So after President Zhou took power, Xu Baichuan suddenly had FTM split up, obviously because high management gave him great KPI pressure to make FTM earn more money in the second half.
Fang Yinnian’s eyes moistened: “Then… we’re not recording a second album? We still want to sing more songs, have more stages.”
Xu Baichuan sighed: “Sorry, I already fought hard for it. I’d even prepared the second album proposal, but it wasn’t approved.”
“Recording albums wastes too much time and energy—you’d need at least three months in isolation practicing harmonies and choreography…”
Xu Baichuan smiled bitterly: “Sheng Yao isn’t my personal company—I’m just an employee too. You’re currently popular, so many issues about you require meeting discussions. I can’t decide alone.”
Fang Yinnian: “…………”
Xu Baichuan said: “Management’s intention is maximizing FTM’s profits. With current high-level changes and management restructuring, I temporarily can’t oppose the new leadership. Let’s wait it out and find solutions later.”
Fang Yinnian could only nod: “Mm.”
Xu Baichuan gently ruffled his hair: “Don’t worry—I’ll try to preserve your group. After all, the music group is also my heart and soul.”
Fang Yinnian returned to the dorm with a heavy heart.
Xiao Fei was carefreely gaming in the living room, Junwen sprawled on the sofa browsing Weibo, Mo Xun held a tablet watching videos, and Tang Che was making tea in the dining room.
After changing to slippers, Fang Yinnian couldn’t help feeling sad. After their second-half split, the five would rarely gather together, right? Could they still see such warm scenes in the future?
Tang Che sensed his wrong emotions and proactively asked: “What’s wrong, Yinnian? What did you chat with the manager about? Not smooth?”
Fang Yinnian said: “Brother Xu said CEO Zhao resigned, Sheng Yao’s management had a major shakeup, and high-level wants us to maximize profits.”
Hearing this, Fu Fei immediately paused his game: “What what? Management changing people?”
Tan Junwen instantly sat up straight: “Could Sheng Yao’s stock limit-down also be because of this?”
Tang Che frowned: “Why would CEO Zhao suddenly leave? When we saw him at the Golden Song Awards, he was still chatting and laughing with artists.”
Everyone was full of doubts.
Mo Xun asked quietly: “President Zhou took power, right?”
Fang Yinnian nodded: “Mm.”
Tan Junwen scratched his hair: “President Zhou… is he the one who desperately made us drink at the Golden Song Award celebration banquet?”
Mo Xun said: “Right, he was previously vice president.”
Tan Junwen couldn’t help cursing: “A smiling tiger! I felt this guy was very scheming then, the type with deep plans. Said nice things but didn’t drink much himself while forcing us to drink tons.”
Mo Xun said seriously: “Actually, when I returned to China, I had industry seniors I knew investigate Sheng Yao. There have always been two factions within Sheng Yao—one led by CEO Zhao, emphasizing music production and wanting to establish a foothold in the music scene through song quality.”
“The other faction is President Zhou’s forces. They’re better at marketing and hype, wanting to earn more money through marketing-driven popularity. Tao Yizhou is their most successful packaged case.”
“The two factions have been openly and secretly fighting, with many major shareholders’ interests involved behind the scenes. CEO Zhao’s resignation this time shows President Zhou’s side won at the shareholders’ meeting. New leadership will definitely implement sweeping reforms.”
“We’re his first target.”
The group exchanged glances, looking at each other uncertainly.
They’d heard about high-level company struggles before but didn’t know details. They hadn’t expected Mo Xun to understand more.
Fang Yinnian speculated: “So Xie Shiqi leaving also has this reason—she’s an artist from CEO Zhao’s faction. CEO Zhao probably wanted to poach Brother Xu too. I heard Brother Xu on the phone with him today.”
When big bosses resign, they definitely start their own ventures. He wanted to recruit Xu Baichuan, but Xu Baichuan temporarily didn’t leave because he couldn’t abandon FTM.
Mo Xun said: “CEO Zhao and Brother Xu indeed have a good relationship. Actually, our FTM formation proposal was discussed many times at company meetings with huge controversy. CEO Zhao made the final decision.”
