Chapter 489: He Ignited the World with His Youth

She, a top graduate of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, had always prided herself on her intelligence never falling short of others, yet she never expected to be defeated by SARS.

Who knew this thing would be so severe?

Thinking that the expiration date of those humiliating unequal terms was still before June, a date she had personally stamped and certified, Sun Yanzi wanted to jump into a river.

I was careless.

The sudden outbreak of SARS showed no martial virtue, launching a surprise attack on her, a young comrade in her twenties.

If time could flow backward, she would surely want to return to that night and kick her own ungrateful self hard.

"No need to make my lunch today; I won't be back for lunch."

After helping wash the dishes, Zhou Yi, watching the two women—one organizing the cabinet and counter, the other mopping the floor—took off his apron and casually called out, "Someone from Tencent has arrived. As the host, I must treat them to a meal."

Tencent, the company preparing to announce the restoration of QQ as free software in June this year to cope with numerous challengers in the market, contacted him immediately after his return to the country.

After Zhou Yi won the Grammy and swept the entire Billboard chart, Tencent was desperate to sign him immediately, while also regretting why they had hesitated in the first place.

Because the price in Qian Jiang had risen on the spot.

For the same endorsement deal, the price with a Grammy and five number-one singles versus without them was two different figures.

After all, he was an international superstar who didn't lack money; wasn't QQ's reputation already severely damaged by its charging model? How could they not offer more?

Besides, they also wanted Zhou Yi to write a promotional song; wouldn't that require even more money?

To show sincerity, the boss, Little Pony, even personally flew to the Imperial Capital with his trusted aides to meet Zhou Yi, planning to publicly announce Tencent's endorsement cooperation with Zhou Yi in his name after Zhou Yi's celebration party—

Twenty million per year, totaling eighty million RMB for four years plus one song, directly refreshing the historical record for the highest endorsement fee for a domestic celebrity endorsing a domestic product.

The previous record was Zhou Yi's forty million signing with Sohu News.

It doubled directly.

At the lunch meeting, when Little Pony saw Zhou Yi, he was even the one who proactively raised his glass to toast—

"Ah Yi, I toast you."

Little Pony, wearing his classic plaid shirt skin, struck up a friendly conversation.

In 2003, Little Pony was still the real deal, a mere lackey standing in the corner in photos with Sohu's Old Zhang.

Last year, the entire company's profit was just over two hundred million RMB, while Zhou Yi's income last year, converted to RMB and considering the special tax reduction policies, might have been nearly a billion, or even more.

Furthermore, since Zhou Yi's Guiyi had made a name for itself through NetEase, Sina, and Foxmail, three internet companies, and was considered a primitive angel investor willing to support internet enterprises since the bubble period, Little Pony understood background checks very well.

In terms of money-making ability, Zhou Yi alone last year could match the combined profits of several of their asset-light internet enterprises; anyone seeing this would have to call him "Dad."

"Mr. Ma is too polite."

Zhou Yi, feeling the wonder of worldly affairs, accepted Little Pony's toast with a clear conscience.

On May 18, when Little Pony, who had specially arrived to congratulate Zhou Yi, reached the hotel venue, he also saw his old acquaintances—

Ding Sanshi, who had overtaken competitors on a curve with games and led NetEase to a comeback against the wind;

Old Zhang, who had also found a business entry point and made a fortune in portal advertising business by leveraging Zhou Yi's exclusive internet news first, along with Sina's CEO, Old Wang.

And...

A woman.

Little Pony knew her, Wan Ren Mi, who was popular all over the country.

"Old Ma, let me introduce you: Miss Cheng, General Manager of Guiyi," Ding Sanshi, currently riding high on success, said with a smile.

Ding Sanshi, who had noticed Guiyi's existence before turning the tables with games, contacted Guiyi immediately after confirming his own dominance; since then, Cheng Hao had sent people to station at NetEase to show her non-interference attitude.

"Hello, Miss Cheng."

Previously, he had been somewhat puzzled why Zhou Yi would let an unknown Cheng Hao run Guiyi, but after interacting with her, Little Pony finally understood the reason: trust.

This is the most precious quality in business.

And all investment decisions and powers of Guiyi were actually handled single-handedly by Zhou Yi behind the scenes, while Cheng Hao was responsible for finding people and execution.

Without absolute trust, the two could never achieve such cooperation.

Guiyi, Guiyi; the name itself explained everything.

"I heard Miss Cheng previously acquired a mail company?"

"It was necessary to improve company operations; it can be considered an experiment."

Cheng Hao, wearing a brown women's small suit with her long hair pinned up at the back, smiled slightly; facing the captains of several major internet giants, her momentum was not in the least inferior.

Cheng Hao, who often hung out with Zhou Yi and carried out various split investments under his arrangement, actually had just an ordinary impression of this group of internet giants—Zhou Yi basically predicted the decisions of these old foxes accurately.

Besides them, heads of commercial companies that had interactions with Zhou Yi, such as Coca-Cola and Anta, were also present, forming a business circle exclusive to them at the venue.

In the entertainment circle, besides Cheng Long who was currently still in the US, Li Lianjie, who had returned to Hong Kong, was the biggest star among the guests coming to congratulate, followed by Zhou Xingchi.

In the mainland film and television drama field, Zhang Yimou, Jiang Wen, Chen Daoming, Zhang Guoli, Wang Gang, the Wang brothers, Feng Kuzi, Ge Daye, and other top figures were present; in music, Cui Jian held the line, joined by Wang Xiaojing, the Black Panther Band, the Zero Point Band, Wang Feng, Zheng Jun, and others;

The younger generation was led by Lu Yi, Zhou Xun, Fan Xiaopang, and others.

