In the following days, Lin Yuan maintained his usual routine of shuttling between the classroom and the painting club, teaching two students to sketch every day.
Unbeknownst to him, Zhong Yu had been whispering with other members, apparently scheming something he referred to as "big news."
Of course, Lin Yuan wouldn't have cared even if he had noticed.
After teaching sketching for several days, Lin Yuan began contemplating whether to also offer lessons in more common mediums like gouache and watercolor to expand his client base.
However, he reasoned that since there were still members unable to attend sketching classes every day, he temporarily shelved this idea.
He took it easy.
After all, there would be a time in the future.
He planned to eventually teach various painting techniques, including the most challenging traditional Chinese painting. The efficacy of the teacher's blessings gave him the confidence to do so.
Besides, the system had confirmed it: the more students he taught, the stronger the effect of the teacher's blessing.
The effectiveness of the teacher's blessing was so remarkable that Lin Yuan hesitated to increase his fees.
The pricing was fair.
This was Lin Yuan's primary motivation for teaching.
Speaking of money, Lin Yuan's favorite day of the month was the fifth.
The fifth of every month was auspicious.
April 5th was particularly auspicious.
Because on this day, Lin Yuan received a substantial transfer to his salary account!
However...
This time, Lin Yuan was taken aback when he received the bank transfer notification!
He realized that this month's royalty share, after deducting taxes, amounted to over 600,000 yuan.
Lin Yuan's royalty earnings had been steadily increasing each month since he now had four songs generating income.
More songs meant faster earnings!
Coupled with the monthly sales share from "Net King," the additional income from teaching at the painting club, and the franchise fee from Tribal Literature for his short stories...
When Lin Yuan totaled his various projects, his income for the previous month had exceeded three million yuan!
This was the first time Lin Yuan had made so much money. For a moment, he almost considered commissioning some works from the system to further boost his income.
But upon reflection, he decided it wasn't necessary.
Whenever he needed additional works urgently, he could simply purchase them from the system. Unfortunately, no company had approached him with orders yet.
"Purchasing."
Lin Yuan disliked the term.
If someone had told him before that he would pay for a certain goal one day, Lin Yuan would have dismissed it as a joke.
As the saying goes: One's fate remains unchanged; paying won't change destiny.
But Lin Yuan found that he truly needed to change his destiny. Otherwise, what would he use to build his reputation?
Starlight Entertainment.
10th floor, composition department.
The composers were hard at work.
Suddenly, a man in a black coat appeared at the door.
One of the composers spotted him and stammered, "Se...Senior..."
"What's wrong?" Wu Yong, sitting nearby, followed his colleague's gaze and widened his eyes. "It's Mr. Yang!"
This statement sent shockwaves through the entire 10th-floor composition department.
Everyone rose to their feet, offering greetings with expressions of awe or surprise.
"Senior!"
"Hello, Senior!"
"Long time no see, Senior!"
...
One after another, greetings echoed.
The man in black nodded and inquired, "Where's Lao Zhou?"
Even though he was a distinguished composer, he dared not directly address his supervisor as "Lao Zhou." However, this man in black did so effortlessly, and no one in the 10th-floor composition department felt it was inappropriate.
Because this man was none other than Yang Zhongming, the only father figure in the 10th-floor composition department.
Wu Yong quickly responded, "Senior, please wait a moment. I'll call the supervisor."
"No need," Yang Zhongming said, then proceeded to walk toward the window.
But upon reaching the desk by the window, Yang Zhongming frowned slightly, his expression reflecting puzzlement.
This was his desk.
Though he rarely visited the company, this desk should have been spotless and cleared every day.
Because it belonged to Yang Zhongming.
Yet now, it was cluttered with books.
Books like "Theory of Composition," "Simplified Chord Explanations," and "Three Easy Steps to Composition."
These books had recently appeared in the Xingmang composition department and felt conspicuously out of place, causing Yang Zhongming to pause at the desk for a long moment.
"Oh no!"
Witnessing Yang Zhongming standing at Lin Yuan's desk, Wu Yong panicked.
The other members of the composition department exchanged nervous glances, their palms sweating.
This desk originally belonged to Yang Zhongming.
But because Senior Yang rarely visited the company, Supervisor Lao Zhou had assigned it to Lin Yuan.
Many had thought it was a mistake. What if Senior Yang found out one day?
Now, their fears were being realized. Daddy Yang seemed to be on the verge of anger.
"Here."
Yang Zhongming tapped his chin, surveying the area around his desk. His tone was inscrutable. "Who's sitting here?"
Senior Yang was really upset!
Even if he didn't show it, everyone could feel the chill in the air. Yet, no one dared to speak up.
"Shall I ask again?"
Yang Zhongming glanced around lightly.
Wu Yong, who was most familiar with Lin Yuan in the department, swallowed hard and explained, "L...Lin Yuan..."
"Who's Lin Yuan?"
Yang Zhongming narrowed his eyes slightly.
Wu Yong wore a pained expression as he elaborated, "Senior Yang, please don't be upset. Lin Yuan is still new; he doesn't realize this is your desk. It was arranged by Supervisor Lao Zhou..."
"Exactly!"
Other colleagues chimed in, eager to shield Lin Yuan from blame. "It was arranged by the supervisor."
"Xian Yu didn't know the situation."
"Xian Yu thought no one was using this desk."
There was no choice; only the supervisor could stand up to Daddy Yang.
Yang Zhongming glanced out the window and mused, "Envious?"
Wu Yong's expression grew more pained. "Xian Yu is Lin Yuan. Please don't blame him, Senior. He's still a student and new to our company; he doesn't understand..."
Yang Zhongming fell silent.
The others hesitated to speak further. While they wanted to defend Lin Yuan, not everyone could withstand Daddy Yang's wrath.
Lin Yuan sought blessings.
Just when everyone expected Yang Zhongming to erupt in anger, the fatherly figure unexpectedly nodded and chuckled softly.
"It's all good."
Completing his inspection, Yang Zhongming turned and left, leaving the composition department members looking at each other in bewilderment.
It seemed as though a storm had dissipated before it could even begin.