Perfect Superstar.

There are many music production companies in Capital City and even more small workshops.

Just in the Delong Building alone, well-known music production units like Tian Lai (Heavenly Sound) Workshop, Jindie Culture, and Sunshine Record are gathered, creating fierce competition among them.

Although Lu Chen's first choice for producing his personal album was Tian Lai (Heavenly Sound) Workshop, it was not his only option.

He didn't expect to find a small workshop trying to attract business in the lobby of the Delong Building.

Business really is tough these days!

While reflecting on this, Lu Chen chatted with Manager Wang Changsheng of the Nirvana Workshop for a few minutes.

Wang Changsheng was confident enough to come here to seek clients. Nirvana Workshop had an independent recording room and a band, with members including three graduates from Beijing's Central Conservatory of Music, capable of handling everything from composition to post-production.

The key point was that their prices were low.

Wang Changsheng said, "Our workshop can guarantee the production quality of Tian Lai (Heavenly Sound) Workshop's D package for just 100,000 Yuan. An album would only cost 100,000 Yuan!"

Wang Changsheng was clearly not a shrewd businessman; when he quoted the price, he appeared quite nervous, staring intently at Lu Chen while his hands involuntarily clenched into fists, as if he were worried about being ruthlessly rejected.

But he spoke with confidence about that first statement.

Moreover, he was quite familiar with the Tian Lai (Heavenly Sound) Workshop.

Lu Chen found this intriguing; the price of Tian Lai (Heavenly Sound) Workshop's D package was 250,000 Yuan, while Wang Changsheng was asking for 100,000 Yuan, and it was obvious there was room for negotiation. It should be possible to get the price down further.

However, how could they guarantee the same quality?

It was said that Tian Lai (Heavenly Sound) Workshop had invested several million in its recording room alone, with facilities that were considered top-notch in the industry. Lu Chen didn't believe that Nirvana Workshop had made such a large investment; otherwise, why would their manager be the one to seek business?

Moreover, it seemed rather opportunistic!

Lu Chen did not consider himself to be that naive rabbit running into a tree. He thought for a moment and said, "Manager Wang, I'm planning to release a personal album, but I have very high standards for quality. I'm currently set on Tian Lai (Heavenly Sound) Workshop, so I'm sorry."

The D package from Tian Lai (Heavenly Sound) Workshop wasn't Lu Chen's only option; if he wanted something cheaper, he could also choose the E package.

That would certainly be more reliable than a little-known workshop, right? 

"I'm sorry to disturb you, and I apologize for wasting your time."

Wang Changsheng awkwardly waved his hand and said, "I should be the one apologizing. Well, goodbye."

Lu Chen couldn't help but smile.

He wasn't laughing at him; he just felt that this man really wasn't a businessman and lacked basic negotiation skills.

However, he found himself feeling a bit more favorable toward Wang Changsheng.

Lu Chen stood up and extended his hand to him, "Manager Wang, if I need anything, I'll contact you again."

"Okay, okay!"

Wang Changsheng hurriedly stood up and shook hands with Lu Chen, saying, "Thank you!"

Lu Chen nodded and left the tea house.

As he left, he also paid the bill— the tea here wasn't cheap.

Wang Changsheng sat for a moment longer, and when he called over a waiter to settle the bill, he realized Lu Chen had already paid. He hurried outside to try to catch up with Lu Chen, but there was no sign of him anywhere!

Lu Chen returned home and spent the afternoon organizing songs for the album.

An album would have ten songs. He had initially decided on six songs: "My Old Classmate," "Dust in the Wind," "Sleeping in the Bunk Above Me," "Cinderella," "Golden Time of Youth," and "Beauty."

Now he could add "Those Flowers" and "Ballad of Time," giving the album eight songs with a unified style, all of which were classic enough.

Lu Chen would not be vague about his first album!

After careful consideration, he also added "The Way You Are" to the album playlist.

"The Way You Are" was not a folk song but a light rock piece. However, Lu Chen really liked this song and decided to make it the closing track for the album, serving as a little surprise bonus.

Thinking about it, it was truly extravagant; whether it was "My Old Classmate," "Dust in the Wind," "Those Flowers," or even "Beauty," any of these songs could qualify as a title track for promotional purposes.

