Entertainment: After singing her CEO best friend to tears, she repaid him with her body.

Chapter 97 You really want to sing folk songs?

"What?"

"No matter how famous you become in the future, never forget why you sing." Su Xiaoxiao looked into his eyes, her tone unusually serious. "There are too many temptations in this industry: fame, fortune, beautiful women... Many people forget their original intentions as they go along and end up becoming the kind of people they used to hate."

Wang Bo nodded: "I understand."

"Do you really understand?" Su Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow. "For example, how many people want to poach you right now? If I told you that Glory Entertainment offered you a ten million signing bonus, would you be tempted?"

Wang Bo laughed: "President Su, is ten million a lot?"

Su Xiaoxiao was stunned.

"For me, being able to sing on stage, having people listen, and being moved is enough," Wang Bo said calmly. "Money is important, of course, but not that important. If I were to go to a company that treats me like a commodity and sing songs I don't want to sing for money, that would truly be a loss."

Su Xiaoxiao stared at him for a while, then suddenly laughed: "Okay, I guess I didn't misjudge you."

She raised her glass: "Let's toast to our shared goal—to make you famous, but in a meaningful way—cheers!"

The two clinked glasses; Wang Bo only took a small sip, while Su Xiaoxiao drank more than half of it.

As she put down her wine glass, her cheeks flushed slightly, making her look exceptionally beautiful under the light. Her grip on Wang Bo's arm seemed to tighten, and her body unconsciously moved closer to him.

Wang Boneng could clearly feel the warmth of her arm and the soft, almost imperceptible touch. The suppressed heat surged up again, and he quickly shifted his attention to the other side of the banquet hall.

Then he saw a familiar figure.

"That's... Chen Tao?" Wang Bo asked, somewhat uncertain.

"Who?" Su Xiaoxiao looked in the direction he was looking.

On a sofa in the corner, a man in a plaid shirt and jeans was drinking with his head down, standing out from the group of people in suits around him.

Beside him sat a woman in her forties, wearing a Chanel suit, who was frowning and talking about something.

"The folk singer who was eliminated in the first round," Wang Bo said, "the one who sang 'Northeast Girl'."

Su Xiaoxiao remembered: "Oh, him? I heard he signed with a small company. The boss is a rich woman who invests in artsy young people."

Wang Bo said, "I'll go say hello."

"I'll stay with you," Su Xiaoxiao said.

When the two walked over, Chen Tao had already drunk quite a bit, and there were three empty wine glasses on the coffee table in front of him.

"Chen Tao?" Wang Bo called out.

Chen Tao looked up, his eyes somewhat dazed, and it took him a while to recognize him: "Wang Bo? What are you doing here...?"

"I've come to the party," Wang Bo said, sitting down on the sofa opposite him. "How have you been lately?"

"How is it?" Chen Tao smiled bitterly, took another swig of wine, "What can I do? Folk singer, no market, nobody listens, I can only stay here and entertain the sugar daddy's mother."

When he said "sugar daddy's mom," the woman next to him visibly darkened her expression, but she didn't say anything.

Su Xiaoxiao gracefully sat down next to Wang Bo and smiled and nodded to the lady: "Hello, I am Su Xiaoxiao from Xiaoyi Culture."

"I know you," the woman said coldly, "Wang Bo's current boss."

The atmosphere was a little awkward.

Chen Tao took another sip of his drink, then suddenly grabbed Wang Bo's hand: "Wang Bo, tell me, why does nobody listen to folk songs anymore? I wrote 'Northeast Girl' for three years, revised it countless times, and I think it's my best work, but after I sang it on stage, I got the fewest votes... Why?"

His voice was full of frustration and resentment, and his eyes were red, whether from alcohol or his emotions, it was hard to tell.

"Hey bro, the song title isn't very appealing. Even a girl from Northeast China is better than a girl from Northeast China," Wang Bo comforted him. "Chen Tao, folk music hasn't declined."

"It's not declining?" Chen Tao smiled bitterly. "Then why does nobody listen? Why does the program team say folk music has no market? Why is even my boss telling me to switch careers?"

He looked at the woman as he spoke, and she said coldly, "Chen Tao, I've said it before, what the market needs now is music that can make money, not your sentiments. Folk music is too niche. You should make pop, rock, or even catchy pop songs; that's better than folk music."

"But I love folk songs!" Chen Tao exclaimed excitedly. "I want to sing folk songs!"

"Can liking something put food on the table?" the woman retorted bluntly. "I invested your money not so you could chase your dreams, but so you could make money. If your next album doesn't sell well... you know what will happen."

Chen Tao seemed to have all his strength drained away, slumped on the sofa, his eyes vacant.

Looking at this scene, Wang Bo recalled his past self, who had struggled between ideals and reality, sang original songs that no one listened to in bars, and almost gave up music to make a living.

"Chen Tao," he began, his voice calm but firm, "folk music isn't dead, it just needs new life."

Chen Tao looked up at him.

"Watch the fourth episode of 'The Voice of China' carefully," Wang Bo said.

Chen Tao was stunned for a moment: "You...you want to sing folk songs?"

Wang Bo didn't answer directly, but just smiled and said, "Anyway, just keep an eye on things."

The woman scoffed, "Wang Bo, I admit you're talented; 'Blue Lotus' and 'Travel' are both very nice. But folk music? Don't be ridiculous. These days, who listens to that kind of slow, tearful stuff?"

Su Xiaoxiao suddenly spoke up: "President Li, you can't say that. Music has no high or low status, only whether you like it or not. Since Wang Bo said that, he must have his reasons."

Ms. Li, the woman in question, glanced at Su Xiaoxiao and softened her tone slightly: "Ms. Su, I'm not targeting Wang Bo; I'm talking about the market. I've been in this industry for over a decade, and I know all too well what will be popular and what won't. The era of folk music is over. Forcing your way against the trend will only lead to a harder fall."

"Maybe," Wang Bo stood up, "but I still want to give it a try."

He looked at Chen Tao and said, "Chen Tao, don't give up. If you really love folk music, then stick with it. The market may change, trends may change, but truly good music will never go out of style."

Chen Tao stared at him blankly, a glimmer of light returning to his eyes.

Wang Bo took out a business card from his pocket. It was given to him by a producer earlier, and the back was blank.

He took out a pen, wrote a line on it, and handed it to Chen Tao.

"This is my personal number. Call me if you need any help."

Chen Tao took the business card and looked at the handwritten numbers on it, his hand trembling slightly.

"Thank you..." he said softly.

Wang Bo nodded, politely nodded to President Li, and then left with Su Xiaoxiao.

After walking a few steps, Su Xiaoxiao asked in a low voice, "Are you really going to sing folk songs?"

"Yes," Wang Bo said, "the theme of the fourth episode is 'city,' and folk music is very suitable."

"But..." Su Xiaoxiao hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.

"Worried the market won't accept it?" Wang Bo laughed. "President Su, didn't you just say that music has no hierarchy or value?"