Chapter 25: Wealth Without Returning Home is Like Wearing Brocade at Night

"What did you say? You invited Watching Xiao Yaxuan to be the female lead in your MV?"

Warner Music, General Manager's Office.

Zhou Jianhui, who had only wanted to confirm whether this sudden situation was true, rarely showed a look of astonishment between his brows, his tone carrying a hint of disbelief.

Zhou Yi, sitting upright in the chair, nodded: "Yes, so leave the contract matters to the company; I'm not familiar with market prices."

Compared to Sun Yanzi, who had not yet debuted in their own company, and Zhang Shaohan, a transparent trainee at Fomao, inviting a current star like Watching Xiao Yaxuan to shoot an MV would require a huge expenditure, especially at this current moment.

The rumors outside are already in full swing; whether Virgin Records will even let her go is uncertain.

"... When did you meet Watching Xiao Yaxuan? Are you very close to her?" Looking at the Heavenly King-level promising talent he had personally discovered, Zhou Jianhui was somewhat puzzled.

Watching Xiao Yaxuan hasn't even been to the mainland since she debuted at the end of last year.

"We met during the first time I went to practice dancing. As for whether we're close, maybe it's because I'm handsome."

Zhou Yi shrugged: "But she's a nice person, so we got along quite well. Last night was because I couldn't get a taxi, and she just happened to finish dancing, so she gave me a ride."

"General Manager Zhou, you know, I don't have a car; I couldn't refuse."

"..."

Having struggled in the entertainment industry for a while, Zhou Jianhui could still pick up on the subtext. But precisely because of that, he couldn't help but feel even more surprised.

How long has it been since arriving in Taiwan? In the time it took to practice dancing, he managed to lure away a local little Queen?

"Do you like her? I want the truth, Zhou Yi."

Although Zhou Jianhui himself didn't have such high requirements for artist relationships, he still had to carefully consider this situation where the woman is stronger than the man right from debut.

Mainly because Watching Xiao Yaxuan isn't a Warner person; if anything unexpected happens, it would be hard to control.

"How is that possible? At most, it's appreciation; everyone has a heart that loves beauty. If we really talk about liking, how many days have I known her in total?"

Zhou Yi waved his hand openly: "I guess she feels about the same."

To put it nicely, it might be love at first sight; to put it bluntly, it's acting on lust. In front of a true handsome man, women can be very proactive.

"Alright, I understand. I will communicate with Virgin Records, but I advise you not to hold too much hope." Regarding Zhou Yi, Zhou Jianhui's current attitude was one word: spoil him to death.

After all, in this company, Zhou Yi and Sun Yanzi are his absolute inner circle.

If you don't spoil your inner circle, who will be willing to follow you in the future?

However, having Watching Xiao Yaxuan participate in the MV is purely to utilize her fame; for him, the hope for this is indeed not great.

If it were any time before, Virgin's General Manager Yao Qian would surely have a sniper rifle locked on his forehead.

"If Watching Xiao Yaxuan insists, then who knows? After all, she also said she invited me to participate in her MV; it's a matter of courtesy."

"You're also going to participate in her MV???"

Zhou Jianhui didn't understand, but Zhou Jianhui was greatly shocked.

What kind of bewitching potion has this kid been fed?

From a man's perspective, besides being taller, handsomer, singing better, having a sunny temperament, and a better figure, Zhou Yi didn't have any other outstanding qualities.

Has Watching Xiao Yaxuan been a rich girl for too long and wants to try a gender-swapped version of the Young Master and the Princess?

"It's just a possibility; whether her company agrees is still uncertain."

"... Zhou Yi, why don't you try saying some good words for the company and help me poach Watching Xiao Yaxuan to Warner?" Looking at the overly young man before him, Zhou Jianhui thought for a moment and made a shamelessly wicked suggestion.

If they could use the beauty strategy to trick a Queen prospect like Watching Xiao Yaxuan over, that would work too.

We are all businessmen; in business, we speak business. It's just a breach of contract fee, isn't it? Warner's headquarters has money; at worst, we can just apply for a breach of contract budget.

"... General Manager Zhou is joking. Watching Xiao Yaxuan's mentor, Yao Qian, is still at Virgin Records." Zhou Yi, who never expected the Warner General Manager to have such a wild imagination, laughed.

