Chapter 247: The Real CCTV's Favorite Son

"Noon?"

Because of the approaching New Year, Fan Bingbin, a workaholic who had finally put her work on hold temporarily, also received a call from a friend—

With the high ratings of "Young Bao Qingtian 2," she, who played the female lead in the series, had obviously made some noise in the mainland entertainment circle.

After confirming she had secured the female lead role in the movie "The Lion Roars," her friends in the Imperial Capital suddenly increased in number.

"Alright, no problem. I'm resting recently anyway."

It's just gathering with friends; meeting new people isn't bad. More friends mean more paths.

After applying light makeup, Fan Bingbin, glancing at the time, changed into a Shengtian Changfu inner layer, wrapped herself in a white down jacket, and walked out of her home.

Upon arriving at the gathering spot mentioned by her friend, Fan Bingbin, who came to expand her new network, unexpectedly saw someone she was quite familiar with—

The only female friend Zhou Yi had publicly talked about at length and thanked during the interview program "Super Visit," and also the only female friend Zhou Yi brought with him when he first attended the Global Music Awards after his debut: Chen Hao.

"Hello, I am Fan Bingbin."

"Hello Bingbin, Chen Hao."

Chen Hao, who also didn't expect to see Jin Suo here, obviously looked somewhat surprised, especially after the friend who organized the gathering introduced them and she discovered that Fan Bingbin was actually her fellow townsman.

"Chen Hao, you don't know, Bingbin she..."

After the highest-profile Fan Bingbin arrived, the scene obviously became much livelier. For Chen Hao, who naturally liked to keep a low profile, her relationship with Zhou Yi was basically treated as boring gossip fabricated by tabloids.

But Fan Bingbin was different.

She had already been extremely intimate with Zhou Yi in the MV for "Love Me or Him," and it was rumored that Zhou Yi had helped her escape the clutches of Qiong Yao's company.

And precisely because of Zhou Yi, she had not been retaliated against by Qiong Yao and her daughter-in-law.

Look at Zhao Wei, whose popularity and reputation plummeted from the clouds to the valley in an instant recently due to the "Benzi Qi" incident and the "Splashing Dung Gate"; rumors say this is just a black-hand warning because she was unwilling to renew her contract with Qiong Yao's company.

Although this rumor has never been confirmed by anyone.

"Wish your movie sells well next year, Bingbin."

"Bingbin..."

Fan Bingbin, who did not get lost in the praises, was constantly paying attention to the low-key Chen Hao.

If she remembered correctly, this person apparently didn't appear at Zhou Yi's victory celebration and birthday party yesterday?

Fan Bingbin, whose goal was always to defeat Zhou Yi and lock him up, had become somewhat discouraged after yesterday; after all, the speed at which Zhou Yi made money from records and singles was simply too fast, and she couldn't catch up even if she ran her horse's tail.

If it weren't for the fact that the record market was visibly being viewed pessimistically by industry insiders, she probably would have given up this grand goal and just lay flat long ago.

"Sister Chen Hao, I remember you and Zhou Yi have a very good relationship, right?"

After rolling her eyes around, Fan Bingbin walked over to Chen Hao and asked tentatively. Because Chen Hao was older than her, she called her "Sister" to get close.

"Don't believe those messy reports in the media; Bingbin, you should also know that media reporters love to exaggerate."

Chen Hao smiled slightly and said carelessly.

Seeing Fan Bingbin, one of Zhou Yi's rumored targets, ask this question, Chen Hao's heart immediately cleared up: Even if the rumors were true, this woman shouldn't pose much threat to her.

Fan Bingbin, who had not yet experienced the darkening stage, was obviously no match for Chen Hao, who had already fought through the world with Zhou Yi long ago.

Admittedly, she still held back, but Chen Hao had inadvertently felt out eight or nine-tenths of her bottom line.

Just kidding, she was a general manager after all.

"Sister, when are you returning to Qingdao? If the timing is similar, we can go together."

When the gathering was nearing its end, Fan Bingbin, who didn't know her bottom line had been mostly felt out, issued a team-up invitation to Chen Hao.

………………………………

"Together? What together? Who is going with whom?"

CCTV Building, Spring Festival Gala Rehearsal Studio.

After getting out of the car, when Sun Yanzi invited him to go with her to the dressing room, Zhou Yi disdainfully curled his lip: "I am a man who has a separate dressing room backstage at the Spring Festival Gala now; we are not on the same level."

"...???"

Sun Yanzi's eyes widened instantly: "When did this happen? Just because of your English single?"

"The English single is enough to qualify, or not enough to qualify; after all, this is my first time appearing on the Spring Festival Gala."

Zhou Yi proudly raised an eyebrow: "Mainly because of—never mind, you won't understand this logic anyway; anyway, those who understand understand."

On the surface, he was the man who had stepped in in time to hold back Zhou Jianhui because of the face of his previous singing partner coming to reconcile personally; a great merit!

"..."

Sun Yanzi, feeling underestimated, immediately got angry and puffed out her cheeks: What kind of bird talk is that, why doesn't she understand?!

"If you say that, then I have something too; I'm too lazy to tell you."

"Really? What could you possibly have?" Zhou Yi was somewhat curious.

Sun Yanzi bared her teeth: "Guess?"

"If you won't say, forget it."

Zhou Yi, who didn't indulge her at all, patted his butt and was about to leave: "Remind you, I have a separate dressing room, and I basically don't need much makeup."

"..."

