Chapter 484: What Does It Mean to Be an International Superstar?

"Viva La Vida"

"Counting Stars"

"Apologize"

"One More Night"

"We Are Young"

"Starting from the album release date on March 1st, in 73 days, Spike broke the record for the fastest time to achieve three, four, and five number-one singles in history..."

73 days.

When USA Today clearly listed this unprecedented and likely unsurpassable timeframe, many passersby attracted by Microsoft's involvement only then realized what kind of monster they had witnessed rising.

Timing, 地利, and human harmony: Sony, Microsoft, Disney.

Add Warner Bros. itself, and all four international giants joined forces on the hot soil of the North American music scene, creating the miracle of Zhou Yi's "73-Day Speedrun of the Billboard Five Number-One Singles."

For some reason, everyone who participated in this "war" and chose to help Zhou Yi because the songs were good and fresh, whether they were his fans or not, felt an unexplained sense of pride upon reading this report—

I have a share in this medal of honor!

What? You say he's a foreigner?

Isn't it freedom and equality?

Spike has always been fighting against the rigging.

May 14, US time, 7:08 PM, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Central Park, New York.

Accompanied by another Guinness World Records official, a member of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Council, the editor-in-chief of Billboard magazine, and Warner Bros. executives, Zhou Yi stepped into the spotlight and raised the World Record certificate and the honor trophy symbolizing the Diamond Album.

The vast hotel venue had been completely booked by Warner Bros. with great generosity; flashbulbs went off continuously accompanied by the sound of shutters clicking.

With everything pre-planned, Warner Bros. perfectly demonstrated the speed and connections expected of an international corporation, having prepared all the procedures early on, waiting only for the final result to throw a grand celebration banquet.

All celebrities friendly with Zhou Yi and friendly with Warner Bros. attended; the red carpet walk was like the Oscars—brilliant with stars.

Wearing an Armani haute couture suit, Zhou Yi chose not to wear a tie to enhance his mature aura tonight; his spirited appearance, captured by the cameras, showed an arrogant youthful vibe holding champagne that almost overflowed from the lens—

"Mm, indeed, I like Spike's music. Of course, he is simply amazing. You know, I know a little about music; when I was 15, my teacher even suggested that since I was dropping out, I might as well join the music industry."

As a highly anticipated superstar, Johnny Depp's appearance naturally attracted many reporters' questions.

Having become quite familiar with Zhou Yi through promotional duties, Depp simply and clearly stated that he liked everything about Zhou Yi: "My relationship with Spike is indeed very good; we are very good friends. I even exchanged guitar techniques with him and learned some very simple Chinese; it's very interesting."

"For example? Johnny, could you demonstrate it for us?"

"Ni Hao Sao A."

Facing the cameras, the slightly introverted Johnny Depp solemnly recited the tiger-and-wolf words he learned from Zhou Yi: "Spike told me this means praising someone as very good and very great."

The foreign reporters, who knew nothing about Chinese, suddenly understood, and didn't forget to take notes, occasionally muttering "Ni Hao Sao A" to themselves.

The Chinese reporters from CCTV, Phoenix TV, and Sohu. com, who had been filming the stars inside the banquet hall, looked at each other upon hearing this, their eyes filled with expressions as if they had seen a ghost...

"..."

What the hell, "You're so sexy"!

Zhou Yi, is this how you promote the Chinese language?!

Truly worthy of being someone who can share a chamber pot with Jiang Wen; you two are indeed masters of promoting Chinese language and literature.

Thinking of this, the gazes of several reporters drifted toward the man holding champagne and chatting relaxedly with various people.

At today's celebration banquet, besides Maria Carey, Johnny Depp, Scarlett Johansson, Linkin Park, Avril Lavigne, Kylie Minogue, and others who were already friendly with Zhou Yi, the appearance of another figure surprised all the reporters present—

Janet Jackson.

One of the five top divas of the late last century, Michael Jackson's biological sister.

This black pearl, who should have had no intersection with Zhou Yi, now appeared in the venue in glory, chatting happily with the former.

At least, that's how it appeared.

"Mike has a schedule and truly cannot come to the scene to congratulate you. You know, he has always been dedicated to charity."

After clinking glasses and taking a sip of champagne, Janet Jackson smiled and congratulated: "However, welcome to the hall of legends, Spike. I estimate no one will be able to break your 73-day record in the future."

"Thank you."

Regarding the goodwill and probing released from afar by Michael Jackson's team, Zhou Yi raised his glass and accepted it all.

Obviously, the fact that Sony's former president Tommy Mottola was thoroughly beaten made the long-suppressed Michael Jackson breathe a sigh of relief. Sending his sister over to say thank you on his behalf was normal in both emotion and reason.

