Chapter 53: Zhang Yang's Infringement!

Chapter 53: Zhang Yang Infringes!

The melody of "Celadon" was not difficult to arrange.

However...

Zhou Yang was exceptionally thorough. He replayed every single note in his mind multiple times, weaving them into a cohesive melody, before finally putting pen to paper to transcribe the score.

Once the transcription was complete, he cross-checked it repeatedly to ensure it closely matched what Zhang Yang had sung, and only then proceeded to the next step.

What should have taken half an hour stretched into two hours, and he was still not finished.

Midway through, his manager, Li Ziwen, gently pushed the door open to deliver lunch.

However...

Acting as though he hadn't even noticed his manager, Zhou Yang remained completely engrossed in the sheet music.

The truth was...

Zhou Yang was a man of intense dedication.

This stemmed from the hardships of his past.

Before his debut, he had worked as a waiter in a bar in Taiwan.

Back then, green and inexperienced, he had encountered those seemingly untouchable stars who existed only within the confines of television screens.

He had watched them throw around fortunes, surrounded by entourages, standing under the protection of security guards in the most dazzling spots.

He had envied them once.

He envied their overnight success, envied how a single song could earn them vast sums of money, and how a single endorsement deal amounted to a decade of his own wages.

So, he changed jobs, pulling every string he could to become a lowly tea-pourer at a no-name company, working diligently every single day, praying for just a shred of an opportunity...

Someone had once laughed and told him, "If you can compose ten songs for me within three days, I'll agree to let you join the company and release a single for you."

Laughter had erupted all around him.

Anyone with eyes could tell it was merely a joke.

Yet, to him, it felt like an opportunity hard-won.

He locked himself inside a room, torturing himself like a madman, spending every waking moment besieged by various musical notes.

Finally...

When he arrived at the company on the morning of the fourth day, with wild and unkempt hair, he had not only composed ten pieces of music but had even written three complete songs!

The boss was stunned by his perseverance.

Caught in the spotlight of public expectation and reluctant to back down, the boss casually picked one piece of music from his submissions to produce his debut single.

That piece was Zhou Yang's debut single, "Never Surrender."

Though its sales were utterly mediocre compared to those of established singers, in that era dominated by heavenly kings, the single not only broke even but turned a small profit...

He had shown his potential to the boss, and later...

Step by step, he climbed higher and higher, until he finally skyrocketed to fame!

Along this journey, everyone only ever saw his brilliant side; no one ever knew how many nights of agonizing torment he had endured behind the scenes.

***

At noon.

After finishing his lunch, Zhang Yang cast a glance toward the office.

Zhou Yang still hadn't come out.

Manager Li Ziwen stood by the door, shaking his head helplessly.

It was obvious that Zhou Yang hadn't eaten lunch.

A sudden, indescribable sense of respect for Zhou Yang welled up inside Zhang Yang.

Some people's success was inevitable.

While others...

Zhang Yang thought of himself, and suddenly felt a bit like an opportunist. Though his path wasn't paved with outright scams and frauds, it had certainly played on the weaknesses of human nature.

Thick-skinned though Zhang Yang was, a slight ripple still stirred within his heart.

Once the ripples subsided...

Zhang Yang pulled out a toothpick, found a chair, and sat down.

Actually...

I should also calm myself down and do some proper self-cultivation.

underhanded shortcuts might bring me decent profits in the short term, but they can't last forever...

Even if I make tens of millions or even hundreds of millions in the future, I might not necessarily be happy.

After all, this money...

Uh...

Can hundreds of millions buy a villa in Beijing now? Once I buy a villa in Beijing, shouldn't I buy a car?

What kind of car should I actually buy?

A sports car or an off-road vehicle?

BMW?

Mercedes-Benz?

Or maybe a Lamborghini?

A Rolls-Royce also seems pretty good!

Once I have a car, shouldn't I get a girlfriend too?

Wait!

If she's a wealthy and beautiful socialite, could it save me twenty years of struggle...

However, a self-made career woman who fought tooth and nail like President Chen also seems pretty great?

So, how should I choose?

Zhang Yang had originally intended to engage in some introspection.

Yet, the moment he sat down, his mind inexplicably drifted toward thoughts of buying a courtyard villa in Beijing in the future.

As he pondered, he unconsciously furrowed his brow, glanced at Chen薇薇 (Chen Weiwei), and then turned his gaze toward the window.

***

Not far away.

More than an hour had already passed.

Yet Sun Lili remained trapped in a surreal, dreamlike state of disbelief.

She looked at Zhou Yang's manager, Li Ziwen.

Then she looked at Chen Weiwei, who had walked over to discuss something with Li Ziwen...

And finally, her gaze settled firmly on Zhang Yang.

Isn't President Zhang supposed to be in the gaming industry? How on earth does he write songs?

And furthermore...

What on earth did President Zhang write that could keep Zhou Yang hooped up in that room for so long?

Countless questions echoed in her mind...

Yet try as she might, she couldn't figure out the answer!

Bathed in the sunlight, the Zhang Yang in her eyes appeared profoundly deep—at times unfathomably wise, at times filled with poignant sighs, and at times deeply troubled.

President Zhang must be thinking about the company's future plans and the challenges awaiting us down the road, right?

Sigh...

To have founded such a company at such a young age, carrying virtually the entire burden on his own shoulders, he must be under immense pressure.

So talented, so young, yet so hardworking...

Sigh!

An employer like this would have to be cursed by ghosts not to succeed!

As she thought about it, a wave of admiration and anticipation welled up within her!

