Chapter 269

Phoebe had been swamped these past ten days. Things were moving fast, but she was used to that. The biggest thing on her plate? Quintus’s song was finally recorded, and everything was lining up perfectly. She started by making sure Brian’s team capitalized on their variety show’s recent success, keeping the momentum going. At the same time, short clips of Quintus’s song were blowing up online, pushing his name even further into the spotlight.

But there was one issue: the version recorded in the bar wasn’t the best. The sound quality wasn’t great, and fans were practically begging for a proper release. Phoebe waited until the timing was just right. Then, when the buzz had reached its peak, she made her move. Quintus’s song was officially out.

She kicked things off by retweeting the track on Twitter. Maddox was quick to follow, then Lexie, James, Jimmy, and Andrea. Even Gwen and Milton jumped in. But the biggest surprise? Reece also retweeted it. With all these big names backing it, the song’s popularity skyrocketed. And it wasn’t just hype; the song was actually incredible. That was why it blew up so fast.

It didn’t take long before it dominated every major music platform’s charts: new songs, hot songs, trending playlists, you name it. Just like that, Quintus became a sensation overnight. He was already ridiculously good-looking, but now that his name was everywhere, his fanbase exploded. His follower count shot up like crazy, and people couldn’t stop talking about him.

Behind the scenes, plenty of singers were feeling a mix of envy and admiration. Some grumbled that Quintus had just gotten lucky by joining Phoebe’s label. But luck had nothing to do with it; this was all Phoebe’s work. She had paved the way, and Quintus had delivered. Phoebe had taken both Gwen and Quintus to the top, and thanks to both of them, her label was now bigger than ever. It was the hottest place to be. As long as an artist had real potential, they knew signing with her could be their ticket to fame.

Singers whose contracts were about to expire started reaching out, and others who were stuck under restrictive management wanted an escape. Everyone wanted a shot at working under her. However, Phoebe barely had time to think about signing new talent. She was gearing up for a variety show and still had two more scenes to shoot. Managing new artists wasn’t exactly a priority right now. That being said, she had her eye on Wendy Bush to bring on as an additional manager. Instead of handling everything personally, she let Wendy go through a screening process. If she had talent and a good attitude, then she could join the label.

Meanwhile, Claire had no interest in going abroad or dealing with stones and jewelry. Maybe it was because of her past experiences with Una. Whatever the reason, she wanted nothing to do with that world anymore. After spending time with Wendy, Claire started getting interested in the idea of becoming a manager. It wasn’t something she had ever considered before, but the more she learned about it, the more she wanted to give it a shot in the future. Phoebe, noticing Claire’s interest, decided to give her a push in the right direction. She had Wendy take Claire under her wing and even arranged for a professional to teach her the ropes. This would allow Wendy and Claire to start gaining hands-on experience. With more artists reaching out about signing with the studio, this was the perfect time for it.

One afternoon, Phoebe called Quintus and Milton into her office. She leaned back in her chair, looking at Quintus. “So, Mr. Scott reached out. If you’re interested, you can go back as a guest for the final episode of the show. On top of that, Mr. Vaughan from Star Entertainment sent a few offers. One of them is a singing competition show. Just wanted to check, what do you think? Which one do you want to go for?”

Quintus didn’t even have to think about it. “The singing show,” he said immediately.

Chapter 200

Music was his passion. If there was an opportunity that let him sing, that was always going to be his first choice. Phoebe smirked, as if she had already predicted his answer. “I thought you’d say that. Honestly, I was hoping you would. Your song is everywhere right now, and this is the perfect time to keep that momentum going. This variety show might not be as big as the one I was on, but it’s a much better fit for you.”

Quintus had joined their variety show as a guest earlier, which helped boost his visibility and get his name out there. But there was only so much he could gain from it. The audience wasn’t necessarily there for the music, so while it helped his reputation, it didn’t do much to solidify his fanbase. Phoebe figured a music-focused show would be a better fit. There, he wouldn’t just be riding a wave of popularity; he would actually get to showcase his talent and attract fans who genuinely loved his music.

Quintus nodded. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I was thinking. I love music, and I’d rather be on a show that lets me focus on that.” He was genuinely grateful to have Phoebe as his manager. She actually thought about what was best for him long-term, instead of just chasing whatever seemed hottest at the moment. If he were still with his old agency, they wouldn’t have cared what worked for him. They would’ve just thrown him into the most high-profile show available, whether he was a good fit for it or not.

