Chinese Entertainment King: Starting as a Fat Boy and Becoming a Singing King

When Xu Yao's taxi stopped in front of the wrought iron gate in Shunyi, it was already completely dark.

It was completely different from the desolate atmosphere I experienced last time.

As soon as Xu Yao opened the car door, he heard a burst of laughter coming from the yard.

When Xu Yao pushed open the door, a team of chefs in white uniforms was already standing in the entrance hall, busy in the open kitchen.

The salmon head sizzled on the hot plate, and truffles were shaved into thin slices and floated on the surface of each dish.

Several waiters carried champagne glasses as they moved around the living room.

Liu Yifei was talking to someone in the middle of the living room when she heard the door open. She turned around, a smile spreading across her face, and quickly walked over to take Xu Yao's arm, leading him from the entrance to the center of the living room. Her movements were as natural as if she were leading her own younger brother.

"Come on, everyone..."

Liu Yifei raised her voice, and the people in the living room who were exchanging pleasantries all stopped drinking their champagne glasses.

"This is Xu Yao, whom I mentioned to you. He's my younger brother. He's the annual champion of The Voice of China, and he'll be performing on the Spring Festival Gala this year. He writes his own songs. If you ever run into him in the industry, please help me out. Add him on WeChat, come on, everyone add him."

Xu Yao was pulled to stand in the center of the living room by her, and several pairs of eyes swept over him at the same time. Then she started adding him on WeChat one by one.

On the living room sofa, Shu Chang sat cross-legged, hugging a cushion, whispering to Zhang Liangying next to her. When she saw Xu Yao come over to add her on WeChat, she smiled with her eyes crinkling.

Shu Chang, Xu Yao quickly went through her information in his mind.

Born in 1987, he debuted as a child star, acting in "My Story" at the age of 5, and meeting Liu Yifei at the age of 15 while acting in "The Story of a Noble Family".

At that time, Liu Yifei's mother, Liu Xiaoli, accompanied Liu Yifei throughout the entire filming process.

Shu Chang's parents divorced when she was young, and she worked hard in Beijing on her own. Liu Xiaoli took care of her like her own daughter and specially reserved a room for her in the Liu family. Shu Chang always called her "Xiaoli's Mom".

Xu Yao's deepest impression was of a selfie Shu Chang posted on Weibo in 2024, with a banner in the background announcing the auspicious start of filming for "The Legend of the Imperial Harem".

It has been seven years since she last seriously filmed a movie; she hasn't had a role in seven years.

The former "Nation's Daughter" has switched to live-streaming e-commerce, shouting "3, 2, 1, link up" every night, but she can never give up acting.

Fortunately, she later saved enough money to invest in and produce short dramas herself, and made a comeback.

Xu Yao scanned the QR code and typed two words in the notes column: Shu Chang. After thinking for a moment, he added the word "sister".

"Xiao Yao, you're a singer, right?" Shu Chang tilted her head and looked at him. "If I ever want to cover a song in the future, can you help me with the arrangement?"

"Call me anytime." Xu Yao paused after saying that, then added, "They're all my sister's friends, like my own sister."

Shu Chang paused for a moment, then laughed and called out to Liu Yifei, "Qianqian, your little brother is so good at this!"

Zeng Yike sat at the other end of the sofa, holding a glass of red wine. When she saw Xu Yao come over to add her on WeChat, her lips twitched, but it was hard to tell whether she was smiling or not.

Zeng Yike debuted on "Super Girl" and is a landmark figure with the "sheep voice". During the 2009 competition, her singing style was so controversial that judge Bao Xiaobai stormed off the stage in anger.

Her sexual orientation has long been a semi-public secret in the entertainment industry. Later, she had an ambiguous relationship with Bea Hayden, and they were spotted shopping together on several occasions. They even had matching outfits on Weibo.

Xu Yao knew that Zeng Yike and Liu Yifei had also had a complicated and ambiguous relationship.

