Chapter 37: The Diva Who Wants to Switch Labels

"Xiao Chen, is your apartment layout the same as Yi Yunxue's?" Li Fangru asked curiously.

"Yes, Auntie, though the balcony is a bit longer," Chen Jiang nodded.

"Just a longer balcony? That's a strange design, considering it's the same building," Li Fangru remarked with a hint of novelty as she sipped her tea.

"I think it's a bit strange too," Yi Yunxue chimed in. That was exactly how Xiao Ju had managed to wander into Chen Jiang's apartment previously.

"Xiao Chen, keep this box of cookies for yourself. I should be heading back now," Li Fangru said to Chen Jiang after finishing her tea. She then turned to her daughter with a playful jab, "Next time you spend time with Xiao Chen, don't lie to me and say you're at the office."

Yi Yunxue lowered her head, feeling a bit guilty. Once her mother left, Chen Jiang looked at her expression and found it amusing. "What are you feeling guilty about?"

"I am not feeling guilty at all!" Yi Yunxue argued defensively.

...

In Shanghai, at Shengda Entertainment.

"Is this really all the inventory we have?" Shan Yuna looked disappointed after reviewing the company’s internal song database.

"Sister Shan, this is all there is. Our songwriters haven't had much inspiration lately," the staff member replied tactfully.

Shan Yuna’s expression turned somber, and she sighed inwardly. It seemed there was truly no reason for her to stay. As the only diva at Shengda Entertainment, she had suffered significantly regarding resources over the years. Shengda was the source of both her success and her stagnation.

Back then, Shengda had used the full weight of the company to elevate her to the status of a diva. Of course, it was strictly a business partnership. When she first debuted, she reached her peak immediately; when her first contract expired, all four major entertainment companies had extended invitations to her. To keep her, Shengda had offered a promise she couldn't refuse: a gambling contract.

The event had caused a massive stir in the industry. The contract stipulated that if Shengda could help her reach diva status within two years, she would be obligated to stay with them for ten years. If they failed, the contract would be void, allowing her to leave freely and even receive a payout. At the time, she was just an ordinary A-list artist with potential but a hazy future. With Shengda’s promise, she naturally chose to stay. After all, even the "Big Four" couldn't guarantee she would become a diva. The competition that year was fierce, with over a dozen A-list female singers eyeing the same position. Everyone was watching like hawks.

Shengda exhausted its resources, spending over a year to forcefully propel her to the top. When the news broke, the industry was in an uproar. Shengda was the only company besides the Big Four to successfully cultivate a diva. That year, they snatched one of the three national diva awards right out of the hands of the Big Four.

The Big Four were so named because they controlled the majority of the industry's resources, dominating both music and film. While Shengda couldn't shake their position, the success of Shan Yuna earned them the title of the "Fifth Largest Music Company." It wasn't called the "Fifth Largest Entertainment Company" because Shengda lacked a film division. There was another film company that held the equivalent title in that sector. The Big Four held the top spots in both music and film, while Shengda and that other firm were the top contenders outside the giants.

Despite its reputation, insiders knew Shengda’s resources were far inferior to the Big Four. Most of the elite songwriters were tied to the giants. To make Shan Yuna a diva, Shengda had essentially drained itself dry. In recent years, dwindling resources meant Shan Yuna couldn't consolidate her position. Now, she was barely clinging to the ranks of the divas in the Chinese music scene, with popularity even lower than that of the "half-step diva" Yi Yunxue.

After her upcoming birthday, Shan Yuna would be 35. Her contract with Shengda would expire in a week. At 25, she had become a diva with a bright future, but she had been standing still for ten years since. The songs she released were met with tepid responses. Watching younger talents catch up to her made her anxious, but she had no choice—the contract was still in effect.

She knew that leaving after the contract expired would be a betrayal of Shengda’s support, but she had to go. Staying at Shengda meant no room for growth. The company knew they couldn't keep her; the manager had spoken with her a few days ago, showing goodwill by telling her she was free to leave, provided she would help the company if it ever faced a crisis.

The Big Four had reached out, but none offered terms that satisfied her—they were even worse than the contract she had been offered eleven years ago. Because of her stagnation at Shengda, the giants didn't have high expectations for her.

"If I don't go to the Big Four, where else can I go?" she wondered, feeling lost. If she didn't make a breakthrough now, she never would.

She drove home in a daze. Once inside, she sat on the sofa and opened TikTok to distract herself. Suddenly, she came across a creator named "A-Cheng Reviews Music." The video had hundreds of thousands of likes, and the comments were flooded with people saying they had come by recommendation. It caught her attention.

"Today, we are reviewing a new song from a newcomer. This artist is a bit special—she is the first artist signed by Mengqi Studio, which Yi Yunxue founded after going independent—Ma Ya."

"The song she brought is extraordinary. Just look at the songwriter, and you'll understand... that's right, it's Chen Jiang!"

As the vlogger heaped praise on the songwriter and played the track, she felt a strange sense of familiarity. It was as if she had heard it in passing but, distracted by her own frustrations, hadn't paid it any mind. Now, listening again, her eyes widened.

"Can a song be written like this?"

"The melody is incredible—so disjointed, yet it touches the heart in such a unique way."

The conclusion the vlogger reached at the end of the video was identical to her own thoughts. After the video ended, Shan Yuna memorized the name: Mengqi Studio. She searched for it online and, as the vlogger said, it was a very young studio, yet it had already produced two hit songs. She had heard of Chen Jiang before, knowing he had written "Meeting." She hadn't expected another hit, "Wild Child," to follow so soon.

"Should I... join Mengqi Studio?" The thought sprouted in her mind.