After reviewing the memories of this body, Chu Tian felt a wave of complex emotions, yet he didn't know what to say.
How did you manage to run into every damn piece of trouble there is?
Everything was fine until the age of 16, and then it was like you got tainted by something filthy. From that point on, there wasn't a single good day.
First, your father lost his job, then your mother fell ill, and then you ended up neck-deep in a mountain of troubles yourself.
And what happened then? You finally found peace, but this whole mess fell into his hands.
But I have to say, this Xu Qingqiu still had some conscience. Most of the subsequent events were, in a way, triggered by her.
Even after she became famous, she didn't distance herself from these issues. She kept an eye on Chu Tian, not to mention often sneaking off to see him.
After his predecessor graduated and was aimlessly drifting, she even brought him into her own studio, paying him a salary of 20,000 to 30,000 a month for doing practically nothing.
Even when she was in debt up to her eyeballs and her company couldn't pay its employees, she never shorted him a single cent.
What Chu Tian didn't know was that the reason Jiang Wangtao had allowed his predecessor to terminate the contract so easily, and even helped him find a school and arrange an interview through a special channel, was because Xu Qingqiu, after her explosive rise in popularity, had agreed to a ten-year contract extension in exchange.
Speaking of which, Xu Qingqiu had also suffered her share of misfortune.
Over the years, Baise Entertainment had transformed from an obscure, third-rate company into a top-tier second-line entertainment giant.
From an obscure entity in the entertainment industry that scraped by on meager profits from training apprentices, it now held a significant presence across film, television, and music. The original Chairman, Jiang Wangtao, had truly played an indispensable role.
He was remarkably capable, whether in management, company systems, or strategic planning.
Chu Tian harbored few complaints against Jiang Wangtao. In his predecessor's matter, Jiang Wangtao had acted impartially, which was commendable considering he had to be fair between a mere trainee and a shareholder's son.
Xu Qingqiu, too, had ascended to the status of Queen step by step, thanks to Jiang Wangtao's cultivation.
It could be said that Baise Entertainment's current standing was a testament to both Jiang Wangtao's and Xu Qingqiu's contributions; it was the fruit of their collaboration.
It's just that when the fruit ripens, it's time for picking; once the millstone has served its purpose, the donkey is slaughtered.
Recently, Jiang Wangtao had fallen ill and was hospitalized for a period. Ye Zhonghuai, who had been patiently biding his time for years, finally couldn't hold back any longer.
First, he brought in investors to dilute Jiang Wangtao's shares. Then, he formed alliances and maneuvered to acquire others' shares, thereby increasing his influence. Finally, he ousted Jiang Wangtao from the chairman's position and took the seat himself.
After Ye Zhonghuai became chairman, his first move was to target Xu Qingqiu.
After all, the primary reason his son, Ye Guang, hadn't been able to return to the country was entirely due to that past incident. Xu Qingqiu had never given up on seeking justice for Chu Tian, keeping a close watch on Ye Guang, ready to strike the moment he set foot back in the country.
This had always been a source of resentment for Ye Zhonghuai. If not for Xu Qingqiu holding the title of Queen, earning substantial profits for the company, and being protected by most shareholders, Ye Zhonghuai would have dealt with her long ago.
But what use was that? He was still a shareholder. As long as he held shares, his influence within the company couldn't just vanish.
Over the years, Ye Zhonghuai had been grooming new talents to replace her and systematically reducing Xu Qingqiu's resources. This eventually led her to a state where she merely held the title of Queen, while her popularity steadily dwindled, to the extent that the new generation even labeled her an "unpopular singer."
And it didn't end there. As soon as Ye Zhonghuai was elected chairman, he immediately targeted her. He not only crammed her schedule with commercial appearances but also used song copyrights to restrict her, until Xu Qingqiu, unable to bear it any longer, proposed to terminate her contract.
