Chapter 339: Zhou Yi Hehe, Gemini Stars Hehe

Of course, for Zhou Yi, this was not a major issue.

Although the same problem existed in Europe and America, the revenue from his English specialization and the well-established copyright system there would at least provide a safety net, so he wouldn't need to act in films just to find new profit points.

On the contrary, he might even leverage this unstoppable global internet trend to strike some py deals with Warner.

If he remembered correctly, by the time 2003 arrived, Time Warner, the parent company of Warner Music, would face financial strain due to an acquisition, forcing it to sell off Warner Music—severely battered by the internet and piracy—for a bargain price of over two billion US dollars in 2004.

By that time, his contract would have just expired.

If his upcoming English specialization continued to be hot, he would undoubtedly be the anchor Warner Music needed most to stabilize, whether it was the old parent company Time Warner or the new owner taking over. Indeed, the valuation of the deal could change drastically depending on whether he was still with Warner at that time.

"I originally wanted to ask if you wanted to step in and block him, but since you've said so much, I won't bother with him."

After Zhou Yi explicitly said he didn't care, Qian Jiang was too lazy to make more trouble. Since it was just some ghostly internet song, let it stay on the internet for now; anyway, it wasn't making money and wouldn't squeeze the market. He could try to poach it later.

"Oh right, there's one more thing. Sun Nan's 'Rescue' is also gaining strong momentum; he is clearly pushing this song as his main track, and he might fly into the top five next week. The marketing department estimates this song has the strength to win the weekly championship, so you need to be careful."

Before leaving, Qian Jiang solemnly told Zhou Yi about the threat from Sun Nan.

"Mm, I know."

Zhou Yi nodded.

This former number one of the mainland music scene was indeed a former number one, not just one of the "number ones"; his strength was unquestionable. Once he encountered a good song that suited him, he would undoubtedly take off on the spot.

"Rescue" was just such a good song.

In his memory, this song stayed on the charts for a total of 34 weeks, 堪称 ultra-long standby, with the top ten occupying 19 of those weeks; its peak was the weekly championship, and this peak lasted a full 7 weeks, its quality unquestionable.

Without his appearance, Sun Nan would have relied on the album "Sky of Fate" to consolidate his position as the number one of the mainland music scene and widen the gap with his successors.

Beijing, Sun Nan's home.

Sun Nan, who had also seen the new episode of the rankings revealed, paid no attention to the others on the chart; his eyes held only Zhou Yi—

"This kind of sweet love song is not mainstream in today's market. Although his popularity is right there, I still have hope to surpass him. If his entire album consists of this type of song, I might not be able to keep up with subsequent sales."

Fueled by confidence in the quality of his own album, Sun Nan, having regained his confidence, looked at the various data for "Rescue," and light seemed to flash in his eyes.

This kind of cloyingly sweet love song is easy to get tired of.

And thanks to the high quality of the song "Rescue," Sun Nan and Zhou Yi, the old and new generations who had previously been rumored to be in a "battle for the number one," were once again reported on by entertainment media, attracting massive attention.

"At the 2001 Global Chinese Music Awards, Sun Nan, who presented the Best Newcomer Award to Zhou Yi, is suspected of having already stepped down from the first-tier stage. Now, however, Sun Nan has returned with his new album 'Sky of Fate,' proving his sword is not yet dull."

"The Former Number One, The Current Number One. The Battle for Number One Stages Again, Sun Nan's New Song Explodes, Suspected Return to Peak!"

"Lian Po is old, but can he still eat?!"

"..."

In the press releases bought by Sun Nan's team, Sun Nan, lowering his posture, appeared in the public eye as a returning senior.

This way, he could attack if he advanced, or defend if he retreated.

If he got lucky and beat Zhou Yi, he could announce his return to the Wang Zuo of the number one;

If he ultimately didn't win and was still suppressed by Zhou Yi, he could completely exit with the posture of a senior, encouraging Zhou Yi as a junior to the outside world.

In this way, he wouldn't lose face inside or out, not to mention Sun Nan could ride Zhou Yi's heat—winning big, so to speak.

On September 25, under the targeted marketing by Sun Nan's team, the real-time radio ranking of "Rescue" began to steadily rise again, dragging the song "Sky of Fate" into the top ten for the day as well; the two songs together charged fiercely at Zhou Yi atop the Wang Zuo.

