After staying in China for four days, Eric and Michael boarded their return flight.
It was unclear who leaked their itinerary, but when they arrived at the airport, there were quite a few fans waiting.
Not only were there young people, but also many middle-aged individuals, who, one could imagine, had been introduced to Michael's music since the last century.
Facing these long-time fans, they certainly couldn't be remiss, so they signed autographs and took photos before finally boarding the plane.
One could imagine that after this incredibly successful performance, China would surely see a wave of imitation of Michael.
Just like when he suddenly passed away, causing a global remembrance, countless young people became infatuated with Michael Jackson.
"Eric, the recording of The Voice of America is almost complete. The next show is the grand finale. Aren't you coming to watch?"
"Sorry, Michael, you've been in charge of this the whole time, and I haven't had a chance. Just let me know when it's being recorded, and I'll definitely be there," Eric said apologetically.
"Well, you are the big boss, after all, you should come and show your support."
"Oh, and regarding the three contestants you specifically mentioned—Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, and Katy Perry—their contracts have already been signed."
"They signed so quickly? Didn't you say there was a problem?"
"Taylor Swift had a problem; the other two didn't. I had someone contact that young girl. She's a very opinionated child, especially when it comes to her work and career."
"Actually, Taylor had wanted to terminate her contract with her original company for a long time because she believed her ability was already sufficient to release an album, but RCA thought she wasn't ready, so they kept delaying it, which displeased Taylor."
"After agreeing to pay her breach of contract fee and release an album, Taylor and Taylor's family both chose to join UTA."
"Have all three of them made it to the finals?"
"Yes, as long as you want someone to get in, they will definitely get in. What's more, all three of them have strong singing skills and are not inferior to other contestants, so the choice is in the hands of the mentors. The last one is Cyril, who also has excellent singing skills, but we haven't discussed signing a contract with him yet."
Eric had some impression of Cyril; Michael had mentioned him last time, saying that this young man's rap had distinctive characteristics.
But unfortunately, he never listened to rap and didn't have any rap songs in his repertoire. More importantly, he had no impression of this person, so he likely wouldn't become a famous singer in the future.
However, considering that he had already changed many things since his transmigration, letting this kid try wouldn't hurt.
"Three out of four is always a regret. Didn't you say his rap was good? Why don't we sign him too, but just don't announce it publicly yet."
"At least wait until after the finals are over before we announce the signing, to avoid being accused of rigging."
Michael nodded, "I understand. Also, there's something else. Ever since The Voice began its promotion, American Idol seems to have realized that we're targeting it."
"So they've responded. Have you been following American Idol?"
Eric shook his head somewhat ashamed, thinking that he must spend more time focusing on UTA's development.
"American Idol actually bought the rights to British Idol, but the latter probably didn't expect the show to become so popular in the United States."
"Last year, the first season had three judges: Simon Cowell, an experienced musician who has been in the industry for many years. American Idol's success is largely due to him, and he will participate in the second season as well."
Eric knew Simon Cowell; he was also a resident judge on Britain's Got Talent and America's Got Talent, known for his sharp tongue.
Eric had met him through these variety shows and knew he was very capable.
He even made a cameo as a sharp-tongued character in scary movie 3 last year, and was then shot to death.
"Besides Simon Cowell, the other two judges are Paula Abdul and my brother Randy Jackson."
"Paula Abdul once worked for me and also for Janet. Our dances had her involvement. Her abilities were more reflected in dance, while her singing career was relatively weaker."
"Some time ago, Paula proactively contacted me. After learning about the purpose of The Voice of America, she chose to withdraw from the show, not wanting to participate in this competition."
"Defeating the enemy without fighting!" Eric blurted out.
"What?"
"An ancient Chinese saying, meaning to defeat the enemy without having to engage in battle."
Michael smiled, "But that's not necessarily a good thing, because since Paula withdrew, someone will definitely fill her spot, and that's a name you definitely don't want to hear."
"Who is it?"
"Eminem."
"What! It's that guy! That little thug, that little bastard! It seems Fox is doing this on purpose."
Michael agreed, "It's definitely intentional. They know about my feud with Eminem, and choosing him is undoubtedly targeting me."
"And although we defeated Eminem and forced him to take down his album, due to his unconventional style and unrestrained remarks, his popularity among young people remains very high. Teenagers especially love his outspoken and boastful personality."
"Finally, there's my brother Randy Jackson. Forget it, let's not mention him. I'm sure you've heard many rumors."
Eric sighed. Michael's family situation had long been thoroughly reported by the media, and many things were semi-public, well-known to fans.
For example, his scumbag father, who hit him on the head with an iron and treated him as a cash cow, which led to Michael's unhappy childhood.
He even openly expressed his dislike for his father; for someone of his personality to say such a thing, it shows the extent of his hatred for his father.
Then there were his four brothers. When they first debuted, their relationship was very good, but over time, self-interest eventually triumphed over kinship.
Especially after Michael went solo and became a global superstar, his four brothers fell into obscurity, and their popularity plummeted.
But in their eyes, without the original group, there would be no Michael's future glory, so Michael should help them.
Cold-blooded, disregarding kinship, and neglecting family became their common criticisms of Michael. Jealousy and envy filled the eyes of these brothers.
Especially at the five-brother reunion concert in 2001, his four brothers came not because of affection, but because Michael paid them; it was an employment relationship.
They were blood relatives, yet their relationship had deteriorated to such an extent.
His sister, La Toya Jackson, was also an ungrateful person. After the child molestation case broke out in 1993, La Toya Jackson actually slandered her brother, claiming he indeed had a relationship with the boy.
Being stabbed in the back by his own sister, that feeling must have been absolutely unbearable.
Although it was later clarified that La Toya Jackson's husband forced her to say that for money, it was still too much.
Moreover, after Michael's death, La Toya Jackson reveled in the misfortune, constantly seeking attention and even falling out with Paris over the inheritance.
Having such siblings was simply a disaster.
Among the entire Jackson family, the only one Michael had a good relationship with was his younger sister, Janet Jackson.
After Janet debuted, her rapid global success was inseparable from Michael's help, and their stage styles were also quite similar.
After Michael's death, it was also Janet who helped him repay part of his debts and covered his funeral expenses.
That's why when Eric was planning The Voice, the first person he thought of was Janet. What kind of scoundrels were those other bastards!
"Randy Jackson, he didn't say anything vicious to you, did he?"
Michael shook his head, clearly not wanting to bring up the other person.
"Besides those three judges, to counter The Voice, American Idol made some changes and added a permanent judge."
"Who is it this time?"
"Justin Timberlake. He's been very popular these past few years, a top-tier artist among the new generation. Especially after his relationship with Britney Spears was exposed, his popularity skyrocketed. Although they later broke up, do you know him?"
Eric's pupils contracted slightly: "Wait, you mean Justin, Justin Timberlake, right?"
Seeing Eric's unusual reaction, Michael asked somewhat strangely, "Yes, why? Is there a problem?"
"Heh heh. A big problem. He's not a good person. His character is flawed, his personality is corrupt; he's not just an ordinary scumbag."
Michael became even more confused: "Where did you hear that? Justin gives a good impression, and his public image has always been good, like a pure, big boy."
"Knowing a person's face doesn't mean knowing their heart, Michael. Some people are very good at disguising themselves, but I know some inside information."
"Tell me about it." Michael was rarely so gossipy.
"Britney Spears, she once had an abortion for Justin Timberlake!"
The opening statement was a thunderbolt, stunning Michael.
"What!"
"You heard right, this is true. Justin Timberlake was Britney's first love, her first real boyfriend, and she loved him madly."
"But the two young people obviously didn't take precautions, which led to Britney's pregnancy."
