Chapter 270

Sun Yaohong took his daughter's emails very seriously.

After all, she was the only one among his three daughters living abroad alone, and if he didn't care for her, what if Sun Yanzi grew depressed in that unfamiliar foreign land?

After all, she's still just a child in her early twenties.

The one thing that brought him relief was that the young man named Zhou Yi seemed decent enough.

Setting aside those newspaper rumors, at least from the increasingly cheerful smiles on his daughter's face over the past six months, the signs of depression had faded, and she always smiled involuntarily when speaking of Zhou Yi.

He knew that expression all too well.

Though the old father felt a little uneasy inside, considering his daughter was alone overseas…

"As for the liver cancer— who's this Chen Hao? Never mind…"

Having understood the full story, Sun Yaohong pondered, then stood up and pulled out his address book—

"Hey, where are you going? Aren't you eating breakfast?" Sun's wife asked, surprised at her husband calling someone so early in the morning.

"Yanzi just needs my help with something. You two eat first."

Sun Yaohong waved his hand, walked to the balcony, and explained the situation in the email to his friend…

"What did you say? Your dad already found someone?"

In the capital, Zhou Yi's home.

When Zhou Yi finally woke up naturally after sleeping enough, it was already dark outside the curtains. As he got out of bed to wash up, he received Sun Yanzi's call—his toothbrush froze mid-brush: "You can fly?"

"I can, but I think it's better to go directly to Anderson Hospital in the U. S. —it's the top hospital in the world for cancer treatment."

"My dad asked around, and if we do the surgery at Anderson, they can monitor post-op progress closely. Chen Hao's father's condition hasn't progressed to late stage yet."

"I can't explain all the details over the phone—are you home? If you are, I'll come over. I've printed out all three options my dad found."

In the capital, Warner Building.

After stapling all the printed pages together, Sun Yanzi turned to look out at the endless night beyond the rest room window. Helping Zhou Yi and saving a life—it still made her heart feel a little light.

"You came over from Taiwan?"

"What else would I do?"

"I thought you'd fly straight from Taiwan to Singapore."

"Hehe, this is the first time you've ever asked me for help—I've got to make you owe me a huge favor."

Hearing this, Sun Yanzi giggled mischievously: "Add this to the one you owe me from last year's Golden Melody Awards—you're now two debts in arrears. I've got it all written down. Don't even think of dodging."

"That's nonsense—I've never fallen flat in my whole career, all because of my integrity. Everyone calls me Honest Young Master. When have I ever defaulted?"

Back at Zhou Yi's home, he washed his face casually as he set the Nokia down on the sink: "Come over. I'm treating you tonight."

"Got it!"

After hanging up, Sun Yanzi hummed a cheerful tune, glanced at her reflection in the rest room window, bent down to fix her hair ends, and her eyes curled into delighted crescents—

Soon after, she skipped and bounced down the hallway with a handbag, greeting every staff member and Warner artist she passed.

"Good evening, good evening~"

"Good evening, Yanzi."

After texting Chen Zeshan, Sun Yanzi left the Warner Building under the escort of her driver and assistants.

…………………………………………

"Is Anderson Hospital really that powerful?"

In Chen Hao's home.

Chen Hao, forced by her mother to rest at home, opened the door in her pajamas to Zhou Yi's visit. When she heard there was hope to control her father's condition, her eyes widened: "How does it compare to hospitals in the capital?"

"In the field of cancer alone, this hospital is currently the best in the world."

"There's another hospital that can get you experimental drugs and treatments not yet on the market—if you're willing to pay. But your father hasn't reached late stage yet, so there's no need to endure that suffering…"

Zhou Yi patiently explained every detail to Chen Hao as the intermediary. When Chen Hao heard she'd be meeting Sun Yanzi soon, she shot to her feet: "Why didn't you tell me sooner?! I'm changing clothes right now."

"..."

Zhou Yi rarely saw Chen Hao so flustered—he couldn't help but smile.

At 7:30 p. m., in a private restaurant.

When Sun Yanzi arrived late due to traffic, she was greeted by Chen Hao and Zhou Yi, already waiting in the private room.

