Novel schedule on pause, Rain ran awaaaaaay ! See you next week, to resume some series !!

REI : Chapter 78.2

 

“Endorsements?”

 

Meanwhile, Luo Ding heard a word that caught him off guard.

 

“Yes.” Gu Yaxing, who had recently been busier than ever, looked like a spinning top that never stopped. But despite his intense schedule, he was strangely energized and had even lost some weight. His eyes were sharp and full of confidence, and he walked with a swagger.

 

He slammed a thick stack of documents onto the table in front of Luo Ding. “Lots of offers! I’ve already picked out the best ones. These top few are really good.”

 

Luo Ding furrowed his brow. “Why so many?”

 

Gu Yaxing wasn’t one to take short-sighted actions. Given Luo Ding’s current level of fame, accepting some endorsements made sense, but not too many. Endorsing too many brands early on could limit Luo Ding’s future prospects. It could affect his ability to take on higher-tier endorsements later. Gu Yaxing wouldn’t bring this up unless these offers were top-tier. But how good could they really be?

 

Luo Ding skeptically picked up the top document and began to read. His eyes widened in surprise. “…D&S?” Was this a joke? Was he really famous enough to endorse luxury brands like this now?

 

He carefully examined the details and was even more shocked to find that it was indeed a global endorsement, not just a brand ambassador or a China-specific deal, but an actual global endorsement.

 

D&S might be a sub-brand of a major luxury company, but it was still a premium line, and not just anyone could use their products overseas. In China, due to high product taxes, D&S was on par with the top luxury brands. A global endorsement…

 

Luo Ding looked up at Gu Yaxing, confused. Gu Yaxing smiled and motioned for him to keep reading.

 

As Luo Ding flipped through the files, he felt like he was being repeatedly overwhelmed.

 

A domestic brand ambassador deal with a renowned high-end car manufacturer, two public service announcements sponsored by CCTV—one about water conservation and the other addressing the living conditions of children in impoverished mountain areas. These…

 

Gu Yaxing laughed heartily at Luo Ding’s expression. Finally, Luo Ding was at a loss for words! He always seemed so calm and composed, didn’t he? Well, not anymore!

 

To be honest, although Luo Ding’s fame had risen considerably, his market value hadn’t quite caught up to the level of these endorsement offers. Gu Yaxing had gone all out, leveraging his connections to secure these deals. By establishing a strong foundation early on, Luo Ding’s future career would be much smoother. These contracts were the result of painstaking negotiations, even though the companies had shown some initial interest. Without the right push, those opportunities might have been buried under other offers.

 

Luo Ding smiled. He understood the efforts behind all this, and his earlier stunned reaction had just been due to the sheer surprise of it all. Given time, he would’ve figured out the connections on his own.

 

“Thank you for all your hard work,” Luo Ding said, patting Gu Yaxing’s arm. Three top-tier luxury brand endorsements and two public service announcements—these would greatly enhance his image and value. Once associated with national public service campaigns, a celebrity’s status in the industry would rise significantly, separating them from the pack.

 

Gu Yaxing, feeling quite proud, accepted the thanks without modesty. His face, youthful and full of energy thanks to his recent success, was beaming with confidence. “This is just a reward for all your hard work. We’re a team—who else would I save the good stuff for?”

 

With endorsement deals, ad shoots, and film work piling up, Luo Ding soon felt the weight of it all, despite the brief joy he experienced earlier.

 

But hardship is the price of success. If compared to his past life at this same point in time, these challenges were nothing. Reflecting on the past, he often felt a deep sense of happiness. His future was bright, and all the work he was doing was meaningful and would help him climb even higher. There was no need to struggle just to make ends meet.

 

Meanwhile, the film’s box office success also signaled the beginning of another project.

 

At the end of June, Yaxing Studio started to come alive again. After more than half a year of preparation, they were finally about to release Luo Ding’s new album. Almost overnight, news about the album spread across multiple countries.

