Chapter 103: The Beginning of War

"What the hell kind of style is this drama? Where did it come from?"

The moment the crisis was detected, Zhou Jianhui, a Warner senior executive, immediately convened a seminar. Zhou Jianhui, usually gentle and refined, rarely swore in meetings, yet no one in the room paid any attention.

At this very moment, everyone's gaze was fixed on the red-highlighted text on the screen—Meteor Garden.

From its premiere on April 21 to today, May 3.

Three songs from this drama: "The Love You Want" firmly holds the tenth position;

"It's Hard to Be in Love" kicked out Zhou Yi's "Don't Listen to Slow Songs When You're Sad," then further ousted Zhang Shaohan's "Fable," Sun Yanzi's "Little Happiness," and Elva Hsiao's "No Day Is Not You," surging straight to third.

The song "Meteor Shower," sung by the protagonist group F4, was even more incredible, directly surpassing Zhang Shaohan's "The Original Dream" and Sun Yanzi's "Green Light," and charging fiercely toward the top spot held by "Love's Main Song."

Moreover, judging by the momentum, "Love's Main Song" is also in danger.

A male group previously unknown, simply by virtue of one drama, has successively knocked down Sun Yanzi and Elva Hsiao, who already had a fan base, on major music charts.

This sudden change left no choice for companies like Warner but to take notice.

After all, the original soundtrack of Meteor Garden is stealing the market share of these traditional music companies.

Not to mention that Harlem Yu, who sings "It's Hard to Be in Love," and Dai Peini, who sings "The Love You Want," are singers themselves and have released albums, further squeezing an already declining music market.

Not everyone is qualified to sell albums across Asia.

Even as strong as Sun Yanzi, it was only in her second album that "Green Light" and "Little Happiness" opened up the vast mainland market.

"I don't understand, are these four men handsome? I've looked and looked, and only Zhou Yumin and Yan Chengxu seem a bit handsome; the other two aren't even as good as I was in my youth."

After receiving the data collected and compiled by the marketing department, Qian Jiang, Zhou Yi's manager, looked at the huge title "Meteor Garden F4 Group Sales Data Statistics" on the report's cover page, sat in his chair, touched the hairline on his head that was gradually becoming dangerous, and his eyes were full of confusion: "And that drama, why is it so popular? The plot feels to me not even as good as a Qiong Yao drama."

"Probably, it satisfies the fantasies in many people's hearts."

In the lounge, Zhou Yi, also watching Meteor Garden, cracked melon seeds while watching, occasionally commenting on the acting and plot inconsistencies.

Sun Yanzi, sitting opposite him, watched with great interest and occasionally waved her hand, telling him not to make noise.

"It definitely satisfies fantasies. Although there are many unreasonable parts and quite a few things that feel out of place, probably due to the difference between the cultural environment in Japan and here, but this drama truly satisfies many people's fantasies."

Even Sun Yanzi, a high-achieving student, ignored those unreasonable parts and watched with great interest; the power of this drama can be imagined.

As someone from the future, Zhou Yi was thoroughly familiar with the tropes of idol dramas; Meteor Garden held no attraction for him at all.

"However, I must say, the two songs 'It's Hard to Be in Love' and 'The Love You Want' are quite good. It's just this 'Meteor Shower'... I can't figure it out, especially the lyrics."

Regarding her songs being completely overshadowed, Sun Yanzi didn't react that strongly.

After all, it was just a drop in ranking; she wouldn't lose a piece of flesh.

She was just somewhat puzzled that the song "Meteor Shower" could climb so high.

"It is a cover song, from Japan."

Sun Yanzi's manager, Chen Ze Shan, sitting beside her, spoke briefly and concisely.

The composition level of the Japanese music scene in the previous era was ahead of the Chinese music scene; this was an industry consensus.

Chen Ze Shan himself also leaned towards the school of thought that favors borrowing, but since the musician he managed was Sun Yanzi, it was hard for him to showcase his strengths.

The longer he managed Sun Yanzi at Warner, the more he missed the obedient Cai Yilin from back then.

