Chapter 116

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As time passed, the release date of Cheng Chen's new album drew ever closer.

Yet the Mandarin music scene remained collectively silent, like the calm before a storm.

Cheng Chen recently appeared on a talk show, where he was harshly scolded by a female host nicknamed "Lollipop."

Cheng Chen: My family situation wasn't good—I came from the countryside, so I worked extremely hard at both acting and singing.

Lollipop Host: Really? I don't believe you.

Cheng Chen: …

"Can you imagine hundreds of extras shivering in the freezing winter, squatting by the entrance of Beijing Film Studio with their boxed meals, waiting for work?"

"I can't imagine."

Cheng Chen: …

Cheng Chen swore this was the first time he'd ever faced such a deranged host.

In the future, online, he'd seen interviews with this female host and found them amusing as memes.

He never expected karma to strike so fast—right on his head.

Cheng Chen was left speechless; no wonder even the famed Jin Xing avoided her!

From then on, he never wanted to be interviewed by this host again, and his opinion of Fenghuang TV deteriorated significantly.

Later, Cheng Chen appeared once more on a radio live broadcast, briefly discussing the production of his new album.

After these two episodes aired, the previously silent music scene came alive again.

Tianhai Records also released another teaser for the new album.

On the teaser poster, Cheng Chen wore a long robe, hands clasped behind his back, standing on the Great Wall, gazing ardently at his homeland's magnificent landscapes.

Accompanied by the caption:

"520 I Love You, Hualiu Wanjiang"

Media outlets and fans alike began speculating about the content of Cheng Chen's new album because of this photo.

"Wanjiang" would definitely be included—after all, the album's title already hinted at it.

Combined with the various poster images previously leaked by Tianhai Records, people couldn't help but speculate.

This album was Cheng Chen's creation centered on the term "Hualiu," surely filled with many traditional elements.

Like scholarly elegance, free-spirited swordsmen, Jianghu grudges, court intrigues, and so on…

When the latest poster was released, many finally realized Cheng Chen's marketing strategy for this new album was clever.

First, constantly appearing on shows to promote the album—that's traditional; many singers do the same.

As the hottest star in the Mandarin music scene today, Cheng Chen naturally drew immense attention.

Many shows went all out to invite him, ensuring maximum entertainment value.

Meanwhile, online promotion also required considerable effort.

Huaxia Blog led the charge, followed by the collapse of major forums.

With the end of the internet winter, the number of netizens exploded geometrically.

Many forums analyzed the easter eggs left in each poster released for Cheng Chen's new album.

Some forums even spontaneously formed Cheng Chen fan clubs, constantly sharing updates on his latest activities, maintaining high popularity.

"520 I Love You, Hualiu Wanjiang" was Cheng Chen's final promotional push.

Everyone knew his new album would be released on May 20, and many singers began avoiding May entirely.

Even singers who had already confirmed May releases now had to reconsider whether to withdraw.

You couldn't directly compete—he was too powerful—but the date was already set; you couldn't let fans down after they'd waited so long.

Couldn't you just claim factory supply shortages, that the new album couldn't be shipped on time, and reschedule?

Thus, a strange phenomenon emerged in the Mandarin music industry:

Many singers who had originally planned May releases suddenly withdrew their announcements.

They publicly claimed factory shipping difficulties, that their new albums might have to wait until July, disappointing fans and so on…

One or two were understandable, but when three or four announced it simultaneously, it became suspicious.

Even a singer planning a June release changed his date.

When interviewed, he solemnly declared June was inauspicious for album releases, prone to clashing energies,

and he was superstitious about this.

Hmm, this was a Hong Kong/Taiwan singer.

The interview was shared online; combined with the mass withdrawals in May, netizens jokingly called Cheng Chen a "god of death."

Once his album dropped, no one dared provoke him in May or June—his "killer aura" was too strong.

This was the status of a top-tier artist in Chinese entertainment!

In truth, those singers weren't foolish; Cheng Chen's album had been promoted for a full month already.

He'd made repeated moves, even braving the label of opposing K-pop.

Anyone could see Cheng Chen aimed high—this album was his "deification" project.

Who would dare stand in his way at this moment?

After the release date was announced, many figures in the entertainment industry publicly offered their congratulations to Cheng Chen.

First came Gao Yuanyuan, Cheng Chen's sister and close friend, followed by Yan Danchen.