Everyone suddenly understood.
Harmony groups had no precedent in domestic entertainment—the profit-focused faction would definitely think they couldn’t make money. Ultimately, with Xu Baichuan’s persistence and CEO Zhao’s strong support, the proposal was approved.
But due to factional disagreements, to appease the other side, CEO Zhao made them debut early. FTM debuted hastily after less than a month of formation, becoming domestic entertainment history’s biggest makeshift operation.
Everything connected…
So their group had been full of twists and turns since birth.
Now with CEO Zhao’s resignation and the other faction’s leader becoming company CEO, the five felt increasingly tense.
Fu Fei looked anxiously at his teammates: “The big boss supporting us left—will our group be affected?”
Tang Che said flatly: “Second half splitting up for separate activities, earning more money for the company. They might also have us take more endorsements to compensate company losses.”
Tan Junwen asked in surprise: “Losses? How do you know?”
Tang Che looked at him helplessly: “Listed companies release quarterly financial reports. When you mentioned Sheng Yao’s stock limit-down today, I checked online—Sheng Yao lost 100 million in the first half.”
He paused, speculating: “This might also be why CEO Zhao stepped down? The company kept losing money during his tenure.”
Fu Fei looked terrified: “Crap, your discussion is making me more scared! If Sheng Yao goes bankrupt, what do we do?”
Mo Xun patted his shoulder: “Sheng Yao is a listed company—not so easily bankrupted, just personnel changes.”
Mo Xun looked at his teammates, saying quietly: “Don’t worry. FTM has such high popularity that the company couldn’t possibly make us disband. Recording variety shows separately should just be Brother Xu’s delaying tactic to deal with higher-ups.”
The captain’s words reassured everyone considerably.
FTM was already a first-tier domestic group. If the company truly forced their disbandment, fans would definitely resist crazily—Sheng Yao building might even be surrounded by fans.
So for such foundation-shaking matters, high management couldn’t easily decide… they still had time.
Fang Yinnian said quietly: “Let’s cooperate with our manager’s arrangements. Though we’re recording variety shows separately in the second half, we can still perform together at Mid-Autumn Festival galas, right?”
Teammates nodded: “That’s all we can do.”
Fang Yinnian had thought FTM’s first album’s excellent results meant smoother development—releasing second and third albums, then holding first-tier city concerts, followed by national tours.
Apparently, his thinking was too naive.
Holding concerts and being singers were his dreams, not the company’s. In capital’s eyes, musical dreams and album quality were secondary—money was most important.
And entertainment’s fastest money-making channel was variety shows.
Variety shows aired weekly, with each episode’s appearance fee equivalent to their group singing one song. Regular guest fees were even higher.
Many entertainment industry actors entered variety tracks, experienced fast money’s pleasure, then even abandoned acting.
With FTM’s current popularity and countless variety invitations, splitting the five to take separate variety shows maximized profits, earning companies the most money short-term.
As for the group’s long-term development prospects and members’ dreams… companies couldn’t be bothered.
Fang Yinnian returned to the bedroom feeling low.
Mo Xun also entered, seeing his downcast, dejected appearance. Mo Xun’s heart softened as he said quietly: “Yinnian, don’t be scared.”
Fang Yinnian looked up at him, his eyes increasingly sour: “Can Brother Xu really preserve our group?”
“Separate variety recording is just the beginning. I can already guess—once the company tastes variety profit sweetness, they’ll definitely keep us split up for variety shows, earning more company money.”
“FTM gradually becomes nominal only. We’ll never again seriously sing, dance, and record albums like before.”
“But I still want concerts…”
“When can our five-person concert be realized?”
Mo Xun suddenly extended his arms and pulled him into an embrace.
Fang Yinnian’s spine instantly stiffened, but his mood was truly terrible today. He somewhat couldn’t bear to push away Mo Xun’s warm hug.
Mo Xun comfortingly ruffled his hair, saying quietly: “Don’t be scared. We’re only 20—there’s still lots of time ahead.”
Fang Yinnian forcibly held back the sourness in his eyes, gently pushing Mo Xun away.
Mo Xun asked: “When does your Sheng Yao contract expire?”
