The Cannon Fodder Alpha Who Made the Heroine Pregnant - Chapter 18

18:

The “interview” proceeded with startling simplicity. Zhou Lan performed several original compositions without reservation.

Hua Qiao’s expression shifted from appreciation to outright astonishment.

“You’ve truly never released anything before?”

Zhou Lan shook her head. “I just returned after completing my studies abroad. Still deciding where to establish myself.”

A common graduate’s dilemma, whether to stay near campus or return home.

Hua Qiao didn’t press further. “On behalf of Chu Yue, I’d welcome you aboard.”

“Aboard?” Zhou Lan clarified, “I won’t be signing with Chu Yue. My offer is this: one album’s worth of songs annually for three years.”

“That’s substantial, isn’t it?”

Many artists went years without full albums, releasing occasional singles to maintain relevance. Not due to laziness, preserving reputation demanded selectivity.

Zhou Lan’s proposal stemmed from confidence. Her previous life’s catalog could easily fill ten albums. She wrote rapidly, sometimes mechanically—though she avoided formulaic compositions.

Hua Qiao’s disappointment was palpable. With Zhou Lan’s looks and talent, she could have molded her into a superstar—singer turned actress, award-winning.

“Your terms then?”

Assuming ten tracks per album, thirty premium songs could launch five or six artists—catapulting Chu Yue’s standing. After hearing the demos, Hua Qiao nearly believed the promise. But the conditions must be steep.

Zhou Lan didn’t leverage Chu Zhao’s connection for favors.

Truthfully, once her reputation spread, buyers would line up. Choosing Chu Yue already reflected bias.

In her past life, her songs weren’t for casual purchase.

Moreover, undervaluing herself would raise suspicions—either about quality or ulterior motives.

“I’m new, but you’ve heard the quality. Three songs upfront—100,000 yuan each.”

“Future pricing follows ‘Ming Xiao Zhou’s’ market value.”

Once established, her tracks could command millions per piece.

“Additionally, Chu Yue fully funds Rebirth’s production and promotion.”

“After platform fees, all proceeds are mine.”

Essentially, Chu Yue would bankroll her debut single for three premium songs.

Most unknowns would be laughed out of labels for such demands. Yet Zhou Lan’s work justified even greater asks.

Hua Qiao recognized something rare—in an era of musical mediocrity, these were gems.

“Contract in thirty minutes,” she agreed instantly.

Zhou Lan demurred. “No contract.”

Paperwork might expose her to Chu Zhao.

This venture was already off-script, she wouldn’t force it.

Hua Qiao mentally categorized her as “eccentric genius”—hence the pseudonym. At 100,000 yuan per song, even with promotion costs, this was a steal.

“Deal. But I need all three tracks now. Payment will be sent immediately.”

Unbeknownst to Zhou Lan, Hua Qiao had filled narrative gaps, casting her as temperamental but brilliant.

She complied, including a girl group piece tailored to Chu Yue’s struggling idol unit—a genre still nascent domestically.

The track had launched a similar group in her world. Cultural parallels suggested similar success.

Hua Qiao’s delighted expression confirmed its potential.

—

Payment received, Zhou Lan arranged recording sessions—declining Chu Yue’s facilities to maintain anonymity—then boarded the metro back to her hotel.

Only then did she check her Zhou family phone.

Missed calls. Texts. Mostly from Ling He’na, but one unfamiliar number stood out.

It rang again as she hesitated.

“Chu Zhao’s been in an accident,” declared the voice. “Jiangyi Hospital requires family authorization.”

Click.

Scam?

But Ling He’na’s messages corroborated: Chu Zhao had indeed been hospitalized, with Ling He’na signing as proxy.

The original Zhou Lan had few domestic contacts beyond debauched friends (now estranged). This left Ling He’na as the sole persistent correspondent.

Heart pounding, Zhou Lan rushed to retrieve her belongings.

This plot twist never occurred in the novel. Had her changes derailed events?

At the hospital, reception redirected her: “No inpatient under that name.”

A nurse intervened: “The stunning woman? She left after minor treatment.”

Minor?

The puzzle clicked, Ling He’na’s ruse to summon her. The hospital call’s unprofessionalism. The unlikely goodwill toward Chu Zhao.

Ling He’na blamed Chu Zhao for her son’s death, another woman scapegoated by superstition. She opposed the remarriage until Zhou Xianling overruled her.

Yet the accident was real.

As Zhou Lan deduced this, a Zhou family chauffeur intercepted her.

“Young Miss, Madam requests your return.”

She almost refused, until he added: “The Young Madam is already at the estate.”

Young Madam? The feudal terminology lessened.

“Regarding Master Lundao’s apology,” the driver continued. “Madam said about the accident… involved his family.”

Ice flooded Zhou Lan’s veins.

Chu Zhao—injured—now subjected to Zhou family theatrics?

Every instinct screamed: Extract her. Now.