Chapter 148: I Will Lead the Charge (Three-in-One 6k!)

Mad! Mad!

Everyone's fucking mad!

Is the new century's trend changing too fast for them to keep up, or is Warner Music going mad along with Zhou Yi?

Is this something that can be said?!

The reporters, whose breathing had become rapid, raised their eyes to look at the young man on stage, focused under the camera lenses. With an air of calm composure, he showed not a trace of hysteria. Even Warner's General Manager, Zhou Jianhui, made no comment, simply letting Zhou Yi do as he pleased.

Is this still Warner?

"Oh, right, there's one more thing."

Seeing that the reporters below, stunned into silence, had not raised a single hand to ask questions, Zhou Yi adjusted the microphone on the table, leaned in, and added: "I've noticed the public opinion these past few days. Ultimately, this matter started because Chow Yun-fat spoke without restraint.

"If Mr. Chow Yun-fat is still a man, then don't hide behind your fans pretending to be innocent, letting them charge and fight for you against my fans.

"If you still have the guts, then stand up yourself and fight me.

"I feel for my innocent fans who were scolded. They did nothing; simply because they are my fans, they were cursed to the hilt by Chow Yun-fat's fans. Then, when they fought back, they were belittled by the media.

"Is this fair? Wasn't it Chow Yun-fat who was at fault in the first place?

"Many media outlets outside claim he apologized, but in reality, he merely issued a statement. From start to finish, I never received an apology call directly from Chow Yun-fat. What kind of apology is that?"

Having spoken all that in one breath, Zhou Yi paused. His gaze swept down from above over the crowd of media reporters below, his face showing contempt as he sneered: "I'm done speaking."

With that, Zhou Yi did not linger. He rose directly and walked down from the podium, ending this brief yet explosive press conference—

As his manager, Qian Jiang immediately waved for security personnel to follow, yet the progress remained difficult.

Reporters' minds filled with questions surged forward one after another, almost shoving microphones into Zhou Yi's mouth, desperate to know what he was thinking.

Unfortunately, the security personnel arranged by Warner this time were too elite. Though squeezed and struggling, they still maintained a clear distance between Zhou Yi and the reporters, leaving behind only a pile of anxious shouts—

"Zhou Yi! Zhou Yi!! Zhou Yi!!!"

……………………………………………………

"Damn it! Who does he think he is?! Who does he think he is?!"

At Chow Yun-fat's company, with his past exposed, Chow Yun-fat, in a rage, smashed his favorite tea set. On the TV screen, after Zhou Yi had left, Warner's General Manager Zhou Jianhui was still delivering the final remarks of this press conference.

Thanks to Warner's resources, this press conference was broadcast live.

That is to say, Zhou Yi had publicly revealed, point by point, Chow Yun-fat's failed experiences in Hollywood, broadcasting them to all viewers in the two shores and three regions currently watching the live TV broadcast.

For Chow Yun-fat, this was undoubtedly fatal.

For the general public, who find it hard to access information on Western film achievements, "Double Zhou, One Sing" had already become the fixed star representation in their minds. In their impression, the name Chow Yun-fat represented a box office hit.

Now, Zhou Yi directly unleashed a heavy hammer, shattering Chow Yun-fat's Hollywood filter into pieces.

"He wants me to appear personally? Is he worthy? Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung wouldn't dare speak to me like this!"

Seeing his wife, who acted as his manager, bend down to sweep up the tea set fragments, the anger on Chow Yun-fat's face finally eased slightly.

"You are at fault from the start on this matter; after all, you indeed did not call Zhou Yi to apologize. The recording by the Next Magazine reporter is right there."

Chen Huilian analyzed calmly: "Warner dared to hold this press conference precisely because they saw this point. We absolutely cannot be led by the nose now.

"You cannot appear personally now because you cannot cross this hurdle."

"I will sue him! I will sue him!"

"No, you can't win the lawsuit."

Seeing her husband nearly confused by rage, Chen Huilian could only helplessly inform him: "He studied law; he is very smart. He did not put those rumors caught from the wind or even comments by some artists in the circle about you on the press conference.

