161. Chapter 160: Moonlight and Cat’s Journey (Part One)
“Wow, so many companies!”
Gan Yan Yu muttered.
Lin Tian leaned out the window and saw that the car had entered a wide boulevard lined with towering buildings. These weren’t just any buildings, but the headquarters of some of the biggest talent agencies.
Starshower Media, Colorful Records, Dynamic Stars, Fine Sounds… Even someone as uninterested in the entertainment industry as Lin Tian had heard of these names.
So, Qingzhou really lives up to its reputation as a city full of online celebrities with a flourishing entertainment scene.
“Lin Tian, look over there.”
Gan Yan Yu shook Lin Tian’s hand and pointed outside the window.
Following her gaze, Lin Tian spotted a huge building emblazoned with [SYC] on its face.
“Oh, this company is here too,” he noted.
Back in high school, Lin Tian had encountered a helpful uncle, Zhong Weian from this company, which provided him with top-notch equipment for his video shoots.
In a way, this uncle was a mentor that helped set him on his path.
After Gan Yan Yu’s parents coughed up the cash, Lin Tian upgraded all his gear and returned the old stuff to Uncle Zhong. As a gesture of thanks, he even treated him to dinner.
He briefly considered paying a rental fee, but decided against it, thinking: “Why ruin a great story with money?”
“Have you worked with SYC before, Teacher Lin?” asked He Zhi Chen.
“Yeah, they lent us some equipment.”
“Heh, Zhong Weian!” He Zhi Chen said confidently.
“You know him?” Lin Tian asked.
“In the music biz, everyone knows him. He used to be a talent scout and has launched many famous artists under the SYC banner. Now he’s the music director. Quite the impressive guy.”
“Hm, I see.”
“So how did you meet him?”
“At a restaurant where I was waitering. He offered to sponsor me as a pro musician, but I hadn’t even got TikTok going then, so I refused.”
“Right call,” said He Zhi Chen.
“Really? Why?”
Lin Tian got curious. He wanted to know what this rival would say about SYC.
“HAH! You know how it goes. Sign a bunch of kids, promote a couple, bury the rest, rinse and repeat. It’s all public knowledge by now.”
He Zhi Chen said honestly, making Lin Tian a bit surprised.
At that time, he hadn’t yet put out any content and had no clout, just raw talent. Signing then probably would’ve been a bad deal.
It might not have been as dire as being totally screwed over, but he’d still end up a patsy.
“What about your company though?” Lin Tian asked.
“Isn’t Yinyue equally shady?”
“There’s no getting around those practices. It’s a give-and-take. Yinyue does better though. I prefer to talk dreams rather than dirty deals,” said He Zhi Chen solemnly.
As the car drove over speed bumps, entering the “Yinyue Talent Agency” gate, the car jolted a bit.
Entering, they faced an old, imposing building.
Out front, young people peered around, looking up with excitement. Probably fans waiting for their idols.
Sometimes, Lin Tian felt envious. Fans only need one star to light up their world, whereas others might need weeks of grind or months of saving for fleeting joy.
The young fans outside saw Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu, whispered to each other, unsure who they were.
From their looks, seemed like some new hotshot, but didn’t match known faces.
Not missing a chance, several snapped photos, hoping to spot a big name.
Lin Tian instinctively shielded Gan Yan Yu behind him.
“Let’s go,” said He Zhi Chen.
Inside, a neat, sophisticated woman greeted them in the lobby.
“Hey, guys!” she said.
“Big Brother Zhen, this must be…”
Spotting Lin Tian and Gan Yan Yu, she looked puzzled and uncertain.
“Teacher Lin Tian and Teacher Gan Yan Yu — the legendary ‘Moonlight and Cat’!”
He Zhi Chen introduced.
“They are Moonlight and Cat?!”
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
“Quite a youthful duo!”
“She’s very well-mannered,” commented the lady.
“Such a nice girl,” said Pu Yidan fondly, in a Sichuan accent. In Sichuanese, “nice” signifies approval, especially of someone’s looks.
Pu Yidan had gotten quite the shock hearing they’d bring in the mysterious “Moonlight and Cat.”
Despite meticulous preparations, the moment she met them, realized she’d come up short.
(To Be Continued)
