Chapter 20: "Dissolving Sorrow" Released (Please Support the New Book)

What was missing was freedom.

Most of the time, he had to follow the company’s requirements. Of course, if your influence was powerful enough, there was nothing the company could do to you. Troublesome.

Li He shook his head, dismissing the thought.

...

"Melancholy" quietly went online. Aside from being shared by He Luoluo, Gabe, and Jiang Qi on their DouShow accounts, there were no other promotional resources.

There were three major music platforms in the country: Daily Music, Listen Music, and UltraCool Music. "Melancholy" was released simultaneously on all three, without any exclusive debut.

What He Luoluo needed now was popularity. Releasing on only one platform was too limiting, and the traffic wouldn’t compare to sharing it among all three.

Li He didn’t care much about releasing the full version, since there was no way to extract negative emotion points from it anymore.

"The cut-off version of 'Melancholy' was better. I wonder if Jiang Qi’s fans would enjoy a cut-off version of 'Bubble'." Li He felt a sense of loss, as if he’d lost a fortune without the cut-off version of "Melancholy."

With a thought, a virtual projection screen appeared in his pupils; it had been days since he last called on the system.

He’d been put off by the dog system’s detestable lottery mechanism. He was convinced the system was shoddy, or perhaps an unfinished reject.

[Name: Li He]

[Age: 20/44]

[Negative Emotion Points: 182,505]

[Skills: None]

[Inventory: Song "Ten Years"]

Hmm...

"I can do a ten-draw again." Li He hadn’t expected his negative emotion points to rise so quickly—over fifty thousand last time, all spent on the lottery.

It was all thanks to the loyal listeners of "Melancholy." Li He was touched almost to tears.

Unfortunately, the lottery mechanism of the dog system would never let a miracle occur with a single draw; Li He could only grit his teeth and waste nine chances each time.

"Ten draws," Li He called out in his mind.

The negative emotion points were instantly drained. The dial spun rapidly.

...

He Luoluo’s DouShow comment section.

[Justice]: "Damn, that scoundrel He Luoluo has finally grown a conscience and stopped torturing us."

[Happy Superman]: "Hurry and listen! The latter half is amazing."

[Big Monster]: "Don’t call it amazing yet, I’m afraid it’s another cut-off version."

[Kabuda]: "Brothers, I’ll go first. If it’s still a cut-off version, I’ll be back."

Netizens were both excited and afraid, traumatized by the shameless He Luoluo.

Having endured days of torment from this rogue, they logged onto each music platform with anxious hearts and metaphorical forty-meter-long blades, searching for "Melancholy."

After listening, they were thrilled.

He Luoluo had finally acted like a human being.

Soon, sharp-eyed netizens realized that despite how good the song was, the platforms had given it no recommendations at all. No banners on the homepage, not even a featured module. Were the platform operators blind?

Some speculated that the executives had also been disgusted by He Luoluo and were abusing their power to take revenge on him.

This comment gained a lot of support, with many users liking and agreeing that such a rogue deserved payback.

That’s what you get for being arrogant...

That’s what you get for disgusting people...

That’s what you get for chopping songs in half...

That’s what you get for breaking off mid-song.

Soon, an informed netizen provided the correct answer: "He Luoluo is an independent musician, unsigned, with no resources backing him—so there’s no recommendation."

This comment was immediately upvoted by many.

[Helpful Citizen]: "Brothers, we need to boost this! There are still thousands suffering under the tyranny of the cut-off version of 'Melancholy.' They need us to liberate them!"

[Upright Citizen]: "Even though I want to get back at He Luoluo, the person above is right. We can’t let the sins of that dog fall on innocent listeners."

[Low Price]: "+1"

[Bitter Floor]: "+1"

Of course, there were plenty just there to stir up trouble, little devils enjoying the chaos.

[I Am Superman]: "Fooled by that dog He Luoluo again! On Daily Music it's also the cut-off version—so despicable."

[054321]: "Same on UltraCool Music! He Luoluo is too much—don’t listen to his songs, or you’ll be disgusted beyond recovery."

But these comments were quickly drowned out, making no real splash.

