[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty":3,"chapter-the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-chapter-55":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The King of 2000: A Mandopop Dynasty",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2301311,4501,"Chapter 55: Chapter Fifty-Two: That Man Debuted","the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-chapter-55",55,"\u003Cp>“Blackie! You stop right there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>November in Jiangxi Province, Raozhou, Zhou Family Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the character portrayed by Li Bing let out a furious shout on screen, the image froze. Immediately after came the ending theme song that had spread to every household following the explosive popularity of *Young Bao Qingtian*—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can anyone tell me if there’s a pen\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That can draw eyes that never shed tears\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That can hold onto fleeting moments of time\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That can keep all beauty from ever wilting~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A melodious female voice drifted from the TV speakers, followed by Zhou Yi’s unmistakable voice—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If that’s the case, I can comfort myself\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On nights without you, I can draw a thread of light\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hold onto happiness and send it all to you\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Turn bitterness into sweetness~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ping, who was serving dishes, hummed along with the ending theme playing from the TV, while Zhou Yaoguo, seated in the living room, switched channels with the remote to the news station.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In my opinion, singing songs like this is far better—he sings nothing as good as this in his album, it’s so nice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Ping, carrying the dishes to the table, wiped her hands on her apron and offered her own evaluation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Zhou Yi was her son, to be honest, she preferred the two songs he sang for *Young Bao Qingtian*—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Theme song: “No Regrets”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ending theme: “As Long as You’re Here”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s just youth trends—you don’t understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yaoguo, seated at the table, happily ladled rice and praised while eating: “Aren’t the newspapers saying it’s selling really well? Old Li’s kid loves singing that ‘Happy Worship’ thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similar conversations were unfolding in nearly every household that watched *Young Bao Qingtian* on time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 2000, watching TV dramas remained one of the main forms of evening entertainment. Once a hit drama emerged, its ending and theme songs inevitably reaped massive rewards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*My Fair Princess* and *Journey to the West: Sequel* were two clear examples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Warner even launched its campaign, the overwhelming viewership of *Young Bao Qingtian* crushed Rock Records’ attempt to piggyback on its success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rock Records’ boss was helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it, how is this kid so damn lucky?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d planned to catch Zhou Yi off guard while he was out of mainland China and couldn’t promote himself, but instead they were utterly wiped out by *Young Bao Qingtian*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only parental advantage Yuchuan had over Zhou Yi—his song quality—was completely neutralized by the drama’s opening and ending themes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although “Cold to the Core” was clearly superior in musical quality, *Young Bao Qingtian* was just too popular.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warner seized the opportunity and poured all its resources into promoting Zhou Yi, burying “Cold to the Core” beyond recovery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In our industry’s terms, you really deserve to be famous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Jiang, watching helplessly as *Young Bao Qingtian* arrived like a divine gift to solve the Yuchuan problem, sighed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In twenty years in the business, he could count on one hand the stars whose luck rivaled Zhou Yi’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rock Records got another silent beating—laughable, wasted money promoting Yuchuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Zhou Yi’s “company dormitory” on the island, Zhou Yi laughed as he tossed the documents onto the transparent coffee table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Young Bao Qingtian*—to describe its popularity in one sentence: the national ratings champion of 2000.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do you even understand the value behind the words “ratings champion” in this era?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This fortune was originally meant for Sun Nan; clearly, it now belonged to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank goodness Rock Records knew when to cut their losses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Jiang paused, equally proud of securing *Young Bao Qingtian* for his artist: “Oh, by the way, are you going to attend the China Music Chart and the Global Chinese Music Chart?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi blinked in surprise: “What did you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s an awards ceremony—you’re going, right? The company already registered you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Jiang didn’t beat around the bush: “The China Music Chart, also known as the Chinese Pop Songs Chart awards, currently only allows mainland singers to compete—you have a very high chance of winning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for the Global Chinese Music Chart, you’ll win something just by showing up. It’s basically a pork-dividing ceremony, but its influence is still strong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My advice: go. It’s tiring traveling everywhere, but winning more awards gives your fans something to brag about.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, beyond singing, award competitions are fans’ favorite pastime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Farther back, there was Tan Zhang rivalry; closer to now, the Four Heavenly Kings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which one didn’t have awards piled high, trophies wrapping around their waists?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, by the way, there’s another award from Hong Kong: the Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worried Zhou Yi didn’t understand why a Hong Kong award would involve him, Qian Jiang quickly added: “This award just started promoting a nationwide concept this year, so mainland singers can now be nominated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As long as you sing Mandarin songs and your submission passes review, you’re eligible. Whether you win depends on your merit—it leans toward veteran singers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But for Best New Artist, I think you’re a sure thing—go for it. This award is more prestigious than the mainland’s China Music Chart or Global Chinese Music Chart; since its founding in 1978, it’s been Hong Kong’s most renowned and valuable award.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Later awards like the Top Ten Golden Songs only accept Cantonese songs—too limited.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, and the Taiwan Golden Melody Awards, which came later, have also been entered for you by the company—we’ll see how many nominations you get.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Qian Jiang flipped open his notebook and listed other award ceremonies Zhou Yi had never heard of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t go to those smaller ones—either you go, or send someone from the company to collect them for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the long list of names, Zhou Yi frowned: “For mainland awards, go to China Music Chart and Global Chinese Music Chart;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For Hong Kong, go to Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For Taiwan, go to Golden Melody Awards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The rest—wait, what’s this Singapore Golden Melody Award?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi’s hand froze as he flipped through the notebook: “I can win an award in Singapore?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In a way, you could win an award in Vietnam too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Jiang smiled and patted the boy’s shoulder with solemnity: “Your company is Warner, Ah Yi. Zhou Jianhui is counting on you and Sun Yanzi to help him become president of Greater China.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he can reach for the stars, he’ll probably pluck the moon for you if you ask.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>6.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Will the company do PR for the awards?” Zhou Yi asked, having heard rumors about such practices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There will be some, but not much. Look—who can compete with you this year? Even Sun Yanzi can’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, Sun Yanzi and you aren’t even the same gender—you only compete for Best New Artist. Other awards, she takes hers, you take yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Zhou Jianhui was already imagining his artists’ bright futures, distributing awards like harvesting leeks, Zhou Yi received a call—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A call from Zhou Jielun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Yi, Brother Xian has approved the release of my album!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pressing the answer button, Zhou Jielun’s excited shriek blared from the phone:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Starting today, I’m officially a singer!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On November 7, 2000, the Chinese music scene welcomed another newcomer: Zhou Jielun—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not handsome, poor posture, always wearing a baseball cap and slouching to look cool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who bought his album heard his first lyric: a strange cry: “Wu~~”\u003C\u002Fp>",1227,"2026-06-20T07:33:41.161Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d0241e287f8e3dc90f677b12cec80ff7af22d91f61b5c620f8c2ccf17006edea","the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-chapter-56","the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-chapter-54",883,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-cover.jpg"]