House Dad's Literary Life

Chapter 93 - Cynicism and Hypocrisy

Mo Fei participatedin a program recording on Xiangbei TV station, but Mo Xiaojuan didn’t followher. She had to go back to attend the monthly meeting of agents of Tianmei.Although she has the option of not coming to the meeting, Mo Xiaojuan attended itfor Mo Fei’s new album.

In thisagency, despite the fact that 40 or 50 singers and actors have been signed up,and there were more than 20 agents large and small, in fact, there was nodistribution of power at all. No matter whether it was a big or a small matter,it was still Sister Ling who has the final say.

It could beseen from the process of this meeting that it was basically Sister Lingintroducing, analyzing, and assigning tasks…

“Well,that’s almost all for today’s meeting. Do you have anything else to add?”Niu Meiling closed her notebook, clapped her hands and said.

Mo Xiaojuanhas been waiting for this sentence, she hurriedly raised her hand and stood up:“Sister Ling, I listen to your work arrangement for this month and thegeneral plan for the second half of the year. Why didn’t I see anything about MoFei’s new album?”

As soon as hervoice fell, humming sounds of discussion sounded in the conference room, andother agents whispered to each other, looking at Mo Xiaojuan with surprised,disdainful and even angry eyes.

In fact, MoXiaojuan could vaguely hear some of their discussions.

“Comeon, hasn’t she just released an album? Is she going to release an album again?”

"Her lastalbum obviously didn't do well, so why don't she reflect on it…”

“Thisis too much. She's relying on her top contract to bully us. Our Yueyue has beenwaiting in line for several years and has no plans to release an album. Sheonly sings a few old songs every year.”

“That'sright. At the beginning of the year, it was already agreed that we couldprepare a new album, but as soon as she came back and said she wanted to make acomeback, the whole company had to pick up songs for her, which she didn’t singvery well, and delayed other people’s work!”

To thesecomplaints, Mo Xiaojuan could only pretend not to hear.

There was nothingthat could be done about this. The entertainment industry was originally acruel world of survival of the fittest, and fairness should be matched withstrength.

Mo Fei, as aformer singer and the biggest star of Tianmei, she naturally has the bestresources and the highest priority in the company!

In otherwords, the company was willing to invest in Mo Fei, knowing that Mo Fei couldbring them more benefits!

Of course, no one expected that Mo Fei’s comeback album would be hastily released, resulting in the current collapse in her popularity.

If it wasn't for Mo Fei losing momentum^[1] now, if Mo Xiaojuan had put forward this request as before, those small agents wouldn't dare to criticize in front of her at all.

However, thistime, Niu Meiling didn't stop them. Instead, she waited until the discussionquieted down a little before she kindly said to Mo Xiaojuan, “Mo Fei, she'sgoing to release a new album now? Isn’t it a little hasty?”

Niu Meiling wasworthy of being one of the top agents in the industry. Facing her, Mo Xiaojuanfelt a lot of pressure and could only brace herself and say, “Sister Ling,I submitted an application to you the day before yesterday. Although Mo Fei’snew album is not in such a hurry as before, we should start collecting songsnow, right?”

“Oh, Iread your application.” Niu Meiling narrowed her eyes and said to MoXiaojuan, “You also mentioned that you already have two songs?”

Mo Xiaojuannodded hurriedly and said, “Yes, it's a song written by Mo Fei's fans. MoFei thought it was very good and wanted to include it in her future newalbum.”

For somereason, Mo Xiaojuan vaguely felt that she should not mention the name “Mu Li'ang”to Niu Meiling. So, she said it was a fan of Mo Fei's.

“Fans?” The other agents all sneered one after another, and they talked unscrupulously, “Do fans have such a great ability to write songs? I’m afraid Mo Fei's brain is muddled!”

In their view, Mo Fei must have lost her mind^[2], otherwise, how could she think that the songs written by fans can be arranged on her own albums? If fans have professional ability, can they still be called fans? It would just be another album that no one will buy!

