CHAPTER 870: CHAPTER 870 POTENTIAL?

He didn’t need to say more. He had already mentioned that while Lucas had a great singing voice and a strong talent for composition, his lyrics were only average at best. And as a seasoned manager, he understood how crucial the lyrics were—they could either elevate a song or drag it down.

When he first read through Lucas’s draft, he’d immediately decided to find a more experienced lyricist. Lucas had offered to ask his best friend to write lyrics that would better match the composition, but the manager wasn’t convinced. After all, Lucas was just a college freshman—and if his best friend was someone from the same circle, then it likely meant another student with little to no professional experience.

It wasn’t that he looked down on college students, but this opportunity was too valuable to be left in the hands of untested youths.

"I still want to hear what he’s actually made," Rafael insisted. "I need to assess his current level and ability for myself before I can decide if he truly has the potential you claim."

After all, Rafael had a sharper foresight than the manager; otherwise, he wouldn’t be the CEO of a company that had risen quickly enough to compete with UE within just a few years. Rafael had a keen eye (and ear) for talent, and he trusted his own judgment to determine if the song was as good as the manager implied.

After some hesitation and an internal struggle, the manager finally relented. He picked up his phone from the table, swiped through a few screens, and found the recording where Lucas was actually singing, complete with his composition and lyrics.

Rafael was taken aback the moment Lucas’s voice filled the room. It was melodious and carried a certain strength, with an impressive range that hit some high notes beautifully. However, when the tempo shifted abruptly, Lucas struggled to keep up, his breath catching and causing the pronunciation of words to become unclear.

But that wasn’t Rafael’s main concern. As he continued listening, a shadow crossed his eyes. The lyrics, while catchy, felt out of place, like a pair of mismatched shoes awkwardly forced together.

They clashed with the composition, undermining the soulful quality that should have been both lively and calming, powerful enough to stir emotions and make hearts tremble. Instead, the song lost its impact entirely.

Rafael found himself not only wanting to rewrite the lyrics but also doubting Lucas as the right singer for this debut. Lucas had potential—his voice showed promise—but he wasn’t ready yet. He still needed time to grow, to train professionally, and hone his craft. After all, many could sing, but few could truly captivate.

Lucas needed to sharpen his skills first and be fully prepared before stepping out to showcase his talent. If the manager’s goal was merely to compete with the UE Music Director, that was understandable—but now was not the right time to throw Lucas into the ring.

Rafael’s critical gaze made the manager visibly nervous, his hair almost standing on end. Quickly, he defended himself. "Mr. Briley, that recording was from when Lucas first joined the company, using your sister’s arrangement. She saw his potential, and right after he was signed, I immediately sent him for professional vocal training to fix those issues."

"But that’s not all—I’ve assigned all the resources in my disposal to develop his skills. I only came to you now because I believe he’s ready, and I wanted to surprise you with how much he’s improved and bring him into the spotlight."

Still, the manager wasn’t entirely wrong—Lucas would surprise Rafael and the world, but for reasons quite different than the ones the manager expected.

"Alright, I’ll trust you this once—I’ve seen your work before, and I know you know what you’re doing. However, I can’t approve the budget increase you requested right now. You’ll have to work within the current budget."

"If we see strong results in the first week after the release, I’ll personally push for more support with marketing and other arrangements. Your priority is to ensure the recording is top quality and that the album itself is excellent. After that, we can discuss follow-ups like the music video and promotions."

Rafael took a step back, careful not to discourage his team. Though he was the CEO, he understood that success depended on his people. So while he had to be firm, he also made sure to show appreciation and fairness—after all, this was business.

After hearing Rafael’s response, the manager beamed with relief. Although he didn’t get the budget increase he initially requested, Rafael’s promise felt almost just as good. With the current resources, they could cover the recording costs and other expenses. The only shortfall would be marketing—stirring up publicity online and hiring some water army to push Lucas up the rankings. But if they executed it well and the music turned out good, once the release showed favorable results in the first week, Rafael would take care of the rest.

Rafael simply wanted to see the outcome before investing more money, especially since he had been skeptical after hearing the earlier recording. Feeling lighter and optimistic about the deal, the manager left Rafael’s office with a big smile and headed back to his own office several floors below.

There, Lucas was waiting anxiously. "How did it go?" Lucas asked as soon as the manager entered, immediately standing up.

The manager didn’t keep him in suspense. He smiled brightly, making Lucas breathe a sigh of relief, but then relayed Rafael’s exact words. Afterward, he patted Lucas on the shoulder and encouraged him not to lose his composure or determination just because one person didn’t believe in him, he instead needed to see this as a challenge to grow.

"You need to do better and show them what you’re truly made of. There will always be people who doubt you or underestimate your potential, but remember—those moments are your chance to shine, to prove them wrong. Only then will you shine brighter than anyone else," the manager said firmly.

He wasn’t wrong. Many people only believe in talent once it’s already soaring high—they fail to appreciate what they don’t possess themselves. Their limited vision causes them to judge others based on their own shortcomings, unable to see the true potential. But a rare few can recognize talent when they see it.

That’s why you must grasp every opportunity, even if you don’t yet know how to handle it. Opportunities come once, and if you let them slip away, they rarely return. Those who seize them are the fortunate ones who rise. If you don’t know what to do afterward, you can always learn.

Lucas shared this mindset—to grab every chance, no matter the cost.

"Alright, sir, I’ll keep your words in mind. I’m heading back to my training now to prepare for the official recording. Please let me know if the lyrics get sorted out—if not, I can ask my best friend to help. We won’t lose anything by trying," Lucas said with a playful wink at his manager before quickly running off, hoping to avoid the manager’s inevitable frustration about bringing his best friend into the mix.

Though Lucas talked about his best friend often, the manager had never met him and remained skeptical about his abilities. He wasn’t convinced that relying on this unknown lyricist was a good idea.