Zhou Ziqing had been battling the unspoken rules of the industry ever since she entered the circle. She debuted from a talent show, and during the recording of the show, both the TV station executives and the mentors had extended “olive branches” to her.
Someone even conveyed a message to her that she could win the championship if she accepted the unspoken rules, but Zhou Ziqing refused. Later, with her extremely high popularity, she won third place in the program and thus entered the entertainment industry, signing with Maetian Entertainment.
At first, her career progressed smoothly, as she was a rare talent with an excellent personal image.
However, in the entertainment industry, outstanding external conditions are a double-edged sword, even somewhat a case of “no crime in the common man, but a crime to possess a jade.” Being good-looking is an advantage, but when you’re unable to defend your beauty, there are only two paths left: either compromise or be marginalized and put on ice.
Zhou Ziqing didn’t compromise, and naturally, she was marginalized and put on ice.
Having witnessed too many of the dark aspects of the entertainment industry, she actually found it hard to believe that Xiao Yinqiu could regain her freedom and have such great resources without giving anything in return.
She hadn’t felt comfortable getting to the bottom of it previously, but now, as things came to a head, she tentatively asked.
“Ziqing, what are you thinking about!”
“Would I even lie to you!”
Xiao Yinqiu was somewhat at a loss for words. She hadn’t expected her close friend to distrust that she had not accepted the unspoken rules.
“I just find it quite incredible that there are people in the entertainment industry who are really nice to you without setting conditions,” Zhou Ziqing couldn’t help but express her astonishment.
“Actually, it’s not without conditions. I also help him make money!”
“It’s supposed to be a mutually beneficial arrangement; it’s just that some people are too greedy and want more.”
An employee helping a company make money while receiving their deserved remuneration is a very normal thing. Yet, some bosses make additional demands, and if you don’t agree, they won’t even give you a chance to make money.
If everyone refused these additional demands, the so-called unspoken rules would not exist. But the problem now is that some people not only accept them willingly but even actively seek opportunities to be subjected to the unspoken rules, thus making those who refuse to compromise the odd ones out!
It’s quite ridiculous when you think about it, but such things have become the norm in the entertainment industry, so much so that Zhou Ziqing no longer believed in bosses who didn’t make additional demands.
“That Mr. Yang seems to be one of the rare good guys!” Zhou Ziqing gave her assessment.
“Actually, he has quite a few women around him; it’s just that he doesn’t do anything within the company!”
Xiao Yinqiu didn’t know that Yang Hao had indeed overstepped within the company. Xiong Xiaoyan, eager to progress, had voluntarily offered herself and had been turned by the System into a little cannon car.
“Alright, then.”
“I hope he continues the style he had at Maetian Entertainment.”
Although her future was still uncertain, Zhou Ziqing had at least kindled a glimmer of hope. If Mr. Yang truly continued his approach from Tianmei Media, she could really make a comeback.
The thought of a comeback had Zhou Ziqing’s blood racing. During the time she had been overshadowed, she had composed several songs, which she could release after her comeback!
In an apartment in Hucheng.
After finishing her call with Xiao Yinqiu, Zhou Ziqing ran to her studio “thump thump thump” to sort out the songs she had recently written.
Shortly after, the apartment door was opened by a woman, her roommate from university and confidante, as well as her agent, Ye Tingting.
During Zhou Ziqing’s competition days, Ye Tingting was already busy managing her fan club and handling makeup, borrowing clothes for styling, and other miscellaneous tasks. Later, she became Zhou Ziqing’s agent, and they both entered Maetian Entertainment together.
After Zhou Ziqing was put on ice, Ye Tingting, as her agent, had little work to do. Recently, apart from lobbying for higher-ups to give Zhou Ziqing a chance, she had secretly been in touch with other music companies to see if any were willing to pay a hefty penalty to terminate Zhou Ziqing’s contract.
After several days of hustling, the result was still fruitless.
The apartment was rented jointly by Ye Tingting and Zhou Ziqing. When she came back, Ye Tingting collapsed on the couch and, after chugging half a bottle of mineral water, she complained to Zhou Ziqing, who was busy in the studio, “Those damn executives, dressed to the nines, but all they do are the most disgusting deeds!”
“Damn it, today they even asked me if, after paying the termination fee, the two of us would accompany him!”
“One is not enough, he actually wants two. I really wanted to throw a cup of coffee in his face!!”
“Ziqing, are you even listening to me??”
When there was no response from the studio after waiting for a long time, Ye Tingting struggled to get up from the couch and started moving towards Zhou Ziqing’s studio while speaking.
After entering the room, she found her best friend intently sorting through the music she had previously written. Continue your adventure at empire
“Ziqing, there’s no need to work so hard!”
“You’re still bound by your contract for several more years!”
Ye Tingting sighed in frustration.
“Maetian Entertainment has been taken over!”
“If I’m lucky, I might be able to make a comeback soon!”
Hearing her friend’s voice, Ye Tingting turned around excitedly and said.
“What?”
“Maetian Entertainment has been taken over?”
“That’s impossible!”
Ye Tingting was first shocked, then shook her head in disbelief, “Such a big deal, and I haven’t heard a whisper of it. Where did you get this information?”
“Qiuqiu told me.”
“But this news hasn’t spread yet, so we need to keep it low-key.”
“Xiao Yinqiu?”
“How would someone from Tianmei know about our business at Maetian Entertainment?”