13 The First Generation of Idols
Chen Yuan left and closed the door, and the room returned to silence. Yuan Xiao sat on the sofa, looking at the headphones hanging on the music stand in the studio through the two figures, one tall and one short, reflected on the glass in front of him.
"Teacher Gu, I am now temporarily acting as the president of Yuanxin. I am not asking you to do anything, but I am saying that no matter what ideas you have about your future career plan, you can talk to me about it." Yuan Xiao is not very good at making promises for others. When she wants to convince others, she will only say what she can really do.
"Before I came here, I looked at your account on the public platform. In the past three years, you have basically only reposted songs released by your co-stars. Most of the comments were from fans of your co-stars, thanking you and asking for cooperation next time. There were only a few comments from your former fans asking when you would release songs and when you would reunite, but there were very few of them, and you haven't replied to them for a long time. Your fan club has basically stopped operating, and it only reposts your Weibo posts regularly, and there are also fans signing in on the super topic." What Yuan Xiao said was a bit cruel, but it was also true. She only found out about the fans on the super topic by signing in with her secondary account. "At four o'clock in the afternoon, there were only six people, including me."
"I'm sorry, I don't mean anything else, Mr. Gu. I just want to judge your determination to move behind the scenes. It seems quite thorough."
Gu Yuchen didn't know whether to laugh or cry when she said this. Even his depressed mood was inexplicably diluted. He also knew that what Yuan Xiao said was indeed the truth. "Mr. Yuan, there's no need to apologize. You're telling the truth. I am indeed... a rather outdated old idol."
"But Mr. Gu, in the past three years, or six years ago when your group's activities began to decline, you have collaborated with almost all the talent show-limited male groups on the market, and you have also released a lot of female group songs. Even though there are very few producers and labels in the domestic entertainment industry that can make fast songs, you are still the only one among them. You have almost a hit song every year, and you are responsible for the lyrics and music production. Recently, you have even released albums for several veteran singers in our company. Mr. Gu, you are a talented music producer, as if you were born to do this." Yuan Xiao paused and said softly, "Do you regret choosing to debut in a group instead of becoming a singer?"
Gu Yuchen looked at Yuan Xiao. This young boss whom he met for the first time was so beautiful and powerful that he could hardly resist her.
The questions Yuan Xiao asked him were also the questions he had asked himself unwillingly when he was at his lowest point.
"Teacher Gu, you are now an artist under Yuanxin. You are very talented. If you still want to debut as a singer again, that's totally fine. In addition to releasing songs, I personally suggest that you participate in some music creation variety shows to increase your exposure. If you just want to focus on being a behind-the-scenes producer, then I will ask you to write a song for the entire project. I hope Teacher Gu's schedule is not too full recently."
"But if you still... still have some feelings about being a boy band, and want to know what an idol group that can truly take root in this land should look like, I sincerely invite you to work on this project with me. You are indeed the most suitable person."
Yuan Xiao stood up and said almost everything she wanted to say. "You can take your time to think about it. My invitation is still valid."
Gu Yuchen raised his face as she moved. He was so big, but now he looked a little obedient. "Boss Xiao Yuan, don't leave yet. You just asked me a question, and I haven't given you the answer yet."
"I regret it very much." He answered in a low voice, and Yuan Xiao, who had a nice voice, almost lost his concentration. "It's been more than ten years, and I haven't held a concert with tens of thousands of people, nor have I sung any popular songs. My fans use my photo as their screen saver, and when people ask me about it, I have to spend a long time explaining who I am."
"However, if I were to travel back in time and choose again, I would probably still choose the path I am on now. I can't live without those years." Gu Yuchen raised the corners of his lips, feeling a little emotional and nostalgic. "Thank you, Mr. Xiao Yuan. I'm very glad you came to see me today. I thought that in the eyes of others, I was a failure in the boy band."
"No." Yuan Xiao raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms. "There are market issues, as well as problems with marketing and positioning... Anyway, I watched your performance at the time. With your strength, if someone else were to run it, no, if I were to run it, Teacher Gu, believe it or not, the results would definitely be different."
Gu Yuchen looked at her, stunned for a long time. He looked at Yuan Xiao's sparkling eyes, and everything he had heard and seen about her today. He couldn't help but smile, but there was a hint of moisture in his eyes, "I believe you."
He stood up and held out his hand to Yuan Xiao, his palm warm and his knuckles distinct, "Mr. Xiao Yuan, we have a pleasant cooperation."
"Teacher Gu, it's a pleasure to work with you."
-
"I still need two days to deal with the work at hand, and then I can fully devote myself to the production of the boy band project." Gu Yuchen was not a clingy person. After making a decision, he no longer hesitated and immediately began to arrange the next schedule. "Do you have a name now? Your boy band?"
