It took nearly two hours for Xiao Chui to read through all the uploaded chapters of "Douluo World."
She had even forgotten she was at work.
"Xiao Chui, don't spend all day reading manuscripts in the backend. They're all from newcomers, no good works!"
A fellow editor at the desk next to Xiao Chui kindly reminded her.
There was a tacit understanding among editors that books submitted directly through the author backend were usually from newcomers.
These newcomers rarely achieved much with their first book and were often stubborn, unwilling to take advice.
As a result, professional editors were hesitant to sign them.
Instead, they preferred to sign older authors who were more familiar with the web novel market.
These established authors would typically submit their manuscripts directly to editors' emails.
This was why the editor advised Xiao Chui, so she wouldn't waste her time.
"Thank you, senior. I understand,"
Xiao Chui nodded and replied after hearing the advice.
However, she didn't agree with her senior's words.
She felt that "Douluo World" did not read like a newcomer's work at all.
Not only was the writing fluent and the plot tight, but it had even creatively introduced novel concepts like martial spirits.
To prevent other editors from snatching the manuscript, Xiao Chui directly clicked on the author's homepage for "Douluo World."
She then sent a contract message to the author, "Gou Lan Ting Qu," through the author backend.
...
At 3 PM, at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, Xu Yunshang successfully picked up Wang Shu.
Of course, Xu Yunshang once again had herself completely covered.
Having learned from last time, she no longer dared to show her face or expose her whereabouts easily.
Wang Shu had a general understanding of Xu Yunshang's identity. He had searched for her name online.
He just hadn't expected Xu Yunshang to be a third-tier celebrity with over a million fans.
He also learned that the entertainment industry in this world was strictly hierarchical.
There were clear distinctions in ranks for artists, from fifth-tier to first-tier, with each level requiring a certain amount of popularity and a body of work.
In Long Guo, only a handful of people met the standard for first-tier artists.
Xu Yunshang first took Wang Shu to a hotel to rest, and in the evening, she returned to pick him up to go to the concert venue.
Xu Yunshang's concert this time was held at the Shanghai Stadium, with the venue rental alone costing eight hundred thousand.
All expenses for this concert were borne by Qian Yin Group; Xu Yunshang only needed to prepare her performance.
This was why Qian Yin's artists scrambled every year for the Best Singer award.
Wang Shu was acting as a supporting guest. Xu Yunshang would select him to perform during fan interaction segments.
This was the only way Qian Yin Group wouldn't interfere.
Furthermore, by doing it this way, even if Wang Shu's performance was not good, the fans wouldn't mind.
At 9 PM, the concert officially began, and the stadium was already packed.
There were hardly any empty seats left.
Wang Shu was arranged to sit in the front row.
"Buddy, how much did you pay for this ticket?"
Wang Shu curiously asked a large man sitting next to him.
"Thirty-eight thousand!"
The man replied.
Hearing the ticket price, Wang Shu immediately felt regret.
If he had known, he would have sold this seat.
Thirty-eight thousand! He had lost out big time this time!
Wang Shu sat on his seat, lost in thought, feeling dejected, until his neighbor patted his shoulder.
"Hey! Buddy, Yunshang is calling for you!"
"Calling me?"
Wang Shu was slightly startled, then looked at the stage in front of him.
Xu Yunshang was looking at him expectantly.
Wang Shu suddenly remembered he was a supporting guest and quickly got up and jogged onto the stage.
"Who is this guy? Why does he look so clueless?"
"I don't know. Judging by his clothes, he looks like a bum, all cheap stuff."
"What a shame, how did the lucky audience member get to be him? He looks tone-deaf!"
"Yeah, if it were me, I would definitely perform the love song I wrote for Yunshang!"
As Wang Shu went on stage, the audience began to whisper their complaints.
After all, with his scruffy beard and cheap clothes, Wang Shu looked like a middle-aged uncle.
It was hard to imagine he could sing anything pleasant.
"Sir, would you mind introducing yourself to us?"
As Wang Shu reached the stage, Xu Yunshang walked up to him and said with a smile.
"Hello everyone, my name is Wang Shu!"
Wang Shu took the microphone and said simply.
"Mr. Wang Shu, do you have anything you'd like to say to me?"
Xu Yunshang asked Wang Shu.
"I want to dedicate a song to you!"
Wang Shu said to Xu Yunshang with feigned affection.
"Holy cow, this kid is copying my moves!"
"No way, is he actually going to sing for Yunshang?"
"Damn it. If he flirts with my Yunshang, I'll cut him down with my knife!"
"Going to the restroom. This guy's singing is probably terrible, I'm out."
When Wang Shu announced he was going to sing, the audience below shook their heads.
In their opinion, a random person's performance on such a stage was usually unbearable.
"Then, would you mind telling us the name of the song?"
Xu Yunshang was also very curious about what song Wang Shu would sing this time.
"Love Confession Balloon!"
...
"Love Confession Balloon? What song is that? Did he really write it himself?"
"The song title alone sounds terrible. What's so special about a balloon to confess with?"
"This song title is too ridiculous. Yunshang probably regrets picking him!"
When the audience heard Wang Shu's song title was "Love Confession Balloon," they found it even more absurd and started to complain.
However, Wang Shu ignored the commotion and confidently took the guitar handed to him by a staff member.
He lightly strummed the strings and stood in the center of the stage.
"Coffee on the Left Bank of the Seine
I hold a cup, savoring your beauty
Leaving behind the imprint of your lips"
As soon as the lyrics were out, the previously restless venue fell silent.
Wang Shu had been a veteran in the music industry for over a decade in his previous life.
His stage experience was even more extensive than Xu Yunshang's, so he naturally made no mistakes.
Moreover, with the addition of his golden throat, he immediately impressed everyone present from the moment he opened his mouth.
"I didn't expect his singing skills to be this good. Is this really his first time performing on stage?"
Xu Yunshang, standing beside him, looked at Wang Shu with surprise and thought to herself.
"Damn, this guy actually has talent. He sounds pretty good!"
"With this voice, I suspect he's a professional singer. Isn't he here to crash Yunshang's concert?"