Around 2014, the two became very close, and the media photographed Liu Yifei driving a red Ferrari with Zeng Yike as they chatted animatedly along the way.

Netizens have unearthed some ambiguous text messages between the two. Although no one can say for sure whether they are true or false, people in the industry can see Zeng Yike's feelings for Liu Yifei.

Zeng Yike took Xu Yao's phone, scanned the QR code, and said in a nonchalant tone, "Liu Yifei's younger brother? This is the first time I've seen Qianqian introduce someone so formally."

"Thank you," Xu Yao replied indifferently.

He didn't have a good impression of Zeng Yike, not because of her music, but because of her feelings for Liu Yifei.

Want to play a lace game with Liu Yifei?

Xu Yao would definitely not agree to this.

Zhu Yawen stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, holding a glass of whiskey. Next to him stood a middle-aged man wearing glasses, who was from Liu Yifei's management team, and they were talking quietly to each other.

Seeing Xu Yao come over to add him on WeChat, Zhu Yawen glanced down at his phone screen, then switched his wine glass to his left hand, wiped his right hand on his trouser seam, and took the phone.

Xu Yao noticed that he did not scan the code.

"My phone is dead."

Zhu Yawen turned his phone over to show him, and the screen was indeed black.

But his tone was very unpleasant, his brows were slightly furrowed, and his gaze lingered on Xu Yao's face for less than a second before he looked away, picking up his whiskey again and taking a sip.

Xu Yao knew exactly what was going on.

Zhu Yawen was born in 1984. He graduated from the Performance Department of Beijing Film Academy. In 2014, he was nominated for Best Actor at the Magnolia Awards for his role as Yu Zhan'ao in "Red Sorghum".

In 2015, his starring role in "Beijing Love Story" was about to premiere, marking a crucial moment in his transition from a talented actor to a top-tier male star.

This person has a deep crush on Liu Yifei, and it's not uncommon in the entertainment industry to know this.

He has never shied away from praising Liu Yifei in various interviews and public occasions. When a reporter asked him, "Who do you think is the most beautiful actress in the industry?" he immediately said Liu Yifei.

Seeing Liu Yifei affectionately linking her arm with Xu Yao's and solemnly introducing him as "this is my younger brother," he was naturally displeased.

Who the hell are you? I've been eyeing you for years, and you just walk in and start taking my arm?

Xu Yao put his phone away, feeling a secret sense of satisfaction.

"It's okay, I'll add it later."

Liu Yifei seemed oblivious to Zhu Yawen's subtle displeasure.

She patted Xu Yao on the shoulder and turned to the two people who were cuddling by the bar, Tang Yan and Luo Jin.

"Tangtang, Luo Jin, you two shouldn't just be enjoying your time together. Come join my brother."

Tang Yan leaned against the bar, while Luo Jin rested one hand on the back of the chair behind her and held a glass of red wine in the other.

When she heard Liu Yifei call them, Tang Yan turned around, her smile still as sweet as Mi Duo's in "Diamond Lover".

She was wearing a beige turtleneck sweater, her long hair cascading over her shoulders. Luo Jin stood beside her, wearing a dark blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms—a typical low-key boyfriend look.

As Xu Yao scanned the QR code, he mentally reviewed the information of the two individuals.

Tang Yan and Luo Jin's love story began with the 2011 drama "The Lady in the Chaotic World," and they later collaborated on "Agent X." In 2015, "Diamond Lover" was airing, with Tang Yan playing the chubby girl Mi Duo who undergoes a transformation into a beautiful woman, Rain playing the male lead, a domineering CEO, and Luo Jin playing the second male lead, obstetrician Lei Yiming.

Halfway through the broadcast, the plot took a turn, and the second male lead, Lei Yiming, unexpectedly won over the first male lead and took the girl's heart.

2015 was the year when rumors of their engagement were at their peak, although both of their studios issued statements denying it.

