Mysterious Assistant of the Washed-Up Queen-Chapter 451 - 302: The Big Companies are Blown Away! To Hell with the Ban!

"An invitation to participate in a variety show over there? Have you done a background check on this show? What’s its reputation? How high is its market popularity?" Chu Tian asked after glancing at the information.

"These details are very important. After all, it’s overseas. If you go into it blindly, you could be sold out without even knowing. This kind of thing is all too common in the industry. If you don’t investigate the other party thoroughly beforehand, you’re just waiting to be finished. After all, how do you know if the show, or the company behind it, is friendly towards China? If it’s an unfriendly show and you suddenly participate, how will people view you? Claim ignorance? Is that really possible? Even if you genuinely didn’t know, wouldn’t that still be a dereliction of your duty?"

"If there are no issues concerning national sentiment, then what about the show’s reputation? Does it primarily rely on pranking celebrities? Does it have a history of scandals? These are all things you need to know. Another point is whether the show’s status is a good fit for you. Yes, shows consider an artist’s status when selecting guests, and artists do the same when deciding to participate in a show."

"Many companies exploit the information gap between domestic and overseas markets to manipulate situations, possibly tricking you into going abroad. Some who are a bit clueless, the moment they hear it’s an overseas show, immediately think they’re going international and breaking into the Asian market. They rush off without a second thought. Little do they know, the show might just be an obscure local production, possibly with fewer viewers than a poorly-rated show from a third or fourth-tier domestic TV station. How demeaning would it be for an A-list star to participate in such a shoddy show? If word got back to China, it would be an absolute joke. That’s why, when faced with such an invitation, the importance of a thorough background check becomes evident."

"Don’t worry, it’s all been checked," Sister Hua assured him. "The show is a phenomenal hit talk show from Malaysia called ’The Voice of Heaven’s Melody.’ It just started last year and is currently very popular throughout Southeast Asia."

Sister Hua was no rookie. She paid more attention to these things than anyone else and, as a result, knew more. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have even mentioned it to Chu Tian. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

After hearing Sister Hua’s explanation, Chu Tian said, "Malaysia itself isn’t too bad... but I don’t recommend going right now."

He didn’t disagree with her assessment. Malaysia, as a country, is generally quite friendly to the Chinese diaspora and has always maintained decent relations with China. The show likely shared many cultural commonalities, and being a phenomenal hit, it did seem like a good stepping stone into the broader Asian market. But he still advised against it.

"Why? This is such a great opportunity!" Sister Hua exclaimed.

"Indeed, it’s a rare chance," Chu Tian said. "But, Sister Hua, how long has our album been out? The new song was released less than three days ago. Its popularity is just starting to build. Is it really appropriate to rush off now?"

He looked at the thoughtful Li Chunhua and continued, "I’m not saying we shouldn’t go, but I think we can wait a bit. Firstly, going now would make us look too desperate and would unnecessarily make them look down on us.

"Secondly, the new album’s popularity and how widely it’s being sung are still on the rise. It hasn’t fully matured yet. Market recognition takes time, and building a fan base isn’t something that happens overnight.

"Why not let time do its work? Once people become more familiar with the songs and, consequently, learn more about Qingqiu, our fan base will have solidified. Wouldn’t it be better to go then?"

It had to be said, even amidst the current surge in popularity, Chu Tian remained remarkably level-headed. That alone was a rare quality.

It was only then that Li Chunhua felt as if she were waking from a dream.

"You’re right," she admitted. "I was too hasty."

It wasn’t so much haste as it was that she had gotten a bit carried away. Watching Xu Qingqiu become increasingly popular, coupled with Chu Tian’s consistently successful songwriting, made Li Chunhua feel almost invincible in China. She was eager to expand into overseas markets. After all, this was a level of success she had longed for and strived towards for so many years, yet had never seen.

It was like an office worker who had toiled away in large corporations for years, consistently overlooked, suddenly finding themselves on the verge of becoming a top executive in a major division of a tech giant like BAT. Who could remain completely composed in such a situation? With such a sudden ascent, it was easy to be dazzled by the glamour. How many could truly remain calm enough to discern whether the path ahead led to a bright future or a precipice?

Fortunately, Chu Tian’s opinion carried significant weight. He had experienced more and could see things with greater clarity, which allowed him to remain so calm.

"It’s alright, Sister Hua. I understand your thinking," he comforted her. "And my reasons don’t stop there. Aren’t we also preparing for the Spring Festival Gala? It’s almost the end of the year. Even if we wanted to go, we wouldn’t have the time."

"Yes, yes, you’re right! I’ve been so swamped I nearly forgot such an important thing!" Li Chunhua realized. "It’s not just the Spring Festival Gala; the end of the year is also when endorsement deals get reshuffled. I need to start sounding things out!"

Watching Sister Hua hastily depart, looking more like she was fleeing in embarrassment, Chu Tian found it hard to suppress a grin.

Sister Hua must have felt quite embarrassed.

As a professional agent, being corrected by Chu Tian on such a matter was indeed her oversight, so some embarrassment was inevitable.

And just as they were closely monitoring the new album’s trajectory, arranging further promotions, and preparing to sound out the Spring Festival Gala production team again, a certain group of people couldn’t sit still any longer.

This group consisted of the leading entertainment companies that had long held the top positions in China’s domestic market.

Previously, Xu Qingqiu had been a relatively minor figure. After all, among the top ten companies in Asia, which one didn’t have several Kings, Queens, and top-tier stars anchoring their lineup?