Back to Normal?

The atmosphere in the Data Monitoring and Management Department suddenly became much more welcoming and laid back.

All people in the room, from entry-level employees to the highest-level managers, felt their anxiety fade to nothingness.

"Yes!!"

"Hahaha! Number 26! We're on fire! We're on fire!"

"This is only the first day, and they're already this amazing. Truly the princess of electronic music!"

The entire data monitoring management team celebrated, and quickly the office was filled with joy. The small East Records logo on the cover of TMY's three new singles amplified the mood further. Many members of this team had participated in some way, big or small, to make this momentous event come to fruition, so to see the results so clearly in front of them stirred their emotions even more.

In an era where making it into the top 100 on iTunes was considered a significant achievement for any domestic music production, TMY's three songs consistently ranking around number 30 was already terrifying and mind-boggling.

Thus, not only within East Records but throughout the nation of China, countless eyes were swiftly drawn toward this rare spectacle. Numerous electronic music-related media outlets and social platforms were quick to report TMY's first-day sales on iTunes, attracting attention from all directions.

[TMY's three new singles' iTunes debut sales results are out: average ranking - 30, average sales: 500,000!]

[Did the "Electronic Music Princess" succeed in her international debut? Check out the explosive first-day data on the iTunes charts.]

[Exquisite TMY-style electronic music, the familiar recipe, the familiar taste. Do you remember the cute producer who once shook the Chinese electronic music market and won the Nova Award? Well, she has now set foot on the international scene! Currently ranking in the top 30 on the global charts!]

[The results are in! The earlier speculation about her international success was not baseless. Her music is indeed being heard!]

This astonishing news left many people wide-eyed and surprised. They never expected such a turn of events.

Previously, some sparse evidence and claims suggested TMY's songs had gained international recognition. However, without direct proof, it was only speculation. A few screenshots had little convincing power, and not everyone was interested in verifying them on foreign websites. Thus, these became the remaining few points to which the limited number of TMY haters clung.

But now, with the iTunes data revealed, everything changed. This solid data was undeniably reliable. TMY's fans rejoiced, flooding social media platforms, forums, and every corner with electronic music enthusiasts.

Interestingly, as their locations indicated, many fans were not from China and were instead scattered around the globe. From geographically close locations like Japan, going as far as Africa, or even some from the Americas.

In other languages, fans expressed their awe,

"Damn it, why doesn't TMY have a Twitter account?"

"Can you blame her? Who would pay $8 for a social media site anyway?"

"Oh my, can someone tell me who this Chinese girl is? Where did she come from? I'm completely enchanted by her music."

"I heard she's starting a tour, but it's a shame I'm too far away from China. Otherwise, I would love to attend."

- - - - - - - - - -

Even the previously vocal TMY haters fell silent with this turn of events. The concrete data was undeniable, and the influx of international fans made it impossible to deny. Who could argue against that? It was a joke!

Meanwhile, in the East Records headquarters in the imperial capital...

After the high-ranking officials of the label exited the data monitoring management team one after another, they were quickly intercepted by a senior executive named Jin.

"Could you please contact TMY and have her create a personal social media account on foreign platforms? And, by the way, I apologize for opposing the signing of TMY. It turns out it was a good choice," Lao Liyang said, his throat slightly dry as he cleared it.

Stopping in his tracks, the person he addressed smiled casually and replied, "I never held it against any of you, and now you know I wasn't joking. Lao, my friend, I have never blamed you for anything. But let me tell you one thing: we've come this far because of the determination we had at the beginning. As long as that determination remains, nothing is impossible. Sticking to conventions won't take us far."

"You're right," Lao Liyang murmured, his head slightly lowered in contemplation.

"As for the online operation, it will be arranged. I've already talked to their manager, Yun Jie, and she will take care of it when she has the time." With a carefree smile, the person patted Lao's shoulder. "This is just the first step. Electronic music, my friend, is not limited to one country's celebration."

- - - - - - - - - -

While the internet and iTunes were abuzz with excitement, Tang Miaoyi's personal life was not left untouched.

Though after the concert, unless she pulled a "Marshmello" or "Alan Walker," her daily life would become much less calm than before...

But the publicity had been significantly amplified by the iTunes release and caused much more significant changes. This type of disruption was Miaoyi's greatest concern all along.

No matter how much buzz there was online, if it happened before the live event, it would be TMY's affair and had nothing to do with Miaoyi herself. However, after the event, her true identity was revealed, and everything changed.

Do you know what despair feels like?

Miaoyi knew now...

When Miaoyi left for school in the morning, she had barely woken up and exited her house before a crowd of reporters and onlookers had swarmed her. She had no idea how they were able to find her address so quickly, but the crowd was so tightly packed she could barely move. They bombarded her with questions, firing them like bullets from a Gatling gun.

"Teacher TMY, how did you come up with the idea of making electronic music?"

"Being a high school student, you have a lot of experience for someone so young. What are your thoughts on that?"

"With the recent achievement of your new single on the iTunes Chart, do you have anything to express?"

"I'm Xiao Wu from Hua Electric Forums. When will your next live performance be held?"

- - - - - - - - - -

Honestly, if it wasn't for the fact that the residential complex she lived in had two well-equipped security guards at the entrance, she might not have been able to exit her house at all!

And the madness didn't end there. It was just the beginning...

After impatiently answering a few questions and finally escaping the crowd of reporters at the complex entrance with An Qiuying, Miaoyi and Qiuying decided not to walk to school this time. They hailed a taxi instead.

To their surprise, there was another group of reporters waiting at the school gate. Looking at the scene, there were even more reporters than the ones at the residential complex.

Moreover, the reporters were just one aspect. Miaoyi and Qiuying could clearly feel increasingly subtle and mysterious glances coming from all directions during classes. Miaoyi already disliked the feeling of being stared at by so many people, and now it had become even more intense. How could this be?

"Qingqing, I regret doing that live event," Miaoyi said helplessly, tears and laughter mixing in her voice.

"Oh, come on, it's okay," Qiuying didn't pay much attention to it, chuckling as she reassured, "It's just a short-term thing. Once the heat from the exposure and the live event dies down, it'll be a matter of time before things return to normal."