Chapter 56: Zhou Yi, Pull the Trigger on a Sniper

"What's wrong? Who released an album? And they called specifically to tell you?"

Watching Zhou Yi hang up the phone, Qian Jiang curiously asked.

The singers Zhou Yi knew, counting them all, were just a few, and he hadn't heard that anyone had finished a new album for release.

"Jay Chou, you've met him, that guy who had carbon monoxide poisoning before."

"Oh, that unlucky guy."

Qian Jiang, who still remembered vividly that Zhou Yi had saved someone, instantly recalled who that young man named Jay Chou was: "Can he sing?"

He stayed under Wu Zongxian for so long and still didn't debut; are you sure he can make it?

"Whether he can sing or not, if I tell you, you won't believe it anyway. Go buy an album, listen, and see for yourself."

Zhou Yi, sitting upright on the sofa, peeled an orange with his hand and smiled: "Buy ten more for me. Last time he supported me, so let's return the favor."

"Sounds like you have high hopes for him."

Qian Jiang was somewhat surprised.

This was the second time Zhou Yi had shown this kind of attitude toward a rookie singer.

The previous rookie singer Zhou Yi had high hopes for was named Zhang Shaohan, who is now a highly regarded new singer within Fomax.

"Eh? That's not right, why are all the singers you have high hopes for from other companies? Warner is the boss, isn't it?"

Suddenly realizing this, Qian Jiang's face looked a bit strange.

"Who said that? Didn't I have high hopes for Sun Yanzi before she debuted?" Zhou Yi, chewing on an orange segment, frowned imperceptibly from the sourness, then silently handed the orange to his manager.

"But if you have high hopes for her, Sun Yanzi was a rookie valued by Zhou Jianhui even before you; an entire album was tailored for her by Warner—"

Qian Jiang, completely off guard, had just broken off a segment to put in his mouth; the next second, his entire face contorted from the sourness: "Damn!"

Seeing that he wasn't the only one who got hit, Zhou Yi smiled brightly: "Bought it at the fruit shop downstairs. If there's a problem, go find them."

Qian Jiang glared at him in feigned anger: "I get you resources, and you treat me like this? After I just booked another gig for you."

"What gig? Singing a theme song for someone again? Or running errands somewhere?"

"Neither. It's writing a song for Sun Yanzi."

"?"

"Don't question it. It's a decision from the company side. They plan to ride the wave in December and release another new album for Yanzi. Since you, the talented one, are right here in the company, Zhou Jianhui's idea is to see if you have any thoughts, to tailor a song for Yanzi as well."

Hearing the reason, Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Didn't she just release one in June? Why release another so soon?"

"Do you think the Taiwan market is that big? Of course she has to press the advantage. Not everyone starts by releasing simultaneously across the two sides of the strait and Hong Kong and Macau like you."

Sun Yanzi, whose first album missed the huge mainland market, didn't need to run back and forth like Zhou Yi or struggle endlessly, so she was naturally arranged to release a new album.

Qian Jiang, who had gulped down several mouthfuls of water, wiped his mouth: "Of course, the company's idea is that you can also start preparing for your second album."

"Of course, they won't rush you; you can take your time finding creative inspiration. It just means you can start preparing."

For Zhou Yi, a top-tier all-in-one machine in the Chinese music scene who handles lyrics, composition, and arrangement entirely by himself and can even set the theme for his own albums, Zhou Jianhui knew to give him a considerable amount of creative space.

After all, a singer can start singing once they receive a suitable song, but singer-songwriters often have their own persistence and stubbornness. A typical example is Tao Zhe; the album he released at the end of last year was so hot, yet this year there hasn't been a single whisper of a new album from him.

"Also, since you're free now, you should start writing the song promised to Fomax, the one for Zhang Shaohan. Fomax plans to launch Zhang Shaohan to the market before Christmas; they have already received eight or nine songs matching her style and vocal range."

As Qian Jiang kept talking about work, he then pulled out a notebook from his suit pocket: "Also, currently because of your sudden explosion in popularity, international big brands want to contact you. I'm in preliminary negotiations with them."

"International big brands? I've only been popular for less than half a year. Which visionary has such good taste?"

Zhou Yi, who thought the first endorsement he would get would be from a mainland brand, was very surprised: "Benny's?"

"Coca-Cola and Pepsi."

"..."

He almost forgot these two brothers, the top-tier celebrity harvesters of the entertainment industry.

Hearing it was these two, Zhou Yi immediately became interested: "What's the price?"

"Both sides' preliminary quotes are four million, signing for four years. If you sign with Pepsi, Pepsi will also arrange collaborations with Wang Fei, Leslie Cheung, and others for you."

"Coca-Cola doesn't have this advantage, but they promise to give you other promotional resources."

"Treating me like a beggar? I've already earned over four million from just one album so far. Offering four million, and signing for four years?" Zhou Yi pouted, clearly quite disdainful.

In this era, the earning speed of famous singers still exceeded that of regular stars in the film and television industry. Of course, the big shots like "Double Zhou and One Cheng" are not included in this category.

People not only get more money, but they get it faster.

Although the various revenue shares from his album were coming in a bit slowly, and the speed of income from various channels was inconsistent, so most were settled quarterly or semi-annually, but currently, after his own estimation and the company's calculation:

As of November 7, his album sales revenue and licensing revenue, in hand, had already exceeded four million RMB, rapidly approaching the five million mark.

Warner was even preparing to pay him part of his share in advance.

Although the tax deduction later would make Zhou Yi feel a bit of heartache, he knew the bottom line that shouldn't be crossed.

Not to mention the future, Liu Xiaoqing, who was caught as a typical case for tax evasion in June this year, is still in prison; he didn't want to go in there with her and sing the "Iron Window Lament."

"I told them the same thing. This isn't urgent; we are still in the first round of negotiations. From the current situation, Pepsi's willingness to increase the offer seems stronger."

Pepsi, huh...?

Although Zhou Yi personally preferred drinking Coca-Cola, if Pepsi finally offered enough sincerity, he wouldn't mind defecting for a moment.

"Besides these two international big brands, some domestic merchants have also made preliminary contact with us, such as the Wahaha Group, which also launched a cola drink, but the prices offered aren't particularly high."

"In terms of clothing, Benny's you just mentioned has no news yet, but the domestically trending K-Boxing men's wear does have an intention and has contacted me. But the first-round quote is a bit low, and there are currently signs of the deal falling apart..."

As Qian Jiang chattered on, the details of the endorsement contracts, big and small, were revealed before Zhou Yi's eyes.

As an important component of a star's income, the level of endorsement income often determines how popular an artist is and how high their status is.

At least Qian Jiang, who is from Xiangjiang, thinks so, so he has always been fighting for higher rates for Zhou Yi.

When the two chatted until it was dark, Qian Jiang finally slapped his head and prepared to leave: "I'll handle the endorsement talks. Write Zhang Shaohan's song as soon as possible. As for Sun Yanzi's song, if you can't write it, I can step in and play the villain to reject it."

Although they were from the same company, if it was necessary to play the villain, Qian Jiang was very dedicated.

"There's no need for that. Just tell them to come pick it up tomorrow."

"Oh, tomorrow—huh? Tomorrow?"

Zhou Yi nodded.

A song called "Fable," a song called "Green Light"—a matter of moments.