And the truth was, he wasn’t exactly a natural at variety shows. He wasn’t the type to crack jokes or steal the spotlight in group settings. The last show had been fun, but if Phoebe hadn’t been there guiding him, he probably would’ve faded into the background. However, with music, that was where he could really prove himself.

Phoebe nodded. “Alright, I’ll set it up. The variety show is in two weeks, so start preparing. Wendy will go with you; she’ll handle anything that comes up.” Wendy was more than capable, so there was nothing to worry about. Quintus grinned. “Got it. Thanks, Ms. Jenkins.”

With that settled, Phoebe turned to Milton. “Your scenes as the second male lead are done, so I’m thinking of sending you to the variety show for this episode. You need more exposure, and this is the perfect chance. There’s no reason to pass up a good opportunity.” Sebastian had secured her studio a guest spot, and she wasn’t about to waste it. Gwen was still tied up with filming, and Quintus had another project on his plate, so it made sense to give the spot to Milton. Plus, the variety show would be a great way to promote the historical drama they had just finished.

Milton smiled. “Sounds good. I’ll go with whatever you decide, Ms. Jenkins.” He trusted Phoebe implicitly. She wasn’t the kind of manager who overworked her artists just for profit. Every decision she made was well-thought-out and actually benefited them. Phoebe smiled back. “Alright, then it’s settled.”

She grabbed a script and handed it to him. “This is a period mystery drama. I got you an audition for the male lead. Take this home, study the role, and I’ll go with you to the audition in three days.”

“I already read through it. The plot is solid, plenty of twists, well-paced, and full of suspense. The mystery keeps building, and it doesn’t rely on cheap drama or forced romance. I really think this show could be a hit, and I want you to go for the lead role.” She studied him for a moment. “The character is surprisingly like you, which makes this a great challenge. If you pull it off, it’ll push your acting to the next level. If you’re serious about this career, you need to be versatile. You can’t let yourself get stuck playing the same kind of role over and over. Expanding your range is the key to longevity in this industry.”

That drama was one of the projects she had secured through Remy. In her past life, she had never heard of it, which meant either it never got made or it failed to gain traction. Still, she really liked this script. The suspense plot was tight, well-structured, and full of twists. If the lead actor nailed it, this could be a career-defining role. And she wanted Milton to get it.

Milton took the script, flipping through the pages with growing excitement.

Chapter 26

He had always been a huge fan of suspense dramas. He loved the way they kept him on the edge of his seat, and he’d always hoped that one day, he would get the chance to act in one. However, he never thought that chance would come so soon, and with him as the male lead. Phoebe was seriously looking out for him.

“The script you picked has to be good,” he said, determination flashing in his eyes. “I’ll make sure to study it thoroughly over the next few days and do my best to land the role.”

Phoebe nodded. “Good. If you run into anything confusing or need someone to practice with, just let me know.” Milion had already worked with Phoebe on the historical drama and knew firsthand how talented she was. Her acting skills were incredible; she had this natural ability to bring her scene partners into the moment, making their performances better just by being there.

He grinned. “Alright, Ms. Jenkins. If I need help, I’ll definitely come find you.” And he did. For the next three days, whenever he had trouble with a scene or felt like something wasn’t clicking, he went straight to Phoebe. She was patient, walking him through every detail, offering insights on character motivation, and even running lines with him. She didn’t just give surface-level advice; she taught him actual techniques that helped refine his performance.

By the time the audition came, Milton wasn’t just prepared; he was confident. Phoebe accompanied him, watching as he delivered a flawless performance that landed him the role of the male lead. After the casting was confirmed, she stayed back to speak with the director in her capacity as his manager.

It was during this conversation that she learned the production had hit a major roadblock; an investor had suddenly pulled out that morning. The director sighed, clearly worried. “The company ran into financial trouble, so they had to withdraw their investment. We’re trying to figure out how to move forward.”

At that moment, everything clicked for Phoebe. No wonder this project never made it to air in her previous life. It wasn’t because the script wasn’t good; it was because they simply didn’t have enough funding to continue. Without hesitation, she stepped forward. “I’m willing to invest 10 million dollars,” she said. “But I have one condition,” she continued. “Make sure the production value is high. Use quality props and costumes. This drama needs to hold up under scrutiny, not look cheap.”

She had the money, thanks to the hefty payout from those three scumbags. Even after donating 7 million dollars to charity, she still had 14 million. The director was absolutely thrilled. The more he talked with Phoebe, the more he realized they saw eye to eye. By the time they wrapped up their conversation, they had officially sealed the deal.

A few days later, the final episode of the live variety show kicked off. Excitement buzzed among fans, all eager to see what surprises the last episode held.