If he had come himself, it would be hard to say whether some people would think an alliance had been reached with him.

"Mike really likes your album."

"I also really like his songs."

"..."

After a brief chat, having felt out each other's bottom lines, the two sides smiled at each other; immediately, Zhou Yi stood still, watching Janet Jackson go find others to chat with.

"Don't get too close to her; she has always been supporting Michael Jackson." Noticing this, Qian Jiang walked over, leaned close to his side, covered his mouth with his hand, and whispered: "You don't need to get involved."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Zhou Yi, with one hand in his pocket, tilted his head slightly to take a sip of champagne, glanced once more at Janet Jackson, and then shifted his gaze.

There are also many people staring at Janet Jackson right now; this is also the most important reason why, at next year's Super Bowl, Janet Jackson would cause negative news because Justin Timberlake tore off her bra—because it was exploited and exaggerated.

What Justin Timberlake did isn't important; what matters is that Janet Jackson happened to have this incident; once the heat was stirred up, it was enough to cover up some other news, and incidentally attack her.

The public opinion smear tactics and progress encountered by these two siblings were almost exactly the same; the difference is that Janet Jackson didn't wait for the other side to strike but lay down directly herself, acting as if she wouldn't play and they could do whatever they wanted, while Michael Jackson fought for himself until his death.

"There is one more thing; Cheng Long has also come."

"Cheng Long?"

Zhou Yi raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise, then turned his gaze toward the direction Qian Jiang was looking: "Didn't his agent say he was filming a movie and had no time to come?"

In March this year, Cheng Long, who had entered the twenty-million-dollar club, officially joined the Disney production to film the comedy action movie "Around the World in 80 Days"; this big production with a cost of over one hundred million dollars can be said to have made Cheng Long feel very proud.

"He specially took leave to rush over."

"……Awesome."

Never in a million years did he expect Cheng Long to take leave just to congratulate him; Zhou Yi could only say these two words in response.

"Ah Yi! Congratulations, congratulations! It's not easy, truly not easy. I've been following the whole thing. You are the best."

Cheng Long, with a young man beside him, patted Zhou Yi's shoulder vigorously upon seeing him and gave a thumbs-up: "You wiped out all those Americans."

"Uncle Long, why does that sound a bit creepy?"

Zhou Yi smiled and greeted him, then his gaze fell on the youth following behind Cheng Long—

"Come, come, Ah Yi, let me introduce you. This is Daniel Wu, from my company. He's a very promising young man. He happened to be filming with me in the US this time and came over for a cameo."

Cheng Long patted Daniel Wu's shoulder, and the latter immediately raised a glass to toast Zhou Yi—

"Brother Yi, nice to meet you. You can call me Daniel, or Xiao Wu, or Ah Zu."

Daniel Wu in 1976 completely ignored the age gap between them; his overly respectful demeanor made Zhou Yi feel somewhat uncomfortable—

It was the first time he had ever met someone so... respectful toward him?

Anyone who didn't know might think he was already in his seventies or eighties and needed to be served tea.

Besides, wasn't this Daniel Wu already an established figure, not a newcomer?

Zhou Yi, who had been wild and free in the US for these two and a half months, was somewhat in the dark about his rising status both domestically and within the Chinese entertainment circle.

In fact, when he learned that his boss Cheng Long was bringing him to meet Zhou Yi, Daniel Wu was so excited he almost couldn't sleep all night, followed immediately by fear—

After all, Zhou Yi's reputation was widespread; if he said the wrong thing, it would be game over.

His boss would surely slap him a few times.

You see, in China, Zhou Yi is now a bona fide international superstar, a genuine king of popularity; even Jet Li would be a step below him.

"Ah Yi, when are you returning to China?"

"The day after tomorrow, I suppose. What's up, Uncle Long?"

"Nothing major. The movie I'm currently filming, 'Around the World in 80 Days', is also looking for a theme song. I thought of you. I wonder if you'd be interested in taking on another job? Anyway, you've already collaborated with Disney on a theme song once before."

Cheng Long, who greatly enjoyed pulling his own people up, made no secret of his intention to build a "Chinese faction" in Hollywood.

Latin Americans can unite, Europeans and Americans can unite; why can't Chinese people unite?

Cheng Long, who had already carved out a vast territory, was heading straight for this goal.

This Disney production with a hundred-million-dollar budget, having secured a certain degree of autonomy, he actually managed to pull in his big brother Sammo Hung and the most promising male artist from his own company, Daniel Wu, just to build their credentials.

If he couldn't squeeze in any more people, Zhou Yi even suspected that the original Seven Little Fortunes might have had two more members added back then.

Of course, this unity must revolve around Cheng Long himself; this is also why Jet Li has only ever been at the stage of verbally admiring him.

(End of this chapter)