——

Brilliant Entertainment.

An Chuxia was sitting on the sofa, checking the music charts.

Under the white lights, her shoulder-length hair swayed side to side. Her delicate, almond-shaped face glowed, her bright eyes sparkled, and the perfectly tinted lip gloss made her features even more pure and sweet.

As she slid her right hand up and down the screen, the loosely buttoned collar of her top was tugged open, revealing an enticing collarbone.

Seeing her song at the top of the New Talent chart, An Chuxia’s delicate face beamed with delight.

Her ponytailed assistant walked over with a cup of coffee, handing it to her. "Chuxia, you’re a shoo-in for the top spot on the New Talent chart this month."

An Chuxia smiled as she took the coffee, shaking her head. "There are still more than ten days left; it’s too early to say for sure."

The assistant said nothing more, thinking Chuxia worried too much.

Aside from Brilliant Entertainment launching their new artist An Chuxia in April, other companies had also introduced new faces, though none seemed determined to clinch first place.

Brilliant Entertainment had high hopes for An Chuxia, pouring resources into her this April. Even some of the company’s most popular singers and actors had publicly supported her.

With so much backing, An Chuxia’s new song "Yearning for Love" was gaining strong momentum. Since its release at the start of April, it had held firmly to the top of the New Talent chart, widening the gap with the runner-up.

It seemed she had the number one spot secured for April.

This wasn’t just the assistant’s opinion—many in the industry agreed. If no other company was competing and Brilliant Entertainment was investing so much, not taking the top spot would be indefensible.

At this moment.

Manager Deng Qin strode over in black high heels, holding a tablet in her hand, her steps a bit hurried.

"Qin, you’re here," An Chuxia greeted sweetly, polite as always.

After sitting down, Deng Qin tugged at her tight collar and placed the tablet on the table. "There’s a dark horse rising fast lately. Listen to his song."

An Chuxia uncrossed her legs and took the tablet, her mouth slightly open. "The full version of 'Melancholy' is out?"

She’d been busy promoting her new song all over the country and hadn’t paid much attention to DouShow.

But when the cut-off version of "Melancholy" appeared, Brilliant Entertainment had her listen to it several times, which infuriated her—she nearly threw her phone.

Brilliant Entertainment had also messaged He Luoluo and Gabe, but neither responded.

"It’s 'Melancholy.' Though it has no promotional resources, it’s built up a huge following on DouShow. As soon as it was released, lots of people downloaded it," Deng Qin said seriously.

She didn’t care much about other singers; after all, it was an unspoken agreement among companies: this month we promote our newcomer, next month you promote yours, and we don’t steal each other’s spotlight.

But He Luoluo had no company behind him and charged ahead on his own—he didn’t care about any tacit rules.

Usually, an independent artist without recommendations posed no threat and could be ignored entirely.

But He Luoluo was different. The popularity "Melancholy" had accumulated on DouShow was terrifying; even top celebrities in the entertainment industry were following him.

After so many days of suffering through the cut-off version, the full version was suddenly released.

Though everyone cursed He Luoluo as a shameless scoundrel, they were quick to pay and download with their own hands.

Even Deng Qin herself had secretly bought "Melancholy" using another Daily Music account.

She couldn’t help it.

Not listening left an unbearable itch in her heart.

If it had stayed a cut-off version, maybe it would have faded over time. But now that the complete version was out...

Many people were still swaggering in the comments section.

It was impossible to resist!

But Deng Qin didn’t dare admit this to anyone—she was afraid the company would hold it against her.

That would be aiding the enemy.

An Chuxia tapped on "Melancholy."

Gone was the monotonous guitar solo; the crisp notes of the piano surrounded her, making it many times more beautiful than the DouShow cut-off version.

And the full version, after post-production tuning, elevated He Luoluo’s voice to another level.

Even after listening to the cut-off version a dozen times, An Chuxia still felt deeply moved by the full track.

Her hand tapped rhythmically on her thigh, following the notes, her skin pulsing with every beat.

When she heard, "A toast to freedom, a toast to death," her fingers halted, and her gaze dimmed.

She thought of someone...

——

(To be revised after posting)