By the next morning—
reality had already caught up.
8:30 AM.
Jinhai Entertainment Headquarters.
Li Chen stood in front of the conference room door.
Beside him were Xiaoyu and Yueyin.
Neither of them spoke.
The atmosphere was unusually heavy.
When the secretary opened the door, a familiar voice echoed inside.
"Come in."
Li Chen stepped inside.
Sitting at the end of the long conference table was Wang Jian, the Executive Director of Jinhai Entertainment.
Unlike Zhou Kang, Wang Jian wasn't known as a producer.
He was known as a businessman.
Everything had a price.
Everything generated profit.
Including people.
Several department managers were already seated around the table.
As Li Chen entered, every pair of eyes turned toward him.
Some admired him.
Others envied him.
A few openly disliked him.
The success of the Nebula Project had shaken the company overnight.
Wang Jian folded his hands.
"Congratulations."
Li Chen nodded politely.
"Thank you."
"The concert exceeded everyone's expectations."
"It did."
"The board is very pleased."
A brief silence.
Then Wang Jian smiled.
"Which is exactly why we need to talk."
Across the room—
Xiaoyu felt something was wrong.
Very wrong.
People didn't smile like that unless they wanted something.
Wang Jian slid a folder across the table.
Li Chen opened it.
His expression remained calm.
Inside was a new contract.
A promotion.
A salary increase.
A larger production budget.
And one final clause.
Exclusive Management Agreement
Li Chen read it once.
Then a second time.
Without saying a word.
Wang Jian leaned back comfortably.
"The company has decided to establish a new department."
"A department entirely under your leadership."
Several executives nodded.
"Three artists."
"A larger budget."
"Full creative control."
"It sounds generous, doesn't it?"
Li Chen closed the folder.
"It does."
Wang Jian's smile widened.
"But?"
Li Chen looked directly into his eyes.
"I wouldn't own it."
Silence.
The smile on Wang Jian's face didn't disappear.
But it became noticeably stiffer.
"You would still be an employee."
"Exactly."
One of the executives couldn't help interrupting.
"Mr. Li, that's how companies work."
Li Chen turned toward him.
"Is it?"
The executive hesitated.
Li Chen continued calmly.
"If I create another successful artist..."
"The company owns them."
"If I develop another hit song..."
"The company owns it."
"If I build another team..."
"The company owns that too."
He looked back at Wang Jian.
"So tell me."
"What exactly would I own?"
No one answered.
Xiaoyu looked at Li Chen.
She had never seen him speak like this before.
Not emotional.
Not angry.
Just...
clear.
Wang Jian finally broke the silence.
"You've changed."
Li Chen smiled faintly.
"No."
"I've simply learned."
Another long silence filled the room.
Meanwhile...
Across the city.
Golden Vision Media.
Zhou Kang was already reading the morning reports.
His assistant entered hurriedly.
"Sir."
"They've started negotiations."
Zhou Kang nodded without looking up.
"As expected."
"And if Li Chen refuses?"
For the first time that morning—
Zhou Kang smiled.
"He will."
The assistant blinked.
"...You sound certain."
"I am."
He placed the report on the desk.
"People like Li Chen don't care about money."
"They care about freedom."
"And freedom..."
"...always has a cost."
Back at Jinhai Entertainment—
The meeting continued.
Wang Jian tapped the table lightly.
"Mr. Li."
"I'll be honest."
Li Chen remained silent.
"The board believes you're becoming too valuable."
"..."
"We don't want to lose you."
"..."
"So tell me."
"What do you want?"
The room fell quiet again.
Everyone waited for Li Chen's answer.
Even Xiaoyu held her breath.
Li Chen looked out the window.
The city stretched endlessly beneath the skyscraper.
Then he spoke.
"I have one condition."
Wang Jian nodded.
"Go on."
"I want complete ownership of every artist I personally develop."
The room exploded.
"What?!"
"Impossible!"
"That's ridiculous!"
"No company would agree to that!"
Several executives spoke at once.
Only Wang Jian remained silent.
He had expected something difficult.
But not this.
Li Chen continued before anyone could interrupt.
"I also want ownership of every original song I produce."
Another wave of disbelief spread across the room.
One executive slammed his hand on the table.
"You're asking us to rewrite the entire business model!"
Li Chen looked at him calmly.
"No."
"I'm asking to protect my work."
Wang Jian slowly exhaled.
He finally understood.
This wasn't about a promotion.
This wasn't about salary.
This wasn't even about authority.
Li Chen was preparing...
to leave.
He asked quietly,
"If I refuse?"
Li Chen answered just as quietly.
"Then our paths will eventually separate."
The words hung heavily in the air.
No threats.
No anger.
Just a simple truth.
Outside the conference room—
Employees whispered among themselves.
"How's the meeting going?"
"No idea."
"I heard the board wants to promote him."
"I heard he's negotiating."
"No..."
Someone lowered their voice.
"I heard he wants to leave."
The hallway instantly fell silent.
Leave?
After becoming Jinhai's biggest success?
Was he crazy?
Or...
did he have another plan?
Inside the room—
The meeting had ended.
No agreement.
No signatures.
Only silence.
Li Chen stood.
"So that's your final answer?"
Wang Jian asked.
Li Chen nodded.
"For now."
He extended his hand politely.
"Thank you for your time."
After a brief hesitation—
Wang Jian shook it.
"I have a feeling..."
He looked directly at Li Chen.
"...this won't be the last time we negotiate."
Li Chen smiled.
"I hope you're right."
Then he turned and walked out.
In the elevator—
No one spoke.
Not until the doors closed.
Xiaoyu finally looked at him.
"...Were you serious?"
Li Chen nodded.
"Completely."
"You were willing to reject everything they offered?"
"Yes."
Yueyin frowned.
"But... where do we go from here?"
Li Chen looked at the city through the glass wall of the elevator.
His answer came without hesitation.
"We build something of our own."
The elevator doors opened.
The three of them stepped outside.
None of them noticed—
A man standing across the street lowered his camera.
He had photographed everything.
Li Chen leaving the headquarters.
The failed negotiation.
The determined expressions.
He immediately made a phone call.
"They've taken the first step."
A familiar voice answered.
"I know."
Zhou Kang hung up.
Then he looked out over the skyline.
"The real game..."
He smiled coldly.
"...starts now."
End of Chapter 31