It seems the prototype of Warner's "Heavenly Queen Palace" is already taking shape now.

"Alright, that works. Oh, by the way, the MV shooting team for your new album has been fully arranged by the company. The company has assigned three chief directors and four shooting teams to assist with the filming."

After finishing the talk about the rumors, Zhou Jianhui also began discussing serious matters, handing a document to Zhou Yi and saying seriously: "You don't need to worry about the budget at all; the company will cover it."

"And since you are handling the lyrics, composition, and arrangement yourself, the funds saved in this area can be better invested in improving the quality of your MV."

"The current issue is the shooting method and location, especially the latter. Do you have any requirements?"

"Or, is there any place you want to go?"

In the year 2000, record companies still placed extreme importance on the MV production of their flagship singers.

Putting aside the dance tracks that don't rely much on scenery, the several love songs in Zhou Yi's album clearly need scenery to complement them.

Usually, as the album's producer, Zhou Yi should know better than anyone in which setting shooting an MV would better fit the mood of the song itself.

"One song in my album incorporates elements of Peking Opera art, so, if possible, I want to shoot this song in a theater on the mainland."

"Moreover, I already have a candidate for the female lead of this MV."

Judging solely by the quality of the song "Flower Field Mistake," the original Wang Lihong's MV quality was truly not good. Since he now has the conditions to improve it, he naturally wants to improve it.

As for the position of MV female lead, of course, it should be prioritized for Cheng Hao, the future Wan Ren Mi whom he knows well; he naturally wouldn't forget this good friend who often shares gossip about the industry when there's a money-making opportunity.

After all, the mainland female star he is currently familiar with is only Cheng Hao.

Moreover, Cheng Hao's school, the Central Academy of Drama, is a massive hub of connections. Going there under the banner of promoting new-era Peking Opera culture, while wearing the Warner name, the Academy certainly wouldn't mess with him; he might even gain the appreciation of a crowd of older, upright artists in the country.

Born in the mainland, grew up in the mainland, attended university in the mainland, and now that he's getting successful, he doesn't forget to "smuggle in private goods" in his album to promote traditional culture; he is thoroughly upright and red.

If he appears on the news later, someone will vouch for him.

Although the mainland entertainment industry is currently considered inferior, Zhou Yi, who knows deeply that the center of gravity of the entertainment industry will gradually shift to the mainland step by step, naturally needs to go there early to secure a position.

Relying on his thoroughly upright background to provide timely help in a time of need is better than adding flowers to brocade in the future, and it can also establish him as the face of the mainland music circle.

"That's no problem. What's next?"

Zhou Jianhui, whose focus was not on that Peking Opera at all, didn't care about these things; the only things he valued now were the two songs "Happy Worship" and "Have to Love," which were strongly recommended by Li Saisong.

Let Zhou Yi do whatever he wants with the rest, as long as the quality of these two doesn't drop.

"I also need to go back to Peking University and my hometown. I have a few love songs whose locations are just these three places; the rest can be done here in Taiwan, that's OK."

Zhou Yi smiled after receiving the approval.

Riches without returning home are like wearing brocade robes in the night.

He was a vulgar man, so the things he pursued were naturally vulgar too.

Don't talk about how running back and forth between the two places wastes money—it's not his money being wasted anyway. Using Warner Bros.' money to show off, why not?

……………………………………

Central Academy of Drama, a certain girls' dormitory.

Cheng Hao, bare-faced and fresh, was pushing the door open carrying a washbasin when the phone in her pocket suddenly rang—taking a closer look, the contact's label was unmistakably "Big Radish."

Looking at the heads her roommates poked out from their blankets in unison, meeting those meaningful gazes, the slightly guilty Cheng Hao blinked: "Um, well, I'm going to take this call first."

"Ooh ooh ooh, our beautiful Cheng is shy now."

"Right right right, someone calling you at this hour—could it be that handsome guy you said was your little brother last time~"

"Aww~ my dear little brother, big sis misses you so much~"

"……"

The roommates' teasing made the tips of Cheng Hao's ears turn red. In her flustered embarrassment she glared fiercely at them, set down the basin, turned and left the dormitory, drawing a string of playful giggles behind her.