Chapter 53: Do You Want to Eat Qi Li Xiang?

For the bundled marketing card played by Warner, Sony, BMG, and Rock, who had just joined forces, were obviously helpless against it.

Damn, they're using cheats!

Warner has no martial ethics, they're using damn cheats!

One Zhou Yi, one Sun Yanzi; whether looking at album sales or popularity, the strongest new talents of the millennium are undoubtedly these two.

Especially Zhou Yi.

Up until the day before the recording of "Food Word Crossroads," Zhou Yi's legitimate album sales across the two sides of the strait and Hong Kong and Macau were already rushing straight toward 1.4 million copies.

Channels in Asian regions like Singapore and Malaysia have also officially opened for sales; selling 1.8 to 2 million legitimate copies across Asia within its lifecycle is not a dream.

Once the official title "Warner Twin Stars" was released, the discussion around Zhou Yi, whose popularity had dipped due to not appearing on the Treasure Island for a long time, rose again.

Precisely because of this, Zhou Yi's arrival received the highest possible reception from the entire "Food Word Crossroads" production team. In Wu Zongxian's own words, even if the Four Heavenly Kings came, they would receive no more than this treatment.

"Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations on the huge album sales, classmate Zhou Yi. Is it okay for me to call you that? As far as I know, you seem to still be in university."

Wu Zongxian, who had already crossed paths with Zhou Yi during the gas poisoning incident earlier and later shared a casual meal together, warmly embraced Zhou Yi, who had just arrived at the hotel—

Behind Wu Zongxian, Sun Yanzi, who had already reported to the production team, flashed a peace sign at Zhou Yi and smiled to welcome his arrival.

"Of course it's no problem, Brother Xian, although this form of address might make me recall the fear of being dominated by teachers on campus." After exchanging greetings, Zhou Yi smiled and threw the backpack he was carrying toward Sun Yanzi, who was sneakily trying to cause trouble, causing her to let out a startled cry—

"Why are you throwing things?"

"This is called striking first to gain the upper hand; I don't want to be recorded looking foolish."

Triumphant Zhou Yi reached his hand toward the backpack Sun Yanzi had hurriedly caught, then turned his head and jerked his chin at the cameraman following behind: "I'm afraid I have to sacrifice the Daoist brother to save the poor Daoist."

Seeing that the relationship between this pair of "Warner Twin Stars" seemed truly good, looking completely unlike a forced bundled marketing campaign by the company, Wu Zongxian was overjoyed in his heart.

After all, when doing variety shows, a gathering of acquaintances is actually easier to produce results.

"Classmate Zhou, before you came, your manager should have already told you the flow of our show, right? A very simple word chain game.

"The production team will give the first food name, we go eat it, then chat and play while eating, and finally use the last character of the first food name to chain to the next food.

"The production team will give the name of the final food at just the right moment; at that time, we must figure out a way to twist the name to that final dish.

"This is actually more like an outdoor variety show that uses the name of food to express oneself.

"And because our filming is done on location, there will be many of your fans coming to watch at that time, even interacting with you."

Wu Zongxian, who personally handed the show flow to Zhou Yi, made a gesture to the filming crew, and then led Zhou Yi and Sun Yanzi into the hotel:

"So, I still need to confirm with you once more: do you need to add some restrictions on topics? Or do you have anything you don't want to discuss or cannot discuss?"

"Is there anything I cannot discuss?"

Zhou Yi shrugged: "Bring whatever you want; I can handle it."

After receiving the person's definite answer, Wu Zongxian finally truly put his heart at ease.

To be honest, he was still very surprised when he first received the news from Warner. He hadn't invited mainland artists as guests before, but there were always some restrictions.

An artist like Zhou Yi, who has no taboos even regarding rumors and is completely indifferent to the Treasure Island variety show specialty of making dirty jokes, is the first.

"Alright, then you two rest well tonight; the show will start recording early tomorrow morning."

Knowing that these two had been busy back and forth without much rest, Wu Zongxian handed the room key to Zhou Yi after giving one instruction.

"How about it? Do you need me to guide you when the time comes?"

After Wu Zongxian left, Sun Yanzi, who did not leave with him, leaned against the hotel room door, smiling and teasing: "Don't think I'm bragging, but in the past few months, my variety show experience is much richer than yours."

