Chapter 258: End of Carnival

[Chapter 258: End of Carnival]

"Knock, knock, knock!" A rapid series of knocks echoed outside the luxury suite at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami.

The knocking persisted until Will.i.am -- the soul of the Black Eyed Peas with his signature "Astro Boy" haircut -- grumbled as he finally opened the door. Wearing nothing but a bathrobe and clearly just risen from bed, he allowed his bandmate in.

"Will, Ryan just dropped a new track! You have to listen to it!" Taboo, the long-haired member of the group, said with urgency.

"Can't I listen to it tomorrow? Do we really need all this fuss?" Will complained, clearly irritated.

"You'd better listen now," Taboo insisted.

Reluctantly, Will waved him in. As Taboo entered, Will noticed two white blonde women lying on the bed through the half-closed door.

Will sat on the couch and immediately opened his laptop. In the iTunes store, a banner ad for Ryan's new track was prominently displayed. Less than half an hour after its official release, it had already soared to the 30th spot on the charts.

"Is this track Faded?" Will observed, noticing that the song didn't even have a cover image.

"That's right," Taboo replied, snatching the mouse and pressing play.

Soon, a melody began filtering out of the laptop's subpar, distorted speakers. When the chorus hit, Will gripped the couch's armrests and clenched his teeth. Though his expression remained largely unreadable, his intensity was unmistakable.

The next moment, his face relaxed. "It's just a new track. It won't necessarily affect the chart performance of the next single," he said. After all, the lead single from Ryan's new album, Boom Boom Pow, had topped the charts for weeks, and the second single, I Gotta Feeling, was even more formidable.

"And it's not just that one single. Ryan's European newcomer also dropped another track," Taboo added as he scrolled through the charts and located another new song called Levels, sitting at number 78.

"A newcomer?" Will frowned. He knew that iTunes was mainly used by iPod users -- unable to manipulate the charts -- and that a debut on the charts carried significant weight as a predictor of future trends.

"Additionally, Ryan mentioned at the tail end of his performance..." Taboo leaned in, whispering, "He planned to produce an instrumental, vocals-free version of the track later."

"Fuck!" Will exclaimed. His good mood instantly evaporated, and even the two blonde women on the bed seemed uninteresting.

...

At the park stage's backstage area, a group of DJs still lingered. Hardwell, R3HAB, two female DJs, Deadmau5, Diplo, and even Avicii -- who had just come down from the stage -- could not stop praising Ryan's new track. Those who truly understood electronic music sensed its unique significance.

Second-rate artists couldn't keep up with the trend, while top-tier performers stood at its forefront. Truly great artists set the trends, and Ryan had done it once again.

At the same time, Taylor Swift noticed that the audience outside appeared thoroughly satisfied, which finally eased her anxious heart. Meanwhile, Beyoncé -- who had been about to leave -- paused for a moment because of Ryan's music. Her expression was no less tense than Will's, who had already returned to the hotel.

The winds of change weighed heavily on everyone; the surge in electronic music was set to impact every player in the industry. Times were changing.

In the next moment, Beyoncé even heard herself being mentioned by Ryan, who was still on stage.

...

"I know you're all still craving more, but tonight's performance was coming to an end. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, the set had been extended," Ryan remarked casually. Immediately, a wave of boos erupted from the crowd. The fans weren't fools -- Ryan's words indirectly confirmed that Beyoncé had overstepped by extending her stage time to lavishly promote her tour. Such antics were sure to be splashed across gossip tabloids.

...

Backstage, Ryan returned and immediately saw Beyoncé surrounded by his team.

"You're still here? You haven't been feeling well lately. You should get some rest so it won't affect tomorrow's show," he said with a smile.

"Ryan, I owe you an apology for my recklessness. I shouldn't have stayed on stage that long," Beyoncé said. Rather than getting angry, she proactively acknowledged her mistake.

Whether she meant it sincerely was hard to tell, but moments later she added, "Ryan, let's put this behind us. In the future, we can definitely collaborate on a single." Clearly recognizing the market potential of Faded, Beyoncé humbled herself to jump on Ryan's bandwagon.

Ryan promised to call her when the right opportunity arose. Only then did Beyoncé leave, passing by Taylor, who noticed the interaction, and she struck up a quick conversation with her, showing a complete turnaround in her attitude towards Taylor.

...

After Beyoncé and her team left, Taylor moved close to Ryan and pondered, "Do you think that leak we heard was just her father's doing?"

"Don't think too highly of them. One minute they're your closest friends, and the next they'll stab you in the back," Ryan replied with a shake of his head. To him, truth was secondary to profit. If he ever signed an African American singer, she'd be in direct competition with Beyoncé and Rihanna. And that possibility wasn't slim at all; black music had long been woven into American pop culture.

...

