[{"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-114":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},2301370,4501,"Chapter 114: The Man with the Most Real Spirit in Chinese Pop Music","the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-chapter-114",114,"\u003Cp>It was clear enough, but the lawsuit had already been filed, the process had already reached this point, and under Zhou Yi’s refusal to back down, this was bound to become a long, grueling battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one would willingly let Zhou Yi casually slap the label of “criminal” onto them without gaining any benefit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was about their careers and their money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fuck! That guy Qian Jiang should be thrown into the sea to feed fish! Zhou Jianhui is also a genius—how the hell did this marketing stunt get approved? Doesn’t he fear Zhou Yi might actually be guilty?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The editor of Next Magazine, who had just entered the Baodao market, hadn’t even sat down in his newly renovated office before facing this near-catastrophic crisis, and couldn’t help cursing loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the undisputed giant nuisance of the Hong Kong entertainment market, Next Magazine had officially begun preparing to enter the Baodao market in May this year, and first rode the wave by spreading rumors about Zhou Yi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its sister publication, Apple Daily, had exaggerated Zhou Yi’s supposed background even further, crafting the lies with such vivid detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its founder, Li Zhiying, had even prepared for Zhou Yi to sue him, aiming to leverage Zhou Yi’s unique status and explosive fame to instantly boost Next Magazine and Apple Daily’s recognition in Baodao and score a smashing opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, the lawsuit had indeed begun—yet the downside was that Next Magazine wasn’t the only media outlet sued; it was merely one of over thirty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The anticipated surge in visibility never came; instead, Zhou Yi used the combined reputation of thirty-seven Baodao media outlets as a stepping stone to promote his new album, “Jiangnan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was unbearable!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Find me the contact details of everyone around him—even his rumored lovers. Forget the other fake news; I refuse to believe all his romantic rumors are fabricated!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter the cost, I want real, verifiable dirt on Zhou Yi!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost simultaneously, thirty-seven media outlets—including Next Magazine and Apple Daily—made the same decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s no smoke without fire; if Zhou Yi had so many rumors swirling around him, at least a few must be true—they refused to believe they couldn’t dig up a few cases of betrayal and abandonment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So far, we’ve sued thirty-seven media outlets in Baodao, fourteen in Hong Kong, and twelve in mainland China.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>May 31, mainland China, capital city, Warner Maitian Building, Zhou Yi’s lounge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Jiang reported, his voice slightly excited: “The entire three regions are shocked by our actions, especially Baodao. Before you, no one had ever sued media outlets—but they did it one by one, and never with such massive momentum.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re the first singer in the domestic entertainment industry to sue this many media outlets at once—this is truly pioneering. Your current level of public discussion even surpasses when you crushed the Baodao music scene last year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Most importantly, because you chose to fight hard and refused to settle, all the rumors that once clung to you have collapsed in the public’s mind on their own.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your actions have made people feel you’re confident and unshakable, which indirectly proves those news stories are completely baseless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, among young people, because of your defiant, unyielding stance against every media outlet spreading lies, your popularity has exploded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This “one man against the world” drama perfectly struck the sweet spot of countless middle-schoolers dreaming of heroism and young people eager to challenge authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Put bluntly, given Zhou Yi’s current momentum among the younger generation, if he dropped dead on the day his second album “Jiangnan” was released, he’d be instantly enshrined as a god and never come down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially in Baodao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the place that first pressured Zhou Yi and treated him unfairly, Baodao fans were already resentful. Now, seeing Zhou Yi stand firm against the lying media, their admiration for their idol deepened even further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The idols you fans support are all spineless—look at our Zhou Yi, he’s a man who fears no power and never bows!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder he’s the first real hip-hop pioneer in Chinese pop—his whole thing is authenticity, his whole vibe is real!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the idol stands tall, the fans feel proud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the most stubborn fans of Xie Tingfeng had to admit: Zhou Yi isn’t the type who says one thing and does another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s genuinely real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When trouble comes, he doesn’t hide—he steps up!