However, it wasn’t that Li Zetian had no precautions against this person named Wu Feitian.
His life as an orphan in his previous life had made him clearly see the fickleness of human nature.
Besides his relatives, he wouldn’t easily trust anyone.
You have your Zhang Liang strategy, I have my wall-crossing ladder.
How could Li Zetian easily hand over “A Man Should Stand Strong” to someone he wasn’t familiar with?
If this person had good character, fine; but if his character was bad, he would definitely plagiarize and take it as his own, just like what Wu Feitian did!
In fact, Li Zetian didn’t fully trust James Wong either.
What if he took his song as his own, what then?
So, when Li Zetian went to the post office that day, he first found a piece of paper and rewrote “A Man Should Stand Strong”, then mailed one envelope to James Wong, and mailed another envelope to himself.
As long as the envelope mailed to himself was not opened, it would not lose its time validity.
It could serve as legal evidence.
When someone plagiarized or stole his work, he could take this piece of mail to the court as proof.
There is never such a good thing as a pie dropping from the sky in this world!
If a stranger on the street suddenly says they want to help you, would you believe it?
Li Zetian didn’t believe it at all.
This Wu Feitian looked like a person with ulterior motives at first glance.
When Li Zetian saw him, an idea suddenly sprouted in his heart, so he simply beat him at his own game and let him plagiarize it.
Look, “A Man Should Stand Strong” not only became popular but also became the title track of Sam Hui’s new album.
Everyone knows what a title track means; it’s definitely the best song in the album!
During a TV interview, Wu Feitian couldn’t help but say triumphantly that three days ago, he had a burst of inspiration and wrote “A Man Should Stand Strong”, and even vowed that “A Man Should Stand Strong” was his best work and would definitely become a hit all over Hong Kong and all over Asia!
Yes, right now, “A Man Should Stand Strong” was a hit!
Li Zetian prepared to visit PolyGram Record Company once again!!!
“I want to see your company manager!”
“Do you have an appointment?” the receptionist miss asked.
“No!”
“I’m sorry, the manager is busy.
Without an appointment…”
“Even without an appointment, I must see him!
PolyGram Record Company used my song illegally.
I am preparing to sue you guys!!!” Li Zetian interrupted her and said loudly!
People around turned their heads to look, drawn by the voice.
“You must be mistaken, right?
How could our company possibly use your song illegally!”
“‘A Man Should Stand Strong’ is a song I wrote.
Wu Feitian is nothing but a thief.
Sam Hui’s new album is preparing to use ‘A Man Should Stand Strong’ as the title track.
Tell me, is PolyGram Record Company using my song illegally!!!” Li Zetian spoke forcefully and reasonably.
More and more people gathered in the front lobby, and the high-level executives of PolyGram Record Company were alarmed.
After a short while, a middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses with a high bridge of the nose walked over.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
The receptionist miss replied: “Manager Liu, this person says ‘A Man Should Stand Strong’ is a song he wrote, and is preparing to sue us for illegally using his song!” Her slender finger pointed at Li Zetian.
Manager Liu stared at Li Zetian and said in a deep voice: “‘A Man Should Stand Strong’ was written by Wu Feitian, and he has already sold this song to PolyGram Record Company!
On what grounds can you prove that ‘A Man Should Stand Strong’ was written by you?”
“That thief Wu Feitian, does he have the guts to confront me face to face?
As for the evidence you mentioned, of course I have it!!!” Saying this, Li Zetian took out an unopened envelope.
“Inside this is the original manuscript of the song ‘A Man Should Stand Strong’, mailed out on July 20th, and it hasn’t been opened yet!
This is more than ten days earlier than the time Wu Feitian wrote ‘A Man Should Stand Strong’, right!
You wouldn’t think that I copied his ‘A Man Should Stand Strong’ more than ten days ago, would you!!!” Li Zetian said loudly.
As soon as his voice fell, the surroundings were immediately in an uproar, and everyone began talking all at once.
Manager Liu’s face also changed!
If the thing inside the envelope was really “A Man Should Stand Strong”, this was enough to prove that Wu Feitian committed plagiarism, and the song PolyGram Record Company bought from him was completely illegal…
Ahem!
“May I ask your name?”
“Li Zetian!”
“Hello, Mr.
Li.
