Huayu: A master director who debuted as a singer

After bowing, Zheng Hui did not leave the studio immediately.

According to CCTV's rules, all performers must go on stage to take a bow after the program ends.

He retreated to the waiting area on the side of the stage, where Li Zongming handed him a bottle of mineral water. Zheng Hui unscrewed the cap, took two gulps, and moistened his throat, which had become a little dry from singing.

At this moment, the fourth chapter of the folk dance performance is taking place on stage.

Li Zongming grabbed a towel and handed it to Zheng Hui: "Wipe your sweat. That long note you just drew out beautifully. I saw all the monitors in the control room were cutting to close-ups of you."

Zheng Hui took the towel and patted his forehead: "It's alright, you got emotional and couldn't control yourself."

He hung the towel around his neck, found a box to sit on, and several dancers next to him were adjusting their headdresses. When they saw Zheng Hui sit down, they huddled together and whispered a few words, their eyes glancing in his direction.

Zheng Hui didn't pay attention and leaned against the box, closing his eyes to rest.

Half an hour later, the director's voice echoed throughout the venue via the on-site announcement system: "Attention all departments, prepare for the curtain call! All cast and crew, come to the stage!"

The music changed, becoming the closing theme of "Never Forget Tonight's Love".

Zheng Hui stood up and followed the crowd toward the stage.

The stage was packed with people. According to seniority and status, Wei Wei and Liu Huan stood in the very center, flanked by several veteran artists. Zheng Hui was arranged in the second row on the right, which wasn't too far off the mark, and the camera would definitely capture him.

As the host gave a warm closing speech, everyone waved, smiled, and greeted the camera crane.

The red light is off, the live stream has ended.

The atmosphere on stage instantly relaxed, and everyone began shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries, or packing up their props to prepare for their departure.

Zheng Hui followed the crowd backstage. Just as he stepped down the stairs, someone tapped him on the shoulder.

He turned around and saw Liu Huan standing behind him.

"Teacher Liu." Zheng Hui stopped in his tracks.

Liu Huan said, "I just listened to it from the wings, and the live performance was even more stable than the rehearsal. That kind of explosive power is rare among young singers today."

"You flatter me. It's just that the song itself is quite emotional."

Liu Huan waved his hand: "Good songs are one thing, singing skills are another. I just heard the station's producers say that you wrote all the songs on this album yourself?"

Zheng Hui nodded: "Yes, I figured out the lyrics and music myself."

Liu Huan's admiration deepened. In this era, there are many people who can sing, but those who can write, sing, and combine commercial appeal and popular culture so well are extremely rare.

"To be able to come up with something this good through sheer random thinking is a gift from God."

Liu Huan reached into his pocket, seemingly looking for something, but his costume was empty. He turned to his assistant beside him: "Bring me paper and a pen."

The assistant quickly took out a small notebook and a ballpoint pen from his bag.

Liu Huan took the pen, quickly wrote down a string of numbers, tore it off, and handed it to Zheng Hui.

"This is my home phone number and pager number. You're developing your career in Guangzhou, which is far away, but music knows no boundaries."

If you ever come to Beijing or have any musical ideas, feel free to contact me. I think we might have a chance to collaborate in the future.

The actors who hadn't left yet stared wide-eyed at the sight.

That was Liu Huan's private phone number.

In this industry, getting this number is equivalent to getting a ticket to the mainstream music scene in mainland China.

Zheng Hui took the slip of paper with both hands, glanced at the number on it, and solemnly put it into his pocket.

"Thank you, Teacher Liu, I will definitely do it."

"Okay, go back and rest early, your voice needs to recover." Liu Huan patted Zheng Hui's arm, then turned and walked with his assistant towards the private lounge.

Zheng Hui watched Liu Huan's retreating figure, then touched the note in his pocket.

Li Zongming leaned closer, his voice low but barely concealing his excitement: "Liu Huan offered you his phone number?"

"Um."

"It's well-known that Teacher Liu Huan has high standards, so it's rare that he would take the initiative to show goodwill."

As the two walked out through the passage, the staff and directors they encountered along the way were much more welcoming than when they arrived.

"Mr. Zheng, take care!"

"Mr. Zheng, you sang wonderfully just now!"

Zheng Hui smiled and nodded in response to each one.

Stepping out of the CCTV building, the night breeze in Beijing was a bit cool, but it felt very comfortable on my skin.

At the gate, Xiao Zhao and Da Shan were waiting. When they saw them come out, they quickly started the car to pick them up.

The car started and entered the traffic on Chang'an Avenue.

Upon arriving at the VIP Building Hotel, the car stopped at the entrance, and the doorman immediately stepped forward to open the car door.

Zheng Hui got out of the car and led Li Zongming and Lin Dashan into the lobby.

At the front desk, two saleswomen in cheongsams were busy organizing receipts. They looked up when they heard footsteps.

The moment she saw Zheng Hui, the waitress on the left stopped moving. Her eyes widened slightly, and the pen in her hand froze in mid-air. She nudged her companion with her elbow.

His companion turned his head, and following his gaze, Zheng Hui's face also showed the same expression.

That was the look in her eyes that she didn't have when she went out during the day.

It was surprise, curiosity, confirmation, and the disorientation of seeing someone from TV suddenly appear in reality.

Zheng Hui walked straight to the elevator without looking to the side.

As I passed the lobby bar, several guests in suits were drinking tea. One of them, facing the entrance, paused when he saw Zheng Hui, his hand holding the teacup pausing, his gaze following Zheng Hui until the elevator doors closed.

After the elevator doors closed, I looked at my reflection in the mirror and realized I hadn't changed much.

When he left home in the morning, the staff looked at him as if he were just an ordinary wealthy tenant.

In just a few hours, everything changed.

Soon, Zheng Hui realized the reason: in 1998, when entertainment was scarce, television was the biggest form of entertainment.

CCTV's "Variety Show" was one of the programs that achieved peak viewership.

Just by standing there and showing your face, even a dog can become a pedigree dog the next day.

Moreover, he sang a song that was destined to become a hit across the country.

Inside the elevator, Li Zongming said, "Those two young girls at the front desk just now, their eyes were practically popping out of their sockets."

Zheng Hui leaned against the wall of the sedan chair and casually replied, "They must have watched tonight's program."

Li Zongming remarked with emotion, "This is the power of CCTV. 'Variety Show' is a must-watch for all Chinese people on Saturdays. If you appear on TV tonight, the whole of China will know tomorrow that there is a singer named Zheng Hui who sang 'I Believe'."

"However, the service quality in this VIP building is indeed high."

Lin Dashan chimed in from the side, "I noticed that although they recognized them, no one came up and made a fuss, and no one pointed or whispered."

"That's right, who lives here? Hong Kong businessmen, foreign guests, and high-ranking officials."

"They've seen it all; what are a few celebrities compared to them? If they were swarming around for autographs like in a market, this five-star rating would have been ruined long ago."

The elevator doors opened with a ding.

Zheng Hui walked to the door, swiped his card to open it, and asked, "What time will the Wahaha people arrive tomorrow?"

Li Zongming replied, "They picked us up directly from the hotel at five in the morning, and we ate breakfast in the car. They said they wanted to catch the sunrise because there are too many people at the Temple of Heaven, and if we go too late, it will be full of elderly people doing their morning exercises, making it difficult to clear the area."

"Okay, wake me up at 4:30."