Official Career Storm
Chapter 55

Chapter 55: Chapter 55

He dialed the first number, a second-tier singer in her thirties, whose original appearance fee was set at 900,000, but the other party raised it to 1.5 million.

"Hello, who’s this?"

The one who picked up the phone was the other party’s manager, a middle-aged man.

After introducing himself, Song Guan Chao immediately threw down a heavy card, "This matter is being personally overseen by City Secretary Wu, and Secretary Wu has specifically requested that this event be successfully concluded."

"If you insist on not coming, that’s fine; we’ll proceed according to the contract. The contract stipulates a tenfold penalty for breach of contract, so just have your money ready. I’ll immediately arrange for a lawyer, and the Lingjiang judicial department will cooperate."

This combo move caused the manager to break out in a cold sweat on his forehead.

He hadn’t expected that a simple business affair would come under the scrutiny of the City Secretary.

If it came to legal proceedings, with just one phone call from the secretary, the already guaranteed-to-lose lawsuit would probably get the green light all the way and wrap up in half a month.

Ten times the 900,000 breach of contract fee—that’s a full 9 million!

He couldn’t afford to pay even if he sold himself.

"Mr. Song, please rest assured, we will definitely be there, definitely!"

"Ok."

After hanging up, Song Guan Chao picked up a pen and ticked off the singer’s name.

Wu Yun watched with wide eyes, "That easy?"

"You thought it would be complicated?"

"Why didn’t Chairman Sun make the call?"

"Are you kidding?" Song Guan Chao chuckled while dialing the second number, "Chairman Sun doesn’t have anyone backing him, would he dare to use the name of the City Committee?"

Wu Yun suddenly understood.

By then, the second call had already been made.

In just over half an hour, Song Guan Chao had sorted out 18 singers. There was only one left, a young female singer named Jiang Qi.

The phone was answered by Jiang Qi’s manager, a woman surnamed Xu.

To Song Guan Chao’s surprise, after he introduced himself, Miss Xu still refused to budge, her tone was so firm that Song Guan Chao thought he had misunderstood.

"Mr. Song, this is business. What do you mean by using the City Secretary to pressure me?"

"Miss Xu, you understand that this is business too, we have a contract and a deposit, and yet you renege. Do you think that’s appropriate?"

"If you think it’s inappropriate, then sue."

Miss Xu rudely hung up the phone, her hard-line attitude catching Song Guan Chao off guard.

"How can someone be like this!"

Wu Yun also felt indignant after hearing this.

She quite liked this singer, with her sweet appearance and impressive vocal skills.

Yet she never expected her to be this kind of person in private.

She looked at Song Guan Chao, "What do we do now?"

"Sue her."

Twenty-one singers, now that 20 had agreed to come, there was just one left. Her presence or absence didn’t matter.

He called over Sun Mingliang and quickly briefed him on the situation.

Sun was surprised to hear that Song Guan Chao had managed to secure 20 artists in such short time, though he had somewhat expected it.

"There’s one more left, you guys go ahead and sue," Song Guan Chao pointed at Jiang Qi’s name.

Upon seeing the name, Sun Mingliang frowned, "Mr. Song, can’t this one be dealt with?"

"Quite defiant," said Song Guan Chao.

Noting his expression, Song knew there was an issue, "What, it won’t work if she doesn’t come?"

Sun Mingliang nodded, "Jiang Qi has been very popular these past few months. For this concert, there are several trending topics about her. Hotels near Wanjiang Commercial Street are fully booked, all by people coming to see her. Quite a few fan clubs have arrived too; if she doesn’t come, the impact will be significant."

"No wonder she’s so confident."

Song Guan Chao stroked his chin and said, "Okay, leave it to me."

"By the way, where is Jiang Qi from?"

"She’s a local from Lingjiang."

"A local?" Song Guan Chao mused. After Sun Mingliang left, he dialed Miss Xu’s number again.

"Mr. Song, is there something else?" As soon as the call connected, it was Miss Xu’s impatient voice.

Song Guanchao said, "Miss Xu, do you have time tonight? I’ll host a dinner in your honor."

Seeing signs of softening from the other party, Miss Xu didn’t push too hard and slowed her tone, "Sorry, Mr. Song, Jiang is a bit busy today and can’t make it."

"There are only three days until the weekend, Miss Xu. Let’s meet and finalize things. You can rest assured, we will definitely satisfy you."

With that being said, and considering Song Guanchao was the City Secretary Wu’s driver,

even though she wasn’t involved in politics, she still had to give face.

And she knew that the other party was sent by the guidance group to Chengda Company in an advisory capacity.

They were merely going through the motions and likely didn’t take this matter too seriously.

"Then how about tomorrow evening?"

"Sure, see you tomorrow night."

After hanging up the phone, Wu Yun asked, "What are you going to do?"

"You’ll see when the time comes."

The next day, in the evening.

Song Guanchao and Wu Yun arrived at the reserved private dining room of the restaurant.

As time slowly passed and it neared seven o’clock, Song Guanchao’s patience had been worn thin.

Wu Yun was also getting annoyed, "This is so disrespectful, promising to meet and then being late. Are they doing this on purpose?"

"Let’s wait a little longer."

Song Guanchao closed his eyes, and in the meantime, the waiter kept asking if they wanted to start serving dishes.

Seven-thirty.

Finally, the door to the private room opened.

A young girl in her early twenties and a short-haired woman around thirty-five or thirty-six with a mature and stable demeanor walked in.

Song Guanchao opened his eyes and looked over, this was his first encounter with someone from the entertainment industry.

Jiang Qi was very young, about one hundred sixty-three centimeters tall, slim, with a flat chest, but a pure and sweet face.

A pair of beautiful almond eyes, black and sparkling.

There was indeed nothing to fault in her appearance, it was just that her figure was too immature to spark any interest.

"Mr. Song, sorry, there was traffic on the way, we’re late," Miss Xu, the agent, explained curtly, yet with no real note of apology in her tone.

Neither Song Guanchao nor his companion stood up to greet them, which slightly irked Miss Xu and Jiang Qi.

After both were seated, Song Guanchao picked out a cigarette.

Just as he was about to light it, Miss Xu said, "Mr. Song, with girls here, perhaps it’s better not to smoke."

Song Guanchao put the cigarette down and chuckled, "Miss Xu, the concert is starting the day after tomorrow, isn’t it a bit too much for you to raise the price at the last minute?"

Miss Xu frowned, "Mr. Song, we are also helpless here. But as for Jiang’s popularity and trendiness, it goes without saying that she is not just a first-tier singer, but beyond that."

Song Guanchao said, "But when we signed the contract, she wasn’t famous yet, that’s a fact, right?"

"Mr. Song, there’s no point in talking about this," Miss Xu didn’t want to quibble with him over this: "If Mr. Song insists on having Jiang perform, you need to pay extra."

"How much more?"

"Three million!"

Tch tch.

The price had gone up again.

Wu Yun’s face turned ashen next to him; if Song Guanchao hadn’t briefed her in advance, she would have already slammed the table and scolded them by now.

"Three million."

"Heh."

Song Guanchao smiled, picked up the cigarette, and put it in his mouth.

"Mr. Song, I don’t like the smell of smoke," Jiang Qi, who had been silent since entering, frowned with a hint of disgust.

Click!

The cigarette was lit, and Song Guanchao turned his head and blew a puff of smoke at her innocent face.

Jiang Qi stood up abruptly, angered, "Mr. Song, what do you mean by this?"

Song Guanchao leaned back in his chair and snapped coldly, "Dammit, a mere actress throwing a tantrum in front of me?"

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