These two were Cheng Chen's go-to female leads in his MVs; promotional material had previously released stills from their MVs together.

Thus, their well-wishes didn't spark speculation among outsiders—though some entertainment gossip tabloids quietly used suggestive language to fabricate stories about the three of them.

Then came actors he'd collaborated with, such as Jia Jingwen, Su Youpeng, Li Chengru, Chen Zihan (Chen Shasha), Hou Yong, and Sun Li.

What Cheng Chen didn't expect was that Tang Ren's Cai Yinong, along with his artists like top male artist Li Yapeng and top female artist Sun Li (wife of Huang Xiaochu), also sent blessings.

But you don't get Tang Ren's blessings for free.

Cai Yinong immediately announced that the domestic first game adaptation blockbuster co-produced by Tang Ren and Cheng Chen's Xinghuo Entertainment, Xianjian Qixia Zhuan Yi, had been officially greenlit.

As partners, we share resources—you get the hype, I'll ride on it!

Next came the directors; Lai Shuiqing, Lai Dao, who had given Cheng Chen his big break, needed no mention.

Of course, as a major director, he had his own dignity and wouldn't deliberately post advertising or blessing videos.

He merely mentioned in an interview a passing comment about Cheng Chen.

In Lai Dao's eyes, Cheng Chen was a diligent, hardworking actor with exceptional talent—a rare blend of innate gift and relentless effort.

This remark affirmed Cheng Chen's acting, and some sharp observers immediately connected it to the earlier critiques of Cheng Chen's acting by Huang Xiaoming and Deng Chao.

Who was right or wrong? Those with clear eyes naturally trusted Lai Dao, who had worked happily with Cheng Chen.

Coincidentally, Zhou Xingchi, while attending an event in Gang Sheng, also mentioned Cheng Chen, who was currently the hottest name in Mainland entertainment.

"I've heard of Cheng Zai—actually, he's cast in my upcoming film Kung Fu, and his acting is outstanding."

"I heard his new album Huayou Wanjian is about to be released—I wish him great sales."

"We must let outsiders see China's Kung Fu—and also China's musical Kung Fu."

In these days leading up to Cheng Chen's new album release, stars appeared one after another to offer blessings.

On one hand, people marveled at Cheng Chen's drawing power; on the other, anticipation for his new album grew ever stronger.

If the earlier appearances had surprised people, then when Zhou Xingchi stood up for Cheng Chen…

The entire entertainment industry was stunned!

What the hell… Cheng Chen, when did you hook up with Xing Ye?

At this time, Zhou Xingchi was already a household name in Gang Sheng, respectfully called Xing Ye.

There's a saying: "Twenty years of Liu Dehua, a hundred years of Zhou Xingchi."

This was just a joke, but it revealed something.

As the pioneer of absurd comedy, Zhou Xingchi's films had won countless box office championships.

In terms of fame and recognition, Zhou Xingchi was no less than any Gang Sheng superstar.

So when Zhou Xingchi stood up for Cheng Chen, everyone's jaws dropped.

From his interview, people learned two things:

First, Cheng Chen was confirmed to star in Zhou Xingchi's new film Kung Fu.

As everyone knew, Zhou Xingchi's films had high demands for actors—either they had rare charisma that caught his eye,

Or their acting was so outstanding he picked them. Otherwise, with his current fame, trying to sneak people in through backdoors? Forget it!

With two consecutive directors praising Cheng Chen's acting, Huang Xiaoming and Deng Chao became targets of public ridicule once again.

These two never imagined Cheng Chen had quietly secured the backing of a Gang Sheng heavyweight.

At this time, whether director, actor, or even a crew member from Gang Sheng,

All held a superior status on set.

In co-productions, Gang Sheng crew members were always treated as superior.

So the Cheng Chen, whom Huang and Deng had mocked as mediocre in acting, had now overtaken them on a curve.

Instantly, the topic "Xing Ye stands with Cheng Chen" exploded across the entertainment industry.

Many reports ran headlines like: "The Man Praised by Xing Ye—Undisputed Heavenly King Among Mainland Peers," "New Album Released, Xing Ye Said It's Strong!" and "Real Power Slaps Back—He's Mainland's Hope!"

Cheng Chen hadn't expected Zhou Xingchi to step forward and promote him—he immediately called to thank him.

He had already personally thanked every friend who had helped with promotion…

Before he knew it, May 20 arrived.

…

Nan County, county town.

