Chapter 144 : Little Calculations

The people at Starry Sky Company were indeed startled by the song 'Courage'.

It had only just gone online, yet whether it was sales or comments, they both far exceeded Zhang Fanzhi's previous songs, sufficient to show this song's potential.

Relying on the company's promotion and Zhang Fanzhi's current popularity, a newly released song couldn't possibly have such heat; the only explanation was that the song was extremely popular.

"Where did this Tao Lin and Zhang Xiyun find this treasure, to actually be able to continuously put out two songs like this?"

The manager of Starry Sky was somewhat baffled. The company had background information on all the highly well-known musicians in Zhaonan, yet there wasn't a single one named Chen Ran.

They didn't believe at all what Tao Lin said about some relative of Zhang Xiyun.

Although Tao Lin was the company's person, she had always been relatively biased towards Zhang Xiyun. Her saying this was nothing more than not wanting to leak the musician's information, afraid that Zhang Xiyun would lose her advantage.

At this time, Zhao Heting came seeking him out.

"I just feel Tao Lin doing this is inauthentic. Having such an outstanding musician and not introducing him to the company, but instead hiding and covering it up. She is, after all, a person of the company; doing this is damaging the company's interests."

"Manager, don't look at me like that, I'm really not abusing my professional power to avenge a personal grudge. I just feel her doing this is a bit too unsightly. Whenever I've gotten to know musicians with potential, I've always introduced them to the company; I've just never seen someone like Tao Lin."

Seeing Zhao Heting speak with righteous indignation, the manager tapped the desk and asked, "What she did is indeed not right!"

Zhao Heting said, "She is too unkind for this. No matter what, she shouldn't conceal the musician's information and fail to report it. This kind of person is biting the hand that feeds her, and it should be put an end to!"

"Your meaning is, you want me to punish Tao Lin? How to punish?" the manager raised his eyebrows and said.

Zhao Heting felt something wasn't quite right, and swallowed back the words he was preparing to say. Only then did he say:

"Forget about punishment, but the company currently lacks good song resources. Have her hand over Chen Ran's information, and persuade the other party to join our Starry Sky!"

The manager glanced at Zhao Heting, waved his hand and said, "We will consider this matter, you go out first."

Not getting a reply, Zhao Heting was somewhat dissatisfied in his heart, but was also helpless, and could only go out first.

Seeing Zhao Heting go out, the manager immediately shook his head.

He knew Zhao Heting's thoughts; as long as this musician named Chen Ran joined the company, the songs he wrote would no longer belong solely to Zhang Xiyun, but everyone would have a chance.

In the entire Starry Sky, the one with the biggest chance, aside from Zhang Xiyun, was now Lin Hanyun. Looking at it this way, his purpose was abundantly clear.

Zhao Heting didn't use petty tricks, but came up and spoke openly and aboveboard, putting the matter on the table, planning to let the company handle it.

Actually, the company had also thought about it. Because of the endorsement matter last time, they had compensated out quite a lot, and many musicians had cut off ties with the company; they currently severely lacked good songs.

Only good songs could make a singer popular.

Upon learning the results of 'Courage', the manager wished he could immediately make Tao Lin speak of Chen Ran's whereabouts, catch him, and lock him up to write songs.

If it were in the past, Starry Sky Company would definitely have tried every means possible to make Tao Lin speak up.

But the current Starry Sky didn't have this qualification.

For their kind of company, top-tier artists numbered just one or two. With one suddenly falling, and having paid out for many endorsements, their vitality was directly and severely injured; right now, it had a bit of the feeling of a lone pillar unable to support the weight.

Zhang Fanzhi's popularity was getting more and more prosperous now.

Judging from the current trend of the song 'Courage', after a period of time, her popularity would definitely rise to another level, faintly carrying the intention of becoming Starry Sky's pillar of support.

With Starry Sky's current situation, falling out with Zhang Fanzhi because of a musician would truly be a loss outweighing the gain.

