Chapter 288: The Crystal Overpowered Everything

Two days after the Golden Melody Awards concluded, discussions about this censored incident at the ceremony never ceased.

Hooly, which has its own unique understanding and methods for hype marketing, even used Alpha Company's name to ride this heat and boost Jay Chou's status—

Not to mention the massive music marketing feat of securing twenty-one nominations alongside Zhou Yi at this year's Golden Melody Awards, they also subtly spread rumors through Hooly's parent company's channels that Zhou Yi and Jay Chou were so close they took down all four members of F4 together backstage after the awards—

All to reduce the disgust many of Zhou Yi's fans felt toward Hooly's marketing of the "North and South Zhou" in the domestic market.

One of the four iron bonds of life: fighting shoulder-to-shoulder in the army.

Although this wasn't fighting in the army, it was still fighting together.

Then, the attention on this year's Golden Melody Awards dropped even lower.

More and more people bought newspapers just to read these leaked so-called inside stories; the xx style and xxx luxury of this year's Golden Melody Awards gradually went unnoticed.

This splash damage even reached Warner's diva, Zhang Huimei—

At this year's Golden Melody Awards, Zhang Huimei's stage performance, which was said to have cost over two million, nearly three million, failed to make the expected splash in the market after Chen Zeshan bought the press releases—

Any newspaper that hadn't taken money merely mentioned the performance in passing, failing to generate much discussion at all.

On the internet, it went without saying; it was all debates on whether this was true or false, with various conspiracy theories emerging endlessly, involving no fewer than two dozen celebrities.

There were even those who expressed doubt or amazement at Zhou Yi's own combat power, creatively proposing absurd questions like, "If Zhou Yi is really that capable, what are his odds of winning a fight against a tiger?"

Ironically, it was exactly this kind of absurd news that spread the fastest, turning the Zhou Yi incident into a trend of entertainment where netizens engaged in a brainstorming contest, such as the unchallenged water-fights like "Who is stronger, Zhou Yi or boxing champion Tyson?"

Even Zhang Huimei herself was stunned.

Originally, she was full of confidence, thinking that winning the Best Mandarin Female Singer at the Golden Melody Awards, plus a stage performance worth over two million, would ensure her a period of media exposure, even with this incident.

After all, she was a diva, wasn't she?

"Resources were fully provided, many billboards were bought, but the discussion level is too low."

Taiwan, Warner Building, Chen Zeshan's office.

Chen Zeshan, who had already prepared a series of follow-up promotion plans, irritably tugged at his tie, then placed one hand on his hip and slapped his forehead with the other: "Zhou Yi and F4's popularity are far higher than yours, not to mention the involvement of Jay Chou, Yanzi, and Zhang Shaohan.

"Even now, several more people are being rumored outside, such as Luo Zhixiang being beaten into a pig's head by F4, which caused Jay Chou to angrily intervene, or that Hong Kong's Eason Chan was injured in his private area, and so on; it's simply chaos with demons dancing."

Compared to the news about these people, Zhang Huimei's news seemed rather ordinary.

Singing is never as good-looking as fighting.

"... Forget it, consider it my bad luck."

Even though she was dissatisfied deep down, Zhang Huimei knew clearly that at Warner, Zhou Yi was absolutely the top priority. Once he encountered any negativity, Warner's promotional resources would definitely be poured onto him immediately in massive quantities.

Due to Zhou Yi, Sun Yanzi's ranking, based on combined record sales and influence, had now surpassed her own; she had transformed from the little sister of the Diva Palace into Warner's number one diva.

"Don't think too much; the company didn't do anything to significantly divert promotional resources during Zhou Yi's storm this time."

As a shrewd person, how could Chen Zeshan not see what was in Zhang Huimei's mind? He spoke up: "Qian Jiang still only used resources belonging solely to Zhou Yi and did not overstep to divert them.

