Chapter 138: Unrestrained and Fearless

Chapter 138: Unrestrained and Fearless

Meng Xiaozhou said, “I have estimated our company’s domestic value. The current brand value is about 1.5 billion RMB.”

Chen Feng nodded. “Good.”

“At the same time, according to the contract, Katie must give us half of the copyright income she earns from this song. Preliminary estimates suggest this income will reach about ten million USD in a year.”

Chen Feng’s eyes lit up. “That’s sixty million RMB. Good.”

“Also, well-known singers and music producers from over there have been proactively contacting us, hoping to collaborate. We have officially opened the European and American markets. As long as you and Zhong Lei can maintain the same level of creativity, the potential copyright earnings from there will significantly increase the company’s value. This additional overseas value totals up to two hundred million USD.”

“The overseas influence will, in turn, boost our position in the domestic market. So, overall, the company’s current potential valuation should be around three billion RMB.”

Chen Feng narrowed his eyes.

He was very happy.

He had finally become truly rich.

With money, he could do many things.

Although these were just valuations, and the money was still in the company—needing recognition and payment from some foolish, rich patron to be realized—his own pockets were still empty. But that didn’t stop him from happily daydreaming about the future.

He firmly told himself again that copying songs was definitely the right decision.

There was no better, more convenient, or more stable way to get rich quickly.

In just a few months, he was almost catching up to Kendall Jenner.

After Meng Xiaozhou left, Zhong Lei, wearing an evening gown, walked up.

Chen Feng raised his glass to her. “What are you doing up here? You should be the brightest star today.”

Zhong Lei shook her head. “It’s actually not that interesting. You know I don’t like these occasions. I just want to write songs quietly.”

“Then why did you come today?”

“Wasn’t it to help you expand your influence? Look at that reporter. Once he publishes the photos and videos from our celebration banquet, it will definitely benefit the company, right?”

“Right. But I feel like you’re not very happy?”

Chen Feng suddenly asked.

Zhong Lei nodded. “You still understand me best. I’m very grateful that Katie made my song popular, but actually, I…”

“I know what you’re thinking. You’re still not quite satisfied. And you feel that if you had sung this song yourself, the effect would have been even better. Katie is excellent, but she still couldn’t reach the highest level of ‘Self-Combustion,’ right?”

Zhong Lei was stunned.

After a long while, she smiled bitterly.

“How do you always understand me so well?”

Chen Feng turned his face away. “Perhaps it’s fate.”

The reason he understood was because he already knew.

Five hundred years later, it wasn’t Katie Swift’s version of “Self-Combustion” that influenced Sergey.

It was the second version, re-performed by Zhong Lei herself five years later, after the copyright license expired.

Zhong Lei’s intuition was always this terrifying.

Her judgment was completely correct.

This was all within Chen Feng’s expectations.

Only Zhong Lei, and it must be Zhong Lei, could interpret the most perfect “Self-Combustion.”

To re-sing this song, she spent five years in self-reflection, earnestly learning standard English pronunciation until it was as good as her native language.

What she pursued was never imitation; she just wanted to perfectly express the emotions she intended, more accurately, using the language of another culture and way of thinking.

She was always so meticulous, tolerating no flaws.

That’s why her re-performance five years later could elevate this song to another level.

More young people and ordinary folks in Europe and America would actively learn Chinese, eager to grasp the emotions in the Chinese version of “Self-Combustion.”

This greatly accelerated the maturity of a world communication model where Chinese and English coexisted, playing a role in the perfect fusion of human thinking—a role contemporary people couldn’t understand or believe.

The historical significance of this song and Zhong Lei herself was immense. Just imagining it made Chen Feng’s scalp tingle.

But now, Zhong Lei seemed to want to confess her feelings to him.

Chen Feng could sense her hesitation.

So-called celibacy, to some extent, was just unwillingness to settle when one couldn’t find their true soulmate.

Chen Feng completely dared not look at Zhong Lei’s face.

Sometimes, just a meeting of eyes could spark something unexpected.

Perhaps someday in the future, he could calmly accept everything.

Then, at that time, he could set aside his worries and seriously consider his own feelings and life.

As for now, perhaps he didn’t have the talent, and he knew he lacked the courage and willpower. Simply racking his brains to think about what more he could do for humanity—a race doomed to extinction a thousand years later—already took all his strength.