In fact, the real public announcement came on December 6, 2016, when Luo Jin posted a Weibo post with the caption "My shoulder will always be your support," and Tang Yan reposted it saying "It turns out it was you."

"Little brother Xu Yao!"

After adding him on WeChat, Tang Yan tilted her head to look at him.

"Sissi said you can write songs? Could you write one for me sometime?"

Luo Jin chimed in from the side, his tone gentler than Zhu Yawen's: "Tangtang forces me to sing 'Sorry I'm Not a Bad Boy' every day. So it was you who wrote it? You'll have to treat me to dinner sometime. This song of yours has made my life miserable."

Xu Yao smiled and said, "I envy the way love blossoms; it's so beautiful."

Tang Yan chuckled and patted Luo Jin's arm: "Look at how cultured he is when he speaks. Learn from him."

"well."

Luo Jin raised his wine glass and clinked it against Xu Yao's.

The two smiled at each other and then snuggled together again.

Zhang Liangying stood up from the sofa and walked towards Xu Yao.

She wore a black velvet dress, and her eyes crinkled when she smiled, radiating a confidence and ease that came from within.

"Xu Yao, right? My name is Zhang Liangying."

She extended her hand first, shaking hands with Xu Yao before he added her on WeChat.

"I just heard Xixi play your song 'Loneliness Is Not Good'. Your handling of the transitions in the mid and low registers is really delicate. The soft mixed voice glissando that you did across three degrees in one breath during the competition is something not many people can do."

"I dare not presume to teach my skills before the Queen."

Xu Yao smiled and added her on WeChat.

Zhang Liangying debuted as the third runner-up in the 2005 "Super Girl" competition, and her first solo single, "Relax," topped the China Music Chart.

She later became the queen of movie theme songs.

"Painting Heart", "Finally Waiting for You", and "My Dream" are all hit songs.

On July 21, 2014, they released their seventh new album, "The Seventh Sense," which was produced by top Chinese music producers such as Khalil Fong and Ah-Di-Zai.

The album cover was photographed by renowned visual artist Chen Man, and the look of her with straight hair parted in the middle and fluorescent lip gloss was rated as the best of the year by several fashion magazines.

Instead of a traditional record release, the album launch event was transformed into a fashion show, where she sang three new songs to announce her comeback.

Most importantly, Zhang Liangying and Naying are very close.

Nayoung has said in public more than once that "my favorite female singer is Jane Zhang".

"Sister Jane, Sister Na often mentions you," Xu Yao said.

"Really? Did Sister Na scold me?" Zhang Liangying laughed, her voice tinged with a hint of languor.

"Recently, Sister Na has been talking about you a lot. She said you wrote a great song for her. It's a secret right now, but it will blow up the music scene. I'm very interested in your creative ideas."

Xu Yao smiled and said, "Sister Na is flattering me to death."

Liu Yifei walked up from behind and took Zhang Liangying's arm: "Liangying, how's my little brother?"

"It's even better than you said."

Zhang Liangying looked at Xu Yao with a serious expression and admiration in her eyes: "Liu Yifei has never had bad taste in making friends."

"That's right." Liu Yifei raised her chin, her voice filled with a sense of self-righteous pride. "Come on, everyone, take your seats."

Liu Yifei turned around and beckoned everyone to walk towards the restaurant. As she passed Xu Yao, she lowered her voice and said, "You stay here by yourself for a while, don't feel uncomfortable. I'll go and greet the others. Make yourself at home here, everyone is a friend."

"Okay, sis."

Xu Yao nodded and sat down in a corner by himself.

One dish after another was served on the table.

Slow-cooked Wagyu short ribs, simmered for six hours with red wine and rosemary, the meat falls off the bone with the slightest touch...

Xu Yao knew that the key person to chat with today was Zhang Liangying, the only Super Girl who terminated her contract with zero penalty.