[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty":3,"chapter-the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-chapter-31":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The King of 2000: A Mandopop Dynasty",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2301287,4501,"Chapter 31: Half the Chinese Music Industry","the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-chapter-31",31,"\u003Cp>“Hello, my name is Zhou Jielun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Zhou Yi’s introduction, the shy Zhou Jielun instinctively lifted his left hand, lightly tugging at the back of his ear as he nodded to the two girls before offering a slightly awkward self-introduction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sun Yanzi, you can call me Stefanie.” Sun Yanzi, who immediately recognized the boy with the long bangs as introverted, gave Zhou Yi a glance as she responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The latter noticed and shrugged indifferently, signaling she didn’t need to worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hi, Zhang Shaohan, you can call me Angela too.” Seeing Zhang Shaohan, another low-profile newcomer like herself, imitate the gesture, she still wore a hint of curiosity in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Zhou Jielun arrived, Zhou Yi had mentioned to both girls that the drummer he was bringing over was the same person he’d saved in his apartment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was said to be a musician, somewhat known in the industry—he’d written songs for singers like Liu Dehua, Zhang Huimei, and Wang Lihong, though only Wang Lihong had actually paid for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Sun Yanzi had spent most of her life in Singapore and only came to Baodao after graduation, so she wasn’t familiar with the Baodao entertainment circle;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shaohan was even less familiar—she was still a student who’d lived in Canada until a year ago, when Fuma signed her; since then, she could only come to Baodao during holidays to learn singing and had barely interacted with the entertainment world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, to earn her living expenses, she worked two part-time jobs every day besides her Fuma lessons, so she knew nothing about Zhou Jielun’s limited industry reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All she knew was that he was a Daomeidan  who’d nearly died from a gas leak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh, my English name is Jay—you can call me that too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hastily adding his English name, Zhou Jielun’s brow visibly tightened with discomfort—until Zhou Yi placed a hand on his shoulder and defused the tension: “Wait, you all have English names?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a native mainlander who’d only ever been called Zhou Yi or Yiyi since childhood, Zhou Yi smiled at the two girls: “Feels like I’m the odd one out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you want, we can give you one,” Sun Yanzi said, glancing at him before nudging Zhang Shaohan beside her: “Like Tom, right, Shaohan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the English name, Zhang Shaohan glanced at Zhou Yi, her expression hesitant: “Or Jack?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lingering fame of Titanic made “Jack” a hot English name among many teenagers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi rolled his eyes: “Why not call me Jerry or Seven?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you prefer that mouse?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among those present, only Sun Yanzi instantly caught the reference to Tom and Jerry from the cartoon, smiling: “But who’s Seven?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A Jeep spokesperson—don’t worry about it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curious, Zhang Shaohan asked: “Do you like Jeeps, Yi-ge?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… ”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“… ”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At a loss for words, Zhou Yi waved his hand, about to brush it off—when he noticed Zhou Jielun staring at him with a strange expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh right—he’d forgotten Zhou Jielun was also a tokusatsu fan; he’d definitely know about Ultraseven, a major figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jielun, you know about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yanzi, noticing Zhou Jielun’s expression, grew curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a tokusatsu drama’s lead character—Ultraseven. The Ultraman in it is called Seven.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Jielun’s cautious reply revealed to him that Sun Yanzi held equal authority to Zhou Yi—they clearly had a good relationship, otherwise they wouldn’t interact this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Zhang Shaohan, her status was clearly lower—probably a junior?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s a tokusatsu drama?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both girls turned their gazes to Zhou Yi, who blinked and gave them a simple term: “You know Superman, right? Similar concept.