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At the Flying Stone Records platinum celebration, there were hardly any attendees who didn't recognize Lu Chen; they were few and far between.
So, someone greeting him was only natural.
After all, Lu Chen had earned the right to be called "Teacher Lu" now; he was the producer of MSN's debut album.
That's what "status" in the industry is: it's built layer by layer, project by project.
But Lu Chen had no idea who this man greeting him was.
The guy was short and chubby, with narrow eyes, thin eyebrows, a low nose bridge, and a shiny bald head that gleamed under the indoor lighting. He looked like a comedic cross-talk performer, though his features were somewhat lacking to really fit that bill.
He quickly walked up to Lu Chen, both hands extended with a wide grin: "I'm so happy to meet you!"
His accent was pure Beijing dialect.
Lu Chen reflexively shook his hand, a bit confused: "Hello... and you are?"
The chubby man immediately introduced himself: "I'm with Hongpeng Media, "
"Old Wu!"
He didn't get to finish. Someone cut him off.
And that someone was none other than Lin Zhijie, music director of Flying Stone Records. Following behind him were three radiant young women: Mu Xiaochu, Su Jiajia, and Ning Tian!
Lu Chen's attention was instantly diverted.
Lin Zhijie walked over, smiling politely.
"Lu Chen, this is Mr. Wu Sheng from Hongpeng Media. Mr. Wu, I need to discuss something with Lu Chen, hope you don't mind?"
Those last two sentences were directed at the chubby man.
Lin Zhijie wore a smile, but there was no warmth in his eyes, only a hint of cold disdain.
To be honest, Lin Zhijie's behavior here wasn't exactly polite. Even if there were grudges, it's generally bad form to embarrass a guest, especially at your own company's celebration.
Guests are guests, after all.
But Lu Chen had no doubt Lin Zhijie had his reasons. Without hesitation, Lu Chen smoothly withdrew his hand.
Wu Sheng, still grinning as if nothing had happened, said cheerfully: "Of course I don't mind. You two go ahead and talk."
He turned to Lu Chen and added: "Teacher Lu, let's chat again later."
Lu Chen nodded politely, smiling. In situations where the truth isn't clear, basic courtesy is always the safest approach.
After Wu Sheng walked away, Lin Zhijie looked at his retreating figure and let out a quiet "hmph." He pulled Lu Chen aside and said bluntly: "That guy plays dirty. Almost everyone who works with him ends up getting burned. His reputation in the industry is trash, best to stay away from him."
'So that's what it was.' Lu Chen nodded in understanding.
He knew Lin Zhijie wasn't the kind to talk trash behind someone's back for no reason, his warning came from genuine concern.
Still, Lu Chen was curious: "Then why invite him in the first place?"
Lin Zhijie sighed: "Someone higher up in our company is close with him. So we had to send him an invitation."
The bigger the company, the more complicated the internal politics. And in the entertainment world, the waters run especially deep.
Lu Chen chuckled: "Aren't you worried about offending him like that?"
Lin Zhijie sneered: "What's there to be afraid of? Oh, and he's tight with Jin Hongwei."
'Jin Hongwei?' Lu Chen hadn't heard that name in a while, but he would never forget it.
Their grudge ran very deep.
Just that connection alone was enough to make Lu Chen steer clear of Wu Sheng. He had no interest in getting entangled.
But he made a mental note of the man.
Seeing that Lu Chen understood his good intentions, Lin Zhijie was pleased. He waved and called out:
"Xiao Mu, you girls come over." He summoned the three young women.
In fact, Mu Xiaochu had been following behind all along. At Lin Zhijie's signal, the trio stepped forward and stood before Lu Chen, bowing slightly as they said in unison:
"Thank you, Teacher Lu!" Their gratitude was genuine and heartfelt.
Whether it was Mu Xiaochu, Su Jiajia, or Ning Tian, just a few months ago they were all unknown students or complete newcomers.
But now, MSN had become a rapidly rising girl group.
Putting aside the financial benefits, just walking down the street now, there was a 100% chance they'd be recognized!
According to Lin Zhijie, the person they had the most to thank was Lu Chen.
In the world of pop music, there's long been a saying: "one song makes a star." A single great track can launch a new artist to fame. While modern success still requires marketing and image crafting, without solid, standout works, hype only gets you so far.
In China, many girl groups attempt the youthful idol route. Flying Stone Records itself had tried forming two such groups before. But most of these groups either disbanded or dragged on in a half-dead state, with very few ever truly succeeding.
Some of those girl groups even had members whose talent and appeal matched or exceeded MSN's, yet they didn't achieve the same level of success. Beyond factors like resources, timing, and luck, the core issue was always the same, they lacked hit songs that could spread like wildfire and resonate with the public.
Good songs and good idols go hand in hand.
The reason MSN's debut album, Not Yet Lovers, sold so well wasn't just due to Flying Stone's aggressive promotion. More importantly, Lu Chen had tailored and produced three songs specifically for them, including the title track.
Judging by feedback from fans and listeners, it was precisely Not Yet Lovers, Where's Love, and He Still Doesn't Understand that gave the album its platinum-level quality and potential, and made it beloved by thousands.
In the latest rankings on the Original Sound chart, all three songs were in the Top 20!
