Backstage, Xu Qingyan was still somewhat perplexed the moment he heard Pei Muchan mention his name.
He didn't care about being popular per se, mainly because he had no intention of being a singer-songwriter.
Only singers and singer-songwriters worry about songs being hits while they remain unknown; songwriters simply don't need to. Besides, he could handle both lyrics and melody all by himself and still produce high-quality works continuously.
It wouldn't matter if the songs were hits but the songwriter wasn't; you'd still rake in cash by the sackful.
"Popular" is relative—well-known songwriters do gain some fame, which can enhance their reputation. But ultimately, it all comes down to the quality of the songs themselves.
The reputation is just an "extra charge," like a flashy sign to impress others, a safety net for song sales. For instance, even if the songs go to lesser-known artists, audiences might still buy them because of the songwriter.