The Pro

Meeting a true bigwig like An Du Lian, especially when pulled in by his daughter, Qiuying, wasn't something one could stay calm about. Any claim of not being nervous would be a lie.

But, as Miaoyi pondered further, a moment of realization dawned upon her... Why was she getting all worked up about it? Sure, she might not be as blindly self-assured anymore—the "rod of confidence" no longer afflicting her—but wasn't this too much?

Was there any reason for her to be nervous? Most likely, An Du Lian was simply considering her as his daughter's friend—just that, nothing more.

Perfectly ordinary.

That crucial realization struck Miaoyi—the anxiety and unexplainable apprehension was instantly diminished.

"Oh, and Miaoyi, if you don't mind, I have a question for you." An Du Lian, having shifted his complete attention to dinner matters, retained a thoroughly friendly, uncle-like disposition. It was just a casual query that slipped out inadvertently.

"Uncle An, please, go ahead," Miaoyi responded with a gracious smile, projecting a politeness that left no room for critique.

This happened to be one of Miaoyi's strengths. Despite her usual slightly quirky and laid-back demeanour, she had a knack for adapting astonishingly well to different situations.

"Well, here's the deal. Concerning the electronic music industry, I've actually taken some time to delve into it lately, gaining an all-around understanding of various facets. Long story short, I don't oppose the idea of Qiuying and you pursuing electronic music careers. The outlook is fairly promising, to say the least. Moreover, it seems that in the current domestic electronic music scene, you, as a rising star, have carved out a significant presence. Your achievements at such a young age are commendable. Even 'Uncle An' didn't have accomplishments like yours back in the day," An Du Lian stated with a hearty chuckle.

"Uncle An, your praise is truly too kind," Miaoyi responded with modesty, her humility evident. "Actually, even if I hadn't stepped forward, eventually, given enough time, a different person would have emerged."

She wasn't about to take in such praise so easily, and these were words she had consistently employed in her conversations with others.

An Du Lian gave a sigh tinged with helplessness. "We're the only ones here. Miaoyi, aren't my words still accurate? Since your emergence, how many people in China remain invested in that outdated fourth-rate electronic music? The electronic music sector has experienced significant turbulence recently. You've revitalized a decaying industry and brought fresh blood and life to it. It's begun moving so swiftly that if you can't keep up with the new electronic music trend you're leading, being left behind is inevitable."

"Currently, numerous producers have faced steep falls from grace, like flowers that bloom one day and wither the next. In a flash, they're inconsequential. This is a persistent issue in the entertainment industry, much like the business world. It's like a silent battlefield hidden beneath the smoke of gunpowder."

For a moment, Miaoyi found herself at a loss for words. She understood that An Du Lian was speaking the truth.

The atmosphere in the room unintentionally grew more serious as they talked. The topic took a different turn.

Miaoyi truly didn't know how to respond.

"But this way, you will easily offend people," An Du Lian noted Miaoyi's initial silence and continued without waiting for a response, his smile persistent as he proceeded,

"Though your appearance shines as a savior bringing brilliant light, injecting vitality into the once-silent electronic music industry, there's a saying: 'The path to riches is no different from killing one's parents.'"

"For example, let's compare the current electronic music market to a market square."

"In a market where there's demand for top-tier goods but only mediocre goods available, you can imagine that even with a high demand for quality, when the market is flooded with subpar peddlers selling mediocre goods, this situation persists."

"However, an unexpected opportunity changes everything. In such circumstances, change occurs. The long-awaited high-quality goods emerge, responding to the market's demand. Everyone rushes to buy them. What are the consequences?"

"This results in the once-popular mediocre goods losing demand overnight. The business of the subpar peddlers can't sustain. At this point, these peddlers have two options: either follow the lead of top-tier peddlers, working hard to procure high-quality goods, no longer selling outdated goods that no one wants and instead making profits from sought-after goods, or pack up and leave, disengaging from the trade altogether. Does this scenario bring to mind the current state of the electronic music world?"

"Yes..." Miaoyi nodded. She had to concede that while An Du Lian's words were succinct, they directly highlighted the core problem. Among these, there were numerous aspects Miaoyi had never known, let alone considered.

One could only say, when a pro speaks, they cut right to the core...

"So, here's the question." An Du Lian's smile was warm as he poured himself a fresh drink. Taking a leisurely sip, he continued, "Do you think the mediocre peddlers would be grateful to the top-tier peddlers who changed the market and brought new life to it, or would they try everything to eliminate them? Sometimes, heroes become the most hated, suspected, and feared individuals."

"I understand, Uncle An..." This was a topic Miaoyi could speak about with authority. She nodded with a tinge of resignation, "I've been targeted and implicated by others on more than one occasion."

"So, have you ever considered making changes or amassing more leverage for yourself? Even if you're not thinking about your own future, wouldn't it be the same for the sake of your career?" An Du Lian smiled. "Sometimes, simply having a strong hand can alleviate a lot of troubles."

"Huh?" Miaoyi tilted her head, puzzled by the sudden shift in conversation. While she could understand what An Du Lian had just said, the turn of the discussion left her baffled. Each of the sentences made sense individually, but she couldn't follow the bigger picture from the pro: "Could you please clarify, Uncle An..."

"I've heard that apart from signing contracts with East Records and various major platforms like Tianyou, you and Qiuying don't have any other affiliations, is that correct?"

"Yes..." While Miaoyi wasn't entirely sure where An Du Lian was heading with this, she still nodded in agreement.

Even if she didn't understand, she owed respect to the pro...

And now, the pivotal moment was upon them. An Du Lian unveiled a bombshell: "So, Miaoyi, have you ever thought about going solo and launching your own company?"

From previous research and various sources, An Du Lian had a clear understanding of the current state of the electronic music industry in China. Thus, he carefully considered and weighed his words before discussing this topic with Miaoyi.

As he had earlier explained, the current electronic music scene practically danced to Miaoyi's tune. This seemingly delicate young girl, with her skilled hands, had crafted a handful of remarkable tracks that had single-handedly elevated China's electronic music scene. She was now even ranked among the top 100 DJs.

At present, the electronic music industry was in a phase of unprecedented growth, shedding its former negative reputation and welcoming an influx of fresh talent. Almost all newcomers were naturally gravitating toward Miaoyi's style.

So, if there was one thing to say, An Du Lian's words boiled down to a single statement, capturing the essence of the matter: Tang Miaoyi was the driving force behind all these positive changes. This young woman was the epicentre!

Otherwise, did anyone truly believe that East Records and all those major platforms were acting blindly? They were offering all kinds of "anti-competition clauses" for a reason. It wasn't just for the sake of spending money or due to Miaoyi's good looks, was it?

The crux of the matter lay with Tang Miaoyi.