HuaYu97: Starting as a Singer

Chapter 329 [329] "22" is released globally, allowing listeners from all countries to experience the shock from the East!

November 28th was a very important day for Qi Yuan and Warner.

On this day, the film "Bouquet" was officially released in Japan.

On this day, "22" was released simultaneously in multiple countries around the world.

……

Sichuan Province, Chengdu City.

Sixteen-year-old Zhang Liangying walked into a music and video store.

"Boss, do you sell Qi Yuan's '22' here?"

"Yes, yes, yes, the goods arrived this morning. Both the standard and deluxe versions are available. Did those girls see it just now? They all bought the deluxe version."

Business is booming again, and the round-faced, bearded boss is all smiles.

In recent years, countless audio-visual store owners have regarded Qi Yuan as a god of wealth.

Qi Yuan's records are the best sellers. Whether they are genuine or pirated, it is almost impossible for them to go unsold and end up in the warehouse.

The round-faced boss only regrets that Qi Yuan releases albums too slowly.

He repeatedly questioned Warner's executives about what they were doing.

Can't you guys do something about Qi Yuan? Let him release three or four albums a year like the Hong Kong and Taiwan superstars! It's all about money. Don't you Warner Music want to make money? No wonder you Warner Music can't be the industry leader.

The round-faced boss even posted online, urging fans to call on Qi Yuan to make more music videos like "Love Wrong".

It was such a pleasing sight to watch two tall, handsome men with eight-pack abs fighting in the ring; even he, a strong man, was overjoyed.

Zhang Liangying was a little confused, then asked very sincerely, "Is there a difference between the standard version and the deluxe version?"

Her family was poor; her father passed away when she was 14, and then her mother was laid off.

To ease the financial burden on her family, she found a part-time job at a hot pot restaurant.

Because her parents loved music, she was influenced by them during her childhood and began to be exposed to all kinds of songs, including Chinese and English songs.

She was once sent by her parents to the Children's Palace to learn singing and musical instruments, and at the age of 14, she won the runner-up in a singing competition.

Sometimes she also works part-time singing in bars, restaurants and other similar venues.

For her, spending an extra penny hurts. If the deluxe version only has some useless things, she won't consider it.

"The deluxe edition includes postcards, posters, stickers, badges... a lot of extras. Most importantly, the deluxe edition includes a hidden song, a new song that has never been shown before."

The boss was telling the truth.

"I don't want any of those freebies, can you give me a discount, boss?"

Zhang Liangying's voice grew weaker and weaker as she spoke.

They're all from this neighborhood; the boss knows Zhang Liangying's family's circumstances.

Jane Zhang has only bought genuine CDs twice in recent years.

One time was at the end of 97, when her father and she came to the store together and bought "Qi Yuan".

This is the second time.

Zhang Liangying usually buys pirated copies.

"Okay, I'll give you a 25 yuan discount, I'll charge you 80."

The shopkeeper put a more elaborately packaged box of discs into the bag.

Zhang Liangying's heart is bleeding. How can it be so expensive? A deluxe edition EP costs 105 yuan, while Qi Yuan's original Chinese album used to only cost 58 yuan.

The boss curled his lip: "How can they be the same? They're international stars now, with a globally uniform price."

Zhang Liangying reluctantly paid 80 yuan; it would take her one or two months to save up that much money.

After leaving the store, she looked at the contents of the bag and found that all the free gifts the owner had mentioned were still there. The owner was truly a kind person.

Back home, Zhang Liangying put the disc into the VCD player and began to enjoy Qi Yuan's music. At school, her classmates would spend all their pocket money on snacks every day, but she rarely bought any; she felt money should be spent wisely.

Snacks can only be enjoyed for a few minutes, but records are different; she can listen to a record repeatedly for many years.

She has listened to "Qi Yuan" no less than a hundred times.

She plans to listen to this album, "22," for several years.

When she grows up, has a stable job, and saves up, she wants to go to Qi Yuan's concert and maybe get his autograph in person.

I imagined that the TV had already started playing the music video for "Baby".

Qi Yuan is as handsome as ever. Zhang Liangying discovered that the female lead in the music video is Jin Suo from "My Fair Princess," and she is really beautiful.

The music video, co-produced by Qi Yuan and Ning Hao, features vibrant colors, beautiful composition, and smooth, natural scene transitions. The catchy song, combined with the stunning visuals of Qi Yuan and Fan Xiaopang, provides Zhang Liangying with a double treat for her eyes and ears.

She heard from her classmates that Qi Yuan and Fan Xiaopang had filmed a movie together called "Love Like a Bouquet".

Unfortunately, she's a bit strapped for cash and can't bear to spend so much money to see a movie. Now she can use this music video as a substitute for the movie, since it's all about Qi Yuan and Fan Xiaopang falling in love, right?

Zhang Liangying also noticed that there were quite a few foreign faces in this music video.

It might be related to Qi Yuan's expansion into the European and American markets. It's normal to add some foreign supporting characters to music videos when expanding into these markets.

The second song, "You're Beautiful," revealed another top-tier beauty to Jane Zhang. Gao Yuanyuan, who played Yue Lingshan in "Swordsman," is truly stunning.

The scene of Gao Yuanyuan appearing on the subway was captured beautifully by Qi Yuan and Ning Hao.

Having grown up to resemble Gao Yuanyuan, Zhang Liangying understood why the male lead could never forget the female lead after just one glance.

The third song is "Free Loop," which Zhang Liangying is most familiar with; she has watched the Volkswagen car commercial music video countless times.

One of her relatives bought a black Passat.

The last hidden song, "Sugar," is the one Jane Zhang is most looking forward to.

She had heard the first three songs to some extent, but the last one was the newest.

The music video begins with Qi Yuan, Huang Xiaoming, Zu Feng, and their group dressed in suits and tuxedos, holding guitars and other musical instruments, getting into a convertible and preparing to head somewhere.

The scene shifts to the wedding venue, and Zhang Liangying instantly understands: Qi Yuan is going to bring a band to sing at the wedding.

A music video isn't a movie; the story isn't complicated, and the average person can easily guess what happens next.

As expected, the plot unfolded just as Zhang Liangying had predicted. The scene returned to Qi Yuan, who was sitting in the car and began to sing.

"I'm hurting, baby, I'm broken down"

(I'm so hurt, baby, I'm about to break down)
"I need your loving, loving, I need it now"

(I need your love, your love, I can't wait to have it)

Jane Zhang fell deeply in love with this song. It's not sad at all; instead, it gives people a very sweet feeling.

At the wedding, the cloth that had been blocking people's view fell away, and Qi Yuan and his band appeared before the newlyweds and countless guests.

"Peel a coconut shell..."

"Won't you come and put it down on me"

(Will you grant me sweet love?)

As soon as the chorus started, Jane Zhang, like the guests on TV, began clapping and screaming.

This hidden song really brought her a huge surprise. This song could easily be the first single on an album, right?
Anyway, Jane Zhang thinks this song is better than most of the English songs she has ever heard.

Qi Yuan is truly a musical genius; he writes excellent Chinese songs as well as English songs.

She definitely wants to see her idol in person someday!

……

In mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, the United States and many other regions, countless real listeners have felt the shock from the East!
(End of this chapter)