"He looks arrogant, but his examples are actually very cautious. The Hollywood films he starred in that lost money, the elevator incident from before, and even the words he said at the Golden Horse Awards listed at the press conference are all facts with evidence."

With iron-clad evidence laid out here, even if you invited immortals, they couldn't overturn the case. If you sue, you will definitely lose.

"..."

Chow Yun-fat, choked into silence, almost couldn't catch his breath.

Damn!

"But don't worry; your connections over so many years were not gained for nothing. I will do my best to muddy the waters. What you need to do now is remain silent as much as possible, hide behind the scenes, and don't speak rashly. Time will smooth everything over."

Chen Huilian thought for a moment and quickly fed her husband a reassurance: "On the 7th, there is the Hong Kong Celebrity Football Charity Match. Xie Tingfeng will also participate. At that time, his and Zhou Yi's performance on the field will become the new focus of media attention, and your heat will pass very quickly."

Letting Chow Yun-fat, who was at the center of the storm, remain silent and only allow his fans to charge for him, then finding a large number of media people and stars to speak well of Chow Yun-fat openly and secretly, to turn around the image and reputation he had destroyed for himself at the Warner press conference.

Riding the favorable wind of the North American box office success of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," this matter would soon be swept under the rug. Instead, Zhou Yi's personal image might suffer damage in the end.

"No one is perfect, and excessive rigidity leads to breaking" is a social principle recognized by many middle-aged people.

The only trouble is that Zhou Yi's origin is from the mainland.

However, Chen Huilian could not worry about that now. With explosive action, she first contacted Qiong Yao. As far as she knew, Zhou Yi had secretly offended Qiong Yao in Taiwan last year.

As for Hong Kong, there were even more people to find.

Just blowing some wind in the newspapers; there was no need to speak for Chow Yun-fat. Simply adding a sentence affirming Chow Yun-fat's past would be enough.

"I don't quite understand what happened in between, but I do know Fa-zi. He is a very humble person. I think this young man named Zhou Yi might have some misunderstanding with Fa-zi.

"Young people are easily impulsive, right? It's understandable. Once it's cleared up, it will be fine."

On the afternoon of August 1st, Qiong Yao and Qiong Yao's daughter-in-law, attending an event in Hong Kong, were asked about this matter by media reporters chasing the hot topic, casually confusing the right and wrong of the entire incident.

Qiong Yao's statement was like opening a floodgate; some Taiwanese stars friendly with Qiong Yao followed suit to add their voices.

And in Hong Kong, the responses of Anita Mui, Eric Tsang, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Huang Qiusheng, Kent Tong, Lin Xi, and others completely suppressed Zhou Yi's reputation in Hong Kong—

Anita Mui: "I didn't pay special attention to this matter; I vaguely heard about it. These past few days, I've been preparing for the charity football match. However, based on my understanding of Fa-zi, there might really be some misunderstanding in this matter."

Asked about his view on this incident, Eric Tsang also happily muddied the waters: "Zhou Yi might not be quite adapted to life here in Hong Kong yet, plus his young temper is straightforward. This is no big deal. We are all artists; harmony is precious..."

The connections Chow Yun-fat had cultivated in the Hong Kong and Taiwan entertainment circles for over twenty years were far beyond what Zhou Yi could compare to. Even Guo Fucheng, the top male star of Warner, and Zheng Xiuwen, the top female star, maintained neutrality in this matter. After speaking a couple of good words for Zhou Yi at most, they both made excuses to promote their movies and left Hong Kong, this place of trouble.

Zhou Yi's weakness of having shallow roots in both Hong Kong and Taiwan, despite his rapid rise, was exposed without doubt at this moment.

Even though he relied on Warner, Warner was not the sole dominant power in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Except for a few, most record companies, including Sony and PolyGram, clapped with delight upon seeing Zhou Yi fall into a public opinion siege due to charging alone, wishing Zhou Yi would become irrelevant right then and there.

The market is only this big; since last year, Warner's strong resurgence has swallowed up most of the market, leaving many record companies so furious their teeth ache. Now, directly confronting Chow Yun-fat, they have found an opportunity to stir up trouble behind the scenes.

