Chapter Twelve: Is It Difficult for You?

Short videos are incredibly profitable! Whether on Earth or here, short videos are wildly popular.

Chen Fang snatched Pang Tong’s phone, entered the keywords “Starlight Road Auditions” in the search bar, and found that nearly all the resulting videos were about himself.

Not only that.

Every single video had impressive view counts.

The highest reached half a million.

Even the lowest had over a hundred thousand.

All of these views meant money!

Monetizing traffic this way was far easier than busking on the streets.

“Fatty, hurry up and register our personal account.”

Chen Fang urged him.

Pang Tong didn’t quite understand Chen Fang’s intentions. He usually watched short videos just for entertainment and had never thought about making money from them.

“While we have some heat online, register an account, apply for a verified blue badge, post a few singing videos, build up a following, and then we’ll never have to sing on the streets again,” Chen Fang explained.

Pang Tong froze for a moment.

You could do that?

Chen Fang sighed.

Of course! This hopeless fatty only ever gave likes to girls in hot pants or swimsuits when scrolling through videos.

“Fatty, you need to get hands-on experience.”

“Don’t just watch online.”

Chen Fang patted Pang Tong on the shoulder.

Pang Tong’s face flushed with embarrassment and he protested, “I’m only in my early twenties. I’ll definitely have a girlfriend for hands-on experience in the future.”

Chen Fang nodded.

People are born to be stubborn.

In their twenties, they say they’re young and have plenty of chances ahead; in their thirties, they act as if they’ve seen through the ways of the world and develop new hobbies like fishing or chess; by their forties, they say it doesn’t matter anymore, with or without a woman.

To the end, they’ll never admit they can’t find a girlfriend, only that they don’t want one.

Chen Fang ignored Pang Tong and began considering the feasibility of making money from short videos.

Posting videos is easy.

If you have hands, you can do it.

The hard part is growing the account.

Chen Fang’s focus was on the audition competition and signing with a company afterward, so the account management would have to be Pang Tong’s responsibility.

“Fatty, after registering, post the live video you recorded the other day, tag it with trending topics, and spend a few hundred to boost it with trending search ads.” These were the basic steps for growing an account. Back on Earth, Chen Fang’s company had a dedicated department managing artists’ accounts.

He was very familiar with the process.

But now, he had to handle these things himself.

Pang Tong didn’t really understand, but he trusted Chen Fang unconditionally.

After some fiddling, they finally had their own short video account.

Once everything was done, Chen Fang stretched lazily. “I’m going to sleep.”

“I’ll watch a few more videos before bed,” Pang Tong replied, not even glancing at Chen Fang, his eyes glued to the snow-white, long legs on his screen, his gaze almost glowing green.

Hopeless!

Chen Fang shook his head.

Another night passed.

The next morning.

After waking, Chen Fang summoned the system and claimed his daily reward chest. Perhaps his luck had been too good the previous two times, for this time the reward was rather lackluster—a sack of laundry detergent.

The system was still generous, though.

By “a sack,” it meant a full burlap sack, not just a small packet.

“No need to buy laundry detergent for a whole year.”

After working out, Chen Fang sat in the living room, jotting down notes.

He had already settled on the song for the second round of auditions. This time, he needed to write out the sheet music and lyrics—it wouldn’t do to rush onto the stage as he had in the first round.

Soon, it was noon.

Just as Chen Fang was about to call Pang Tong out for lunch, his phone rang.

It was Ji Mei.

“Director Ji, are you feeling better?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

In her hotel room, Ji Mei rubbed her temples. Seeing that she was down to just her underwear, her face flushed crimson. She’d intended to call and ask if anything had happened last night, but upon hearing Chen Fang’s voice, she didn’t know how to broach the subject.

There probably hadn’t been any incident!

If something had happened, she’d surely have been completely naked.

But precisely because nothing happened, Ji Mei felt a bit uncomfortable. All that effort getting herself drunk last night had gone to waste...

She glanced at the note left on the bedside table and remembered Chen Fang had asked her to find a recording studio: “Chen Fang, I have a private studio myself. It should be enough to record your songs, but it’s best if you sign with an entertainment company. There are some things only a company can provide.”

Chen Fang understood, of course.

After all,

He used to work in this industry.

“Do you have any company recommendations, Director Ji?”

“There are many entertainment companies in Huaguo, but only three giants—Starlight, Chuangxiang, and Dream Builders. I wouldn’t recommend any of them; their scale is massive, they have a huge roster of artists, and even if you get in, you won’t get any resources.”

Ji Mei genuinely had his best interests at heart.

“You need a company willing to invest in you and treat you as their star.”

“I think Future Star Entertainment suits you.”

Future Star?

That name sounded familiar.

In an instant, Chen Fang thought of Xi Yuanyuan from the other day.

That girl was probably an agent at Future Star...

On the call,

Ji Mei didn’t say much more, just gave Chen Fang the studio’s address and said they’d discuss details in person.

That afternoon,

Chen Fang arrived at the address.

It was a small villa, peaceful and secluded.

He rang the doorbell.

Ji Mei came running out in pink slippers. Since she was at home, her clothes were loose and comfortable. Standing beside her, Chen Fang, looking down, could easily see a generous expanse of snowy white skin.

This outfit was too revealing.

It didn’t hide a thing!

“I brought the morin khuur you left at the audition—it's in the studio. Check if you need any more instruments and I’ll have them sent over.” Ji Mei tucked her hair behind her ear. Last night, she had been bold and passionate, exuding an enticing allure; now, she appeared gentle and domestic, the perfect image of a virtuous wife.

“Whoever marries Director Ji will be blessed for eight lifetimes,” Chen Fang teased with a laugh.

She had wealth.

She had beauty.

She had a figure.

A man would have to live on goji berries just to keep up!

Ji Mei shot him a glare—always flirting with words. Last night had been such a perfect opportunity, why hadn’t he made a move?

After her hangover, she could vaguely recall what happened, especially how, in the restaurant, she’d thrown herself into Chen Fang’s arms. It was so mortifying that her cheeks flushed again, and she avoided his gaze.

Now, fully sober, she could never be so bold again.

Chen Fang made his way straight to the recording studio.

He had to admit,

The studio was very well-equipped.

For recording songs, it was more than sufficient.

While adjusting the equipment, Chen Fang asked about the topic they’d touched on over the phone—why was Future Star a better fit for him?

“Future Star used to be a leading company in the industry, but a few years ago, one of their top male artists was exposed for cheating, assaulting fans, and acting like a diva. Worse still, further investigation revealed many other artists in the company had serious issues. Future Star’s reputation plummeted, and now all that’s left are some inexperienced trainees and pretty boys with no potential.”

“The company still has a solid foundation and plenty of resources, but no standout artists.”

“There’s another thing.”

“They can’t attract any new talent.”

“Any celebrity with a bit of fame refuses to join Future Star.”

It’s a challenge.

But also an opportunity!

Starting out in a company with a tainted reputation would be tough; whatever you did, the public would remember the company’s scandals and project them onto the artists.

But the advantage was that all the resources would be devoted to you!

As long as you have the talent, Future Star is truly willing to invest in you.

“The process will be difficult,” Chen Fang said quietly.

Ji Mei smiled, looking at him. “With your talent, just silence everyone. Is it really that hard for you?”