Two o'clock in the morning, the night in Jingzhou was so thick it wouldn't dissipate.

In the rental house, Lu Zhixian sat cross-legged on that slightly shaky second-hand sofa, holding a cup of instant noodles in his left hand and a fork in his right, his eyes fixed intently on the laptop screen in front of him.

The screen was playing a recorded video.

It was the "execution scene" from Chen Mo's live stream.

Watching Chen Mo's face transform from arrogant and domineering to ashen and lifeless, and then seeing the screen full of uniform comments saying [Feels Good], Lu Zhixian took a large slurp of noodles and let out a long sigh of satisfaction.

"This really hits the spot."

This was more refreshing for the mind and body than any top-tier feast.

The data for "bubble" was still skyrocketing, Su Qing's Weibo followers had already surpassed two million, and even Jiang Cheng, who could only shout "666," had ridden the coattails onto the tail end of the trending searches.

This battle was a complete and utter victory.

Lu Zhixian set down the noodle cup, took a tissue to wipe his mouth, and with a thought, summoned the system panel.

"System, come out and settle up. Let's see how fat this haul is."

A pale blue light screen instantly expanded on his retina.

[Host: Lu Zhixian]

[Skill: Intermediate Music Guidance Talent (Permanent)]

[Popularity Points: 583,420]

[Mall: Unlocked]

[Lucky Draw: Consumes 100,000 Popularity Points per draw]

Five hundred and eighty thousand!

Although he had expected it to be a big hit, this number still exceeded his expectations.

Previously, to draw "bubble," his popularity points had almost hit rock bottom. He didn't expect that in just over ten hours, he would not only break even but also more than quintuple his points.

This was the power of a blockbuster hit.

In this era of entertainment to the death, traffic was money, power, and everything.

"Mall," Lu Zhixian thought silently.

Before, he didn't have enough popularity points and could only stare longingly at the grey icons in the mall. Now that he had supplies in hand, his back was naturally straighter.

The mall interface expanded, and the dazzling array of items was overwhelming.

[Elementary Piano Mastery: 50,000 Popularity Points]

[Intermediate Guitar Performance: 100,000 Popularity Points]

[Perfect Pitch (Talent): 2,000,000 Popularity Points]

...

Lu Zhixian's gaze swept quickly, finally settling on a golden icon at the very top of the skill bar.

[Advanced Vocal Technique (Permanent): 300,000 Popularity Points]

The description was simple: Grants the host professional-level singing skills, including breath control, resonance usage, falsetto transition, etc., sufficient to master 90% of high-difficulty songs.

This was the one.

As a producer, although his main work was behind the scenes, Lu Zhixian knew very well that in this circle, only by mastering core vocal abilities could he truly do as he pleased.

Moreover, the system was loaded with so many divine songs from Earth; he couldn't give every single one to others to sing, could he?

Some songs only had that specific flavor when he sang them himself.

"Exchange!"

[Ding! Consumed 300,000 Popularity Points, successfully exchanged for 'Advanced Vocal Technique'!]

As the system notification sounded, a warm current instantly enveloped Lu Zhixian's throat.

The feeling was wonderful, like a person who had been nearsighted for years suddenly putting on glasses with the right prescription; the world instantly became crystal clear.

A few minutes later, the warm current receded.

Lu Zhixian tried clearing his throat.

"Ahem, ahem."

His voice was clear, full of magnetism, and without any impurities.

He casually hummed a high-pitched part of "bubble."

"It's all just bubbles—"

Effortless.

His breath was as steady as a rock, his tone full and rounded, and the penetration of his high notes was startlingly strong.

"Sweet!"

Lu Zhixian snapped his fingers.

These three hundred thousand points were well spent!

Now, if he were to participate in some talent show, with just this voice, he could grind those so-called mentors into the dirt.

Just as he was immersed in the joy of his skyrocketing strength, the phone thrown in the corner of the sofa suddenly vibrated.

He picked it up to see a text message from an unknown number.

One look was all it took to catch his attention.

The content of the message was long, exuding a heavy official style, as well as a... high-and-mighty sense of charity.

"Hello, Mr. Lu Zhixian. I am Wang Sen, Director of the Artist Department at Xinghuang Entertainment. Given the potential you've shown in your two works 'dispelling sorrow' and 'bubble,' the company intends to sign you as an exclusive songwriter."

"We will provide you with an industry-leading S-class contract, with unprecedented resource allocation. As for Chen Mo, that was due to his personal lack of ability; he has already been terminated by the company. You need not have any concerns. Come to the Star Emperor Building at ten tomorrow morning for a detailed discussion."

Xinghuang Entertainment.

One of the three giants of the Huaxia entertainment industry and also Chen Mo's former employer.

The noses of these people were truly sharper than a dog's.

One moment they kicked Chen Mo away like trash, and the next they wanted to recruit him.

And this tone...

"Potential"? "Intends to sign"? "Come at ten tomorrow morning for a detailed discussion"?

Between the lines, they didn't treat Lu Zhixian as an equal partner at all, but rather like they were notifying a newcomer waiting to be picked: Kid, consider yourself lucky, the Emperor is granting you a meal, hurry up and show your gratitude.

In their eyes, Lu Zhixian was perhaps just a lucky greenhorn who wrote two hits. As long as they gave him a little sweetness and showed off a big company's muscles, they could make him bow down in gratitude.

