The opening of China Entertainment Group gave Jay Chou a head-on confrontation

Chapter 957 This world is a mess
If you cover up the camera logo and switch the scene to an awards ceremony like the Grammys or the American Music Awards, it's practically a compilation of the famous "Thank you Beyoncé" moments from Vision's later singers.

This time, however, it was Beyoncé and others who were praising him.

As the image involuntarily surfaced in his mind, Zhou Yi sat in his chair, shaking his head and laughing as he faced his own video interview: "Actually, I don't think there's anything to say. After all, I'm just a singer, and I've done everything I could."

"Come on, Spike, let's play along. You can't let the 100,000+ audience members not see your video. They'll be very disappointed."

"Okay, fine."

With a throat lozenge in his mouth, Zhou Yi pondered for a moment: "If I really had to give a message... my wish is for world peace."

A wish that perfectly aligns with the theme of this charity music festival, delivered by Zhou Yi, feels neither out of place nor pretentious, especially considering he risked his life to uphold this ideal last year. This, in turn, resonates with the 15 audience members at the festival.

Eva Green, holding a front-row ticket, had already left backstage and, accompanied by security personnel, joined the throngs of revelers.

Meanwhile, Xiao Wang, who had joined the event alone, was completely dumbfounded.

He overestimated himself.

Although he had made preparations well in advance, he already felt somewhat suffocated as the number of people at the music festival gradually increased.

He had only ever seen such a large crowd of 150,000 people in his entire life, only on the news, but now he was actually part of it. The sheer number of people was enough to trigger trypophobia in anyone, yet the organizers handled it with remarkable ease.

Xiao Wang glanced at the manual handed to him by the security personnel maintaining order and felt relieved.

Back in the 1980s, New York's Central Park hosted open-air concerts that drew 400,000, 500,000, and even 600,000 people. These were recorded in the handbook as honorary achievements. Compared to that, 150,000 people is indeed a drop in the ocean.

"Excuse me, please make way, thank you, make way... damn it!"

Because he was taking so many photos outside, Xiao Wang, who arrived a little late, couldn't squeeze in and had to ask the security personnel for help with his front-row ticket. With their assistance, he was able to enter the front row area closest to the stage.

The area around the stage, which was very close to him, was divided into sections. Wang Dashao, who was visiting such an event for the first time, excitedly held a DV camera and recorded the scene. He also saw Eva Green and other singers and their entourage not far from him.

"Hey, bro, are you Chinese?"

Just as Wang Dashao was passionately recording this grand scene he was witnessing for the first time in his life, a black man with three stripes of magenta paint on his face came over and started a conversation with him in a very friendly tone.

"Yeah."

Confused, Young Master Wang nodded, and then saw the newcomer shove a flag and a small bag into his hands without saying a word, looking very excited: "Great, you're here to support Spike too, right? I think you're a solo traveler, here you go, and this is our symbol for supporting Spike."

?

Wang Shao took a closer look and saw that the rectangular magenta flag featured the image of Zhou Yi raising his guitar and making a declaration of justice last year, outlined in black lines. Inside the small bag were some emergency medications that might be needed in such gatherings.

Good guy!
This treatment is exceptionally high.

Looking up again, Wang Dashao was shocked to find that the black guy from before had left with several companions, still handing out exclusive flags and first-aid kits to people to support Zhou Yi. The team members had skin colors ranging from white to black to brown.

These days, the Chinese who can unite Europeans and Americans to cheer each other on are truly unique in the world.

The camera lens faithfully recorded just how chaotic the gathering of 15 people was. Zhou Yi, backstage, chatted casually with Beyoncé as they watched one superstar after another make their official appearance on the big screen after their VCRs were played.

"I'm going on a tour next year. Would you like to be a guest, Spike?"

"Although I really want to go, as you should know, Beyoncé, I also have to take care of the Olympics and my own concerts and albums."

Zhou Yi smiled and said, "I would have time if it were after 09."

"Are you really not planning to renew your contract?"

"Given my current shareholding in Warner, what difference does it make whether I renew the contract or not?"

"...That's true."

Beyoncé was speechless at the counter-question.

As the boss, even if Zhou Yi only releases one single after his contract expires, Warner Music can still temporarily sign a special single contract for him even without a formal contract.

He is no longer the little Karami who first met her at the World Music Awards. He has seized the opportunity to rise to the top and become someone who truly has the power to control his own freedom, just like Michael Jackson.

In today's entertainment industry, Zhou Yi is the only new generation singer who has achieved this level.

"Then I'll wait until you're done with the Olympics, Spike."

Not having gained nothing, Beyoncé smiled and settled down: "I hope you can reserve a ticket for my farewell performance."

"Sure, if you have time to come then, I'll definitely save one for you."

"Hey, me too."

After tuning her guitar, Avril raised her hand and leaned over: "I'm really annoyed that you're planning to quit even though I haven't surpassed you yet."

As the biggest victim of Zhou Yi's early forays into the European and American music scene, Avril Lavigne's resentment was palpable.

It's no secret in the industry that Zhou Yi didn't choose to renew his contract. After all, all his endorsements were set to expire in 08, with only Coca-Cola taking a gamble and offering him an unprecedented lifetime endorsement contract.

However, considering Zhou Yi's status as Warner's largest individual shareholder, no one really cares too much about whether or not the contract is renewed. Otherwise, it would be Edgar Jr. and the board of directors who would be in a hurry.

You can't say that without a record contract, Zhou Yi, the boss, can't write songs. He even made Rihanna, an unknown Barbadian girl, into a rising star in the European and American music scene. What's there to be afraid of?

This is why Warner's stock price not only did not fall, but continued to rise.

