"Ye Xi's final concert of the tour is in Nagoya, and after that, we'll be returning to Tokyo. We're flying back from Tokyo to our home country. So, could you consider whether it's possible for us to discuss this in the next few days and perhaps find an opportunity to negotiate on the day we return to Tokyo? We understand that your time is precious. However, signing the contract is a significant matter. It determines the future development of Ye Xi and our team for the next five years. For a musician, perhaps it's not a very long time, but for Ye Xi, he is currently at the forefront. For any record company, it's a great opportunity to earn money through his reputation, and it also saves substantial costs on PR and promotion."
Lin Su is still trying to find ways to navigate the situation, recognizing that delaying time and having Dezhi make the first move is the best strategy for the company.
"Hahaha, we also have more time to study the contract. It's several hundred pages long. Although our legal team has gone through it, Ye Xi himself, during this time preparing for the concert, practices the piano for nine hours every day and still doesn't have enough time to carefully review this contract," Dai Yanzhi said, completing this statement. I almost burst out laughing. There is indeed practice, but it's at least four hours a day, at most six hours, not nine. Now, unlike during the competition period, there's no undivided attention. Recently, there's more than an hour of commuting every day, running around in several places, and still needing to find time to deal with the media. I'm worried that his words may not hold water, making Dezhi's people think we are too unapproachable. My eyes don't know where to focus; I can only look around.
"How does Mr. Ye Xi see this?" Chen Hanwen seems to have noticed my unease.
"I'm a bit thirsty. Is there any water?" I pretended to look around to find a water bottle.
"Come, I'll pour you some," Chen Hanwen swiftly picked up a water bottle from the side table at the end of the meeting room and walked towards me.
Without waiting for her to speak again, I took several sips of water.
"I think it's settled this way. Since you are sincerely considering, we are willing to make the biggest concession. In terms of income, we'll add another five percentage points to the album part," Clementi said straightforwardly.
Dai Yanzhi couldn't sit still, glancing at Lin Su and then at me.
"Mr. Clementi is also very sincere. Let's be straightforward. We are not primarily concerned about the profits; we care more about Mr. Ye Xi's development. If we sign with Dezhi in the midst of competition with similar musicians, we would be concerned about personnel issues. So, regarding the breach of contract agreement, could the penalty be lowered a bit? This way, we can avoid more risks in the future," Lin Su insisted on an additional request, which we hadn't discussed beforehand.
"Yes, because I'm not entirely sure about my future career path at the moment. I definitely want to persist as a professional performer, but academics are also crucial for me. I'm determined to complete my master's degree, and after that, pursuing a Ph.D. is also a direction I'm considering. Perhaps in the future, my focus will shift more towards academic research and exchange. Currently, I see that the contract plans for 80 performances each year. This number is too overwhelming for me, and it would squeeze the time I need to refine my violin skills. I am indeed resistant to excessive performances. As a professional performer, I need a significant amount of time each year to delve into new pieces. Continuous performance schedules might hinder my practice," I explained.
"We completely understand the concerns you've raised. How about this? Let's schedule another meeting. Hanwen, come over here," Clementi called Chen Hanwen to his side. "Check with Asano about our specific meeting arrangements with the German Ambassador to Japan five days from now. See if we can arrange an hour for a meeting with Mr. Yexi and his team to discuss further."
"Alright," Chen Hanwen nodded and left the meeting room.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Clementi!" Lin Su said with a big smile.
"This is how big companies operate; they are eager for talent," Dai Yanzhi said to the translator with enthusiasm.
"Thank you for your understanding and cooperation," the translator said in English to Clementi, and I happened to understand it.
After bidding farewell to the Dezhi team, we got into the business car, ready to check out of the hotel and then take the Shinkansen to Osaka.
"Why didn't you translate properly just now?" Dai Yanzhi complained to the translator in frustration.
"Hahaha, you understood it, didn't you?" Lin Su teased Dai Yanzhi.
"What, I can't understand 'thank you'?" Dai Yanzhi raised his head, squinting at Lin Su.
"Alright, you still have some skills," Lin Su elbowed Dai Yanzhi's arm.
"Of course, I'm pretty good in college English," Dai Yanzhi showed a proud smile.