Blinking her eyes, Sun Yanzi felt slightly guilty, turned back to look at her assistant, who was obviously holding back laughter; seeing the boss turn back, the assistant immediately straightened his expression and gave advice: "Um, boss, I think Brother Yi makes sense. We can borrow his dressing room to do our makeup; that way the speed will be faster."

Today was the recording rehearsal for the song-type programs of the Spring Festival Gala; everyone had to change into full makeup and clothes.

"Zhou Yi, wait for me; my team unanimously requires me to come and borrow your dressing room!" Sun Yanzi, with no right but full confidence, chased after him like stepping on wind-fire wheels.

Assistant, Makeup Artist: "..."

After entering the recording rehearsal site, the sight of people everywhere made Sun Yanzi somewhat restrain her image of baring her big teeth and almost hanging on Zhou Yi.

"A separate dressing room, awesome."

"Indeed, before, Zhou Yi shared a dressing room with others during rehearsals."

"..."

Those who learned of this today were whispering and debating among themselves.

Having a separate dressing room in the Spring Festival Gala broadcast backstage was undoubtedly a manifestation of status; no one who enjoyed such treatment was anything less than a high-ranking veteran in the industry.

But what about Zhou Yi?

This was his first time participating in the Spring Festival Gala!

"I heard Zang Tianshuo was arrested and imprisoned; his slot was directly transferred to Zhou Yi."

"There's no way around it; it just so happened that Zhou Yi had become famous over in the United States..."

To outsiders unaware of the truth, it seemed Zhou Yi had simply taken advantage of a singing slot that opened up on the Spring Festival Gala after Zang Tianshuo's withdrawal, successfully shifting from a group performance to a solo.

Admittedly, some would feel resentful, resenting CCTV for giving the slot to Zhou Yi without any re-selection process; this was completely unreasonable treatment for a favored son, the kind of spoiling, yet not a single fool dared to jump out and question it.

Selling a platinum single in the United States, breaking into the top ten on the Billboard charts, and now reportedly grinding the charts down to ninth place—this commercial achievement could wipe out every singer present.

In this era where the foreign moon is considered especially round, Zhou Yi naturally possessed the advantage of a "superior."

Wang Lihong, who had attended Zhou Yi's victory banquet just yesterday, now felt the huge gap between him and Zhou Yi for the first time—

He could only share a dressing room with mainland acts like the Yu Quan duo and the Ali Lang duo, and he was performing a main melody song that he hadn't written himself.

For his first appearance on the Spring Festival Gala, Zhou Yi not only performed a solo but sang his own song—"Yellow Race."

Sun Nan, the former number one of the mainland music scene, couldn't help but feel a bitter taste in his mouth upon seeing Zhou Yi: He was only twenty!

Twenty years old!

If Sun Nan had previously harbored thoughts of reclaiming the throne of the mainland number one, now that was truly gone, leaving only despair.

Unavoidably, Sun Nan recalled the words his friend Na Ying had warned him with: Zhou Yi was born in '81, he's twenty; you can't beat him, don't struggle.

Sun Yanzi, who had brazenly walked into Zhou Yi's dressing room with her makeup artist, also drew everyone's attention; this time, Wang Lihong was no longer surprised.

He wasn't Zhou Jielun, who had a decent relationship with the two of them and could shout out a request.

After the makeup artists, following Zhou Yi's suggestions, finished applying makeup that wasn't particularly bright blush for Sun Yanzi but merely a light, natural look, Sun Yanzi looked in the mirror, amazed: "The makeup insights you mentioned in 'Vogue Bazaar' are actually your own understanding?"

"You think, no offense, that regarding fashion understanding domestically, currently no one should be stronger than me." With only himself and Sun Yanzi left in the dressing room, Zhou Yi, sitting in the chair with his hands behind his head, habitually began to puff up.

The styling provided by Sun Yanzi's stylist and makeup artist was truly eye-watering.

Still marveling, Sun Yanzi patted her face, then as if remembering something, glanced at the already closed door and said, "Chen Zeshan told me he received a sponsorship invitation from Sina; do you think I should accept?"

Zhou Yi turned his head in surprise: "Sina?"

"Yes, that Sina. I suspect they want to sign me because Sohu signed you; signing me would allow them to ride on your popularity."

Sun Yanzi nodded like a chick pecking at rice: "I was afraid of affecting you, so I didn't have Chen Zeshan agree immediately. A famous female host named Yang Lan also wants to chat with me; she's probably acting as a lobbyist."

She had a clear understanding of her own situation.

"Sign it; what are you hesitating for? Don't leave free money on the table."

Zhou Yi, having thought of something as well, immediately sat up straight: "It's fine, just sign with them; what does Sohu have to do with it? I'm not a shareholder."

Huh?

Considering Zhou Yi's image as a diligent endorser, Sun Yanzi's brain couldn't quite turn the corner for a moment.

"This female host named Yang Lan has some influence; getting on good terms with her is definitely the right move..."

The dog-headed strategist Zhou Yi was online.

If he remembered correctly, Yang Lan, who currently held 10% of Sina's shares, would choose to abandon Sina next year in the second half of the year due to the severity of the internet winter.

With some effort, even if he couldn't eat up everything, taking down the majority was possible; this was basically the only opportunity to board the train of Sina, the future winner among portal websites.

Overtime was a bit late; despair.

The third watch will have to wait until tomorrow; tomorrow is Sunday, a rest day.

(End of this chapter)