"Britney wanted to keep the child and marry Justin Timberlake. After all, she was the one who announced the relationship, and she was more proactive in it."
"But Justin Timberlake didn't want to take responsibility. He clearly didn't want to take on the responsibility of a father too early, so he asked Britney to have an abortion."
"This girl, blinded by love, foolishly agreed. But they were celebrities, so to keep it a secret, they couldn't go to a hospital and had to take measures themselves."
"So Britney took abortion pills, and she writhed and wailed in pain in the bathroom."
"Then the amazing part came: Justin Timberlake actually sang to her with a guitar in front of her. I don't know if he thought that would alleviate the woman's pain."
"This irresponsible man probably thought playing the guitar would be cool, or that it would reduce his guilt. It's both ridiculous and narcissistic."
Michael was stunned by this huge revelation, his face filled with disbelief.
"Eric, why do you know so much detail? Who told you?"
"Someone very close to Britney. They were so close they'd share clothes and even a bed. In short, this is absolutely true."
"And it's not over yet. They broke up in 2002, didn't they? I remember Justin Timberlake released a song expressing his feelings, right?"
"'Cry Me a River,' are you talking about that song?" Michael blurted out.
"Yes, that's it. Justin Timberlake deliberately found a girl who looked similar to Britney to shoot the music video, portraying himself as a victim, accusing the woman of cheating, but he never mentioned the abortion. His thick skin is beyond ordinary."
"Moreover, the one who actually cheated was Justin; he cheated no less than five times during his relationship with Britney."
"OMG!"
Michael was incredibly surprised. If these things were exposed, it would absolutely destroy Justin Timberlake, leaving him nowhere to hide.
And the reason Eric knew so much, of course, was because Britney herself had revealed it.
Although she was known as a sweet and innocent idol, her life was truly tragic.
Controlled by an abusive father, betrayed by men, and even as a huge star, she didn't own her first iPad until 2021. Her life was completely restricted, merely a money-making machine.
When Britney's story was exposed, it caused a huge uproar globally, with many fans voicing their indignation.
After gaining her freedom, Britney also began to recount her past, which included that trash, Justin Timberlake.
This guy instantly earned the top spot on the United States' most disliked male celebrity list, and he deserved that honor!
And how did Justin Timberlake respond?
He responded with nothing. He completely shut down, closing social media comments, deleting past posts, hoping that playing deaf and dumb would get him through.
But clearly, people weren't going to let him off the hook.
When Justin Timberlake released a new album after a six-year hiatus from the music scene, its lead single, "Selfish," climbed to third place on the iTunes chart.
Just as he was feeling smug, another song with the same title, "Selfish," shot directly to the top of the chart.
And the singer of this "Selfish" was Britney, an old work of Britney's from more than ten years ago. This was the fans' and public's condemnation of Justin Timberlake.
But even at this point, Justin Timberlake remained stubborn and unapologetic, publicly declaring at a fan concert that he had done nothing wrong and would never apologize.
This is a scumbag with extremely poor character. Who knows how many other disgusting things he has done that haven't been exposed yet?
"Eric, you're not planning to use this to your advantage, are you?" Michael's gaze was somewhat grave.
Eric knew what he was worried about, but exposing it would definitely have a serious impact on Britney as well. Without her consent, this couldn't be done.
He shook his head, "I was just saying it for fun. I don't have such considerations for now."
"That's good. Wait, I suddenly remembered something. Janet told me a few days ago that she received an invitation for this year's Super Bowl halftime show, to perform a duet with Justin Timberlake. After what you told me, will collaborating with him cause problems?"
When Michael mentioned the Super Bowl, Eric suddenly became alert.
Damn it! How could he have forgotten about this?
The two women Justin Timberlake wronged the most, besides Britney, were Janet Jackson.
He had been too busy lately and had actually forgotten about that Super Bowl incident. Fortunately, Michael reminded him.
Otherwise, if things had happened, it would have had a serious impact on The Voice of America.
"Don't worry, Michael. As long as we're careful, nothing will happen."
Justin Timberlake, before his scandals were exposed, was a super boy adored by thousands, known in China as 'Boss Jia'.
Because he was a man with business acumen, he invested in various industries such as clothing, golf, and catering, earning a lot of money.
But ever since the incident was exposed, he immediately became a scumbag reviled by thousands and garbage despised by the whole world.
And Britney Spears was not the only woman he harmed; almost everyone he had dated came to a bad end.
Janet Jackson only collaborated with him once, and her career plummeted, and her popularity hit rock bottom.
The 2004 Super Bowl halftime show specifically invited superstar Janet Jackson and popular young artist Justin to collaborate.
But just as the performance ended, Justin Timberlake suddenly ripped off Janet's clothes, causing her right breast to be exposed on camera.
Even though the director quickly cut the shot, the image was still seen by over 80 million viewers.
It's important to remember that the Super Bowl is for everyone, and the audience included a large number of minors and children under ten.
Although a fleeting shot of a bare breast would not negatively affect a person's mental state, especially since the duration of that shot was very short.
But this was still a serious broadcast accident. Who told you to be a public figure? Who told you to be a big star? You must bear this responsibility.
After the performance, the NFL, broadcaster CBS, and producer MTV received a huge number of complaints.
The FBI launched an investigation into the incident, and angry viewers directly filed lawsuits, demanding exorbitant compensation for emotional distress.
As the two central figures of the incident, Janet publicly apologized to the media, stating that it was an accident, that she didn't expect her bra to be torn, and that she had no intention of using nudity for self-promotion, and she didn't want to let anyone down.
However, Justin Timberlake continued his fine tradition of playing dead and deflecting.
He did not admit responsibility, only saying that it was an accident at the time, that he was too excited while singing, etc., using vague words to shirk responsibility.
Instantly, the media and the public all pointed their fingers at Janet Jackson. Who told her to apologize?
If you don't apologize, everyone can only consider all parties involved as responsible, but if no one else apologizes and only you do, then you are the responsible party.
Otherwise, if you're not responsible, why apologize?
If you knock someone down, and it wasn't you who hit them, why help them up?
But in a later interview, Janet stated that she was coerced into apologizing because she was about to release a new album.
Her management team, record company, and other interested parties all hoped the situation would quickly subside, forcing her to apologize quickly to gain forgiveness, lest the album's release be affected.
This decision was clearly a very wrong one, almost identical to Michael's child molestation case in 1993.
At that time, it was also the management team and the Chandler family who reached a settlement agreement, and Michael was on tour abroad at the time. When he returned, he found that the die was cast, and everyone around him was advising him not to let the lawsuit affect his career, so he could only pay money to settle it privately. His older sister La Toya even backstabbed him.
After Janet apologized, Grammy, MTV, and others all wanted to blacklist her, stating that she must bear all responsibility, each one of them completely washing their hands of the matter.
Moreover, rumors circulated that after the incident, Justin privately went to MTV and CBS, apologized in person to the heads of both companies, crying profusely, and received their understanding.
Janet, however, did not go, so all the blame was directed at her.
This incident caused Janet Jackson's career to plummet. Originally, she, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Madonna were known as the Four Divas.
After the millennium, the music industry as a whole was in a slump, and sales for the other three artists had declined significantly, with only Janet continuing to maintain an advantage, but after this incident, she instantly fell behind.
Justin Timberlake was unaffected and, on the contrary, gained significant fame from it.
The truth of the Super Bowl incident can no longer be verified. Was it an accident or intentional? Who designed the bra-ripping segment? Was Janet absolutely innocent? Was Justin a victim?
But Justin apologized to Janet for this incident more than ten years later. If it had nothing to do with you, why apologize? If you firmly believe you did nothing wrong, why apologize? Was he also coerced?