"As for these emerging media on the internet, the company does not yet have channels that cover this aspect comprehensively."

Zhang Huimei was puzzled, and Chen Zeshan was even more puzzled—Could Zhou Yi really be the mystical Ziwei Star descending to the world? With such a huge incident, traditional media was suppressed by Warner, yet on internet channels, netizens spontaneously used an entertainment mindset to mock and dilute the essence of the matter?

"Now, not just on the mainland, but discussions about this Golden Melody Awards on the internet in Hong Kong and Taiwan are all deviating from the trajectory the company originally predicted."

Qian Jiang's office.

After handing a report filled with statistical data to Zhou Yi, who was sitting on the sofa eating a pear, Qian Jiang rubbed his forehead, his tone somewhat incredulous: "I've already had people imitate them, spreading this kind of rumor in an organized manner; in the end, it can just be defined as a joke."

Two days passed; Warner, which controlled a vast array of traditional channels, had been constantly on guard against the public opinion targeting Zhou Yi on the domestic emerging internet, only to discover that Zhou Yi's public image seemed strangely... surprisingly good?

There were even more people cursing F4 as shameless.

"I think Chai Zhiping must be very depressed right now; even heaven is helping you, A-Yi."

Rubbing his prominent general's belly, Qian Jiang, who sat down so heavily that the office chair creaked, wore an exceptionally brilliant smile.

Zhou Yi, chewing on the fruit flesh, flipped through the documents in his hand, his expression between his eyebrows thoughtful—

This whole operation, why did it look so familiar to him?

After Qian Jiang left, the more Zhou Yi thought about it, the more something felt wrong; he took out his mobile phone from his pocket, found that number, and dialed it.

…………………………………………

Capital City, People's Art Theatre.

Chen Hao, who was reading a book, noticed the bag on the table vibrating; she immediately unzipped it, flipped the Nokia over, glanced down at the caller ID with lowered eyes, and a smile of self-satisfaction formed on her lips as she pressed the call button: "Having fun, Backstage War God?"

"You did it?" On the other end of the phone, although it was a question, Zhou Yi's tone was exceptionally certain.

"How is it? Satisfied?"

Putting down her book, Chen Hao picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and asked a rhetorical question without any surprise.

"Impressive."

"Having been by your side for so long, I've learned a few things."

Facing Zhou Yi's sincere praise, Chen Hao put down her cup, pressed her moist lips together, leaned back slightly against the yellow wooden chair, and smiled.

After the last incident, she had consciously started cultivating the team on Wang Xiaoyu's company side; the business network now covers both sides of the strait and Hong Kong and Macau.

Facts proved this was indeed effective.

"You're being modest; the student has surpassed the master."

"That still requires you to strive yourself, big star."

Chen Hao smiled: "The public opinion about you outside is very high right now; your song is getting more and more popular."

Under this unprecedented momentum, she was confident that no one could defeat Zhou Yi.

However, since the matter wasn't finished yet, she didn't dare to give Zhou Yi a guarantee, so she didn't say it.

"Impressive; then when President Chen rises to power in the future, can I just do whatever I want?"

"That's easy to discuss; call me President Chen first and let me hear it."

"Okay then. President Chen, you wouldn't want to see me slandered and dirtied in the future, would you?"

"???"

Although the words were those words, why did the tone sound so utterly unprofessional?

"Alright, stop joking around."

Chen Hao helplessly shook her head, yet her eyes were full of smiles: "It's rare to go to Taiwan once; enjoy the vacation properly. Leave the rest to me."

After giving the instruction, Chen Hao hung up the phone.

Just as she was preparing to continue reading, another call interrupted her path of study—former CCTV host and famous female entrepreneur: Yang Lan.

"Miss Chen, regarding the proposal we discussed last time, do you think we could explore it further? If you have time, would it be convenient to meet?"

"Of course. What time? Where?"

