Tianxiang ultimately agreed to raise the share of royalties after platinum records to fourteen percent (with weighted calculations for singles based on this base), and refused to budge any higher. This was because Chen Yijie had to be considered—he had voluntarily lowered his own share to fifteen percent, so how could they let a top-tier singer feel "wronged"?
Although Guo Xiaopangzi still felt unsatisfied, Yang Yi didn't let him press the issue and took the lead in signing the revised contract. He didn't use his real name; accustomed to using aliases in his dealings, Yang Yi gave himself a "stage name"!
"Mu Zi'ang," which was actually a homophone for Li Ang (Lyon), a nod to his past life as a form of remembrance.
After the contract was signed, the big star Chen Yijie finally breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't linger long and eagerly rushed off with the piano score Yang Yi had rearranged for him—this song was better suited for piano accompaniment, and he was in a hurry to test it out back in Hong Kong!
"What a loss, what a huge loss!" Guo Ziyi kept muttering. "This is a bet-on agreement; it might not even work out! If there's no platinum record, we'll be eating the northwest wind."
It seemed like Guo Ziyi cared even more about this than Yang Yi himself!
"One must not forget their roots," Yang Yi explained simply to Guo Ziyi. "Besides, the other side has shown their sincerity. We don't need to take every advantage. Leave some leeway for others, and it'll be easier to meet again in the future."
Yang Yi had learned this lesson firsthand in his past life.
Once, during a covert assassination mission in Iraq, he was discovered by a civilian child. He couldn't bring himself to eliminate the threat and let the child go.
Two days later, while retreating after completing the mission, he was ambushed by a mysterious armed group, who even used rocket launchers! He was severely wounded and nearly trapped in a hopeless situation.
Yet, he never expected that the child he had spared would miraculously appear, leading him through a tunnel to escape.
After that experience, he not only understood this principle but also felt the warmth of human connection. Gradually, he no longer fit the role of a killer, which led to his later escape from the organization.
But the principle remained the same: don't be too greedy. Leave room for others to maneuver, which also facilitates future cooperation.
Yang Yi's calm and indifferent words left a deep impression on Guo Ziyi, especially the phrase "Leave some leeway for others, and it'll be easier to meet again in the future," which had never appeared in this world. It felt almost prophetic, making one ponder it endlessly.
He felt he understood this big brother less and less!
Thinking back, Yang Yi's first impression on Guo Ziyi was that of a tough guy!
A super tough guy who could kick a wild boar to death!
That impression was strong, given Yang Yi's physique, which naturally commanded Guo Ziyi's "respect."
Then, after Guo Ziyi shamelessly came over, his impression of Yang Yi shifted a bit.
A master chef capable of making top-tier cuisine!
Luckily, Yang Yi didn't know this guy imagined him as a thick-necked, big-headed chef; if he did, he'd have to give him a beating!
But now, Yang Yi had once again overturned Guo Ziyi's understanding. This big guy could not only write songs but also speak such profound truths!
He had become a mix of tough guy, chef, artist, and life mentor. Holy crap, no matter how he looked at it, it was unbelievable!
Guo Ziyi held it in for a rare whole day until evening, when he couldn't help but ask, "Brother Yang, what kind of person are you really?"
Yang Yi frowned, hiding the murderous intent within him, and asked, "Why do you ask that?"
This question was dangerous! Had he noticed something? Yang Yi had only enjoyed a few days of peace, and he didn't want it taken away! If someone stepped out of line, Yang Yi would have no mercy in making sure they met their end.
Guo Ziyi, unaware of anything wrong, said with curiosity and excitement, "Because you're amazing! Your kung fu is incredible, and you can even write songs! Yesterday, you held back—you had such a great song but wouldn't play it for me..."
This guy, even when expressing his curiosity, could ramble on endlessly, and the topic would drift off somewhere.
Yang Yi quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, things weren't heading in a bad direction. Otherwise, he might have to agonize over whether to take harsh measures against this little fatty!
Though he was noisy, Yang Yi didn't have a bad impression of him; he appreciated talented people with their own personalities!
"So, I'm really curious, what kind of person were you in the past?" Guo Ziyi finally circled back to the topic but immediately couldn't help adding, "Take me, for example. I've been smart since I was a kid, quick to learn anything. When I was five, my family hired a tutor to teach me piano..."
Yang Yi helplessly picked at his ear. It was a good chance to organize his thoughts and figure out how to lie...
Finally, Guo Ziyi, parched from talking, downed a big glass of water and blinked his clever, round eyes, puzzled. "Brother Yang, why aren't you saying anything? Don't want to talk about it? That's fine, everyone has a past they'd rather not share!"
What the hell! Who said he didn't want to? He just couldn't get a word in edgewise!
Yang Yi couldn't help but roll his eyes. Too lazy to argue, he said flatly, "I used to be in the military."
"Oh! I knew it!" Guo Ziyi immediately interrupted, his face full of excitement. "With your martial arts skills, you must be one of those legendary special forces, the king of soldiers, riding a thousand miles alone, taking the enemy general's head from amidst ten thousand troops!"
Seeing Yang Yi shoot him a glare, Guo Ziyi gave a dry chuckle. "Brother Yang, go on, go on."
"After retiring, I worked in all sorts of industries—entertainment, hotels, bars, nightclubs..." Yang Yi didn't mind and briefly introduced his experiences over the years.
"I get it!" Guo Ziyi couldn't hold back again, slapping his thigh with admiration. "Brother Yang, it's because of all those years of hardship that you secretly learned so many amazing skills and achieved what you have now!"
Well, Yang Yi had indeed planned to spin the story that way, but he wasn't sure others would buy it. Yet now, Guo Ziyi had filled in the gaps himself...
Yang Yi was happy to go along with it, saving himself the trouble of explaining.
"Yeah, that's right!" Yang Yi nodded calmly.
"Brother Yang, you're incredible! You're my idol! Please, let me bow to you!" Guo Ziyi knelt on the sofa in worship and actually bowed.
Yang Yi found it both amusing and exasperating, remembering how this guy went around idolizing everyone.
Guo Ziyi scurried over, picked up the guitar, and respectfully handed it to Yang Yi. "Brother Yang, sing 'Long Time No See' for me again! That lousy recording today couldn't capture how good this song is!"
Holding the guitar, Yang Yi stared blankly for a moment before suddenly speaking. "Let me sing you another song I wrote. You asked what I was like in the past. I think through this song, you might find the answer."
"Great!" Guo Ziyi sat down expectantly, ready to listen.
Without a prelude, Yang Yi casually plucked a guitar string and began to sing.
"I once dreamed of wielding a sword and roaming the world, to see the splendor of the world..."
Yang Yi's low voice carried a sense of weariness and nostalgia for the passage of time. The first line sent chills down Guo Ziyi's spine!
"The youthful heart always carries some recklessness, now you're adrift, calling every place home..."
The little fatty couldn't fully grasp the confusion of wandering far from home or the yearning for dreams, but he vaguely felt his heart pounding violently, stirred by this song.
It was like shouting from a rooftop, like watching cars come and go from an overpass, like sending thoughts far away on a train...
Before the song ended, the little fatty was already lost in the melody and lyrics.