Even making the worst assumption, that Janet and Justin jointly planned this incident.
Then shouldn't Justin have stepped up like a man? His cowardly behavior clearly shows he was trying to evade responsibility, revealing his corrupt character.
Since Eric knew, he had to prepare for the worst, treating it as if this incident would happen.
At this point, it was clearly impossible to persuade Janet to withdraw from the Super Bowl; the contract had already been signed.
He could only prepare in advance, lest an accident actually happen, and The Voice would surely be slammed, losing before the competition even began.
The second-week box office for saw 2 was released, falling by 53% in North America, a bit more than expected, bringing in $25 million.
It began to screen in some overseas countries, taking in $21 million, and the global box office was about to break $100 million.
The box office success naturally boosted MGM's stock price, which rose another 2.23%, reaching around $11.6 billion, very close to 20th Century Fox.
As long as another blockbuster or a few profitable works are released, surpassing Fox is a foregone conclusion.
As for its competitor, dead silence, it had already been swept into the trash.
Like saw 2, dead silence also began to gradually screen overseas, but unfortunately, the overseas box office was as bad as in North America.
Every movie has certain limitations, just as wuxia films cannot go beyond Asia, European and American horror films generally only do well in Europe and America, while Japanese, Korean, and Thai horror films are popular in Asia.
So, if American audiences don't appreciate dead silence, it will be the same in Europe and South America. Cultural similarities mean that the starting point for evaluating a film is the same, and they all find it terrible.
Based on the current overseas box office trend, dead silence would be lucky to earn over ten million. Analysis agencies predict that the film's global box office will struggle to break $40 million, meaning Lionsgate is bound to lose money and can only hope for the DVD market.
Meanwhile, YouTube's development momentum was very encouraging, still attracting tens of thousands of registered users daily even after its peak.
The Shoulder Dance's influence continued to spread, not only popular in Europe and America but also inspiring many imitators in Asia.
In Howard Hughes' words, it was like a whirlwind that couldn't be stopped.
The funny music short film 'PPAP' filmed by Michael was also officially released to the market recently.
As expected, interesting videos remain interesting even after more than a decade, and 'PPAP' quickly spread.
Because only the first half of the song was used, the difficulty of imitation was very low, far less than the Shoulder Dance. Immediately after its release, imitation videos appeared on YouTube.
With exaggerated movements and a catchy expression, coupled with simple and memorable lyrics, the American-Japanese man named Yamanaka suddenly became famous.
Clubs, bars, and talk shows had already invited him to perform, but unfortunately, the copyright of the song belonged to YouTube, not to him personally, so he had no right to perform it.
For this, Yamanaka specifically applied to YouTube, and the company did not make things difficult for him, choosing to grant authorization.
He would split the profits from any activities related to 'PPAP' 80/20, with YouTube taking 80% and Yamanaka taking 20%.
Don't scoff at the small share; 20% is enough to keep you well-fed and satisfied, after all, you're just an unknown performer.
You weren't involved in the creation, you weren't involved in the recording, and you weren't involved in the promotion. What more could a hired hand want?
Without you, Yamanaka, there would be Nara, there would be Akimichi. Getting 20% is already a blessing and favor from God; kneel and give thanks.
Beverly Hills, Nicole's house.
"Janet, just as I expected, your cooking is truly excellent, completely on par with Michelin-starred chefs."
Eric praised one of his future mothers-in-law while eating.
Chefs love to be praised for their cooking, and Janet happily cut another piece of steak for Eric.
"Eric, it's truly a pleasure to talk with you. Nicole's father rarely praises me. He just eats, and once he's full, he sits on the sofa to watch TV or goes to his study to read."
"That's normal, Janet. Anthony has enjoyed your good cooking for decades; he's already used to it. I imagine he often praised you when he was younger."
Nicole agreed: "That's right, I remember when I was a teenager, Dad used to praise how beautiful you were all the time."
"Hmph! He's gone silly from reading. He studies psychology all day and applies his findings to others. He should be studying my psychology more."
"Eric, Nicole told me that your parents' relationship has remained very good for decades."
Eric nodded slightly: "Yes, they rarely argue, at least in my memory. My parents got married when they were around thirty, by which time they were mature and knew what they wanted."
"So, once they found each other, they've always lived very happily. Of course, both of them have very good personalities and tempers, which is also a major reason."
Janet looked relieved: "To see a couple like that in Hollywood, in the entertainment industry, is truly not an easy thing. Your parents' love is fortunate, and to have such an excellent son like you is even more fortunate."
Janet's words were not just casual flattery; the chaos of the entertainment industry is well-known, and Hollywood's chaos is world-famous.
A representative figure among them was Elizabeth Taylor. Although this aunt was Michael's good friend, her emotional life was extraordinarily messy.
Many people, when discussing the biggest box office flops, immediately think of Cleopatra, which began filming in 1960 and cost around $44 million, equivalent to about $500 million today when adjusted for inflation and other factors.
The final box office was around $20 million, losing even more than windtalkers. Captain Marvel 2 is just a small fry compared to it.
One major reason why the movie lost so much money was that it was boycotted because Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton got together, and at the time, both of them were married.
The news broke and instantly topped global trending topics. Even the Vatican criticized their lifestyle, and they were both despised, causing the movie to suffer as well.
But this affair was just a minor interlude for Elizabeth Taylor; she went through eight marriages in her lifetime, as if it were a game.
Many times, she had affairs while married, becoming a mistress and stealing men.
The 'Eight-Divorce Family' brand appeared too late, otherwise, it should have invited her as an endorser.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are also a classic cheating couple, Madonna and her husbands, and Kim Kardashian truly treated it like a game.
In this Vanity Fair, growing old together is almost out of the question; few can maintain decades of marital happiness like Eric's parents.
However, Eric had 100% faith in his devout Christian mother, but he was skeptical of his father, believing he must have had an affair.
For example, he always felt that his father and Susan had an unusual relationship, but the old man handled it so well that he couldn't find any clues.
The meal was enjoyed by both host and guests, and Janet was so amused by Eric that she couldn't stop smiling, happily going to clear the table.
"Smooth talker, Eric Cooper, I wonder how many women you've deceived with that clever tongue."
Nicole poked Eric with her finger, but he took the opportunity to bite it, then picked her up by the waist.
"Oh, wait, don't do that, my mom can see."
"Let her see, she already knows, doesn't she?"
"Know what? She only knows I have a crush on you, but she doesn't know we've been secretly together for a year."
Hearing this, Eric suddenly felt a little dazed. It had already been a year. Unbeknownst to them, they had been together for a year. Time passed so quickly.
He carried Nicole towards the bathroom: "She can't see us here."
"No! Do you think everyone else is stupid? When Mom sees us both disappear together, she'll know immediately that we're up to no good."
"Baby, these past few days in China, I've missed you so much. You have to help me."
"I don't believe you. With no one to supervise you there, you must have had so much fun. Take your hands off me, don't touch me."
Mmm.
Nicole was caught, and they kissed passionately, her resistance weakening.
The 'land' had not been 'irrigated' for days, and Nicole quickly began to pant.
The villa was warm, and she wasn't wearing much.
Eric pushed upwards, and her cream-colored knit top had already ridden up.
That underwear color, alluring!
"Wait, no, really, darling, it's too embarrassing!"
"Oh!"
"Eric, you rascal—"
"Hehe. What about me?"
"Quick, come in, we must be quick!"
"Yes, sir!"
When Eric left, he bid farewell to a smiling Janet, detecting no abnormality on her face.
After he left, Janet immediately glared at Nicole: "Girl, you two seem to have gotten a little carried away. And even in your own home, you're too bold. At least you should consider my presence."
