Chapter 74: No Deal Below Eight Million

If one idiom were to describe the 23rd Xiangjiang Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Awards, Zhou Yi would truly give it the evaluation of "a gathering of stars."

Besides Tan and Zhang, who had already announced they would not accept awards, all four Heavenly Kings except Leon Lai were present, with Wang Fei, Zheng Xiuwen, Chen Huilin, and Yang Qianwan standing on either side.

Na Ying, Sun Nan, and Chen Ming from the mainland were also present.

Other familiar faces from memory, such as Louis Koo and Nick Cheung, were countless.

Zhou Yi even saw Eason Chan, the third-generation God of Singing who would be known in the future as Jacky Cheung's successor.

At this moment, he was chatting and laughing with Xie Tingfeng, and standing beside Xie Tingfeng was the millennium entertainment circle's best photographer—Edison Chen.

At this time, Guanxi was still Xie Tingfeng's closest brother; the two had their arms around each other's shoulders, laughing and playing, a sight that made Zhou Yi, a reborn person, feel somewhat sighing.

"Which big beauty have you seen that you can't walk? Li Zhi? Or Rosamund Kwan?"

Xiao Yaxuan, in a custom-made one-shoulder evening gown, smiled and strolled over to the man, teasingly asking.

"Is that the kind of person you think I am?"

Zhou Yi, unconcerned, turned his head; the woman shook the champagne in her hand noncommittally: "Who knows."

"Drink less; you'll likely have to perform on stage after you win the award."

"Understood."

Xiao Yaxuan, smiling as she put down her glass, glanced toward where Xie Tingfeng and others were, leaned in and whispered: "This is the Hong Kong circle's territory; Xie Tingfeng is still the Crown Prince of Emperor. Don't be too willful.

"We can take revenge later when we return to our home ground."

She, who had been watching Zhou Yi since entering, noticed a strange flicker of expression on the man's face as he gazed at Xie Tingfeng and others. Thinking he had suffered some grievance, she hurried over to comfort him.

"You might have misunderstood something; there is currently no conflict between him and me." Zhou Yi smiled and looked toward where Xie Tingfeng was; at that exact moment, Xie Tingfeng, who was chatting and laughing with Edison Chen and Eason Chan, turned his head and looked back at him.

As their eyes met, both men wore a professional, fake smile on their faces.

The moment Xie Tingfeng started walking toward Zhou Yi, the eyes of some who were watching these two instantly tightened—

Eason Chan and Edison Chen followed Xie Tingfeng's steps without the slightest hesitation, while Na Ying, Sun Nan, and Chen Ming, hailing from the mainland, hesitated for a moment, did not move, and simply watched from a distance.

Seeing the three approaching from across, Xiao Yaxuan's eyelid twitched imperceptibly, and her body immediately stood beside Zhou Yi.

Feeling the soft touch at his arm, Zhou Yi's smile became a bit more genuine for a moment.

"I've seen the tabloid news; I hope those paparazzi haven't ruined your mood. They are just like that; I've been tormented by them for years."

Xie Tingfeng, speaking with a Hong Kong accent, smiled and said: "These two are my good brothers, Edison Chen and Eason Chan."

"I have to say, the Hong Kong paparazzi are indeed a bit beyond my expectations."

Zhou Yi also smiled and pointed to Xiao Yaxuan beside him: "Xiao Yaxuan, my good friend; regarding her, I suppose no further introduction is needed."

Xiao Yaxuan, who had skyrocketed to fame last year with "The Most Familiar Stranger" and "Suddenly I Thought of You," was the hottest young female artist in the music scene before Sun Yanzi burst onto the scene.

Some people, who had almost thought the young and fiery Xie Tingfeng would clash with the equally young Zhou Yi on the spot, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the two interacting harmoniously.

It wasn't that they didn't trust Zhou Yi; it was simply that Xie Tingfeng had a long list of prior offenses.

"Why do I feel like something is a bit off with him?"

After a brief chat, Xiao Yaxuan, watching Xie Tingfeng and others leave, leaned in close to the man and asked in a low voice: "He doesn't seem as arrogant as the media writes."

"Just treat him as someone with a single-track mind."

Zhou Yi, whose gaze subtly swept over the mainland artists' area, teased: "With this kind of person, if you can defeat him with pure hard power, he won't have any objections; at most, he'll just argue with you."

The early Xie Tingfeng didn't have so many tricks up his sleeve; he was purely a unlucky guy sold by his unreliable father to Emperor. His resentment toward his father led him to frequently make rebellious moves.

This was also why he used to like smashing guitars to vent.

Besides the so-called coolness, it was mostly venting the bitterness pent up in his heart with nowhere to express it through the stage.

Sent by his biological father to a record company before even finishing school, signing a ten-year indenture contract; Xie Tingfeng not blowing his father Tse Yin's head open right then was already a display of fatherly kindness and filial piety.

Xiao Yaxuan, naturally not believing this, immediately raised her hand and twisted his arm; the two then walked and talked, entering the main hall of the award ceremony under the staff's urging.

However, just as Zhou Yi was about to part ways with Xiao Yaxuan to take his seat, a staff member stopped him and led him all the way to a side aisle below the stage.

Here, he saw Guo Fucheng, Andy Lau, Jacky Cheung, Xie Tingfeng, and others waiting in line.

"The Top Ten Singers Award is the first to be presented; the ceremony is very simple. When the host on stage mentions us coming out, we just walk up directly."

As the number one artist at Warner, Guo Fucheng, feeling he should look after the juniors, briefly explained the first procedure of the Top Ten Gold Songs Awards.

Zhou Yi listened and felt somewhat confused.

So casual?

This is, after all, the Top Ten Singers?

No wonder the Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Awards are becoming more and more declining.

As the manager, Qian Jiang sat in his seat, watching the host who started in Cantonese on stage with full hope.

If what Emperor said was true, then it meant Zhou Yi would very likely win several major awards tonight.

"Top Ten Excellent Pop Singers Award: Zhou Yi!"

"Top Ten Excellent Pop Singers Award: Xie Tingfeng!"

"Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs: 'Must Love', Zhou Yi!"

"Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs: 'Living Viva', Xie Tingfeng!"

"Most Promising Newcomer Award Gold Prize: Zhou Yi!"

"Most Distinguished Award: Xie Tingfeng!"

"..."

"..."

One by one, item by item, as the names of Zhou Yi and Xie Tingfeng alternately came out of the host's mouth, Qian Jiang below the stage immediately clenched his fists—

It's secured!

Emperor is indeed generous; saying they want to cooperate, they are truly willing to show sincerity; no wonder they are wealthy and powerful.

Except for a few awards that were difficult to manipulate, for any award Zhou Yi won without the slightest controversy, the Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Organizing Committee, under the dual lobbying of Warner and Emperor, almost disregarded any seniority issues and directly awarded them to Zhou Yi.

As for the beverage endorsement deal that was still stuck in endless haggling, he could now secure Zhou Yi a fee of over eight million.

If it's not eight million, don't even bother looking!

PS: There's one more chapter coming later, around 11:30.

These days, even taking leave means you have to pitch in and do some work. Axi.

This is no damn rest at all!

(End of this chapter)