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

Chapter 969 Album Plans Change
For a moment, everyone who saw this blog post was completely confused and baffled.

Even his most devoted and die-hard fans couldn't immediately grasp the meaning behind Zhou Yi's words. In their minds, shouldn't Zhou Yi be ecstatic about his historic Nobel Peace Prize win at this very moment?
The wording of this blog post seems a bit off.

"A major decision? Or a live TV broadcast? What is Spike trying to do? Is he going to broadcast the award ceremony live, or the victory celebration live?"

"I do not know."

"It's too early to receive the award. The Nobel Prize award ceremony is held in December, which is still two months away."

"Oh right, I almost forgot. It's almost this late, isn't Spike about to go back home?"

"No way, isn't he supposed to be participating in this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show? This year's show is also the first time it's been broadcast live on television, and Spike is the only guest there. Victoria's Secret officially announced it a long time ago, so he probably won't be returning to China until at least November 16th."

"No, no, no, he has a private jet, so traveling between China and the US is very convenient for him..."

Since they really couldn't figure out what Zhou Yi was up to, the fans' discussion, after being sparked by the "decision," quickly went off-topic—they started discussing when Zhou Yi would leave the United States.

After all, in the past few years, Zhou Yi only appeared in various occasions in the United States during the peak period of album releases and when he received rare concert invitations. The rest of the time, he was wandering around his own country.

This is also a strong argument used by many American media figures to attack the I Ching: Spike doesn't love his American fans at all; he just treats them as ATMs, coming to the US to make money when he needs dollars, and then running back to China after he's done.

Compared to other international celebrities who venture into the US, Zhou Yi's behavior does seem a bit "rebellious," but this uniqueness ensures his recognizability.

"You can ask that question later; there's nothing to be shy about."

Three days later, Zhou Yi, who had finished his promotional tour in Detroit, met with William Lisman, who had rushed over. He also saw the draft of the live interview scope that Lisman had submitted and gave him his guidance.

"Thank you for giving me this opportunity, Spike." This robust reporter, just over forty, maintained the restraint of a journalist, and his online fawning attitude vanished when they met in person.

With his slicked-back hair and impeccably tailored suit, he looked like a successful businessman, and his physique was impeccably maintained. If you hadn't witnessed it firsthand, it would be hard to imagine that this seemingly refined man would be beaten by Eminem for his radical interview.

"You're welcome."

Zhou Yi, having opened a bottle of Hennessy, raised his glass with a smile: "Need Warner to provide you with legal assistance, William?"

“Eminem assaulted me on camera; the evidence is irrefutable. It’s perfectly justified for me to sue him.” William Lisman took the manuscript from Zhou Yi’s assistant, but after turning just one page, the smile on his face instantly froze—

"You're going to publicly announce your refusal to accept the Nobel Peace Prize during a live broadcast?!"

Perhaps due to being too shocked, William Lisman could no longer maintain the elitist demeanor he displayed in front of the I Ching and lost his composure.

For the first time, he felt that Spike was a truly capable person; he was genuinely willing to provide buzz and news.

To be honest, when he chose to take sides, he only thought about getting some exclusive news from Spike in the future. After all, this man's news popularity is among the highest in the United States, and his limited appearances each year are full of mystery, which is very advantageous for a celebrity.

But he never imagined that he would receive such a great gift.

He had no doubt that once the live stream was over, his fame would instantly rise several orders of magnitude under Spike's influence—at that point, it would depend on whether he could seize the opportunity and turn this popularity into his own public profile and money.

If you want to climb the ladder, you need to choose a side and gain the support of influential people.

Now, he feels that he has truly met a benefactor.

Zhou Yi, having taken a sip of his drink, seemed unfazed by his shock: "Is there a problem?"

“No, no problem, I just think it’s a bit of a shame.” William Lisman spoke frankly and honestly.

If it were him, he would definitely make a big fuss about it, and then go to Norway in December to attend the awards ceremony in full regalia and receive the award.

Although discerning people generally agree that this thing is just for deceiving people, the allure of fame and fortune is simply too great. They all talk a good game, but when it comes to actually seeking fame and fortune, their enthusiasm is higher than anyone else's.

Especially since Zhou Yi is involved in the entertainment industry, which is the world's largest arena of fame and fortune, with the most spotlight.

Putting everything else aside, if you let Eminem come, he'd definitely be all ears for the Nobel Prize. After all, he's the kind of guy who criticizes the Grammys but actually gets incredibly nervous preparing for their awards ceremony online.

The footage of Eminem sharing the stage with Zhou Yi at the Grammys has been repeatedly analyzed by Zhou Yi's fans, almost to the point that Eminem's fans have become desensitized to the mockery.

However, when he turned to the next few pages, he instantly understood why he ignored the Nobel Prize.

"Well then, I wish us a pleasant cooperation in advance, William."

"It's my pleasure, Spike."