"Sorry, Mom." Nicole awkwardly turned her head away.
"And the situation seems a bit different from what you told me. This isn't just a 'crush.' What exactly is your relationship? Spill it!"
After Nicole confessed, Janet sighed: "Daughter, you've chosen a very difficult path."
"I know."
"Actually, I don't quite understand. Do you really think you two will have a future?"
"I don't know, but I hope we will."
"Sigh! Nicole, is Eric really good to you? Besides being sweet-mouthed."
"He gave me 1% of the shares."
"What?"
"On the eve of MGM's IPO, he gave me 1% of the shares, now worth over a hundred million."
Janet stepped back: "Okay, I didn't say anything. I wish you happiness."
"Haha. Don't be like that, Mom. Do you have any good advice?"
Janet pondered for a moment: "I can only think of one step."
"Tell me quickly!"
"Child."
"Eric, thank you for everything you've done for me. I'm truly touched."
In Eric's arms, Liu Yifei murmured as she lay on his chest, a smile on her face, looking utterly blissful.
"It's nothing, just what I should do, all for you."
Eric gently pinched her delicate chin. Her almost 17-year-old face was full of collagen.
Youth was inherently an advantage, and she took good care of herself. The skin of East Asians was naturally superior to that of Caucasians.
Therefore, Liu Yifei's skin, in terms of smoothness and elasticity, was better than that of the Olsen Sisters and Gadot of the same age. This was one of the reasons Eric adored her.
But there was also something strange: Nicole was clearly over 35, yet her skin was astonishingly good, not at all inferior to Liu Yifei's.
From this perspective alone, Theron and Liu Xiaoli were both inferior to Nicole, and also weaker than several younger girls.
This was not something that could be achieved by mere skincare; it was a natural talent. No wonder she was shockingly fair when she was young; it was no exaggeration.
After discussing with Zhou Xiaopeng and his team in China about introducing the first show, supernatural, Eric gave orders to the crew while the filming was still ongoing.
Rewrite the script, immediately rewrite the script, and add more scenes for Liu Yifei.
Since she was to be marketed as a selling point this time, a minor character who went offline after one or two episodes clearly wouldn't pique the interest of Chinese audiences. It was better to change her to a recurring character first.
The publicity would tout it as Liu Yifei's first American TV series. Her popularity was high, and her fan base among young audiences was quite good.
As long as the interest of this group of people was aroused, at least the basic viewership would be secured, and the ratings wouldn't be bad.
Liu Yifei's scenes had actually already been filmed, but after receiving the news, the mother and daughter were still very happy. Almost all actors liked to have more scenes, so they immediately flew to Los Angeles.
"Eric, do you think everyone will hate me?"
"What? Who would hate you? You're so beautiful, who could bear to hate a little beauty?"
"Hahahaha, ouch, don't tickle me."
"I mean, adding so many scenes suddenly. I've read the script; I'll appear in almost every episode. I'm not stupid. This not only takes up other actors' resources, but also many previous scenes will have to be re-shot. Someone is definitely going to curse me."
Eric peeled an orange segment and fed it to her: "Curse you for what? Being a resource hog? Pulling strings? Nepotism? Let them curse if they want to; this is just the normal ecology of society."
"What if everyone gives me a cold shoulder? Actually, when filming the previous part of the show, I felt that some people in the crew weren't very friendly to me, probably because of my skin color."
Understanding what she was thinking, Eric couldn't help but sigh that she was too well-protected by Liu Xiaoli; the young girl was still a bit naive.
"Crystal, I can assure you that your worries are unnecessary. Absolutely no one would dare to give you a cold shoulder; everyone will greet you with a smile."
"How do you know?"
Eric said seriously: "Because I have that power. If anyone disobeys, I'll make him lose his job immediately!"
He felt a sudden surge of domineering CEO vibe, which, though cheesy, was only cheesy when watching others act it out. If he were the domineering CEO, it actually felt quite good.
Young girls like Liu Yifei naturally couldn't resist this kind of personality. Her eyes immediately sparkled, and thinking about the future Eric had planned for her, she burrowed deeper into his embrace.
Currently in a hotel, the two were secretly meeting behind Liu Xiaoli's back. Smelling the alluring scent of the young girl in his nostrils, Eric suddenly felt a bit restless.
In his previous life, Liu Yifei was a few years older than him, and her early debut was one of his childhood memories.
Many people must have fantasized about kissing her. However, he had mostly slept with peripheral, eighteenth-tier actresses, and most often, extras.
Let alone first-tier actresses, he couldn't even get with third or fourth-tier stars. Even his third uncle, though already a director, still couldn't sleep with big stars; only famous big directors had that privilege.
And now the opportunity was right in front of him. Should he just take her?
Since she was already over 16 and an American citizen, although not yet an adult, it wasn't a big problem.
Soon, evil thoughts spread through Eric's mind, and his large hand began to explore Liu Yifei's body.
Beside him, feeling the abnormality, even through her clothes, Liu Yifei shivered sensitively. That feeling had never appeared before.
"What's wrong? You shivered, Crystal. Is there a problem? If there's a problem, I can stop. You know I'm not one to force things."
Liu Yifei hummed, thinking that if he were to force her, she would have already been thoroughly taken care of when they were in China. She immediately closed her eyes and remained silent.
Seeing her silent, looking like she was ready to be plucked, Eric understood.
No words meant consent, consent that he could do as he pleased.
Eric no longer had any qualms. With a slight push of his hand, he had already turned the young girl onto the bed.
Their lips met, and they engaged in a passionate kiss.
After kissing for a while, Eric was no longer satisfied and began the next step.
Soon, her top was pushed up to her neck.
Though her breasts were not large, they were exquisitely delicate and lovely, fitting perfectly into his palm. Eric enveloped one in his mouth.
Her body trembled violently again. Liu Yifei's eyes were tightly closed, her brows slightly furrowed, but she still didn't stop him.
A seductive aura drifted in the air, the intermittent sounds filling the atmosphere with aphrodisiac information.
Eric moved downwards, across her lower abdomen, gradually heading deeper.
"Crystal, do you want to continue?" Eric asked his final question.
A soft "Mm" was his answer.
"Then, I'm coming."
"Mm."
Bang bang bang
Just as he was about to undo the last barrier, there was a sudden, violent knocking on the door.
"Damn it! Who's knocking?" Eric roared, annoyed.
"Feifei, Eric, are you in there? Open the door quickly!"
"Oh no! It's my mom, my mom's here! How did she find us?"
Hearing that incredibly familiar voice, Liu Yifei's face instantly paled.
"Shh!"
Eric made a shushing gesture, trying to pretend no one was there and continue after Liu Xiaoli left.
But his loud shout just now had clearly revealed their presence.
"You two are definitely in there! Don't play dead, open the door for me! I heard your voice, Eric, open the door!"
"What do we do? What do we do, Eric? Mom will definitely be furious seeing us like this."
Eric kissed her, and a few seconds later, the flustered Liu Yifei calmed down.
He flicked her nose, indicating for her to get dressed; it definitely wouldn't happen today.
Opening the door, he saw Liu Xiaoli standing there, her face a mix of anxiety and anger.
Upon seeing her daughter, she immediately tried to rush into the room, but Eric stretched out his arm to block the door.
"What do you want to do? You're not going to hit someone, are you?"
Liu Xiaoli glared at him: "It's none of your business. Feifei, come out!"
Seeing that her mother was truly angry, Liu Yifei hid behind Eric, not daring to move. She hadn't seen Liu Xiaoli so furious in a long time.
"Don't make things difficult for Crystal. Come in first, lest people laugh at us."
