Su Dieyi was puzzled, "You are?"
Lin Xuan tossed the sack onto the ground, "I'm here to discuss the future of your studio."
Su Dieyi's expression darkened, a stark contrast to her previous cordial demeanor.
"We don't need investment, and our studio has already disbanded."
She had established this studio precisely to avoid being controlled by capital. She would never jump back into that pit of fire.
"Miss Su, I understand your concerns," Lin Xuan smiled gently. "I'm here to invite you to join our entertainment company."
On his way here, he had realized that seeking investment was pointless. It would be better to directly sign them to his company!
Su Dieyi replied expressionlessly, "I have no such plans. Please find someone else."
"My entertainment company doesn't require artists to attend drinking parties or submit to any unwritten rules," Lin Xuan said. From his memories of his past life, he knew that Su Dieyi had clashed with Starlight Entertainment because she refused to be exploited by their talent director.
To persuade Su Dieyi, he had to address her concerns directly.
Su Dieyi was indeed tempted.
"Come in," she said.
Su Dieyi returned to the office, and Lin Xuan sat across from her at the meeting table.
"Are you an actor?" Su Dieyi couldn't help but ask, staring at Lin Xuan's handsome face.
Lin Xuan replied, "I plan to be a boss."
Being an actor meant being controlled by others. He had been reborn, and he wasn't here to suffer such indignities. Being an employee could never compare to the freedom of being a boss.
Su Dieyi shook her head, realizing she had asked a foolish question.
This man was strikingly handsome. If he were in the entertainment industry, he would surely have made a name for himself. Moreover, his attire and the presence of bodyguards clearly indicated he was a wealthy young man. Why would he care about the meager earnings of an actor?
"Sir, do you know who is targeting our studio?" Su Dieyi asked with a frown.
"Yes, Starlight Entertainment," Lin Xuan answered.
Su Dieyi smiled bitterly, "Starlight Entertainment is the leading company in the entertainment industry, dominating half the market. If you sign me to your company, Starlight will come after you."
"I know," Lin Xuan leaned back in his chair and smiled. "Since I plan to sign you and the artists from your studio, I've naturally investigated everything thoroughly."
"Miss Su, let me tell you something. Lin Chang, the chairman of Starlight Entertainment, is my biological father."
Su Dieyi was stunned.
Wasn't Lin Chang only known to have one son, Lin Li? She had never heard of him having another son.
"I've already left the Lin Family," Lin Xuan said casually. "I have a grudge against them, and I want to bring down Starlight Entertainment."
"Would you be willing to lend a hand, Miss Su?"
Su Dieyi clenched her fists.
It wasn't true that she didn't hate Starlight Entertainment. She had worked hard to climb to the top as a diva, only to be tarnished by Starlight Entertainment's smear campaigns. Now, she was almost forced to retire from the music industry.
At thirty years old, she didn't have much time left to keep fighting.
"Sir, is the contract you mentioned real?" Su Dieyi looked at the young man before her, a glimmer of hope igniting in her heart.
"Of course, it's real. No drinking parties, no unwritten rules, no forced assignments. We'll only discuss work, not personal lives. Your life outside of work is entirely up to you," Lin Xuan spoke calmly.
"And the profit split between you and the company will be 60-40, with the company taking 60% and you taking 40%. All of this will be written into the contract."
Lin Xuan's offer was incredibly tempting.
Ordinary entertainment companies usually offered new artists a 20-80 or 30-70 split. Most importantly, there would be no unwritten rules, and they would have maximum freedom in other aspects.
Hadn't she left Starlight Entertainment precisely to pursue a career free from exploitation and control?
Lin Xuan added, "I should mention that my entertainment company hasn't officially launched yet, but it will soon."
"That's fine," Su Dieyi's voice was slightly hoarse.
Nothing could be worse than her current situation.
"I'm willing to join your company," Su Dieyi's eyes flashed with determination. She wasn't ready to give up yet; she wanted to fight a little longer.
"Miss Su, you'll be joining my company as a singer, not as a manager," Lin Xuan clarified. Su Dieyi was suited to be a singer, not a business manager.
Su Dieyi nodded firmly, "I understand."
"However, this is just my decision. There are two other singers in my studio. I need to ask if they're willing to join as well."
"Go ahead," Lin Xuan said, taking out his laptop to draft the contract.
Yu Wanqing and Zhou Wei hadn't left. They were drinking at a nearby bar.
Zhou Wei had verbally agreed with Su Dieyi's decision to disband the studio, but deep down, he was reluctant. He knew, however, that they had no other choice.
Continuing like this would only drain their finances. Su Dieyi was already running out of money, and she couldn't afford to sacrifice her basic livelihood for the studio.
Zhou Wei kept pouring drinks into his mouth.
"Brother Wei, has our studio really disbanded?" Yu Wanqing asked sadly, unable to accept the reality.
Zhou Wei remained silent.
After a long pause, he finally said, "Let's do as Dieyi said. We'll meet again at the top."
Just then, his phone rang. Zhou Wei answered the call.
"Zhou Wei, there's a company willing to sign us. They've offered very generous terms. Would you like to come back to the studio and discuss it?" Su Dieyi's voice came through the phone.
"Alright, I'll be right there!" Zhou Wei's voice was filled with excitement.
"What's going on?" Yu Wanqing asked groggily.
"Wanqing, we don't have to part ways with Dieyi! Let's go back to the studio now!"
"Brother Wei, you must be joking," Yu Wanqing didn't believe him. Their studio had already disbanded, and Dieyi had sent them away. It was all over.
"Why would I lie to you?" Zhou Wei said helplessly. "Dieyi herself said it. We're joining an entertainment company together, not staying in the studio."
Zhou Wei spoke earnestly, and Yu Wanqing suddenly stood up from her chair.
"Brother Wei, let's hurry back."
Within two minutes, Zhou Wei and Yu Wanqing were back at the studio.
Su Dieyi explained Lin Xuan's offer to them and also revealed Lin Xuan's relationship with Starlight Entertainment.
"Zhou Wei, Wanqing, whether you stay or leave, I'll support your decision. Think it over carefully."
"Dieyi," Yu Wanqing's tears fell as she spoke emotionally, "When I was eliminated from the competition, it was you who taught me how to sing. You've been my pillar of strength. Wherever you go, I'll follow."
Zhou Wei also nodded, "I'm willing too."
After waiting another half hour, Lin Xuan finished drafting the contract. The studio had a printer, so he printed out the documents.
"Take a look at the contract and see if there are any issues," Lin Xuan placed three copies of the contract in front of each of them.
Finding no problems, they signed the contracts and pressed their fingerprints.
"Mr. Lin, I look forward to working with you," Su Dieyi extended her hand.
Lin Xuan glanced at it but didn't shake it. "Sorry, my girlfriend doesn't like me having physical contact with other women."
He had to eliminate any possibility of Su Hua locking him up again.