Chapter 73: Mother-in-Law's Demands
Her boyfriend’s monologue left Miss Liu feeling both sweet and annoyed.
She glared at her boyfriend, chiding, “You didn’t say that before!”
“What about Auntie’s strategy being right, entering the music industry, Sony is indeed the best choice.”
Li Chen laughed, “Xixi, you’re taking that out of context.”
“That was then, this is now. At that time, we were at most friends.”
“What did you want me to say? Should I have started dictating your life the first time I met Auntie?”
Miss Liu raised her chin, smugly saying, “Then why are you changing your mind now?”
“Asking the obvious!” Li Chen said, annoyed.
Miss Liu’s eyes flickered, her expression suddenly changed, and she suppressed a laugh.
“But this was my mother’s decision for me. Aren’t you afraid of offending her?”
Liu Xiaoli, standing behind Li Chen, glared at her daughter.
Li Chen saw the sly look on his girlfriend’s face.
Looking closely, he could clearly see Liu Xiaoli’s reflection in her pupils.
He secretly chuckled, realizing she was digging a pit for him.
“No matter who I offend, I have to speak the truth.”
“The dramas Auntie chose for you were very insightful.”
“They quickly accumulated unparalleled popularity for you.”
“However, entering the music industry would be unwise.”
“The music industry is now in its twilight, on a downward trend.”
“What do you mean by that?” Liu Xiaoli’s voice suddenly rang out from behind him.
Then she sat down opposite Li Chen and Miss Liu without being prompted.
Li Chen turned and stood up, seeing Liu Xiaoli with her long hair tied up, wearing a dark red shirt, her expression unreadable.
Li Chen was slightly ‘taken aback’.
“Auntie.”
Li Chen greeted her, while glancing at the somewhat gloating Miss Liu.
“Sit down, Li Chen. What did you mean just now about the music industry being on a downward trend?” Liu Xiaoli asked.
“You sit properly too, Xixi. What kind of posture is that?” Liu Xiaoli scolded her daughter again.
Miss Liu smiled, put on her sandals, and sat upright next to Li Chen.
Knowing she would ask this, Li Chen wasn’t flustered.
“Auntie, with the rapid development of the internet, piracy is rampant, and most record companies are losing money.”
“Take the most popular Jay Chou, for example.”
“From his 2001 album ‘Fantacy’ to last year’s ‘Qilixiang’.”
“While sales have grown year by year, the growth rate has already started to decline.”
“Although he hasn’t released an album this year yet.”
“But I dare say, his album sales this year will definitely plummet.”
“Why? Because besides rampant piracy, MP3s are popular now.”
“More and more people are accustomed to downloading songs online, and fewer and fewer people will buy records.”
“Even fewer will buy genuine ones.”
“And the rapid development of the internet will also give rise to a large number of explosively popular online singers.”
“For example, Yang Chengang last year.”
“You must have heard ‘Lao Shu Ai Da Mi’, right?”
Liu Xiaoli was startled, her brows slightly furrowed.
Li Chen continued.
“You spend tens of millions to release a record, and no one buys it.”
“Someone releases a single online, and millions download it.”
“I ask you, will record companies still spend money to produce records?”
Li Chen’s words left both mother and daughter stunned.
“Li Chen, how do you know all this?” Liu Xiaoli asked, puzzled.
“Last time, when I heard you, Auntie, say that Xixi wanted to develop in the music industry, I started paying attention to these things.”
Li Chen suddenly felt playful and said with a smile, “Auntie, do you believe it?”
“Perhaps Xixi will waste a year or two releasing a few albums.”
“They won’t sell as well as the single ‘the flowers of farewell’ that she hasn’t even released yet.”
Miss Liu couldn’t help but laugh; this was too much of a blow to her mother.
Liu Xiaoli said irritably, “So you mean for Xixi to give up on developing in the music industry?”
Li Chen shook his head and said, “Not give up, but temporarily focus all her energy on the big screen.”
