Chapter Sixty-Two: The Signing Ceremony

Shen Mengxue stared blankly at her resolute friend, suddenly feeling a bit envious. Such courage—to pursue what one loves, to throw away what everyone else would consider a precious opportunity to pursue a doctorate, just to work in Yan Jing and be with the one she cared for—how rare was that in these times? Shen Mengxue knew she could never do it herself.

“If you leave, what will I do?” Shen Mengxue asked pitifully.

Ma Xiaoqian looked at her friend. They had become close since university, relied on each other even more after entering graduate school, and once promised to find a city together for work, to be lifelong sisters. Now, she was breaking that promise, becoming the deserter; it was her own fault.

“I’m sorry,” Ma Xiaoqian whispered.

“Oh, why are you apologizing?” Shen Mengxue came to her senses and smiled. “Don’t worry about me. After my doctorate, my family will have me return to Huating City for work. Sooner or later, we’ll be separated. I’m happy you found a job you like in Yan Jing, and that you can be with the one you love.”

“Mm,” Ma Xiaoqian said, not continuing, knowing nothing else needed to be said.

“I truly envy you—having the courage to do what you want without hesitation,” Shen Mengxue sighed.

“It’s just that my family supports me. I can’t spend my life in a small rural city. It took so much effort to get out; I have to try. Maybe I’ll have the chance to bring my parents out to live with me. If I go back, there really won’t be another chance,” Ma Xiaoqian said softly. “It’s not just impulsiveness; in fact, Galaxy Entertainment really did offer me this job. I wasn’t lying. If I had to abandon everything to do it, I couldn’t either.”

“Alright, you’re still so calm. That reassures me.” Shen Mengxue gave Ma Xiaoqian a big hug. “I won’t see you off. Safe travels! If you see Qihua, say hello for me.”

“Of course, I will,” Ma Xiaoqian promised, her heart already soaring to Yan Jing.

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As the team gradually assembled, Chang Yan’s new department officially began operations. Once everyone was present, Chang Yan convened the first departmental meeting, assigning specific responsibilities: she would oversee everything; Li Zixuan would handle internal management and administrative affairs; He Yanlin would take charge of organizing and planning events; Lin Yu was responsible for various errands and liaison work with the fan community. Upon Ma Xiaoqian’s arrival, given her educational background and expertise, she was appointed to oversee logistics—both departmental and onsite support for all events. With that, the framework was established.

A giant itinerary was posted in the conference room, clearly marking Lin Qihua’s upcoming schedule. Beside it, another large screen listed all tasks that needed to be carried out, with individual responsibilities specified—everything looked impressively professional.

“Our first task, and the most important one for ‘Morning Star’ this month, is our idol’s signing ceremony. According to company plans, it will be a grand event with many journalists invited, all company staff and artists present, and fans attending to show support. This is our first mission. Whether we succeed will determine if ‘Morning Star’ makes a strong debut, showcasing our abilities and purpose for our idol. We must be at our absolute best and coordinate this event flawlessly,” Chang Yan declared.

“No problem,” He Yanlin had already slipped into her role. “This is our artist’s first media appearance, so everything is crucial. The fan organization we’re responsible for is also key. Since the comeback hasn’t officially happened yet, fan numbers will be a challenge. I’ve studied this: aside from those who followed from the group days—of which Xiaoqian, you represent—the number we can mobilize doesn’t exceed fifty. With us, it’s just over sixty, definitely not enough. The second source is fans accumulated during the bar performances, which isn’t a small group. We can contact Sister Mei for help mobilizing them. The third source is those who became fans after Qihua released a new song earlier this year. We already have established gathering places for them, but how many will actually come is unknown. So, we need to promote the event extensively on Lin Qihua’s official social media, the ‘Morning Star’ official fan club platforms, and the official forums. We must keep announcing it in our newly formed discussion group, assign someone to liaise with registered fans to confirm intentions and contact details, and follow up until the day before the ceremony to finalize numbers and better organize the event.”

“No problem,” Lin Yu agreed; this was his responsibility.

“This time, it’s really tight,” He Yanlin sighed. “Everyone’s scrambling, and the results might not be ideal. Honestly, since I agreed to join Yan Yan, I’ve been thinking about how our organization can be more effective, more impactful.”

“Any insights?” Chang Yan, hearing her sigh, knew it wasn’t without reason and asked.

“Yes, I’ve had some inspiration,” He Yanlin replied with a smile. “Actually, it came from Yan Yan. She said this department was modeled after online gaming guilds. So, I wondered: which field does the culture of cheerleading and support best and most professionally?”

“Which one?”

He Yanlin spoke with a hint of sadness, “You know, I once had a boyfriend who was a fanatical football fan. Whenever his team played, nothing could shake his support. Sometimes, I’d think, if only he could share a bit of that passion and love with me, maybe I wouldn’t have left him.”

Chang Yan and Li Zixuan were silent; they knew He Yanlin’s past.

“Sometimes, accompanying him to games, I couldn’t understand the match, but one detail always amazed me—the crowd in the stands. They could stand for the entire game, cheering for their beloved team, unified in attire, slogans, and support signs. When tens of thousands sing and cheer together, the scene is absolutely electrifying, thrilling. I imagine the athletes or teams must feel incredible in that atmosphere.”

“I feel the same,” Lin Yu smiled. “I’m also a football fan, especially during national team matches. No matter how the team performs, the entire stadium cheering in unison is genuinely moving.”

“So, I thought,” He Yanlin tapped the table thoughtfully, “if our fan club could cheer for our idol like football fans do for their team—professionally, uniformly, and formally—imagine how powerful it would be when we show up at events, all cheering together. When our idol holds a concert, and tens of thousands sing in chorus, what a stunning spectacle that would be! If we can achieve that, wouldn’t we be more professional, more dedicated?”

“But fans already have organized dress codes for support,” Chang Yan said, puzzled.

“That’s not the same,” He Yanlin shook her head. “Current support uniforms are more like temporary amateur arrangements, lacking organization and not very effective. What we need is total uniformity. Support signs don’t need to be numerous—just one or two types. We need to scale up and professionalize. For example, clothing—we could offer spring and autumn versions in two colors each, designed by professionals and sold through our company website. For each event, we announce which style is required, like the spring/summer white version. These clothes aren’t disposable; they’re durable, and even when replaced, can be kept as memorabilia marking one’s journey as a fan. Support signs, too—standardized, purchased through official channels, so the event looks neat and cohesive. Also, we need a club anthem. Have you seen Liverpool fans singing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ in unison? If you have, if you’re among them, you’ll be completely swept up, becoming part of the fandom. That’s what we need.”

“Wonderful!” Chang Yan said delightedly. “Xiaoqian, this falls under logistics; please draft a proposal for company review. As for the anthem, I’ll ask our idol to compose one. I’m sure it’ll be fine. Just thinking about the scene Lin described makes my blood boil—I can’t wait.”

“Alright,” Ma Xiaoqian agreed, thinking to herself, so this is what a truly professional fan support team looks like? How exciting.

“This is just a plan; there are many details to discuss,” He Yanlin smiled. “For now, our priority is this event. Everyone, stay focused and give it your all!”

“No problem,” everyone replied in unison.

A few days later, after intense preparation, Galaxy Entertainment and Lin Qihua’s signing ceremony was officially held. The invitations sent in advance to major entertainment media proved effective; the hotel ballroom was packed to capacity. Everyone knew the signing itself was only part of the process—the most important thing was handling the journalists, and whether they would offer favorable coverage all depended on this day.