The writer's circle was small, and the news spread like wildfire.
Naturally, the most agitated was the Creator who had prematurely backed out of the first season of I Am a Creator. He had poured his heart and soul into crafting a song destined for viral fame, Rising Fame, envisioning himself achieving Gold-tier arranger status by his twenty-ninth birthday—a gift to himself before turning thirty.
Now, he learned that someone else had snatched the crown, and that someone was only twenty-four years old.
After clawing his way to this point—reinventing himself and falsifying his age—with glory finally within reach, a twenty-four-year-old had stolen the title of the youngest Gold-tier Creator.
He cursed his inability to shave off more years. He cursed his youthful-looking face, inherited from his parents.
Thirty-three years old, he had stretched the truth to twenty-nine—his absolute limit. Any further reduction would invite scrutiny.
"Do you know who this person is?" he asked.
"I believe his name is One Leaf Knows Autumn. That's his pen name. He apparently replaced you on I Am a Creator."
"I don't believe it! I refuse to believe anyone could possess my talent. He must have cheated—falsified his age, perhaps even stolen the song or hired a mentor to ghostwrite it for him."
Having spent years in the industry, Ye Huanqiu had witnessed every shady deal and dirty trick imaginable. He knew all the ins and outs.
Compared to others, he considered himself relatively "clean," having only fudged his age. At least he'd written all his own songs.
"Call that director immediately and tell him I want to be on his show. I don't care about the money, but I insist on facing off against One Leaf Knows Autumn in a live songwriting battle. Hmph, if he has the guts, he'll accept. I'll tear down his hypocritical facade right in front of everyone!"
The people around him froze in stunned silence.
"Go now!"
"Y-yes... I'll take care of it right away."
Ye Huanqiu remained blissfully unaware that someone was already targeting him, this "nobody." Even if he had known, he wouldn't have given it much thought. Mediocrity breeds no envy.
He ate regular, hearty meals, refusing to deprive himself. Money was meant to be spent, and after ensuring his parents were taken care of, he invested the rest in himself.
The villa complex included a free public gym, where Ye Huanqiu decided to work out. With his advanced physique attribute, his body had transformed into peak condition. Exercise not only enhanced his physical form but also lifted his spirits.
Ye Huanqiu removed his unfashionable black-rimmed glasses, grabbed a towel, and entered the gym. It was bustling with people working out, both men and women.
Most of the men were over forty, their bodies bulky and well-toned. The women were mostly under forty, perhaps lacking conventionally attractive faces, but their figures were undeniably stunning.
While working out, Ye Huanqiu simultaneously used Starbeam to conduct a random song draw. He had only two draws remaining; using this one would leave him with just one.
The rotating pool of songs flickered, and in its final flash, it landed on Mirei Mei's profile. Ye Huanqiu recognized Mei instantly—the Neon singer who had once captivated the entire Xiao Po Station community.
Despite her recent resurgence in popularity on Earth Star through Sister Who Makes Waves, she hadn't performed her signature hit during the show. Could any theme song with a dynamic melody surpass Gokuraku Jodo in sheer energy?
"Huh? Renowned Far and Wide? I didn't realize this song was that popular," Ye Huanqiu mused, recalling only its cult following within niche circles.
Starbeam explained: "After two rounds of promotional pushes across various platforms, this song successfully broke into the mainstream. Combined with the singer's undeniable charisma and the seamless synergy between her image and the song's vibe, Gokuraku Jodo naturally achieved widespread acclaim."
Alright...
After finishing his workout, Ye Huanqiu returned to his studio to transcribe the song and lyrics, making sure to upload them to Guochuangwang. The platform had become indispensable for Cultural and Creative professionals seeking copyright protection.
Sweat poured off him, soaking through his thin workout shirt, revealing his perfectly defined V-lines and abs beneath the slightly translucent fabric. His physique wasn't the overly bulky, protein-powder-fueled look common in Western gyms, but rather a balanced, Gold-tier symmetry.
Having shed his unfashionable glasses, Ye Huanqiu's looks had dramatically improved. As he left the gym, he brushed past a group of young women just arriving for their workout.
The overpowering perfume they wore made him wrinkle his nose. He resolved to avoid evening workouts in the future.
"Who's that hottie? I've never seen him around here before..."
"No idea. This villa district is full of big spenders. Maybe he's some rich cougar's kept man?"
"Those muscles... I'd love to test them out..."
A chill ran down Ye Huanqiu's spine. Guys need to be careful out here too, he thought.
The next morning, Ye Huanqiu woke up at 8:30. After washing up, he went out for a nutritious breakfast.
Around 9:00, he finally called Mei's assistant and arranged to meet at a dance studio at 10:00.
Mirei Mei was originally signed with a Japanese management company, but after arriving in China, she hired a local agency to handle her affairs.
Aside from her rented apartment, she used dance studios for training sessions and rehearsals. These spaces were not only spacious enough but also provided a certain level of soundproofing and privacy for business discussions.
At a dance studio in Demon Capital that rented out rooms, Ye Huanqiu informed the staff of their reserved floor, and a staff member guided him to the elevator.
Upon reaching the seventh floor, he found himself in a labyrinthine corridor. Without assistance, he wouldn't have found his way so quickly. Turning left, he unlocked the soundproof glass door with a passcode and entered to find Mei, her assistant, and two friends who had come from Japan.
They used to be in the same group, and now that Mei had successfully gone solo, she hadn't abandoned her friends. When she came to China, they followed along to help with her training.
As Ye Huanqiu entered the room, a girl with a ponytail standing nearby remarked in Japanese, "Hey... he's dressed like the stereotypical otaku from back home."
Mirei Mei quickly interjected, "Hanakawa-chan, that's terribly rude!"
A blonde girl with a tomboyish appearance added, "Didn't you see the show? Mr. Ye speaks Japanese."
"I'm so sorry!" Hanakawa immediately bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle in apology.
Ye Huanqiu waved it off. "It's alright. And Hanakawa-san isn't entirely wrong—I am rather otaku-ish."
"Even so, that was inexcusable. On behalf of Hanakawa-chan, I sincerely apologize," Mirei Mei said, bowing formally to Ye Huanqiu.
He had no choice but to accept the apology. If he didn't, she wouldn't straighten up, and how could they proceed with their work for the day?