Having a pleasant chat with Welt Yang, Bai Luan successfully leveraged his connections, successfully recruiting the experienced former Anti-Entropy leader, current reliable elder of the Astral Express Crew, and hidden animation master, into Clockwork Studio.
He was appointed as an external consultant and remote technical advisor for Clockwork Studio.
Coincidentally, the Astral Express was also docked at Penacony, so Welt Yang could also meet with the Animators of Clockwork Studio.
When Piers learned that Bai Luan had brought them another powerful Animator who was also from the Astral Express:
Is the Astral Express Crew really that full of talent?
Does boarding the Astral Express help improve one's professional skills?
A bold, even absurd, thought uncontrollably popped into Piers' mind:
Should I... try boarding the train?
Then, his rationality harshly ridiculed this bold idea.
Wake up, Piers!
If you have time to think about this, you might as well draw another episode of tom and jerry storyboards!
Be realistic!
Clockwork Studio now receives letters urging updates from all corners of the universe every day.
These reasons for urging updates are diverse and full of creativity, making them a grand exhibition of performance art on the StarNet.
When they first faced these urges for updates, they were quite at a loss.
After all, before this, the highest level of anticipation they had faced was merely the entire Penacony looking forward to their new work.
But tom and jerry was different.
The audience reach of this animation was terrifying, completely breaking the boundaries of age, gender, culture, and even species—it captivated not only men, women, old, and young, but also many inorganic life forms watched it with great relish.
In Bai Luan's words:
Yes, the language of guys who love watching tom and jerry is universal.
Because of this unprecedented audience base, the anticipation and urges for updates they received were also unprecedentedly dense and creative (mainly reflected in the reasons and methods of urging updates).
Lacking experience in dealing with this, Piers, at the time, even nervously consulted Bai Luan, asking how to handle this happy problem.
Bai Luan's answer was only four words:
"You'll get used to it."
Can I really get used to this? I probably won't be able to get used to this in my entire life, right?
This was Piers' thought right after hearing Bai Luan's answer.
As for now... However, to this day, Piers has to admit: Bai Luan was right.
Not only him, but the entire Clockwork Studio, after the initial flurry, actually gradually got used to it.
They understood a fundamental truth: the audience's anticipation and urges for updates are due to their desire for high-quality works.
They want to see new, equally exciting tom and jerry faster.
If, because of these expectations, the creative team loses balance, rushes production, and ultimately delivers works of declining quality, that would truly be a betrayal of all audience expectations.
No matter how many or how quickly bad works are produced, audiences will not be happy; they will only be disappointed.
This is for quality,
A necessary compromise.
After relaxing their mindset, they found it much easier to deal with these urges for updates, even finding a few bizarre reasons to share and have a laugh.
There's always a group of viewers who use the excuse of urging updates to write funny jokes, and some even write continuous dramas, making them laugh out loud as they read.
Welt Yang, led by Bai Luan, took a general tour of Clockwork Studio.
Looking at the Animators who, though busy, had bright eyes and passionate discussions about creativity, and the walls covered with original art designs full of childlike fun and imagination, Welt Yang nodded slightly, expressing satisfaction.
"There's a youthful vitality and enthusiasm here. Being here, it's as if I've become much younger too."
Hearing Welt Yang say this, Bai Luan nodded, then looked at Piers and said:
"Then, Piers, regarding the remuneration and salary, I'll leave it to you and Uncle Yang to discuss."
At this point, Bai Luan added:
"You know me, Piers—I'm not short on money."
Piers nodded at the remark.
Bai Luan's funding has always been very generous. Due to his involvement, everyone at Clockwork Studio now has a considerable basic salary.
Although this basic salary is quite substantial, it is the smallest part of their salary structure.
Because... in addition to this basic salary, there's also more pay for more work.
Like when they made the Clockie commemorative work earlier, whoever did more earned more.
If everyone worked hard, then there would be a collective raise.
Piers had already planned everything.