When he first traveled a thousand years into the future, he was so resistant to that responsibility.

Because he clearly knew he couldn’t shoulder it.

Chen Feng often said in his heart, “I really don’t want to be the Savior.”

But tragedies kept happening again and again. After all, he was just an ordinary person, unable to turn a blind eye to everything.

He always found himself unconsciously thinking, maybe this time I can do a little more; maybe this time I can try a little harder. The end result was sinking deeper and deeper, unable to extricate himself.

Chen Feng wasn’t sure if this was his nature; it just seemed like everything naturally led to this point.

He also wasn’t sure if everyone in the world could be like this, or if only he could.

But since fate chose me, perhaps this is the only talent this ordinary me possesses.

Just like what Ou Guohua said in anger.

“This is a historical responsibility.”

Even if he was never understood by the times.

Just as much as Zhong Lei admired and appreciated Chen Feng, Chen Feng admired and appreciated Zhong Lei.

He never told anyone about his weaknesses.

Even though he deliberately forgot, deep down, Chen Feng occasionally had uncontrollable sadness he wanted to share with someone.

He also wanted to find a support for his loneliness.

Zhong Lei was the best choice for that support.

He feared that in this quiet night, just one more look at her, and he wouldn’t be able to suppress the emotions deep within.

Chen Feng ran away.

He went back to the center of the celebration banquet crowd.

He raised his hand and waved it in the air. The noisy crowd below quickly quieted down, including Lu Wei, who had come as a special guest to show support, watching him with sparkling eyes.

Chen Feng took a deep breath. “Next, I’m going to announce a few very important matters. Everyone, listen up.”

Zhong Lei also came down from the balcony.

Chen Feng smiled and waved to her. “Our pillar, come over here quickly.”

Zhong Lei rubbed her eyes, a hint of confusion in her gaze, and was pulled into the crowd by Meng Wanyue.

The company’s current momentum was very positive. We also received many invitations for creative collaborations, but in the short term, our main creative resources would still be focused on the artists within our company.

The two signed artists, Qin Lu and Ou Junlang, who lacked independent creative abilities, clapped wildly.

Chen Feng smiled and continued, “At the latest, three days from now, I will complete all ten songs for Qin Lu’s first album. However, I am only responsible for writing the songs. The specific recording, overall packaging, marketing, and promotion work will rely on everyone pooling their wisdom and efforts.”

Everyone clapped again and congratulated Qin Lu.

He Jiaqi and Chen Li were extremely envious.

Look at their boss, how effortless it was for him to promote someone, without needing to search for songs everywhere.

Some singers couldn’t gather enough songs for an album even in one or two years, but Chen Feng was different; he wrote for you personally, and it only took a few days!

It was just too much.

After giving Qin Lu the good news, it was Ou Junlang’s turn next.

“I will complete Ou Junlang’s second album six days from now.”

Fatty Ou’s face was practically blooming with a smile.

What could be better than seeing Star Peak Entertainment continue to increase in value, becoming so high that it made his father’s heart ache and he couldn’t afford to buy it?

Of course, it was stepping up personally to accomplish this thing!

At this time, Zheng Rou, the agent of Lu Wei, who was relatively more familiar, proactively raised her hand and interjected, “Our Weiwei also wants songs!”

Chen Feng nodded with a smile, “Okay, no problem.”

He casually agreed.

It was nothing.

Lu Wei nudged Zheng Rou, wearing a somewhat embarrassed expression, but did not deny it.

Afterward, Chen Feng walked up to Lu Wei and Zheng Rou and whispered, “Sister Weiwei, aren’t you more inclined towards independent creation? Um, I just wrote one for you recently, right?”

He really didn’t mind selling songs, but he was concerned about something else. Lu Wei herself had strong creative abilities. If he was too accommodating to her demands, would it suppress her own talent instead? That would be truly regrettable.

Lu Wei crossed her arms, with a slight curve at the corner of her mouth, forming a subtle arc. “What, don’t want to write for me?”

“Haha, that’s not it.”

“No one ever has enough of truly good songs. Sometimes I really envy you and Zhong Lei’s talent. But I believe singing your songs will give me new insights.”