"Zhou Yi is being too much. Everyone can see the audience numbers for Chow Yun-fat's movies at his peak. He hasn't even made a name for himself in the Western music scene yet, but he wrote an English song and can publicly mock an elder?"

"It wasn't a big deal to begin with. As an elder, Chow Yun-fat issued an apology announcement, yet Zhou Yi is still so aggressive; it's a bit much to not let the matter rest even when you have the upper hand."

"He's just arrogant. Thinking he's famous and his records sell well, he looks down on this and that. I think Chow Yun-fat's evaluation of him is very real; without protection, people like this will be beaten to death sooner or later."

"It's just a petty person rising to power. His father used to be a painter, and he didn't experience a wealthy life as a child, living a life that was both bitter and dirty. Now that life has suddenly become wealthy, the brain scorched by paint fumes has short-circuited..."

As time passed, although Warner, with its two fists unable to fight four hands, did not let Zhou Yi be suppressed completely one-sidedly, it was still difficult to match the "strangulation" of several major record companies joining forces with Chow Yun-fat's social circle against Zhou Yi.

Instead, the fans who were moved by Zhou Yi's statements at the press conference became even more united under these circumstances, fighting people on various fronts every day as if waging a "holy war."

Today cursing Chow Yun-fat as trash, tomorrow cursing Guo Fucheng for lacking backbone, highlighting the ability to fight ten with one.

"Stars from other companies let their fans fight each other while they hide behind the scenes, collecting money while everyone gets along. Zhou Yi jumped out directly to go head-to-head with Chow Yun-fat so we wouldn't be wronged; this is a qualified idol!"

Even though they were at a disadvantage, Zhou Yi's fans never felt any emotional low; instead, they felt as if Zhou Yi was with them.

Zhou Yi, the main person involved, has already taken the lead; what are these fans of his still standing there doing?!

Charge along with him!

Facts proved that the motivational effect of "Charge for me" and "Charge with me" are completely different.

Moreover, Zhou Yi was not without helpers.

As one of the Twin Stars, Sun Yanzi naturally needed no further mention; Elva Hsiao and Angela Chang were still on the front line of support. It was just that Zhou Yi did not expect that Fan Bingbin, Lu Yi, and Zhou Xun had all expressed their support for him in public.

As for others like Liu Tao, who became slightly famous for appearing in the music video for Zhou Yi's lead song "Jiangnan," and Chen Hao from the "Pink Ladies" cast, they were directly ignored because their fame was too small.

"I understand the logic, but what's the deal with Lu Yi?"

Contrary to outside speculation, Zhou Yi's mindset, completely unaffected by any pressure, remained as steady as an old dog; instead, he curiously asked Qian Jiang about the situation with these two.

"According to my understanding, Lu Yi simply couldn't stand the discrimination from the Hong Kong and Taiwan side either, so he happened to charge along with you; anyway, his fame in the mainland is already booming."

Qian Jiang, who had been constantly worried about Zhou Yi's psychological state since the public opinion fermented and almost drove himself crazy, scratched his head: "However, as far as I know, Lu Yi was scolded after he went back."

Lu Yi went back and was scolded, yet he's still okay...

"Forget it, how is the song?" Zhou Yi, who had it on his mind, asked about the song.

Qian Jiang's spirits immediately perked up: "It's ready."

Because of this verbal battle, Zhou Yi directly changed the content of the music video for "Stubborn" to use on-site footage, which was equivalent to directly carving people onto the pillar of shame.

Zhou Jianhui even specially found a special-character actor who had previously served as Chow Yun-fat's stunt double several times to play the person manipulating public opinion and suppressing Zhou Yi in the music video.

Don't ask why he came; just ask, and the answer is that Warner wielded its money power.

"August 7th, that charity football match; did the organizers not cancel the invitation?" Zhou Yi, taking the schedule from Qian Jiang's hands, raised an eyebrow with a playful look.

He's made such a huge fuss about this, and he's still playing football?

Don't end up kicking people when he gets on the field.

"They wouldn't dare; the tickets are already sold. Moreover, no one can publicly accuse you of this; Chow Yun-fat is in the wrong, and others can at most say you are young and impetuous."

Qian Jiang sneered and curled his lip: "There are also several record companies attempting to crush you with psychological warfare; do they really think Zhou Jianhui is a vegetarian who can't find out?"