Since Clockwork Studio's production capacity is currently insufficient, they plan to recruit more talented Animators who love animation to join.
He had even thought of the advertising slogan.
Dreams come true, talent realizes its worth!
Where can you find such a good boss?
Of course—look for him in the dreams of Penacony!
Come to the Planet of Festivities, create an artistic dream that never wakes, and earn real credits!
Clockwork Studio, located on the Planet of Festivities, Penacony, sincerely invites talented and dream-filled Animators from across the universe to join us, to create laughter and forge legends together!
Finally, the Clockwork Studio logo pops up, followed by a deliberately hushed narration:
"Yi Mu is your boss, why aren't you here yet?"
It's simply a perfect recruitment advertisement!
After bringing Welt Yang to Piers, Bai Luan left; he no longer needed to worry about the rest.
Welt Yang didn't need him to lead; if anything, it was more like Welt Yang leading him.
Instead of worrying about Welt Yang, what Bai Luan needed to consider now was how to spend the Anywhere Door's cooldown time in Penacony.
Hmm... what can I do in Penacony... At times like this, Bai Luan thought of his three accounts.
BL's "Detroit: Become Human" was already on the schedule, so no further planning was needed for now.
Yi Mu had just promoted Wall-E, and would definitely be updating frequently after going to Xianzhou for the Martial Arts Ceremony, so no arrangements were made for that either.
So, the one that hadn't had any activity for a long time was Songblight.
Thinking about it, it had indeed been a long time since any song-related content was updated.
Hmm... Since I'm free, I'll go collaborate with Robin on a song.
This time, I won't do any promotion; I'll just launch a surprise attack and give the fans a surprise.
Anyway, it's just a convenient thing to do.
Thinking this, Bai Luan took out his phone.
Bai Luan: Miss Robin, are you there?
Robin: I am, Senior.
Robin: Is there something you need me for?
Bai Luan: I happen to be in Penacony.
Bai Luan: I was thinking of collaborating with you on a song.
Bai Luan: It's been a long time since we collaborated, hasn't it?
Robin: Senior is really... sudden with the collaboration request.
Robin: Where are you now, Senior? I'll come find you.
Bai Luan: I'll come find you.
Bai Luan: The time spent on the road can be considered a leisurely stroll.
Robin: I understand.
Robin: [Coordinates]
Robin: I'm at this location in Dreamflux Reef.
Bai Luan: Dreamflux Reef?
Robin: Yes.
Robin: I sometimes come here to teach the children here to sing.
Bai Luan: I understand.
Bai Luan: See you later.
Robin: See you later, Senior.
It didn't take Bai Luan long to find Robin according to the coordinates she sent.
She was surrounded by a group of children, in a relaxed posture.
They sat or stood, encircling Robin, forming a small, cozy circle.
Robin was slightly closing her eyes, a soft, soothing humming melody without specific lyrics flowing from her lips.
It might not have been any known song, just an impromptu chant she sang on a whim.
But even such casual humming, performed by her exceptionally gifted voice, seemed to possess the power to cleanse the soul, beautiful and ethereal, making people involuntarily stop and become immersed in it.
The children around her were all quiet, their small faces filled with concentration and enjoyment, completely immersed in the gentle atmosphere Robin wove with her singing.
Seeing this, Bai Luan also unconsciously lightened his steps, suppressing all sounds that might disturb the tranquility, and quietly approached.
He stood a little further away, also becoming an audience member of this mini concert.
After all, interrupting a singer who was passionately performing for children would be quite rude.
Soon, this impromptu humming melody came to its end, with a few lingering notes fading, like soft feathers falling, finally returning to tranquility.
Robin slowly opened her eyes, and those Star-filled eyes immediately caught sight of Bai Luan standing quietly not far away.
A gentle and sincere smile immediately bloomed on her face.
"You're here, Senior?"
Bai Luan nodded in response,
Then he smiled and said:
"That's some really good melody, I love to listen more of it."