“SisterLing, you must not approve of her nonsense!” Jian Chuo, one of the moreinfluential agents in the company, stood up and said angrily, “Our Zhenzhenfinally has to prepare her new album. You have to help her collect some goodsongs. You can’t always accommodate Mo Fei. What do you say?”

Zhenzhen, whose name was Zhen Muqian, was the No. 3 female star of Tianmei. She hasn’t released a new album in two years, but because she was an amphibious star, she became famous because of a TV series she was in that was made last year. Recently, she has frequently appeared in some big-name variety shows, and has a very good momentum of development.

“A'Chuo^[3], sit down first and don’t worry!” Niu Meiling smiled and pressed her hand. “Zhen Zhen’s performance so far this year is obvious to all, and we must certainly give this hard-working child a good support, so don’t worry.”

“As forMo Fei, Xiaojuan, she should consider her circumstances.” Niu Meiling’s tonehas still kind, but to Mo Xiaojuan it sounded very harsh.

“Mo Feihas just suffered a failure, and is anxious to make a comeback again. We canunderstand this feeling, but the new album cannot be rushed. Slow work producesfine work.”

Mo Xiaojuancouldn't help but retort, “Sister Ling, we can collect songs now. Mo Feican wait. After we collect all 12 songs, it’s not too late for us to release anew album.”

“Butthe problem is that the company doesn’t have so many resources right now!”Niu Meiling’s tone became serious, and the whole conference room immediatelyquieted down. “As you have heard, Zhenzhen wants to produce a new album,Ju Jie is also preparing his new album, and this and that are all waiting fortheir new songs. The company couldn't just collect songs for Mo Fei alone, right?”

At thistime, although the conference room was silent, almost everyone has an “exactly”look.

Mo Xiaojuan wasa little silent. She could actually understand other people's ideas, but theproblem was that she was Mo Fei’s agent and must stand on Mo Fei's side.

“Howconvenient would it be if Mo Fei had opened her own studio? Although the priceof collecting songs would be higher, at least she has her freedom. And with MuLi'ang, we shouldn't worry too much about collecting songs, right?” MoXiaojuan thought secretly.

Right!

Mu Li'ang!

Mo Xiaojuanraised her head and said to Niu Meiling, “Sister Ling, if we collect enoughsongs by ourselves, can the company start Mo Fei’s new album plan ahead oftime?”

Niu Meiling knittedher brows. She was very wary of such a situation. This always gave off afeeling that her star’s wings had hardened and wanted to fly alone. But shesmiled and asked, “Really? Where are you going to collect songs?”

“Our MoFei's fans!” Mo Xiaojuan said.

Immediately,everyone, including Niu Meiling, showed a look of ridicule.

Collectingsongs with fans, she could still think of that.

“if youcan collect 12 songs, the company promises to arrange an album for Mo Fei immediately.”But Niu Meiling agreed.

Niu Meilinghas her own plan. She wanted to sharpen Mo Fei’s temper again. Mo Fei has tosuffer a little more!

Mo Fei’scontract has entered its last year, but Niu Meiling didn't want to sign such agenerous top contract with Mo Fei again. If Mo Fei could “recognize thereality” and discussed it again, there would be a lot of room for future cooperation.

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[1] 虎落平阳 - Chinese idiom: It was as though a tiger left his hills and descended to the plains. Metaphor for loses momentum. I'm not sure if it has the same meaning of losing prestige?

[2] I'm not sure if this is right. I just put the word that would make sense in this sentence. Original text was (石乐) "Shi Le" which, from what I researched, means gravel or small stone. It may be a Chinese slang or something but I couldn't find it.

[3] A'Chou is how Sister Ling calls Jian Chuo (nickname). The A' is used to signify their good relationship.

TN: If you like my translations support me in ko-fi: .