"Okay then, tomorrow I'll trouble you, Teacher Sun."

Zhou Yi, speaking in a pretentious tone, had a bit of sarcasm in his words, earning a roll of the eyes from the knowledgeable Sun Yanzi.

She had wanted to act like a senior.

This dog man always manages to poke her lung pipe with one sentence, choking her so she can't say a word.

Is there even a shred of respect for a teacher?!

Is this reasonable?!

"Alright, stop talking about this nonsense. I'm going out to eat; do you want to come along?"

After packing up the things in the backpack, Zhou Yi twirled the room key and smiled: "The food on the plane tastes terrible; my stomach is almost starving to death.

"The production team is too stingy; they didn't even know to book an airline with better plane meals for me."

"You really dare to say that; aren't you afraid the production team people will hear and give you a hard time?"

"Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know; unless you betray me. But would you betray me?"

The corners of Sun Yanzi's lips rose slightly: "Who knows? You should know I've been unhappy seeing your album sell better than mine for a long time."

She released her album in early June; the throne of number one had just been sat on for a month when Zhou Yi, while sweeping the Treasure Island music scene, also AOE'd her along with it.

"Then I suggest you get used to this feeling better; after all, every year in the future you will be crushed by me once."

While saying arrogant words, before he had even walked two steps, Zhou Yi received a punch from Sun Yanzi that looked like a heavy strike but was actually soft and weak—

"At this hour, there's nothing much to eat in the hotel; the night market outside is just lively. Do you dare to go?"

"What's there to be afraid of? Speaking of which, I haven't toured the Treasure Island night markets yet; introduce me to something delicious."

"Do you want to eat Qi Li Xiang? You probably haven't eaten it before; this thing seems quite famous here, and there should be quite a lot of it in the night market."

Thinking of a snack, Sun Yanzi played around and said: "I heard it's chicken butt? Or what part was it?"

Hearing this, Zhou Yi immediately became interested: "If you hadn't said it, I almost forgot; tasting the flavor wouldn't be bad; I've only eaten chicken butt stewed by my mom before."

Soon, the two, after disguising themselves, walked out of the hotel and, led by Sun Yanzi, headed straight for the legendary Treasure Island night market to solve their hunger problem.

Sparrows fluttered their wings and flew by the utility poles next to the streetlights; the summer night with cicada songs was as hot as before; the beginning of the story was as smooth as always—

It's just that the ending of tonight was not very beautiful for Zhou Yi and the other.

"Ah! Are you Zhou Yi?!"

"Sun Yanzi?! You are Sun Yanzi, right?!"

Obviously, Zhou Yi and Sun Yanzi had overestimated their disguise skills.

Not long after buying the so-called famous snack Qi Li Xiang at the night market, the moment they took off their masks to eat, the two were recognized.

"..."

"..."

"Miss, I think you might be mistaken."

Facing the excited fans, the ever-calm Zhou Yi seriously spouted nonsense: "I just look like Zhou Yi; I am his younger brother. If you don't mind, you can call me by my nickname, Bagua."

"As you know, my brother is coming here to film a show, so I followed along to see what it's like."

Nearby, Sun Yanzi, who had been silenced into speechlessness, immediately copied him: "Hello everyone, I am Sun Yanzi's younger sister. My name is Sun Yanmei. I hope everyone will support my sister's album."

"..."

This left the excited fans completely bewildered.

Why are they so calm?

Shouldn't they be denying, running away, and contacting their manager all at once?

Who are you looking down on by lying so blatantly?

Seeing the fans still "watching hungrily," Sun Yanzi suddenly elbowed Zhou Yi beside her and, grinding her teeth, forced a sentence out between her clenched jaws: "At least say a normal nickname. No normal person would be called Bagua."

"You're no better. No normal person would change their name to Sun Yanmei. I didn't realize you were so narcissistic."

Zhou Yi, forced to hold an impromptu "signing session," also shot back a retort from between his teeth.

"Thanks a lot. I really do have a younger sister, and her name is indeed Sun Yanmei."

"..."

Then there's no problem.

Just as he was about to sign an autograph for a large-chested beauty whose speech still reeked of motorcycles, Zhou Yi glanced at her sideways upon hearing this: "Forget I said anything. Uncle and Auntie, what wonderful writing!"