Chapter 285: One Superpower, Many Strong Powers

The male announcer, with perfect diction, read out each nominee's song title and the record label of their album.

From this moment on, the F4 fans in the audience fell silent, replaced by the back-and-forth cheers of Zhou Yi and Jay Chou's fans.

Previously provoked by Wu Jianhao, Jay Chou turned his head with a smug look to glance back at him, even deliberately adjusting his black leather jacket, causing the former's face to darken.

At this stage, Jay Chou, who hadn't yet transformed from a "quietly provocative weirdo," was no less skilled at being sarcastic.

"Honestly, I quite like listening to 'Jiangnan'; I've been looping the single at home for a long time, playing it over and over."

Xu Ruoxuan on stage didn't open the award list in her hand; instead, she teased Zhou Yi, who had made a name for himself in Japan: "Sometimes I resent why you, A-Yi, haven't released a single 'Jiangnan' album on your own; that way, skipping tracks wouldn't be so troublesome for me."

The three Japanese people beside her chimed in, expressing their admiration for Zhou Yi: "Yes, Zhou Yi-san's songs are a phenomenon in Japan."

Zhou Yi, who surpassed Utada Hikaru with a single song to win last year's Japan single sales championship, was now, to put it bluntly, the big boss that all Japanese idols collectively wanted to solicit songs from.

But helplessly, since Warner Japan couldn't reach the globe-trotting Zhou Yi to solicit songs, they could only buy the rights to his songs to cover them in Japanese.

Zhou Yi below the stage, seeing Xu Ruoxuan's intimate tone, raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly. When the camera swept over, he immediately feigned helplessness, shrugged, pointed a finger toward the seat where Mr. Zhou Jianhui of Warner was sitting, and mouthed: Don't blame me, blame him.

"You're that familiar with her?"

Amidst the laughter and applause of the scene, Sun Yanzi raised a hand to cover her mouth and turned her head curiously.

Zhou Yi also raised a hand, pouting: "Second time seeing her tonight."

"Tsk, how could Jay Chou like a woman like that?"

"Quietly provocative, that's all."

Zhou Yi comfortably twisted his neck; the apt description almost made Sun Yanzi lose her composure and burst out laughing.

Jay Chou actually had many flaws; in his youth, he was famously "quietly provocative," but under Helody's packaging, the public focused more on his two musical labels: extraordinary talent and pioneering the Chinese style.

Especially the latter.

After this manufactured concept was promoted, Jay Chou was directly gilded with a halo.

Actually, Jay Chou himself never expected Helody to truly push the concept of "Chinese style" out. Deep down, he was actually more inclined toward the Western system; after achieving fame and fortune, what he really wanted to mix in with was the European and American circle.

This was evident after he started his own company; previously suppressed by Helody, cooperating with the "Chinese style" promotion, he would open his mouth saying "Hua Liu is the coolest";

After leaving Helody, with no one suppressing him, the aesthetic of his albums declined all the way down.

After successfully soaring in the mobile internet era based on past reputation, he proudly displayed European and American cultural collectibles on Ins every day, showing off every few days;

He actively posed for photos with second-rate European and American singers, wishing he could announce it eight hundred times on the platform to demonstrate his internationalization, proving he had gone global.

His mindset was truly no different from a "quietly provocative nouveau riche" who, after suddenly becoming rich from poverty, couldn't wait to decorate himself with high art; he also couldn't listen to any opposing opinions, making him a completely different person from the Jay Chou of the Helody era who, full of spirit, said "Hua Liu is the coolest."

Of course, these evaluations were only for disappointed fans.

For Zhou Yi, regardless of how Jay Chou's aesthetics might be in the future, his loyal and righteous character destined their relationship to be very good.

"If he knew you were saying this about him, he'd probably get angry."

"Get angry about what? Didn't he also say I'm openly provocative and Chen Huaxin, slandering me and other girls being ambiguous every day?"

Zhou Yi pouted, unconcerned: "Besides, he previously said he envied my ability to go to Europe and America; he never hid his longing for the European and American music scene in front of me. We're used to roasting each other."

Just as they were chatting, on stage, Xu Ruoxuan, after teasing for a while, opened the list in her hand and loudly announced the winner:

"The 13th Golden Melody Awards for Best Composer — Zhou Yi, 'Jiangnan'! Congratulations!"

The pre-race favorite "Jiangnan" defeated all opponents, including "Dong Feng Po," without any surprise, somewhat disappointing everyone who expected the hot favorite to fail.

Although in terms of singability alone, "Jiangnan's" melody had the strongest audience across the three age groups of old, middle, and young, considering the Golden Melody Awards' habit of favoring niche acts to express their musicality and professionalism, many still expected an upset.

Relying on foreign backing to score big points!

Amidst the highly memorable intro of "Jiangnan," Zhou Yi, with a smile on his face, embraced Sun Yanzi, who was more excited than he was, before standing up and walking onto the stage —

"Hmm, sorry to disappoint certain people."

Zhou Yi, adjusting the microphone height, smiled as he accepted the trophy from Xu Ruoxuan's hands; after embracing her, he raised the trophy high and spoke with overwhelming arrogance —

In the audience area, the screams of Zhou Yi's fans instantly soared into the air!

"One cup of milk tea, put it on Jay Chou's tab."

Very Zhou Yi.

Sun Yanzi, sitting in her seat with one hand propping her cheek, watched the spirited man on stage, grinning with extra happiness.

Jay Chou, who had lost to Zhou Yi, hearing him say this, couldn't hide the upward curve of his mouth either; he feigned disdain, nodded, and raised a hand to make an OK gesture.

"Truly a short acceptance speech, Zhou Yi."