 

The domestic market was already abuzz, thanks to A Da’s early leak. Fans familiar with Yaxing Studio’s work style had already formed professional groups ready to boost the album’s rankings. Various online forums had entered a state of high alert. The rush to buy Luo Ding’s last EP had nearly given fans a heart attack, so this time, everyone was pre-ordering from local record stores, afraid that there wouldn’t be enough stock again. Some fans even left deposits, calling the stores daily to remind them.

 

The fanbase had absorbed a wealth of experience from previous campaigns, and dedicated fans proficient in foreign languages coordinated with international fan groups, sharing real-time updates on domestic news. This nearly gave overseas fans—who were still reveling in the success of *Blade III*—a collective aneurysm.

 

The surprises just kept coming. Having learned from past mistakes, Gu Yaxing opened the online pre-order platform five days in advance. After evaluating Luo Ding’s current search volume and popularity, he set a new inventory target for the album.

 

Looking at the number, several department heads were left speechless.

 

“…Isn’t this a bit too much? Luo Ding is still primarily known for his work in film and television. Even though his last EP sold well, this is a full-length album, which is more expensive. Will it really sell that many copies?”

 

Gu Yaxing had a moment of doubt, but he quickly bit the bullet, slapped the table, and said, “No way! Keep the manufacturer on standby to increase production speed and be ready to restock at any moment. Also, make sure we’re getting real-time data from overseas sales and prepare the logistics for air shipping. Even though the stock is large, it might not be enough! Got it?”

 

His growing authority left no room for dissent. Even those who thought he was overestimating Luo Ding’s marketability didn’t dare to voice their concerns. Everyone obediently went to work.

 

Gu Yaxing tapped the corner of a calendar against the table, his excitement keeping his emotions high and leaving him feeling disoriented. He was mentally dizzy but strangely clear-headed at the same time. The rhythmic tapping of the calendar slowly calmed his racing pulse.

 

He looked at the calendar, where a photo of Luo Ding was featured. In the close-up shot, Luo Ding’s thin, youthful frame was flawless in both his features and physique. His smile, gentle and kind, was the kind that could make anyone smile in return.

 

Gu Yaxing believed in Luo Ding. He also believed in himself.

 

*****

 

It was barely ten in the morning, the time most stores opened for business.

 

A group of girls ran down the street, their eyes fierce, their faces twisted in determination.

 

“Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!”

 

They charged toward the record store, and in the same split second, five hands slammed against the glass door. The combined force sent all five crashing through the door.

 

Looking up, the store owner’s wife stood behind the counter, staring blankly at them.

 

In unison, the girls shouted, “The album!!!”

 

The owner’s wife smiled and pointed to the empty space on the counter. “Sold out.”

 

Sold… out…

 

Those two words were like a curse, unleashing a wave of wailing across cities and towns.

 

Many fans, who hadn’t pre-ordered online, had dreamed of snagging a physical copy, but their hopes were quickly dashed. As their dreams crumbled, online pre-orders skyrocketed. Gu Yaxing, watching the numbers on the screen jump every second, quietly thought to himself, “I probably underestimated Luo Ding’s influence.”

 

The same production team, the same style, the same formula.

 

Veteran musicians He Guan and Ye Zhou, still in their prime, had achieved even greater success with Luo Ding’s previous EP than they had with the major pop stars they’d worked with before. The young generation’s passion for music had exceeded their expectations, so they decided to stick around for the new album.

 

Under the expert guidance of Mao Xiaorun, He Guan and Ye Zhou carefully selected ten songs. The company invested heavily in both pre- and post-production, and Luo Ding lost five pounds recording the vocals and shooting the music videos.

 

It was all worth it, as the enthusiastic market response proved.