“In the next few years, Chinese cinema will enter a period of rapid development.”
“How many people from other fields are crossing over, scrambling to get onto the big screen.”
“Jay Chou’s upcoming initial d is the best proof.”
“In a few more years, those who sing, tell crosstalk, perform skits, and write novels will all flock to it.”
“Xixi holds a good hand, but she wants to do the opposite.”
“Isn’t that crippling her own abilities?!”
Liu Xiaoli’s expression grew worse, but she couldn’t find a reason to refute him.
Miss Liu secretly poked her boyfriend.
Li Chen shook his head slightly, signaling her not to worry.
He was also doing it for Miss Liu’s sake, hoping Liu Xiaoli would listen.
His girlfriend’s team was too unprofessional.
From the manager to the styling team below, it was all about personal connections.
“Are you here today to tell me how to do things?” Liu Xiaoli questioned.
Li Chen shook his head and asked back, “Auntie, what right do I have to teach you?”
“However, different fields have their own expertise. When it comes to the entertainment industry, I have more say than you.”
“You’ve sacrificed a lot for Xixi over the years, and you’ve worked hard.”
“From now on, let me safeguard Xixi’s career.”
“After all, CEO Chen is not from the entertainment industry.”
“An outsider meddling in an insider’s business is a major taboo in the industry!”
“Red Star Wu’s team is completely a motley crew.”
Liu Xiaoli laughed in exasperation, “Only you are the regular army?”
“In what capacity are you telling me this?”
“Mom.” Miss Liu protested.
“Shut up!” Liu Xiaoli’s chest heaved, clearly very angry.
Li Chen patted his girlfriend’s hand, signaling her to calm down.
Then he turned and confidently said, “Auntie, right now I am Xixi’s friend!”
“Later, I will be her boyfriend.”
“And eventually, her husband!”
With one sentence, it was earth-shattering.
Miss Liu stared blankly at her boyfriend’s resolute profile, her heart pounding.
From the confident eyes of the young man before her, Liu Xiaoli seemed to see that same talented man from the past.
After a while, Liu Xiaoli, unable to withstand Li Chen’s gaze, stood up and said, “Come out with me.”
“I’m going too!” Miss Liu saw her mother wanted to talk to her boyfriend alone.
Fearing her boyfriend would be at a disadvantage, she stood up to go with them.
Li Chen chuckled inwardly, thinking, if she knew this, she wouldn’t have dug a pit for him earlier.
Li Chen held his girlfriend back and said with a smile, “Auntie won’t make things difficult for me. You just sit here quietly.”
Liu Xiaoli said indignantly, “I’m not a tigress; I won’t eat him!”
“Nothing’s even happened yet, and you’re already siding with him!”
Miss Liu smiled, and immediately quieted down.
After leaving the door, Li Chen followed Liu Xiaoli to the lawn outside the villa.
Liu Xiaoli stopped, turned around, her anger not as great as before.
She said calmly, “How long have you and Xixi been together?”
Li Chen knew their relationship couldn’t be hidden from Liu Xiaoli.
“One day short of a hundred days. That time I visited the set of ‘The Return of the Condor Heroes’ was when we truly expressed our feelings,” Li Chen said with a smile.
“At least you’re honest!” Liu Xiaoli said irritably.
“What you said just now sounds good, but no one can say for sure what will happen in the future.”
“Especially since you and Xixi are both in the entertainment industry, it’s full of too many variables.”
“Auntie, I…”
“Don’t be in a hurry to explain, let me finish what I have to say.” Liu Xiaoli raised a hand.
“Xixi has never fallen for anyone since she was little; you are the first.”
“Since she likes you, as her mother, I won’t break up the loving couple.”
Li Chen felt a sense of relief.
“But I hope that you two can observe proper etiquette before marriage, especially you!”
Li Chen inwardly muttered ‘Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey’.
“Isn’t it just against premarital sex!” Li Chen grumbled to himself!
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