"I mean your negotiation skills, Tai Chi master," Lin Su sighed, "Ye Xi, I think our conditions have a chance."
"Really? I think Dezhi is pretty good," I leaned my head back on the seat and sighed.
"Hey, you're the Chopin competition champion! And no one can break your record. You're the youngest Chopin competition champion in history! Who can win the Chopin international competition championship on their eighteenth birthday?" Dai Yanzhi looked at me in amazement. "Ye Xi, you need to understand that your potential is enormous. Although Dezhi is indeed the largest and most famous record company globally, it may not be the best or the most suitable for you."
Lin Su nodded, lowered his voice, and said to me, "Besides, becoming a professional pianist is different from participating in competitions or pursuing academia. Competing or honing skills is a solitary endeavor, but a professional pianist requires the support of one, or even many teams. When a musician decides to sign with a record company, they must understand that they are representing not just themselves."
"In plain terms, the people under you need to make a living and support their families," Dai Yanzhi turned his head to look out the window and said.
"Rough words, but they make sense. I've been in this business for many years, and I've seen quite a few musicians decline because they took the wrong path or chose the wrong people," Lin Su lowered his head.
"Who? Tell me, quickly!" Dai Yanzhi grabbed Lin Su's arm and shook it.
"Many, the most regrettable might be Shen..." Lin Su didn't finish the name.
"Oh, I know, I've heard about it. Indeed, it's a pity," Dai Yanzhi let go of Lin Su's arm.
I knew who they were talking about and lowered my head in helplessness. The car remained in a long, silent period. He was my fellow alumnus from the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, studying under another teacher. He was more introverted than I, so Dai Yanzhi and other friends who were familiar with each other were not close to him. He had gone to the Theater und Medien Hannover for further studies two years before I was about to enter. For some unknown reason, he dropped out and returned to China from Germany before I participated in the competition. Later, he seemed to disappear without a trace. It seemed to be due to family reasons, or perhaps a disagreement with the management company. He never mentioned the specific reasons to us. Before the competition, I sometimes saw him in the school's concert hall watching and critiquing my performances with Li Li, but he never said a word.
In my memory, I only heard him play once, Liszt's "La Campanella." When Lin Su and Dai Yanzhi mentioned him, I recalled his performance. Perhaps in the sound of the piano at that time, one could foresee his subsequent disappearance. His technique was impeccable, even surpassing Li Li. His handling of the octaves and large jumps in the 133rd measure was stunning. The explosiveness and delicacy were combined, and each voice was as clear as layers of stacked bells. However, it was overly loud and sharp, as if venting long-suppressed emotions. Anger mixed with extreme sadness, followed by a determination to leave this world, and his fingers dropped heavily from a high point. Everyone in the audience stood and cheered for him. However, I, slower than everyone else, stood up half a beat later. Li Li thought my delay was due to my arrogance, looking down on others' performances. In fact, I knew that the cheers were a misplaced praise for his performance, and above his skillful playing was a desperate struggle. He deserved an understanding without reservation. Obviously, no one could give him that understanding. No one could see his vulnerability beneath his strength. At that time, the young me was only concerned with foreseeing my own future shadows in him.
Looking back on him later, I could only smile bitterly—laughing at my own selfishness, laughing at my infatuation. What in this world is more foolish than seeing through something without a trace and indulging in helpless empathy, a self-indulgence of naive self-love?
"We're here. Hurry and pack up in your room," Linsu said, glancing at his phone. "It's already one o'clock, and we need to head to Tokyo Station quickly."
"Alright, fifteen minutes to wrap things up," Dai Yanzhi called out to his colleagues.
"Fifteen minutes? That's too short!" I exclaimed, attempting to pull myself out of the indulgence of thoughts about my alumnus.
"Young master! Are you planning to catch up on sleep?" Dai Yanzhi grinned.
"No," I replied in a lowered voice.
"Fifteen minutes is almost up. Time is running out," Lin Su placed his hand on my shoulder, urging me to quicken my pace towards the hotel lobby.
"Alright," I deliberately walked faster than Lin Su to shake off his hand.