Her confidence in her company's future soared to the maximum!

Not just her, even Zhao Hang, Zhong Chongwen, Ge Yumiao, and the rest of the Universe Technology team found themselves unable to focus on work.

glued to their computer screens like sleepwalkers, their eyes periodically darted toward the office, and then repeatedly shifted back to stare at Zhang Yang.

Shock, disbelief, bewilderment, daze, astonishment...

A myriad of expressions surfaced on their faces.

The longer they looked, the more unfathomable Zhang Yang appeared to them.

In their wildest dreams, they never could have imagined.

That at this very moment, Zhang Yang's mind was completely filled with sports cars, wealthy beauties, and his future...

***

Half an hour later.

The office door finally swung open.

Li Ziwen hurried over at the first instant.

She saw Zhou Yang running out of the room, holding a manuscript excitedly.

"Sister Li..."

"Zhou Yang, what is it?"

"It's finished! Oh, and where is Zhang Yang, Mr. Zhang?"

Zhou Yang scanned his surroundings for Zhang Yang, and upon spotting him sitting in the chair, he sprinted over without a shred of his usual composure.

"Ah? Mr. Zhou?"

"Mr. Zhang, I've finished arranging both your 'Qilixiang' and 'Celadon'! At the same time, I wrote a song myself called 'Dream Chaser.' Please take a look at it for me!" Zhou Yang handed a manuscript to Zhang Yang with immense excitement.

"Huh?" Zhang Yang snapped out of his daydream, blinking blankly at the densely packed musical score in front of him.

He was momentarily lost.

"My creative inspiration had dried up a few days ago... But after looking at your 'Celadon' and 'Qilixiang,' and thinking about the atmosphere of your company, an idea suddenly struck me. This is about a group of young people striving for their dreams. In fact, I've already planned my music video, and now, I sincerely invite every colleague in the company to record this music video with me... It won't take up too much of your time, just leave behind a few words about the future..."

"..."

Zhou Yang spoke with overflowing enthusiasm, looking around at everyone in the office...

Everyone was stunned by his words!

They were so excited they felt like jumping up.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yang was still trapped in a state of utter bewilderment.

What on earth?

Wait!

Such a good thing could happen?

Zhang Yang opened his mouth, wanting to say something...

Then, his phone rang.

He answered it instinctively!

"Mr. Zhang, you swindler! I'm going to sue you right now! Your company used what I wrote and drew for commercial purposes without my permission—that's illegal! I've already hired a lawyer... We're already on our way!"

"..." Zhang Yang heard Mendeleev's voice, blazing with fury.

Zhang Yang's head began to buzz.

A short while later...

He heard a round of knocking on the outer door.

Then...

Wu Zhuang ran out to open it.

As the door swung open, the famous painter Mendeleev marched in, flanked by a lawyer and several bodyguards!

"Mr. Zhang, you are suspected of infringing upon my copyright, and I demand a satisfactory explanation right now! If I don't get one, I will sue you!"

"..." Facing the aggressively menacing Mendeleev, Zhang Yang was thoroughly terrified!

What the hell...

What is going on here?

And why on earth did Mendeleev show up here in person?

This...

"Mr. Zhang, did you get my permission?"

"Mr. Mendeleev, this—it's a misunderstanding, a complete misunderstanding! Can we sit down and talk?"

"It is no misunderstanding! I am asking you, Mr. Zhang, did you get my permission? I'm asking you!" Mendeleev glared at Zhang Yang.

"This... well, Mr. Mendeleev, actually I..."

"You didn't ask whether I agreed at all!"

"Then, Mr. Mendeleev, would you have agreed?" Zhang Yang's brain was in a state of total chaos.

"You infringed upon my copyright and various other rights. Do you think I would have brought a lawyer along if I had agreed?"

"Mr. Mendeleev, would you have allowed me to use what you wrote? If this has caused you any trouble, I will compensate you according to the law... Tell me, how much money do you want?"

"I would not have allowed it! I don't want a single penny from you, you vicious and ugly capitalist!"

"Huh? Well, Mr. Mendeleev, let's talk this out rationally, I... how about..." Zhang Yang's head suddenly ached fiercely.

If someone of Mendeleev's stature decided to make a serious issue out of this.

He was going to be in deep trouble!

He might even wind up behind bars!

Even someone as brazen as Zhang Yang began to panic at that moment!

"I will now give you my official answer: I can allow you to use what I wrote! However, since you used my artwork without my consent, I will likewise not seek your consent beforehand—I am going to use portraits depicting you for a global exhibition! Furthermore, neither my management team nor I will pay you a single cent..."

Just as Zhang Yang was thoroughly frightened and at his wits' end...

Mendeleev dropped that bombshell!

"What on earth?"

Zhang Yang's brain failed to process the turn of events.

I'm going to be exhibited?

Is that what he means?

Wait?

Portraits of my likeness?

As he looked at Mendeleev again...

He abruptly noticed that the painter's furious expression had instantly dissolved. Looking at Zhang Yang, he seemed to be desperately holding something back...

Was he trying not to laugh?

***

Almost simultaneously.

In the global art community, a sudden piece of news broke: Mendeleev was launching an exhibition of his brand-new masterpiece, which would be put up for auction immediately following the exhibition.

"Mendeleev's brand-new work!"

"The painting 'The Fallen Artist' will be exhibited and auctioned, and all proceeds from the auction will go entirely to charity..."

"This is a masterpiece of rebirth from Mendeleev..."

"The expected starting bid after the exhibition concludes..."

"Ten million!"