Chapter 65: First Meeting

As Zhou Yi's manager, once Zhou Yi spoke those words, Qian Jiang's carefully crafted process for building connections died in the womb.

So Zhou Yi didn't need his introduction at all; he already had his own connections.

"No, you have these connections and you didn't say so earlier? I was worried that your style might step on a mine, thinking I could help you build good relations with the people at CCTV, maybe even get some advance hints."

"You didn't ask, so how was I supposed to know you'd have that idea?"

Regarding his own manager's complaint, Zhou Yi smiled, raised his hand, and patted his shoulder: "Don't worry, I know better than anyone which minefields cannot be touched."

Let alone private life matters; as long as no principled errors are committed, private life is nothing.

Even in the eyes of the older generation in the entertainment industry, this isn't an issue; do they really think this group of so-called veteran artists in the mainland are white lotuses?

Leaving other things aside, just look at Jin Ye Zhao Zhongxiang, one of CCTV's icons; after things went wrong, didn't he still wear the tall hat steadily and safely?

"Alright then, since that's the case, you be careful yourself."

With the plan in the schedule falling through, Qian Jiang turned to arrange other matters: "A-Yi, regarding your participation in the Global Chinese Music Awards, are your parents coming?"

"If they are coming, I can help you contact the organizers and arrange their entry quotas and seats."

Although his achievements over the past six months have been dazzling, Zhou Yi is indeed a newcomer in the music scene.

Looking at the timeline, this Chinese Music Awards ceremony is the first award show he has personally attended, holding significant commemorative meaning.

As a considerate manager, Qian Jiang naturally would not forget Zhou Yi's parents at such a time.

Understanding his meaning, Zhou Yi immediately thanked him: "Then I'll trouble you, Uncle Qian."

"Why be polite with me? The two of us are in a relationship where we rise together and fall together."

Qian Jiang smiled and patted Zhou Yi's arm: "Alright, are you going to Warner Music China first or home first?"

"Rest at home first, then go to Warner Music China tomorrow."

As a branch company of Warner merged into the mainland, Warner Music China can basically be considered Zhou Yi's second home in the Imperial Capital. However, compared to the intimate relationship between him and Zhou Jianhui, he is not very familiar with the current general manager of Warner Music China.

Moreover, Song Ke, the music director of Warner Music China, has a good friend named Gao Xiaosong with whom he frequently collaborates.

Zhou Yi, who really didn't want to see that idiot, basically wouldn't hang around in the Warner building in the mainland like he did in the Taiwan region when there was nothing to do.

It would be better to go to the Central Academy of Drama to find Cheng Hao and let her introduce him to the beauties at the Central Academy of Drama or the Beijing Film Academy.

Oh, no.

Zhou Yi, who just thought of this, slapped his forehead; Cheng Hao hasn't graduated yet, she went home early for winter break, where—

"Bang bang! Surprised? Excited?"

When Zhou Yi returned to his home and just used his key to open the door, he suddenly heard two firecrackers accompanied by cheers exploding beside his ears.

Cheng Hao, who had learned from a phone chat with Zhou Yi earlier that he would return to the mainland today, held two pulled firecrackers in her hands, her smile as bright as a flower.

"Cheng Hao? Why are you still in the Imperial Capital? Aren't you going home for the New Year?"

Seeing the woman before him, Zhou Yi, who raised his hand to brush off the confetti from his head, raised his eyebrows with indescribable surprise.

"Nonsense, the stock market trend isn't good, so it's better for me to go home a bit later; otherwise, my parents might notice I have something on my mind, and I don't want them to know most of my money is invested in the stock market."

Upon hearing the man mention this, Cheng Hao rolled her eyes at him: "Is that NetEase you mentioned actually any good? If my fortune is lost, you have to take responsibility for me, I'm telling you."

"How do I take responsibility? Do you want to scam me? Let me tell you, I studied law; I can pull out a professional team in minutes, don't think about challenging me."

Zhou Yi, with a smile on his lips, casually threw his backpack onto the coffee table, collapsed directly into the sofa, and said in a relaxed tone: "Continuing to buy NetEase is definitely correct; trust me, we two will definitely get a big bowl of soup from this, maybe even eat some meat, after all, Warner has already paid me a portion of the dividends."

"Forget it, let's not talk about that. I received a call from the director of 'The Pink Ladies', twice."

Seeing that the man still wore that confident expression, Chen Hao didn't take it seriously; at worst, they would lose together. Maybe when Zhou Yi was depressed because of this rare failure, she could take advantage of the situation and win him over directly.

"Twice? Why?"

"Because I refused."