Yet Lu Chen was putting them all on the same album, which felt like a reckless waste of natural resources.

Having a treasure trove of songs was just so indulgent!

As for the tenth song, Lu Chen had already thought of it.

This song was also a folk piece, featuring the same nostalgic style, and it was indeed very nostalgic.

You would know just by listening.

"...

The open space downstairs of my house is a cinema,

It is no longer seen on these summer nights.

Today's children don't know how it used to be,

The world that people were infatuated with at that time.

I watched them perform love as I grew up,

I feel sad when they kiss,

Children play games under the screen,

Someone crying for her inside the movie."

### 

There are no more open-air cinemas in the city,

I can no longer see the backside of the screen again.

Are you still playing the game at that time?

I can no longer see the stars when I watch the movie.

When Lu Chen finished singing this soothing, delicate, and even somewhat poignant new song, the bullet comments in Lu Fei's live-streaming room surged like a tide.

"So good! Lu Fei is so talented!"

"Very nostalgic; I love it!"

"Reminds me of my childhood. The lyrics are so well-written, and the melody is even better!"

"What's the name of this song?"

"I strongly demand that you sing it again— no, no, sing it ten more times!"

"Sing it ten more times +1!"

"..."

Lu Chen put down his guitar and smiled, "This song is called 'Outdoor Cinema.' It's my first time singing it in the live-streaming room, and I hope it makes up for the time I've been away. I also hope you all like it."

He had gone home and attended his graduation ceremony, so the online live-streaming had been temporarily interrupted for a few days.

Tonight, as he resumed broadcasting, the online audience was significantly reduced, starting with just over 300,000 viewers.

Therefore, in addition to debuting his new work, Lu Chen also had good news to announce.

After a pause, he continued, "I also want to tell everyone that I plan to recompose all my previously created songs, turning them into a real album and publishing it online!"

"At that time, I welcome everyone to buy and download it!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the live-streaming room erupted!

"What? An album? Did I hear that right!"

"Lu Fei is amazing!"

"This is great; I've been looking forward to this day!"

"Where will your album be released?"

"Don't say anything else, just let us know when it's out, and I'll rally all my friends and classmates to buy the legit version!"

"Yes, we support original works!"

"Online albums should be around 10 Yuan each; as a student, that's no pressure, just skip breakfast!"

"The person in front is such a rich kid; even breakfast costs 10 Yuan."

"But I want a CD even more!"

"CD +1!"

"CD +2!"

"CD +10,000!"

"..."

Accompanying the barrage of comments were countless Fish Balls and even Aircraft Carriers sent by the wealthy fans!

This was the most direct way for Fish Fans to express their joy.

The atmosphere in the live streaming room became incredibly lively, with popularity surging due to the generous gifts.

Although Lu Chen's every live streaming session was recorded, and all the songs he sang could be found in the forum's video archives, a specially produced music album was a whole different matter.

Up to this point, aside from the numerous casual fans, Lu Chen already had a solid group of devoted followers who enjoyed his live-streaming style, his original works, and his nostalgic or melancholic folk songs.

During the days when they couldn't watch Lu Chen's live streaming, they would repeatedly rewatch past videos, listening to his songs over and over, and tirelessly recommending him to others.

These followers were no longer just simple fans; they were true "supporters," fans of a star!

And their reaction to Lu Chen's upcoming album was the strongest; they all hoped he would release a CD as well.

An online album was nothing compared to a CD; the CD was the real album!

Many "Lu Fei fans" expressed through the comments that they would buy the CD to support Lu Chen.

Their enthusiastic calls did not go unnoticed by Lu Chen.

Lu Chen felt a bit at a loss for words.

Releasing a CD album is harder than releasing an online album and is more likely to incur losses— there are too few people buying CDs to listen to music now.

However, the passion and eagerness of the Fish Fans suddenly sparked an idea in Lu Chen's mind.

In fact, it wasn't impossible to release both an online album and a CD album simultaneously.

His idea came from the dream world, something that seemed never to have appeared in this reality before! 

...

Meanwhile, as Lu Chen was interacting with his fans in the live streaming room, the first music single from the Wandering Band under Qingyu Media began its first wave of promotional efforts online that very night! 

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(End of Chapter)

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