Returning to the room, it was now empty. Yan Feng should already be on the Shinkansen, probably hiding in a corner of the Osaka hotel, waiting for me to meet him. Fortunately, he's not famous yet, and luckily, we are in Japan, where no one should recognize him. I walked towards the sofa and saw a neatly packed suitcase leaning against the back of the sofa, and a backpack placed on top of the suitcase. Yan Feng had already organized my things. I suddenly regretted complaining about his sudden appearance and making him angry last night. Since the luggage was already packed, I glanced at my watch—it was 1:05 pm, still ten minutes left. I dove into the blanket, burying my head in the pillow, thinking that when we arrived in Osaka, I had to be gentler with him.
My phone suddenly vibrated, it was a call from Yan Feng.
"Dai Yanzhi told me your meeting is over. I asked him about the negotiation result, but he wouldn't tell me. He told me to ask you," Yan Feng spoke leisurely on the phone.
"It went smoothly. They even agreed to postpone the signing until the last day before we leave Japan."
"Oh, that's great. DeZhi is willing to organize another meeting for you, so you've gained absolute initiative. Xixi, no one can refuse you; it's only you who refuses others," his voice came through with a news broadcast, and I faintly heard the word "Osaka."
"Are you almost in Osaka?" I changed the subject. "Wait for me at the hotel. We'll probably arrive around 6:00 in the evening."
"At the Ritz-Carlton?" he asked.
"Yes, wait for me in the hotel lobby."
"Aren't you afraid I might run into your colleagues?" I detected a half-smiling expression in his tone.
"No, they don't know you, and Dai Yanzhi will help me."I heard someone knocking on the door and hastily ended the call, "Alright, see you later. Someone is coming to find me."
I immediately got up, picked up my luggage, and opened the door. Dai Yanzhi was standing right outside.
"Thank you!" I said to him with a smile.
"Since childhood, it's always been like this. You, although a genius, always seem a bit clueless in other aspects. I guess it's because Teacher Dan and Aunt Zhang (Ye Xi's mom) have protected you too well. I'm used to it. Now, for you, whether in your emotional life or career development, you're still like a baby," Dai Yanzhi said in a touching tone. I felt like he saw through my reminiscence of my Sichuan Conservatory of Music alumni in the car.
"You too, it's been the same since childhood. Anyone who praises you a bit, and you're on cloud nine," I responded in the same tone, acknowledging his insight. Perhaps the understanding between childhood friends is manifested in not explicitly stating it but being able to converse with unspoken language.
On the train to Osaka, there was no unnecessary noise. Occasionally, the train announcer's voice could be heard reporting station information. The bento box my colleagues bought for me at Tokyo Station was opened in front of me. The transparent juice that once covered the carved lotus root slices had dried up. I had no appetite for this cold meal, even though my fellow travelers praised it endlessly. I looked at the changing scenery outside the window. The towering city skyline kept running, transforming into low straight lines until it turned into a deep indigo curve. Against this smooth background, chaotic and occasionally bifurcating lines traversed from start to finish. There were so many utility poles in Japan, and I complained about the chaotic power lines entwining like spider silk in front of the scenery. I could only think back to childhood memories, reminiscing about the disappeared traces of that alumnus.
"Why don't you eat something? There's a performance tomorrow, you need to eat well. You also have to go to the concert hall to practice piano in the evening," Dai Yanzhi looked at me.
"Oh, I'll eat later. I'm not hungry now."
"Piano practice is very demanding. When I was taking my undergraduate exams, I played the double bass every day. You know, for the double bass, you have to stand, and every day standing for eight hours, your back gets sore and your waist hurts. At that time, I envied you guys for being able to sit while practicing. Hahaha."
"Piano is tiring too, you know. Otherwise, give it a try. I'll guide you in playing the piano?" I teased him.
"No, thanks. I'm fine now. Being your manager is quite prestigious, traveling all over the world, and staying in luxury hotels for free." He leaned back, lowering the chair back and lay down.
"It's good that you know. Don't show off too much." I glanced at him, unable to resist asking about our alumnus. "You should know about Shen, right? The whole story."
He nodded and closed his eyes.
"Yeah, I knew you'd know everything," I didn't ask anything more.
I didn't ask because I didn't want to know the reasons behind it. It felt like knowing those details would entangle me in the affairs of my fellow alumnus. Of course, after the competition, I was different from him. He had faded away, while I was the rising Venus, destined never to fall.