"Hello, we meet again, Young Lady. Thank you so much."

Chen Hao, who had seen Sun Yanzi at the Global Chinese Music Awards when Zhou Yi first debuted, didn't hesitate—she bowed deeply, nearly ready to kneel and kowtow.

"No, no, no—it's nothing."

At first, seeing Chen Hao and Zhou Yi sitting together like an old married couple waiting for her, Sun Yanzi was momentarily stunned. But then, drowned in Chen Hao's endless gratitude, she quickly bonded with her, calling her "sister."

Sun Yanzi was born on July 23, 1978; Chen Hao on December 9, 1978. It was only natural for the latter to call the former "sister."

Though Chen Hao clearly looked more mature, with her appearance and figure suggesting she was the elder.

"The doctor at Anderson Hospital was someone my dad met at a gathering years ago—they're on good terms. I'll ask my dad to pull some strings and get your father scheduled for surgery as soon as possible."

"But if you choose to receive all your treatment at Anderson, you'll need to stay in the U. S. for at least three to four months this year. Will that be a problem for your job at the People's Art Troupe?"

"Yes, I'll request leave from my superiors," Chen Hao nodded gratefully.

If even the world's best cancer treatment can't help, then it's fate.

As for money… she truly had no way.

Her father's accident left her no time to liquidate her assets, and besides, her current wealth had shrunk due to the internet slump—now insufficient to cover surgery, treatment, and hospitalization.

She knew Zhou Yi's money had also shrunk, but luckily his new English single had just brought in a fresh wave of income.

"Since you're already planning to take leave, my new album's music video is short a female lead—how about stepping in to save the day?"

The meal ended with everyone thoroughly satisfied.

During the casual chat, Zhou Yi suddenly slapped his forehead as if remembering something, a toothpick dangling from his mouth as he turned to Chen Hao: "I can't find a suitable actress to fill in right now."

No choice—the company's pressing me, so I even dragged Yanzi over to shoot multiple music videos, just to save time and money.

You can't seriously expect me to ask Zhang Huimei, Naiying, or Zheng Xiuwen to make a cameo, they're too old.

"…Ah yes, yes, that's right! Chen Hao, would you help Zhou Yi too? He's under huge pressure—the MV crew's falling apart."

Sun Yanzi froze for a fraction of a second, then nodded frantically in agreement: "Actually, the news isn't all nonsense—the crew did have problems; the original female lead got so angry she fled overnight."

"…"

Chen Hao paused mid-wipe of her lips, glanced at Zhou Yi's face dripping with casual indifference, then at Sun Yanzi's subpar acting, and pressed her lips together—

After a long moment, a faint smile crept across her refined brow: "Since you hold me, this unknown actress, in such high regard, I'll accept your invitation with gratitude."

"Your acting is bound to become famous—maybe even nationwide."

Zhou Yi spat out the toothpick in his mouth and waved his hand as if unconcerned: "If the contract didn't forbid it, I'd sign you for ten or eight films right away."

Saying that, as if afraid Chen Hao might change her mind, he pulled out his phone and called Qian Jiang: "Qian Ge, forget the runaway MV lead—Ning Hao's four MVs, I've got my friend stepping in. Prepare the contract for me."

After hanging up, he didn't give Qian Jiang any chance to ask questions, then looked up at Chen Hao and raised an eyebrow helplessly: "Good thing you're here."

"Don't worry—I won't shortchange you on compensation. Warner can't offer that high a contract, so I'll personally give you a big red envelope."

Chen Hao: "…"

Sun Yanzi: "…"

Isn't this a bit too fake?

Bro—no, little brother, have you been so flattered by everyone around you that you actually believe you're a genius actor?

Confused and dazed, Sun Yanzi blinked, then guiltily cupped both hands around her teacup—lowered her head, pouted, and sipped tea in one smooth motion, as if flowers had sprouted on the chopsticks, daring not to lift her eyes even once to look at Chen Hao.

"…Thanks for the good words."

Chen Hao, suddenly feeling a lump in her throat, sniffed and smiled brightly: "But whether I go famous or not—I'm not one of your songs, how can I be guaranteed to blow up? Do you have superpowers or something?"