"S-class contract?"

Lu Zhixian sneered, his fingers quickly tapping a few words on the screen, then clicked send without hesitation.

The reply was just four simple words:

"Not free right now."

After sending it, he threw the phone back into the corner of the sofa and continued eating the cup of noodles that had become a bit soft.

Xinghuang Entertainment?

Just a slightly larger amateur troupe.

Want me to be your money-making machine? Keep dreaming.

...

Meanwhile, in a high-end apartment in Jingzhou.

Wang Sen looked at the four cold words on his phone screen, his face instantly darkening as if it were about to drip water.

"Ungrateful piece of work!"

He slammed the phone onto the table.

As a director at Star Emperor, who in this circle didn't bow and scrape when they saw him? Even A-list singers would politely call back after receiving a text from him.

This Lu Zhixian actually dared to reply "Not free"?

"Fine, you've got guts." Wang Sen gritted his teeth, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes.

"Did you really think writing two hit songs means you can fly to the heavens? In this circle, if you offend Star Emperor, I have plenty of ways to make it impossible for you to move an inch!"

...

Lu Zhixian naturally didn't know that Wang Sen was throwing a powerless tantrum at home. Even if he did, he would only give the man a "Heh."

Just after finishing the last bite of noodles, the phone rang again.

This time it was Jiang Cheng.

"Teacher Lu! I didn't disturb your rest, did I?" Jiang Cheng's voice was still full of excitement, and there seemed to be some noise in the background, like he was in a bar or KTV.

"No, just finished a late-night snack." Lu Zhixian threw the noodle cup into the trash. "What, the victory party isn't over yet?"

"Heh, what victory party? I'm just gathering with a few old friends." Jiang Cheng paused, his tone suddenly becoming a bit hesitant.

"That... Teacher Lu, I have something I want to ask for your help with."

"Speak."

"It's like this, I'm currently in a lounge bar opened by an old friend." Jiang Cheng lowered his voice.

"I met a senior named Shi Lei. You might not know him, Teacher Lu. Ten years ago, he was the lead singer of the 'Xiangyang Band.' Back then, he was a rock veteran who was famous across the country!"

Shi Lei? Xiangyang Band?

Lu Zhixian searched the original owner's memories in his mind.

He did have an impression.

Ten years ago, that was the last period of glory for Huaxia rock music. Xiangyang Band had burst onto the scene with a song called 'Running Wild.'

Lead singer Shi Lei's explosive vocals and wild, uninhibited stage presence had once been a youth totem for a generation.

But later, with the rise of pop music and idol groups, rock music gradually declined, and Xiangyang Band disbanded due to creative differences among its members.

Since then, the name Shi Lei had completely disappeared from the public eye.

"What's wrong with him?" Lu Zhixian asked.

"He... isn't in a good state." Jiang Cheng sighed.

"After the band disbanded, he always wanted to keep making pure rock, but you know the market nowadays; nobody listens to that."

"He wrote many songs, but they were all rejected by record companies, saying they weren't commercial or had no selling points. Later, to make a living, he could only sing in bars, but his temper is foul and stubborn. He refuses to sing those cheesy pop songs and often gets into conflicts with customers..."

The sound of breaking glass came from the other end of the phone, followed by a drunken, gruff male voice roaring: "Get out! I'm not singing 'Learn to Meow'! Get the hell out!"

Jiang Cheng gave a bitter laugh: "Hear that? He's drunk again."

"Teacher Lu, I know this is a bit much to ask." Jiang Cheng's voice held a plea.

"But Brother Lei is truly a talented person. He's just... just been abandoned by this era. Seeing him like this, it really doesn't sit well with me. Can you... can you help him?"

Lu Zhixian fell silent.

Just then, that long-awaited system notification exploded in his mind.

[Ding! Detected host contact with a key figure: Lost Pearl of the Era · Shi Lei.]

[Triggered Hidden Quest: Awakening the Sleeping Rock Lion.]

[Quest Description: Rock never dies, it only fades away. Please help Shi Lei return to the peak and use the purest rock music to give this powder-scented music scene a heavy punch.]

[Quest Reward: Diamond Treasure Chest × 1.]

[Reward Quest Item: 'the former you', already distributed.]

Lu Zhixian's eyes instantly lit up.

A hidden quest!

And the reward was a Diamond Treasure Chest!

More importantly, that system description—"give this powder-scented music scene a heavy punch"—deeply resonated with him.

Most importantly, this time he didn't even need to draw for it; the song was given to him directly.

A familiar melody surfaced in his mind almost instantly.

It was a song for men, a song about the past, about ideals, and about being on the road.

"Jiang Cheng," Lu Zhixian spoke, his voice calm and certain.

"Hey! I'm here!"

"Tomorrow, bring that Brother Lei of yours over."

Jiang Cheng was stunned for a moment, then ecstatic: "Teacher Lu, you agreed? But Brother Lei has a very strange temper, and in his current state..."

"It doesn't matter."

"As long as he's not dead, as long as he can still open his mouth."

"I can make him stand on the mountaintop once again."

Hanging up the phone, Lu Zhixian looked out the window at the towering silhouette of the Star Emperor Building, his gaze gradually becoming sharp.

Xinghuang Entertainment?

S-class contract?

Want me to work for you?

Sorry, my goal is to build an entertainment empire of my own.

And this down-and-out rock veteran is the first cornerstone I will lay down.