In contrast, the rest of the album had only one other track that barely made it onto the chart, and it was at the very bottom.
This alone proved Lu Chen's star-making ability.
Lu Chen smiled and said, "Why are you all being so formal? I didn't even bring red envelopes today."
To attend the celebration, Lu Xi, on behalf of Lu Chen Workshop, had already sent a congratulatory flower arrangement, it was displayed prominently at the entrance.
Lu Chen was already familiar with the three girls after working together closely. They had a good relationship, and there was really no need to be so ceremonious.
The trio straightened up, looking a little shy and hesitant, exchanging glances as if they wanted to say something but didn't know how to start.
Lu Chen asked curiously, "What's going on?"
Lin Zhijie cleared his throat and explained, "It's like this, these girls had an idea just now. Since we're all here at the celebration, they were thinking... maybe they could formally become your disciples. What do you think?"
Lu Chen was stunned.
He hadn't been in the entertainment industry for that long, but he was already quite familiar with its unwritten rules and etiquette.
Whether in pop music or acting, taking someone as a master was a very serious matter. It wasn't something done casually or for show, it came with real obligations and responsibilities on both sides.
If MSN were to formally acknowledge him as their teacher, it would create a deep and lasting bond between Lu Chen and these three girls.
Mu Xiaochu, Su Jiajia, and Ning Tian were biting their lips, eyes locked on him, full of hopeful expectation. A light blush crept onto a few of their faces.
To be honest, the temptation was real.
But Lu Chen just chuckled and shook his head: "Brother Zhijie, I think of Xiaochu and the others like younger sisters. A formal apprenticeship… let's just forget it."
He had a feeling the idea probably came from Lin Zhijie, likely something he'd come up with on the spot.
If it had been seriously planned, Lin Zhijie would've definitely discussed it with him in advance.
Still, the idea wasn't a bad one. In fact, it could have been mutually beneficial for both sides.
With a formal master-disciple relationship established, Lu Chen would have no excuse not to work on MSN's next album, even if he didn't want to. Not only that, he'd be expected to guarantee the quality and commercial performance. Otherwise, his reputation would take a hit.
Conversely, having a rising group like MSN as disciples would greatly elevate Lu Chen's status in the showbiz world.
The more popular MSN became, the more his standing would rise.
For example, if someone wanted to request a song from Lu Chen in the future, they wouldn't even wait for him to quote a price, they'd proactively offer one first.
And MSN's success would be the reference point for that price.
Most importantly, when Lu Chen worked on MSN's next album, he'd be well within his rights to demand a profit share.
But naturally, this would also mean a much deeper binding relationship with Flying Stone Records.
And it was precisely this point that made Lu Chen politely decline Lin Zhijie's suggestion, resisting the temptation of the three beautiful girls.
From the beginning, Lu Chen had chosen a path toward becoming a truly independent and free superstar.
He didn't want his hands and feet tied.
Lu Chen's rejection didn't surprise Lin Zhijie. As Flying Stone's music director, he was a little disappointed; he genuinely wanted to pull Lu Chen into his camp.
Still, he didn't take it to heart. It was just something he tried. If it worked, great. If not, no harm done. It wouldn't affect their relationship.
In fact, Lin Zhijie admired Lu Chen even more for it.
For a young man full of energy and ambition, to be able to resist the pleas of three lovely girls, his self-control was truly impressive.
Lin Zhijie settled for the next best thing: "Well then, fine. But from now on, you've got to take extra care of your little sisters!"
Lu Chen smiled wryly, "Brother Zhijie, as long as you don't throw me into a trap, I'll be fine."
In the entertainment world, no veteran is truly simple. Lin Zhijie was already considered one of the more decent ones, but he still had his own calculations; he just wasn't the type to harm others for his own benefit.
Lin Zhijie laughed, "Come on, don't say that. I'm good friends with Fei'er, how could I ever set you up?"
Lu Chen's relationship with Chen Fei'er might still be a secret to outsiders, but within the showbiz circle, it was no secret at all.
Everyone just kept it unspoken.
If someone deliberately exposed it, they'd offend a lot of people, that was one of the unspoken rules in the circle. Since Lin Zhijie was on good terms with both Lu Chen and Chen Fei'er, it was fine for him to joke about it.
But when Mu Xiaochu heard this, a hint of sadness flickered across her eyes.
Lu Chen's affection for her had always been that of an older brother to a younger sister. Nothing more.
But her feelings for Lu Chen were not so simple.
Lin Zhijie could see this clearly. His suggestion to have MSN formally take Lu Chen as their teacher… was also his way of gently nudging her to let go.
It wasn't something that could be said out loud.
Of course, tonight's true protagonists were still MSN. At exactly 7:30 PM, the celebration officially began.
As per tradition, senior representatives of Flying Stone Records took to the stage first to give opening speeches.
Thankfully, they kept it short.
The ceremony was grand, filled with a cheerful and festive atmosphere. The three MSN girls then appeared on stage to the sound of upbeat music and opened the event with a live performance of Not Yet Lovers.
Compared to their early days when the group had just formed, their vocals and stage presence had improved dramatically.
When they finished, the audience erupted in thunderous applause!
[End of Chapter]
PS-"For every 100 power stones, I'll release one bonus chapter (Current-0)!"