Fang Yinnian was stunned: “I signed five years. You?”
Mo Xun said: “Same. Five-year contracts were actually my suggestion to Brother Xu. I was the first person confirmed for the music group. After Sheng Yao signed me back from Korea’s KET, they directly made me captain.”
“Regular idols must sign eight-year minimums. I insisted on five years, arguing with the company for ages.”
“Finally Brother Xu mediated, bringing me to negotiate terms with CEO Zhao. Signing full contracts—film, variety, commercial, all splits with companies taking 80%—this finalized FTM’s contract template.”
Fang Yinnian: “…”
So that’s how it was? He only knew Mo Xun was FTM’s first confirmed captain, but he hadn’t realized FTM’s five-year contracts were also negotiated by Mo Xun arguing with Sheng Yao leadership.
He not only signed five years himself but ensured teammates got the same rare five-year contracts.
People are selfish, but Mo Xun fought for teammates’ benefits without even knowing them.
This was truly rare.
He’d indeed fallen for a very reliable person.
Fang Yinnian took a deep breath: “You signed five years—were you planning to become an actor after five years?”
Mo Xun nodded: “That’s part of it. Sheng Yao is a music company with poor film resources. I signed full contracts with Sheng Yao—too long wouldn’t benefit my development.”
“Plus I thought if teammates wanted solo careers later, shorter terms meant those wanting renewals could improve terms while those not wanting renewals could gain freedom.”
“Sheng Yao is a big company that only wants profitable, obedient artists. They won’t respect our individual thoughts much.”
“So Yinnian, don’t be sad. Our Sheng Yao contracts are only five years—two years already passed. I plan to quickly make a name, then leave and start my own studio.”
“You… you want to start your own studio?” Fang Yinnian’s eyes widened slightly. Like Sister Shiqi?
But Mo Xun had no industry resources or background… wait, would Mo Xun after five years of debut still lack resources and background?
By then, Mo Xun should also have the ability to go solo without company control.
Mo Xun looked at Fang Yinnian, asking gently: “Yinnian, if I leave Sheng Yao then, would you come with me?”
“…” Fang Yinnian’s heart pounded violently.
When he first met Mo Xun, he felt this guy was responsible, accountable, with clear future plans.
Mo Xun wanted his own studio?
Then they wouldn’t endure company constraints and pressure—they could do whatever they wanted.
Being their own bosses with sufficient say—skipping disliked programs, recording as many songs as desired, releasing albums whenever they chose without company approval layers.
Once financially free, they could even relax, taking months-long vacations… that would be true divine living, right?
No wonder so many domestic entertainment artists started studios after becoming famous—who’d rather work for others when they could be bosses?
But going solo also required courage.
Fang Yinnian’s heartbeat accelerated.
Mo Xun had told him such secret plans about “going solo after contract expiration” and invited him…
How could he bear to refuse?
Fang Yinnian looked at Mo Xun seriously: “If that day really comes, I’m willing to go with you.”
Mo Xun excitedly hugged Fang Yinnian: “Excellent! I’ve only told you this privately. How to implement it—there’s still a long time. But absolutely can’t leak information.”
Fang Yinnian nodded: “I understand.”
Once company leadership knew they’d flee after contract expiration, they might deliberately find dirt on them, then blackmail renewals.
Countless entertainment artists were forced to follow company arrangements after being caught by management companies.
They currently lacked the ability to confront Sheng Yao.
“I’ll also find opportunities to test Junwen, Tang Che, and Xiao Fei’s attitudes. My idea is that ideally all five of us leave together.”
“When the time comes, being our own bosses, we can do whatever we want without anyone interfering with us.”
He paused, looking at Fang Yinnian with gentle eyes: “The road ahead is long—let’s walk it together, okay?”
Listening to the familiar voice beside his ear, warmth gradually filled Fang Yinnian’s heart, sweeping away his gloomy emotions.
He finally smiled, looking at Mo Xun with determination: “Okay!”
**
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
![After losing all his wealth, the ancestor rose from his coffin [BL]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Your-paragraph-text-1.png "After losing all his wealth, the ancestor rose from his coffin [BL]")