The first day's show ended there. With only a few on-call crew members remaining, the rest went off to rest. Ryan stayed until most of the staff had left, with Taylor by his side. As for Alex, he remained on duty that night to oversee equipment maintenance.

"You must have been exhausted today. Are you hungry? I'll have the crew start preparing a late-night snack," Taylor said, patting Ryan's forehead with concern.

Ryan shook his head, indicating he wasn't hungry.

...

Back home, while Taylor took a shower, Ryan pulled out his phone. There were several text messages from Ivanka Trump that had come in earlier. Without replying, he simply deleted them. After showering with Taylor, the two didn't engage in anything further and soon fell into a deep sleep.

...

"Last night's prime-time broadcast of the music festival maintained around 15 million viewers, peaking at nearly 18 million. Nicely done, Ryan!" At noon the next day, Ryan received a call from Dawn Ostroff, whose excitement was evident even over the phone.

For a music festival, the more viewers, the better. The high ratings ensured that the next edition would have guaranteed ticket sales, further boosting the Bad Room Carnival's brand prestige -- and CW TV made a significant profit.

"Keep up the good work and finish today's performance. On behalf of CW TV, I want to thank you. Our parent company also sent their congratulations -- they've taken notice of you, Ryan. This is a big advantage for you. With your 2 Broke Girls being so popular, we'll have plenty of opportunities to collaborate in the future, such as the next music festival's broadcast," Dawn said.

"There won't be any TV broadcast for the next music festival, nor in the future," Ryan replied bluntly. This time, the broadcast was used mainly for publicity; if every festival were televised, who would buy tickets to see it live? TV sponsorship money was limited, and Ryan was determined to choose a more profitable business model.

"Really? Well, I suppose that makes sense from your perspective," Dawn said slowly, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

"Don't be so down. You're just trying to fill a vacant weekend slot. Since CW TV can't handle weekend programming, why not hand it over to someone more willing?" Ryan said, staring at his fingernails.

"You want to take over CW TV's weekend slot?" Dawn's eyes widened. "I think you might be too busy for that."

Of course, Ryan could never manage it all -- movies, nightclubs, music festivals, record labels -- his day only had 24 hours, not 48.

"Just don't worry about it," he replied.

"I'm just worried you'll bail on us," Dawn added.

"I have my own plans," Ryan said.

"We'll discuss the details when you're in Los Angeles," Dawn concluded before hanging up.

...

Barely had he ended the call when Ryan noticed Katy Perry had already arrived backstage at this hour, accompanied by Luke, and Kesha. Normally, the three weren't scheduled to appear so early, they were scheduled to perform that night; clearly, there was another matter at hand.

At that moment, Luke wore a very serious expression. Kesha stole glances at Ryan as if seeking his help, while Katy Perry shook her head and even pointed at Luke, signaling that Ryan had gotten himself into trouble.

"Stealing my talent? Ryan, I didn't expect you to move so quickly!" Luke said with a cold laugh as he approached.

"He wouldn't let me go, so I had to pull you out," Kesha added, lowering her head as she came forward.

Ryan silently cursed the fool in his mind, yet in front of Luke he said, "From every angle, this collaboration benefits all parties. My song needs a great voice, and Kesha is the right fit. You'll also make more money." With plans having changed, Ryan had no choice but to adjust his strategy -- from poaching talent to collaborating.

"Oh, really?" Luke squinted. Seeing Ryan's frankness, he felt no urge to completely push him aside and found himself unable to get angry. He furrowed his brows in thought for a few seconds. Ryan's talent was evident, and bringing Kesha along was clearly an attempt to leverage his resources. Now that Ryan was willing to work with him, it certainly wasn't a bad deal.

"Is this a good time to talk? Let's find somewhere to discuss in detail," Luke suggested.

"The lounge is empty right now," Ryan replied.

So the two moved to the lounge in silence, completely ignoring Kesha -- whose own wishes no longer mattered in this deal.

...

Katy, being another insider, knew quite a bit and slowly walked over to Kesha. "Girl, I understand you want to make more money, but don't forget that Ryan is also after the same thing. If you sell him out like that, you'll end up suffering the most."

...

Ryan and Luke reached the lounge door only to find it wouldn't open.

"The key is with the crew," Ryan said as he called Alex, only to hear a voice from inside. Soon, Alex opened the door. Peeking through the gap, Ryan saw a simple cot in the room and a woman arranging her clothes. She turned and shyly greeted him -- an attractive woman who turned out to be Alex's older sister.

Alex had secured his spot at the Ultra Music Festival through his sister's connections with Miami officials, and she had helped grease the wheels for the Bad Room Carnival. That was why, when Ryan encountered protesters yesterday, he had thought to call Alex.

