### Chapter 5: Lee Qing the Freeloader
Lee Qing lived in a studio apartment. He avoided the company dormitory due to conflicts with other artists. When his group, Raging Fire Boys, debuted with their first album, it didn’t become a nationwide hit but did garner some popularity, enough to earn them some money. This money allowed Lee Qing to afford his rent and living expenses, at least for a short while.
However, this was only temporary. A year had passed with no income. Even with frugal living, his bank balance could only support him for another six months. During their brief success, he had been disdainful of commercial performances and uninterested in variety shows and interviews arranged by the company. This led to minimal income and a tarnished reputation, with rumors of him being difficult and uncooperative. Consequently, no company wanted to be associated with him or the Raging Fire Boys.
Fortunately, the childish, prideful Lee Qing from back then was gone.
Lee Qing lay on his large bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, pondering his next steps. Having advanced past the initial round of "Music Star," he needed to continue participating. Given that China joined the World Trade Organization in 1993, fashion, lifestyle, and economic standards were at least five years ahead of his previous life’s 1997. Lee Qing believed "Music Star" had great potential to become popular.
In his past life, talent shows like "Super Girl" and "Happy Boy" were fan-favorites. "Music Star" might not have the same scale as those, which had regional selections and rankings. "Music Star" was limited to Beijing, broadcast only on Beijing TV, without the widespread reach. Despite this, it had a strong ability to attract fans, being the country’s first and only talent show of its kind.
With his strikingly handsome looks, Lee Qing believed he could attract fans regardless of his talent. Plus, he had a secret weapon: countless classic songs ready at his disposal. Winning a talent show seemed easy. With fans and fame, everything else would follow.
Lee Qing lay on the bed, grinning foolishly. In his past life in the entertainment industry, he knew the importance of fame. With fame, even his trivial actions would be celebrated. Considering returning to his old job as a web writer? With his exceptional talent, why bother? It was lowly and exhausting. This life should be different from his monotonous past.
Besides, the current China wasn’t suitable for online literature. The VIP subscription model of Qidian (a popular web novel site) would not emerge until 2003-2004. In this world, Qidian didn’t even exist yet, only obscure literary forums with less than a thousand members.
At this time, despite a population of 1.2 billion, many Chinese hadn’t even seen a computer. Computers were expensive, and not even the U.S. had widespread access. Smartphones were even further out of reach. Hence, online literature was not a viable option.
However, the publishing industry seemed promising. With his knowledge and literary skills, he could write a couple of prophetic books that would definitely be bestsellers. Maybe not on par with J.K. Rowling, but he could at least become a bestselling author in China. His confidence was unwavering.
Apart from publishing, pursuing music was another viable path. In his past life, if not for his looks and the decline of the recording industry, he would have pursued a career in music. The timing had been unfortunate. With these thoughts, Lee Qing’s mind raced with opportunities. He could sell his songs for a decent price, but he decided to wait until he gained more fame to maximize their value.
Lost in his fantasies, the doorbell rang. Han Han had arrived. She lived nearby and, despite idolizing Lee Qing, maintained a respectful distance, unlike some fans who would sneak into their idol’s room at night. Lee Qing found this regretful.
Han Han, holding a document, skipped over excitedly to hand it to Lee Qing. "It’s certified! Qing, this song really is yours; no one else had claimed it!"
Lee Qing glanced at the document. It was the lyrics and sheet music for "Angel Wings," officially certified with his name and the China Copyright Office’s seal. This certification meant that, from now on, no one could use the song commercially without his permission.
"Qing, once the show airs, everyone will be impressed. ‘Angel Wings’ is amazing!" Han Han exclaimed, "You’ll have lots of fans and media attention."
She paused, cautiously observing Lee Qing’s calm expression before continuing, "I almost forgot, you dislike interviews. We’ll just refuse them all. Our star should be this assertive, right?"
Touched by her efforts to please him, Lee Qing affectionately patted her head. "Silly girl, being a star means interviews are part of the job. Am I really that domineering? Don’t say such things anymore."
Han Han nodded vigorously. "Yes, you’re right!"
Lee Qing laughed, glancing around his spacious, well-decorated apartment. "Han Han, isn’t the rent due soon?"
Han Han, flustered by the nickname, remembered she was actually three years older than Lee Qing. But his affectionate name made her heart race. Upon hearing his question, she hesitated, "I think it’s not yet due…"
Lee Qing shook his head. Her acting skills were terrible. He wasn’t the same naive Lee Qing. This apartment was luxurious and in Beijing, making the rent extravagant. From his memories, Lee Qing signed the lease with his first earnings. The contract was for a year, but two years had passed. No landlord would be so generous.
The only person who could have renewed the lease was Han Han, his closest companion. "Let’s move out," he said.
Han Han looked guilty. "The rent’s not up yet, and the landlord won’t refund the money. Besides, you haven’t found a new place…"
Lee Qing sighed, dropping the subject. He didn’t mind living off someone else, much like the famous director Ang Lee did before winning his Oscar. But being a bit traditional, he found it uncomfortable. This discomfort fueled his determination to make money.
NEXT