Chapter 48: Zhao Tiantian's Apology with a Rod on Her Back

Chapter 48: Zhao Tiantian's Apology

"I don't know what your manager told you today, but I want to make my stance clear. You were the one who asked me to write a song for you in the first place, and 300,000 was the price you proposed. I never brought up the money even once. The only time price was ever mentioned was when I even suggested whether you should only pay 150,000 instead.

And yet, today your manager acts as though I swindled you? As if taking 300,000 for a song makes me too greedy?"

At this moment, Zhao Tiantian had finished her shower and was resting in her hotel room when she received this text message, leaving her somewhat bewildered. It was then that she remembered Manager Zhang hadn't reported back to her about today's events.

The reason she hadn't remembered was simply because she didn't think it was a big deal.

It was just a matter of meeting up, listening to a song, signing a contract, or letting him take the contract back to look over first.

Since all the details regarding the price had already been settled between her and Li Jingkun, there was nothing left to negotiate; hence, it was reasonable to say there was nothing urgent to report.

So what on earth was going on now?

Did something go wrong?

She quickly texted him back: "Junior, don't be angry yet. Let me call Manager Zhang and find out what happened."

With that, she immediately found Manager Zhang's number and dialed it.

Manager Zhang didn't pick up right away; it rang for a long time before she finally answered.

Suppressing her rising anger, Zhao Tiantian asked, "Tell me, how did the meeting go today?"

Zhao Tiantian didn't immediately interrogate her, but Manager Zhang had been with her for so long—how could she fail to notice the tone in her voice? Furthermore, she hadn't even addressed her as "Manager Zhang," and everyone knew that Tiantian was usually a very polite person.

Therefore, Manager Zhang stammered nervously, "He, he didn't sign the contract right away. He said he wanted to take it back to review, and seemed to think the price was a bit too low..."

Zhao Tiantian was so angry she almost laughed. Li Jingkun had never shown any intention of writing a song for her; she was the one who had proactively chased after him. Moreover, the 300,000 price tag was her own suggestion, and he had even taken the initiative to offer a discount. Yet now, Manager Zhang was claiming that the other party wanted to raise the price and that was why he refused to sign?

"Manager Zhang, you don't understand how this song came to be. Perhaps I share a tiny fraction of the responsibility, but didn't I tell you explicitly that the price had already been settled and that there should be no further objections?"

"Tiantian..."

"Let me finish first," Zhao Tiantian interrupted. "I'm telling you now, I was the one who begged him to write this song, and he was initially reluctant. The 300,000 price was my idea. He told me before that 150,000 would be plenty, but I insisted on paying the full amount."

"I, I didn't know. I thought..."

"Do you have any idea how much this embarrasses me? I proposed everything myself, and now that the song is written and recorded, I'm supposed to go back on my word and claim the song is too expensive? We work in the entertainment industry! Do you realize how badly my reputation would be tarnished if word like this got out? How am I supposed to survive in this circle from now on? What would the audience and my fans think of me?

You were recommended by my mother, and you are my elder, so I've always respected you. But after spending so much time together, I realize you still don't really know me.

In fact, quite a few people have previously complained to me about your attitude, but I never took it seriously because the parties involved never said anything to me directly. Today, I finally understand—perhaps they were afraid to speak up? Perhaps they assumed your behavior reflected my own attitude? Should I call you a smiling tiger?"

...

Zhao Tiantian might still be young, but growing up in the environment she did, she had access to a broader education and learned much more than most. Therefore, one shouldn't assume she didn't understand how things worked just because she possessed a kind nature.

In reality, her mindset was far more mature than that of her peers. After all, maintaining virtually zero scandals over the years wasn't something that could be achieved simply by having a powerful background.

When internet trolls decide to tear someone down, they couldn't care less about your background. In fact, having a background sometimes made one an even easier target.

Thus, it could be said that she cherished her reputation dearly, and she genuinely wanted to be a dedicated artist who didn't throw tantrums or bully others with power.

Furthermore, Li Jingkun was her junior and her fellow alumnus.

Often, being alumni is a truly unique bond. They had coexisted in the same place for several years, possibly sharing the same teachers, the same classmates, and similar campus experiences.

"This is my schoolmate."

When you introduce someone to others like that, doesn't it feel completely different? Wouldn't other people assume that your relationship is quite out of the ordinary?

Weighing all these factors together, she felt an overwhelming sense of guilt toward Li Jingkun.

After venting her frustration at her manager, she sent a text message to Li Jingkun: "Junior, I am truly, deeply sorry. I've more or less figured out what happened. It was my own fault for not making things clear to my manager beforehand.

I'll be heading back tomorrow morning and should arrive by evening. I'd like to treat you to dinner tomorrow night to make amends."

This time, Li Jingkun replied quickly, seeming somewhat surprised by her attitude.

"...Aren't you in the middle of filming?"

"It's fine. I'll take a two-day leave and have them shoot other scenes first."

That was easy to say, but in reality, a crew's schedule for various setups is prepared well in advance; you couldn't just switch to filming other things on a whim. Moreover, requesting leave so abruptly at such a crucial juncture would inevitably cause significant disruption and loss to the production.

Thus, Li Jingkun seemed to genuinely feel her sincerity and didn't say anything more to berate her.

...

"Manager Zhang has been fired."

On the second night, Zhao Tiantian treated Li Jingkun to dinner at a restaurant near the university, and she brought this up the moment they sat down.

"What?" Li Jingkun said. "It didn't have to go that far."

"It's not just because of this incident," Zhao Tiantian said. "I also have to look out for my future career."

Li Jingkun remarked, "Actually, most of the time, managers really do have to fight tooth and nail for their artists' interests."

"I don't need that right now," Zhao Tiantian said. "Well, what I mean is, this case was different, and I felt like she wasn't trying to save money for me at all. It felt more like... it felt like..."

Zhao Tiantian had originally intended to use a polite excuse to cover up her previous statement, but by the end of her sentence, she realized it sounded even more inappropriate.

Li Jingkun, however, understood her meaning: "It felt like she simply looked down on me? Simply felt that a song couldn't possibly be worth that much? Simply thought I was taking advantage of a huge windfall?"

"..."

Zhao Tiantian was momentarily speechless.

Big brother, can you please show some mercy? I specifically took time off and rushed over here to apologize to you!

"Cheers." Li Jingkun raised his cup of tea and clinked it against the juice glass in Tiantian's hand.

They were dining in a large restaurant, and the table felt a bit too spacious for just two people, yet they hadn't sat far apart, with only a single empty seat between them.

"Anyway, Manager Zhang is a relative of mine, and my mother was the one who recommended her to me back then, so I couldn't just throw her out on the street. It's just that she won't be my manager anymore; I've let her decide whether she'd like to transfer to another department within the company."