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Given this level of buzz, if we can achieve a decent conversion rate, your second album could have an absolutely terrifying first-week sales figure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the first singer in the domestic entertainment industry to play this game, Zhou Yi is receiving enormous attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Broadly speaking, what he’s doing now is challenging the long-standing, tacitly accepted rules of this industry—if he succeeds, he might truly reform the entertainment climate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Provided he doesn’t crash and burn, and no irrevocable black material is uncovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How are Xie Tingfeng’s new album sales going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing the report, Zhou Yi, thinking of his only sales rival in Asia this year, unusually asked about the release status of the Hong Kong king’s new album.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no choice—Xie Tingfeng was at the peak of his life: his popularity was through the roof, his music album “Jade Butterfly” had exploded with both critical acclaim and depth, and in October he’d release another Mandarin album, “Century Prophecy,” also expected to be a massive hit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His rock-themed album “Jade Butterfly” alone had over ten versions, sold overseas, and led far ahead of all other singers of the same era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though none of its songs reached the same level of widespread recognition as his career-defining hit “Thank You for Loving Me 1999,” the sales figures were undeniably strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Historically, it was precisely these two albums that allowed him to defeat numerous Japanese and Korean singers and claim the Asia Region Highest Sales Award at next year’s World Music Awards—the real coronation of Asia’s King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How to describe the prestige of this award?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s put it this way: this year’s winner was Japanese queen Hamasaki Ayumi; the 2000 winner was Japan’s strongest monster, Utada Hikaru.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His album ‘Jade Butterfly’ was released on May 23 and broke double platinum—100,000 copies—in Hong Kong within three days. Exactly one week later, total sales on the mainland have surpassed 400,000.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of Zhou Yi’s biggest current album-sales rival, Qian Jiang’s expression grew serious: “His ‘Jade Butterfly’ is selling extremely well in Cantonese-speaking regions, and has received both critical acclaim and commercial success.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not bad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi wasn’t surprised by the number—he’d done everything he could, had already maximized his exposure in the massive Baodao market, and now the final sales conversion was entirely up to fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, it wasn’t just Warner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Xie Tingfeng’s new album had been out for a week, numerous media outlets, having seen its sales figures, turned their attention to Zhou Yi, who was still embroiled in legal turmoil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the only young singer last year who could match Xie Tingfeng in both popularity and sales, Zhou Yi’s new album performance was their top priority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially Emperor Entertainment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi’s album performance was crucial to their ambition of reviving the glory of the “Tan-Zhang rivalry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Xie Tingfeng had delivered this year's first report card.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of Xie Tingfeng’s staggering results, Warner urgently halted Zhou Yi’s personal rest period and accelerated his promotional tours across the mainland and Hong Kong, dashing Zhou Yi’s hope to visit the “Pink Lady” set during this window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>June 5, 2001, the song “Jiangnan” was submitted to radio stations across mainland China, Hong Kong, and Baodao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>June 6, amid a storm of noise, Zhou Yi’s second solo album, “Jiangnan,” officially launched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Some data was indeed vague, but I checked Xie’s award multiple times—based on grammar, official award ceremony videos, and related reports—it’s clearly the Asia Region award.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 1999, the highest Asian sales were Utada Hikaru, so she won the 2000 award;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 2000, the highest Asian sales were Hamasaki Ayumi, so she won the 2001 award.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 2001, the highest Asian sales were Xie Tingfeng, so he’ll win the 2002 award.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………………………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS2: I stayed up all night yesterday and can’t keep going—I’ll sleep early today to adjust this weird update schedule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting tomorrow, I’ll resume updates around 9:30 PM.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tomorrow will still be four updates, all posted together at 9:30 PM.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1391,"2026-06-20T07:33:41.161Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4efca8176e0fd6d58c55e494352cfac332c23b5558f97b5032da8a13dcf25e1d","the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-chapter-115","the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-chapter-113",883,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-cover.jpg"]