Chapter 3: Hello, My Name Is Sun Yanzi

One week later, the news that a future superstar was about to emerge from Peking University spread from one person to ten, then from ten to a hundred, quickly sweeping through the entire campus, and the rumors grew more exaggerated with each retelling.

For Peking University students of this era, having a so-called star among their classmates was a hot topic for discussion, much like seeing Sa Beining appear on CCTV screens as a host.

Even though Zhou Yi had not yet released a single album at this very moment and had nothing to do with being a star, this did not stop them from discussing the matter in vivid detail behind closed doors.

Zhou Yi, who already frequently received bold love letters from girls, now had an even greater reputation; his close roommates and classmates ruthlessly dragged him into group photos and autograph sessions, euphemistically calling it "the first time with a future superstar."

Even students from art schools in the capital, such as the Beijing Film Academy, the Central Academy of Drama, and the Central Conservatory of Music, heard the wind of this news.

Especially the Central Conservatory of Music.

As the number one music academy in the country, it is no exaggeration to say that it gathers the most top-tier young musicians in the entire nation at present.

Precisely because of this, when the news spread that "Warner Music General Manager Zhou Jianhui traveled a long distance to Peking University to sign Zhou Yi," the first reaction of some students was to slowly draw a question mark above their heads.

If Warner wants to sign someone, shouldn't they go to an art school like the Central Conservatory of Music to select talent? Why did they run to Peking University? This makes my Central Conservatory of Music look a bit dull.

If the company signing Zhou Yi were a mainland music company, such as Maitian Music, which has singers like Lao Lang and Pu Shu on its roster, it would not have stirred up much of a storm in the hearts of those who heard the news.

But by chance, the company signing Zhou Yi was Warner Records, which once symbolized a giant; this time, it really stirred up a hornet's nest.

Even though many people now see Warner as Mount Riluoxi, waiting until Guo Fucheng and Zheng Xiuwen can no longer bear it and terminate their contracts before it can be formally laid to rest, handing over the last sliver of the Chinese music scene.

But as long as it exists for one more day, it remains one of the most historically prestigious entities in the Hong Kong and Taiwan music scene.

After all, in the year 2000, the entertainment trends in the mainland still regarded Hong Kong and Taiwan as supreme. Whether in the music scene or the film scene, the highlight was that people from Hong Kong and Taiwan were superior, while mainland entertainment automatically ranked lower.

The most typical example: Na Ying, who has now firmly secured the title of the number one diva in the mainland, and Sun Nan, who is currently striving for the throne of the top figure of his generation.

Na Ying was originally a junior in the mainland; after gritting her teeth and venturing to the Treasure Island, she directly seized the opportunity to transform into a diva. After the song "Meeting in '98" at the 1998 Spring Festival Gala, she firmly secured the throne of the mainland's number one diva.

Sun Nan's situation was similar to Na Ying's; he was also a junior at the beginning.

Similarly seizing the opportunity, Sun Nan became unstoppable after joining a Hong Kong Island music company. After venturing around Hong Kong Island and making a name for himself, Sun Nan then returned to officially debut as an artist in the mainland in 1996.

Looking at the rise of these two people, it seems somewhat absurd to Zhou Yi, a later arrival, but right now it is the year 2000, and to people of this era, this is very reasonable.

However, regarding the matter of their son possibly becoming a big star, the Zhou couple, who traveled a long distance from their hometown, were somewhat worried, especially Zhou Yi's mother, Ms. Zhao Ping.

As an ordinary former textile worker and now the owner of her own small supermarket, Zhao Ping never even dreamed in her wildest dreams that her son would actually get into Peking University.

When her son received the admission letter from Peking University and the county government scholarship, she was so happy that she could eat an extra bowl of rice every day. Now, suddenly, she received a phone call from her son telling her that the final wrap-up of his Peking University studies might have some small bumps.

"Yiyi, are you really not going to reconsider?"

In a hotel room in the capital.

Zhao Ping, calling her son by his nickname, wore a worried expression. Dressed simply, the wrinkles piled up at the corners of her eyes displayed the traces time had left on her face: "Being a star is not that easy; studying is more practical. You are already a junior, and the second half of the year will make you a senior. After finishing your studies, it will be easier to find a job."

Although she knew her son had been very independent since childhood, this time she still wanted to persuade him again.

This is gambling with the future.

There are so many people who become stars; how many of them actually become famous?

Speaking, she also subtly glanced sideways at her husband, who was sitting on the edge of the bed with his mouth shut and saying nothing: "Surname Zhou, say something, why are you being a mute?"

Zhou Yi, who had somewhat reined in his restlessness in front of his parents, couldn't help but grin upon seeing this, but when his mother saw it, the smile on his face instantly vanished. He sat obediently to the side picking at his fingers, his expression perfectly serious.

"What's the use of saying anything? This brat has been very independent since he was in school; now his wings are hard, and can we still control him?"

