Chapter Thirty-Three: Broadcasting Rights

Liao Yuan looked at Jiang Heshun and said calmly, “Director Jiang, you’re overacting.”

The entire control room fell silent in an instant.

Xiao Peng, hiding in the corner, couldn’t help letting out a laugh. When he noticed everyone’s eyes on him, he quickly covered his mouth with his hand, though the laughter still sparkled in his eyes.

A shimmer of light flashed through Xi Yun’s gaze as she looked at Liao Yuan in some surprise.

It seemed that at this moment, Liao Yuan’s demeanor utterly overturned her previous impression of him…

He seemed, somehow, more responsible.

Director Zheng cleared his throat.

Jiang Heshun’s whole body trembled, and the tears that seemed about to fall were instantly held back. He opened his mouth, his face awkward and flushed, a surge of emotion stuck in his throat. But in the end, he forced a smile and said, “Xiao Liao, what do you mean by that? If you think I’m putting on an act, I’ll leave right now!”

“Oh.”

Liao Yuan replied, “Then, please go ahead.”

Jiang Heshun: “???”

Do I not deserve to save face?

Director Zheng finally couldn’t take it anymore and spoke up. “Xiao Liao, calm down for a moment. Whatever it is, let’s all sit down and talk it through.”

“Director Zheng, as you can see, I’m working.”

Liao Yuan glanced at his watch, looking a little impatient. “If you have something to say, say it now. I have things to do after work.”

Director Zheng: “???”

Am I not the real director here?

Even Chen Mu’en was momentarily dumbfounded. At this moment, she realized that her understanding of Liao Yuan had been completely wiped blank.

After just two days of working together, Chen Mu’en thought she had already grasped Liao Yuan’s character.

Yet, now, Liao Yuan had stripped away his usual gentleness, revealing sharp edges. In just a few words, he had left the two leaders speechless.

Chen Mu’en was amazed, but when she put herself in his shoes, she finally understood.

All of this, most likely, was because Liao Yuan was no longer the person he once was.

Ever since Liao Yuan began narrating “Ghost Blows Out the Light,” the balance of power between both sides had fundamentally changed.

For Donghai Radio, if Liao Yuan were just an ordinary host, firing him would be no big deal, as the position could easily be filled by someone else.

But now, Liao Yuan was the most sought-after host in Donghai.

He carried with him a traffic of two million users—no matter where he went, capital would welcome him.

Even now, “Ghost Blows Out the Light” remained in the top 100 trending topics on Weibo.

Whenever the novel’s plot reached a climax, it would shoot back into the top ten of the trending list.

Such influence was impossible to ignore in the radio industry.

Even if Liao Yuan were to fall out with Donghai Radio, be dismissed or have his contract terminated, there would instantly be a new suitor waving money, eager to sign him.

True, the non-compete agreement would prevent Liao Yuan from immediately shining in the industry, but since he owned all the independent rights to “Ghost Blows Out the Light,” nothing could stop him from signing with a publisher, or from having the novel adapted in various channels by investors.

In this way, Liao Yuan had become the supplier—the source of all the conflict.

If Donghai Radio wanted to maintain high traffic, they had no choice but to cater to Liao Yuan.

Though Director Zheng had the authority to fire Liao Yuan, as long as he had a shred of sense left, he would never actually do it.

The damage to the station would be immense, not to mention that the cautionary tale of the second program department was enough to make all the station leaders think twice.

“Alright, since Xiao Liao is still working, as director, I’ll get straight to the point,” Director Zheng said, pushing up his glasses. “Whether it’s the online department or the second program department, both are equally important to me. Any loss to either side pains me. I’m sure you’re aware of the difficulties the second program department has been facing recently, Xiao Liao.”

“Xiao Liao, I’m not asking you to leave the online department or return to the second program department, but ultimately, the second department is your original home.”

Director Zheng smiled. “Right now, the late-night slot in the second program department is stagnant. None of the new programs can stand on their own, and with the old audience constantly complaining and making requests… So, Xiao Liao, I wonder if, while you’re narrating ‘Ghost Blows Out the Light’ for the online department, you could also allow the second program department to rebroadcast it?”

The true motive was clear.

Chen Mu’en finally realized the leaders’ strategy.

They knew they couldn’t force Liao Yuan back to the second program department, so they settled for the next best thing—trying to secure rebroadcast rights to “Ghost Blows Out the Light.”

It seemed harmless, but in reality, it would divert part of the online department’s traffic.

As assistant to the online department director, not the director herself, Chen Mu’en had no authority over this matter, so she looked to Liao Yuan.

She knew that even if Director Lai Yibai were present, in this situation, he would respect Liao Yuan’s decision.

But Liao Yuan didn’t even hesitate before flatly refusing. “No.”

What a joke!

The online department’s click rate translates directly into money. Every 100,000 clicks is worth a thousand yuan. If you take away the rebroadcast rights, you’re siphoning off clicks from the website. For Liao Yuan, who urgently needed bonus money to support his family, this was absolutely unacceptable.

Director Zheng’s smile faded as he saw how resolute Liao Yuan was. He pondered for a moment and said, “If you have any conditions, speak up. As long as it’s not an unreasonable request, Director Jiang will agree.”

Jiang Heshun: “???”

He quickly forced a smile and said, “Yes, yes, whatever conditions you have, just say them. Director Zheng and I will help you resolve them.”

Director Zheng nearly lost his temper, barely resisting the urge to kick Jiang Heshun in the face.

I’m here to solve your problems, and now you’re dragging me down with you?

Liao Yuan checked the time and, seeing it was almost time to get off work, said, “I have two proposals. The first is a rebroadcast fee—ten thousand per episode, paid monthly, and the contract ends automatically when the rebroadcast stops. The second is to sign for the audio rights of ‘Ghost Blows Out the Light’ for a set period—1.5 million yuan for a one-year license, after which the contract ends automatically.”

Everyone was stunned.

At first listen, the price sounded exorbitant!

A million and a half!

You have to know, even these frequency directors only earn twenty to thirty thousand a month.

Of course, with monthly bonuses and year-end performance awards, a frequency director could make six or seven hundred thousand a year, no problem.

Yet now, a newly rising host was selling the audio rights to a single work for two years’ worth of their salary—for just one year!

They all knew intellectual property was priceless, but even so, Director Zheng and Jiang Heshun found the price hard to fathom.

Liao Yuan went on to explain: “‘Ghost Blows Out the Light’ has eight volumes, totaling about two million words. I’ve calculated that from the first episode to the end, there will be about three hundred and seventy chapters, meaning around 150 to 200 episodes. In other words, it’ll take at least three or four more months to finish the novel.”

When they heard that “Ghost Blows Out the Light” actually had two million words, Director Zheng and the others finally relaxed a bit.

That was more in line with expectations. After all, it was the hottest tomb-raiding novel right now, and a higher price was understandable.

Given that, Liao Yuan’s second proposal was actually much more economical than the first.

Because in three or four months, “Ghost Blows Out the Light” would end. So to buy a whole year’s broadcasting rights for almost the same price was clearly more beneficial for the station.

At this moment…

As Liao Yuan spoke confidently, showing not a trace of nervousness in front of the leaders, Xi Yun couldn’t help recalling that brilliant, high-spirited young genius who had once drawn the attention of the entire school.

She gazed at Liao Yuan, lips pressed together, her mind unexpectedly in turmoil.

…

Oh no, is this what it feels like to fall for someone?