July 28th, with three members simultaneously trending, the entire internet began discussing FTM.
“Fang Yinnian made it to the team’s final four on Good Songs!”
The country’s largest entertainment forum immediately opened a real-time thread. The poster was very excited, sharing Fang Yinnian’s stage link in the post: “Fang Yinnian is such a dark horse! Who expected that after disappearing for two and a half years, he’d written so many beautiful songs? I really like this episode’s ‘Grandma’s Bridge’—he indeed made it to Luo Hua’s team final four.”
This thread quickly attracted numerous fan and hater replies.
“Heh, using grandma to sell sentiment—shameless.”
“Above poster runs so fast every time you see Fang Yinnian threads—habitual hater, right?”
“Fang Yinnian was always capable of going solo—not the same level as those KTV-quality idols”
“No bias either way—his recent original songs are quite good”
“If he hadn’t disappeared, he’d probably be a music industry top star by now, right?”
“With his vocals becoming a top star? Stop being ridiculous!”
“So did he leave Sheng Yao because the company suppressed him and wouldn’t let him release songs?”
“Damn, that’s quite possible when you put it that way!”
“Fang Yinnian only released ‘Listening to Snow’ on his birthday with no subsequent works. I thought he was a flash in the pan with exhausted talent. Now it seems it wasn’t his talent running dry—the company wouldn’t let him release anything, right?”
“Sheng Yao is so stupid! Isn’t Fang Yinnian’s talent and ability much stronger than Tao Yizhou’s?”
“Fang Yinnian fans need some shame—still comparing to Tao Yizhou? Zhouzhou has over ten endorsements and is a global ambassador for luxury brands, understand?”
“Tao Yizhou fans stop being ridiculous. Every time we discuss vocals and talent, you have to mention endorsements and commercial work. Who doesn’t know endorsements are negotiated by companies? He’s a singer Sheng Yao heavily promoted—what’s so proud about being hyped through marketing? If you have the ability, compete on live music variety shows!”
“Tao Yizhou hasn’t appeared on live music variety shows for three years, right? Only knows how to hold concerts and sell merchandise to make money. Nearly 30 years old still selling melancholy literary music genius persona—those who like him have no taste.” [This comment has been reported and collapsed]
“Fang Yinnian has such high presence lately—could he actually win CCTV Good Songs championship?”
“Don’t scare me! Even fans don’t dare fantasize like that!”
“Fans have faces as big as basins dreaming he’ll win championship—dreams have everything” [This comment has been reported and collapsed]
“This season has fierce competition—it’s uncertain if he can even make finals”
“Since returning, he’s really using any means necessary to become popular again—how many paid commenters did he hire to awkwardly praise him on forums?”
“Above poster is so sour~ Know that Yinnian’s popularity got to you—don’t worry, he’ll become even more popular~”
This thread was chaotic with numerous reported and collapsed replies. Bystanders watching the excitement were stunned… Fang Yinnian truly had the destiny for bloody storms and stardom!
Undeniably, Fang Yinnian had improved greatly during his years away—more stable temperament, obviously advanced vocals, masterful vocal cord control. His tone remained beautiful. Facing the high-level competitive stage, he wasn’t nervous with good mentality, making every live performance noteworthy.
He was gradually washing away the “idol” label.
Now he was a very mature independent singer/producer.
However, precisely because Fang Yinnian’s performance was near-perfect with no flaws to pick, many questioning voices appeared online—
“This is lip-syncing, right? His voice doesn’t even tremble slightly?”
“Breathing sounds aren’t obvious enough—seems pre-recorded.”
“CCTV allows lip-syncing? A connected insider pushed into the program?”
“I knew someone would question Yinnian’s lip-syncing again—check out FTM stage compilations!”
“As everyone knows, FTM never lip-synced since debut”
“Welcome everyone to research—Fang Yinnian’s previous programs have compilations on Bilibili: ”
Countless “archaeology armies” wanting to understand Fang Yinnian flooded Bilibili.
Many people surprisingly discovered the treasure boy group FTM.
Beautiful harmonies, countless spectacular stages.
Since disbanding, FTM stage compilations were only repeatedly savored by old fans, but with Fang Yinnian’s comeback, massive new fans poured in for archaeological viewing.
