Chapter 136: Passion in the Desert
by xennovelIf you’re serious about expanding your OEM channels, you might as well not count on Old Six!
Upon hearing that Xu Chen was heading to see Xu Hao, Xu Xin furrowed her brows.
“Why?”
“What good is Old Six? Don’t you know his temperament? How close is he with the chairman of Mingsha Tourism?”
“If the deal falls through, it might even hurt Old Six in the process!”
Xu Xin shot a glance at Xu Chen.
For the Xu Family, Xu Hao had already transferred all the desert plots to Mingsha Tourism. Now he was merely a legacy broadcaster — his life might seem cushier, but he was nowhere near useful to the family.
“So what do you suggest? OEM in period dramas brings huge profits.”
Xu Chen hesitated for a moment.
His second sister seemed to have a point.
“Didn’t you say you have an old friend in the industry? He could introduce you to the chairman of Mingsha Tourism — his word carries far more weight than Old Six’s.”
After a moment’s thought, Xu Xin responded,
“Alright, I’ll make a call. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll treat my friend to a meal and see if he can set up a meeting. He once mentioned he had dealings with Zhu Qiang, the chairman of Mingsha Tourism.”
Xu Chen nodded.
“Okay, let’s split up. Call me as soon as you have any news!”
“Got it!”
Recently returned from abroad, Xu Xin and Xu Chen were unaware of the Mingsha Tourism Festival. Meanwhile, at the festival’s opening, key officials had finished speaking. The host stepped back onto the stage, announcing, “In this golden autumn, as osmanthus fills the air, we present ‘Passionate Desert’ to all Mingsha visitors. Please welcome Wang Le, the young singer from the County Troupe!”
“The opening performance is by the County Troupe!”
“Although the song’s title fits the occasion, I’ve never heard of it before.”
“I expected Mingsha Tourism to bring stars from ‘Wulin Wai Chuan’ and ‘Snowbound’ to liven up the event. They may not be top-tier, but at least the audience would have something to look forward to.”
“Exactly!”
“A county act might suit a township show, but at a high-profile festival like this, it’s just not enough.”
As the host announced the act’s name, disappointment spread among viewers at home, online audiences, and even among many present in the crowd shared glances of disinterest.
Some viewers even left the livestream or switched off their TVs.
Seated in the front row, Peng Yuan, a high-ranking tourism official, unexpectedly exhaled in relief, a sentiment shared by his deputy.
“At least there’s a flaw to latch onto!”
The deputy leaned in and whispered to Peng Yuan.
“Otherwise, this festival would have been flawless—but even that leaves a lifeline for the next host city.”
Peng Yuan nodded slightly.
When Peng Yuan learned that ‘Snowbound’ had exploded in ratings and acclaim, propelling the festival’s buzz even higher, he had long abandoned any resistance.
Because resistance was simply futile.
Mingsha Tourism would continue to drop bombshells, and he once believed that with their unique style, the festival’s opening would feature an array of big-name stars.
Instead, Mingsha Tourism went in the opposite direction, sparking online controversy and even dragging Su Province TV into trouble.
As a result,
Peng Yuan and his tourism deputy felt a weight lift off their shoulders.
“Mm-hmm!”
The deputy nodded in agreement.
But just as the two murmured among themselves, a sudden introductory beat on stage captured their attention.
A young man in a black vest cheerfully strode onto the stage.
Boom! Boom! Accompanied by a rhythm brimming with energy and explosive drive.
“Hello, everyone!”
At first, the young man didn’t even speak; he grabbed the mic like a concert star and bellowed a greeting.
Although the audience had low expectations, his stage presence and the pulsating music immediately drew their attention, sparking spontaneous applause.
Then he launched into the song, “My passion burns like a fire that engulfs the entire desert…
The sun hides when it sees me,
Fearing the blaze of my love—because with me, the desert is never lonely.”
“Wow, that’s explosive!”
In just a few lines, ‘Passionate Desert’ ignited the crowd. Many were compelled to sway along to the rhythm.
“What’s going on? Is this really the effort of a county troupe?”
Gradually, as the song continued and the atmosphere lifted, the live audience forgot their disappointment, waving their hands in excitement while viewers at home were left speechless.
An expert’s touch is unmistakable!
Though the song hadn’t finished, the energy and explosive vibe it carried outshone any ordinary band—even some well-known national acts couldn’t match this intensity.
“This County Troupe really has something special. I underestimated them.”
Snap back to reality.