After Xu Ruoxuan left the stage, Tao Jingying, as the host, took over the conversation, once again stealing the audience's attention with her eye-catching chest-exposing outfit: "But you do indeed have the qualification. As everyone knows, you are the only singer in the Chinese music scene who can achieve perfection in lyrics, composition, and arrangement.

"Yanzi, don't you agree?"

Huh?

Sun Yanzi, who was still staring blankly and happily at Zhou Yi's figure leaving the stage, suddenly heard her name, snapping out of it, and paused for a moment —

The momentary confused expression was captured perfectly by the camera.

"It seems our Young Lady Twin Star was just too mesmerized," Tao Jingying teased Sun Yanzi with a smile: "Indeed, after all, he's a man even British female stars call perfect; if it were me, I'd be obsessed too."

Sun Yanzi, strangely feeling like she was being publicly executed, covered her face with both hands and leaned back tactically to avoid the camera; however, her large front teeth, shining with joy under the lights, somewhat revealed her happiness.

"Jay Chou, you don't need to worry about getting fat from drinking milk tea; you still have many opportunities."

Changing the subject, Tao Jingying also teased the just-defeated Jay Chou: "I'm rooting for you; try to fatten Zhou Yi up with milk tea. I can't stand a man with such a good figure; he makes me start imagining things."

Laughter erupted below the stage.

Basically, everyone now knew about the milk tea pact between the two Zhus, so this Golden Melody Awards was also jokingly called the "Milk Tea War" by external fans.

"OK! So next, can Jay Chou's friend, Mr. Fang Wenshan, help him win over Zhou Yi?"

Following Tao Jingying's words, the two award presenters who then appeared created a legendary scene never before seen in the history of the Chinese music scene —

"The 13th Golden Melody Awards for Best Lyricist Nominees:

"Zhou Yi: 'Dong Feng Po', 'Piao Xiang Bei Fang', 'Zai Mei Bian';

"Fang Wenshan: 'William Gubao', 'Shanghai 1943', 'Ai Zai Xi Yuan Qian'!"

For the first time in history!

For the first time in history at the Golden Melody Awards, a single award category features only two nominees, with three works each in a peak showdown!

At this moment, whether in the audience section or the celebrity section, although everyone already knew that only Zhou Yi and Fang Wenshan were competing for this award, when the large screen on site truly displayed it, the shock originating from within the heart surged straight to the crown of everyone's head!

"Too terrifying."

Zhang Huimei, who came as a guest, looked at Zhou Yi and murmured to himself.

Last time it was composition, this time it was lyrics, next it will be arrangement—Zhou Yi has taken on Jay Chou himself, Jay Chou's exclusive lyricist Fang Wenshan, and Jay Chou's arrangement team, Zhong Xingmin and Hong Jingyao, one by one.

Before this, the Mandarin music scene had never seen such a terrifying all-in-one machine!

Sun Yanzi nervously clenched her right hand, looking at the two women on stage, hoping to hear the name she wanted to hear from their mouths—

"The winner of the 13th Golden Melody Award for Best Lyricist is: 'Gubao of William'! Fang Wenshan! Congratulations!"

Yes!

Fang Wenshan, at his peak before gaining weight, could not help but leap up from his chair the moment he heard his name, punching the air fiercely to vent the joy in his heart—

After venting, he turned to kiss the woman beside his seat, and after hugging Jay Chou, he rushed to the stage to accept the award at a pace of three steps in two.

"Thank you to the Golden Melody Awards organizers, thank you to Brother Yi for his encouragement last year, thank you to the record company..."

Fang Wenshan, receiving the Golden Melody Award for the first time, was somewhat stuttering; the congratulatory remarks prepared in advance almost short-circuited, but after thanking everyone, he strangely did not thank Jay Chou, the singer of the song.

Zhou Yi, clapping in the audience, found it amusing.

"Oh right, there is one more thing: Classmate Zhou, I'll count this cup of milk tea on you too."

Before leaving the stage, Fang Wenshan also made a cheeky remark, settling the grudge against Jay Chou for changing the lyrics without his consent.

After leaving the stage, Fang Wenshan actually took the time to come over and hug Zhou Yi, who had encouraged him last year—

"Congratulations, Wenshan."

Zhou Yi, knowing a grand slam was impossible for him this year, generously offered his blessings.

Although eleven nominations seemed like a lot, there were actually only five awards. He had already won one for composition; if he could win Best Album next, completing a two-year consecutive win for Best Album would be considered a perfect fulfillment of merit.

"You flatter me, Brother Yi; I suppose this is the organizers' balancing act. You are truly too strong; with you doing the arrangement next, the scene will really boil over."

Fang Wenshan spoke with no small amount of admiration.

How can one person do so much work? He is simply not human!

Facts proved that Fang Wenshan's words were not without reason.

The public's expectation for Best Arrangement even overshadowed Zhang Huimei, who came out to perform.

When the list for Best Arrangement, which had resumed awarding, came out, Zhou Yi's name once again occupied one side of the large screen, causing the fans on site to scream once more!

"To be honest, it is really too terrifying. My time in the industry is not short; I consider myself to have experienced every kind of scene? But this current situation is truly one I have never seen; it exceeds my scope of cognition."

Tao Jingying, pretending to wipe away sweat, voiced the thoughts of all Mandarin musicians present—

Final nominees for the 13th Taiwan Golden Melody Award for Best Arrangement:

Zhou Yi: "Susan Says", "Jiangnan";

Hong Jingyao: "Gubao of William"

Zhong Xingmin: "Double Stick"

Liang Qibo: "Wings of Light"

It is Zhou Yi again! Two songs nominated in a row again! A peak showdown against the two big shots within Jay Chou's arrangement team and the long-established Liang Qibo.

(End of this chapter)