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Contracts are honest things.
Not because they tell the truth.
Because they reveal what the other side thinks you're worth.
I read it once.
Then again.
Then a third time, slower.
Every clause was polished. Professional language. Clean formatting. Legal precision.
And completely predatory.
Revenue split heavily tilted toward the company. Creative control "shared," which in industry language meant taken when convenient. Long-term exclusivity disguised as "strategic partnership." Performance benchmarks that allowed them to terminate whenever they wanted — but locked me in if things succeeded.
They weren't offering cooperation.
They were offering ownership.
And the funniest part?
They clearly believed I wouldn't notice.
The meeting room was the same as before. Glass walls. Neutral colors. Designed to make decisions feel inevitable.
Han Rui sat across from me, calm as ever.
The older executive watched silently.
"So?" he asked. "What do you think?"
I closed the contract.
Carefully.
Slowly.
"I think," I said, "you didn't read me very well."
A faint crease appeared between his brows.
"That's a strong statement."
"No," I replied. "This is."
I opened the contract again and tapped the page.
"You take majority revenue until costs are recovered. Costs you define yourselves."
Another page.
"You control release schedules."
Another.
"You reserve the right to assign additional artists under my management without negotiation."
I looked up.
"You're not hiring me. You're trying to absorb me."
Silence settled over the room.
Han Rui's smile thinned slightly.
"This is standard for rising talent."
"That's the problem," I said calmly. "I'm not rising talent."
I stood up.
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The executive leaned back in his chair.
"You're being emotional, Mr. Li."
There it was.
The assumption.
Young. Independent. Lucky.
Easy to pressure.
I picked up the contract.
For a moment, I considered explaining.
Breaking down every flaw. Every imbalance. Every future trap.
Then I realized something important.
People who write contracts like this already understand them perfectly.
They just expect you not to.
So I tore it in half.
The sound was loud in the quiet room.
Then again.
And again.
Paper falling onto the table like snow.
Han Rui's expression finally cracked.
"That's unnecessary."
"No," I said. "This is necessary."
I met the executive's gaze directly.
"If you want to suck me dry while calling it opportunity," I said evenly, "don't count on me."
The room went cold.
No shouting.
No threats.
Just reality settling in.
I walked out without waiting for a response.
My hands were steady.
My heartbeat wasn't.
Outside, the air felt different. Lighter.
Dangerous decisions often do.
That night, Yueyin stared at me like I'd just come back from war.
"You really tore it up?"
"Yes."
Her eyes sparkled.
"…That's kind of cool."
Xiaoyu sighed from the sofa.
"That was also very reckless."
"Probably," I admitted.
"But necessary."
Because something had changed.
They weren't looking at us as beginners anymore.
They were looking at us as assets.
Which meant from now on, every offer would come with chains hidden somewhere inside.
The system interface flickered faintly in my vision.
[Warning:] Industry Hostility Slightly Increased[Evaluation:] Independent Path Confirmed
I closed it.
This wasn't about optimization.
It was about boundaries.
Some doors close quietly.
Others you slam shut yourself.
And sometimes, that sound travels further than you expect.
⭐ End of Chapter 18If you want to see how the industry reacts to Li Chen rejecting a major label, vote, comment, and add the story to your library! ⭐