Chapter 68: Sun Nan Presents the Award, Shrimp and Pork Heart

Under the gaze of the entire audience, guests, and even the cameras, Zhou Yi, whose face had been beaming with a smile the whole time, casually high-fived Sun Yanzi and Cheng Hao beside him, and only after embracing his parents did he leave his seat—

Striding forward with head held high, his tall figure appeared exceptionally imposing against the theater lights.

"Congratulations, Zhou Yi."

Zhu Xun, standing here tonight as the representative of CCTV hosts, personally handed a trophy shaped like a satellite into the man's hands and offered her heartfelt congratulations.

The other two hosts, Wu Dawei and Ke Lan, also applauded for him.

"Thank you, Sister Zhu Xun."

Taking the spot vacated by Zhu Xun and Ke Lan, Zhou Yi, holding the trophy in one hand and tilting the microphone angle up with the other, lowered his head slightly—

"Thank you to CCTV, thank you to Channel V, and thank you to Sister Zhu Xun for presenting me with this award."

After the customary thanks to the organizers, including CCTV, Zhou Yi pressed his lips together, gazed at the music industry giants in the audience below, and felt something rather strange in his heart: "Of course, I must also thank the fans for their support and love. Thank you."

Although he really wanted to be cheeky, considering this was his first time at such an event, Zhou Yi forcibly suppressed the urge to say something provocative.

This was CCTV's turf in the early millennium; as a newcomer, he still had to be serious, especially with so many leaders seated in the audience.

As for his fans who had bought tickets to get in, they were overjoyed in the audience seats, and especially after seeing Zhou Yi wave to them while holding up the trophy, their cheers shook the heavens.

This was Zhou Yi's first award since his debut.

At nineteen, according to traditional Chinese concepts of the contemporary era, this age was truly still that of a youth.

Famous at a young age.

Standing in the spotlight, Zhou Yi's smile was brilliant; his spirited appearance was such that even the big shots from the Hong Kong circle would have to give a thumbs-up and exclaim, "Handsome guy."

A spirited young man.

The big leaders of CCTV below also looked very satisfied.

Look at this figure, this temperament, this face; who says the mainland is inferior to Hong Kong and Taiwan?

A major reason CCTV launched this mainland pop music award was that the Hong Kong and Taiwan awards were too dominant, and there was an unspoken rule behind the scenes of not accepting or discriminating against mainland singers.

Having been held for six previous editions, although the winners might have seemed self-congratulatory, it was at least a mainland award, offering a warm comfort to mainland singers.

And with Zhou Yi's sudden emergence, the quality of mainland singers at this seventh "Top of the Charts" ceremony saw an exponential rise.

After taking the trophy offstage, Zhou Yi first let his parents, who were already smiling so widely their mouths wouldn't close, play with it for a while, then sat down again, watching Zhu Xun and Ke Lan on stage announce the winner of the second Most Popular Song award—Cai Yilin from the Treasure Island.

She, however, did not receive the super-standard treatment Zhou Yi had of delivering a string of opening remarks to set the tone; she simply said her name briefly, followed immediately by the third winning song.

After presenting three Most Popular Song awards in a row, the two winners other than Zhou Yi headed backstage to prepare for their performances.

"Strange, why don't you need to prepare for a performance?"

Watching the stage lights dim as Cai Yilin, wrapped in a blue padded jacket, performed her award-winning sweet-style song on stage, Cheng Hao, feeling puzzled, leaned close to Zhou Yi's ear and asked in a low voice.

"Qian Jiang told me my performance segment isn't at the opening but in the middle part, along with Wang Lihong and Xie Tingfeng."

Taking advantage of the darkness, Zhou Yi subtly pointed toward the two groups of people not far from him.

Cheng Hao immediately understood.

One was the singer representative launched by the Treasure Island, the other the singer representative launched by Xiangjiang; since neither had taken the stage to perform yet, Zhou Yi, as the trump card, naturally couldn't be played too early.

"How many awards do you have tonight?"

"I don't know; I'm definitely getting the Most Popular Song award and the Best Newcomer award, and for the Best Mainland Singer-Songwriter award, besides me, no one else should be able to take it."

Zhou Yi counted on his fingers, covering his mouth with his hand as he whispered, "The only variable is that, theoretically, it should be the award originally meant for Sun Nan."

As he spoke, his gaze did not fail to turn toward Sun Nan, seated not far in front of him.

Hearing this, Cheng Hao was greatly surprised in his heart: "You can win that many? This is your first time participating, right?"

Given the mainland's culture of seniority, wasn't Zhou Yi's momentum somewhat going against the norm?

How many mainland seniors who debuted earlier were counting on this award to boost their reputation and build their credentials?