Seeing an outsider coming to the corridor to check the situation, Eric first let Liu Xiaoli in.
"Tell me, what are you two doing in here?"
"Nothing, just chatting and talking."
"I wasn't asking you. You wouldn't tell the truth anyway. You answer, Feifei."
Liu Yifei lowered her head: "Eric is right, we really didn't do anything, Mom."
"A man and a woman alone in a room, do you think I'd believe that?"
Saying that, Liu Xiaoli pointed at the messy bed and continued: "Look at this, the sheets are all wrinkled. Chatting led to the bed, did it?"
"Feifei, you never lie to Mom. Tell me honestly, did you two… do anything?"
"Do… do what?"
"Nonsense! What else could it be! Did you cross the line?"
Answering such a question in front of Eric made Liu Yifei a bit shy. She stamped her foot somewhat angrily: "Mom, I already said no, we really didn't do anything."
Liu Xiaoli's eyes showed a hint of disbelief. She didn't disbelieve her daughter, but she couldn't trust this Eric guy.
Several encounters had made it clear to her that this kid was definitely a perverted glutton. Would he really let a piece of ripe meat go uneaten? Only a ghost would believe that.
Seeing Liu Xiaoli's persistent demeanor, Eric walked between the two of them.
"Alright, Crystal, you go first. I'll explain to your mother."
Liu Yifei looked at him hesitantly. Eric nodded to the young girl: "Leave it to me. Some things are harder to explain between family members."
"Don't worry, I can handle everything!"
"Mm."
Seeing her daughter about to leave, Liu Xiaoli immediately reached out to stop her, but Eric grabbed her hand. Liu Yifei took the opportunity to slip out of the room.
"What are you doing? Let go of me, let go of me, Eric Cooper, you little bastard!"
He couldn't hear Liu Yifei's footsteps, confirming she had gone far.
Eric immediately revealed a devilish smile: "Bastard? Are you cursing me?"
"Yes, I'm cursing you! If you're not a bastard, then there are no bastards in the world!"
"You took me, and that's one thing, but you also want Feifei? She's only 17, not even an adult yet! How could you lay a hand on her?!"
"Liu Xiaoli, we've said it several times, we didn't do anything. Don't test my patience."
"You, a guy like you, doing nothing? You're fooling ghosts."
Slap!
A slap landed on Liu Xiaoli's face. Though not heavy, it still stunned her.
Liu Xiaoli covered her face with one hand, staring blankly at Eric, seemingly unable to believe he would dare to hit her.
Then she felt a force hit her, causing her to stagger back a few steps and fall onto the bed.
Eric unbuttoned his clothes. What the daughter didn't finish, the mother would replace. It was her fault for interrupting.
Liu Xiaoli tried to get up but it was too late. She was pinned down and couldn't move. No matter how she cursed, kicked, or resisted, it was useless. Soon, she was stripped naked.
"You didn't believe we didn't do anything, did you? Now I'll let you verify it."
"What?"
"You see, I'm still dry."
Hearing this, Liu Xiaoli subconsciously touched him and found he was indeed dry.
"Did I misunderstand them?" she couldn't help but wonder to herself.
"But it's about to get wet!"
"Ah! It hurts!"
Over an hour later, Eric held Liu Xiaoli, breathing softly.
"Eric Cooper, you are such a bastard! Look at how you've left me all red and swollen, aching all over! Are you trying to rape me? Don't you believe I'll call the police and have you arrested?!"
Eric chuckled: "Arrest me? Are you serious?"
"Of course I'm serious! Don't you believe I'll call now?"
Eric took his phone and threw it to her: "Go ahead, call whoever you want. MGM has dozens of lawyers to play with you."
"And don't forget, the moment you dial that number, Crystal's future is gone. She might never make a name for herself in Hollywood in this lifetime."
"Eric Cooper, do you have no shame? Threatening me with Feifei!" Liu Xiaoli glared at him.
Eric turned her head and kissed her fiercely again: "This is Hollywood's unspoken rule. If you don't want to accept it, you can leave. It's the same even if you go back to China."
"It's just a pity, a pity that MGM has an A-list production about to start filming, and I've arranged an important role for Crystal. Tsk tsk."
Liu Xiaoli's eyes lit up, and she quickly asked: "Really? Besides supernatural, you're planning to have Feifei star in a movie?"
"Heh heh, do I still need to lie to you? What do you think we were talking about here? We were discussing roles."
"So that's it. I'm sorry, Eric, I was too anxious, too concerned about Feifei, and I thought you two had… you know."
"Filthy thoughts."
"Yes, yes, yes, my thoughts are filthy. I was wrong, isn't that enough?"
Eric suddenly looked at her: "I ask you, if I really did… with Crystal, would you object?"
Liu Xiaoli's expression changed, and she asked seriously in return: "Then I also ask you, are you planning to find a mistress? Or a wife?"
"Is there a difference?"
"Nonsense, of course there is! Do you need to play dumb?"
She mumbled to herself again: "A mistress can be dismissed anytime. A wife, if divorced, can at least get a lot of money. With Eric Cooper's net worth, a few hundred million dollars would be nothing."
"Oh, I have something I want to tell you."
"What?"
"Last summer, didn't you meet my cousin? She works at the Hassende Theater, remember?"
Eric nodded, signaling her to continue.
"My cousin said you sent people to investigate, but there was no follow-up. What are your thoughts on that proposal?"
"The acquisition of the Hassende Theater?"
"Yes, Wen Qiong asked me to ask about your attitude."
"Heh heh, she impersonated someone at the time. I know exactly what she was thinking, so I deliberately ignored her."
"Now that MGM has successfully gone public, expanding its territory is not unreasonable. Movies like legally blonde, frozen, and blue is the warmest color are quite suitable for adaptation into stage plays."
"So what do you mean?"
"It depends on how your two sisters' relationship is, then, doesn't it?"
Liu Xiaoli rolled her eyes at him, and obediently bent down.
After being inflated by Liu Xiaoli, there was another hour of intense battle before Eric finally let go of the older woman. When she left, her walking posture was so distorted that the waitstaff couldn't help but snicker.
He had long figured out this woman's personality. Liu Xiaoli's desire to protect her daughter was genuine; she could sacrifice herself for it.
But her greed was also real; as long as you dangled a piece of meat, she would bite without hesitation.
Furthermore, Liu Xiaoli's own capabilities were actually not high. Her vision, IQ, and EQ were all quite average. Her only outstanding features were her figure and face.
Dealing with someone like her was incredibly simple; you just needed to hang a peach, and she would try to jump and pick it herself.
Her ferocity was limited to her mouth and expressions, but she lacked fangs and claws. In other words, she had no real power to back it up.
Even if she was ultimately taken advantage of, she could only swallow her anger. What else could she do?
Eric was already a very reasonable player, helping Liu Yifei plan her future. Which boss would go that far?
Look at Weinstein; he had slept with countless actresses on his red sofa, but how many of them got genuinely good roles? The proportion was terrifyingly low.
As for Liu Yifei, since it had started and the young girl didn't object, if it didn't happen this time, he would just find another opportunity.
The Olsen Sisters could share a bed, comforting each other and performing for Eric's enjoyment. In the future, there might even be hope of getting the mother and daughter into one bed. Having lived in America for so many years, their thinking had certainly been influenced.
As for Zhou Wenqiong's Hudson Theatre, buying it would indeed be a good deal.
Disney had already started acquiring theaters and planning stage plays and dramas the year before last. It wasn't too late for MGM to catch up now.
However, Zhou Wenqiong's deceitful actions annoyed Eric, and he had to teach her a lesson and rein her in.
On February 17th, today was the day of The Voice of America's finale recording. Michael had informed Eric in advance, and Eric made a special appearance to show his support.
