Chapter 48

  Backstage, in the artist's resting room.

  Qī Yì Chén sat on the dressing table with his legs crossed, the messy eyebrow pencil and powder being swept aside in a mess. He lifted his head from the phone screen, slightly lowering it to look at Luó Fēi sitting across from him.

  "How many times have you died?" he asked.

  Luo Fei irritably quit the mobile game and handed it over to a girl who was watching from the side: "Fifth time."

  He is very talented in games and has never been defeated before, but today something strange happened. In a simple round, he couldn't get through five times in a row.

  "Calm down," said Qi Yichen, "Didn't Little Pu call Li Jin? Li Jin will definitely have a way to deal with it."

  Luo Fei nodded and touched his pocket, wanting to smoke, but remembered that all his cigarettes had been confiscated by Li Jin, so he could only awkwardly withdraw his hand.

  Today's event was previously mentioned by Li Jin, the official debut of internationally renowned luxury goods in China, with a lot of gimmicks and exposure. It is a rare opportunity for newcomers like them to perform on such a stage. Therefore, Li Jin did not mind the performance fee too much, and after the market department submitted the contract, he readily agreed to let the top eight students come and sing.

  They had just finished singing three songs when the other side informed them that the top eight students were only there to warm up, and today's main event was the ribbon-cutting ceremony, with the guest of honor being Heavenly King Shu Mu.

  Luo Fei wasn't a fool, and seeing Xiao Pu's flustered eyes, he immediately knew that something had gone wrong.

  The promised exposure opportunity is gone, and the performance fee has to be split with the company, leaving them with little money. Even Shu Muzhi Wang had to wait for a long time, and the organizer asked them to perform again. Under the triple pressure, the trainees complained endlessly, although they didn't dare to openly discuss the company, but their private whispers were already unstoppable.

  Luo Fei couldn't help but worry about Li Jin.

  The students wouldn't think it's so complicated, they just know that Li Jin called them over, and when they came, things turned out like this.

  "Lai Ge is very capable," the girl beside him put away her phone and smiled at Luo Fei, "he will definitely handle things well, I have confidence in him."

  The girl's name is Xiao Susu, who is nineteen years old in two months. She is one of the three artists under Li Jin's management. As they belong to the same agent, she has a good relationship with Luo Fei and Qi Yichen.

  In fact, Qi Yichen sometimes felt that when she looked at Luo Fei's eyes, they were more passionate than when she looked at her own.

  "No dating without my permission." Li Jin had warned them on their first day of signing, but it seemed that Su Su's sister didn't take it to heart.

  Luo Fei turned his head and glanced at Xiao SuSu, then sat back in his original position: "I also... to him"

  Bang!

  The door was suddenly pushed open.

  Li Jin's figure appeared at the door.

  Luo Fei's back stiffened suddenly.

  "Brother Lei!" Xiao Pu rushed over like a lifesaving straw.

  Li Jin's expression was cold and distant as he dodged him, scanning the rest room.

  Eight students, two assistants, ten people with twenty eyes stared at him motionlessly.

  "I apologize to everyone for the inconvenience today. I just went to understand the situation with the organizer, and we will explain what happened when we get back. Let me tell you about the follow-up arrangements directly."

  Ten pairs of eyes lit up at once.

  Compared with the reason, everyone is more concerned about the next arrangement.

  "After all, we are not a one-time deal, and we still need to maintain our cooperative relationship in the future. So what I mean is, let's not make things awkward between us. Later on, I hope everyone can go back on stage again and help the organizers keep the event going." Li Jin paused for a moment, and a female student at the makeup table looked up with dissatisfaction, just about to raise an objection, but was glared down by him, "Of course, we won't let everyone work for nothing."

  The house is as quiet as death.

  Li Jin continued: "The organizer agreed to add 70% of the appearance fee for everyone, as a reward for everyone's extra performance. This money will not be paid to the company, I will take charge and distribute it to everyone."

  "Really?" Everyone couldn't believe it.

  According to the contract, the company will take half of the trainee's appearance fee, so if the company doesn't take a single cent from the 70% appearance fee, then everyone...

  Made a fortune!

  "This master I can still handle." Lei Jin smiled.