"Qian Jiang said he was also very surprised when he received the notification from the organizing committee; he guessed that the explosion in popularity after Xie Tingfeng appeared on the Spring Festival Gala earlier this year might have irritated some people in the mainland who were unhappy with the preferential treatment given to Hong Kong and Taiwan, and I am the only mainland singer in the second half of the year capable of competing with him."

Sun Nan is strong, but his age is ultimately getting on.

Look at the male singers launched by the younger generation in Hong Kong and Taiwan; they are all in their twenties, and look how popular Xie Tingfeng has become.

Sun Nan, an old hand, getting involved would ultimately make the mainland lose face, especially since he couldn't beat Xie Tingfeng anyway.

Being fierce only within one's own group would be even more shameful.

Considering the extra introduction Zhu Xun added specifically when introducing him at the opening, Zhou Yi figured out a bit of the meaning.

However, whether it was exactly as he thought depended on how many awards he could win in the subsequent rounds.

Facts proved that Zhou Yi's speculation was somewhat accurate.

"Best Newcomer Award: Sun Yanzi."

"Best Newcomer Award: Zhou Yi!"

Having sat in the audience for less than twenty minutes, Zhou Yi heard his name again from Zhu Xun's mouth. What surprised him was that the award presenter was actually Sun Nan, the current number one in the mainland???

Wasn't he here to receive an award?

How did he end up presenting an award instead?

"Congratulations, Zhou Yi, you did great."

"Congratulations, Sun Yanzi."

Sun Nan, who appeared approachable, wore a smile on his face and personally handed the male and female Best Newcomer trophies into the hands of the two newcomers before him.

"Thank you, Brother Sun Nan."

Zhou Yi subtly glanced at Liu Huan, seated below and as steady as Taishan, and said thanks.

This was quite interesting.

Looking back at the previous editions of this awards ceremony, even if someone was to present an award, it should have been an old senior like Liu Huan, who was no longer on the same track as pop singers.

Sun Nan is still in his prime; how did he end up on the presentation panel this time?

Sun Yanzi, who had received the only trophy of the night, unaware of the inner thoughts of Zhou Yi and Sun Nan, happily said thanks as well, then went backstage to prepare for her performance.

After getting off the stage, Zhou Yi hadn't even warmed his seat when, not long after Sun Yanzi's performance, he heard his own name called from the stage again—

Wu Zongxian, together with award-presenting guests Zhang Yimou and Stanley Tong, awarded him yet again.

"Best Album Music Video Award: 'Love Heaven, Love Earth', Leon Lai. Congratulations, Leon Lai!"

"Best Album Music Video Award: 'Flower Field Mistake', Zhou Yi! Congratulations, Zhou Yi!"

Having received the trophy from the hands of Old Mouzi, who didn't yet have so many wrinkles, Zhou Yi looked at the sea of people below the stage and already didn't quite know how to deliver his acceptance speech.

This was CCTV officially going all out to gild him.

Sure enough, after he took his third trophy of the night off the stage, about twenty minutes later, he went back up.

"Best New Generation Singer-Songwriter: Wang Lihong."

"Best New Generation Singer-Songwriter: Xie Tingfeng."

"Best New Generation Singer-Songwriter—let us congratulate, Zhou Yi!"

In the audience, fans who didn't understand what was going on were already screaming themselves hoarse.

Sun Nan, clapping below the stage, wore a professional fake smile, only secretly gritting his teeth, his eyes somewhat dim.

From the moment he knew he would serve as an award-presenting guest tonight, he had no illusions left. The honor that once belonged to him on that stage no longer belonged exclusively to him.

Having him personally present the Newcomer Award to Zhou Yi was the last shred of dignity the officials allowed him to keep, the dignity of a senior.

Damn it!

You stole my resources, and now you're coming to steal my position!

You're only nineteen, what's the rush?!

Sun Nan was unwilling to accept it, but facing Zhou Yi's fierce offensive, he had absolutely no ability to resist.

He could only descend the Wang Zuo in disgrace and become a spectator clapping from below the stage.

January 17, 2001, 9:30 PM.

The position that once symbolized the number-one spot in the mainland music scene was officially handed over from Sun Nan's hands to Zhou Yi's hands—

"Seventh Global Chinese Music Awards Most Popular Male Singer Award: Zhou Yi!!!"

Having won five trophies ranging from Most Popular Song, Best Newcomer, to Most Popular Male Singer, Best Album Music Video, and Best Singer-Songwriter thanks to the 'Zhou Yi' album, Zhou Yi became the biggest winner of this night, completing his final transformation.

Nineteen-year-old Zhou Yi, facing the light, under the gaze of his parents, Sun Yanzi, Cheng Hao, and others, surpassed Sun Nan, Na Ying, Tengger, Yu Quan, Pu Shu, and others, and officially put on the Wang Guan of the number-one spot in the mainland music scene!