Lin Yuan's total income last month was around 700,000 yuan.
It should have been more, considering that besides commissions, Lin Yuan now earns a share of the money from two songs together.
In the second month of being on the shelves, although there was no bonus from the New Talent Chart, "Life Like Summer Flowers" still brought in a considerable income.
The download count for this song has already reached 700,000, and reaching a million within a few months is definitely achievable.
Moreover, there is also the release of "Big Fish" in the middle of the month.
But the more money you earn, the more tax you have to pay. The few thousand yuan in tax and the tax to be paid after hundreds of thousands of income are not the same concept.
Fortunately, 700,000 is enough to solve the dilemma Lin Yuan is currently facing.
Nine-thirty in the evening.
Lin Yuan called his sister.
His sister's name is Lin Xuan, who just graduated not long ago and is currently an intern at a company, so she usually finishes work late.
"Hello, little Yuan."
The phone connected, and Lin Xuan's voice carried a hint of fatigue and hoarseness: "I just got home from work."
Lin Yuan said, "Then you should eat first."
Lin Xuan smiled, "I'm just boiling water, I'll have instant noodles later. A few days ago, Mom told me that you have a surprise to tell me?"
Looks like Mom hasn't spilled the beans yet.
Lin Yuan organized his words and said, "Sis, do you know Xianyu?"
"Xianyu?"
Lin Xuan was stunned for a moment, "I know, I often listen to his songs, they are quite nice. Why, do you know this person?"
Lin Yuan said, "I am Xianyu."
Lin Xuan instinctively raised her voice, "What kind of fish are you?"
"Xianyu."
"What are you envying?"
"Xianyu."
{T/N: Xianyu is translated as Envy Fish}
"Wait... wait... let me process this slowly..." Lin Xuan, being a young person, has a slightly better ability to accept, but hearing this news suddenly still left her a bit bewildered.
After a good half day, Lin Xuan finally recovered, "Env... fish?"
Lin Yuan said, "Yes."
"Xianyu!?"
"Yeah yeah."
"Xianyu!?"
Her tone became more and more intense, and even Lin Yuan, who is quite patient, almost couldn't keep up, "Yes, Xianyu is me, I am Xianyu... but that's not the point. The point is, I plan to buy you a phone."
"You heartless thing!"
Lin Xuan was suddenly angry, "Just buy a phone? How did Sister treat you before? I won't mention the past. The clothes and shoes you wore to school, I spent all my first month's internship salary on them!"
Lin Yuan chuckled, "How much do you want?"
Their relationship as siblings is extremely good, so there is never any need to be formal. In fact, he quite likes this way of getting along.
"This is about right."
His sister snorted, "Don't think I don't understand. Composing music is very profitable, and your songs are so popular. Just buying a phone is not enough. Add another 5,000 yuan. I have to pay rent, so, to round it up for you, 10,000 yuan!"
Lin Yuan said, "I've transferred it to you."
Lin Xuan smiled, "Okay, let me check..."
The phone suddenly went silent on the other end.
After a moment of silence, Lin Xuan spoke again, her voice a bit anxious, "Did you add an extra zero?"
Lin Yuan chuckled, "No mistake, it's a hundred thousand, for you."
Lin Xuan, with a serious tone, said, "Lin Yuan! I know you're good to your sister, but you need to be responsible. Mom borrowed a lot of money from relatives and friends for your medical treatment. I'll keep a few thousand, and the rest will be wired to her. How to use it is her decision. Any objections? Even if you do, it doesn't matter. I have the final say."
"That's how it is..."
Lin Yuan could only explain the situation to his sister.
From surprise to joy, and then to jumping around in excitement, Lin Xuan exclaimed, "You did this last month? And you earned this much again this month? I don't want to work anymore, dear brother. I don't want to struggle!"
Lin Yuan: "..."
It seems his sister's tolerance level is not as high as their mom's.
After rambling for a while, Lin Xuan finally calmed down, "Alright, follow your plan. Pay off the debts first, and as for this money, you can forget about getting it back. One hundred thousand, mine!"
"Yes, yours."
Lin Yuan said, "If you don't want to struggle, then don't. Go back to college. You couldn't take the entrance exam for my sake, but now you can catch up."
"I won't."
Lin Xuan refused, "Are you really my brother? You don't understand me at all. Do you really think I love studying so much? The thing I hated the most from childhood to now is going to school! It's always mom nagging about how a good education leads to a good job. I thought, a good job means I can earn money to treat you. So, I forced myself to study, study, study... my head is exploding! Now that you can make money like this, why should I bother? I'll just focus on my job. In case you can't write songs in the future, at least I can support us, so you won't end up on the streets."
"Alright."
Lin Yuan said, "It's your decision."
Lin Xuan smiled, "I've loved reading novels since I was a child. Now, as an intern editor at Lingchuan Publishing Company, I've met many famous novelists. I've been working for a few months, performance is okay, and I've gotten a bunch of novelists' autographs."
"Are you an editor?"
"Yes, I mentioned it to you before, but looks like you didn't remember... Let me tell you again, dear brother, I work at Lingchuan Publishing Company, still in the early stages of my career. In a while, I should be able to become a regular employee!"
"Okay, then make sure to have good dinners in the future."
Lin Yuan pondered that maybe he could go to his sister's place to write.
Super Rookie is an event organized by Silver Blue Library, not the same company as his sister's, so for now, it's probably not feasible.
"Absolutely!"
Lin Xuan proudly declared, "A hundred thousand, time to splurge on meals! Starting tomorrow, I'll switch to eating instant noodles from a bucket, with two extra ham sausages!"
Lin Yuan: "..."
Well done, sister. Truly a Lin. They chatted for a while before hanging up the phone.
Taking a glimpse at his bank balance, Lin Yuan had around 600,000 left. Without hesitation, he transferred 550,000 directly to his mother and sent a message:
"Can pay off the debts now."
The total family debt was just over 500,000, and this lump sum could clear it all at once.
His mother called immediately, shocked, "Did you earn this much this month?"
"Just got lucky, landed a big deal," Lin Yuan briefly explained.
His mother abruptly hung up and messaged, "Signal's not great. Mom will repay the debt tomorrow."
Lin Yuan responded with a smiling emoji.
He knew the reason his mother hung up—she wanted to have a good cry without letting her son hear. He didn't want to spoil her moment.
With that matter settled, he lay on the school's playground, gazing at the starry sky. Warmth and tranquility filled his heart, creating an unprecedented sense of contentment.
Recalling the day he first crossed over, he was lying on the same playground, staring at the stars. However, back then, there was the threat of life and death and the pressure of family, but none of the comfort and satisfaction he felt at this moment—
Life is truly good.