Chen Feng nodded, “That’s true indeed. Well then…”

“No, Weiwei, let me write for you.”

Just then, Zhong Lei walked over and said decisively, “Chen Feng, you’ve been busy enough lately. Meng Xiaozhou said you’re also writing a movie script, right?”

Chen Feng originally wanted to say that he had only mentioned this to Meng Xiaozhou in passing and hadn’t started writing yet, so he wasn’t that busy.

But he took another look at Zhong Lei’s eyes and firmly nodded, “Yes, I am indeed writing a script.”

“Then it is quite inconvenient for you. We’ll trouble Lei Lei then.”

Lu Wei said cheerfully, showing no reservations at all.

Zhong Lei had just written “Self-Combustion” and proactively offered to write a song for Lu Wei. This indeed wasn’t rash or presumptuous; it was even doing Lu Wei a big favor.

But the intricacies within were not something to be discussed openly.

Chen Feng vaguely knew, but he didn’t want to concern himself with so much.

His mind couldn’t hold so many matters, especially romantic entanglements.

Whoever loved whom, let them sort it out.

Now Zhong Lei was a fully signed artist of Star Peak Entertainment. The expenses for her usual training and studies were all covered by Star Peak Entertainment.

The costs for her creations and song recordings were also transferred to Star Peak Entertainment.

Therefore, according to the contract, part of the copyright for the songs Zhong Lei wrote belonged to her personally, and another part naturally belonged to Star Peak Entertainment. So, whether Chen Feng personally created them or Zhong Lei wrote songs for Lu Wei, the company would benefit.

Chen Feng just marveled at the wonder of fate.

In the timeline two iterations ago, he forcefully took a song that Zhong Lei had written for Lu Wei. After many twists and turns, Zhong Lei was still giving it back to her.

However, Chen Feng’s unconventional tactics knew no bounds.

This time, due to enhanced memory, the collection of works he prepared when he returned was immense.

As a professional, heartless copycat who targeted familiar people, he didn’t spare Lu Wei because of their friendship; instead, he gave her extra attention.

Lu Wei’s creative surge stage was during the era of being a girl. After she turned twenty-five, she only created two truly classic songs in total.

Chen Feng intended to transplant both entirely and give them to Qin Lu to sing.

He found a very sufficient reason for himself.

Perhaps he could force Lu Wei, who originally had a ranking around one thousand, to unleash her potential and break into the top hundred?

I am doing a good deed!

When everything became habitual and natural, Chen Feng’s psychological burden when performing these operations became lower and lower.

Gradually, in terms of copying songs, he became unrestrained and unconventional.

At this moment, another female singer who had come along with He Jiaqi to ride the wave of popularity finally couldn’t hold back.

She raised her hand and asked loudly, “Teacher Chen, what about us? How long exactly is the ‘short term’ you mentioned just now? We all really want to buy songs too.”

Everyone immediately focused intently.

These artists had no prior cooperation with Star Peak Entertainment and were not as familiar with Chen Feng.

They could only wave their checks and wait for Teacher Chen’s mercy, so they were particularly concerned about the duration of this “short term.”

In everyone’s understanding, normally, when someone like Chen Feng said “short term,” it should refer to within one to two years.

As long as it didn’t exceed three years, everyone could still accept it and hold onto hope of waiting.

But the pace Chen Feng mentioned just now was too fast: three days to finish Qin Lu’s album, and another three days for Ou Junlang’s.

This raised inappropriate covetousness and expectations in everyone’s hearts.

Before stating his position, Chen Feng glanced at Zhong Lei a little longer and pondered briefly.

Although what he was about to say would somewhat contradict Zhong Lei, Chen Feng could not change his plan to cash in and make money as soon as possible.

Chen Feng cleared his throat and said in a melancholic tone, “I have indeed been busy lately. After finishing the first two albums, I still need to spend about ten or fifteen days writing a movie script. It will take at least twenty more days before I can start creating more songs.”

As soon as he said this, the large banquet hall fell completely silent.

Finally, Lu Wei broke the silence.

“Then you’ll still write one for me by then, right?”

Chen Feng turned to look at Lu Wei, then at Zhong Lei.

The corner of his eye also glanced toward Qin Lu. “Okay, no problem.”

No one knew how many convoluted thoughts were in his heart when he said this.