In the car, he looked at the box office results for the week.
the lord of the rings: the return of the king continued its global theatrical run, with box office revenue already exceeding 1 billion US dollars.
The Middle-earth knights defeated transformers, officially claiming the title of the 2003 global box office champion, and the numbers were still climbing.
sharknado 2 had already finished its global run, only releasing in 22 overseas countries, making it MGM's widest-released hit film. The genre limitations were just too great.
Ultimately, it grossed 131 million US dollars in North America, with box office revenue roughly on par with 2002, indicating its ceiling.
Overseas, it earned 43 million US dollars. While it was released in a few more countries and earned a few million more, the gap with North America was very apparent.
Foreign audiences still weren't very receptive to this kind of film, or rather, they weren't willing to spend money to go to the cinema for a bad movie. Such films could be watched by renting a DVD.
In 2002, sharknado's final box office ranked 18th in North America. sharknado 2 was pushed out of the top 30 in 2003, indirectly proving the booming film market.
blue is the warmest color and monster were still in limited release. The former had already raked in 256 million US dollars globally, a true dark horse, and a super dark horse that balanced both commercial and artistic appeal. The latter's box office was not worth mentioning.
The main reason these two films were still in theaters was to promote them for the upcoming Oscar awards. In a little over a week, this annual film and television extravaganza would be held.
Therefore, Ashley, Mary, and Theron were busy attending various ceremonies and events daily to maintain their presence, even neglecting Eric's needs. The outside world generally expected the Best Actress award to be decided among the three of them.
saw 2 continued to rake in box office revenue, while the hangover, MGM's only film to be released in February, was also approaching.
Ryan Reynolds was truly incredibly busy now. Since transformers was released in mid-November last year, he hadn't had a vacation in four months.
But if you were to ask him if he was willing?
Little Mercenary would undoubtedly nod profusely. Having tasted the bitterness of ten years of obscurity, he would gladly endure even more busyness.
A few days ago, Eric held a family gathering as usual, and both he and Chris Evans mentioned receiving many film offers.
20th Century Fox planned to start filming fantastic four and invited them to audition for the roles of Mister Fantastic and Human Torch.
Warner Bros. hired Steven Soderbergh to prepare for the sequel to Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve. This series has always featured an all-star cast, and this time they extended invitations to both actors.
Warner Bros. was also preparing to reboot batman and invited them to audition for the role of the comic's greatest detective and other characters.
However, both had concerns. They were both tied to contracts for transformers 2, the likely upcoming the hangover 2, and the currently in-preparation captain america, worrying about scheduling conflicts.
Eric, however, encouraged them to audition boldly. If they were truly selected, it wouldn't be too late to negotiate scheduling. After all, superhero blockbusters take at most three months to film. If they didn't mind the heavy workload, they could finish one project and then move on to another. He wasn't the kind of boss who limited his subordinates' development.
Besides the two of them, other previously unknown actors who had been promoted also received excellent resources from the market, rising to become competitive young stars and starlets.
Ashley and Mary both received audition invitations for the Invisible Woman in fantastic four, as well as voice acting invitations for the chronicles of narnia.
Gadot also received an audition invitation for the Invisible Woman in fantastic four and an invitation for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The British Trio collectively received audition invitations for harry potter and the goblet of fire. It is said that an English actor who hasn't acted in harry potter isn't a good actor, and now the three of them had their chance.
Even Evangeline Lilly, a young woman making her big-screen debut, gained market recognition for her excellent performance in don't breathe, receiving audition invitations for major and minor roles in films such as 50 First Dates and blade: Trinity.
Many people realized that acting in MGM films truly led to success, especially its top-notch ability to promote new talent.
"Boss, this is the previous inspection report."
In the passenger seat, Chen Xing handed over the report from the Hudson Theatre inspection a while ago. Eric hadn't been very concerned about it and hadn't looked at it yet.
He quickly flipped through it and tossed it aside: "It's been too long. You tell me about it."
"Okay, boss, it's like this. The general situation is pretty much as Zhou Wenqiong said. Mrs. Valentine, the owner of the Hudson Theatre, does indeed want to sell the grand theater."
"She's had this idea for a long time, but no one has been willing to take it over because it's not a small theater; its footprint is the second largest on all of Broadway."
"A large area means high costs. The equipment inside is relatively old, and it would require extensive renovation after acquisition."
"I estimated based on market value, and the renovation costs would not be less than 15 million US dollars. Adding the cost of buying the theater, the total cost would probably not be less than 50 million US dollars."
"Then I calculated the revenue based on average ticket prices, occupancy rates, number of performances, and other factors."
"If the company really bought the Hudson Theatre, it would likely take about a year and a half to two years to break even, and that's assuming ideal operating conditions."
"If we only consider it from a profit perspective, to be honest, it might not be a very cost-effective deal."
Hearing him only say half a sentence, Eric gestured for him to continue.
"Of course, boss, the company's development cannot be solely based on money. Making money is the ultimate goal, but there are many avenues."
"Entering Broadway can bring many indirect benefits, such as further expanding the influence of our IPs, which in turn makes it easier to sell merchandise."
"And I also investigated the data from when Disney decided to enter Broadway."
Hearing Mickey Mouse, Eric's interest immediately piqued: "Tell me, what data?"
"When Disney decided to buy the Amsterdam Theatre and high-profilely announced adaptations of its classic films, its stock price rose by 4.1%."
"And from the operating conditions of these past few years, it has indeed been a good move. Even finding nemo is going down the path of stage play adaptation and will be released soon."
"If it's a good move, why aren't other film companies following suit?" Eric posed the question.
"Because their leaders lack the vision and courage of Disney, and they don't have as many family-friendly IPs to develop as Disney does."
"So what do you think MGM should do?"
Chen Xing had already organized his thoughts: "I believe we should follow Disney's path, boss. A year and a half has sufficiently proven that you have extraordinary vision, and we can continuously create high-quality IPs."
"Dual Star Entertainment also has independent processing capabilities, and Hasbro and we are in a honeymoon period. The situation is excellent, and with Broadway's endorsement, our ultimate profits will definitely far exceed the costs."
Eric smiled: "Chen Xing, you're growing very fast. You've learned to consider things holistically. Are you interested in training in a few different departments?"
"Hmm? Is that possible?" Chen Xing asked hesitantly.
"It mainly depends on your willingness. Your service makes me feel very comfortable, but to grow more comprehensively, you should learn and train in more positions."
The driver, Peter, spoke up: "Go for it, Chen. The boss is grooming you, unless you want to be a secretary your whole life."
Chen Xing immediately nodded: "Thank you, boss. I'll follow your arrangements."
"Okay, find a new secretary recently. You'll train him for a while, and once he's familiar with the work, you can report to your new position."
"Your personality is relatively reserved and shy, so let's put HR, finance, marketing, and public relations aside for now. Go to production."
"Also, strengthen communication with the Hudson Theatre, strive to acquire the theater at the lowest possible price, and then schedule a time to sign the contract."
"Understood, boss!"
In the workplace, there's a saying that your position or salary must change within two years. If not, you'd best jump ship quickly, assuming you work hard, of course.
Chen Xing's work attitude was very positive. He had been diligent for a year and a half, and it was time for him to move up.
After rotating through a few departments, ideally, he would be ready in three years, and then he could go to China to bring Susan back. It was too unkind to keep her family separated for so long.
The Voice recording studio.
Eric was led by staff to the waiting room. It wasn't time for the official recording yet, and the four coaches were with their respective contestants, adjusting their states.
"How are the contestants and coaches divided?" Eric asked.