 

Luo Ding’s previous EP had been dominated by the ballad “Concerns,” which swept the domestic music charts, winning numerous awards. Its rankings had barely dropped since its release. This new album followed a similar style, with three dance tracks targeting overseas fans, three ballads for the domestic market, one jazz track as a balance, and three unclassifiable pop songs.

 

Luo Ding had become increasingly adept at mastering his appeal and style. The shortcomings of his previous EP were now completely corrected. After long hours of practice, his new body was more flexible and strong, proving to many that he had once again improved.

 

With the album being released globally, the title track was naturally the one with the widest appeal, an English dance song titled “I Can.”

 

The music video featured dim, atmospheric lighting and a fast, rhythmic beat that followed the visuals like a shadow. The lighting was almost magical, differing from the typical style of domestic music videos and more aligned with Western trends.

 

For many viewers from different cultural backgrounds, it might have been a bit jarring at first.

 

However, the moment Luo Ding appeared on screen, descending from above, all the discomfort and dissatisfaction vanished.

 

Luo Ding in the MV was different from how he appeared in public or in his acting roles. This version of him had a distinct energy.

 

In daily life, Luo Ding usually looked fresh and clean. When facing the camera, he would tidy up a bit but would only wear a thin layer of makeup at most. It was only during music videos and stage performances that he wore full makeup for the sake of the production. Although he didn’t like wearing makeup much, his professionalism as an artist didn’t allow him to appear in front of the public in poor condition. Still, very few people truly enjoyed the process of putting on makeup.

 

But his features were just too well-suited for it.

 

His already sharp features became even more striking with a little contouring. His eyes, once lined with makeup, gave him a completely different aura. Back when he first joined the *Hidden Dragon* crew, the previous actor who played the role of Prince Guangling had struggled to embody the character’s eerie charm, despite Ho Xie’s best efforts with the styling. But once Luo Ding arrived on set, a touch of eyeliner and his own interpretation brought the character to life. After Luo Ding put on makeup, his aura intensified, and the moment in the music video when he slightly tilted his head and glanced at the camera made countless fans gush with nosebleeds.

 

“Ahhhhhhhhh! I’m carrying an entire zoo in my belly!!!”

 

“Ahhhhhhhhh! I’m carrying a whole mountain of monkeys!!!”

 

Luo Ding had a unique singing style. His enunciation seemed to start deep in his throat, winding through his mouth before being released. It could be light and easy or powerful and dynamic, depending on his breath control. His English was excellent, making his singing particularly pleasant to the ear. His voice, clear as spring water, wasn’t even at its most powerful, yet it completely outshone the background music. Listeners were immediately captivated by his first note.

 

Ever since his debut, Luo Ding hadn’t changed his hairstyle, leaving his soft bangs to give an impression of innocence. But this time, because of the song’s style, his bangs were slicked back, revealing his smooth forehead. He looked just as striking with or without bangs, every move seeming to stir a wild storm. His exposed arm muscles and visible veins made him all the more irresistible.

 

Despite the hate he had endured, even his harshest critics couldn’t deny his dancing skills.

 

Every move, every beat was clean and precise. He didn’t look like he was working at all—he seemed completely immersed in the dance, thoroughly enjoying the experience.

 

When the music reached its climax, his voice soared effortlessly, with no strain, his vocal range so vast it felt like being lifted into the sky. Listeners could feel their heart rates quicken, their muscles tense, and their excitement rise, making them want to jump up and dance along with him.

 

As the song ended, the camera zoomed in on his face. The lights dimmed suddenly, and the young man, with his head slightly bowed, looked up as if sensing the gaze watching him.

 

His piercing stare seemed to cut through time and distance, like a sword stabbing straight into the viewer’s heart.

 

Clutching their chests, many stared at their screens in a daze, reaching for their phones to type out a rational review of the performance.

 

But after hesitating for a long time, their minds went blank. By the time their comments were sent, they realized all they had typed was:

 

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!”

 


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inner child
inner child
19 days ago

thank you for the chapter 🤧🥰

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