The price was a termination fee exceeding 200 million. Of course, given her immense popularity and title as Queen, it was somewhat understandable for the company to impose such a high penalty.
Was this clause excessive? Absolutely. After all, in the original world, when Brother Ji terminated his contract, the penalty was as high as 300 million. So, this wasn't surprising at all.
Besides, wasn't the original reason for signing that contract to give Chu Tian an opportunity?
But now, this condition had become Xu Qingqiu's death knell, crushing her under immense pressure.
Eventually, through legal proceedings, she managed to significantly reduce the amount. However, it still exceeded her financial capacity, as most of the money she had earned over the years had gone to the company.
And she still had a studio to support—her foundation, her final fallback.
The result was that she not only had to pour all the money she had earned over the years into it but also ended up heavily in debt.
Furthermore, Xu Qingqiu's studio was cast aside by Baise Entertainment, forcing her to go independent.
A drastic reduction in resources was a minor issue compared to the critical problem: Baise Entertainment held the copyrights to all her previous songs, meaning she could no longer perform them.
This meant that, apart from the title of Queen and a modest studio, Qingqiu couldn't sing a single one of her own songs.
As a singer, if she couldn't sing her own songs, was she supposed to make a living covering other people's music? Or by appearing on variety shows and acting in dramas? She didn't have the aptitude for those either.
Chu Tian glanced at the office, which had emptied out right on schedule, and couldn't help a bitter smile.
What a melodramatic life, so damn absurd.
Other transmigrators become princes or princesses, or achieve great success. Even if not, they at least get a system! They all get a god-tier start. But what about me? Is this a garbage-tier start? It's beyond garbage; it's utterly hopeless!
Forget it. Actually, this is pretty good too.
In my previous life, I struggled in the entertainment industry, dealing with open attacks, hidden schemes, unspoken rules, and rampant slander. It was truly exhausting.
Living this life as an ordinary person, plain and simple, isn't bad. No intrigue or deception.
The key is that someone's taking care of me. I earn money every month for doing sweet F.A. Thinking about it, it's actually quite nice.
Twenty to thirty thousand a month is top-tier for a white-collar worker. A slightly bourgeois lifestyle like this isn't too stressful.
The only downside is that I'm mute. That's... rather tough.
Even if one is detached and serene, one should at least be normal, right? Being mute... wouldn't that be too agonizing?
Just as he was thinking this, a DING suddenly sounded in his mind.
[DING! Host has awakened. Peak Entertainment System successfully loaded.]
[This system aims to create a golden age of entertainment. Please explore for more details.]
[Newcomer Gift Pack delivered. Please check.]
Huh?! Speak of the devil! There really is a system!
Chu Tian was instantly intrigued. A system, huh! Something that could defy heaven and change fate!
Let me check out what kind of system this is.
An interface automatically formed in his mind, displaying neatly arranged categories:
[Personal Information] [Inventory] [System Mall] [System Introduction]
He first checked the [System Introduction]. It simply stated the goal of creating an entertainment utopia. As for standards or specific content, there was nothing—just a plain sentence, utterly unremarkable.
The [Personal Information] section, however, was quite detailed:
[Host]: Chu Tian
[Reputation Points]: 326
Songs: 32
Performance: 0
Arts: 0
Connections: 294
[Personal Skills]: None
[Ability Value]
Singing Skills: Mute
Acting: Mute
Variety Sense: Mute
Hmm?????
What's the deal with this triple 'Mute'?
Why do I detect a strong sense of mockery here?
Isn't this system a bit too... unconventional? Or should I say, a bit of a troll?
Labeling me 'Mute' like this... is it mocking me for being unable to do anything because I'm mute, or what?
It knows I'm mute and still gives me an entertainment system.
So I can't sing or act? Isn't this a bit ridiculous?
No, wait! According to all those web novels, aren't systems supposed to be omnipotent?
Maybe there's medicine in here that can cure my throat?