The staff quickly explained: "Michael chose Bruno Mars, Jay-Z and Cyril are a team, Jenny and Katy Perry are a team, and Celine Dion chose the young girl Taylor Swift."
Walking along, they first arrived at the first practice room. Through the door, they could hear singing from inside.
"Looks like we made it."
"Look how far we've come, my baby."
"We mighta took the long way."
"We knew we'd get there someday."
"Boss, this is Celine Dion and Taylor Swift's practice room."
Eric nodded, not rushing to knock on the door, but standing outside, listening attentively.
The song they were singing was by Shania Twain, the Canadian country music queen. Eric had been deliberating over who to choose for the last female singer, and Shania Twain was one of the candidates.
However, after considering factors like popularity and schedule, Celine Dion was ultimately chosen, even if the sketch queen was a bit more expensive.
Now, the two were singing Shania's signature song in the finals, which could be considered a form of destiny.
Suddenly, the singing stopped abruptly, and then Celine Dion was heard saying: "Very good, Taylor, but don't try too hard to use technique."
"Your voice isn't fully developed yet, and you're at a disadvantage in terms of technique compared to our opponents, so fully engage your emotions."
"Imagine yourself immersed in the mood of the lyrics. This is key to our victory."
"Okay, teacher."
Knock, knock, knock.
Hearing the knock, Celine Dion said, "Come in," and then saw a young, handsome man walk in.
She was all too familiar with that face. Even though it was their first official meeting, that chiseled, handsome face had long been imprinted in her mind.
Because not long ago, at the Grammy Awards, she had seen Eric go on stage and take home a golden gramophone.
An outsider's very first song helped Michael Jackson win the Album of the Year award, something those in the industry might only dream of achieving in decades. Who wouldn't be bewildered by that?
Of course, the Grammy was just a small interlude. What truly spread Eric's name throughout the music industry was the establishment of CAA.
When the company's ownership structure was unearthed, especially the collaboration between CAA and YouTube, and the creation of The Voice, the finger of suspicion almost immediately pointed at Eric.
He was the one who helped Michael Jackson break free from Sony. Without his planning behind the scenes, Sony would never have been forced to compromise.
So, indirectly, Eric was also half of Celine Dion's boss.
Because Michael controlled half of her copyrights, and Michael's earnings would be split with Eric, it was as if Celine Dion was working for Eric.
However, the compensation for The Voice this time was not considered song fees, so it didn't need to be shared with others.
Therefore, when she received the invitation, she couldn't have been happier. 'I'm working for you for free, so this time I must extort a hefty sum.'
"Hello, Celine, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"I'm also very happy. You're indeed as handsome as your online photos, Eric."
"Hahahahaha. You're also very beautiful, Celine, but I know that praising a singer's song is the best compliment. I must say, 'My Heart Will Go On' is truly wonderful. I've listened to it more than a hundred times."
Unexpectedly, Celine Dion rolled her eyes: "OMG! It's that one again. Ever since titanic was released, everyone has forgotten my other songs."
"It's all Cameron's fault, isn't it?"
"Yes, it's all Cameron's fault!"
Celine Dion was famously humorous and could crack jokes, making conversation with her very comfortable and smooth.
After they chatted for a while, Eric's gaze turned to the blonde girl next to them.
Wavy hair, shawl hair, black eyeliner, small red lips.
Her height was estimated to be around 170 cm, and she was already quite mature.
It was warm in the practice room. Through her not-very-thick knitwear,
Eric couldn't help but recall Elizabeth Olsen's face. How could their development speed differ so much!
"Hello, boss, Taylor Swift!"
"This child is good, not afraid of strangers."
"Hello, boss, Taylor Swift!"
The young girl proactively extended her hand, her smiling face looking very cute, even revealing two rows of pearly white teeth, indeed showing some country girl charm.
"Hello, Taylor. It seems I don't need to introduce myself."
"Of course not. You're so famous, who doesn't know you? The youngest super billionaire, the youngest best screenwriter, the youngest big director. You have so many intimidating titles, hehe."
Watching her charmingly naive demeanor, Eric looked at Celine Dion, pointed at Taylor Swift, and said, "I like this girl's personality. She's bold and interesting. No wonder you two could team up."
The latter laughed heartily: "Eric, Taylor called you boss. What's going on with that?"
This matter couldn't be revealed until the show aired, but telling Celine Dion wouldn't hurt. Smart people aren't bigmouths.
"UTA has already signed with Taylor. I think she has a lot of potential and will definitely become a major figure in the music industry in the future."
Celine Dion paused slightly, and many thoughts immediately sprang to her mind.
No way, is The Voice going to push Taylor to be the champion?
An old hand like her, who had been in the industry for decades, naturally knew very well that if they wanted you to be the champion, there were countless ways to make it happen, even if your singing was the worst among the four.
A relatively simple and common method was to hint or order the other three contestants to deliberately make mistakes.
Our competition is about live performance. If you make a mistake on stage, no matter how good your singing is usually, you can only be eliminated.
Seeing the smiling future diva, Eric added, "But to achieve this goal, you still have a long way to go, Taylor. I have a question I want to ask you."
"OK! What question?" The young girl nodded like a pecking chick.
"Regarding style, do you plan to always sing country music? Have you considered singing other genres, such as pop music?"
"Of course, I don't mean that country music is bad, but its genre determines its ceiling. In terms of spread, recognition, and acceptance, it really can't compare to pop music."
"I don't know much about the music industry, but even from the perspective of an ordinary listener, it's clear that pop music is the true mainstream."
"If you want to go higher and further in the future, my advice is to transition."
Eric was only stating a truth that everyone understood. He began to know Mei Mei and listen to her songs only after Taylor transitioned to the pop music path.
That was the truth, but when Mei Mei transitioned to the pop music path back then, it was also partly because she had already won various awards in the country music genre, and it was hard to break through after reaching the top.
At that time, Mei Mei, if she wanted to go to the next level, had no other choice but to break out of her comfort zone and move into a wider field.
But now she hadn't even debuted, and Eric suddenly suggested she change her path, which made the young girl pause.
"Sorry, boss, I don't know, and I haven't thought about this question. And I love country music, I love singing country music."
Seeing her looking a little hesitant and flustered, Celine Dion rubbed her head to comfort her.
"Eric, it's a bit too early to talk about this topic. I've spent a long time with Taylor, and we've discussed our views on music. She loves country music."
"This child's first album is already ready. If you want her to transition, wouldn't that be equivalent to wasting her efforts and hard work?"
"Ready so fast? How many songs did you write?" Eric was a little surprised.
After all, if strictly calculated by month, the Mei Mei in front of him was actually several months shy of 15 years old. To have already reached this point at such a young age, she truly lived up to her reputation as a creative genius.
Mei Mei extended one finger from each hand, saying a little cautiously yet with some pride, "11 songs, boss."
Celine Dion showed a "see?" expression: "11 songs are enough for an album. She showed me these works. Although I'm not an expert in country music, they are really good."
"I think the sales of this album will definitely not be bad. You can't waste Taylor's talent."
After speaking, she felt that saying this might offend Eric, so she immediately added, "But what you said also makes sense. The ceiling of country music is indeed not as high as pop music."
"Even Shania Twain, the 'You're Still the One' we just sang, only reached second place on Billboard, but that's already Shania's best result."
"Taylor, if you keep going down the country music path, your future achievements might only go as far as this."
You've said all the good and bad things, Eric simply asked, "Celine, do you have any good suggestions?"
Mei Mei also looked at Celine Dion, this conversation might determine the direction of her future career.
"Hmm."
After a moment of contemplation, Celine Dion gave a moderate answer: "Then let's combine them. In fact, an album doesn't necessarily have to be all one style. You can completely add a few pop songs."
