[{"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-74":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},2301330,4501,"Chapter 74: Less Than Eight Million? Not a Chance","the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-chapter-74",74,"\u003Cp>If one had to use a single idiom to describe the 23rd Hong Kong Top Ten Chinese Golden Melody Awards, Zhou Yi would surely describe it as “a gathering of stars.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from Tam Cheung and Zhang, who had already announced they wouldn’t attend, all four heavenly kings except Leon Lai showed up; Wang Fei, Zheng Xiuwen, Chen Huilin, Yang Qianhua, and others lined the sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mainland artists such as Na Ying, Sun Nan, and Chen Ming were also present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Familiar faces from memory like Kuwai Lok and Cheung Ka-fai were too numerous to count.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi even spotted Eason Chan, the third-generation god of pop music destined to succeed Zhang Xueyou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, he was laughing and chatting with Xie Tingfeng, while beside Xie Tingfeng stood the best photographer of the millennium entertainment circle—Chen Guanxi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, Guanxi was still Xie Tingfeng’s closest brother; their shoulder-to-shoulder, boisterous playfulness made Zhou Yi, the reincarnated man, sigh quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s the gorgeous woman that’s got you frozen? Li Zhi? Or Kwan Chi-lin?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yaxuan, dressed in a custom off-shoulder gown, strolled up to the man with a smile and teased him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Am I really that kind of person in your eyes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi turned his head carelessly; the woman merely shook her champagne glass with a noncommittal smile: “Who knows?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Drink less—you’ll probably have to perform on stage after you win your award.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yaxuan, who had been watching Zhou Yi since he entered, noticed the strange flicker in his expression as he stared at Xie Tingfeng and others, thinking he’d been wronged, and hurried over to comfort him: “This side is Hong Kong’s territory; Xie Tingfeng is still the crown prince of Emperor Entertainment—don’t be too reckless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can get back at them once we’re back on our home turf.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had noticed the subtle shift in his expression as he gazed at Xie Tingfeng and others and assumed he’d been slighted, so she rushed over to console him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You might be misunderstanding something—I currently have no conflict with him.” Zhou Yi smiled as he looked toward Xie Tingfeng’s direction; just then, Xie Tingfeng, who had been laughing with Chen Guanxi and Eason Chan, turned his head and looked back at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes met, and both wore professional, artificial smiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Xie Tingfeng began walking toward Zhou Yi, those watching the two instantly tensed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eason Chan and Eason Chan didn’t hesitate for a second and followed Xie Tingfeng’s steps; Na Ying, Sun Nan, and Chen Ming from the mainland hesitated briefly but didn’t move, only watching from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the three approaching, Xiao Yaxuan’s eyelids twitched almost imperceptibly, and she immediately stepped beside Zhou Yi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the soft touch against his arm, Zhou Yi’s smile became momentarily more genuine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I saw those tabloid reports—I hope they didn’t ruin your mood. They’re just like that; I’ve been tormented by them for years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Tingfeng, speaking in Hong Kong-accented Mandarin, smiled: “These two are my good brothers—Chen Guanxi and Eason Chan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have to say, Hong Kong’s tabloids are a bit beyond my expectations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi smiled and pointed to Xiao Yaxuan beside him: “Xiao Yaxuan, my good friend—I don’t think I need to introduce her further.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yaxuan, who had skyrocketed to fame with “The Most Familiar Stranger” and “Suddenly Remember You,” was the hottest young female artist in the music industry before Sun Yanzi’s sudden emergence last year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who had feared a clash between the young, headstrong Xie Tingfeng and the equally young Zhou Yi now breathed a sigh of relief as they saw the two interacting harmoniously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that they didn’t trust Zhou Yi—it was simply that Xie Tingfeng had a long history of trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I feel like something’s off about him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few brief pleasantries, Xiao Yaxuan leaned close to Zhou Yi as she watched Xie Tingfeng and the others leave: “He doesn’t seem as arrogant as the media portrays.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just treat him like a one-track mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi’s gaze flickered subtly toward the mainland artists’ area as he teased: “If you beat him with real talent, he won’t object—he’ll just stubbornly resist a bit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early Xie Tingfeng had no hidden agendas—he was simply a Daomeidan  sent to Emperor Entertainment by his unreliable father. His resentment toward his father led him to act out rebelliously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why he used to smash guitars to vent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the so-called “cool,” it was more about using the stage to release the inner anguish he had no one to confide in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was sent to a record company before finishing school, signed a ten-year indenture contract—Xie Tingfeng not having smashed his father Xie Xian’s skull already counted as filial piety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yaxuan, naturally skeptical, pinched his arm; the two then walked and talked, guided by staff into the award ceremony’s interior hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Zhou Yi was about to part from Xiao Yaxuan and take his seat, a staff member stopped him and led him down a side corridor beneath the stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, he saw Guo Fucheng, Liu Dehua, Zhang Xueyou, Xie Tingfeng, and others waiting in line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Top Ten Singers award is the first to be presented; the ceremony is simple—when the host calls your name, just walk up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Warner’s top artist, Guo Fucheng briefly explained the first procedure of the Top Ten Golden Melody Awards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yi listened, utterly bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this really that casual?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is the Top Ten Singers, isn’t it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder the Top Ten Golden Melody Awards have been declining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Jiang, as his agent, sat in his seat, watching hopefully as the host opened the show in Cantonese.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Emperor Entertainment’s claims were true, Zhou Yi might win several major awards tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Top Ten Outstanding Pop Singers Award: Zhou Yi!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Top Ten Outstanding Pop Singers Award: Xie Tingfeng!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Top Ten Chinese Golden Melodies: ‘Must Love,’ Zhou Yi!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Top Ten Chinese Golden Melodies: ‘Alive Viva,’ Xie Tingfeng!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Most Promising New Artist Gold Award: Zhou Yi!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Breakthrough Award: Xie Tingfeng!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One by one, as the host alternately announced the names of Zhou Yi and Xie Tingfeng, Qian Jiang clenched his fists tightly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s settled!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Entertainment really delivered—they truly showed sincerity. No wonder they’re so wealthy and powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from a few awards too difficult to manipulate, every award Zhou Yi won without controversy was handed to him outright by the Top Ten Golden Melody Committee, thanks to the joint PR efforts of Warner and Emperor, with no regard for seniority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, for the beverage endorsement he’s still negotiating, he can push Zhou Yi’s price to over eight million.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Less than eight million? Not even worth looking at!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: One more chapter will come later, around 11:30 PM.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These days, even taking a day off means doing extra work—damn it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This isn’t even a real break!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1143,"2026-06-20T07:33:41.161Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","76f031891a7bea440c2abb1581696a50616ccd727711eff8d1c3cfc8535a4553","the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-chapter-75","the-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-chapter-73",883,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-king-of-2000-a-mandopop-dynasty-cover.jpg"]