Alex had even admitted that his sister was involved with a Florida lawmaker. Now Ryan's biggest doubt was whether they were true siblings or just cousins. Alex inquired about Ryan's business and quickly led his sister away with an embarrassed look, while Luke remained clueless.

Ryan ignored the interruption, closed the door, and began discussing matters with Luke.

...

"Kesha is now one of my artists, and I've even overseen her song production. If we do a joint release, we'll each take our share. In return, you must collaborate with her on at least three lead singles. I won't take advantage; I'll take 35% of the record company's share. That's standard in the industry; feel free to verify," Luke stated sincerely.

But for Ryan, the loss was significant. Compared to signing Kesha outright, he was sacrificing roughly three times the potential revenue. It was impossible to get Luke to back down; after all, Kesha had thrown him under a bus.

"So, what kind of deal do you have with Kesha?" Ryan shifted the topic.

In about 20 minutes, Ryan and Luke reached an agreement, and Luke then called Kesha in.

...

"Kesha, listen up. There's a fantastic opportunity in front of you. You've heard Ryan's new track, right? In the future, several songs will feature your vocals -- with our first collaboration set for this year. Ryan values talent; he's willing to give up a portion of his share to nurture you. You have to give something back. Are you willing to lower your royalty percentage?" Luke asked in a gentle tone.

"You two are fucking playing me?!" Kesha snapped, frustration lacing her words.

"This is called business," Luke retorted.

"I don't agree!" Kesha immediately shook her head. She already earned a smaller cut from her own album, and with another boss involved her share would shrink further. She had agreed with Ryan to make more money, yet in the end, she'd earn even less.

"I'm just informing you -- not asking for your permission. I've already agreed to work with Ryan's label," Luke said impatiently.

"No way, I absolutely refuse. If you dare do this, I'll expose everything you've done -- I'm going to sue you, you bastard!" Kesha screamed.

Luke furrowed his brow and glanced awkwardly at Ryan. "Don't listen to her nonsense!"

"I'm not spouting nonsense! Ryan, would you be willing to work with a fucking traitor?" Kesha demanded, her words tinged with moral blackmail.

"Girl, you can't only claim to be a victim when things aren't going your way," Ryan shrugged. "Why bring it up now? Why didn't you speak up earlier? Weren't you always convinced Luke could make you a star?"

Ryan still didn't know that not long ago, Kesha had been involved in a civil court case over a contract dispute with another label. During the proceedings, she had emphatically stated that she had no physical relationship with Luke -- explaining why she was able to sign with his company.

"Besides, you never told me that signing such a long-term contract with Luke would ultimately prevent me from working with you. The current plan is the best solution," Ryan added.

"As for your issues with Luke, if you really are the victim, I'll stand up for you," he assured, glancing at Luke.

Hearing Ryan's promise, Kesha finally relented and agreed to split half of her royalties with him. Luke then dismissed her from the lounge.

...

"I should never have taken her on," Luke muttered, shaking his head. "Thanks to you, I wouldn't have realized she still remembered what happened back then. This woman is too dangerous. If the album hadn't already passed the halfway mark, I would have replaced her."

"Consider it a favor for now; otherwise, how will she remain useful? When she no longer holds any value, we'll just drop her," Ryan said.

"Ryan, you're going to be a huge name. You're a reliable partner, and I've always been scouting new talent -- plenty of girls are desperate to become stars. When you find one you like, just let me know and I'll hold her for you," Luke added with a lecherous smile.

"I've got other matters to attend to. Excuse me," Ryan said hastily as he bid Luke farewell.

Reflecting on their exchange, it was clear that neither Luke nor Kesha were upstanding individuals. If it weren't for Kesha's impressive vocal talent, no sane person would have gotten involved in this mess. Caught between the two yet having earned both their trust, Ryan decided to get to the bottom of things before making his next move. For now, he would maintain his cooperation with Luke to ensure that Kesha successfully released her debut solo album.

...

"Bring Alex over," Ryan instructed a staff member.

"Don't ask," Alex replied, clearly aware of what Ryan wanted, his expression sour. 

"Tsk, you're really asking for trouble?" Ryan muttered.

"We... grew up together. With her like this, she won't get married -- and I only see her occasionally," Alex explained with a shrug.

"If I recall correctly, you're also married with kids?" Ryan pressed.

"That's right. We just help each other out occasionally. Just drop it -- the subject is closed," Alex replied curtly.

"You still haven't told me which congressman your sister is involved with," Ryan pressed.

"Ryan, it's not that I don't trust you, but that's my biggest leverage with my sister, so don't ask about it," Alex said.

"And you're totally indifferent to your sister's involvement with that congressman?" Ryan asked.

"Ah, it's all because I'm a useless failure. If I were like you, I wouldn't have to put up with this," Alex sighed.

...

The second day's performance was essentially the same as the previous one, though the setlist varied slightly. With yesterday's experience, the crew wasn't as flustered, and by night Ryan finally got a chance to catch his breath.