The Hong Kong contingent was led by the Emperor Group; Xie Tingfeng, once a rival, appeared at the scene amidst everyone's unexpected gazes, while the younger generation like Twins, Chen Yixun, and Chen Guanxi sat on one side under the leadership of the older generation like Tan Yonglin.

The Taiwan contingent was led by the Rock Group; under Lo Ta-yu and Li Zongsheng, stars like Wu Bai, Chou Hua-chien, and Lin Yi-liang shone brightly, while the younger generation was led by Zhou Jielun, Wang Lihong, Hsiao Ya-xuan, and Liang Jingru.

It could almost be said that tonight's venue encompassed nearly a quarter of the past, present, and future of the Chinese entertainment industry.

"My goodness, Zhou Yi's influence is too terrifying."

A reporter with a press badge hanging on his chest, having received permission, began taking photos while whispering to his companion.

Sun Yanzi, changed into a pink evening gown, wandered among the various circles; her hearty laughter could be heard from far away, and she was also attended to by many cameras.

"What's the fuss? He is the legitimate number one figure in the domestic music scene."

"Although his seniority is shallow and many old veterans can still suppress him by age, in terms of honors, money-making ability, and popularity, even if those who can suppress him by seniority were tied together, they wouldn't be enough to fight him, not even Liu Huan and Tan Yonglin's generation."

"I think he is number one in Asia as well, a unique historical record."

"..."

While the reporters here were still chatting in fragments, the next second, when tonight's protagonist appeared in the venue, the weapons in their hands, whether filming people or not, immediately moved their lenses to that man's face—

Zhou Yi, dressed in a custom-made purple-black Armani suit, had a specially styled haircut that made his face even more striking, especially with General Qian Jiang's portly belly beside him.

"Ah Yi, congratulations."

"Congratulations, congratulations."

"Congratulations to you."

"Zhou Yi, you've made it!"

"..."

Amidst the continuous congratulations and flattery, Zhou Yi felt as if he were floating, his smile growing ever brighter.

No wonder so many stars lose themselves due to the flattery of those around them; this feeling is indeed addictive and hard to resist.

Since it was a victory celebration, Warner not only created an ice sculpture of 20 million sales for Zhou Yi to smash, but also arranged for the display of Zhou Yi's three Grammy trophies.

Of course, this sales figure of 20 million was purely exaggerated.

Even with two consecutive albums, it was impossible to reach 20 million globally so quickly; Warner had simply inflated the numbers in advance. But since Zhou Yi would eventually sell that many, Warner felt no panic at all.

And the three golden Grammy phonograph trophies on display completely amplified the envy in the hearts of the young musicians present to its peak—

In the eyes of Jay Chou, who held a filter for Old Europe, there was full of envy and a restless desire to try, thinking "I can do it too";

Wang Lihong, who had just received a beating from society in Japan, was now entirely consumed by thoughts of whether his alias "Mr. Zhou" would be exposed, and what he would do if it were...

"I am very happy that everyone could come tonight to the victory celebration specially held by the company for me, although I feel they were still a bit conservative."

After exchanging pleasantries at each table, Zhou Yi ascended the stage, made some remarks to liven up the atmosphere, and then, accompanied by Qian Jiang, Chen Ze Shan, Zhou Jianhui, and others, smashed the "20 million" ice sculpture in one go!

Countless flashes of light nearly drowned him at that very moment!

"The spring breeze makes the horse gallop swiftly; in one day, I see all the flowers of Chang'an!"

The next day, the "Imperial Capital Youth Daily" was the first to publish the first report on Zhou Yi's return, with a picture that was none other than Zhou Yi holding three Grammy phonograph trophies!

"Apple Daily": "Shocking Secret! Zhou Yi May Be Involved in a Threesome!"

"Southern Entertainment News": "Guo Tianwang Zhou Yi Returns Powerfully! Who Is the First Lady?"

"Contemporary Music Scene": "May All Musicians Take This as a Lesson—Learn from Zhou Yi"

"Daily New News": "Brilliant Stars! A Gathering of Stars Surrounding the Moon at Zhou Yi's Victory Celebration!"

"..."

And even more weighty was the article published again by the "People's Daily" in its main edition—

"Brilliant Stars, Peak of Asia—He Ignited the World with His Youth"

"In the music scene of China, Asia, and even the world, a brilliant star is rising—Zhou Yi.

"This talented musician, with his outstanding artistic achievements and profound musical emotions, successfully won the crown of the Grammy Awards, carving his name into the history of world pop music.

"This honor is not only the highest recognition for him personally, but also a revolution for the entire music world of China, Asia, and the world.

"Zhou Yi's musical journey is full of legendary colors...

"From being unknown at the beginning to becoming famous today, he has always adhered to his love and persistence for music.

"In his musical works, there is full of insights into life and understanding of human nature; every song is like a delicate painting, allowing people to feel endless thoughts and emotions in the melody.

"In the competition for the Grammy Awards, Zhou Yi, with his outstanding works and superb performance skills, successfully defeated many strong opponents and became the brightest star of the night.

"He not only displayed his unique musical personality but also conveyed a positive spiritual power, inspiring everyone who pursues their dreams.

"..."

"We feel immense pride and honor for Zhou Yi's achievements.

"He proved with his own efforts that as long as one has dreams, pursuits, and dedication, one can surely achieve their goals.

"He used his youth to ignite the entire world.

"Here, we extend our warmest congratulations to Zhou Yi and look forward to him continuing to create more brilliance on his future musical path.

"At the same time, we hope that everyone who loves music and pursues dreams can draw strength from Zhou Yi's success, bravely pursue their own dreams, and create their own brilliant moments..."

(End of this chapter)