System: Master Your Life

This is just about collaborating, then you can sing it. Xu Lin asks for 10%, that's the first thing, no buyout.

If you want to buy out the performance rights, meaning aside from me, only you can use the song commercially, then buddy, I'll charge you! 20%.

So, Xu Lin has two modes of collaboration here.

The above are the collaboration modes for Xu Lin's own songs.

If he is to write a song, what's his earning model then?

Xu Lin pondered for a bit.

"With my level of songs, selling one for 300,000 isn't excessive, right? Additionally, the earnings from the song later, like paid earnings from music apps, taking 25% isn't unreasonable, right? If there's a concert, taking 20% isn't too much, is it? There are other songs in concerts, so it can be a bit less."

Actually, the upfront 300,000 isn't important. Xu Lin thinks it might not even be 300,000; maybe just 100,000, depending on the situation, but the share of earnings afterward cannot be less, that's crucial.

Like in some movies, celebrities don't take fees, or directly low fees, even zero fees, but the stars get a profit-sharing contract for the movie's box office earnings. If the movie takes off and sells in the billions or tens of billions, the net income share is quite high. Plus, the movie keeps generating income, and this star keeps getting a part of his share, having a steady income all life long.

So, the upfront 300,000 or whatever equals the fee, which isn't very important. What's important is the subsequent earnings, which is a continuous income flow.

Xu Lin sent these ideas for the modes to Ms. Ren to include them in the contract.

Ms. Ren wasn't asleep yet.

Seeing Xu Lin's message, she replied right away.

"Can you really write songs?"

"Yes, I can. Next year I'll buy a large flat in Jiangdu!"

"A large flat? Wouldn't that be tens of millions?"

"It's nothing!"

"Bah! Still acting like it's nothing!"

Ms. Ren didn't believe him at all. Tens of millions, she didn't even dare to imagine.

Feeling impulsive, Xu Lin sent Ms. Ren a screenshot of his savings?

Nine million plus!

Ms. Ren: ??!

Ms. Ren: "Where did you get over nine million?"

"Writing novels, last month's royalties were a bit much, 8.53 million before tax, 7.57 million after tax, plus the previous 550,000 I told you about, and my previous savings, totaling over nine million!"

"Why didn't you tell me last time?"

"You're getting older, I'm afraid you wouldn't handle it, so I decided to tell you in stages, saying it over two times. Haha.jpg×3"

"You brat, you're the one getting older!"

Women hate being reminded of their age, especially a woman approaching forty. If she loses her temper outside, others might say she's going through menopause, and some could say harsh things, claiming she's about to hit menopause.

Ms. Ren asked again, "Don't trick me, is it really royalties?"

His mom was really worried Xu Lin might be doing something shady. Some industries, somewhat gray, make money easily as long as you have the channels, someone to bring you in, and enough courage, but it's written in the criminal law, so messing up might land you in jail, ruining your life.

As a lawyer, she's dealt with all kinds of cases, including those involved in gray industries.

Xu Lin sent over the royalty screenshot.

Xu Lin: "Royalty screenshot, do you believe it now?"

Seeing the screenshot of over 8 million before tax, Ms. Ren finally believed it, though still in disbelief, because it's too outrageous.

"Why are the royalties so high?"

8.53 million before tax!

Just looking at it is nerve-wracking!

His mom even counted several times to confirm it's indeed a seven-figure, not six-figure amount.

It's terrifying!

Her savings just amount to a few million, intending to buy a house in Jiangdu for Xu Lin to get married.

Yet her son's one-month royalty income exceeded her savings!

Monthly income of 8 million?

"I'm a pillar of the website, such an income is barely considered normal."

"What kind of novel are you writing? Mom wants to have a look."

"I'll tell you next time, give you a surprise."

"Can't you say now?"

"The results from this book are so good that recently its rights were sold, and it's going to be adapted into a TV series and movie next year. I'll tell you during New Year; anyway, it's going to be a surprise."

"Can it really be adapted into a movie and TV series?"

Ms. Ren was quite shocked. She thought movies and TV series were far removed from her reality.

Actually, if Ms. Ren searched a bit, she would know which novel Xu Lin wrote, or by checking the trending topics she could find out, but her focus wasn't there at the moment.

"Of course, would I lie to you?"

"You've lied to me plenty, you brat!"

"Haha.jpg"

"Then for the TV series and movie adaptation, who will play the lead?"

Seeing Ms. Ren's question, Xu Lin did a search: top-tier female celebrities.

Xu Lin saw that at this level there weren't many female celebrities, some were too old or had poor figures, so these were ruled out, even Sister Dongyu is an A-list star, could she be his leading lady? Obviously not!

Ultimately, after considering it, there wasn't a single one Xu Lin liked.

Can't be helped, he's not a star-chaser, and doesn't pay much attention to the entertainment industry.

"Dilraba!"

He mentioned Dilraba not for any particular reason, just because she recently followed his accounts on Douyin and Xiaohongshu, leaving an impression on Xu Lin.

"Dilraba, really? She's a big star!"

"That's all there is to it; don't have too many illusions about the entertainment world."

"Feels like you're just teasing me, you brat."