On the 27th, it successfully surpassed the two "old songs" "Love to Death" and "Break Up Kindly," which had been released for several months.

On the 28th, "Rescue" surpassed "Back to the Past" and "Melody," but was quickly surpassed back by "Melody."

On the 30th, the last day of September, and also a Monday.

On the new weekly ranking changes released by the Music Wind and Cloud Awards, Zhou Yi's "Little Dimples" unsurprisingly slid down one spot to third, while Ah Du's "He Must Love You Very Much" successfully surpassed to second;

"Rescue" surpassed "Melody" again to reach fourth place, but the one firmly sitting on the championship Wang Zuo remained Zhou Yi's "Today You Marry Me."

Sun Nan felt hope growing ever stronger, full of fighting spirit.

Until October 1, while popularity remained high, Zhou Yi's "Lianshan" album was officially launched nationwide...

………………………

Hong Kong, outside a certain middle school.

Little Deng Shiying, sneaking out of the school, clutched a handful of money in her hand, her two short legs flying straight toward the location of the record store—

Due to her height, she bounced up and down several times in front of the busy record store owner's counter, holding up the money for a long time, yet failing to attract the attention of the busy owner.

"Boss, 'Lianshan', 'Lianshan'."

"Hurry up, what are you dawdling for?"

"Hey, this copy of 'Lianshan' is mine..."

In the bustling record store, little Deng Shiying, whose eyes were gradually spinning, shook her head hard, grabbed the counter with her hands, stood on tiptoe to get close to the owner, and slammed the money onto the counter: "Boss! Give me a copy of 'Lianshan'! The deluxe edition, the VCD version with the MV!"

A girl with such terrifying lung capacity at such a young age truly stunned the owner, especially her bold gesture of waving a large hand without sparing money, making it hard not to suspect she had stolen money from her family to buy the album.

Adhering to the personality of "if there's money to be made, don't be a Wang Ba," the owner decisively handed her the deluxe CD with the VCD disc.

Warner's nationwide unified prices: "Lianshan" cassette 25 yuan, CD standard edition 45 yuan, deluxe edition 101 yuan, units in Renminbi.

After receiving the change, Deng Shiying stuffed the album into her schoolbag and returned directly to school, first showing off her "spoils" in front of her classmates, drawing waves of exclamations—

The first deluxe CD in the entire grade!

Deng Shiying's small vanity was greatly satisfied.

"I heard there's a scene of Zhou Yi and Sun Yanzi kissing in this disc; Sun Yanzi slipped up and mentioned it during an interview."

"Shiying, go to your house after school, let's all watch together."

"..."

As a well-known Zhou Yi fan and little fangirl of the Gemini Stars who had once appeared at a football charity match, Deng Shiying was famous throughout the school, and the fans gathering around her were naturally mainly Gemini Stars fans.

"Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up with school ending, I want to see Zhou Yi and Sun Yanzi hehehe."

"..."

After finally enduring until the proper school ending time, the group headed straight for Deng Shiying's home, each resting their chins on their hands, smiling as they watched Zhou Yi appear on the screen.

Unable to wait, Deng Shiying even skipped the music video for the songs on Side A and fast-forwarded straight to Side B—

The opening of the "Cheers" MV showed Zhou Yi and Sun Yanzi having breakfast at home like a married couple; through narration and performance, the class reunion was explained, and the warm scene of the two exchanging words made Deng Shiying's face involuntarily break into an auntie smile.

They were still too young to understand the killing power of the lyrics to "Cheers," knowing only that the singing was indeed quite good.

When the "Little Dimples" MV began, accompanied by the intro they had heard until their ears were calloused, the intimate interactions between Zhou Yi and Sun Yanzi in the MV, which broke the safety distance, made a group of children scream continuously!

When the MV for "Today You Will Marry Me" aired, the interaction between Sun Yanzi in her wedding dress and Zhou Yi in the kitchen made the whole group howl like wolves—

"What Solina Chan is all about is nonsense! Yanzi is the only one!"

Deng Shiying, as a well-known super-fan, made a declaration of victory!

Zhou Yi hehe, Sun Yanzi hehe, the Twin Stars hehe~~~

Then, after Mo Chaowan finished copying the lyrics, Deng Shiying tapped her small hand, and the MV screen immediately switched to a new song—

Accompanied by the screen turning black, the two characters "Fairy Tale" slowly appeared...

(End of this chapter)