Chapter 437: The Youth

"Hurry up, hurry up! It's Zhou Yi's turn! It's Zhou Yi's turn!"

When the song introduction for "Speech of the Young China" appeared, the masses of fans who had been glued to their TVs erupted in jubilation.

In big cities, young people who disliked the Spring Festival Gala's folk songs and dance performances took this rare opportunity to surf the internet—until they saw constant flashing messages on QQ and other apps, then rushed back to their TVs.

In 2003, when the New Year's atmosphere was still thick, the tradition of staying up all night remained.

Many young people who weren't particularly interested in most of the Gala's acts had their sights set solely on Zhou Yi—

Phrases like "Call me when Zhou Yi comes on" or "Notify me when Zhou Yi appears" were especially popular among his diehard fan groups.

In terms of the Gala's drawing power, only Northeastern comedy king Zhao Benshan might overshadow him—Old Zhao inspired "Call me when Zhao Benshan appears" across all age groups, while Zhou Yi's influence was concentrated mostly among those aged 13 to 28.

Especially his earlier songs "Stubborn" and "Cheers."

The former had nearly become a mandatory track for school radio stations during breaks and after school; even at school sports meets, where "Believe in Yourself" was supposed to dominate, "Stubborn" carved out its own space thanks to its inspirational nature.

The latter was the most beloved song for young office workers aged 25 to 28 during KTV gatherings.

Due to a few songs with an old-fashioned vibe like "Goodbye," and Chinese-style pieces like "East Wind Break" and "West Chamber," middle-aged audiences weren't unfamiliar with Zhou Yi. Coupled with relentless newspaper coverage, even among older demographics who favored print media, Zhou Yi was far from unknown.

Yet their impression of Zhou Yi was largely shaped by newspaper reports—youthful, talented, charming, arrogant, and capable of bringing glory to the nation abroad.

Rumors even claimed that the young princess of Samsung in South Korea had fallen for him—though this gossip had never been verified, leaving it somewhat suspended as an unsolved mystery.

When Zhou Yi's version of "Speech of the Young China," enhanced with a student recitation segment, officially debuted, viewers rushing to their TVs might have been confused—but the live audience at the Gala were the first to be struck—

Just as a concert's atmosphere can only be truly felt in person, for live-performance songs, mass choir singing is often the most heart-shaking format, and one could say without qualification.

On the vast Gala stage, eight rows of primary and secondary school students, arranged by height from shortest to tallest, stood six per row; boys and girls alike wore red scarves around their collars, their eyes resolute as if ready to join the Party at any moment—

"When youth is wise, the nation is wise! When youth is wealthy, the nation is wealthy!"

"When youth is strong, the nation is strong! When youth is free, the nation is free!"

Two consecutive passages of recitation, each louder than the last, blended the tender voices of children into a heavenly melody that was deeply refreshing to the heart.

As the echoes lingered, Zhou Yi, clad in a red coat, finally appeared at the rear of the stage, microphone in hand, walking slowly forward—his gentle singing softening the sharp intensity of the recitation—

"The red sun rises, its path radiant bright—"

"The river surges forth, flooding vast and wide~"

As Zhou Yi sang the first verse, his tone and gaze carried an unexpected tenderness, distinctly different from the sharp, aggressive version he'd performed at the China-Korea Music Festival.

Paired with the lyrical, upbeat melody, the effect was as if a young boy in his prime were whispering softly to the world.

Throughout the entire Gala hall, even viewers who had been heading to the restroom now paused, feeling they could hold it a little longer, and sat back down in their seats.

Liang Qichao's "Speech of the Young China," as a famously renowned essay, was known to virtually every student or adult who had received even a basic education.

At the very least, they had all heard the line: "When youth is strong, the nation is strong."

Zhou Yi, by adapting this work into lyrics, seized its most central essence.

Remember, this was the Spring Festival Gala—the largest stage in the nation, without exception.

Before this song's tender choir, every preceding dance and musical act of this year's Gala was instantly forgotten.

Every person in the hall, including the most powerful figures, now fixed their gaze entirely on Zhou Yi and the boy choir behind him.

For those truly towering figures, the meaning of "Speech of the Young China" and their personal resonance with the essay were incomparable to anything else in the hall.

Likewise, they were astonished and delighted by Zhou Yi's adaptation.

As the emotion built, at the second chorus, the accumulated intensity exploded in a unified shout from Zhou Yi and the boy choir!

"Youth has its own wild spirit, body like mountains and rivers, spine upright!"

"Daring to measure sun and moon anew—today, only our youth stands tall!"

"..."

The hem of Zhou Yi's red coat flared open as his body swayed with growing intensity; he casually swung his arm, lifted his leg, and stepped onto a decorative prop at the stage's edge—

Raising his head, he flung open his left arm, embracing the air; stage lights bathed him as his piercing high note, paired with his impossibly young face, seared into the minds of every live and TV viewer.

"Daring to test the heavens and earth with blade and edge—who can stand against us?"

"The world laughs at me, yet I grow stronger—never betraying my youth!!!"

Drumbeat!

Heavy, thunderous drumbeat!

Without a single pause, after the emotional climax, Zhou Yi, with no rest, raised his vocal range further after a series of powerful, commanding drum strikes!

"Youth has its own wild spirit, heart like a blazing sun, ten thousand rays bright!"

With a slight toss of his head, the words "blazing sun" effortlessly surpassed the song's highest note; Zhou Yi raised his left hand, thumb pointing first to his own chest, then his index finger extending forward with a confident stride, smiling like the radiant sun, full of youthful vigor!

"High heavens, vast seas, ten thousand miles long—China's youth lifts its spirit high!"

"Strive to become pillars of the nation—never betraying our youth!!!"

Even amid the boy choir's harmonies, Zhou Yi's high notes remained unmistakably the leading voice—

Just as he now stood, becoming the first and foremost Chinese pop singer to carry the nation's music abroad.

Youthful passion!

Youthful spirit!

This glory belonged solely to Zhou Yi—and only he had the right to it.

In the turbulent year of 2003, at just 22 years old, he stepped beyond China's comfort zone, charging into the international music scene like a young calf unafraid of tigers.

This "youth" was impossibly young!

This youth radiated ten thousand rays of light!

His lion-like, fiercely bold gaze, as he finally stood motionless at the center of the stage, right hand raised in a frozen pose, was deeply etched into the hearts of every live and TV viewer.

When youth is strong, the nation is strong; youth's spirit is like the blazing sun.

An eternal, unchanging truth.

As the music ended, after a brief silence, thunderous applause erupted throughout the vast Gala studio.

Many in the audience even rose of their own accord to applaud Zhou Yi on stage.

Among them was Cheng Hao, who had come to the venue with Sun Yanzi's invitation to watch the performance; she was even the first person in her section to stand and applaud. Because of the distance, the look in her eyes as she gazed at Zhou Yi at this moment was an undisguised admiration.

Looking back over the three years since Zhou Yi stepped into the new century, his meteoric and unstoppable rise was the lover template in the dreams of countless women.

And she was the woman who had accompanied Zhou Yi from the end of the last century into the new one.

Sun Yanzi, her eyes sparkling like stars, sat below the stage, her hands reddened from clapping too hard in her excitement, a brilliant smile she could not contain breaking across her face, her gaze never once leaving the man;

Xiao Yaxuan, clapping with an easy grace, had a proud lift at the corners of her eyes, the curve of her lips seeming both satisfied and an unconscious boast.

The countdown to midnight, hosted by Li Yong, Zhu Jun, Ni Ping, Zhou Tao and other presenters, now felt more like the ceremonial music for a king's coronation!

(End of chapter)