proposition that's essentially giving away freebies to fans.
Even if an OST becomes a hit and is sung everywhere, it has nothing to do with the singer. It's just a one-off deal with the production company, and the singer isn't necessarily rich.
"Sister Wang, please don't flatter me like that. I'm not some big star!" Shang Wenjie hesitated for a moment before replying quickly, "Although it's an honor to sing for a movie, I will definitely try my best to fight for the copyright. To be honest, I'm currently preparing a love song album. Fortunately, the production company has given me some flexible terms, and I plan to include it in the album."
Sister Ru is a professional agent who is particularly sensitive to copyright matters. She has been in the industry for many years and has handled countless contracts and agreements. As soon as she heard Shang Wenjie's words, she immediately understood.
Judging from this situation, either Shang Wenjie gets a share of the profits, or the copyright simply belongs to her.
In short, regardless of the situation, it shows that this girl can afford a high price for her first OST.
(End of this chapter)