With a "clink," the two men, having reached a final cooperation agreement, smiled at each other as their glasses clinked together.

....................................

"Spike! Spike's down!"

"Spike! I'm a fan of yours, can I get your autograph?!"

"Spike, I'm a reporter for the Detroit Sunday Free Press. Are you and William, a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, planning to team up and make Eminem bleed money?"

"Spike, what do you mean by the decision to broadcast this live on television?"

"Spike..."

Fans who had been waiting outside the hotel for their idol, and reporters who had been waiting for Zhou Yi, swarmed forward the moment their target appeared, their flashing lights completely blocking one side of the hotel.

Even though Detroit is Eminem's home base, there is still no shortage of Zhou Yi's fans there, just as there are no shortage of people who hate Eminem in Detroit.

The highly publicized death of Prof, which garnered significant attention in the city, has come to an end. Eminem himself has been sued for assaulting a journalist, and now that journalist is back with Spike, it's hard not to wonder what's going on.

The bodyguards skillfully cleared a path with their bodies. Zhou Yi, wearing sunglasses, didn't pay much attention to the reporters. Instead, he waved to Xin's assistant, took a pen, and started signing autographs and taking photos with fans who had been waiting outside the hotel for who knows how long.

Seeing that Zhou Yi's approach was blocked, the reporters turned their attention to their colleague, William Lisman, who was a step behind Zhou Yi.

These two really don't hide anything from people. Zhou Yi has only been in Detroit for a few days for promotion, and he openly goes in and out of hotels to meet with him. Anyone who didn't know better would think he had already joined Warner's public relations department.

They wouldn't believe you if you said the two of them hadn't communicated.

"William, is your lawsuit against Eminem a setup orchestrated in collaboration with Spike?"

“William, isn’t your demand for Eminem to be imprisoned and to pay one million dollars in reparations an outrageous amount?”

“William, you…”

The barrage of questions from his colleagues brought a smile to William Lisman's face. He raised his hands and gestured downwards, saying, "My case with Eminem has nothing to do with Mr. Spike. I'm just here to discuss the upcoming live television broadcast with him. Please don't spread rumors..."

However, before he could finish speaking, a commotion suddenly arose in the crowd, attracting his attention—

A large, round face that had once appeared in the media in Detroit and even across the United States came into clear view.

The fan sign that read "Thank you, Spike!" was held higher than anyone else's, and his bulky figure looked even more bloated against the backdrop of his light gray hoodie.

"Mario?"

William Lisman was taken aback and instinctively called out the man's name—

The defendant in the Prov death case was ultimately defined as acting in self-defense.

The man's appearance instantly attracted the flashes of all the reporters present, and for a moment even Zhou Yi was not given a chance to see.

With his round face and thick beard, he's a burly man. No wonder he works in security; just looking at his physique gives you a sense of security.

"Please forgive me for thanking you so late, Spike. Actually, I've come several times before, but I've never been able to squeeze in. I know that for safety reasons, they won't allow too many fans to wait here, so—anyway, thank you."

After queuing for several days, Mario was finally allowed to join the fan group that was waiting here. He was so excited that he stammered, "Without you, I might have been falsely accused and imprisoned!"

"I was just making my own judgment. You should thank the lawyers, the judge, and the jury; they are the ones who truly helped you."

"No! Without you, I would definitely be—" "Okay, I understand how excited you are. Let's take a picture together."

Zhou Yi interrupted him directly, making the onlookers, who had vaguely sensed a bombshell, feel a pang of regret.

Realizing he had almost said something inappropriate in his excitement, Mario nodded excitedly. During the photo session, he was so nervous he didn't know what to do with his hands, repeatedly saying thank you.

"Live life well, the future is still long."

After taking photos and signing autographs, Zhou Yi didn't linger. He smiled, patted him on the shoulder, left a word of encouragement, and then went to sign autographs and take photos with other fans.

He can speak without restraint because he has a safety net, but this Mario doesn't.

Witnessing this scene firsthand, William Lisman was struck by a flash of inspiration, and a new title instantly came to mind—

Spike Chow has a gentle heart.

“Some people often criticize Spike, saying he is arrogant and conceited, but I think that’s exactly what makes him lovable.”

"He was willing to use his professional knowledge to defend an unknown and complete stranger in front of the camera. The other party was not even from a prestigious family, but just an ordinary middle-aged man."

Spike is not spoiled; on the contrary, he is very gentle.

"Especially after I talked to him this time, I discovered the gentle side that has always existed in his heart."

"He simply disdained to curry favor with American authorities in the secular sense; he was unwilling to compromise his principles, that's all."

"Spike Chow has a gentle heart..."

The accompanying picture shows the burly Mario looking so excited he's almost crying in front of Zhou Yi, with Zhou Yi patting him on the shoulder to encourage him.

A man doesn't easily shed tears.

As disillusioned old Detroit residents, most men, hardened by the trials of society, have become accustomed to gritting their teeth and enduring hardship; crying is seen as a sign of weakness. But at this moment, Mario's red-rimmed eyes evoked a great deal of sympathy after the photo was released.

