Chapter 100: This Song Should Be Quite Good, Right?

Yunhai Media operated with remarkable efficiency.

Three hours later, Wang Mo received news from Yuan Xiong: the company had collectively approved his request to take on commissions.

However, the company had one suggestion: the matter of Wu Yan accepting orders should not be publicized widely. It was best to keep it low-key.

Wang Mo thought it over and nodded in agreement.

He understood that this was the company’s way of protecting itself.

Wu Yan was currently a sensation in the entertainment industry. If word got out that he was accepting commissions, countless companies, production crews, and individual singers would come knocking, seeking his compositions.

More importantly, both Wang Mo and the executives at Yunhai Media knew that Wu Yan’s fame was inflated. Most of it was deliberate hype by the media, elevating him far beyond his actual standing.

If one truly considered it calmly, Wang Mo had only composed four songs so far. Though all four were hits, looking at the entire community of composers, there were dozens—if not hundreds—who had more than four popular songs to their name.

So, in the grand scheme of the composing world, Wu Yan was at best a gold-level composer.

Only, he was standing at the eye of the storm.

People had elevated him to the top spot in the composing field.

That height was dazzling, but one misstep could mean irreversible ruin.

Yuan Xiong said gravely, “That’s why the company decided to handle your commissions quietly.”

Wang Mo nodded. “No problem.”

Yuan Xiong continued, “I’m not very familiar with the composing department’s affairs. From now on, you should coordinate with General Manager Liu about how to take orders. I’ll handle other matters for you.”

Having finished his instructions, Yuan Xiong left the composing department.

Wang Mo then stepped into Liu Zhengwen’s office.

Liu Zhengwen greeted him warmly, “Young Wang, have a seat.”

Wang Mo nodded and, without hesitation, sat opposite Liu before speaking seriously: “General Manager Liu, now that the company has approved my commissions, could you help me find some song orders in the market?”

Liu Zhengwen asked, “In such a hurry?”

Wang Mo nodded, “Better sooner than later.”

Liu said, “Alright, I’ll handle it as soon as possible. By the end of today, I can give you several orders to choose from. Actually, when the composing department isn’t busy, we often take commissions from entertainment companies and production crews, so this is all familiar territory.”

Wang Mo replied, “That’s good.”

In China, not every entertainment company had a composing department.

Only the top-tier firms like Yunhai Media and Canxing Culture could afford large composing divisions. Smaller companies or individual singers usually sought compositions from these big company departments or independent composers.

Additionally, many film crews and TV variety shows required theme songs and interludes, which also involved outsourcing compositions.

Therefore, the composing department frequently accepted external commissions.

Liu Zhengwen asked, “Young Wang, can you tell me your preferences for taking orders?”

Wang Mo thought a moment. “Anything goes.”

“….”

Liu nearly choked on his saliva. What did “anything goes” mean?

He said seriously, “You have to give me some direction, like musical style. Pop music, perhaps?”

Wang Mo said, “Sure.”

Liu asked, “Rock?”

Wang Mo, “Also fine.”

Liu, “Traditional Chinese style?”

Wang Mo, “Yes.”

Liu, “Rap?”

Wang Mo, “That too.”

Liu took a deep breath, calming his inner storm: “So, by your logic, you can accept any kind of order?”

Wang Mo nodded, “Like I said, anything goes.”

Well then.

Liu Zhengwen had no choice but to give up.

Anyone else would have been shown the door long ago, but he knew Wang Mo’s talent. Perhaps the young man wasn’t exaggerating—maybe he really could compose in any style.

He sighed weakly, “But you have to give me some boundaries. Otherwise, I can easily find hundreds of orders on the market, and you wouldn’t know where to start.”

“Is that so…” Wang Mo considered carefully, then said deliberately, “If I have to set a requirement, then only the most expensive orders. No cheap ones.”

This young man!

Hearing Wang Mo’s demand, and recalling his earlier talk about renovating a villa, Liu Zhengwen suspected that Wang Mo was motivated purely by money.

After a pause, Liu said, “Alright, I’ll try to select the highest-priced orders. But generally, the higher the price, the higher the client’s demands. Are you prepared for that?”

Wang Mo replied, “No problem.”

High demands?

That was the system’s concern, not his. He only needed to spend 500,000 yuan to buy the songs.

Thinking of this, Wang Mo suddenly wondered inwardly: “System, what did you do with the money I spent on the songs?”

The system responded: [Used where it was most needed.]

Wang Mo asked, “More specific?”

The system fell silent.

This left Wang Mo troubled: “Where exactly is the ‘most needed place’?”

---

Around five o’clock in the afternoon.

Liu Zhengwen summoned Wang Mo to his office.

He handed over a stack of files. “Here are three song orders I selected: one is a soundtrack for a film, one is a corporate advertising song, and one is a game’s theme song.