Cheng Hao, having closed the door, turned around and threw the firecracker in her hand at the man in a bad mood: "You too, didn't even check what kind of person I am before giving my number to that so-called director."

"Do I look like that kind of Wan Ren Mi? How am I supposed to act that?"

Zhou Yi, with his elbows bent and half-propped on the sofa to support his body, laughed: "Didn't you always have great confidence in your appearance? How come you have no confidence now? Aren't you the chosen Wan Ren Mi?"

"I thank you for thinking so highly of me; 'chosen Wan Ren Mi', I feel ashamed just saying those words."

A simple beige turtleneck sweater, the moment Cheng Hao sat down, further accentuated her curves; her feet under the blue slim-fit jeans were wrapped in black cotton socks, and her flexible toes twisted inside the fuzzy slippers: "Moreover, I have to prepare for the People's Art Theatre exam in the second half of the year."

"The People's Art Theatre has a rule that the first year after passing the exam, one cannot go out to film."

"What are you afraid of? You don't have any drama commitments on you right now. As for the plot of 'The Pink Ladies' comic, no matter how it's adapted, it can be filmed in half a year; I even suspect it won't take that long."

"Let's talk about it later; that director said there's a plot in 'The Pink Ladies' that needs to be filmed in Japan; he probably thinks I'll like official business trips just like you."

Cheng Hao, who is not short of money nowadays, no longer has such a strong obsession with making money from acting as she did two years ago.

Her career ambition was not very strong to begin with; without pressure, she let herself go even more.

Zhou Yi, suddenly caught in the crossfire, gave her a dirty look: "Speak properly, don't drag me into it; I don't have official business trips."

"Mm-hmm, I believe you."

Watching the man's whining manner, Cheng Hao curved her eyebrows, noncommittal, while the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up: "By the way, regarding this award ceremony you're coming back to attend, can I follow along and visit?"

"It is possible, but are you sure you want to go with me?"

Hearing this, Zhou Yi turned his head, lying on the sofa and looking at her sitting directly opposite him, a few traces of playfulness stacking up between his eyebrows: "Then wouldn't I be at a disadvantage?"

"As expected, you are still so shameless."

"Thank you for the compliment."

Cheng Hao, speechless and smiling, shook her head: "I heard there will be many big directors appearing at that award ceremony, such as Zhang Yimou, Ringo Lam, and Jiang Wen."

"You know, I am an actress."

Zhou Yi disdainfully curled his lips: "You are an actress my foot; I've never seen an actress like you who is too lazy to eat roles handed right to her mouth."

"To be fair, big directors and small directors are different; even Jiang Wen has been famous for a long time." Cheng Hao, who had prepared her script in advance, responded calmly.

Little brat; with her understanding of this man, she wouldn't lose in a verbal spar if she was prepared and had a plan.

Raising his eyes to gaze into Cheng Hao's eyes, Zhou Yi, after a moment of silence, suddenly grinned and replied: "Alright, since you are so sincere."

January 17, the scene of the Global Chinese Music Awards ceremony.

Chen Hao, in a pure black, carved, noble evening gown, had a tense expression, while beside her walked Zhou Yi in a white suit, grinning from ear to ear.

"Still laughing! Still laughing! Zhou Yi! You didn't tell me your uncle and aunt would come!"

"Nonsense, if I had told you beforehand, how could I have seen that awkward look on your face just now. An eye for an eye, Cheng Hao. Do you remember how awkward I looked in front of your parents last year? Retribution is not absent; its time has simply not yet come."

While Zhou Yi, still grinning widely, continued his friendly yet calm interaction with Cheng Hao, at the entrance hall on the other side, Sun Yanzi, wrapped in a thick cotton-padded jacket after waving goodbye to her manager Chen Zeshan, spotted a man standing out like a crane among chickens in the crowd—

With the intention of finding someone familiar, Sun Yanzi quickly walked up behind the man, raised her hand, and patted his shoulder: "Zhou Yi!"

The two who were still chatting turned around together, and Cheng Hao also saw this uninvited guest who had disturbed them.

"Sun Yanzi? Why are you still wrapped in such a thick cotton-padded jacket?"

"Of course, because it's cold outside."

Unafraid of strangers, Sun Yanzi rubbed her hands together, then extended a hand toward the woman beside Zhou Yi, smiling as she introduced herself: "Hello, my name is Sun Yanzi, from Singapore."

"Hello, my name is Cheng Hao."

Having recognized that this woman was Cheng Hao, one of the Warner Twins, she was also very enthusiastic.

After all, this one had not yet had any rumors of romance spread about her and Zhou Yi.