[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty":3,"chapter-the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-chapter-113":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The King of 2000: A Mandopop Dynasty",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2301369,4501,"Chapter 113: This Little Brat Is Acting Weird (Fourth Update)","the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-chapter-113",113,"\u003Cp>\"Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity, Zhou Yi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the foot of Mount Lushan, Liu Tao, who arrived immediately after Zhou Yi’s arrival to thank him, bowed her posture low—even though she was three years older than him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the entertainment industry, fame is the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her most famous role to date was still in “Foreign Bride, Local Husband,” a series few outside Guangdong had even seen; her agent had suggested she submit her resume to Warner simply because she was born and raised in Jiangxi, thinking it might give her an edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The truth proved that Zhou Yi had indeed pulled her, his fellow provincial, out of obscurity—leaving her pleasantly surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t mention it, Sister Tao. I watched your performance in ‘Foreign Bride, Local Husband’—it left a deep impression on me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke the polite words, Zhou Yi handed his luggage to his assistant and smiled in greeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be fair, the young Liu Tao at this moment still lacked the mature, wifely charm she would later become famed for in Zhou Yi’s memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actors with Liu Tao’s type of aura were actually quite rare in the domestic entertainment industry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her features weren’t striking, her face shape wasn’t ideal, and she wasn’t even a trained actor—she graduated from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and Trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet somehow, when combined, these traits radiated an unexpectedly gentle quality, especially when portraying roles with tenderness and maternal warmth—her uniqueness added significant depth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was hard to say whether this stemmed from her non-traditional path into acting, or whether her past life experiences had deeply shaped her, subtly influencing her performance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more remarkable was that as she aged, the slightly rustic quality of her youthful eyes and expression faded entirely; this gentle aura didn’t vanish—it surpassed her younger self.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why, later on, her portrayals of virtuous wives and mothers—or roles steeped in divine or maternal essence—outshone her performances in other types of characters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given her genuine talent, Zhou Yi had no objection to helping his fellow provincial, especially since this woman was destined to become a top-tier TV actress in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for her much-criticized personal life, that was none of his business—he wasn’t marrying her. Zhou Yi knew his own limits well; he had enough dirt under his own nails to avoid laughing at others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, Sister Tao, my acting’s probably not great—if I keep messing up takes, I’ll need your patience.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing his acting—only barely adequate after Zhou Xun’s brief coaching—he was considerate enough to be upfront before filming this narrative-driven MV.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this wasn’t a self-portrait; his main job was singing, not acting. It was normal for his skills to lag behind professional actors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as everything was ready, Zhou Yi received a long-awaited call from Chen Hao—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the instant Zhou Yi saw the note, he teased a remark as he pressed the answer button; Liu Tao, seeing this, merely noted down the name “Chen Hao” and stepped back discreetly to avoid disturbing him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he saw the caller ID, Zhou Yi smirked as he answered, and Liu Tao, noticing, quietly noted the name “Chen Hao,” then stepped away respectfully to give him space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other end of the line, Chen Hao—back in Shanghai filming “The Pink Ladies”—looked down at the newspapers she’d bought, a faint smile touching her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, who started it first? Legally speaking, isn’t this self-defense?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi sat on a nearby bench, gazing at Mount Lushan in the distance: \"How was filming in Japan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not great. Language barrier. I just stayed on set or tagged along with people who spoke Japanese—didn’t buy much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of the Japanese shoot for “The Pink Ladies,” Chen Hao’s tone carried rare complaints: \"I lost all desire to shop when I couldn’t even speak Japanese.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s easy—I can teach you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No thanks. I’m afraid you’ll corrupt my purity of thought.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Hao, well aware of Zhou Yi’s nature, laughed it off—and tossed him a black mark that made him indignant, muttering under his breath about how he really did know Japanese.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That skill was something he’d picked up in his past life from anime and tokusatsu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enough muttering. I can hear you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Hao, exasperated by his transparent attempt to deny it, snapped: \"Instead of that, think about how you’re going to wrap this up—this lawsuit isn’t going to end anytime soon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you’re overwhelmed, go back to Beijing, take a break from work, and wait until the legal mess settles.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting among the hills, Zhou Yi picked at his nails and smiled: \"I thought you’d also tell me to settle privately with the media.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You never back down from something you’ve decided on, do you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her hotel room, Chen Hao set down her makeup mirror, pressed her lips—still coated in red lipstick—then switched to speakerphone as she reapplied her makeup: \"Since we’re still investment partners, when you lose miserably, I’ll reluctantly lend you a hand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi, hearing the sounds, asked curiously: \"You’re doing your makeup?