The day Zhou Yi starts selling off his Warner shares and prepares to leave Warner Music, that will be a true retirement from the industry, the kind that makes people anxious and worried. "Okay, come on over, as long as you're free then." Zhou Yi agreed to everyone without a care.

As the final act of the charity concert, he was the last to appear and waited backstage, watching the stars surrounding him take the stage one by one to perform according to the schedule.

By the time his video started playing on stage, it was already close to evening, and the setting sun had dyed half of the clouds red.

Xiao Wang, who had been standing the whole time without a seat, was already feeling his legs go numb.

This was the first time in his life he had attended a music festival, and nobody told him that the organizers didn't provide seats!
But the group of enthusiastic fans around me seemed to have knees of steel, standing the entire way without feeling tired at all, and even chatting and laughing. Those with more experience, on the other hand, brought their own small stools and sat down, giving their legs a short rest.

Some even went out to rest first.

"I still suffered from my lack of experience." Before Xiao Wang, who was crouching down to relieve the soreness and numbness, could react, the scene, which had been somewhat listless due to the long gathering, suddenly became bustling and energetic, as if injected with adrenaline.

"Spike, do you think you ever imagined you would achieve this level of success?"

“No, when I was a child, the greatest achievement I could imagine was being a powerful lawyer in court. Getting into this path was purely accidental.”

"But you succeeded in changing careers."

"Of course, I've always thought so, because I'm capable."

"Spike, we all know about your glorious deeds. Can you tell us why you did this? What is your purpose?"

"I think it's probably because my lifelong wish is... world peace."

The video playing on the big screen instantly ignited the languid passion in the audience, accompanied by the DJ's almost shouting introduction that resounded through the sky—

"Ladies and gentlemen, let us now give a warm welcome to the eternal phoenix symbolizing peace—Spike Chow!!!"

Accompanied by a light and pleasant drumbeat, countless people, including Xiao Wang, immediately stood up and turned their gaze to the man who wasn't in the center of the stage, but rather at the very front of it—

He sat on the steps, microphone in hand, legs dangling in the air. Fans nearby were so excited they reached out their hands and screamed.

When I was a young boy living in the city
All I did was run, run, run, run (All I did was run, run, run)

The surging heat lifted Zhou Yi's bangs, and after smiling and high-fiving the nearest fans, amidst screams from countless people, Zhou Yi leaped down the steps and landed directly on the road with guardrails on both sides, running along with lyrics popping out of his mouth.

The whistling wind and the sweltering heat of the crowds followed one after another. Two teams of security personnel ran alongside Zhou Yi along the streets, which were packed with people on both sides. Singing as he ran, Zhou Yi didn't forget to point to the neon lights in the distance, which were gradually lighting up as the sky darkened.

"Staring at the lights, they look so pretty."
"Momma said son son son son (Mom said, son)"
You're gonna grow up, you're gonna get old.

"But until then just have your fun, boy run run run run run!"

Holding onto a pole, Zhou Yi vaulted over the railing and instantly switched to another road, jogging and singing "RUN," the hit single that ranked eleventh on the Billboard charts. The energy he exuded with every move ignited the enthusiasm of the audience wherever he went!
Come on, everyone!

This was the first time the Western audience had seen Zhou Yi appear in this parkour style. They couldn't handle it; their near-hysterical screams were their greatest respect for the performer, especially since Zhou Yi had actually crawled into their area.

Although he couldn't estimate the exact locations of all 15 people, he still tried his best to take detours and accommodate every fan who was far from the stage, ensuring they could see him up close and feel that their trip was worthwhile.

"Living up is inevitable, but living down is not."
"Chasing that luck before I get old."

Zhou Yi, with his agile parkour skills navigating between railings, roads, and crowds, exudes a radiant smile, his exemplary conduct perfectly embodying the theme of chasing the sun in the lyrics.

Yeah one day well the sky might fall.

Yeah one day I could lose it all.

So I run until I hit that wall.

"Look to the rising sun and run, run, run!"

The divine whistle infused this vibrant and hopeful song with a relaxed and carefree spirit, tempering its dogmatic seriousness. Zhou Yi, with his head held high, leaped onto the stage with his arms outstretched, his silhouette against the light bathed in the sacred golden glow of the setting sun!
More than 100,000 believers prostrated themselves at his feet, their voices rising and falling in unison as they sang his song.

"Run, run, run!"

"Run, run, run!"

"Run, run, run!"

As the music ended, Zhou Yi, who had removed his in-ear monitor during the coda, was treated to the adoration of the entire audience of 150,000 people.

Spike's name resounded throughout Central Park in New York!

So shocked was Wang that he forgot to speak and even his legs went numb. He just stood there, holding the Sony DV camera, and clearly recorded the scene. The speed of his heartbeat was beyond words.

That was excitement, that was exhilaration, that was the emotion of being swept up by the wave of people at the scene, that was his heartfelt surrender!
"As we all know, the world has become a mess."

As the cheers gradually subsided, Zhou Yi, who had been brushing his loose bangs back with his left hand, began to peddle his inspirational words: "Many people, when they see the news on TV, will question their existence and scream, 'Oh my god, what should I do?'"

"To be honest, me too."

"However, I differ from many pessimists in one key way—"

With a wisp of hair playfully falling down his forehead to form a dragon's beard shape, Zhou Yi smiled and squatted down to get closer to the audience and make himself seem less aloof: "In my heart, whether it's singing or life, there is still a place that hasn't collapsed yet."

"So I want to share this warmth with everyone in the world who needs this encouragement—tell them that I don't want them to be alone in this sea of ​​people."

"This world is broken and dilapidated, but there are always people willing to mend it."

(End of this chapter)