Seeing that the fire had finally burned over to him, the honest man Zhou Yaoguo, with his crew cut, could only grumpily throw out that sentence.

"Dad, Mom, what are you thinking? I'm not dropping out; I will still take the exams."

"Although Mom and Dad haven't read much, we also know that human energy is limited. Being a star is so busy that there is definitely no time to read books, and if you don't attend classes, how can you take the exams?"

"Rest assured, Dad and Mom. Warner has already spoken with the people at the school. As long as I pass the exams normally, there will be no problem at all. Moreover, to be honest, there aren't that many classes in the senior year; at most, you are just busy with graduation."

With a bright smile starting to spread across his face, Zhou Yi raised his right hand and pointed his index finger at his temple: "As for attending classes, as long as I'm not busy, I will come back to attend classes, and I'm not going to be stationed permanently in Hong Kong Island or the Treasure Island.

"If I am busy, as long as I request it, Warner will also hire a tutor for me.

"You know my intelligence level; how could mere exams possibly be difficult for me? I will definitely pass."

Zhao Ping: "..."

Zhou Yaoguo: "..."

This confidence of their child really hasn't changed from childhood to adulthood. Not only has it not changed, but it has become even stronger.

Can university be the same as junior and senior high school?

Sigh.

Looking at their son, who wore an expression of "mere exams, why bother mentioning them," the elderly couple felt a sense of frustration, wondering if they were truly getting old. They couldn't understand the contract, and they couldn't get into the conversation.

On the contrary, their son sitting at the negotiation table acted like someone who had already been tempered by society, handling everything perfectly.

Now that everything has been handled, what else can they do?

Their son has grown up; eventually, he must go out to venture into the world, it's just that the direction of this venture... is a little bit different from what they had imagined.

Looking at their son, who was smiling brightly and confidently, the elderly couple's thoughts were somewhat complex.

One week later, in the Treasure Island, at the building of the former Warner Flying Disc Records, now Warner International Music Co., Ltd. (Taiwan Warner Records).

Zhou Yi, who arrived here with light luggage, soon met Zhou Jianhui, who had returned a step ahead of him to prepare for the formal signing procedures, a man who had decisively wanted to sign him after hearing him sing a few songs on the Tsinghua campus.

A well-fitted suit, wearing glasses, a middle-aged man who looked very refined.

Heaven and earth are my witnesses; at that time, he had just strolled next door purely to see his sister. After all, he had grown tired of looking at Peking University, and other people's schools always had a certain unique attraction.

"Hello, General Manager Zhou."

"Welcome to Warner Records, Zhou Yi. I look forward to our cooperation over the next four years."

Facing the young man he had bet on, Zhou Jianhui smiled and shook his hand: "Good news, we have reached a cooperation with Maitian Music in the mainland.

"Starting next month, Maitian Music in the mainland will officially become a part of Warner and be renamed Warner Maitian.

"Considering that you are about to enter your senior year, I think this should be good news for you."

With Warner Maitian already established in the mainland, whether recording songs or producing albums, except for promotional runs, Zhou Yi could complete most of his work at Warner Maitian.

"Congratulations, General Manager Zhou."

Zhou Yi, who wasn't surprised that Mai Tian Music had partnered with Warner, smiled and offered his congratulations.

For him, this news was indeed a pleasant surprise.

He knew Mai Tian would be renamed Warner Mai Tian, but the exact date was something he truly didn't know.

However, with this development, his senior year should be much easier; after all, Warner had acquired Mai Tian to enter the mainland market. Now that Warner Mai Tian had arrived, by the time it came, he would have plenty of money, little work, and be close to home.

"Shortly, I will take you to meet the company's two gold-medal producers. Regarding your debut album, you can discuss your ideas with them in detail."

In his work, Zhou Jianhui was also a decisive and vigorous type, very much understanding that professional matters should be left to professionals.

Album production was just like that.

Admittedly, he greatly appreciated the few original songs Zhou Yi had sung on campus, but live performance and a studio album were ultimately different.

Whether it was arrangement or recording, a studio album required someone to control the quality.

"Oh, by the way, there is also a female singer in the company around your age. Like you, she is also a college student and a new signing. She is probably in the recording studio right now..."

As Zhou Jianhui led Zhou Yi toward the recording studio, he briefly introduced the current allocation of album resources in the company to this future star he had his eyes on.

In one sentence: Since I dared to sign you, I will absolutely not treat you poorly. Once the album theme and style are set, the company will immediately match your vocal tone to acquire songs.

Zhou Yi, who had a cheat in his brain, did not care about this; what he cared more about was the female college student mentioned by Zhou Jianhui.

Soon, he met that legendary female singer of the Mandarin music scene, who was still more than half a month away from her debut—

A little over 1.6 meters tall, with short, cropped hair that was clean and sharp. A slender body, and a fresh face bearing the unique vitality of her age.

"Hello, my name is Sun Yanzi."

Sun Yanzi, who had not yet debuted, extended her hand to this handsome junior brother before her, her smile brimming with energy.