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, I just got back, have a day off—going out shopping with Xue Jianing and the others. Anything you want? I can pick it up for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No need. After I finish this MV, I’ll come visit you on set and we can talk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calculating his schedule, Zhou Yi figured he’d have a few days off by late May and yawned: \"Alright, I’ve got to go—my MV shoot’s waiting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm. Stay safe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the call ended, Chen Hao, freshly made up, rose to leave—when the hotel room door was flung open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Chen Hao, are you ready? We’re leaving.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Jianing bounced in, full of energy; behind her came Liu Ruoying and Zhang Yan, both also leads in “The Pink Ladies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Coming right away.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Hao quickly packed away her compact and makeup kit, rising from the sofa. Liu Ruoying, entering after her, noticed the newspapers spread on the coffee table—front pages all screaming about Zhou Yi suing media outlets across the mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman’s instinct told her Chen Hao had just been on the phone with Zhou Yi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Hao, now in casual clothes, slipped out to shop. Among them, only Liu Ruoying had real fame on the mainland—the rest were still relatively unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, they wouldn’t be mobbed on the street for autographs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Chen Hao, Chen Hao, aren’t you writing your thesis? What’s your topic? I can help you brainstorm...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though all born in 1978, Xue Jianing had entered Shanghai Theatre Academy in 1995—graduating earlier than Chen Hao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thesis? I already have an idea...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………………………………………………………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Idea? This is your idea?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>May 20, Beijing, Peking University.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Cai Zhuoyan and Zhong Xintong’s MVs wrapped, Zhou Yi’s professor received his early draft of the graduation thesis—and for a moment, thought he’d misread it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After years of teaching, he’d seen countless theses citing classics—and even ones inventing legal clauses. But Zhou Yi’s? Using his own recent lawsuit as a case study? First time ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You went into the entertainment industry to sing, and I feel like you went on a social practice trip?\" The professor scanned a few pages, then fell into thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This little brat is acting weird.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could he have filed the lawsuit just to write this thesis?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Warner, having completed the recording of the “Jiangnan” album and now rushing production, began its next move under Zhou Jianhui and Qian Jiang’s dual strategy—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the mainland, they played it light; in Hong Kong, they leveraged its thriving press to paint Zhou Yi as a wronged man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, strike Taiwan hard!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>May 26—overnight, half of Taiwan saw Zhou Yi’s name suddenly dominate newspaper front pages—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Yi’s Fury! Half of Taiwan’s Press Suffers!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First in Entertainment History! Second List of Media Outlets Sued by Zhou Yi!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Yi: Fighting Alone Against Unstoppable Rumors!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Yi: Cleansing the Entertainment Industry’s Media Environment—It’s Our Duty!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something’s off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Record company reps, expecting Zhou Yi to stop after his initial scare-tactic lawsuits, now all frowned—watching helplessly as Warner’s solo legal storm swept across Taiwan and then the entire domestic entertainment industry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Warner’s full-force promotion, Zhou Yi—who couldn’t even promote his own album in Taiwan—had, in a way no one anticipated, blasted an unprecedented level of visibility into the Taiwanese market before his album even dropped!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it! What the hell is this little brat playing at?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>May 28.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lone hero Zhou Yi, charging alone against the “evil forces,” had become so hot in Taiwan that his name was nearly matching the buzz of the currently airing “Meteor Garden” drama!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out of ten people, five talked about “Meteor Garden”—and three or four, even five, talked about Zhou Yi, this tough singer standing up to lying media.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To amplify this momentum, Warner deliberately delayed Zhou Yi’s official album release date to June 6—a lucky day for “sixes”—to let the public discourse ferment further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when Warner quietly announced, riding this wave of hype, that Zhou Yi’s new album would drop on June 6, every “victim” suddenly realized—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warner’s fucking bastards!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who the hell is this heartless bastard?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Going this far just to promote an album?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t paparazzi have lives too?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of Zhou Yi’s age, everyone had instantly overlooked that he was only nineteen—so the blame fell squarely on Qian Jiang, his Hong Kong-based agent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1570,"2026-06-20T07:33:41.161Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","6bd81867bae5b15494a56f57cb47ecc4e70fb29c9789b7ec32251cc241630c26","the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-chapter-114","the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-chapter-112",883,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-cover.jpg"]