Some viewers about to exit the livestream began posting comments instead.
“Yes, this appears to be a brand-new song created specifically for the Mingsha Desert!”
“I think it would make an excellent festival theme song.”
“Quality aside, Mingsha Tourism is showing real effort—you can bet a lot went into commissioning this piece.”
“True enough! A song’s creation can cost just as much as signing a big-name singer.”
“Enough talk—my good impression of Mingsha Tourism is restored.”
“Not just flattery, just the facts.”
Meanwhile,
In a high-rise office building along Yan City’s Third Ring, several men were enjoying tea.
A metal sign hanging at the entrance read ‘Tiger Leopard Band Studio.’
Within the Long Kingdom rock scene, Tiger Leopard Band was a top name, though in recent years they hadn’t produced any hits that resonated widely. Their name was well-known, but their status within the entertainment world had been on a steady decline.
Without loyal fans, their event appearances lagged behind those of third- or fourth-tier stars.
Some netizens even claimed that Tiger Leopard Band’s gradual fade mirrored the state of the entire rock scene—and worse, that rock music in recent years had essentially…
“Brother Li, quick—open your phone and search for the Su Province Tourism Festival!”
As the group chatted, another young man with small braided hair hurried over.
“What’s going on?”
At these words, a middle-aged man with youthful features looked at the young man in confusion.
The man was Li Yang, the lead singer of Tiger Leopard Band.
“Brother Li, I was just scrolling through short videos when I spotted an incredible song in the festival lineup—raw rock energy and an explosive live vibe.”
The young man hurriedly explained.
“Which song?”
Li Yang and the others were taken aback at the question.
They had been discussing ideas for future song directions.
“Look, here’s some footage captured by netizens!”
The young man pulled up the KuaiDou app on his phone.
“My passion burns like a fire that engulfs the desert.”
Soon, ‘Passionate Desert’ blared out from the phone.
“Hmm?”
Li Yang and the others’ expressions shifted instantly; they listened with rapt attention.
Experts distinguish a great song from the very first note—they knew this was no ordinary track.
A few minutes later, after the song ended, Li Yang was not only visibly shocked but deeply impressed.
“Who sings this song?”
Coming back to his senses,
he looked up at the young man.
“It’s performed by a young man from the County Troupe named Wang Le.”
“County Troupe?”
Some middle-aged men nearby couldn’t help but glance at Li Yang.
“Brother Li, this song is fantastic. Although the performer has captured its essence, imagine how explosive it would be if we collaborated. Why don’t we try to buy the rights to this song?”
One of them pondered before speaking,
“Buy the rights?”
Li Yang’s expression shifted noticeably.
“Mm-hmm!”
“I think it’s worth a shot. Every music festival seems to be recycling the same few songs until the audience gets tired.”
The young man added,
“Let’s check who holds the copyright. Is it with the County Troupe? If so, that makes things easier.”
After a moment of thought, Li Yang said,
The young man’s words had struck a chord.
Every team faces a creative slump eventually. Tiger Leopard Band, for instance, was no longer at its peak—in both spirit and quality.
Buying a song to perform might just be the breakthrough they need.
“Brother Li, I just checked on the Dragon Kingdom Copyright website—the rights aren’t held by the County Troupe.”
The young man urgently interjected.
“Not by the County Troupe? Then is it owned by the singer? If this young man is the composer, his talent is truly exceptional.”
Li Yang looked at him.
“No!”
“Then whose is it?”
Everyone fell silent.
“Haofang Culture!”
“Haofang Culture? The very company that stirred up a storm online with two hit dramas? A firm dedicated to film and TV that even dabbles in songwriting?”
Li Yang was utterly astonished.
He had never expected this outcome.
“Yes, it’s Haofang Culture. The song’s copyright was even registered in Mingsha County.”
The young man nodded.
“Then…”
“Brother Li, if we really want to secure the rights to this song, we need to head to Mingsha County ourselves and speak directly with the head of Haofang Culture. They’re no longer an unknown startup.”
Another middle-aged man at the side remarked.
“Alright then. Xiao Wu, book a few flights — we’re heading to Mingsha County the day after tomorrow.”
After a moment of silence, Li Yang finally nodded.
“Okay!”
Just as ‘Passionate Desert’ had captured Tiger Leopard Band’s attention, the festival stage saw the host return once more.
“With boundless ambition and universal love, please enjoy the song ‘Wan Jiang’ performed by Li Yu of the County Troupe!”