  "That's awesome!" Qi Yichen jumped down from the dressing table, "No problem, isn't it just singing? We usually sing a song while taking a bath, so let's just treat the stage as a bathroom, scrubbing and making money at the same time, how cool is that?"

  "Go away, who wants to take a bath in public..."

  Everyone burst out laughing.

  Luo Fei didn't laugh.

  He stood up and gazed at Li Jin from a distance.

  How are you?

  I'm fine.

  Li Jin nodded at him.

  "But I'm really hungry, can I eat something before going on stage?" Suddenly someone raised their hand.

  "The host didn't provide lunch?" asked Lai Kam.

  "It's said that we had agreed beforehand that we would bring our own food and drinks." Xiaopu wasn't quite sure either.

  Li Jincheng sighed, this area is a high-end business district, and it's usually upscale Western restaurants. There is only one fast food restaurant that is convenient and affordable, but the location is hidden and doesn't provide take-out service.

  He turned around: "You watch the scene, I'll go buy some back."

  "I'll go."

  "You won't find it." Li Jin waved his hand and walked out the door.

  Just walked a few steps, someone caught up.

  "Xiao Jin," Luo Fei grasped his arm, "what's going on?"

  Li Jin raised his head: "Luo Fei, I've been schemed against." His face was somewhat pale, making Luo Fei's heart ache, "That contract has a problem, the one they showed me is completely different from the one provided by the organizer in terms of details."

  "Who's counting on you?" Lu Fei was anxious, "Are they still... us?"

  Even if Li Jin deliberately concealed it, Luo Fei knew that his situation in the company was not as smooth as it seemed.

  "I'm not sure." Li Jing forced a smile. "So I thought I'd go out and get some fresh air, think this thing through carefully."

  "I'll go with you," said Luo Fei.

  "Don't be silly, you still have to go on stage." Li Jin gave him a slanted glance.

  Luo Fei's words were stuck in his throat. As the most popular student, he indeed couldn't escape the fate of going on stage: "Xiao Jin, how did you manage to negotiate that 70% appearance fee? Did they make things difficult for you?"

  That's not a small amount of money, and the organizer is not a printing press, how can it be said that adding money will add money.

  "They have emergency funds to deal with unexpected situations." Li Jin said calmly, "Originally, they just cheated us over, and didn't invite other artists. If we leave, they'll be left with nothing. So even if the lion opens its mouth wide, they'll still have to agree."

  He then smiled complacently after finishing speaking.

  Luo Fei couldn't laugh.

  The other party is not some small-time performer from a second- or third-tier city who can be intimidated with threats. The other party is the person in charge of an international big-name brand, and if they say one word that doesn't go well, it's a permanent blacklist.

  While Li Jin not only withdrew from the whole body, but also won more than 70% of the appearance fee, it is difficult to say that it is not easy.

  "What's with the long face? Idiot." Li Jin patted Ruo Fei's shoulder, "Hurry back to touch up your makeup, you'll be going on stage soon."

  Camel doesn't move.

  "Go quickly!" Lí Jǐn's face turned cold, "Don't tell me you also want to make trouble for me?"

  Luo Fei gritted his teeth, feeling angry, heartbroken and guilty, with a multitude of emotions causing his cheeks to flush red. But in the end, he said nothing, merely responding with a heavy "yes" before silently walking back to the locker room.

  "Humming."

  The phone in the pocket came with a slight vibration.

  Li Jing Bei turned around and took out her phone.

  On the screen, Bei Fuming had only sent a few words.

  "See you on site, and also, meeting tonight."

  Who is calculating against him? Isn't it obvious?

  Li Jin smiled and put her phone back in her pocket.

  The moment he saw the contract held by the organizer, he knew that he had been really blackened by his own people.

  The contract held by the organizer is in English and its content is completely different from the Chinese version I saw.

  He quietly took a photo and sent it to Bai Fuming, then went alone to negotiate with the person in charge of the event, after several rounds of mental battles, he managed to get 70% of the appearance fee.

  What a narrow victory.

  But this is not the end.

  Li Jin knew that tonight's meeting was the real deal. Old scores and new grudges would be settled together tonight.

  He pulled his windbreaker tighter around his neck and walked resolutely into the wind.

  At that time, he still did not know that such a small trap would brew up such a storm afterwards.