Chen Hao, whose demeanor instantly calmed down after raising her wrist to check the time displayed on the dial, asked.

3:30 PM, the Imperial Capital, in a private room of a certain restaurant.

Yang Lan, who was hosting this afternoon tea, waited for Chen Hao to arrive as promised—

Her shoulder-length hair was coiled into a bun at the back of her head and secured with a hairpin; a few strands of hair scattered slightly on her forehead, adding a touch of daily life; she wore a capable brown ladies' blazer, and under the tailored trousers stepped a pair of high heels about 3 centimeters tall.

Unlike the demeanor of a small woman when she was with Zhou Yi, Chen Hao's eyes now held a bit more sharpness.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Sister Yang; the traffic in the Imperial Capital was too terrible." Although she was not late, Chen Hao spoke first, offering a polite explanation.

"No need for courtesy, Miss Chen; I just arrived myself. What would you like to eat?"

"The same as last time, Sister Yang; you know I have a rather single-minded palate."

Chen Hao, having placed her bag aside, raised her hand to brush the hair on her forehead, leaned back against the chair, pressed her lips into a smile, and shrugged.

Yang Lan, having heard the subtext, sighed inwardly, yet still greeted her with a smile and got straight to the point: "Here is the situation, Miss Chen. I discussed your proposal with my husband, and the installments of one point five billion dollars are indeed below our expectations."

"It is the winter of the internet; every internet enterprise claims to have a bright future, yet no one can produce a corresponding profit channel.

"Even abroad, this is no exception; this winter is global."

Chen Hao shook her head slightly, her charming voice speaking words that made Yang Lan's heart turn cold: "Sister Yang, last year you exchanged 29% of your shares in Sunshine Culture plus 8 million dollars in cash for 10% of Sina's shares; I suppose you must have felt there was still hope? Felt that the winter was about to pass?

"But what is the reality? Sunshine Culture is suffering severe losses, and Sina's stock price has hit a new low; strictly speaking, one point five billion dollars has already exceeded the value of those 10% of Sina shares, after all, I have absolutely no interest in your Sunshine Culture Media shares."

Chen Hao smiled indifferently, stating facts with gentle words: "Then how about this? Double it. Guiyi Investment acquires the shares for sixteen million dollars, paid in installments?"

"Eighteen million."

Yang Lan, still constantly testing Chen Hao's bottom line, added two million more: "I believe Miss Chen you must also be optimistic about the prospects of internet enterprises, otherwise you wouldn't be interested, would you?"

"NetEase's stock price has been falling all the way, yet I have been buying all the way; of course I am optimistic about the internet's prospects."

Chen Hao raised her eyes, looking directly into Yang Lan's eyes: "However, I have been holding and continuously purchasing NetEase's shares since the year 2000 until now. Even though countless people say it is a loss, even though the financial reports have always shown losses, I can remain completely unshaken because I can hold on indefinitely.

"Sister Yang, how long have you been holding those 10% of Sina stocks? Half a year? Or four months? Five months?"

Just as Yang Lan was about to speak, Chen Hao continued: "I know your difficulties, Sister Yang; your own Sunshine Culture Media has already lost over 40%, so you urgently need a sum of money now, which is why you want to sell the Sina shares, correct?"

"..."

With the reasons she had prepared spoken by Chen Hao, Yang Lan was momentarily speechless.

"Although it is said that tradition dictates business is business, but... Sister Yang, you are a host I like very much. How about this? Guiyi can add another one million dollars; Guiyi does not need any extra Sunshine Culture Media shares as an exchange."

After ordering the dishes, Chen Hao stood up, placed the menu in front of Yang Lan, smiled slightly to show friendliness: "Additionally, since Sister Yang you know I have been continuously purchasing NetEase, you should also be clear that NetEase's stock price this month has fallen below the bottom line estimated by many again.

"Right now it is seventeen million; next month it might not be this price."

One more update~

(End of this chapter)