Chapter 28: Boys Must Learn to Protect Themselves When Away from Home

Not joking, if this album succeeds, Sun Yanzi feels that from now on, every song incorporating Hiphop elements that meets Zhou Yi will have to call him GodFather.

Going from 1 to 2 is easy, but going from 0 to 1 is a problem plaguing the entire Chinese music scene.

This has completely opened up a track for successors in the Chinese music scene to wander; speaking vulgarly, the emergence of a new track is enough to create a huge sum of new genre music revenue for major record companies.

That is all money.

"How did you do it, Zhou Yi?"

"First like this, then like that, finally like this. Understood?"

Zhou Yi, having walked out of the recording studio, smiled as he came to the rest area, reached out to pick up an apple from the fruit plate, wiped it, brought it to his mouth, and took a bite.

This on-site teaching, devoid of any excitement, instantly drew a deflated eye-roll from Sun Yanzi: "Since you are in such good form today, take a rest and record the other song later."

"I would like to, but unfortunately it seems someone doesn't think so."

Out of habit, after walking out of the recording studio, Zhou Yi casually picked up his phone he had previously thrown on the coffee table, glanced at it—a message immediately came into his view.

A text message from Warner General Manager Zhou Jianhui: 【Come to my office after finishing the song recording.】

"Mr. Zhou is looking for you again?"

"Your use of the word 'again' is somewhat unsatisfactory; I am not the type of person who likes to seek trouble."

Hearing this, Sun Yanzi was noncommittal: "Who knows? In the past month, I haven't gone to Mr. Zhou's office as many times as you have in this one week."

"Is it possible it's because I'm too excellent?"

"Are you referring to your thick skin?"

"Women are truly jealous." Zhou Yi, having stuffed the Nokia into his pants pocket, smiled as he chewed the fruit flesh, then stood up and left under the gaze of the two women.

Zhang Shaohan, who had just walked out as well, didn't understand and asked, "What's wrong with Brother Yi?"

"Probably something good, never mind, let's go, Shaohan, Sister will take you to eat."

"Uh, but I—"

"No 'buts', consider it celebrating your perfect pass today, let's go, let's go, let's go..."

Having found another friend after Zhou Yi, Sun Yanzi pushed Zhang Shaohan's back with both hands, taking her out to deepen their sisterly bond. And after Zhou Yi knocked on the door of the General Manager's office, he received news that left him utterly shocked—

"Yue Qian from Virgin Records sent me an invitation, inviting you to participate in the MV filming for Watching Xiao Yaxuan's song 'A Person's Brilliance'."

"They say male lead, but this song's main perspective is female, and it's a pop dance style, so your screen time won't be much. How about it, interested?"

Zhou Jianhui, adjusting his glasses, spoke of the deal he had reached with Virgin: "In exchange, Watching Xiao Yaxuan will come to star in your MV as the female lead."

"... Mr. Zhou, are you serious?"

When something is too absurd, even Zhou Yi couldn't help but be stunned: "How would Virgin agree to such a purely losing deal?"

What status does Watching Xiao Yaxuan have now? A top female singer, with popularity in the younger generation leading the second place by a huge margin. Even if Warner added more money, this basically wouldn't happen.

He had originally just been imagining it; are they really doing it here?

"You have to ask yourself, Zhou Yi."

"Ask me?"

"Seriously, I think we could consider poaching Watching Xiao Yaxuan. I think if you make the offer, she is very likely to jump ship."

"..."

When Zhou Jianhui, the number one at Warner Music, seriously suggested he use the handsome man tactic, the corners of Zhou Yi's eyes twitched uncontrollably several times.

What game is that woman Watching Xiao Yaxuan playing?

To say she likes him to the point of being unable to extricate herself, Zhou Yi would be the first to disbelieve it.

We've only met a few times.

"Sign this contract, and then you can go talk to Watching Xiao Yaxuan. Oh, by the way, remember not to delay the recording of your own album."

Due to Zhou Yi's strong request, Zhou Jianhui, who had no intention of building a pure lover persona for him, suggested tactfully.

"..."

Thirty minutes later, Virgin Music Building.

Zhou Yi, visiting here for the first time, directly revealed his identity and, led by staff, arrived at the floor belonging to Watching Xiao Yaxuan.

As Virgin Music's current top star, even more popular than Lin Yi, and given her father-daughter-like relationship with General Manager Yue Qian, Watching Xiao Yaxuan's treatment at Virgin nowadays is akin to that of a biological daughter.

Speaking of it, there are actually many similarities between Watching Xiao Yaxuan and Sun Yanzi, these two queens of the early 21st century.

Both came from wealthy families, both reached their peak upon debut, both were discovered and guided to debut by their respective companies' general managers. One was jokingly called Warner's biological daughter, the other was called Virgin's biological daughter.

"Mr. Zhou, Miss Elva is rehearsing dance inside; please wait a moment."

"I know, thank you."

After nodding in thanks to the staff, Zhou Yi, standing before an opaque glass door, waited until the faint music sound inside stopped, then raised his hand to knock on the door—

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Zhou Yi."

"Come in."

Zhou Yi responded by pushing the door open, and a beautiful figure with long hair flowing immediately came into his view—

A simple pure white women's suit met a black strapless crop tight sleeveless vest, colliding to create an exceptionally dazzling visual effect.

The simplest black and white combination, worn on this woman, added a peculiar sexiness.

A little sweat remained on her white forehead, not yet wiped away; her lips, panting heavily, opened and closed, fresh red and ready to drip.

"Wearing a suit to practice dance is quite unique."

Zhou Yi, after glancing over, casually closed the door and raised an eyebrow with an ambiguous meaning.

"The MV requires this look per company request; of course I have to try it out during dance practice, otherwise if you come to film the MV and aren't used to it, wouldn't it be embarrassing?"

Watching Xiao Yaxuan, bending down to pick up Mao Jin and wipe her sweat, turned to look at the man and spoke with a smile.

"How did you manage this? A top-tier singer starring as the female lead in a newbie's music video completely defies commercial logic; Virgin would never agree."

After nodding noncommittally, Zhou Yi sat casually on the vast empty floor, turned his head to look at himself in the large floor-to-ceiling mirror, and cut straight to the point.

"It's simple. I think you're handsome, your personality is good, and you suit my taste. I want to pursue you."

"Many men around me want to pursue me, but you are the only one who can keep up with my train of thought when we chat, without putting pressure on me or having any other ulterior motives."

Watching Xiao Yaxuan, making no secret of her intentions, grabbed the Mao Jin hanging around her neck with both hands, paced over in front of the man, and smiled: "How about it? Is that sincere enough for a first meeting gift?"

"Average."

To Watching Xiao Yaxuan's surprise, Zhou Yi shook his head, raised his eyes to look at her, and said: "I don't date."

"You don't date?" The woman raised an eyebrow, clearly disbelieving.

"At least not at this age," Zhou Yi was equally frank, a smile playing on the corners of his lips: "So you'd better not suggest we give it a try; in the end, you're the one who will lose out."

"You're very confident in yourself, Zhou Yi." Watching Xiao Yaxuan bent down, her slender fingers pressing against the man's jaw, tilting it up slightly, her eyes full of eagerness to try.