The first, film soundtrack, is priced at 1 million yuan. The film is a romance, and the order was posted by the production team a week ago. Many composers have taken it up, but no deal has been confirmed.

The second, corporate advertising song, is priced at 2 million yuan. The recruitment started a month ago. Several of our composers submitted entries but failed. The client’s demands are quite high, so after a month, it’s still unresolved.

The third, game theme song, is priced at 1.5 million yuan. The client wants a song that fits the game’s core theme. This order has also been open for twenty days with no winner.

You can study these three carefully and decide which you want. Let me know in a day or two so I can prepare.”

As Liu introduced the orders, Wang Mo skimmed through the files.

When Liu finished, Wang Mo picked up the second file. “No need for a day or two—I’ve decided.”

Liu was stunned. “You’ve read them?”

Wang Mo nodded. “Yes, this one.”

He pointed to the corporate advertising song.

Liu thought bitterly: What exactly did you read? I just spent three minutes explaining. What could you have possibly gleaned?

But he said nothing and forced a smile, “Are you sure? This one seems the hardest.”

Wang Mo said, “But it’s the most expensive!”

???

So after all my explanation, you just chose the priciest one?

Liu felt a tightness in his chest. He was about to say something when Wang Mo already picked up the second folder and left.

---

That evening.

Wang Mo returned to his bachelor apartment.

Well... it was no longer quite a bachelor apartment, since Yuan Xiong had actually brought over his bedding and toiletries, as if determined to live with Wang Mo forever.

Why?

Why go to such lengths?

Big brother!

Wang Mo stared at Yuan Xiong, speechless.

Yuan Xiong showed no embarrassment. “Don’t look at me like that. I’ve made up my mind. From now on, you won’t have any secrets that can escape my keen eyes.”

Wang Mo said, “But... you live here now. Have you considered sister-in-law’s feelings?”

Yuan Xiong was unmoved: “None of your business!”

Well, it seemed Old Yuan was truly determined.

Wang Mo sighed deeply. From now on, he’d have to give up his five-fingered temptress habit.

How frustrating.

But there was a silver lining: the kitchen he had never used finally smelled like home.

Yuan Xiong was a good cook, and having bought rice, oil, sauces, vinegar, and various vegetables, he began cooking with clangs and bangs in the kitchen.

Wang Mo cheered him on from the side.

While cooking, Yuan Xiong asked, “Did you get an order today?”

Wang Mo answered, “Yes.”

Yuan Xiong was stunned. “That fast?”

Wang Mo said, “I’m always fast.”

He then briefly recounted the details of his new commission.

When Yuan Xiong heard the 2 million yuan price, his eyes lit up, but he frowned shortly after. “I think I’ve heard of this order before.”

After a moment’s thought, he shook his head. “I remember now. Several industry friends mentioned it. The corporate client’s demands are a bit extreme, so it’s tough to land. You have to be careful—not to waste effort and end up empty-handed, damaging Wu Yan’s reputation.”

Wang Mo smiled. “It can’t be that hard, right?”

Yuan Xiong’s expression grew serious. “It really is. Those corporate leaders who run physical businesses don’t understand music at all, so it’s hard to communicate with them. That’s why this ad song order has been open for a month with no winner. My suggestion: give up and pick another.”

Wang Mo shook his head. “Since I accepted it, I’ll give it a try.”

Saying that, he went to the living room and took out the files, beginning to read carefully.

The order was from a dairy brand called “Gao Niu.”

Wang Mo briefly researched the Gao Niu brand. Its recognition was on par with major Chinese dairies like Mengniu and Yili—each a multibillion-yuan enterprise.

This time, the client was releasing a new yogurt brand and wanted a custom advertising song.

“Offering 2 million yuan just for a brand’s ad song. Big companies really do have deep pockets.”

Wang Mo thought.

Of course, 2 million yuan was nothing to these giants.

He recalled how Huawei once spent tens of millions commissioning a theme song—a truly massive investment.

Returning to the present, Wang Mo quietly recited, “System, compose a custom song according to the order’s requirements.”

The system replied: [Generating the most fitting song for the host… in progress…]

About ten seconds later, the system displayed a message: [50 million yuan deducted. Congratulations, host, you have obtained the song “Sweet and Sour Just Like Me.”]

Huh?

Wang Mo raised an eyebrow upon seeing the song’s title.

This song was all too familiar.

Back in 2005, the entire nation seemed to be humming this tune.

It also held another title: the advertising song for Mengniu’s yogurt.

It was precisely this “Sweet and Sour Just Like Me” that propelled Mengniu’s yogurt to nationwide fame and swiftly secured its market position.

“Excellent.”

Wang Mo smiled with satisfaction. “This song should be perfect as the ad song for Gao Niu’s yogurt.”

No matter how extreme the client’s demands were, he didn’t believe they could reject this song.

(End of chapter)