Moving Eastwards

"..."

An Qiuying was used to Tang Miaoyi's occasional quirky behavior anyway, so she asked, "Aren't you planning to join?"

"Not really, there's no rush now. There will be plenty of opportunities later," Miaoyi replied, which was true.

With her current potential and the few songs she had already released, was there any doubt that labels would be interested in signing her?

That was out of the question, so why rush into anything? Besides, Light Cloud was working out so far...

"But... I've been invited too, and I'm considering whether to join," Qiuying said shyly. "The boss mentioned that they also signed singers and asked if I was the same Jing Qiuhua who collaborated with TMY. He said he would also sign me and asked about your appearance, but I didn't answer."

After finishing her explanation, Qiuying blinked her eyes and looked at Miaoyi.

"They recognized you?" Miaoyi was shocked for a moment before having a realization.

It wouldn't be challenging to recognize Qiuying's singing style and voice from her speaking voice, and considering that Jing Qiuhua, the alias she used, had only ever collaborated with TMY, there was no need to explain who would answer TMY's phone.

However, Miaoyi never expected that Qiuying would also receive an invitation.

"Do you want to accept?" Miaoyi asked Qiuying about her thoughts. She knew that Qiuying had always had a strong passion for music and had been wanting to pursue it. "Although it's an electronic music label, it's definitely a good opportunity for singers as well."

"Um..." Qiuying nodded, her eyes shining with hope.

"It might be a bit harder for me to join, but I'll try too," Miaoyi didn't hesitate much and gave a firm nod.

"Actually... it's ok if you don't want to join. Even if you don't join, I'll reject the offer too. Then when the opportunity comes, we can still do it together," Qiuying smiled softly, appearing very gentle. "Playing music is more fun when you do it with someone you trust, and education is still more important right now."

"Qiuying!" At this moment, Miaoyi truly understood the meaning of being touched. The current An Qiuying... Was she an angel??

"Wait, I'll make a call," Miaoyi sniffled and said with a cheerful smile, "I'm going to accept this time. I already knew about the East Records label, and I have no resistance to it. I even wanted to join them at one point, so it's better to accept the invitation directly."

The statement from An Qiuying, "Let's make music together," struck Tang Miaoyi's heart like a piercing arrow. It resonated deeply within her, and the truth of the matter was undeniable.

The mere thought of Qiuying's alter ego emerging in collaboration with other producers was something Miaoyi couldn't bear. The idea of sharing her friends' talents with others caused a sense of unease and reluctance to settle within her.

And so, Miaoyi quickly found the most recent call record and immediately pressed the callback button.

- - - - - - - - - -

Tang Miaoyi didn't hesitate to make the phone call, which left An Qiuying momentarily stunned and filled her with gratitude.

Could it be that all of this was for her?

How wonderful is that!

Having lived together for some time, Qiuying had gained a deep understanding of Miaoyi's personality and approach to things. She knew Miaoyi was not the type to expose herself too quickly, and apart from her relentless pursuit of music, she seemed carefree about many other things - a quality that could be described as free-spirited.

But when Miaoyi readily agreed and picked up her phone without hesitation, Qiuying felt a powerful surge in her heart. It was as if a radiant halo had appeared around Miaoyi, illuminating her in a whole new light.

Tang Miaoyi... what an amazing person.

As Miaoyi dialed the number, it was a callback, so the phone would not ring for long. After just three or four rings, someone answered.

"Hello, this is TMY. How can I help you?" Miaoyi greeted the caller with a smile, remaining calm and composed. She didn't immediately reveal who she was, as they had never met.

"Ms. TMY, it's finally a pleasure to reach you. It wasn't an easy task to get in touch with you," responded a voice on the other end of the line, polite and emanating a sense of vigor. It sounded like a middle-aged man in his forties. "Let me introduce myself. I am the owner of East Records, and I'm delighted to make contact with you."

"Hello, hello, hello," Miaoyi responded with equal enthusiasm, glancing at the caller ID on her phone. It appeared to be a private number.

"Let's cut to the chase," the man continued. "The reason I'm calling you is this: your recent rise in the electronic music scene has gained significant attention. Many eyes, including mine, have been closely watching you. I've listened to all of your works multiple times, and honestly, I was astonished. Finding someone who can create such breathtaking and captivating pieces is rare. That's why I'm extending an invitation to you and your singer to join our record label. What do you think?"