“Is it too late to stan FTM now?”
“I only discovered this treasure after the group disbanded! What was I doing these past years ahh”
“Recently became a fan +1, born at wrong time, missed their promotional activities”
“The ‘Music Billboard’ they used to promote on has stopped airing”
“Really times have changed, brings bitter tears”
“Sad and lamentable! After all these years, trashy domestic entertainment still can’t form a boy group comparable to FTM—management companies are truly useless!”
“Such a pity, became a fan too late, will never see all five reunite in this lifetime”
“New musical note reporting—starting to review the music group’s previous stages!”
“Welcome newcomers—their variety shows are also hilarious with tons of resources to explore~”
“Those who like shipping CPs can explore MoFang—this couple once dominated CP super-topic #1 rankings. Though they ended very thoroughly with no interaction for two and a half years, the past sweetness was really abundant~”
“Junwen’s new drama is very good—everyone don’t forget to follow it!”
“Mo Xun’s movie also wrapped—probably premiering next year, looking forward~”
“Tang Che has recent band performances on Yuntu TV, Xiao Fei hosts Friday night variety shows on Nanxing TV!”
“I’m now a zen five-person fan—following all five separately is also nice.”
“I just entered the fandom and am already lying flat at the bottom—you all ate so well back then~”
Momentarily, massive users on Little Red Book, TikTok, and Bilibili were reviewing FTM’s previous stages, researching Fang Yinnian’s teenage experiences. FTM stage compilation albums also became popular on Bilibili’s homepage, attracting countless new fans.
***
Monday, Sheng Yao Media’s president’s office suddenly received several postal letters.
After opening the letters, the assistant’s expression suddenly changed. She quickly found the CEO office with trembling voice: “P-President Zhou, we received several n-notification letters!”
President Zhou raised an eyebrow: “Why so panicked? What notification letters?”
The assistant placed four letters on the desk: “Please look.”
Zhou Haoran looked down and his expression immediately twisted—
“Artist Mo Xun’s contract with Sheng Yao Media expires on XX year August 18th. After contract expiration, there will be no renewal. According to contract Chapter 8 Article 12 regulations, advance notification to your company.”
Followed by lawyer’s seal and Mo Xun’s personal signature.
The second letter…
Same notification letter with Tan Junwen’s signature.
Third and fourth letters…
Tang Che and Fu Fei’s non-renewal notification letters.
Four neat “notification letters” like four slaps hitting his face. President Zhou gritted his teeth angrily: “How dare they play me!”
He’d already sensed these four might leave after expiration, but each conversation they maintained ambiguous attitudes of “will consider renewal,” making it difficult to pressure them.
Results… they were all drawing rosy pictures to toy with him!
This was premeditated, right?
Management company contracts required artists to notify companies in advance if deciding not to renew, for preparing various endorsement and resource transitions—industry regulation clearly written in contracts. The four strictly followed regulations without fault.
Zhou Haoran was so angry his brain hurt, couldn’t help cursing: “That CEO Zhao is a complete idiot! Who signs 5-year contracts with young idols? Should have directly signed 10 years, binding them to death at the company with astronomical penalty fees, making them earn money for the company several more years!”
The assistant said nothing but silently complained internally: Why should they?
Why should they work themselves to death earning money for the company while only getting 20% shares? Especially Mo Xun—these years continuously joining productions with almost no rest time, working so hard on set hanging from wires, filming action scenes in deep winter, yet 80% of acting fees were taken by the company.
Only idiots would renew, right?
Even if President Zhou raised renewal terms to 60-40 splits with artists getting 60%, they could get 100% going solo. Continuing to give you commissions while being controlled by the company… unless their brains were damaged.
The assistant internally rolled her eyes while smiling: “President Zhou, what do we do now?”
Zhou Haoran’s expression was ugly as he forcefully slammed the four notification letters on the desk: “What else can we do! Contract expiration naturally means they can leave—am I supposed to kidnap them and force their hands to sign contracts? Can only maintain surface peace like with Xie Shiqi back then, wishing them bright futures!”
The last four words were nearly said through gritted teeth.
There was still some time before official contract expiration.
You’d better not let me catch any dirt on you, Zhou Haoran thought viciously.
***
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