"Wanting me to have a mental breakdown is purely superfluous."

Zhou Yi glanced at the list of participants for the charity football match on the document; Zeng Zhiwei, Tong Chun-yi, Michael Miu, and others were prominently featured on the list, and the cheerleading squad led by Anita Mui was also on the appearance list: "Uncle Qian, if I kick them into a breakdown on the field, they shouldn't start fighting, right?"

"... Probably, won't they?"

Qian Jiang answered somewhat hesitantly: "However, it's a friendly match; you'd better not turn it into a 'friendship-ending' match."

Zhou Yi happily hummed a little tune: "I'll try my best."

August 2nd, just as the outside world was in a uproar, Warner officially sent the single "Stubborn" from Zhou Yi's graduation EP to the charts—

"This is a graduation gift from Zhou Yi to himself and to his fans.

"We hope everyone can spread their wings and soar in the new century and live a very good life, especially friends who have just graduated; we hope everyone suffers fewer setbacks and hardships.

"Of course, it is even better to suffer no setbacks or hardships."

These words were written by Zhou Yi himself on the inside pages of the EP, and they are also Warner's official promotional slogan.

Combined with Zhou Yi's recent situation of being jointly attacked in public opinion, these three sentences made quite a few people frown—

Oh no, did it become material?

And for Zhou Yi's fans, after learning this news from Warner's official announcement, each and every one was overjoyed.

Due to the special circumstances of the situation, the moment Zhou Yi's new song was sent to the radio stations, the data began to skyrocket. The highly infectious lyrics paired with the restless drumbeats of pop rock almost immediately made everyone who heard the song immerse themselves in the "suppressed" emotions and stubbornness of Zhou Yi under heavy pressure—

"When I am different from the world,

"Then let me be different.

"Persistence for me is using hardness to overcome hardness."

Zhou Yi's deliberately lowered singing voice attracted everyone who heard the song.

The lyrics are hard not to associate with reality, yet they are full of immersion; the whole song is filled with an inspiring, uplifting flavor—

"The direction against the wind is more suitable for flying,

"I am not afraid of ten thousand people blocking me, I only fear surrendering to myself!"

Accompanying the gradual rise in Zhou Yi's singing voice, the special-character actor in the simple music video, whose name never appeared but who bore some resemblance to Chow Yun-fat, suddenly appeared, sitting on a trumpet-shaped Wang Zuo laughing wildly, surrounded by many people laughing along with him.

Although there was no Chow Yun-fat, there were shadows of Chow Yun-fat everywhere.

Furthermore, because the EP filming requirements were not high, Warner even added a huge pile of burning newspapers—those were real newspapers bought from the market, arranged in a circle around Zhou Yi, with flames burning fiercely.

Zhou Yi, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, strolled through the mountain of knives and sea of fire, his eyes filled with determination. As he raised his head and sang loudly, the explosive drumbeats exploded along with the sparks in the listeners' eyes!

"My proud stubbornness, I clench my fists and absolutely will not let go,

"The next stop, is it heaven?

"Even if disappointed, do not despair!"

Facing the combined efforts of several record companies to kick someone when they are down, Zhou Yi, after the press conference, expressed his attitude with the most definite singing voice, deafeningly loud!

Watching Zhou Yi single-handedly take on Chow Yun-fat while the fans who followed him, ready to fight him in a real-life brawl, felt a blazing fire burning deep within their hearts!

Damn it! It's burning up!

Chow Yun-fat, right? Tsui Hark, right? PolyGram, right? Sony, right?

Who else? All of you, come at me together!

Whoever chickens out is a grandson!!!

Since being submitted to major radio stations for charting on the morning of the 2nd, thanks to this unprecedented event in the entertainment circle orchestrated by Zhou Yi, "Stubborn," which had never enjoyed such top-tier treatment in his past life, shattered all the way through the mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan in just two short days, becoming the battle anthem of Zhou Yi's die-hard fans and general fanbase with an unrivaled posture, claiming the number one spot!

Even "Meteor Garden," which was gaining strong momentum, couldn't become a roadblock, and not even Zhou Yi's own "Jiangnan" could offer any resistance.