How about we change to another place to talk?”
“What’s there to change?
If you don’t give me an explanation today, I will go to court to sue PolyGram Record Company.
They would definitely be willing to help me fight this lawsuit if I sold this song to them…”
Upon hearing this, Manager Liu immediately panicked even more!
Although he knew Li Zetian was bluffing, he indeed wasn’t wrong.
For “A Man Should Stand Strong” to become the title track of Sam Hui’s new album, it must be a good song.
How could other record companies not be interested?
Seeing the meat about to reach his mouth suddenly disappear, how could that be okay?!
From top to bottom, the company unanimously favored “A Man Should Stand Strong” and believed it was highly likely to explode in popularity in Hong Kong and even Asia, so they didn’t hesitate to spend 5,000 Hong Kong dollars to buy this song from Wu Feitian.
You must know that with the current market conditions, an ordinary song was only a few hundred or a thousand, and cheaper ones were even tens of dollars.
“Mr.
Li, if the song ‘A Man Should Stand Strong’ really belongs to you, our PolyGram Record Company will definitely pay to buy it.
What do you think of this?”
Li Zetian nodded, “Not bad!
But, this is not enough!
You must also hold a press conference to announce that Wu Feitian plagiarized this song, and the real lyricist and composer is me.
You don’t need to publish my real name, I have a pen name — Mr.
Li.”
“Alright, I will call Wu Feitian over right now, and you two can confront each other face to face.”
Not long after, Wu Feitian came.
He didn’t know the reason he was called over.
When he pushed open the door of Manager Liu’s office and saw Li Zetian, his whole body froze for a moment.
“Wu Feitian, you should know this person, right!” Manager Liu pointed his finger at Li Zetian and said.
Wu Feitian’s complexion was a bit unnatural, guessing that the other party must have come to complain.
“Who is he?
How would I know him…” Wu Feitian shook his head and flatly denied it.
Li Zetian mocked and ridiculed: “After just a few days of not seeing me, you don’t know me anymore.
You must at least know my song ‘A Man Should Stand Strong’, right!”
“Fart your mother’s bullshit, ‘A Man Should Stand Strong’ is a song I wrote!”
“Do you dare to swear?
If it wasn’t written by you, you’ll be hit by a car and die when you go out, and your son won’t have an asshole!”
Wu Feitian roared angrily out of shame: “Why the fuck should I swear!”
“You simply don’t dare, because the song wasn’t written by you!” Li Zetian said disdainfully.
“If the song wasn’t written by me, was it written by you?
Do you have evidence?
Careful or I’ll sue you for slander!!!”
“Still want to sue me for slander?
What a joke!!!
Alright, it seems you won’t shed tears until you see the coffin.
I’ll get the evidence for you right now!”
After saying this, Li Zetian took out an unopened piece of mail.
“This is mail sent more than ten days ago, it hasn’t been opened yet.
The thing inside is exactly the original manuscript of the song ‘A Man Should Stand Strong’!
You say you only composed ‘A Man Should Stand Strong’ a few days ago.
Isn’t it clear who plagiarized whom??” Li Zetian said aggressively in a loud voice.
Hearing this, Wu Feitian’s face instantly turned pale, like a defeated rooster — utterly crestfallen!
He completely hadn’t expected the other party to actually have this trick up his sleeve!
Suddenly, like a madman, he snatched the envelope from Li Zetian’s hand, and took the opportunity to tear it open, while deliberately saying: “Who knows if what you said is true or false, let me open it and see!” Wu Feitian thought to himself, as long as he opened the envelope, even if it really contained the original manuscript of “A Man Should Stand Strong”, he could quibble that it was put in later by the other party.
The court only looks at evidence; if the evidence is insufficient, what can he do to me!
Manager Liu was shocked and couldn’t stop him in time.
Li Zetian, however, quietly watched all the actions of the “mad” Wu Feitian with a mocking smile on his face.
Wu Feitian took out the paper from the envelope, unfolded it, and saw there was only one sentence written on it: “Fucking idiot, I knew you would snatch the envelope!”
“Does it look good, Wu Feitian?!
If it looks good, then look at it for a while longer!”
“You’re fucking playing with me!!!”
“How did I play with you?” Li Zetian said “innocently”.
