Dawn Entertainment is one of the largest entertainment companies in the country today.

The entertainment industry here exploded after the tech race ended. Both the celebrity world and streaming scene boomed since then. The surge still hasn't faded, drawing more people to these "emerging" fields.

On the surface, streamers and artists seem to make big money effortlessly. Game streamers even earn while playing. Stars get paid and adored by fans. This shiny facade lures countless hopefuls.

Few actually stick it out long-term. But the flood of applicants alone makes auditors curse.

Streaming is easier to break into. Anyone can try being a streamer. Success isn't the platform's concern.

Entertainment is different. Once signed, companies invest real resources. If you're just a slacker with no talent, that investment vanishes. No company tolerates that.

This world's entertainment scene has a much lower entry barrier than the last. Anyone can cobble together a demo and audition—just like Chunan's first step.

But most lack Chunan's skills—or rather, his system and protagonist aura. Many submit barely listenable songs. Auditions feel like panning for gold, with the sand rushing to them.

Big companies grew impatient with new talent reviews. If someone looks signable, they offer contracts immediately. Further checks come after signing, saving time.

But this rushed process lets cheaters slip through with stolen works. After getting burned, companies now eye self-submitted demos with suspicion.

Streaming and entertainment circles overlap heavily here. Cheng Xiao, as a manager, knew this well. To her, Dawn Entertainment's attitude meant only mild interest in Chunan. Signing wasn't guaranteed.

They'd handled suspected cheaters this way before.

Cheng Xiao was annoyed.

One of my top talents, and this is their attitude?

Dawn isn't the only option. If Chunan wanted entertainment, she could connect him elsewhere.

Her people deserved respect.

Chunan didn't know Cheng Xiao defended him. While Xiaohan munched fried chicken, he called Dawn Entertainment's number.

He wasn't overly eager for Dawn. Big as they were, their artist roster was huge. Fierce competition meant newbies might get buried.

Even starting small, he could lift Xiaohan up.

Becoming a popular idol? He hadn't considered it. Xiaohan wasn't idol material. This was just for fun—how far she went depended on luck.

Anyway, the quest reward was practically free. Not getting it all didn't bother him.

One should know contentment.

Of course, if Dawn paved the way, he'd welcome it.

—but that seemed unlikely.

"Hello? Dawn Entertainment? This is Chunan. What can I do for you?"

A woman's voice replied, "Mr. Chunan, are you free soon? Our head of music wants to meet you personally."

Chunan paused. "...Who?"

"Mr. He Dong, head of music. He's very interested in your stream video. Did you create it yourself?"

Xiaohan couldn't hear the call. She just saw Chunan's expression turn strange.

"...Yes, I created it."

"Great. Are you available soon?"

"Yes."

"Could you spare time for a meeting? Just give a time and place. We'll come to you."

Chunan thought for seconds. "Alright. I'm in Jiujiang now. Tonight at eight, Tianxing Hotel. Okay?"

Dawn's HQ was in Jiujiang—conveniently close.

"Perfect. Contact me for anything later. I won't disturb you now."

Chunan nodded and hung up.

He was still surprised.

"What's wrong?" Xiaohan asked, seeing his frown.

Chunan glanced at her and smiled. "Unless something unexpected happens, you're about to become an idol. Happy?"

Xiaohan paused.

It took her seconds to process. "What about you? Are you coming with me?"

"Why would I? I'm a streamer. Different paths."

"Then I won't be an idol." Xiaohan shook her head immediately. "I can't do it alone. If you're not with me, I won't play—that quest isn't mandatory."

"...Who said I won't be with you? I planned to be your manager."

He didn't say the rest: if she went alone, she'd get sold out in half a month.

He'd said she wasn't cut out for entertainment. Since he pushed her in, he had to take responsibility.

"What's fun about being a manager? Can't you join me?"

Chunan sighed. "Ever seen a manager who's also a star?"

"Can't you set a precedent? Rules are meant to be broken."

"Why are you so set on me joining?"

"I'm scared alone—what if I get sold? What if there's coercion?"

"...I'll watch over you. Don't worry."

"Still no. Unless you come too."

Chunan took a deep breath. "Don't you want those quest rewards?"

Xiaohan stopped eating. "Are you giving them to me?"

"We can split them."

"I want fifty-fifty!"

"No way. I'm doing most of the work. You just show up and get famous. Fifty-fifty? Max twenty-eighty."

"Twenty-eighty is too little! How about forty-sixty?"

"Twenty-eighty!"

"That's really too little!"

"How is it little? Over three million—even twenty percent is sixty or seventy thousand. Plus idol earnings later."

"Well... still low... thirty-seventy! Okay?"

"Fine, thirty-seventy. Deal."

"..."

Why did she feel tricked?