Although it held the number one spot for only a brief two days, the achievement of simultaneously topping the radio charts across the mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan on August 4th directly created history in the Chinese music industry!

Chow Yun-fat's face turned green.

Although he didn't sing, that didn't mean he didn't understand songs.

Moreover, wasn't the unnamed, surname-less figure in the "Stubborn" MV, representing the negative connotation, none other than him?

Does Warner think he's blind?!

And with the influence of the lyrics of "Stubborn" fitting the reality too perfectly, based on Zhou Yi's fame, as soon as the lyrics were released, various media outlets eager to stir up trouble interpreted them in all sorts of ways.

But without exception, none of them could criticize the lyrics of this song.

There was no lovey-dovey sentiment, nor were there the hip-hop elements that many people had disliked in Zhou Yi's past works. Instead, the content was positive and uplifting, full of encouragement and hope.

"It's hard to imagine how much psychological pressure Zhou Yi has been under recently. According to my analysis, this song was likely added at the last minute or the lyrics were changed because he encountered this incident.

"Yet even under these circumstances, Zhou Yi still did not give up on his convictions.

"Chow Yun-fat indeed went too far in this matter; he is a senior, yet he bullied the young..."

On the Peking University BBS, once "Stubborn" was released, it blew the place up into a one-man show for Zhou Yi's fans and righteous bystanders.

The infectious power of a song is always stronger than the effect of mere verbal sparring.

"To be fair, the lyrics of this song aren't particularly outstanding when laid out, but in their straightforward narration, they make one feel the power and emotion the song intends to express.

"I had heard before that the Hong Kong entertainment circle discriminated against mainland artists; it's hard to imagine if Zhou Yi suffered some grievance over there in Hong Kong, he just graduated from university..."

Judging solely from the lyrics, the image of a Zhou Yi burdened with countless grievances immediately leaped off the page.

Not to mention Zhou Yi's sensitive mainland identity.

Since the Hong Kong circle began moving north, friction between the mainland entertainment industry and the Hong Kong entertainment industry had been increasing day by day. Usually, mainland artists chose to swallow their anger and retreat, and even big shots like Li Lianjie and Yu Rongguang were no exception.

But this time was different.

"The young and fiery Zhou Yi tore up the tiger skin with his singing; he is only 20 years old until December this year, while Chow Yun-fat is already 46. A senior discriminating against a fresh graduate behind closed doors, and even trying to use his influence to crush him..."

Besides Zhou Yi's die-hard fanbase, college students, led by forums like the Peking University BBS, were the first to become indignant.

Never doubt the action capability of normal college students in this era; various black materials about Chow Yun-fat, and even black materials about those who had spoken up for him or tried to smooth things over, were dug up almost completely.

"I used to really like watching 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,' turns out he's just a bully with a weak core, ah, pfft!"

"The strong draw their swords against the stronger, the weak draw their swords against the weaker; Chow Yun-fat is just like that."

"..."

Thanks to the influence among the youth, young people across the mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan used the internet, this new medium of the era, to rapidly exchange their views on Chow Yun-fat.

The transmission speed far exceeding that of traditional media allowed "Stubborn" to spread at a speed unimaginable to ordinary people.

Of course, what was spreading along with it was also Chow Yun-fat's reputation, which was gradually crumbling.

On August 7, while Zhou Yi had already set off to scout the location for the charity football match, Chow Yun-fat received several thunderclaps:

"Several mainland endorsements currently in negotiation have withdrawn their contracts, and investors for two movies currently in talks have temporarily shelved them for reasons."

His wife, Annie Chui's words made Chow Yun-fat's face extremely embarrassed: "Also, when Jackie Chan and Li Lianjie in the United States were interviewed, they were asked about this matter; they did not avoid it and chose to stand on Zhou Yi's side and speak up for him.

"Additionally, older entertainment figures in the mainland, such as Chen Daoming, seem to be planning to use this incident involving Zhou Yi to launch an attack on the Hong Kong entertainment circle."

Damn!

Am I, Chow Yun-fat, going to become the sinner of the Hong Kong entertainment circle?!

6k!

1k more than yesterday!

I am truly strong!

(End of this chapter)