nucmednet Chapter 55 Enlightenment
Chapter 55 Enlightenment
Zeke's recent intensive study of music theory and his work in the record industry were not in vain. He quickly determined that this "Apocalypse" was a very distinctive disco track, extremely trendy, and definitely a masterpiece that rivaled "YMCA".
It features both the signature steady, linear beat of disco, a classic 4/4 time signature, and the cyclical arrangement structure of disco music.
However, it is completely different from classic American disco. It abandons the iconic brass, string base, soulful vocals and gorgeous retro arrangements, and instead uses a lot of synthesizers. It takes the route of European electronic cold disco, which is cold and clean. The lyrics also have a strong sense of industrial coldness and fatalism.
The more Zik listened, the more he felt that this song was very similar to Donna Summer's hit "I Feel Love." No, it was more than that; this song was too wild, practically an evolved version of "I Feel Love." Its cold, mechanical quality would definitely give those old fogies who were still playing wind instruments a fright.
"Zek, where are you going? This isn't the way home." Judy sat in the passenger seat, looking at the scenery rushing past the window, her face full of confusion and unease.
"I won't let you go back to that house, at least not until your mother gives up those ridiculous ideas." Zeke tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
"No, you can't do that!" Judy panicked, grabbing Zeke's sleeve frantically. "My mom will definitely call the police and have you arrested. She knows some big shots in the police department. You'll be in jail!"
Zik glanced at her sideways, slowly slowed down, and a roguish smile curled at the corner of his mouth, just like the expression of the female singer in Apocalypse's music video.
"Don't worry about that, I have a plan. Now I'm asking you, are you willing to come with me? Are you willing to trust me?"
Judy's cheeks flushed again, and she gently bit her lip. "Zick, do you want me to elope with you? I...I've never thought about something like this, but where can we go? How will we live? All the money I've earned from acting and filming movies over the years is with my mother. I don't have a single penny on me."
"I have money, and I can make money continuously," Zike said confidently, the melody in his mind giving him confidence. "Don't forget I can write songs, I can write songs that are as popular as 'YMCA,' we won't go hungry."
"But...this won't work." Judy's eyes were full of worry. "My mom will go crazy. She has connections in Hollywood. She'll ruin you. Zeke, forget it. It's just a few photos...At worst, I'll transfer to a high school abroad, then go to college and hide for a few years. Once I'm an adult, everything will be fine."
"She can't destroy me, Judy," Zeke interrupted her, his tone incredibly serious. "A voice inside me tells me this is wrong, I can't do nothing, it goes against all my principles. You shouldn't be treated like this, and you shouldn't try to solve problems by running away. I will help you, I definitely will."
Zik felt the hand in his palm tremble slightly, then gripped it tightly.
He saw the unease in Judy's eyes finally fade, replaced by a sense of dependence.
Zik accelerated again, the crisp sound of the gears snapping shut echoing through the car, the mansion that symbolized his nightmare receding into the distance in the rearview mirror...
He was rapidly calculating the multitude of problems at hand.
Judy's situation is the most urgent and pressing issue that needs to be addressed right now. With his current small stature, he has no chance of directly confronting Evelyn, who holds custody of Judy. A direct confrontation would only backfire and might even drag him into the mess.
The only way is to leverage external forces and use the power of others to solve this problem.
He couldn't help but think of Susan, the publicity director, that energetic Italian woman with a thick New York accent. She was absolutely right; he really did need allies and people who could help him out.
But the biggest influence he can leverage right now is the Neil Bogarts.
But this couple isn't philanthropists; they're plotting to secure their own agency contract and have their own agenda. They may genuinely want to resolve their royalty issues, but more importantly, they see potential in me and want to further strengthen their control, turning me into a tool for making money.
Joyce herself wasn't his ideal agent choice. What she said in the study earlier was indeed very persuasive, and the prospects she painted were very enticing.
But thinking about it carefully, is Tino's ability really that bad? Or did she use her power to deliberately create the impression that Tino was 'useless'?
On the other hand, he relies on the "Apocalypse" cheat code to make a living. He doesn't need anyone else to help him find resources. He can produce complete, cutting-edge works all by himself. He has already gained some initial fame, and many singers and record companies are vying to work with him.
Does he really need a big-name agent like her?
Joyce's agent's commission is definitely higher than Tino's, and at this critical moment when she desperately needs help, asking for Judy's help is practically handing herself over to the butcher. Tino is very likely to take advantage of the situation to ask for a high price, exploit her misfortune, and impose all sorts of harsh conditions.
But he didn't have many options; he couldn't ignore Judy's situation. Joyce had also set her sights on her own agency contract. She was not only a well-known agent in the industry but also possessed resources and connections in Casablanca.
In terms of industry standing, he was far inferior, and in terms of personal relationships, no matter how much money he could make or how much Neil liked him, he could never surpass the wife who shared his bed.
To be honest, Zeke felt that she had been very polite today. If Joyce wanted to take him by force, she could easily persuade Neil to cooperate and put pressure on her. He was just a songwriter, and Tino was just a nobody in front of the couple, so he was powerless to resist.
This matter is even more complicated than the royalty issue, and it also needs to be resolved properly. If not handled carefully, it could lead to an even more difficult situation.
Besides, I must get my royalties back no matter what. I can't let this go, or I won't be able to settle my mind.
He traveled to America and found himself a robber who had robbed an airport. He had been very careful and only wanted to walk the straight path, believing that he could achieve success honestly and provide a good life for his family.
But what happened today completely shattered his illusions. Faced with this America full of hypocrisy and lies, faced with this seemingly beautiful but full of distorted ideas, and even exuding a kind of evil vibe in his eyes, if he still thought he could be a model good boy and follow the rules, then he would have come for nothing.
On the other hand, he also didn't want to, as Neil had warned him, actually get entangled with the Brownsville Mafia—a relationship that would be impossible to shake off once involved...
The situation seemed somewhat hopeless, with problems on all sides and wolves surrounding him, as if there was no way out.
But this new song in his mind, "Sweet Dreams," might be the key to making all these impossible things possible, and his hope for breaking through the impasse.