Murphy's condition was not good! Yesterday, her new album was released, and she participated in a music chart show recording at the Magic City TV station, along with a live broadcast recording at the Magic City Radio station, working late into the night. But sometimes, hard work doesn't bring the rewards you hope for. For example, album sales... Early in the morning, Murphy woke up after barely sleeping a few hours. Her lips pale, she couldn't wait to ask Mo Xiaojuan, who was clutching her phone, "Any numbers yet? How many?" Mo Xiaojuan hesitated for a moment before telling Murphy the situation: "Twenty-six thousand..." This was the latest data the company had obtained through the Copyright Association, and it usually took a few hours before it was posted on the association's website. Twenty-six thousand... Murphy was stunned, a look of dejection flickering in her cold, clear eyes. First-day sales breaking ten thousand—if this were Yang Yi's previous life, that number would have been enough to make headlines, and by the end of the sales period, it might even have met the standard for a platinum record! But you have to understand, in this world, copyright protection is at its best, and people's awareness of supporting legitimate records is unprecedentedly strong! So in this world, the standard for a platinum record in the Mandarin-speaking region isn't one million or ten million, but a staggering twenty million! Even so, one or two platinum records still emerge nationwide each year, showing just how booming the record market is. Yet, as it stands now, this honor seems out of reach for Murphy. With first-day sales of just over twenty thousand, and not being a newcomer to releasing albums, Murphy knew this time she might be facing a Waterloo. "Sister Ling said, don't get discouraged. This is just the beginning; we still have a chance!" Mo Xiaojuan tried to cheer her up. But Murphy could only force a bitter, painful smile. It's true that there have been stories of slow starts turning around through word of mouth, but Murphy's case was different. She knew herself that the quality of her new album was barely passable, with only an emotional appeal to lean on! In other words, the first-day sales almost reflected how well that emotional card had played—most of her loyal fans willing to support her would likely have bought it on this day, right? But misfortunes never come singly. Just as Murphy was feeling low, she got a call from the nanny, who was frantic and panicked, telling her that Xixi had gone missing! At that moment, Murphy felt as if struck by lightning, nearly fainting from the shock. Thankfully... it turned out that bastard Yang Yi had "picked up" Xixi. Though Murphy couldn't figure out how Yang Yi had managed it, that didn't matter anymore! What mattered was that Xixi was still safe. But her emotions were so shaken that Murphy had no heart left to record the show. She hurriedly instructed Mo Xiaojuan to cover for her and arrange the follow-up, then had the driver head to Jiangcheng. "Wait, sis, are you crazy?" Mo Xiaojuan grabbed her desperately. "This is no time to throw a tantrum! Do you know how serious the consequences will be if you stand them up tonight? Have you forgotten about Liu Shifang?" Murphy stopped in her tracks. The slander from Liu Shifang had hit her hard; how could she forget? Wasn't it precisely to counter that nearly one-sided public opinion that she had agreed to the company's packed schedule? But if Murphy gave in now, she wouldn't be the same Murphy who had once chosen to leave the entertainment industry for her child! "Help me apologize to the TV station and the director. See if we can reschedule to tomorrow," Murphy said in a low, somber voice. "Tomorrow? Tomorrow you have a schedule at the Beijing TV station!" Mo Xiaojuan said anxiously. "Then think of a way to explain for me," Murphy replied, her expression weary. Her mind was now consumed with thoughts of Xixi; she wouldn't be at ease until she saw her with her own eyes. The car drove off, leaving Mo Xiaojuan standing in the exhaust fumes, utterly bewildered. She wanted to cry but had no tears: "Why did I end up with such a troublesome sister?!"
... Murphy's new album's first-day sales were terrible, a fact Yang Yi had no way of knowing. But what he did know was that his new book, *Bright Sword*, released the day before, had taken off like wildfire from the very start! There was no slow burn. The first chapter delivered a thrilling, all-out battle, where the protagonist, Li Yunlong, using his peasant-like cunning, annihilated the Yamazaki Battalion, which had been holding its ground and inflicting heavy casualties on the Chinese forces! But a great victory was just the climax; what truly captivated readers was the process! Shortly after its release, Mu Yucheng, who claimed to be Yang Yi's die-hard fan, couldn't wait to post his review: "Yang Da is still Yang Da, but the protagonist is even more interesting!" The title came first, followed by the body: "The website has never revealed Yang Da's identity, but one thing is certain—Yang Da must come from a rural background and has served in the military! In his works, we see the simplicity of Chinese farmers, like Xu Sanduo in *Soldiers' Sortie*, and their innate cunning, like Li Yunlong in *Bright Sword*! Li Yunlong is a regiment commander, but he doesn't act like a general. Instead, he's just like the crude, uneducated little farmer we see in everyday life. Look at his conversation with Old Wang, the cook. He glares and says, 'Dream on! If I give you the knife, what will I use? Go, go, go—use a kitchen knife, a rice scoop, or if all else fails, grab a carrying pole and figure it out yourself!' Later, after a big victory, he doesn't get smug. Instead, he stomps his feet because his soldiers turned the Yamazaki Battalion commander into a sieve, robbing him of a duel: 'Which son of a bitch killed Yamazaki? Step forward!' This kind of protagonist, who probably can't even read many characters, is just like Xu Sanduo—completely unsurprising, yet somehow endearing in his personality. We all know that in the first half of the last century, our land was invaded, with warlords carving it up and internal and external troubles brewing. It was then that a group of humble farmers and students stepped up, uniting the country's strength to drive out the invaders and give us the life we have today. Yang Yi's writing in this book is as masterful as ever, and the story is as gripping as always. I'm really curious how this crude Li Yunlong will maneuver with his troops against the Japanese invaders and bring endless trouble to the enemy! The first chapter has me completely hooked on this book, but unfortunately, there's no more! Yang Yi, you bastard, hurry up and update!" Like Mu Yucheng, many readers eagerly finished the first chapter of *Bright Sword* and then rushed to share their excitement, making the newly opened review section bustling with activity. Needless to say, *Bright Sword* was a hit! According to editor Qiangzi's eager report, on the first day of Yang Yi's new book's release, the sheer number of subscriptions had already broken a million (the subscription price in this world is very low, so don't be too surprised), and daily sales had exceeded ten thousand! While this wasn't a record-breaking figure—limited by its genre, it was still far from that—it was still a standout in the military literature category in recent years! Moreover, Yang Yi's books had never relied on sales volume alone. According to Qiangzi's statistics, the tips on the release day alone had exceeded one million, and based on their revenue-sharing agreement, Yang Yi would take home at least seven hundred thousand! Yet, Yang Yi didn't seem to care at all. He wasn't overjoyed or celebrating, as if this were all just routine. For Yang Yi now, just like Murphy, everything else could wait—taking care of Xixi was the top priority!