Public opinion can be cruel.

Just a month ago, Mario was a murderer despised by the entire United States.

"Is this really not just a show?"

New York, Olson's home.

As a former child star with two older sisters who are good at creating hype, Elizabeth Olsen almost instinctively doubted the authenticity of this incident.

"I don't know, but whether it's a show or not, Spike's help to him before was genuine."

Since appearing in the music video, the two older sisters have seen a resurgence in popularity and increased exposure. They then took the opportunity to completely transform themselves into the fashion industry, and naturally, they have a very positive view of Zhou Yi: "And this reporter is right about one thing, Spike is indeed quite nice."

They are both very qualified to speak on this point.

Elizabeth Olsen remained noncommittal, turning her attention from the newspaper to the television screen—CBS was previewing a live broadcast about Spike.

She hadn't originally planned to watch it because she had an event to attend that day.

But now, she has changed her mind.

2006年10月29日，星期天，上午10：14分——

Elizabeth, who had rushed back from out of town, didn't even have time to shower or rest before turning on the TV and seeing Spike sitting in a chair, wearing his signature magenta plaid shirt and talking animatedly.

Magenta is his favorite color, and therefore also the color supported by his fans.

Elizabeth understood this.

Although she couldn't start watching from the beginning because she got back late, it's clear she didn't miss the most important parts—

"Spike, the next question might be a bit pointed."

"What do you think of those who say you don't care about your American fans and are just here to make money? They think you spend too little time in the US each year."

"You know, if there were a ranking of celebrities who have spent the most time in the US, you would definitely be number one."

Dressed in a suit and tie, William Lisman, surrounded by a crowd of fans, asked Zhou Yi, who was sitting opposite him, this question.

"Well, I don't think there's anything wrong with that."

Zhou Yi shrugged: "I've been in the industry for seven years now. Except for the first two years, I've been releasing two albums every year for the next five years. I've been incredibly busy. If someone can do that, I think they'll understand that I've been in the US for a very, very long time."

"So you've finished preparing your Chinese album for this year, Spike? It's almost November, and you're still in the US. This must be the longest you've ever spent in the US this year, right? Do you think you'll be able to release it before the end of the year?"

As William Lisman delved deeper into the album's themes, he inadvertently reminded the audience of the hardships this man had endured.

The audience, who expected him to say something they were prepared for, received an unexpected answer—

"Well, how should I put it? The idea was wonderful, but the reality was harsh. In fact, I also wanted to release my new Chinese album before the end of the year, but unfortunately, I probably won't be able to do it this year."

Zhou Yi stretched slightly and sighed: "I really want to try to continue maintaining the record of two albums a year, but my rational mind tells me that I have reached my limit, because in addition to my own album, I also have the Olympics to take care of during this period."

"I need to find time to produce a Chinese album while working on the Olympics. In fact, although I have already produced quite a few songs, it's not all finished yet..."

The Chinese community in front of the television had a vague sense that something was amiss.

“Okay, come on, tell me Spike, what’s your decision?” William Lisman, dressed in a suit and tie, adjusted his cue cards and said seriously.

Taking advantage of this topic, Zhou Yi naturally announced his decision: "The decision is that, starting this year, I will cancel my five-year tradition of releasing two albums a year. Or rather, I can no longer do it."

"Have your plans for your next English album changed?"

"I don't know, everything is uncertain. Maybe I'll still release it as usual next year, at most until the end of the year. Or maybe I won't be able to make it next year. These are all things that may happen in the future."

In front of the live television cameras, Zhou Yi calmly announced the decision that stunned countless fans.

Not a buddy?

So sudden?!
We came here to hear you say this?!
What happened to the promised Nobel Prize connection?!
Such a prestigious Nobel Prize?!

Why are you not mentioning anything about the changes to the album plans?!
You said this year you might cancel the album, so does that mean you're not planning to release an album next year?
Are you trying to give me a heads-up beforehand?!
Spike! What do you think you're doing?!

"Do you mean an English album might not be released either?"

"It's just that the album plans will definitely change. Maybe we won't have time to make an album and it will become an EP instead."

"I don't know, after all, my work focus needs to be shifted at the moment."

Zhou Yi stroked his chin and smiled as he gave an example: "I think many viewers are familiar with Zhang Yimou. He turned down all film projects and activities for the Olympics."

"...I think I might need some time to process what you've said about this decision."

After taking several deep breaths to calm himself down, William looked up at him again: "What about the Nobel Prize you mentioned on your blog? What did you mean by that?"

"Oh, that? I mean I refuse the Nobel Peace Prize."

"Um?!"

"I have said before that the Nobel Committee has no authority to award me the medal."

Zhou Yi waved his hand dismissively, saying, "They can give the medals, certificates, and prize money to whomever they want; I don't need them."

(End of this chapter)