"Although 11 songs are enough to release an album, if you fill it up to, say, 15 songs, listeners will feel they're getting more value for their money."
"I like this idea."
Mei Mei immediately expressed her stance. Although she was more passionate about country music, having more options was good. She was an ambitious and opinionated girl.
Eric nodded slightly. Doing this might lead to a result where neither side is pleased, but it might also lead to a result where both sides are happy. The key lies in the quality of the songs.
Country music wasn't Eric's cup of tea, but he knew Mei Mei's ability. The young girl could handle this aspect completely on her own, and Eric only needed to provide her with one quality pop song.
He had already planned it: Mei Mei, Mars Bro, Fruit Sister, and Cyril, each getting one quality song, as a gift from him, the hidden boss.
However, his own stock wasn't much, at most he could help them lay a good foundation and open up opportunities. Their subsequent development would still depend on themselves.
Whoever performed better in the future could get a few more songs.
"OK, Taylor, sing a few lines for me to hear. Don't hold back your voice. I want to hear a more pop-oriented tone."
"Alright."
Mei Mei stepped back a few paces, mentally reviewed her options, and finally chose her most proficient pop song.
Two minutes later, after finishing the chorus, she stared at Eric with wide eyes, awaiting his judgment.
"Taylor, when you sing country music, do you deliberately lower your voice? It turns out you can sing relatively sharp high notes."
After listening to her performance, Eric immediately noticed the problem. Her vocal timbre actually had the style of later pop singers, it just wasn't as obvious yet, which should be related to her age and vocal cord development.
Mei Mei smiled shyly: "I wanted to make myself sound more country-style."
"Very good, that makes it easier for me to choose songs for you."
"What?"
"After The Voice recordings are done, you can prepare to record your album. Once the show airs, your popularity will surely soar. We'll strike while the iron's hot and release your first album. I'll write a song for you."
"Really?"
The sudden good fortune surprised Mei Mei immensely. She dreamed of releasing an album quickly to let the world see her talent.
With Eric, a Grammy winner, helping, it would be like adding wings to a tiger.
Although no one except Michael knew that Eric couldn't even read sheet music, that wasn't important. Everyone only knew he was talented, and anything he touched turned into a Grammy.
If it weren't for his status and position, many people would have extended olive branches to invite him to write songs.
He went through the songs he knew how to sing and found that finding a suitable one was still very difficult. He finally found a song suitable for Mei Mei at this stage: "Trouble Is A Friend."
The song is catchy, somewhat similar to country music, but actually belongs to pop music. It doesn't require too strong a singing ability, and it's a singing style Mei Mei is familiar with, almost perfectly suited for her.
This song was once a global hit, at least more impactful than the songs on Mei Mei's first album, but Eric had no impression of who the singer was, a typical case of the song being famous but the person not.
"Trouble will find you no matter where you go oh oh!"
"No Matter if you're fast no matter if you're slow oh oh!"
After humming a couple of lines, Eric patted the young Mei Mei's shoulder: "Then it's settled. Practice hard, and I hope you can win the championship."
"Huh? Isn't the champion fixed?" Celine Dion thought to herself.
"But the song he just hummed was quite interesting."
Eric then followed the staff to the second practice room, where Jay-Z and Cyril were.
Jay-Z was a big name in the rap world. The two had greeted each other at the Grammy, and their relationship was decent. He also couldn't stand Eminem's disgusting behavior. Hating the same person makes us friends.
Cyril was a young white guy, not old at 24, and his path in rap was quite similar to Eminem's.
After chatting for a while, Eric left the practice room, having roughly chosen a song for Cyril in his mind.
Eric didn't listen to rap, much less sing it, but besides rap, Cyril could also handle light and cheerful musical styles very well. So, Eric chose the song "Sugar" by Maroon 5 for him.
The fame of this song goes without saying. Its impressive music video directly earned Maroon 5 the nickname "the band that crashes weddings."
The song's popularity is also extremely high, belonging to the globally popular kind.
After this song makes him famous, even if he continues with rap, it will be twice as effective.
Next was the third practice room, where Janet Jackson and the future Fruit Sister, Katy Perry, were singing. They had chosen an upbeat dance track with a lively rhythm.
After seeing Eric, Katy Perry was so happy that her gums showed, giggling incessantly.
Her laughter made everyone else around her start giggling too.
"Alright, alright, pause for a moment, Katy, what makes you so happy?"
Katy Perry clenched her fists: "You're really too handsome."
Her answer made Janet next to her laugh even harder, almost embodying the spirit of the 'Undying War God' Brenda.
"That answer truly struck a chord with me. I must write the most astonishing song for you," Eric said, patting his chest.
"OMG! Really? Boss, your handsomeness just went up another notch!"
"This girl really knows how to talk. I like her."
Katy Perry was already 20 years old this year. She had long been performing in bars and various competitions, but she hadn't achieved a breakthrough.
However, these experiences also honed her singing skills. Although young, her vocal range was rich and powerful, and her natural ability was far superior to Mei Mei's, already capable of handling various styles.
Even with her future famous songs, with more practice, she could handle them now.
However, a flower from home is never as fragrant as a wild one. No one can steal his own songs, but for others' famous songs, it's one less if he takes one. So Eric set his sights on Kelly Clarkson, the winner of the first season of American Idol.
At the Golden Globe Awards ceremony, when she performed on stage, Eric noticed this sister.
It must be said, Kelly Clarkson's singing was excellent, very powerful, and she had released many popular songs.
But since you're a contestant from American Idol, then I'm sorry, the worse you are, the more awesome The Voice will appear, right?
So Eric planned to give Kelly Clarkson's representative work, "Because of You," to Fruit Sister to sing, and later take her other hit song, "Stronger," as well. Anyway, Fruit Sister could totally handle that style.
After chatting for a while, he let Katy Perry practice alone first, and Eric took Janet to find Michael.
They arrived at the fourth practice room, and even before getting close, they heard the powerful rhythm emanating from inside.
Eric was too familiar with the song: Michael's "Bad."
"Because I'm bad, I'm bad!"
(Really, really bad)
"You know I'm bad, I'm bad!"
(Really, really bad)
"You know I'm bad, I'm bad"
"Come on, you know"
(Really, really bad)
"And the whole world has to"
"Answer right now"
"Just to tell you once again"
"Who's bad!"
Through the glass, they indeed saw Michael and Bruno Mars singing and dancing along to the music.
"Bruno Mars is a very versatile singer. Not only is his singing quite good, but he also possesses dance skills."
"Michael and I both wanted him in our teams, but he's a die-hard fan of Michael, so he decisively chose my brother's team."
Not getting Bruno Mars, Janet felt a little regretful, but what could she do?
Everyone on Earth knew that Michael was Bruno Mars's idol; funk music was passed down through them.
If there was one major flaw for Bruno Mars, it was undoubtedly his height. Being under 1.7 meters was indeed a slight drawback, but when he sang, his aura immediately became 2.8 meters tall.
As for his song choice, there was no need to think too much; just use his own famous song, "Just the Way You Are."
As for the most popular "Uptown Funk," he would keep that in reserve for now.
Because even these four songs would be enough for a fierce battle on the Billboard charts, there was no need to unleash a bigger move.
"Uptown Funk" clearly surpassed these four in terms of rhythm, arrangement, and popularity. If it appeared, the outcome would be without suspense.
When the singing and dancing in the practice room finished, Eric knocked on the door.
Sure enough, Bruno Mars, with his enthusiastic personality, proactively engaged Eric in conversation.
After the group chatted for a while, Eric motioned for Michael and Janet to come out with him to discuss things; the preventative measures had to be taken.