Zhao Heting's little calculations were definitely going to fall through.

In the program crew, Chen Ran and Zhou Zhou were discussing the program. Zhou Zhou received a call, he said sorry to Chen Ran, and then walked over to answer the phone.

Just as it connected, he heard a man's voice coming from inside.

"Teacher Zhou Zhou, I watched your performance on the 'Zhou Zhou Show'. The guest our program lacks needs to be exactly like you. How about you consider it again?"

Zhou Zhou was slightly dazed. He had received this call last night. It was a program in the Saturday late-night slot that was recently inviting a permanent guest.

Originally, they had confirmed inviting a minor celebrity, but the director had noticed Zhou Zhou.

The persona this guest needed was being outspoken, calling a spade a spade, and conflicting with another guest's persona to cause controversy. It meshed perfectly with Zhou Zhou's performance on the program.

If Zhou Zhou had received such a program offer when he was at the Metropolitan Channel, he definitely would have accepted it immediately without a second word.

After all, this was the satellite TV channel. Doing one more program just meant being busy for two more days, but it would be of great help to his popularity.

However, he just thought for a moment and refused. The 'Zhou Zhou Show' was his foundation; he couldn't possibly fail to distinguish between the primary and the secondary.

Currently doing two programs, with most of his energy placed on the 'Zhou Zhou Show', taking into account 'Zhou Zhou Comes to Visit' was already relatively difficult.

If he took on another permanent program, could he still guarantee the quality?

Even though it was the program's chief director personally calling over right now, Zhou Zhou still politely declined:

"I am truly sorry, I really cannot split myself. Director, since you called over, you definitely know me. Besides the 'Zhou Zhou Show', I am also doing the Metropolitan Channel's 'Zhou Zhou Comes to Visit'. I need to be responsible for the programs I am on, so I can only disappoint the Director's good intentions."

Hearing this, the other side felt somewhat regretful. After all, Zhou Zhou's persona naturally fit the program's guest requirements. Moreover, Zhou Zhou was now considered a figure with heat; him being able to join would be the best.

The director said: "Teacher Zhou Zhou doesn't need to apologize like this. You really are an earnest person just like the rumors say. I hope there will be opportunities to cooperate in the future."

The phone hung up. Zhou Zhou touched his forehead and breathed a sigh of relief.

Don't look at how readily he refused; actually, he was also hesitating in his heart.

The Saturday late-night slot was a much better time slot than theirs now, and the viewership ratings weren't on the same level either. Going to do a program in that time slot would boost his fame greatly.

He was truly afraid he wouldn't be able to resist the temptation.

"Teacher Zhou Zhou, what are you..." Seeing his expression was somewhat strange, Chen Ran casually asked.

Zhou Zhou hesitated for a moment, and then spoke of what just happened.

Chen Ran truly hadn't expected someone to invite Zhou Zhou onto a program. Although it was within expectations, considering where the viewership ratings were just at, it was a bit too fast.

He thought for a bit and said, "The contract you signed with the program crew doesn't have these restrictions; whether you go or not depends on what you think. I personally do not recommend it. Our program is currently in its rising phase, and you have also gone viral on Weibo. In the future, the programs inviting you will definitely be more and better; you won't be lacking a single late-night slot."

After Zhou Zhou heard this, that tiny bit of regret in his heart also disappeared, and he smiled, "Teacher Chen is right."

Chen Ran sighed slightly with emotion. As the viewership ratings rose, their program's fame grew a lot, and it also attracted the attention of their peers.

In the past, their program was just a small, obscure entity; others didn't even know of the 'Zhou Zhou Show', so how could they come looking for Zhou Zhou?

For Zhou Zhou, this single late-night slot invitation was just the beginning.

The viewership ratings of the 'Zhou Zhou Show' wouldn't stop here, and Zhou Zhou's fame on Weibo would also grow bigger and bigger. His style inherently carried its own program effect; there would be better and bigger programs coming to invite him.