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two girls instantly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similar concept? That’s just a hero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t know you had a hero’s heart,” Sun Yanzi teased as she pushed open the door to the rehearsal hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warner had already set everything up—guitars, drums, keyboards, basses—all present, with the tuned equipment standing nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since we’re all hearing this song for the first time, today is just about getting familiar with it, checking our four-person coordination, seeing if any changes are needed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi, who held absolute control over his album, explained why the large space held only the four of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then handed out printed sheet music to the three: “Here, get familiar, then we’ll try recording the first take and see how it sounds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As all were musicians, the moment the sheet music labeled “I Love Only You” was distributed, each instinctively began playing their assigned instrument through the melody.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the official footage, the lively, laughing figures of the four young people were clearly captured, especially those of Sun Yanzi and Zhou Yi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Jielun spoke little, mostly sitting at the drums, familiarizing himself with the rhythm, occasionally lifting his head to respond or offering a shy smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shaohan was also quiet, but while adjusting the keyboard, her gaze would drift unconsciously toward the man laughing and chatting with Sun Yanzi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yanzi, holding her guitar and strumming lightly, played the melody, pausing repeatedly to repeat sections—clearly due to her lack of skill—prompting Zhou Yi, holding the microphone, to burst into unrestrained laughter—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your guitar skills are terrible, worse than mine. How can you boast about being the top guitarist at Nanyang Technological University?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your guitar skills, limited to Mount Sanqing, only good enough to compete with monkeys and birds?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youthful Sun Yanzi, fully immersed in this carefree playfulness, shed her company-packaged innocent girl image and shot back with a sidelong glance: “Or are you going to compete with Lushan Waterfall to see who plays louder?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You actually know about Mount Sanqing?” Zhou Yi was genuinely surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lushan was famous thanks to Li Bai; Mount Sanqing in this era was always neglected—less known even than Longhu Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yanzi smiled slightly: “Of course—I’m a proper university graduate. Show some respect, little brother who hasn’t graduated yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The first thing I’ll do after I get my diploma is sue you in court—for workplace bullying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi sneered: “Jielun and Shaohan will be my witnesses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shaohan, lowering her eyes to the keyboard, blinked her big eyes, feigning innocence as if she’d heard nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Jielun, still unaccustomed to their playful atmosphere, didn’t know what to say, so he just smiled and tapped his now-smoothly flowing drum kit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi immediately pointed at him: “Look at Jielun—he’s getting it. Look at you—you haven’t even found the right notes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yanzi shot him a glare, raised her guitar slightly, stepped two paces closer, and grinned as she swung the guitar’s end like a sword, pretending to stab Zhou Yi: “You’re trying to defy your superior, Zhou Yi? Don’t forget—I’m your teacher.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, Teacher Sun, you’ve added murder to your list of crimes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi leaned back, ducking the imaginary strike like Donald Duck, then turned seriously toward the camera and announced in a broadcast voice: “Oh no—it’s attempted murder. It’s all recorded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shaohan, unable to hold back, burst into laughter; even the usually shy Zhou Jielun raised his hand to cover his mouth, shoulders shaking as he stifled his chuckles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Want me to tell you how many years in prison this behavior would get you in China?” Zhou Yi smirked at Sun Yanzi, now close enough to touch: “I’m professionally qualified—I’m not lying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yanzi, unable to hide her smile, punched him lightly on the chest: “You’re picking on me because I studied business in college?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You chose your major, Teacher.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi swung the microphone playfully: “Even Jesus couldn’t change it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blinking machine lights silently held firm; the HD camera faithfully recorded everything:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shaohan, smirking, pressed the keyboard keys; Zhou Jielun, stifling laughter, struck the drums;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi, holding the microphone, sang amid laughter and joy; Sun Yanzi, playing guitar, smiled with crinkled eyes, locking gazes with him—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hold you tight in my arms, cradle you in my palms—because I truly love only you~”\u003C\u002Fp>",1312,"2026-06-20T07:33:41.161Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","258f3edbb4b347abe69da595016e062d42bd87632cd3f04f0fa7d42aaea293b6","the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-chapter-32","the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-chapter-30",883,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-cover.jpg"]