Chapter 48: A CD
Chapter 48: A CD
In this world, nothing is ever given to you for free—except from your parents.
If you want something, you have to trade for it.
Either an equal exchange or offering something of great value, something others also deem precious.
If you can’t make the trade...
Then it simply means you’re not worthy enough.
…………………………………
“Is this it?”
“…”
Sun Lili carried her backpack and traveled all the way from Zhejiang Province to Yanjing.
She stopped in front of a commercial office building, staring blankly at the large characters above the entrance that read “Cosmos Technology.”
She was somewhat mesmerized.
Just yesterday, she’d received a message on her Q Dog account.
It was from Manager Wu of the Human Resources Department at Cosmos Technology.
Wu asked if she was interested in working at the company. If formally hired, they promised a monthly salary of ten thousand yuan—one hundred and twenty thousand annually!
Sun Lili was stunned when she heard those numbers.
In this era, very few companies offered such high pay.
Moreover, she was just a girl from a small county, naturally drawn to Yanjing, the capital city beneath the imperial palace.
So...
She decided to give it a try.
Of course, before coming, she had been clear about her educational background.
She only had a college diploma and was currently doing simple sales work back home. Painting was just a hobby, and she had learned graphic software during her spare time.
In fact, she initially submitted work to Cosmos Technology on a whim, never expecting to win any prize, let alone receive a bonus.
She had always considered her award a stroke of luck.
Once the luck ran out, everything went back to normal.
She was still the exhausted air conditioner salesperson.
Yanjing?
A place she longed for, but she thought she’d come visit later, once she had more money.
However!
The reply on Q Dog from Cosmos Technology completely changed her decision.
They said her academic qualifications didn’t matter.
All she had to do was bring her award certificate.
They valued personal ability above all.
That night.
After tossing and turning for a long time, she finally made a decision—she bought a plane ticket to Yanjing.
The sunset was so beautiful.
Following the address, she took the elevator up to the seventh floor.
She noticed some people were busy nailing department signs.
“Technical Department”
“Planning Department”
“Art Department”
“Finance Department”...
Besides these, the entire office space looked empty—no computers, no desks...
“Hello, are you Miss Sun Lili?”
“Yes.”
“Hello, I’m Wu Zhuang, currently responsible for HR and Marketing here. Let me take you to the dormitory first.”
“Ah, there’s a dormitory?”
…………………………………
While Sun Lili was observing, four girls about her age appeared nearby, being led around the company by a tall man from Northeast China.
When the tall man saw Sun Lili, his eyes lit up, and he greeted her warmly with a big smile.
Sun Lili was stunned, then pleasantly surprised.
She hadn’t asked on Q Dog, because in her subconscious, jobs offering ten thousand yuan a month usually meant renting a place to live.
She hadn’t expected the company to provide dormitories.
As she was preparing to leave with Manager Wu, she suddenly saw a door open not far away.
A young man chewing gum and holding some A4 sheets hurried out.
“Manager Zhang... I’ll take them to the dormitory first.”
“Oh, okay.”
Manager Zhang?
Sun Lili instinctively turned to look at this young man chewing gum.
Could this be the famous Zhang Yang?
There were always rumors about him on the forums.
He had started from nothing, launched a wildly successful first game with an unprecedented marketing model, then followed up with the interactive title “Mad Beat Alpaca,” which topped the single-player game charts...
Sun Lili watched Zhang Yang smile at the new recruits.
“Wow! Manager Zhang is so handsome!”
“Yes, he looks even better in person than in photos or videos online...”
“Why does he look so young?”
“……”
Among the group, several girls whispered quietly, staring at Zhang Yang’s back.
Sun Lili was shocked too!
He looked even younger than herself.
He seemed barely over twenty.
“Our Manager Zhang is actually twenty-one!”
“What?”
When Manager Wu smiled helplessly and revealed Zhang Yang's real age, everyone was stunned.
Twenty-one years old!
Good heavens!
Sun Lili’s mind went blank.
At that age, he should be in college, right?
“In fact, when we learned Zhang’s true age, we were also shocked…”
“…”
Wu Zhuang shrugged, his expression complicated.
Just as he was about to lead the newcomers to the dormitory building, he suddenly saw Zhang Yang turn back and look at him.
“Old Wu!”
“What’s up, Manager Zhang?”
“Do you know where the recording studio is?”
“Recording studio?”
“Yes, a place to record songs. I want to record an a cappella track...”
“Ah?”
“…”
Wu Zhuang instinctively glanced at the A4 sheets in Zhang Yang’s hand.
Sun Lili glanced too.
On one sheet, the words “Qili” appeared...
On another page, the title seemed to be “Green”...
After Wu Zhuang told Zhang Yang the location of the studio...
Sun Lili looked at Zhang Yang’s retreating figure, puzzled.
What was Manager Zhang planning to do?
……………………………………
July 9th.
The evening glow filled the sky.
Chen Weiwei lay exhausted on the lounge chair in her office.
But no matter what, she couldn’t fall asleep.
Her stress was immense.
In truth...
Every time she closed her eyes, commercial data and the fierce competition faced by big companies flooded her mind...
How could she not be stressed?
Her phone rang.
She instinctively answered.
“General Manager Chen?”
“Oh, Manager Zhang, what’s up?”
“Have you contacted Zhou Yang yet?”
“Not yet, I’ll reach out soon. Why?”
“When you do, can you help me send a CD?”
“A CD?”
……………………………………
Taiwan Island.
Huaxing Entertainment.
Zhou Yang’s agent, Li Ziwen, received a call from the mainland.
After hanging up, she hesitated for a moment before knocking on Zhou Yang’s office door.
Zhou Yang was currently reviewing song manuscripts.
These were songs Li Ziwen had arranged for him.
The old album had been out for nearly a year, but the new one was still nowhere in sight...
He was growing anxious.
But among so many songs, he hadn’t found one that truly suited him.
Or rather, he hadn’t found a single piece that felt right.
Although he had shot to fame quickly, many such singers flooded the market nowadays.
To endure in the industry, one must have fitting works.
Otherwise...
They would inevitably fade away.
He looked troubled.
“Xiao Zhou...”
“What is it, Sister Wen?”
“There are two computer brands on the mainland hoping to sign endorsement deals with us. One is Lianzhong, an established company, the other is Qingniao, a newly founded firm...”
“How are their offers?”
“One quoted about ten million yuan, the highest price in the market, and the other seven million, quite average...”
“Big brands are usually more reliable.”
“Qingniao sent us a CD... Want to listen to it?”
“A CD?”
“Yeah...”
(End of chapter)