Li Shuai woke up early, splashed water on his face, and vanished out the front door on his 28-inch bike, ignoring his parents' shouts: "Eat first before you go out!"

"Everyone here?"

Li Shuai sat on his bike, arms crossed, eyeing the three friends before him—clearly, he was the leader of this little group.

"Zhang Zhi hasn't shown up yet!"

One of the friends immediately said.

"He's always dragging his feet—wait five more minutes. If he doesn't come, we leave!"

Li Shuai said, glancing at his wristwatch.

While waiting, Li Shuai reiterated:

"Cheng Chen, our senior, a famous alumnus of Nan County Experimental Middle School, and the pride of Nancheng—

We must support his new album, so don't hold back—everyone got their New Year's lucky money ready?"

"Ready!"

The friends responded enthusiastically.

"Good. One more thing: they say No. 1 High is a testing ground, No. 2 High is a battlefield, and our Experimental is a love arena—true enough.

Buy two copies of the album—one for yourself, one to give to the girl you like.

I know Liu Qi, you're into Miss Gao—and she's a die-hard Cheng Chen fan… if you give her his new album, who knows… hehe."

Li Shuai gave a sideways grin at the boy beside him.

The boy named Liu Qi blushed instantly, breathing heavily!

This fucking… go for it!

"Ten minutes are up, damn it, forget Zhang Zhi, let's go!"

A group of people immediately pedaled their twenty-eight-inch bicycles toward the city's only video store in the department store.

On the way, they encountered several groups of students in school uniforms—all high schoolers from the county.

Motorcycles with couples riding them occasionally zoomed past them, clearly heading in the same direction as the video store.

"Charge!"

Li Shuai gritted his teeth and pedaled furiously.

At the department store, they saw a line stretching impossibly long, extending all the way out onto the street.

Li Shuai checked the time—it was only half past nine, and he hadn't expected so many people to be here so early!

Those ahead of them in line said many had been queuing since five or six in the morning.

Cheng Chen's influence in Nan County was no joke; Nan County was underdeveloped, the lowest-ranked town in all of Yang City.

And Yang City itself was the bottom-dweller of all Hui Sheng.

As a major labor-exporting city, how could they not be excited over finally producing a star?

Especially the people of Nan County—when university students from Nan County heard someone listening to Cheng Chen's songs on campus,

they'd strut over with social confidence and say:

"Listening? Cheng Chen's song—he's my hometown buddy; we even set off firecrackers together during the New Year."

This pride in having a hometown celebrity made those from humble origins abroad stand a little taller.

Especially during first-year university self-introductions:

"Hello everyone, I'm from Nan County, Hui Sheng. You probably haven't heard of my hometown, but if I mention our hometown's celebrity, Cheng Chen…"

This line worked just as well in freshman English class self-introductions.

Even many middle and high school essays referenced Cheng Chen's story as inspiration to strive harder.

Meanwhile, in Nan County, Cheng Chen was the only celebrity children's families didn't discourage—sometimes even supported—when it came to fandom.

When parents tried to dissuade kids from dropping out of school, they'd always say:

"Look at Cheng Chen—he's so successful, yet he still finished high school and college…"

So the people of Nan County held a special sentiment toward Cheng Chen.

If the hometown people didn't support Cheng Chen's new album, wouldn't outsiders laugh at them?

Thus, with this mindset—or pure fandom—early that morning, the video store in Nan County was completely packed.

"What do we do, bro? So many people—we'll never make it to the front before they sell out!"

A boy named Liu Qi said anxiously—he still had in mind buying the album to give to Miss Gao.

"Wait—I refuse to believe we can't get one today!"

Li Shuai gritted his teeth and ducked into a nearby phone booth.

"Hello, Brother Huang, it's Li Shuai. Do you still have Cheng Chen's new album? My buddy and I are queuing outside your store. What?! Already sold out…"

No sooner had Li Shuai finished speaking than the video store placed a "SOLD OUT" sign at its entrance.

The people in the long line immediately cursed and dispersed on the spot.

"Bro, it's… sold out!"

The friends said dejectedly.

Li Shuai patted their shoulders and said:

"Brother Huang doesn't know when he'll get more stock—Cheng Chen's just too popular.

I'll call my cousin at No. 1 High School in the city—he's there, and there are more video stores in town, so we should still be able to buy one. Don't worry!"

This last sentence sounded like he was comforting his friends—and himself.

…