Truth be told, I'm not technically mute. It's more like damaged vocal cords that need a long period of rest.
Initially, I completely lost my voice, and it was swollen and painful. But after four years of university, it has improved considerably.
I can manage a few syllables now. If you listen carefully, you can still understand me.
According to the doctors, I should recover enough to speak normally in about ten years or so. Of course, 'normally' just means being able to talk; singing is out of the question.
But now that I have the system, I naturally hope to get better immediately. Who would want to be mute if they could speak?
He opened the [System Mall], and a dense array of items instantly appeared.
"Soldiers Sortie," "Dream Chaser," "The Dead End," "Calabash Brothers," Tongbei Fist, Level One Musicality...
What kind of ridiculous organization is this? Why is everything jumbled together like a mishmash?
At first glance, films, TV series, songs, animations, and even martial arts are all mixed together without any logic. And there's 'Level One Musicality'—is that supposed to be a skill?
Fortunately, there was a filter button at the top. After checking, he found categories like [Movies], [TV Series], [Variety Shows], [Animation], [Songs], [Novels], [Skills], [Items], and so on.
There also seemed to be subcategories, but he didn't look closely and went straight to the [Items] category.
The [Items] section had a lot of things: Wisdom Fruit, Inspiration Capsule, Calmness Potion...
Item after item scrolled past his eyes until he found something useful: [Sea Blue Essence]: Repairs vocal cord damage. Exchange price: 18,000 Reputation Points per drop.
Eighteen thousand?
He glanced at the top right corner. Reputation Points: 326. More than two hundred, nearly three hundred of that, is from 'Connections' reputation. Basically, it means knowing a lot of people; it counts if others can recognize your name.
This pathetic three-digit number instantly deflated him.
So, I need Reputation Points to buy things first?
And how do you earn Reputation Points? Isn't it by singing, acting, and getting people to know you?
I'm freaking mute! Where am I supposed to sing and act? In my dreams?
Isn't this a paradox? What a crappy system! This is utter bullshit!
Annoyed, he closed the [System Mall] page. Just as he was about to exit the system interface, he suddenly remembered the Newcomer Gift Pack.
Could this gift pack contain something to fix my throat?
You know, going by the usual tropes, it definitely should! Otherwise, wouldn't this be a dead end? If my throat doesn't get better, the system becomes a white elephant. That wouldn't make any sense!
Thinking this, he immediately brightened up, found the [Inventory] tab, and opened the Newcomer Gift Pack with great anticipation.
He mentally added the word 'Grand' to it. It was just called 'Newcomer Gift Pack,' but in his eyes, it had to be grand—the grander, the better!
With a flash of golden light, a shiny, iridescent USB drive appeared before him.
What the hell, man? Where's the medicine to fix my throat we talked about? What's the meaning of this USB drive?
Suppressing the unease in his heart, he focused on the USB drive, and a line of text immediately appeared below it:
[Song: "The Original Dream" - Fan Weiqi]
DAMN IT!!!
Even someone as good-tempered as Chu Tian felt the urge to flip a table.
You freaking—! What kind of goddamn system is this? Are you nuts?
I'm freaking MUTE! MUTE, MUTE, MUTE! Get it?!
Fine, don't give me medicine, but what's the point of giving me a song?
I can't sing it anyway!
Fortunately, his throat was shot, and he couldn't speak. Otherwise, given the system's ridiculous antics, he would have started cursing long ago.
What a piece of crap! Useless system! I'm done with this. Whatever happens, happens!
The more Chu Tian thought about it, the angrier he became. He cursed inwardly countless times before finally letting out a long sigh and slumping into his chair, deciding to give up completely.
Since the system is unreliable, it must be fate. So, why struggle?
I'll just be a good-for-nothing salted fish, continue to drift along and wait for death.
I was fed up with the entertainment industry life anyway. Maybe a plain and simple life now isn't so bad after all.