"Not yet. We're waiting for you to attend the meeting, Teacher Gu." Yuan Xiao shook his head. "My assistant will send you some of the plans I've compiled these days and the information about the current trainees. You'll need to come to the group meeting next Monday, and I'll introduce you to the entire project team. If you need anyone or a team to participate in your music production during this period, report directly to the HR department."
"Okay, how many people are suitable?" Gu Yuchen didn't bother to be polite with her. Although he was an all-in-one songwriter and song publisher, a band and an album would have twelve or thirteen songs. It was indeed unrealistic for him to rely on himself.
"It's up to you. Do whatever you think is most efficient." Salary expenses are recorded in the company's account and are not included in Yuan Xiao's tight project start-up funds. She is well aware of the importance of investing in talent and has always been generous in recruiting people.
"Okay." He nodded and smiled. Yuan Xiao always felt that after this man agreed to form a group with her, the idol Gu Yuchen from back then seemed to have returned a little bit, not much, just a little bit. It was magical. "Should I be polite now and thank Mr. Yuan for his trust?"
"Don't call me Mr. Yuan. Just call me by my name. Yuan Xiao or Xiao Xiao will do." Now there is basically only one question left, "As for Mr. Gu's salary - should we ask Brother Chen to come over and discuss it together? Let's see if it's a fixed salary plus copyright fees, or an hourly wage. If Mr. Gu has more confidence in us, a commission from the revenue is not a problem."
It can be said that he is very sincere. Gu Yuchen nodded casually. He was not moved by the money. The more the better. However, if he was really just after fame and fortune, he would not choose to retreat behind the scenes. He has some savings, so it doesn't matter whether it's more or less. They can talk about it later. I believe Yuan Xiao will not treat him unfairly.
"Then I'll be leaving first, Teacher Gu, see you next week."
-
Coming out of Yuanxin's main gate, Yuan Xiao looked back. It was already past the time to get off work. Except for the public relations department which still had people on duty 24 hours a day, the lights in other departments in the building had been turned off.
The whole building was dark, with only the two floors for trainees brightly lit. Through the glass curtain wall, one could faintly see the sweaty figures inside. When class was over, everyone was in good order, with the vocals being played and the dances being performed.
Yuan Xiao stood with his hands on his hips and looked at it for a while, as happy as an old farmer who found the vegetable seedlings growing well while inspecting the fields.
She turned around and stepped into the car that was slowly approaching the door, and called the system in her mind: "Director, are there any more hidden gems like today in the company?"
[There are probably not many people like Gu Yuchen who can be called a "hidden pearl in the ocean"]
The system explained: [Yuanxin's ability to create stars is one of the best in the industry. People who are willing to sign contracts with Yuanxin will basically not be buried unless they have personal wishes. Gu Yuchen is a historical problem. His contract when he was in a boy band was all with Tiansheng. Yuanxin also gave him singer resources when it signed him, but he doesn't seem to be willing to work on stage anymore.]
"Understandable." Gu Yuchen's embarrassing situation is obvious. Behind the scenes and in the industry, he can be a big producer, but in the domestic entertainment industry where popularity is everything, he can only be an obscure idol trying to become a singer. He is not professional as a singer, and he has no popularity as an idol. If he participates in music variety shows, he might even be evaluated by juniors who debuted much later than him.
It's not just him. All of his peers who debuted at about the same time are like this. Not everyone has the courage to rush into the painful period of transformation.
This is also why everyone is participating in talent shows now. Regardless of whether or not they debut, at least they have accumulated basic popularity. If they debut, it would be best if they don't, they can still earn a lot of sympathy and guilt from fans. Then, if they want to be an actor or singer in the future, at least there will be people willing to pay for it.
【But your company has a lot of talented people. 】
"Many of them eventually went bankrupt?" Yuan Xiao couldn't help but complain, "Do you really have no basic laws for cool novels?"
[…If this had been written in accordance with the Basic Law, we wouldn’t have been so overwhelmed by resentment that we would need you and me to come to work.]
"Oh, Commander." Yuan Xiao was quite surprised. "You can complain, that's good. People, not just systems, have to bravely say no to unfairness. Good job. Go and report to your superiors. I support you."
The system was silent. It was impossible to report to the superiors, so it had to change the subject abruptly. [What is missing from your boy band debut plan?]
Yuan Xiao did not expose it, but only replied lazily, "It will be soon. Let me see their level first. I have arranged for the first group assessment to be held next Wednesday. If everything goes well, they may be able to debut within half a year."
What if things don’t go well?
"It's a long way off." Yuan Xiao said firmly, "I won't let them debut until they reach my best standards."
【Well, I wish you success. 】
"It should be wishing us success."
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