"At present, it is only a matter of time before Elva Hsiao's 'Love's Main Song' is surpassed by F4's 'Meteor Shower'. Judging from the current data, this damn F4 is simply too popular.

"Their photo book sales, offline fan meetings, and various activities have all set new records in Taiwan."

After waving the document in his hand, Qian Jiang then took out another newspaper with a grim expression—

"Meteor Garden Is About to Win Decisively with a Record of Three Wins and Seven Losses! Can the Mainland Talent Zhou Yi Still Cope?!"

"At the beginning of the year, when Zhou Yi was unable to enter the Taiwan market, he angrily unleashed six golden songs, helping Zhang Shaohan, Sun Yanzi, and Elva Hsiao dominate the Taiwan music market for over four months.

"Now, Chai Zhiping, a native of Taiwan, used an idol drama to launch a four-member male idol group, F4, allowing Harlem Yu to return to the very top of the music market with a single song, 'It's Hard to Be in Love,' and allowing Dai Peini, who was defeated by Zhang Shaohan, Sun Yanzi, and Elva Hsiao at the beginning of the year, to return with an album.

"The six songs written and composed by the mainland talent Zhou Yi now have only one left, 'Love's Main Song,' that hasn't been surpassed by 'Meteor Shower.' But analyzing the current data, 'Meteor Shower' reaching the top is merely a matter of time.

"The only question now is whether Xie Tingfeng and Zhou Yi, the two most dazzling male singers in the Chinese music scene of the millennium, can deliver songs in their respective new albums this year that are sufficient to rival or even surpass the popularity of Meteor Garden..."

Whether it was not because of arrogance or because he wanted to use others as a weapon, Zhou Yi couldn't help but raise his eyebrows when reading this part—

Why does Xie Tingfeng have anything to do with this?

So arrogant? Do they want to take him and Xie Tingfeng out together?

"You two are representatives of the younger generation in the mainland and Xiangjiang respectively. Now, judging by the situation, some people in Taiwan seem to regard the F4 launched by Chai Zhiping as the representatives of the younger generation in Taiwan."

Seeing Zhou Yi pause during this passage, Qian Jiang, with a gloomy face, explained: "This is simply a shit theory."

This was clearly an attempt to climb up by stepping on Zhou Yi and Xie Tingfeng.

"Xie Tingfeng plans to release his new album 'Jade Butterfly' on May 23, but this album is a Cantonese album, so the Taiwan market is not within his consideration.

"According to the information I received, Emperor Entertainment Group has carefully prepared a Mandarin album for Xie Tingfeng, which should be released in October."

As a competent manager, Qian Jiang immediately provided the situation regarding Xie Tingfeng.

Since Meteor Garden had not yet become popular outside Taiwan, Emperor Entertainment Group did not pay much attention relatively speaking, treating the provocations from some Taiwan media as mere clowns.

"I am June 1, Xie Tingfeng is May 23; no wonder they say they want to take us both out in one go."

After a snort of laughter, Zhou Yi threw away the newspaper in his hand.

"But this is unfair to you; you cannot promote your new album in Taiwan, naturally missing out on a market share of at least hundreds of thousands of copies," Sun Yanzi frowned, also sensing the hostile intent.

Even if she joined forces with Zhang Shaohan and Elva Hsiao to advertise for Zhou Yi, the effect would certainly not be as obvious as Zhou Yi himself.

"They just feel they lost face because Zhou Yi killed them too badly last year and want to get their revenge this year."

Chen Ze Shan, who was good at hype, immediately saw the reason why Chai Zhiping's F4 was so highly regarded in the public opinion arena.

Regardless of the final sales, at the very least, they had to defeat Zhou Yi in this ranking battle this year and wash away the humiliation of being bloodily swept by Zhou Yi last year.

As beneficiaries, Chai Zhiping and F4 themselves certainly would not stand up to oppose it.

"In any case, when you walk the red carpet at the Golden Melody Awards the day after tomorrow, if anyone asks you this question, remember not to answer; just make a joke and pass it over."

As a manager, Qian Jiang still warned Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi shrugged noncommittally: "There shouldn't be any messy reporters on the Golden Melody Awards red carpet, right?"

"I'm talking about off the court."

(End of chapter)