"Of course I have superpowers—is that really a question? I thought it was common knowledge." Zhou Yi asked, puzzled.

Sun Yanzi leaned forward curiously, changing the subject: "What common-knowledge superpower? I didn't know."

"Money."

"…" Sun Yanzi's lips twitched faintly, her eyelids drooped, and she gave the man a disdainful up-and-down glance.

"What's that look for? Isn't what I said true?" Zhou Yi, twirling his chopsticks, shrugged, utterly unshaken.

Chen Hao's eyes curved into a smile, lips closed.

"My new single, 'Qi Kai De Sheng,' is about to launch officially—I'll be even richer then."

Raising her cup to envision the future, Zhou Yi laid out his career blueprint with perfect seriousness: "Then I'll be a global superstar."

"Sun Yanzi, if you're smart enough to beg me to take you along now, I might consider letting you break into the Western music scene later."

"Chen Hao here is going to be a senior artist at the People's Art Theatre—has no interest in traveling abroad."

"Tsk tsk tsk."

Sun Yanzi's lips practically curled toward the ceiling, pulling Chen Hao into her alliance: "Chen Hao, when he first met you, was he always this full of big talk?"

"Sort of."

Chen Hao replied with a smiling gaze: "But every time he boasted, he made it come true himself."

"You can't side with him—we're a team, you and me, we're a team!" After successfully shifting the topic, Sun Yanzi feigned indignation, pointing at herself and Chen Hao.

Zhou Yi, watching it all, burst out laughing.

"Makes sense."

Since her father's incident, the gloom weighing on Chen Hao's brow had lifted, restoring her usual gentle expression; she smiled, raising her teacup: "I heard you're launching your first-ever concert tour, Yanzi."

"Then let's toast—to Zhou Yi, to Yanzi, and to me—may we all achieve swift victory?"

"Hmm, true enough."

Sun Yanzi stuck out her tongue, then quickly lifted her teacup, straightening her arm and cheering aloud: "May we all achieve swift victory together!"

As she stood, she glanced down at the man seated, legs crossed and swaying—

Zhou Yi, holding his teacup, spun it slowly, a contented smile spreading across his handsome face; under the two women's expectant gazes, he raised his arm and toasted: "To us—'Qi Kai De Sheng.'"

On April 20, 2002, one month and ten days before the opening of the Korea-Japan World Cup, Warner officially announced the launch of the bilingual mini-album "Qi Kai De Sheng."

With the powerful boost from Coca-Cola's advertising channels, within a single day, every Coca-Cola sales outlet replaced its displays with Zhou Yi's World Cup limited edition image—

The previous Coca-Cola ad song, "Heartbroken People Don't Listen to Slow Songs," was pulled, replaced by the two versions of "Qi Kai De Sheng," alternating between Chinese and English.

Thanks to the fully stocked inventory and Zhou Yi's unmatched popularity, within just one day, the mini-album "Qi Kai De Sheng," priced internationally at $4, sold nearly half a million copies nationwide—

Taiwan remained the biggest market, accounting for over 250,000 copies;

Followed by mainland China's 160,000+, Hong Kong's 40,000+, and Macau's 20,000+.

"Damn! Are Warner fucking pulling another stunt?!"

Just as record company CEOs were still reeling from the explosive rumor that "Zhou Yi's secret girlfriend was exposed in the hospital," they now furrowed their brows, unsure whether this was coincidence or manipulation.

"With Chen Zeshan involved, even if it's real, it's hard to say he didn't exploit it for promotion."

Due to his "reputation" in the industry, Chen Zeshan, vice president of Warner (China), became the prime suspect.

Coupled with the previous scandal's heat and Zhou Yi's soaring popularity, the infectious melody of "Qi Kai De Sheng," paired with the ad, became the final spark that ignited nationwide World Cup fever.

Zhou Yi's special card-drawing system, promoted nationwide by Coca-Cola, sparked a genuine World Cup card-collecting craze—

"Forty-four years of persistence, forty-four years of wind and rain. Wishing the national team swift victory! World Cup, here we come!!!"

(End of Chapter)