"Big brother Ryan!" a high-pitched voice called from behind.

Ryan turned, and a small figure immediately leaped into his arms -- it was Hailie, the daughter of Eminem. Though Hailie was a common name, most people recognized it as that of Eminem's daughter. Being only about twelve, she probably admired Ryan as if he were a celebrity idol.

"Get down! You're getting so big -- why are you still letting someone hold you?" Eminem, clearly exasperated with his daughter, shot Ryan a look of mild apology.

Fearing Ryan might let go, the little girl clung tightly around his neck. At that age, she was at the peak of cuteness. Ryan lifted her onto his shoulders and spun around in place.

Just then, Taylor, who was backstage, noticed the little girl with Ryan. Her face grew tense until she saw Eminem by his side, which cleared up the misunderstanding. Of course, even if Ryan had a secret child, he wouldn't have one that big. Taylor silently chided herself for being too worried.

Relieved, she soon began playing with Hailie.

Then Taylor leaned in and teased, "Ryan's about to get married -- he is marrying me!" 

"Get married?!" Hailie was taken aback and immediately burst into tears.

"No marriage, no marriage!" Taylor quickly panicked; Ryan handed the child over to her, hoping she would calm Hailie down.

Handling kids seemed to come naturally to most women, and it didn't take long before Taylor had Hailie in giggles again, leading her around backstage in play.

...

"After the show, why don't you come over to my place?" Ryan then extended an invitation to Eminem.

"Are you sure? She's quite a handful," Eminem replied, glancing at his daughter.

"She just needs a mother figure," Ryan said, already seeing the need.

"Last time, you mentioned wanting to find an African American singer. I happen to know one. Interested in giving it a shot?" Ryan recalled their earlier chat.

"You're not talking about Beyoncé, are you?" Eminem asked, shaking his head.

"Not her -- it's the British singer Leona Lewis," Ryan replied.

That afternoon, after sealing a deal with Kesha, Ryan didn't mind adding another artist. The market for African American singers was huge, and Leona was already on the decline -- she was his only lifeline now.

"Her voice certainly packs a punch. I'm willing to give it a try, but I can't guarantee I'll use her. Plus, she's with Sony, so if we want to collaborate, Jimmy Iovine has to approve," Eminem explained. Eminem had been discovered by Dre, and Jimmy was Dre's golden partner.

"Actually, I'm partnering with Jimmy on a nightclub venture," Ryan said.

"Oh? That might just work out then," Eminem nodded.

"What about the song? You haven't mentioned the details yet," Ryan asked.

"The lyrics and melody are finished. It's slated to be the lead single on the next album, and it's called Love The Way You Lie," Eminem explained.

...

The two-day Bad Room Carnival concluded with a joint performance by Ryan and Taylor. Although the live TV broadcast meant ticket sales were lower than Ryan had anticipated, the event still raked in over $150 million in total revenue. From every angle, the inaugural carnival was an unprecedented success.

In the United States, the Bad Room Carnival became the hottest topic of the weekend, while the International Music Summit in Ibiza was largely ignored. Even in Europe -- the usual home of the summit -- the carnival sparked widespread discussion. After all, Ryan had delivered the most distinctive masterpiece of his electronic music career to date.

Meanwhile, music media outlets began preparing reports on Ryan's new track. DJ Magazine, which had previously feuded with him, was notably absent. Instead, Mix Magazine in London ran an extensive piece on the success of the Bad Room Carnival and even secured an exclusive interview with Ryan following his new song's release.

...

"What? He went again? Pregnant? Who's pregnant? No way, absolutely not!" Donald Trump's furious shouts echoed from the study into the living room.

After a moment, he stormed back, grabbed a bottle of Coke from the table, and downed it in one gulp.

"Who's pregnant? It couldn't be one of your mistresses, could it?" his model-wife asked alarmed.

"I have to go to Florida again! Right now! Book me the fastest flight!" Donald Trump barked, too angry to explain.

"This time, one of the three of us has to die -- either that brat, or me, or the one Ivanka's carrying!"

"Ivanka's pregnant? That's a good thing! Why are you in such a hurry?" his wife retorted, her tone incredulous.

"Good? That brat's bastard!" he snapped.

"Bastard? That's your grandson! Isn't that perfect? Once he's born, he'll be part of the Trump family."

"I..." Donald Trump stammered, feeling duped by Ryan and Ivanka working together. In his earlier frenzy, he had never imagined this twist.

He had a granddaughter back in 2007, but no grandson. His second son had just married, his second daughter was still single, and the others were still young.

"How about I go with you?" she offered.

"Forget it -- don't get involved. I'll just notify her mother," Donald Trump replied, scratching his head as he prepared to call his ex-wife.

*****

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