Kyoto.
Imperial Dynasty Entertainment.
Lin Zhaoyang stood by the floor-to-ceiling window outside his office, gazing at the bustling traffic.
He held his phone in his right hand, talking to someone.
"President Lin, we've already utilized all our resources. Further promotion would be over budget," said Vincent, the head of Imperial Dynasty Entertainment's overseas branch, on the other end of the line.
"Thank you for your hard work, Vincent. That's all I can do for now." Lin Zhaoyang tilted his head slightly, looking at the night sky outside the window illuminated by the city lights, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
Su Yu had guessed correctly.
The massive success of a single song in America, and the extent of the hype generated, were all orchestrated by Lin Zhaoyang.
He had anticipated that Su Yu would achieve good results in "Time Music King," but he hadn't expected them to be this good.
His internal expectation was that Su Yu would at least reach the top three. After defeating Kim Sung-hyun of Han Country, he would likely be in the top two, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Since they had come this far, he felt compelled to give it his all.
However, Lin Zhaoyang noticed that Su Yu wasn't rushing. He was still in China even as the competition was about to begin.
Moreover, Su Yu's recognition in America was still lacking. Lin Zhaoyang feared Su Yu might be at a disadvantage during the competition, so he decided to assign him a task to gain some exposure in America first.
"Ins Entertainment has been a great help to us this time," Vincent said with a smile.
"Heh, indeed. Without their contrast, the buzz wouldn't be this high," Lin Zhaoyang chuckled lightly.
"President Lin is truly prescient," Vincent flattered him.
Lin Zhaoyang raised an eyebrow. "It's rare for me to receive praise from you." Da Feng Novel Network
He and Vincent had known each other since the early days of Imperial Dynasty Entertainment. They had built the company together, their relationship more like friends than superiors and subordinates.
This allowed for more casual conversations.
"I'm just stating facts. The fact that you predicted Ins Entertainment would have Sean make a move and then send Su Yu to our company shows you're still sharp as ever," Vincent's tone carried a hint of nostalgia.
This matter reminded him of the time he and Lin Zhaoyang worked together to make Imperial Dynasty Entertainment a formidable force.
Vincent excelled at researching market trends, while Lin Zhaoyang preferred strategic thinking.
Although he was reluctant to admit it, in Vincent's heart, when it came to market strategy and leveraging rules, he hadn't encountered anyone who could match Lin Zhaoyang.
This man's intelligence was on another level, coupled with incredibly sharp foresight.
He could always anticipate his competitors' thoughts and deploy his strategies in advance to win.
"Alright, get to the point. Whenever you praise me, it usually means there's something you want," Lin Zhaoyang said, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the praise, but he knew Vincent well.
Besides, this current situation was nothing compared to what they had faced before.
The JS band was Ins's favored act. For them to win the championship, Ins's best method was to have Sean intervene.
Thus, for him to have Su Yu make his move at this juncture was the perfect opportunity to ride the wave of popularity. It capitalized on the buzz from "King of Rock" and "Time Music King." Su Yu's victory over Sean not only benefited Lei Bao but also generated significant exposure for Su Yu in America, while simultaneously striking a blow against their rivals.
Of course, this was all predicated on Su Yu winning.
However, Lin Zhaoyang understood Su Yu well. This young man might appear lazy and indifferent, but he never undertook anything he wasn't confident about.
When he committed to something, he had a high degree of certainty.
"Haha, the Leopard band has now become America's hottest new rock band. I want to strike while the iron is hot. Do you think we could have Su Yu..." Vincent said with a smile.
After a moment of contemplation, Lin Zhaoyang replied with firm conviction, "Not now. His competition is more important. The company's development can wait."
Su Yu's "Time Music King" was nearing its conclusion. The most crucial aspect now was for Su Yu to win the competition, and Lin Zhaoyang didn't want anything to distract him.
The difference between first and second place might seem small.
But in any competition, people only remember the winner.
This was an eternal truth.
Therefore, he understood the immense implications of Su Yu winning the "Time Music King" championship.
If that happened, Su Yu, the Chinese music scene, and even Imperial Dynasty Entertainment would gain immeasurable value!
...
With the rising popularity of "King of Rock" and the fervent promotion by industry bigwigs,
Su Yu's recognition in America had now reached a considerable level.
This also meant that he and Lin Yanyu had to wear masks and hats when they went out.
Although going out like this was somewhat uncomfortable,
sometimes, as public figures, one had to bear such burdens.
"Su Su, I want to eat steak tonight," Lin Yanyu said, pulling Su Yu along and pointing to a steakhouse.
"Okay, then let's have steak." Su Yu, to be honest, wasn't particularly fond of Western food; he preferred Sichuan cuisine. However, since they were here, experiencing it wouldn't hurt.
Just then,
his phone suddenly rang.
He pulled it out to see an unknown number.
"Is this Teacher Ting Yu?"
"Who is this?"
Su Yu answered, and a woman's voice, rich with mature charm, spoke to him in English.
"Teacher Ting Yu, you can't recognize my voice? We just saw each other at a concert a few days ago, didn't we?" the woman's voice carried a hint of alluring charm, like a lover's playful tease.
"Tina?" Su Yu's eyebrows shot up. "How did you know it was me?"
An image flashed in his mind.
A buxom, sexy blonde bombshell, with a curvaceous figure, her chest heaving as she danced.
"You guess," Tina purred.
"Not interested," Su Yu replied brusquely. "Do you need something? If not, I'm hanging up."
Although this woman was a global superstar, the dream lover of countless men,
for Su Yu, none of that mattered.
He wasn't interested in Western food, nor was his younger brother.
"What a dull man. Do you have time? I'll treat you to a drink. I know a great restaurant, and they have a private room," Tina said, surprised by Su Yu's indifferent attitude. After a brief moment of astonishment, she spoke again in a seductive tone.
"Sorry, I don't drink coffee. If you have nothing else, I'll hang up now." Su Yu said, preparing to end the call.
"Hey, don't be so hasty! I have something to discuss with you!" Tina grew anxious, her seductive tone shifting to a more direct one.
"It would have saved us a lot of time if you had just spoken properly from the start..." Su Yu's lips curled into a slight smile.
He had already figured out what this woman wanted, but she was trying to entice him to gain the upper hand.
At this point, most men would have fallen for her charms.
But Su Yu was different; he valued money more than women.
So, if it was a business discussion, they should just discuss business without any unnecessary theatrics.
"I want the copyright for that song, 'Shape of You'," Tina finally revealed her objective.
"I need to spend time with my wife these next couple of days. I'll come to your company when I have free time," Su Yu said and promptly hung up the phone.
When it came to business negotiations, one had to understand the art of bargaining. Don't appear too eager; deliberately creating suspense could maximize value.
...