As he spoke these words, his tone was uncertain and far from the legendary figure in the electronic music industry. If other producers heard him, their eyes would probably widen in disbelief.

When did East Records become so cautious about signing artists? And to have the owner personally make the offer?

This was something that would never have happened in the past.

If this news got out, it would surely shock the entire industry. After all, the public was only aware that East Records was planning to sign TMY, but no one knew or expected that the owner would personally extend the invitation!

It was probably a first for them, as the owner himself invited a producer to join the label.

However, the decision felt necessary. Nothing was surprising about it. Honestly, when he first listened to TMY's works, having spent over a decade in the electronic music scene, he could easily hear things that others couldn't and appreciate the exceptional craftsmanship behind those pieces.

Without saying much, it is clear that TMY had made a breakthrough and opened up new possibilities in the electronic music genre!

Just from the force and impact displayed in her current work, it's evident that this talented producer holds great value. If she were to join the record label, the benefits and advantages she could bring would be astonishing and undoubtedly profitable.

Not to mention, with her skills in House and Future Bass alone, TMY could thrive for a lifetime.

That's why this phone call is taking place right now.

If it weren't for the headquarters of East Records being in the capital, they might have wanted to discuss matters in person.

"If you were to join East Records, we can offer you more than just a simple producer contract. We will provide you with top-quality resources and the perfect packaging plan. Moreover, East Records has a tradition for outstanding members, where they receive profit-sharing shares. You should understand what I mean," he explained confidently, revealing all his cards.

"Alright... I can agree with that. However, there are some issues I want to go over first. While Jing Qiuhua has no strings attached, I've signed a contract with Light Cloud, so paying for the breach of contract is necessary."

In terms of breaching the contract, of course, Miaoyi was fine with it. Light Cloud helped her gain fame, which is why she's even getting this call, but they're a business in the end.

As such, she should treat Light Cloud like a business as well.

"That's doable. What else did you have in mind?"

"You mentioned shares earlier," Miaoyi thought momentarily, glanced at Qiuying beside her, and said, "If my singer and I join, we would require 5% in shares."

"Cough, cough, cough... What?!" The voice on the other end of the line was shocked, barely believing his ears.

When Miaoyi initially agreed to join East Records, he was overjoyed, thinking to himself, 'didn't think it would be this easy.'

But when Miaoyi changed the course of the conversation with a single sentence, he almost choked.

"5% of shares? That's absolutely impossible, Ms. TMY. You must understand that shares are not blank papers!" He was astounded, and such a request would never be accepted.

As he said, shares were the most crucial aspect for a diversified label like East Records. Although 5% might not sound like much, it became a significant number when translated into the corresponding profit-sharing.

For larger companies, even a small percentage of shares held substantial importance and impacted the decision-making level, somewhat akin to territorial concessions in ancient times.

However, Tang Miaoyi remained calm, with a faint smile on her lips. "I'm well aware that shares are not blank papers, but I don't think asking for 5% is unreasonable. As you mentioned, I am the fastest-rising producer with a solid portfolio. Do you think I would be desperate for a record label?"

Miaoyi was no fool; she understood her value in the electronic music industry.

"But... 5% of shares is not a small number. Even if I am the founder and the boss, it's impossible to decide on such a significant matter quickly. How about 1% to start? We can at least do that much." Although prepared for this, he finally realized the complexity of the situation.

"Do you really undervalue me that much? If you can spare 1%, you can at least spare 4%, right?" Miaoyi gave a little, but refused to back down.

"Ms. TMY, We're running a business here. We can't just create more money out of thin air like that. How about 2.5%? That's treating you like a mature producer." Realizing he was on the losing side, he decided to cut her some slack and sweeten his offer.

"Like a mature producer? Don't make me laugh. I know you understand my value; your offers are the bare minimum! 3.5%" Still refusing, Miaoyi stood her ground.

"Ok, the highest I can go is 3%. This is my upper limit, and I won't go any higher." Finally deciding this had gone on long enough, he put his foot down. "Furthermore, if you join, I might be willing to mentor you personally, acting as your private electronic music teacher."

"Pfft, an electronic music teacher?" Miaoyi couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Are you serious?"

"Yes..." he replied, not seeing anything wrong with his suggestion.

However, Tang Miaoyi found it hilarious, as if she had heard a good joke, and struggled to hide her laughter.

After a while, she said, "Forget about teaching me. You're the one who needs the lessons. If this deal goes through, I'll gladly be your teacher!"

"HUH?!?!?!?"