Chapter 134: How Could This Be Possible?

The hustle and bustle of gossip filled the day, passing in the blink of an eye. As evening approached, speculation regarding which platform would land Chen Qi’s new song reached a fever pitch. Many had a gut feeling that by late in the day, Chen Qi would finally break his silence on Weibo.

At the very least, he had to announce when the song would be officially released, right? It had been nearly 24 hours since he had announced the song in that unconventional manner, and with so many eyes fixed upon him, it would be difficult to justify further silence.

Yet, to everyone’s shock, just as the consensus was forming, Tian Tian Music dropped a bombshell without any prior warning. They announced on their official Weibo account that they had reached a partnership agreement with Chen Qi. Furthermore, the post included a promotional graphic clearly stating the release date of his new song: ten o’clock in the morning, three days from now!

Beyond that, sharp-eyed netizens noticed that Tian Tian Music’s website and app had been simultaneously updated, with a prominent advertisement for "To You" plastered across their homepages. The sheer scale of this marketing blitz was in no way inferior to the recent campaign for "Beyond the Light Years."

Faced with this sudden, massive news, the netizens who had been frantically debating just a moment ago were rendered speechless. Many stood with their mouths agape, unable to process the information. This surprise was truly blindsiding.

Tian Tian Music? The platform everyone had dismissed as the underdog had actually signed the song? It was too absurd to be true. How did they pull it off? How did the weakest of the bunch manage to snatch Chen Qi away from the industry giants? In that instant, a thousand questions raced through the minds of the online community.

It was so sudden, so unexpected! What about the rumors surrounding Jiu Jiu Music? What about the consensus that Tian Tian Music had no chance? Were they being played?

After the initial shock subsided, the netizens were in a frenzy. "Can someone tell me what is going on?" "Has Tian Tian Music been injected with adrenaline, or did they just get incredibly lucky?" "No, seriously... why Tian Tian Music? How did they manage this?"

The netizens, feeling as though they had been slapped in the face, simply couldn't wrap their heads around it. If it had been any of the other major music companies, it would have been understandable, but it had to be the very one everyone had written off. Those who had previously boasted in various threads about how Tian Tian Music would be the first to be eliminated now found themselves deeply embarrassed. They realized Chen Qi was truly ruthless—when he decided to act on a whim, he didn't even spare the faces of his own fans.

After struggling to digest the news, the netizens couldn't help but laugh. Interesting! This plot twist was truly intriguing. It seemed that Chen Qi was not a man to stay in his lane. Was he stirring the pot? They suddenly realized that one could not use conventional logic to fathom Chen Qi; he had mastered the art of playing by his own rules.

Industry insiders who heard the news shared this sentiment. Upon learning of the unexpected collaboration between Chen Qi and Tian Tian Music, they were equally astonished. After the shock wore off, many couldn't help but shake their heads in wonder. This Chen Qi, who had appeared out of nowhere, was upending their understanding of the industry. Not only was his method of releasing songs unique, but his choice of partner was equally unpredictable. This man was truly something else. In that moment, they all felt as if a new world had opened up before them.

...

While the netizens were reeling from the announcement, the major music giants received the news immediately. Upon hearing the reports, the executives who were still desperately trying to contact Chen Qi were stunned, and then they couldn't help but burst into derisive laughter.

"Don't be ridiculous, how could that be possible?"
"Where did you hear such gossip?"
"You believe this? Tian Tian Music? I’m not underestimating them, but really!"

They looked at their secretaries with amusement, dismissing the news entirely. Tian Tian Music? It was impossible. Even if it were anyone's turn, it certainly wouldn't be theirs! Besides, they had been calling Chen Qi all day without success; how could Tian Tian Music have possibly reached a deal with him? It was impossible! Absolutely impossible!

Seeing the mocking smiles on their bosses' faces, the secretaries swallowed nervously and cautiously handed over the official press release from Tian Tian Music.

"What is this?" The executives instinctively took the document, but their smiles froze. Their eyes widened, and they stared at the text in disbelief, their expressions shifting from ridicule to utter shock. Two of the executives even stood up abruptly from their chairs.

"Are you joking?!"

"How is this possible?!"

"How did they do it?!"

The executives were floored. Tian Tian Music? Why them? How could it possibly be them? In that moment, they couldn't fathom how the song had been signed by Tian Tian Music or how Chen Qi had agreed to work with them. Was he an idiot? Whether it was brand recognition, user base, or resources, Tian Tian Music was at the bottom of the list among the industry giants. Anyone with a shred of sense wouldn't choose them, would they? Was Chen Qi insane?

Looking at the text in the announcement, which seemed to drip with triumph, the executives of the major music giants were on the verge of tears. They never imagined they would lose to a competitor they hadn't even considered a threat. How humiliating!

But the humiliation wasn't the main issue. The real problem was the sudden, overwhelming sense of crisis. Tian Tian Music had just struck gold with the release of "Beyond the Light Years," and now they had secured Chen Qi’s highly anticipated "To You." Their brand image was skyrocketing. If things went poorly, the music market might face a major reshuffle, and Tian Tian Music, formerly at the bottom, could very well seize a significant share of the market that had once belonged to them.

...

Shortly after Tian Tian Music announced the partnership, Chen Qi, who had been busy in the recording studio all day, also caught wind of the news. Seeing the thousands of inquiries under his Weibo posts, he thought for a moment and then posted a confirmation of the collaboration.

As soon as the post went live, the witty netizens were the first to comment.

"You really are something else!"
"I just love how you never play by the rules!"
"Is a screenwriter who can't sing not a good director?!"

The responses from these netizens were as eccentric as ever, nearly causing the ordinary fans, who already found the situation amusing, to die of laughter.