Manager Liu took that piece of paper from Wu Feitian’s hand, looked at the content on it, and couldn’t help but be stunned for a moment.
At this time, Li Zetian turned to Manager Liu and said: “Manager Liu, from Wu Feitian’s extreme overreaction just now, it shouldn’t be hard to see who is the real original author and who is the plagiarist, right!”
“I admit my reaction was a bit abnormal, but that’s because I was angered by him to this state!
I was originally the author of ‘A Man Should Stand Strong’, but suddenly someone righteously pretended to be the original author.
Manager Liu, tell me, if you were me, wouldn’t you feel very angry?”
Li Zetian shook his head.
This fucking guy could really quibble.
He was definitely a veteran and hadn’t done this kind of plagiarizing others’ works any less!
“Wu Feitian, no matter how glib-tongued you are, the evidence is irrefutable, and you can’t escape.
I still have another envelope in my pants pocket, which contains the real original manuscript.
Call the police right now, Manager Liu, and arrest Wu Feitian!” With that, Li Zetian took out another envelope.
“Hey!
Wu Feitian, you’re not going to destroy the evidence again this time, are you!!!” Li Zetian jumped up from the chair in a very exaggerated manner, staying far away from Wu Feitian, and deliberately held up the envelope.
“Manager Liu, you are a witness.
If he dares to snatch my envelope again, that is a crime!”
Wu Feitian’s face turned flushed red.
Obviously, what he was thinking in his heart had been guessed right by Li Zetian.
He held it in and held it in, almost unable to resist going to snatch it again!
Manager Liu looked at Wu Feitian and said in a serious tone: “Wu Feitian, I know very well in my heart who the real original author is.
You had better admit that you plagiarized, and our three parties will negotiate privately and handle it in a low-key manner!
If this matter blows up, not only will it ruin your reputation, but it will also cause immense damage to the corporate image of PolyGram Record Company.
We will pursue your legal responsibility!!!”
Wu Feitian’s heart skipped a beat, knowing he was finished.
It was simply like failing to steal the chicken and losing the rice instead!
“Okay, I admit that the song ‘A Man Should Stand Strong’ was plagiarized from him…” Wu Feitian said weakly.
Manager Liu nodded, then turned his head to look at Li Zetian and said: “Let’s cancel the public apology at the press conference.
Since Wu Feitian has already admitted it, let’s handle it in a low-key manner and give you compensation.
How about that?
Next year, when Sam Hui’s new album is released, we will change the author of the composition and lyrics to your pen name Mr.
Li, minimizing the negative impact as much as possible!”
Li Zetian thought about it.
Genuine money was the real benefit.
The real purpose of his trip was to make money.
“I agree to handle it in a low-key manner!
Tell me, how do you plan to compensate?!
Also, the public apology is canceled, but there must be a private apology!”
Manager Liu nodded, feeling this request was very reasonable.
He looked at Wu Feitian.
Wu Feitian’s face was very ugly.
A forty-year-old man apologizing to a teenager, how awkward!!!
“I’m sorry, Mr.
Li, I was wrong.
I shouldn’t have plagiarized your work!”
“Speak louder, I couldn’t hear it at all!”
Wu Feitian’s face was as red as a monkey’s butt.
In order to smooth things over, he had to say it again according to the other party’s request.
“I’m sorry, Mr.
Li, I was wrong.
I shouldn’t have plagiarized your work!”
“Mhm, that’s more like it.
Alright, now let’s talk about compensation!”
So, in the next hour or so, Li Zetian engaged in a battle of wits with Manager Liu and Wu Feitian.
Although this was only the first negotiation of Li Zetian’s life, he seemed naturally skilled at negotiating.
After the negotiation ended, not only did he get 10,000 Hong Kong dollars, but he also won the lyrics and composition royalties that “A Man Should Stand Strong” deserved!
At noon, when Manager Liu personally escorted Li Zetian out of the company, he couldn’t suppress the curiosity in his heart and asked: “Do you really have evidence in your hand?
Or did you bluff Wu Feitian through psychological warfare?
But I saw it clearly, the second envelope you took out was also fake.
The date marked on it was today!”
“Is this important?” Li Zetian smiled, patted the pants pocket full of Hong Kong dollars with the contract in his right hand, and turned to leave…
(END CHAPTER)